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Ultimate X-Men #46 Preview

Secrecy is apparently a thing of the past. Mere hours after Marvel sent out their May solicitations to retailers, the entire text listing found its way online at various sources which were linked to over at the Millarworld discussion forums.

The fever pitch surrounding the publisher’s X-Men Reload event resulted in the embargo date of February 25 being ignored in favour of revealing that the rumours of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday teaming up for a new Astonishing X-Men series in May were true. Also amongst the May solicitations are details of the new Excalbur and District X series’, New X-Men reverting back to adjectiveless X-Men, New Mutants evolving into New X-Men: Academy X, a new X-Men Reload-themed edition of the Official Handbook of The Marvel Universe, and more.

Without further ado, here is the solicitation text foir Marvel’s X-Men titles in May. Look for the complete solicitations, including preview images, online here at ComiX-Fan on Wednesday, February 25.

X-MEN

ASTONISHING X-MEN #1 Written by JOSS WHEDON Pencils & Cover by JOHN CASSADAY "GIFTED" pt. 1 (of 6) Dream-team creators JOSS WHEDON (creator of TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and JOHN CASSADAY (Planetary, CAPTAIN AMERICA) bring you the explosive #1 issue of the all-new flagship X-Men series! As part of X-MEN: RELOAD, this issue marks a return to classic greatness and the beginning of a brand-new era for the X-Men. 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 UPC: 5960605543-00111

(Whedon and Cassaday spoke with Wizard about the gig, and the brief article can be found here.)

UNCANNY X-MEN #444 Written by Chris Claremont Pencils & Cover by Alan Davis "THE END OF HISTORY" pt. 1 (of 4) Beloved X-Men creators CHRIS CLAREMONT and ALAN DAVIS return to the series that started it all! New alliances are forged as old friendships are rekindled, but one thing is certain: The X-Men will never be the same! 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.25 UPC: 5960602461-44411

X-MEN #157 Written by Chuck Austen Pencils & Cover by Salvador Larroca "DAY OF THE ATOM" pt. 1 (of 4) UNCANNY X-MEN scribe CHUCK AUSTEN moves to X-MEN (formerly NEW X-MEN) to team up with new regular artist SALVADOR LARROCA as part of X-MEN: RELOAD! 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.25 UPC: 5960601772-15711

NEW X-MEN: ACADEMY X #1 Written by NUNZIO DEFILIPPIS & Christina Weir Pencils & Cover by RandY Green "CHOOSING SIDES" pt. 1 (of 5) For the young mutants at the Xavier Institute, life will never be the same! The children at the X-Mansion thought they had it tough when Professor X was running things - but now that X-Men Cyclops and Emma Frost have taken over the reins of the school, they’re wishing for the simpler times of yesterday! Codenames, school-issued uniforms and mandatory training sessions in the Danger Room are just a few of the changes being implemented around the Institute - but when the entire student body is forced to divide itself up into small squads and "choose sides," Xavier’s will never be the same again! 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 UPC: 5960605544-00111

EXCALIBUR #1 & #2 Written by Chris Claremont Penciled by Igor Kordey Covers by ANDY PARK "FORGING THE SWORD" pts. 1 & 2 The island of Genosha was once a thriving nation of mutants, built from the ground up by Magneto, the mutant Master of Magnetism. Then, one day, an apocalyptic attack killed every man, woman and child, and reduced an entire society to rubble within hours. Now, Professor Charles Xavier - legendary founder of the X-Men, and the man who dreams of peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants - has come to Genosha with one intention: to rebuild a nation from its ashes. This brand-new X-MEN: RELOAD series features stories and art from the creative team that brought you X-TREME X-MEN! 32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each) Issue #1 UPC: 5960605540-00111; #2: 5960605540-00211

THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE: X-MEN 2004 Featuring extensive diagrams and maps of the new X-Men Mansion, profiles on your favorite heroes, and exclusive behind-the-scenes X-MEN: RELOAD material that can only be seen here, The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: X-Men 2004 is a must-have for any true Marvel fan. 48 PGS./Cardstock Cover/MARVEL PSR ...$3.99 UPC: 5960605545-00111

DISTRICT X #1 Written by David Hine Penciled by David Yardin Cover by STEVE MCNIVEN "MR. M" pt. 1 (of 6) A new MARVEL KNIGHTS series! Welcome to Mutant Town, the dark corner of New York City where the long arm of the law has been severed clean. Here, the mutant population doesn’t sport GQ style or champagne dreams. They eke out each day in squalid tenement rows and filthy streets where only one man and one law can be trusted: the X-Man Bishop. 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 UPC: 5960605530-00111

