"Hellfire Gala" is a
comic book
A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...
storyline published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
through the ''X-Men'' related title. It is the first storyline featured in the "
Reign of X" relaunch after the "
X of Swords" storyline. It is a twelve-chapter storyline. Krakoa opens its gates to non-mutants to celebrate
mutant
In biology, and especially in genetics, a mutant is an organism or a new genetic character arising or resulting from an instance of mutation, which is generally an alteration of the DNA sequence of the genome or chromosome of an organism. It ...
culture at an evening party. The gala unveiled the new team of X-Men and showcased the terraforming of Mars into Planet Arrako.
Plot
Lead-up
The gala was first mentioned during a conversation between
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional Character (arts), character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. The character first appeared in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #129 (Jan. 1980), and was ...
and
Callisto Callisto most commonly refers to:
*Callisto (mythology), a nymph
*Callisto (moon), a moon of Jupiter
Callisto may also refer to:
Art and entertainment
*''Callisto series'', a sequence of novels by Lin Carter
*''Callisto'', a novel by Torsten Kro ...
when the former asked the latter to be the White Knight of the
Hellfire Trading Company.
Emma Frost asks
Magneto
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current. Unlike a dynamo, a magneto does not contain a commutator to produce direct current. It is categorized as a form of alternator, ...
to procure and develop an island as a secondary base of operations for the Hellfire Trading Company.
Emma Frost invites the Inner Circle to the Island of Mykines and announces that they will be hosting mutantkind's first state dinner.
Kitty Pryde
Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. The character first appeared in ''The Uncanny X-Men'' #129 (January 1980) and was co-created by wri ...
sends the first invitation to the Homines Verendi.
Cyclops and
Jean Grey
Jean Elaine Grey is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix and Dark Phoenix. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack K ...
co-lead a new X-Men team; an election is to be held and the unveiling of the team is to be announced at the Hellfire Gala.
Captain America meets with Cyclops at Westchester, questioning the expansion of Krakoa and mutant population.
Magneto discusses his plans for Arakko to Isca the Unbeaten and the
Quiet Council, and recruits Omega-level mutants from Krakoa and Arakko for the mission.
Event timeline
The gala starts with an opening remark from Emma Frost and a telepathic concert performed by
Rhapsody, Marvel Girl and the
Five-in-One.
[''Marauders'' #21]
* 7:30 PM: X-Corp arrives at the gala with plans for a back-to-back meeting with potential board members.
[''X-Corp'' #2]
* 7:40 PM: X-Force welcomes the arriving guests:
Avengers,
Fantastic Four,
Doctor Doom, and ambassadors from various nations.
[''X-Force'' (vol. 6) #20]
* 8:12 PM:
Professor X and
Magneto
A magneto is an electrical generator that uses permanent magnets to produce periodic pulses of alternating current. Unlike a dynamo, a magneto does not contain a commutator to produce direct current. It is categorized as a form of alternator, ...
fail to convince
Namor
Namor (), also known as the Sub-Mariner, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in early 1939, the character was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for comic book packager Funnies Inc ...
to join the Quiet Council.
[''X-Men'' (vol. 5) #21]
* 8:35 PM:
Beast uses the ambassadors from Terra Verde to bug other nations.
* 9:00 PM: X-Corp CXOs
Angel
In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God.
Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles inclu ...
and
Penance meet with
Thunderbird
Thunderbird, thunder bird or thunderbirds may refer to:
* Thunderbird (mythology), a legendary creature in certain North American indigenous peoples' history and culture
* Ford Thunderbird, a car
Birds
* Dromornithidae, extinct flightless birds ...
for the board position.
* 9:30 PM: The Excalibur team arrives.
[''Excalibur'' (vol. 4) #21] X-Corp CXOs meet with
Sunspot for the board position.
* 9:31PM:
Deadpool
Deadpool is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist/writer Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in ''New Mutants'' #98 (cover-dated Feb. 1991). Initially, Deadp ...
attempts to gatecrash the party and is warded off by
Wolverine
The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for " glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscul ...
and
Domino
Dominoes is a family of tile-based games played with gaming pieces, commonly known as dominoes. Each domino is a rectangular tile, usually with a line dividing its face into two square ''ends''. Each end is marked with a number of spots (also c ...
.
