Hellfire Gala

2021 Marvel Comics storyline
ISBN 978-1302931568X-Men: Hellfire GalaISBN 978-1302931155

"Hellfire Gala" is a comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics through the X-Men related title. It is the first storyline featured in the "Reign of X" relaunch after the "X of Swords" storyline.[1] It is a 12-chapter storyline. Krakoa opens its gates to non-mutants to celebrate mutant 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 and Callisto when the former asked the latter to be the White Knight of the Hellfire Trading Company.[2]

Emma Frost asks Magneto to procure and develop an island as a secondary base of operations for the Hellfire Trading Company.[3]

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 sends the first invitation to the Homines Verendi.[4]

Cyclops and Jean Grey 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.[5]

Captain America meets with Cyclops at Westchester, questioning the expansion of Krakoa and mutant population.[6]

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.[6]

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.[7]

  • 7:30 PM: X-Corp arrives at the gala with plans for a back-to-back meeting with potential board members.[8]
  • 7:40 PM: X-Force welcomes the arriving guests: Avengers, Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom, and ambassadors from various nations.[9]
  • 8:12 PM: Professor X and Magneto fail to convince Namor to join the Quiet Council.[10]
  • 8:35 PM: Beast uses the ambassadors from Terra Verde to bug other nations.[9]
  • 9:00 PM: X-Corp CXOs Angel and Penance meet with Thunderbird for the board position.[8]
  • 9:30 PM: The Excalibur team arrives.[11] X-Corp CXOs meet with Sunspot for the board position.[8]
  • 9:31PM: Deadpool attempts to gatecrash the party and is warded off by Wolverine and Domino.[9]
  • 9:32 PM: Shatterstar proceeds to the gala after his fight with the Morrigan to reunite with Rictor.[12]
  • 9:59 PM: X-Corp CXOs meet with the Black Priestess for the board position.[8]
  • 10:04 PM: Beast's telefloronic programming on the Terra Verdan ambassador is hacked and starts attacking the party.[13]
  • 10:15 PM: Marvel Girl telepathically unites mutants across the planet.[10]
  • 10:20 PM: Cyclops and Marvel Girl announce the elected X-Men: Rogue, Sunfire, Wolverine, Synch and Polaris.[11][10]
  • 10:40 PM: X-Corp CXOs meet with Mastermind for the board position.[8]
  • 10:45 PM: The uninvited Hellions gatecrash the gala. Havok is arguing for the resurrection of Madelyne Pryor.[14]
  • 11:00 PM: Ambassador Reuben Brousseau announces that Great Britain has left the Krakoan alliance.[11]
  • 11:30 PM: Andrea von Strucker sneaks into the X-Corp HQ before being stopped by Penance.[8] The Hellions are teleported away by Magik due to a drunken brawl from the unexpected reunion of Wild Child and Aurora.[14]
  • 11:35 PM: The Omega-level mutants leave the gala to terraform Mars into Planet Arakko.[10][6]
  • 11:40 PM: Noblesse Pharmaceutical rescinds their interest in the board position of X-Corp and decides to go forward with Fenris Consulting, resulting in a fight between Angel and Swordsman.
  • 11:45 PM: Emma Frost gives the closing remarks and a celebratory fireworks show.[10] An afterparty is held on Planet Arakko.[15][16]
  • 3:17 AM: Scarlet Witch arrives after the celebrations are over.[17]
  • 4:04 AM: Prodigy, Eye-Boy, and Speed find Scarlet Witch's murdered corpse in the bushes.[12]

During the gala, other things happen on the sidelines and elsewhere:

  • Reed Richards whispers something to Professor X that is yet to be revealed.[7]
  • The Stepford Cuckoos make Wilhemina Kensington remember something.[7] The suppressed trauma from her father's abuse externalized into sociopathy, letting her kill animals and people without guilt.[18]
  • The ambassadors from Verendi, Great Britain, and Russia forge an alliance.[7]
  • Sinister's clone returns from Amenth.[14]
  • Peter Wisdom is killed by Coven Akkaba to free Morgan le Fay.[11] He is later resurrected by The Five.[19]
  • With the help of the Druids, Rictor creates a new island around the Braddock lighthouse to annex it from Great Britain.[11]
  • Emma Frost deals with members of a hidden society for the Kara Kutuça.[10] Mystique gets the black box for Emma to get her vote in the Quiet Council,[20] which is revealed to be a mysterium puzzle box inscribed with Kate Pryde's name in Krakoan language.[21]
  • Laura and Daken search for Laura's clone Gabby during and after the gala; Gabby is found dead in the Wild Hunt by Anole, No-Girl, Rain Boy, and Cosmar.[22] She is later resurrected by The Five, setting a status quo that clones can be resurrected.[23]
  • 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.[13]
  • Henry Peter Gyrich recruits Guardian into Orchis.[17]
  • Prodigy sneaks out of the gala to investigate the circumstances of his death.[12]

