Welcome to another creepy edition of X-Men on Monday at X-Fans, AIPT!
And do you see it – No. 301. I think we are officially heading down the road to 400! But seriously, thank you to everyone who read, shared, and was involved with X-Men Monday #300!
After a short, post-millstone break, we’re back and looking forward to September with comics superstar Jeff Loeb. If you think you’re a fan of comic books, you might have read what Jeff wrote, from Batman: Long Halloween to Spider-Man: Blue (both are incredibly portrayed with the late Tim Sale). But for our X-Fans, it’s hard to hear “Jeph Loeb” and we don’t think of his work in series like Cable, X-Force, Wolverine. In fact, when I began to religiously read some of the issues before “Age of Apocalypse” (AOA) mutated X-Line, Jeph’s story was very basic to me.
That’s why Jeff agreed to stop by the X-Men on Monday to discuss the Apocalypse X-Men, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of AOA, the upcoming event series of him and artist Simone Di Meo. When Jeph breaks down Marvel and his return to AOA, he teases something that could potentially revisit one of his ’90s co-creations.
Provided by Marvel Comics
AIPT: Welcome to X-Men Monday, Jeph! And welcome to Marvel’s X-Men Universe! How did the opportunity to revisit “Age of the Apocalypse” for the 30th anniversary of the Fanfakrit event?
Jeph Loeb: It all started with a call from Editor-in-Chief CB Cebulski and asked if there was anything he wanted to do with Marvel. It’s been a long time since I wrote for them (but) CB is a talented magician and I was clearly the rabbit he wanted to pull out of his hat.
We talked about a lot and he provocatively said, “Are you not doing an unfinished business in the X-Men office?” I laughed because all those people were gone, so in my reality, no, not that. But (but not always “but”?), what was always bothering me about AOA besides the X-Man coming to the 616 was that it was like a TV dream episode. There was the biggest event of the 90s, but no results (in addition to saving the universe the X-Men does every week). (lol)
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So I said that CB is CB, “What if you could change that?” And here we are.
The next more important part is not a story about what it relates to me, but who portrays it. Having a film or television background is like committing to a project and not knowing the actor or director. I need to know who I am writing for.
I was at Lake Como and my dear friend Simone Bianchi – Simone Di Me was introduced to me and I fell in love with his style and storytelling. I brought Simone Di Meo to the Tom Breboat he already knew – and Marvel told us that we could do it!
Now, it all sounds easy, but it took about a year to put it all together. (lol)
AIPT: When you look back at your time working on your original AOA, did you and your collaborators realize you’re creating something special? And why do you think the event will still resonate with the fans in 30 years?
Jeff: First, you have to give your credit to a place where the credit deadline is. Meanwhile, (literally) people were working on the original AOA, with Scott Robdell being the architect. He took me under his wings and navigated through much of what I did (including making sure X-Man wins his own title). A lot of the cool things about AOA came from his amazing brain.
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Secondly, with all the artists in it with their hearts (some of my favorite Kubert Brothers’ ones), Joe Madureira exploded with his story. Because there were artists like Joe who dominated business with the boys of the image. (And yes, that’s why we had to return him to do the X-Men in the Apocalypse cover!)
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I don’t know why it still resonates, but it was a very different time. There was no internet. There is no social media. Most importantly, there are no spoilers! For storytellers, this is money.
So when Marvel announced that all of their top-selling books (much more) had been cancelled, people were hooked! There were no leaks. It just happened…. In a strange way, it happened to readers what happened to the X-Men. It’s all rebooted! New costume! New team! New title! A new version of classic characters! There was nothing impossible!
And I’m sure you couldn’t do it that way again.
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AIPT: I was one of the readers thinking about the X-Men because I knew it was over. But back to the present – the reader has already tasted what you are cooking at the huge age of the Apocalypse. But what about the next one? What is the elevator pitch for the X-Men in the Apocalypse event?
Jeff: What happens if AOA doesn’t finish? Those X-Men (Let’s call them Xoa) – who was the most intense, most loyal and deadly?