* 9:32 PM:
Shatterstar
Shatterstar (Gaveedra-Seven) is a fictional mutant superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Fabian Nicieza and artist Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in '' The New Mutants'' #99 (March 19 ...
proceeds to the gala after his fight with the
Morrigan to reunite with
Rictor
Rapamycin-insensitive companion of mammalian target of rapamycin (RICTOR) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''RICTOR'' gene.
RICTOR and mTOR are components of a protein complex that integrates nutrient- and growth factor-derived s ...
.
[''X-Factor'' (vol. 4) #10]
* 9:59 PM: X-Corp CXOs meet with the
Black Priestess for the board position.
* 10:04 PM: Beast's telefloronic programming on the Terra Verdan ambassador is hacked and starts attacking the party.
[''Wolverine'' (vol. 7) #13–14]
* 10:15 PM: Marvel Girl telepathically unites mutants across the planet.
* 10:20 PM: Cyclops and Marvel Girl announce the elected X-Men:
Rogue,
Sunfire,
Wolverine
The wolverine (), (''Gulo gulo''; ''Gulo'' is Latin for " glutton"), also referred to as the glutton, carcajou, or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscul ...
,
Synch and
Polaris.
* 10:40 PM: X-Corp CXOs meet with
Mastermind
Mastermind, Master Mind or The Mastermind may refer to:
Fictional characters
* Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde), a fictional supervillain in Marvel Comics, a title also held by his daughters:
** Martinique Jason, the first daughter and successor of th ...
for the board position.
* 10:45 PM: The uninvited Hellions gatecrash the gala.
Havok is arguing for the resurrection of
Madelyne Pryor
Madelyne Jennifer Pryor is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, the character first appeared in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #168 (April 1983). Madelyn ...
.
[''Hellions'' #12]
* 11:00 PM: Ambassador Reuben Brousseau announces that Great Britain has left the Krakoan alliance.
* 11:30 PM:
Andrea von Strucker sneaks into the X-Corp HQ before being stopped by Penance.
The Hellions are teleported away by
Magik due to a drunken brawl from the unexpected reunion of
Wild Child and
Aurora
An aurora (plural: auroras or aurorae), also commonly known as the polar lights, is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions (around the Arctic and Antarctic). Auroras display dynamic patterns of bri ...
.
* 11:35 PM: The Omega-level mutants leave the gala to terraform Mars into Planet Arakko.
[''Planet-Sized X-Men'' #1]
* 11:40 PM: Noblesse Pharmaceutical rescinds their interest in the board position of X-Corp and decides to go forward with Fenris Consulting, resulting to a fight between Angel and
Swordsman
Swordsmanship or sword fighting refers to the skills and techniques used in combat and training with any type of sword. The term is modern, and as such was mainly used to refer to smallsword fencing, but by extension it can also be applied to an ...
.
* 11:45 PM: Emma Frost gives the closing remarks and a celebratory fireworks.
An afterparty is held on Planet Arakko.
* 3:17 AM:
Scarlet Witch
Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. Her first appearance was in ''The X-Men'' #4 (March 1964 ...
arrives after the celebrations are over.
[''S.W.O.R.D.'' (vol. 2) #6]
* 4:04 AM:
Prodigy
Prodigy, Prodigies or The Prodigy may refer to:
* Child prodigy, a child who produces meaningful output to the level of an adult expert performer
** Chess prodigy, a child who can beat experienced adult players at chess
Arts, entertainment, and ...
, Eye-Boy and
Speed
In everyday use and in kinematics, the speed (commonly referred to as ''v'') of an object is the magnitude
Magnitude may refer to:
Mathematics
*Euclidean vector, a quantity defined by both its magnitude and its direction
*Magnitude (ma ...
find Scarlet Witch's murdered corpse in the bushes.
During the gala, other things happen on the sidelines and elsewhere:
*
Reed Richards
Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) is a superhero character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is a founding member, and the leader, of the Fantastic Four. Richards has a mastery of mechanical, aerospace and ...
whispers something to Professor X that is yet to be revealed.
* The Stepford Cuckoos make Wilhemina Kensington remember something.
The suppressed trauma from her father's abuse externalized into sociopathy, letting her kill animals and people without guilt.
* The ambassadors from Verendi, Great Britain and Russia forge an alliance.
*Sinister's clone returns from Amenth.
*
Peter Wisdom is killed by Coven Akkaba to free Morgan Le Fay.
He is later resurrected by The Five.
* Rictor, with the help of the Druids, creates a new island around the Braddock Lighthouse to annex it from Great Britain.
* Emma Frost deals with members of a hidden society for the Kara Kutuça.
