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Contains Spoilers for NYX (2024) #9!No-one remembers little details like X-Men fans, and a new comic has just poked fun at that exact idea via a classic metatextual villain. It is a funny, yet strikingly self-aware moment, one that subverts the idea of calling back to past continuity, and it is one that should be appreciated by fans in this new, contemporary era of X-Men.
NYX #9 – written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, with art by Francesco Mortarino – features Mojo poking fun at X-Men fans’ obsession with unresolved plot points in a perfect way.
The issue revolves around the fight for a Krakoan Seed stolen by Doctor Doom back in the final days of the X-Men’s Krakoan Era. This was one of those dangling plot threads that could have been left unresolved for years, but as Mojo comments, “you have no idea what that seed means to my fans.” By ‘fans’, he’s clearly referring to the lore-obsessed X-Men readers.
NYX #9 – Written By Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing; Art By Francesco Mortarino; Color By Raúl Angulo; Lettering By Joe Sabino
Until now, Mojo’s ultimate goal in NYX has been a little opaque. Under the guise of ‘Mr. Friend’ he’s been demonstrating his new power to mind control select mutants, exerting his power on Earth in a way that’s uncharacteristic for the villain, who usually remains in his own dimension. Now, with the Krakoan seed in his grasp, he’s looking to take over New York City entirety via the mutant known as Local, who can interface with the city’s infrastructure, and who Mojo is now puppeteering to turn the entire city into a version of Mojo.
Like all the best satirical villains, Mojo forces readers to take a good, hard look at themselves.
As a parody of a TV executive who thinks purely in terms of what makes for good viewing for an audience, Mojo has always had a metatextual edge to him. The fun thing is that he is not exactly wrongabout X-Men fans. What his metatextual jabs force readers to do is to question whether they’re actually doing exactly as he says, whether they are just clapping like seals when they see a surprise reference to a comic they liked. Like all the best satirical villains, Mojo forces readers to take a good, hard look at themselves.
“NYX” Was Unique Among Marvel’s Relaunched Line Of X-Men Titles & Mojo Acknowledged That
The X-Franchise Is Still In Transition
If there is one thing that complicates, or maybe enhances Mojo’s jab, it is the current X-Men line’s relationship to the prior X-Men era. NYX is the book most consistently interested in dialogueing with the preceding Krakoan era, whereas just about every other book’s response to it has been moving on quickly and often making character decisions that don’t fully make sense with the preceding X-Men status quo. NYX, though,is the book for readers who cared about Krakoa, and depending on who you ask, the only one, so Mojo’s jab at X-Men fans has a sting in its tail.
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NYX #9 is available now from Marvel Comics.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
“}]] Mojo knows how to work the crowd. Read More