Contains Spoilers for X-Men (2024) #11!As theX-Menfind themselves facing a new extraterrestrial threat, another problem closer to home has reared its head, with the return ofAlpha Flight,Canada’s national superhero team. This team has a long history, and an at-times fierce rivalry with the X-Men, alternatively teaming up with and fighting against Marvel’s merry mutants. Where they fall this time, however, remains to be determined.
X-Men #11 – written by Jed MacKay, with art by Netho Diaz – introduces the newestroster of Canadian superheroesto come together under the name Alpha Flight, but how they feel about Marvel’s current mutant status quo is anyone’s guess.
In the issue, Cyclops and his X-Men team intercept a downed spaceship headed straight for them across Canada, which triggers the new Alpha Flight lineup to jump into action when the X-Men cross the border;as the issue’s final page reveals, this new team consists of Guardian, Vindicator, Puck, Marrina and either Snowbird or Snowguard.
Alpha Flight Returns With A New Roster, Ready To Make An Impact On X-Men Lore Once More
X-Men #11 – Written By Jed MacKay; Art By Netho Diaz; Ink By Sean Parson; Color By Fernado Sifuentes; Lettering By Clayton Cowles
Alpha Flight have a long, contentious history with the X-Men, and have fought mutants almost as many times as the two groups have teamed up. First appearingin X-Men (vol 1)#120 – written by Chris Claremont and John Bryne, with art by Byrne – Alpha Flight debuted as antagonists, explaining thatWolverine used to be part of their team, and that he left without official permission from the Canadian government. Bryne then spun the team off into their own long-running book, where they had their own adventures, occasionally crossing back over with the X-Men, who became more rivals than straight-out foes.
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Alpha Flight’s modern books, however, are more sporadic than back in the day. In the mid-2010s, the team’s name was appropriated for a space agency led by Captain Marvel, and afterwards, several key members became major supporting characters inImmortal Hulk,as a more literal version of Alpha Flight B-Team Gamma Flight. Today, Alpha Flight are mostly relegated tominiseries and guest spotslike this newX-Menappearance. Not that they don’t have their own devoted fanbase. There’s something out there for everyone, even if that something is Alpha Flight.
Alpha Flight’s Role In “X-Men” Will Be Defined By How Their Government Feels About Mutantkind
Marvel’s Premiere State Superhero Team
BeforeX-Men#11, Alpha Flight’s latest appearance was inAlpha Flight (2023),written by Ed Brisson, with art by Scott Godlewski and David Cutler,part of theFall of Xstatus quofor the X-Men. In that story, Alpha Flight were divided into two groups. One group were rebels against their anti-mutant government, while the other publicly hunted mutants whilesecretly funneling their ‘victims’ to the other team. However, in the year since, the socio-political climate for mutants has become unclear in X-Men books.The mandate of Alpha Flight could be anything, depending on how their government is feeling.
If Cyclops causes a diplomatic situation in Canada, then the US and Canadian governments might be having some terse conversations, and Alpha Flight might be in trouble with their bosses.
Alpha Flight’s loyalty might only be further complicated by the X-Men’s own nebulous legal status quo. As MacKay’sX-Menhas established, Cyclops won a court case vs the United States in the aftermath ofFall of X,and wasgiven his Alaskan baseas a settlement. However, his team are under the surveillance of the Office of National Emergency, a mutant-focused government agency in a cold war-esque stand-off with them. If Cyclops causes a diplomatic situation in Canada, then the US and Canadian governments might be having some terse conversations, and Alpha Flight might be in trouble with their bosses.
Readers Are Excited To Find Out How Alpha Flight Will Factor Into The X-Franchise’s New Era
Prognosticating The Team’s Short-Term Appearances
Just because they might fight the X-Men it doesn’t mean that Alpha Flight are going to be pure government rubes. There’s nothing more Alpha Flight than the team feeling conflicted about what the government wants them to do and rebelling against their orders like duringFall of X. Maybe they’ll just half-heartedly chase the X-Men off Canadian soil.Or maybe they’ll use the excuse of the concurrent alien threat to team up with the X-Men for ‘the greater good,’ in a way that’ll also lead to the X-Men going free without incident.
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According to famed Marvel writer Chris Claremont, the X-Men aren’t special without this very specific detail. Otherwise, they have no identity.
If Alpha Flight did end up in afull-on brawl with the X-Men though, they would be unlikely to win. For one, this is a book calledX-Men, not Alpha Flight. Even beyond that, Alpha Flight aren’t exactly bringing their heaviest hitters.Between Guardian and Vindicator, they’ve got 2 heroes with no superpowers, only powered suits, and they don’t even have their usual grasp of magic without someone like classic member Shaman. Meanwhile, the X-Men have Cyclops, Magik, Quentin Quire and the Juggernaut, among others. Good luck toAlpha Flight, but theX-Menare looking like the clear winners this time.
