X-Men In Secret Wars: A Look Back And A Path Forward For AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY

Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars is one of the most ambitious crossover events in the company’s history, and the X-Men have played key roles in both the original 1984 series and the 2015 reimagining. As Marvel Studios gears up for Avengers: Doomsday leading into Secret Wars, fans are speculating how the X-Men might be integrated into this massive storyline.

Confirmed to return for Doomsday are original X-Men stars Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, James Marsden as Cyclops, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler and Kelsey Grammer as Beast, with Deadpool & Wolverine star Channing Tatum returning (likely as Gambit, though unconfirmed) and more announcements to come.

In the original Secret Wars (1984) comic, the X-Men were transported to Battleworld along with other major Marvel heroes and villains. Though they were among Earth’s defenders, the mutants were largely treated as outsiders. Led by Professor X, the team included Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Rogue. Their portrayal highlighted the core of their identity in the Marvel Universe: misunderstood and not trusted, even by their fellow heroes.

Rather than fully aligning with the Avengers or Fantastic Four, the X-Men often operated independently. This friction emphasized the divide between the X-Men and other superhero factions. Wolverine’s clashes with Captain America and the group’s eventual split from the main heroes underscored a deeper narrative, echoing themes that have defined the X-Men for decades.

Fast forward to Secret Wars (2015) by Jonathan Hickman, and the X-Men’s presence became more symbolic than central. The storyline focused on the collapse of the multiverse and the rise of Battleworld – a patchwork planet ruled by God Emperor Doom. While mutants weren’t front and center, several domains on Battleworld were shaped by mutant history and influence.

More significantly, X-Men characters like Cyclops (empowered by the Phoenix Force), Magneto, and Old Man Logan played pivotal roles in challenging Doom’s rule. Cyclops’ defiance and ultimate fate at the hands of Doom was a powerful moment, illustrating the sacrifice and courage mutants often exhibit in the face of cosmic-level threats.

Marvel Studios has an opportunity to weave the X-Men into the MCU using inspiration from the comics. The X-Men could be introduced as the misunderstood wild cards – mutants who arrive during a multiversal crisis but are not immediately trusted by the Avengers or Fantastic Four. This sets up natural tension and drama aka Avengers vs X-Men, making their eventual alliance more impactful.

If Doomsday borrows from the 2015 version’s structure of a fractured world or multiverse, we might see mutant-ruled regions or even isolated “pockets” of X-Men history that survive the incursion.

After the dust settles, mutants could be positioned as the MCU’s next generation of heroes; no longer hidden, but finally stepping into the spotlight. Whether as underdogs fighting for respect or key players in multiversal warfare, their inclusion in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars elevates the stakes of the MCU.