The X-Men are currently experiencing something of a creative renaissance thanks to the Jonathan Hickman-led relaunch of the line. With interest in Marvel’s merry mutants higher than it’s been in years, the publisher isn’t ignoring what’s come before, though. Marvel announced today a new two-issue ‘extended cut’ edition of the seminal 1982 graphic novel X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills by classic X-scribe Chris Claremont and Astro City artist Brent Anderson. The new edition will feature not only the original story, but also a new framing sequence, set in the present day, by Claremont and Anderson. The first issue of the ‘extended cut’ will also feature a variant cover by Claremont’s X-Treme X-Men collaborator Salvador Larroca.
God Loves, Man Kills is one of the most highly-regarded X-Men stories ever told, with the team forced to join forces with Magneto to rescue a kidnapped Charles Xavier from a mutant-hating preacher who wants to use Xavier’s abilities to wipe out all mutant life. The graphic novel served as an inspiration for the second live-action X-Men film, and Claremont and artist Igor Kordey crafted a follow-up storyline, “God Loves, Man Kills II,” in the pages of X-Treme X-Men #25-30, which also featured covers by Larroca.
The new modern-day framing sequence will be the first time that Claremont has written an X-Men story set in the current status quo, with mutantkind, under the leadership of Xavier and Magneto, having established the island nation of Krakoa. It’ll be interesting to see how Claremont’s sensibilities mesh with the high-concept world that Hickman and co. have established for the X-Men.
Check out Larroca’s variant cover for the new edition, as well as the full announcement from Marvel, below. X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut #1 (of 2) is due out in stores and digitally in April.
New York, NY— January 16, 2020 — Framed by a brand-new present day X-Men story by the original creative team themselves, Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson, Marvel is proud to re-present the beloved X-Men classic, GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS, in an all-new extended edition this April!
In 1982, writer Chris Claremont was in the midst of his legendary run on UNCANNY X-MEN, changing the comic landscape forever and creating a new standard for super hero stories! A wealth of ideas, Claremont’s brilliance wasn’t contained to the main title alone, and he joined forces with industry giant Brent Anderson in MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL #5, a special edition issue titled God Loves, Man Kills. This groundbreaking story saw the X-Men teaming up with their bitter enemy, Magneto, against an adversary threatening mutantkind in the name of God. This past year, Marvel celebrated Chris Claremont’s 50 years of contributions to Marvel Comics, and we are honored to present an all-new edition of one of his landmark stories this April!
I wonder if Marvel I’ll censor out the ‘N-word’ here as they did with their Miracleman reprints?
‘Will’, not ‘I’ll’.
Thank you, spellcheck.
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