Does it start with the idea of what a soldier would do when he comes home from war? What’s even worse, what if it’s a never-ending battle? How do you finish?
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AIPT: Given the popularity of AOA, there have been obviously multiple follow-up stories over the past 30 years. X-Fans Bill, Dalibor The Indie Hype Man, Jenny, and Joey Dunn all wonder what this story has come before. Does your story play with any of the other AOA continuities, or does the Apocalypse X-Men burn its own path?
Jeff: I’m always trying to respect the past and the different choices that other writers make, but I feel the responsibility to come up with something familiar to readers and fans, but have enough twists and emotions to stand on my own. Check if it is still printed in 30 years! (lol)
AIPT: We’ve already talked about him a bit, but you have a great collaborator for Simone Di Meo. How has it worked together, and how you write this story, how will it affect having an artist with the caliber of Simone?
Jeff: I’ve covered how we met before. But we had never worked together before and that is the curve I needed to navigate. Luckily he is incredibly supportive, the same and the same that Joe Mudd had 30 years ago. His pages have excited me and I feel like I’m catching up with the F1 Racecar driver now. Action and drama are the same. On top of that, he inks and colors his work, which always brings out something special and amazing.
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AIPT: Are there any specific X-Man in the Apocalypse that you have the most enjoyable sentences?
Jeff: It’s a team book, so everyone has to shine. All of these characters each have their own history and their own personality. This particular group has never worked together, so there should be a big conflict. Conflicts in X-Men books are important!
aipt: And when the Apocalypse X-Men comes to the main Marvel universe… are there any particular meetings that the X-Fans can’t wait to read?
Jeff: There are no spoilers, but there are certain moments.
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AIPT: X-Fan CG asks if new AOA universe characters who were not involved in the original AOA can expect to enter this story.
Jeff: Oh, I’m sure he’s saying it. But there is a surprise. Even the first few pages!
AIPT: Co-creation X-Man remains popular as they wonder if X-Fans Bill, TJ and Eybar Lugo could revisit Nate Gray at this event.
Jeff: Again, there are no spoilers, but when I look at the X-Men cover from Apocalypse #1 (for sale in November), I have a smile.
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AIPT: Finally, I ran with Cable, X-Force, Wolverine, X-Man and other X-Series. Is there an X-storey of you that you are particularly proud of or like?
Jeff: They’re my favorite. The artists I worked with were relatively unknown (Skeve Skroce, Adam Polina, Ed McGuinness, Ian Churchill) and they all became superstars. Of course, they are exceptional storytellers. I was incredibly lucky as we all remain friends.
One story that was always raised almost happened by chance. I got a desperate call from Xoffice. In a hurry, all X titles were ready to be cancelled and ready for AOA. They had forgotten their final beat.
I was asked if this serious problem could be achieved. It was a big step for me considering I was only available at X-Books for about six months (I’ll be staying for another 3-4 years).
The result is Cable #20 with great artwork by Ian Churchill (our first collaboration), “The Last One of the Last Hours.” Comics have changed my career. Because after that, XOFFICE was more comfortable and sat with the boss. It’s an emotional love letter to Marvel’s most beloved character. A great responsibility. A big opportunity to fail.
People tell me that it works. Who am I arguing? (lol)
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See you on xoa!
aipt: Well then, Jeff – and thank you for stopping by the X-men on Monday!
X-Men for X-Fans and Apocalypse Alpha #1 will be released on September 3rd, 2025. This is still quite far away, so there is an exclusive view of the three unfinished pages of Simone Di Meo Art.
Provided by Marvel Comics
Provided by Marvel Comics
Provided by Marvel Comics
Next X-Men Monday – July 21, 2025
In the next edition of X-Men Monday, author Murewa Ayodele returns to discuss Thunder War, a three-part saga that kicks off July 23rd Arashi #10. Oh, maybe he will also talk about what the Rogue Storm series of just released Revelation Age is. Murewa mentioned “Rogue Storm” in his first X-Men’s Monday appearance.
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Until next time, X-Fans will remain exceptional!