Aftermath

S.W.O.R.D. leader Abigail Brand 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.[17][24]

The murder of Scarlet Witch during the gala is the focus of Trial of Magneto.[12][25]

Characters

In addition, the Hellfire Gala of 2021 had Marvel Comics caricatures of actual celebrities as attendees to this event that consists of Scott Adsit, Pete Alonso, Steve Aoki, Saquon Barkley, DMC, Eminem, Kevin Feige, Nick Foles, Coco Gauff, Ira Glass, James Monroe Iglehart, Gabriel Iglesias, Aaron Judge, Jimmy Kimmel, Method Man, Jason Mantzoukas, Marc Maron, George R. R. Martin, Killer Mike, Alex Morgan, Seth Meyers, Conan O'Brien, Patton Oswalt, El-P, Adrianne Palicki, Megan Rapinoe, Paul Scheer, and Taboo.

Issues involved

Issue Release date Writer(s) Artist(s)
Marauders #21 June 2, 2021 Gerry Duggan & Chris Claremont Matteo Lolli & John Bolton
X-Force (vol. 6) #20 Benjamin Percy Joshua Cassara
Hellions #12 Zeb Wells Stephen Segovia
Excalibur (vol. 4) #21 June 9, 2021 Tini Howard Marcus To
X-Men (vol. 5) #21 Jonathan Hickman Russell Dauterman, Nick Dragotta, Sara Pichelli & Lucas Werneck
Planet-Sized X-Men #1 June 16, 2021 Gerry Duggan Pepe Larraz
New Mutants (vol. 4) #19 Vita Ayala Alex Lins
X-Corp #2 Tini Howard Alberto Foche
Wolverine (vol. 7) #13 June 23, 2021 Benjamin Percy Scot Eaton
S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #6 Al Ewing Valerio Schiti
Way of X #3 Si Spurrier Bob Quinn
X-Factor (vol. 4) #10 June 30, 2021 Leah Williams David Baldeón

Collected issues

Title Material collected Pages Publication Date ISBN
X-Men: Hellfire Gala collects Marauders (2019 Marvel) #21, X-Men (2019-2021 Marvel) #21, Planet-Size X-Men (2021 Marvel) #1, S.W.O.R.D. (2021 Marvel) #6 and material from X-Men Classic (1986-1995 Marvel) Classic X-Men #7. 128 January 2022 Paperback: 978-1302931155
X-Men: Hellfire Gala Red Carpet Edition collects X-Men (2019) #21, Marauders (2019) 21, Excalibur (2019) #21, X-Force (2019) #20, New Mutants (2019) #19, X-Factor (2020) #10, Hellions (2020) #12, S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #6, Way of X (2021) #3, X-Corp (2021) #2, Wolverine (2020) #13, Planet-Size X-Men (2021) #1, Hellfire Gala Guide 400 December 14, 2021 Paperback: 978-1302931568

Reception

Fashion

The Hellfire Gala, modeled after the real-life Met Gala, 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.[26]

Storyline

The creative team agreed that the story and the party were a success.[27]

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.[28]

Prints

Issue Release date Comic Book Roundup

Rating

Estimate Sales to North American

retailers (first month)[29]

Marauders #21 June 2, 2021 8.5 by 12 professional critics[30] 64,517
X-Force (vol. 6) #20 8.1 by 10 professional critics[31] 53,754
Hellions #12 8.5 by 12 professional critics[32] 46,810
Excalibur (vol. 4) #21 June 9, 2021 7.5 by 7 professional critics[33] 48,930
X-Men (vol. 5) #21 8.0 by 13 professional critics[34] 89,924
Planet-Sized X-Men #1 June 16, 2021 8.2 by 19 professional critics[35] 89.263
New Mutants (vol. 4) #19 8.3 by 8 professional critics[36] 49,448
X-Corp #2 8.0 by 6 professional critics[37] 46,495
Wolverine (vol. 7) #13 June 23, 2021 6.8 by 6 professional critics[38] 78,545
S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #6 9.2 by 12 professional critics[39] 44,069
Way of X #3 8.0 by 11 professional critics[40] 49,644
X-Factor (vol. 4) #10 June 30, 2021 7.0 by 8 professional critics[41] 55,625

Later versions

Second Annual Hellfire Gala

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.[27]

A second X-Men election was announced with results revealed in the second Hellfire Gala.[42][43] 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.[44]

A Marvel Comics caricature of Jon Hamm appeared as one of the Hellfire Gala attendees.

