Inhumans vs. X-Men, also stylized IvX or IVX, is a 2016 American comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics. The series ran for seven issues, beginning with a prologue issue #0 in November 2016 before officially beginning in December 2016 and ending in March 2017. The series was written by Charles Soule and Jeff Lemire with art by Leinil Francis Yu, Kenneth Rocafort, and Javi Garron. The series features a battle over a biological substance named the Terrigen Mists, which the Inhumans need to gain superpowers but is deadly to the mutant X-Men and other mutant individuals.
Publication history
Inhumans vs. X-Men was announced by Marvel's Chief Creative Officer Joe Quesada on July 23, 2016 during his "Cup o' Joe" panel at the San Diego Comic-Con. This story closes the story arcs established at the end of 2015's Secret Wars event. Prior to releasing Inhumans vs. X-Men, Marvel released the four-part bimonthly series Death of X to serve as a prequel that would lead into the events of Inhumans vs. X-Men. In a Comic-Con interview, Lemire discussed the broader, real-world implications of the event: "X-Men stories have always been very allegorical and very symbolic for real world events. I think there is a permeating sense of fear and mistrust that is driving a lot of world events at the moment, and a lot of hatred and violence. So it’s not hard to see the mutant/Inhuman conflict as a metaphor for much of what’s going on around us." Marvel editor Sana Amanat announced after the series' second issue that following the event, Marvel would release "a whole new line of X-Men and Inhumans titles." The ending of Inhumans vs. X-Men served as a lead-in for the announced ResurrXion event, which saw the titles referenced by Amanat released. These original titles and continuations of past titles include Inhumans Prime, Royals, Black Bolt, Secret Warriors, X-Men Prime, X-Men Gold, X-Men Blue, Generation X, Weapon X, Jean Grey, Cable, and Iceman. The series was released in trade paperback form on July 18, 2017.
Plot
Beast works with Iso to discover any potential cures to the Terrigen cloud that has been toxic to Mutants. At the same time, Emma Frost begins to face Black Bolt in order to avenge Cyclops. Beast soon overhears Medusa telling the rest of the Inhuman Royal Family to be prepared for the possibility of war against the X-Men as he discovers that the Terrigen cloud is becoming more saturated.
Beast calls a meeting with representatives from each major mutant team. After updating them on the Terrigen cloud and suggesting they leave earth for good, Emma and Magneto hint at the possibility of war. Storm initiates a vote that ends in favor of destroying the Terrigen Cloud instead of leaving the planet. Wanting to avoid any conflict, Beast attempts to return to New Attilan, but Storm reluctantly attacks him from behind and reveals that she supported Emma and Magneto's plans from the beginning.
Several of the X-Men work to get all of the heavy-hitters from the Inhuman Royal Family out of the way as the rest of the X-Men attack New Attilan. Medusa sends Iso and Inferno to find out what happened to Black Bolt and Crystal as she prepares for battle. It is revealed that all of the captured Inhumans along with Human Torch are sent to Limbo. Iso and Inferno are pursued by Wolverine and the time-displaced Angel. They manage to escape through a portal just before Wolverine can harm them. On the other side of the portal, they find Old Man Logan waiting for them.
While Inferno distracts Logan, Iso discovers Forge nearby with a device that the X-Men are planning to use to alter the structure of the Terrigen Cloud so they can incinerate it. Iso and Inferno manage to defeat Logan and take Forge as their prisoner. In Limbo, Medusa and the rest of the Royal Family start planning their escape. It is revealed that the X-Men have Black Bolt hidden away in a specially-made prison.
Mosaic arrives at Muir Island to find out any information that he can about what the X-Men are planning. He manages to enter Magneto's mind while his helmet is off and sees everything that took place from the X-Men's point of view leading up to the war. Magneto discovers Mosaic and begins to fight back until Mosaic leaves and escapes. Mosaic possesses the time-displaced Cyclops and manages to escape to find the rest of his team and tells them what he's learned, prompting his team to switch sides.