Disney Is Getting Ready To Replace The Avengers With The X-Men
The X-Men could be on the brink of reclaiming their position as the most prominent franchise in Marvel’s comic book collection. According to Gizmodo, Vice President and Executive Editor at Marvel Publishing, Tom Brevoort says the company plans to shift its focus to the X-Men. The move comes at the cost of his 25-year stewardship over the Avengers brand.
Brevoort guided the Avengers franchise to the forefront of Marvel’s lineup with titles like Avengers: Disassembled, Civil War, Secret Invasion, Secret Wars, and others. “The big story is that, after a quarter of a century editing Avengers and its associated titles, I am going to be moving away from those characters and titles and instead stepping into the world of mutants,” Brevoort wrote on Facebook.
Vice President and Executive Editor at Marvel Publishing, Tom Brevoort says the company plans to shift its focus to the X-Men
“Yes, that’s right, I’m afraid that it’s true—I’m the X,” Brevoot continued. The change at Marvel will take place after the conclusion of an upcoming crossover event centered around the Avengers and the completion of the Fall of X storyline under the guidance of the longstanding X-Men editor Jordan D. White, the transition will take place.
“What I do will grow directly out of what they’re doing, provided they leave me anything to work with,” Brevoort added. “When we’re closer to the switchover happening, and there’s something worth reporting on, you’ll hear more from us.” Brevoort is considered Marvel’s most tenured employee, commencing his journey as a college art major interning at the publisher in New York in 1989.
With steady progress, Brevoort climbed the ranks to attain the position of a full-fledged editor by the late ’90s. He succeeded in revitalizing not only the Avengers line but also the entirety of Marvel Comics. This led to him being promoted to executive editor in 2007 and subsequently to Senior Vice President of publishing in 2011. Still, he retained his role as direct editor for the Avengers and Fantastic Four series.
The importance of the Avengers and X-Men franchises at Marvel Comics has undergone significant shifts over the years, reflecting changes in storytelling, audience preferences, and the broader cultural landscape. The Avengers have a storied history as one of Marvel’s flagship teams. They were created in the early 1960s as a response to the success of DC Comics’ Justice League.
The team brought together some of Marvel’s most iconic characters, like Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, and Captain America. The Avengers have experienced periods of immense popularity. However, there have been times when the creative team faced challenges in finding fresh directions for storytelling. But Marvel has consistently worked to reinvent and reinvigorate the franchise.
The X-Men also holds a unique place in Marvel’s history due to their symbolic exploration of social issues, particularly civil rights and diversity. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963, the X-Men are mutants (individuals born with superhuman abilities) who face discrimination and prejudice from humans who fear their power.
The X-Men reached their zenith of popularity in the late 20th century, particularly during Chris Claremont’s legendary run on the series. During this time, storylines like the “Dark Phoenix Saga” and “Days of Future Past” solidified the X-Men’s place as Marvel’s premier team. That was until the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s success led to shifts in the comic book landscape.
The Avengers gained even more prominence due to their prominent role in the films, while the X-Men were less featured due to film rights previously held by Fox. This situation influenced the comics’ focus and prominence. However, with Disney’s acquisition of Fox and the eventual integration of the X-Men into the MCU, the X-Men are likely to experience a resurgence in the comics and other media.
