The X-Men are gearing up for a new chapter.
This series will focus on the Quiet Council, the governing body of the mutant nation-state of Krakoa.
So now it’s going okay, what techniques are useful to a Marvel book?"
The Quiet Council stars on the cover of ‘Immortal X-Men’ #1, by Kieron Gillen and Lucas Werneck.Mark Brooks for Marvel
What can I do better?
So yeah,Die’s absolutely influenced some of this stuff.
After all,Dieis a group of people pushing and pulling against each other."
Magneto and Emma Frost in ‘Immortal X-Men’ #1 by Kieron Gillen and Lucas Werneck.Lucas Werneck for Marvel
So who are these mutants who will be pushing and pulling against each other?
EW spoke with Gillen about his plans for various members of the Quiet Council.
“Of course, my series starts off with Magneto leaving the Quiet Council.
A flashback to Destiny and Mystique’s past from ‘Immortal X-Men’ #1 by Kieron Gillen and Lucas Werneck.Lucas Werneck for Marvel
It’s not deliberately meta, that bit, but it certainly works.”
Those certainly aren’t small shoes to fill!
And that question gives Immortal X-Men someSuccessionvibes, as Gillen notes.
The Quiet Council convenes in ‘Immortal X-Men’ by Kieron Gillen and Lcuas Werneck.Lucas Werneck for Marvel
“I like Machiavellian characters with plans,” Gillen says.
“I hadn’t watchedSuccessionwhen I started writingImmortal, butSuccessionhas a lot ofImmortalin it.
I’d love to do an homage cover from behind Magneto’s chair.”
Professor X meets with Selene in ‘Immortal X-Men’ #1 by Kieron Gillen and Lucas Werneck.Lucas Werneck for Marvel
I think Emma would understand that through her own filter," Gillen says.
“What’s the point of ruling a country if you could’t have parties, darling?”
Destiny and Mystique
It’s not calledImmortal X-Menfor nothing.
“Immortal X-Menfor me is this love story of two women across time,” Gillen says.
“But she is the object Mystique orients herself around.
That’s how I see it.
She is of fundamental importance to Mystique, and vice versa.”
Hickman continued that characterization inHouse of X, and writer Zeb Wells took it even further inHellions.
But I want to move around this Quiet Council."
There’s a bit in issue #1 where Sinister reveals he’s petrified of Exodus.
And that’s not their only connection.
“So I’m doing a strong spin on Exodus, I think.”
“He’s Catholic,” Gillen says simply.
“I was raised Catholic, so my Catholicism is all over the place.
I like how he has his own warped mutant take on Catholicism.
Exodus is about the weirdness of being a believer.”
Professor X
Professor X and Magneto were the two main founding fathers behind Krakoa.
“I feel sorry for Xavier in the same way I feel sorry for Loki,” Gillen says.
“I did the wholeJourney Into Mysterybook about how awful it would be to be Loki.
That greyness is key to Xavier.
I’m trying to think of him not as a father figure but as a son.
Selene
One possible candidate to fill Magneto’s seat on the Quiet Council?
Well, there’s always Selene, who may be the oldest mutant alive.
She certainly fits the “immortal” description.
Sure, every mutant now can be resurrected via Krakoan techniques, but that’s old news to Selene.
“The compare/contrast with that is really cool to me.”