Mystique gets the black box for Emma to get her vote in the Quiet Council, which is revealed to be a mysterium puzzle box inscribed with Kate Pryde's name in Krakoan language.
* Laura and
Daken
Daken (; birth name: Akihiro) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Daken was created by writer Daniel Way and artist Steve Dillon and first appeared in '' Wolverine: Origins'' #10 (March 2007).
...
search for Gabby during and after the Gala; Gabby is found dead in the Wild Hunt by
Anole, No-Girl, Rain Boy and Cosmar. She is later resurrected by The Five, setting a status quo that clones can be resurrected.
* An unknown assailant attacks Christian Frost while transporting the Shi'ar logic diamonds, and leaves the Marauder burning off the coast of Madripoor. The assailant is revealed to be Solem in his ploy to play games with Wolverine.
*
Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a liaison of the United States government who is against the superhuman community.
Publication history
The character first appeared ...
recruits
Guardian into ORCHIS.
* Prodigy sneaks out of the gala to investigate the circumstances of his death.
Aftermath
S.W.O.R.D. leader
Abigail Brand
Special Agent Abigail Brand is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Joss Whedon and artist John Cassaday, she first appeared in '' Astonishing X-Men'' vol. 3 #3 (Sept. 2004). She is ...
meets with the galactic representatives to acknowledge Planet Arakko as the capital planet of the Sol System, with Storm as the Queen Regent, in exchange for a supply of mysterium.
The murder of Scarlet Witch during the gala is be the focus of ''Trial of Magneto''.
Characters
*
Quiet Council of Krakoa
Krakoa is a fictional living island appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It first appeared in ''Giant-Size X-Men'' #1 and was created by Len Wein and Dave Cockrum. Initially depicted as an antagonist, Krakoa has since gro ...
*
Hellfire Trading Company
*
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, first appearing in ''The X-Men'' #1 by artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby and writer/editor Stan Lee in 1963. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to lo ...
*
Excalibur
Excalibur () is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes also attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Britain. It was associated with the Arthurian legend very early on. Excalibur and the Sword in th ...
*
X-Force
X-Force is a fictional team of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men. Conceived by writer/illustrator Rob Liefeld, the team first appeared in '' New Mutants'' #100 ...
*
Marauders
*
X-Factor Investigations
X-Factor Investigations is a fictional detective agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The organization was created by writer Peter David for the comic book series ''X-Factor'' (vol. 3). The agency first appears und ...
*
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of fictional mutant superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, generally in association with the X-Men. Originally depicted as the teenaged junior class at the Xavier Institute, subs ...
*
Hellions
*
X-Corp
*
S.W.O.R.D.
* Avengers
* Fantastic Four
* United Nations Ambassadors
Issues involved
Collected issues
Reception
Fashion
The Hellfire Gala, modeled after the real-life
Met Gala
The Met Gala, or Met Ball, formally called the Costume Institute Gala or the Costume Institute Benefit, is an annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. It is popularly ...
, is a fancy soiree where guests are expected to show up in high fashion. Most of the formal wear are designed by Russell Dauterman, Alberto Foche, Lucas Werneck, David Baldeón, Matteo Lolli, Stephen Segovia, Bob Quinn, Alex Lins, Valerio Schiti, Marcus To and Joshua Cassara.
EW writers Christian Holub and Nick Romano ranked Emma Frost, Storm and Mystique as the best dressed characters in the event.
Storyline
The creative team agreed that the story and the party were a success.
AIPT reviewer Lia Kolb stated that the storyline suffered from having the event's monumental announcement to be spoiled already by the previous issues in the event and the marketing itself.
Prints
Future
During Marvel's X-Men Comic-Con At Home panel on SDCC 2021, the X-Men creative team agreed that an annual Hellfire Gala and X-Men vote were warranted.
A second X-Men election was announced with results revealed in the second Hellfire Gala. The one-shot issue addressed the resurrection protocols becoming public knowledge and announced the new roster comprising Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Synch, Firestar, Magik, Forge, Havok and Iceman.
During Marvel's ''Judgment Day'' panel on SDCC 2022, Nick Lowe and C.B. Beluski revealed that plans for the X-Men extend to 2024 building towards what Jonathan Hickman planned before he left, including the third annual Hellfire Gala. During the ''Next Big Thing'' panel on NYCC 2022, Lowe mentioned that there will be another Hellfire Gala before the ''Fall of X'' event.
References
External links
*
{{X-Comics
X-Men storylines