Jonathan Hickman Admits X-Men's Krakoa Era Ended BADLY

Summary

The host discusses Jonathan Hickman’s comments about the Krakoa era, which he said did not end as he had originally planned. Hickman reportedly regrets not completing his intended story, but does not want to publish a revised ending because it would overwrite the work of the writers who followed him. The host also argues that fans might treat a “what if” version from Hickman as the definitive ending, regardless of its official status.

The video credits Hickman with revitalizing the X-Men after a period when the line was fragmented and struggling to attract attention. His House of X/Powers of X relaunch reset the franchise and generated excitement, though it involved a major commercial risk by reducing the number of X-Men titles.

A key departure from Hickman’s plans was Moira MacTaggert’s transformation into a villain. The host notes that Hickman had emphasized she was not meant to become one, and suggests her turn was among the clearest signs that the story changed after his departure. Hickman also reportedly said he felt responsible for the people working on the X-Men line, pushing back against rumors that a personal conflict caused the project to unravel.

The host speculates that Hickman may have anticipated a shift toward more familiar X-Men stories, perhaps amid pressure to align the comics with Marvel’s films, but stresses that this is speculation rather than inside knowledge. He contrasts that possibility with Marvel editor Steven Wacker’s stated view that comics should influence movies, not simply imitate them.

Hickman’s intended ending, as described in the discussion, would have brought humanity and the X-Men face-to-face with technological ascension and the Phalanx, challenging the distinction between “us” and “them.” The host argues that the final Krakoa storyline contained pieces of that idea: Orchis members began to recognize that machine intelligence threatened humanity as well as mutants, and earlier stories had foreshadowed Nimrod and Omega Sentinel’s plans. But, in the host’s view, Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X handled these ideas too quickly after Hickman left.

The video concludes that the full story behind Krakoa’s changed direction may never be known. The host considers current X-Men comics to be in a better place than during the transition out of Krakoa, while remaining disappointed with the era’s ending.

Presenter and Contributors

• Presenter: Blerd Without Fear (the host; personal name not stated)
• Jonathan Hickman: Discussed through comments attributed to him; not identified as a presenter in the subtitles.