Third Annual Hellfire Gala

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.[45] During the Next Big Thing panel on NYCC 2022, Lowe mentioned that there will be another Hellfire Gala before the Fall of X event.[46]

A third X-Men election was announced with the results to be revealed in the third Hellfire Gala.[47] The one-shot issue would launch the Fall of X event after a series of devastating revelations.[48] Marvel also announced that Kamala Khan's resurrection story that began with the X-Men Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 one-shot that was released on July 26, 2023.[49][50]

A Marvel Comics caricature of Declan Shalvey who served as Ireland's ambassador appeared as one of the Hellfire Gala attendees.

References

  1. ^ "The Future of Mutantkind Is Revealed in 'Planet-Size X-Men' #1". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
  2. ^ Marauders #7. Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ Giant Size-X-Men: Magneto #1. Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Marauders #17. Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ X-Men (vol. 5) #16. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ a b c Planet-Sized X-Men #1. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ a b c d Marauders #21
  8. ^ a b c d e f X-Corp #2. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ a b c X-Force (vol. 6) #20
  10. ^ a b c d e f X-Men (vol. 5) #21. Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ a b c d e Excalibur (vol. 4) #21. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ a b c d X-Factor (vol. 4) #10. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ a b Wolverine (vol. 7) #13–14. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ a b c Hellions #12. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Way of X #3. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Marvel's Voices: Pride #1. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ a b c S.W.O.R.D. (vol. 2) #6. Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ Marauders #22–23
  19. ^ Excalibur (vol. 4) #22. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ Inferno (vol. 2) #2. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^ Marauders Annual #1. Marvel Comics.
  22. ^ New Mutants (vol. 4) #19. Marvel Comics.
  23. ^ New Mutants (vol. 4) #21. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^ Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 6) #15. Marvel Comics.
  25. ^ "A Shocking Murder at the Hellfire Gala Leads into... The Trial of Magneto". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  26. ^ "Rating the X-Men's high-fashion Hellfire Gala outfits". EW.com. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  27. ^ a b July 2021, George Marston 23 (23 July 2021). "X-Men creators want to hold a new Hellfire Gala - and a new X-Men team election - every year". Newsarama. Retrieved 2021-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Kolb, Lia (16 June 2021). "'Planet-Size X-Men' #1 review • AIPT". Retrieved 2021-07-24.
  29. ^ "Comichron: June 2021 Comic Book Sales to Comics Shops". www.comichron.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  30. ^ "Marauders #21 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  31. ^ "X-Force #20 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  32. ^ "Hellions #12 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  33. ^ "Excalibur #21 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  34. ^ "X-Men #21 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  35. ^ "Planet-Size X-Men (2021) Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  36. ^ "New Mutants #19 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  37. ^ "X-Corp #2 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  38. ^ "Wolverine #13 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  39. ^ "S.W.O.R.D. #6 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  40. ^ "Way of X #3 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  41. ^ "X-Factor #10 Reviews". ComicBookRoundup.com. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  42. ^ "Vote in the 2022 X-Men Election Today". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  43. ^ "'Hellfire Gala 2022 Official Guide' Cordially Invites You to Krakoa's Biggest Event of the Year". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-07-04.
  44. ^ X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1
  45. ^ "Avengers, X-Men, Eternals clash in Marvel's Judgment Day panel at SDCC '22". Popverse. 2022-07-23. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
  46. ^ Gribbin, Sean (2022-10-08). "NYCC: Marvel Discusses the Future of Spider-Man and X-Men". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  47. ^ "Marvel's 2023 X-Men Election Begins Now". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  48. ^ "The Fall of X Begins at This Year's Hellfire Gala". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  49. ^ Salmon, Will (July 14, 2023). "Back from the dead! Ms. Marvel is reborn as a mutant". GamesRadar. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  50. ^ "The Heart of the Marvel Universe Will Be Reborn in 'Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant' Comic Book Series". Marvel Entertainment (Press release). July 14, 2023. Retrieved 2023-07-14.

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