Warning: Fall of the House of X is a direct sequel to events in other Krakoan Age X-Men stories, including the Fall of X arc, so Late Arrival Spoilers for those previous comics are unmarked on this page.
Fall of the House of X is a 2024 comic book limited series from Marvel Comics. It's written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Lucas Werneck and color art by Bryan Valenza.
Set in the shared Marvel Universe, the series stars characters from X-Men, superhuman mutants who are making a final attempt to fight back against the extremists who've killed and exiled so many of Earth's mutants. The anti-mutant organisation Orchis has devastated the mutant nation of Krakoa and framed the mutants who lived there for mass murder. The X-Men's former leader Cyclops is now facing a trial for crimes he didn't commit.
Orchis isn't quite what it seems to be, though. The human extremists are led by others with their own agenda. Nimrod and Omega Sentinel are A.I. supremacists who care nothing for humanity. Doctor Stasis is a treacherous Godhood Seeker with plans of his own. If Orchis win, humanity won't get the era of peace that's been promised to them — and only the mutants still fighting Orchis suspect what's really at stake.
Along with Rise of the Powers of X, the series serves as the heart of the Bat Family Crossover that shares its name, the conclusion to the wider Fall of X arc part of the grand finale of the whole Krakoan Age saga.
The first issue was released January 3, 2024.
Fall of the House of X contains examples of the following tropes:
- And Then What?: In the first issue, when Doctor Gregor and Omega Sentinel visit Cyclops in his cell, Gregor tells him that she lost the battle, but Orchis and humanity are winning the war. Cyclops asks what happens after that, and Gregor talks about her belief that the end of mutants will usher in a new age of peace for mankind. Cyclops counters that he is talking to Omega Sentinel, not Gregor. The Sentinel then ends the conversation, saying that she and Gregor have to leave...
- Big Bad Wannabe: For all he's been built up as a threat through Duggan's X-Men, and Rise of the Powers of X showing what he could do if given half the chance, Doctor Stasis is defeated with humiliating ease by Emma and Kate when they find him. The actual Big Bad is Nimrod.
- Continuity Nod:
- The first issue has a couple of text pages as The Stinger, a statement by Cyclops, to be released if he's convicted by Orchis. They're "from the office of Jennifer Walters, Esq.". Jennifer Walters is better known as She-Hulk, a superhero as well as a lawyer.
- In issue #2, Rogue and Gambit release Manifold from his stasis, where he was placed by her and Destiny at the end of Rogue and Gambit mini-series.
- In issue #4, Psylocke, Quicksilver, Rogue and Monet are seen with Emma Frost, Magik and Cyclops in the SWORD satellite. The quartet were part of the Uncanny Avengers roster from Fall of X.
- Crossover: In the first issue, Professor X calls Rasputin IV away at the worst possible moment, undermining the plan to rescue Cyclops. The first issue of Rise of the Powers of X reveals where she's going.
- Deal with the Devil: In issue #4, Xavier makes a deal with Nimrod and Omega Sentinel. If they leave Krakoa and its mutants alone, he'll help them wipe out the rest of humanity. While his telepathic conversation with Cyclops hints that this is a ruse, Xavier does go so far as to destroy a nuclear-capable vessel and its crew the USA sent to stop Orchis.
- Dream Intro: The first issue starts with Cyclops tied behind a horse in the old west, being taken to his trial and hanging. When he wakes up, he's on his way to his trial, but this time it's in Paris, in the present day.
- Fastball Special: Piotr and Logan invert this is the first issue by the former throwing a goon at the latter, who slices them up. They decide to call this the Screwball Special.
- He's Back!: By issue #3, Cyclops is finally rescued and back leading the X-Men in reclaiming their home.
- Human Sacrifice: In issue #4, Apocalypse resorts to restarting the Crucible to determine which Mutants' lives will be offered to Krakoa. He fights challengers to the death and offers their blood to Krakoa. It ends when Wrongslide offers to be the last combatant since he's so full of Mutant energy that his life alone will be enough to restore Krakoa.
- Neck Snap: Nimrod kills Dr. Gregor by turning her head around.
- Playing Both Sides: Nimrod confirms to Cyclops in issue #3 that that the AI were working to make sure humanity and mutantkind were at each other's throats so they can take over once they were out of the picture.
- Ramming Always Works: Manifold ends up teleporting the S.W.O.R.D. satellite stationed on Arrako into the one over Earth, creating an X in the heavens, something Destiny foretold.
- Sean Connery Is About to Shoot You: The first issue's cover shows an angry Colossus punching forward, seen from the perspective of his target. Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Shadowkat are also in the background and attacking.
- Textplosion: The first issue has a couple of text pages as The Stinger, in which we get Cyclops' statement to a lawyer.
- When Trees Attack: Nimrod goes to the island to finish it off, when the main consciousness of Krakoa spits some resin-like amber to deter him, then rises out of its alcove to stomp on the killer robot with its large arboreal foot... er, root.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: In issue #3 Alia Gregor talks to Nimrod about Sentinel City, and has her neck promptly wrung backwards, marking the end of the partnership between the machines and the Orchis humans.
- You Monster!: When Nimrod snaps Alia Gregor's neck in issue #3, Cyclops angrily calls Nimrod a "psycho" and blasts it.