EXILES #46 & #47 Written by Tony Bedard Pencils & Covers by Mizuki Sakakibara "EARN YOUR WINGS" pts. 1 & 2 (of 3) There’s no rest for the weary when there are realities to save! After the devastating events of their last mission, the Exiles hope for a little downtime, only to find themselves ’ported directly into a none-too-friendly reception from the regular Marvel Universe! This X-MEN: RELOAD issue is a perfect jumping-on point, featuring the debut of new writer TONY BEDARD (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Negation) and the promotion of EXILES cover artist MIZUKI SAKAKIBARA to regular artist! Guest-starring the Fantastic Four and Beak from NEW-X-MEN! 32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each) Issue #46 UPC: 5960605108-04611; #47: 5960605108-04711

WEAPON X #23 & #24 Written by Frank Tieri Penciled by TOM MANDRAKE Covers by ANDY PARK "WAR OF THE PROGRAMS" pts. 1 & 2 (of 3) Featuring WOLVERINE and FANTOMEX! Writer FRANK TIERI and new regular artist TOM MANDRAKE take WEAPON X in an exciting new direction! What is the Weapon X Program? What is its relationship to the shadowy past of the most famous X-Man, Wolverine? And what did Wolverine recently learn about himself that threatens to destroy everything he believes in? Guest-starring FANTOMEX, these X-MEN: RELOAD issues serve as a great jumping-on point! Featuring covers by Tomb Raider artist Andy Park! 32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each) Issue #23 UPC: 5960605372-02311; #24: 5960605372-02411

MYSTIQUE #14 & #15 Written by Sean McKeever Penciled by MANUEL GARCIA Covers by Mike Mayhew "UNNATURAL" pts. 1 & 2 (of 5) When Mystique is sent to Europe to investigate a biotech company rumored to be using mutants as guinea pigs, she discovers a mystery far greater than anything she’d imagined! Join the new X-MEN: RELOAD creative team of SEAN McKEEVER (SENTINEL, The Waiting Place) and returning artist MANUEL GARCIA (AVENGERS) for this bold new adventure featuring everyone’s favorite shape-shifting secret agent! 32 PGS. (each)/MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 (each) Issue #14 UPC: 5960605431-01411; #15: 5960605431-01511

ALPHA FLIGHT #3 Written by Scott Lobdell Pencils & Cover by Clayton Henry "YOU GOTTA BE KIDDIN’ ME" pt. 3 (of 6) The All-New, All-Different Alpha Flight — led by everyone’s favorite Chewbacca look-alike, Sasquatch — unites to tackle the menace of the Plodex. But will Canada’s newest, hippest fighting force be able to save their maple-leaf-clad forefathers in time? Could this be — gasp! — the end of Puck, the Killer Canuck? 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 UPC: 5960605518-00311

EMMA FROST #11 Written by Karl Bollers Penciled by Carlo Pagulayan Cover by GREG HORN "MIND GAMES" pt. 5 (of 6) Emma Frost has freed herself from her overbearing father, but now she’s on her own and in over her head with the Boston mob! Her developing mutant powers have barely saved her so far, but how will she escape mob custody with nowhere to run? 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 UPC: 5960605432-01111

CABLE/DEADPOOL #3 Written by Fabian Nicieza Penciled by Mark Brooks Cover by Rob Liefeld "IF LOOKS COULD KILL" pt. 3 (of 6) The One World Church has a lovely message of eliminating all that divides us to bring about a glorious global unity. All they want is to love you till you’re blue in the face — literally! Will Cable and Deadpool allow themselves to be recruited, or will they go ballistic? 32 PGS./MARVEL PSR ...$2.99 UPC: 5960605490-00311

ULTIMATE X-MEN #45 Written by Brian Michael Bendis Pencils & Cover by David Finch The last part of "NEW MUTANTS" sees a final battle between the X-Men and the Sentinels in the heart of Washington, D.C. How will the not-so-merry mutants deal with the awful aftermath? 32 PGS./ALL AGES ...$2.25 UPC: 5960605047-04511

ULTIMATE X-MEN #46 Written by Brian K. Vaughan Pencils & Cover by Brandon Peterson New storyline! New creative team! An Ultimatized version of one of the X-Men’s greatest adversaries rears his scary head. 32 PGS./ALL AGES ...$2.25 UPC: 5960605047-04611