"Hellfire Gala" was initially a 12-part X-Mencomic book storyline published byMarvel Comics in June 2021. It is the first storyline featured in the "Reign of X" relaunch after the "X of Swords" storyline.[1]Krakoa opens its gates to non-mutants to celebratemutant culture at an evening party. The gala unveiled the new team of X-Men and showcased theterraforming of Mars into Planet Arakko.
It subsequently became an annual event in theKrakoan Age with theone-shotsX-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 published in July 2022 andX-Men Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 published in July 2023.[2][3][4] In the lead up to each Hellfire Gala, Marvel conducted a fan vote to decide on members of the new X-Men team.[2][5][6] The subsequent publishing initiative,X-Men: From the Ashes, will revisit the Hellfire Gala concept as a memorial for Krakoa inX-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 scheduled for release in July 2025.[7]
The Hellfire Gala and an X-Men election was initially teased in issues such asMarauders #7 and #10 andX-Men #16.[8][9][10] In January 2021, Marvel then announced a fan election to choose the members of the new Krakoan X-Men team.[11] In April 2021, the team roster was revealed:Cyclops,Jean Grey,Polaris,Sunfire,Synch,Wolverine, andRogue.[12] Anin-universe election was also held which showcased how various mutants voted and reactions to the results.[13][14]
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.[2]
A second X-Men election was announced with results revealed in the second Hellfire Gala.[20][21][22] 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.[23]
A Marvel Comics caricature ofJon Hamm appeared as one of the Hellfire Gala attendees.
During Marvel'sJudgment Day panel on SDCC 2022, Nick Lowe and C.B. Cebulski 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.[24] During theNext Big Thing panel on NYCC 2022, Lowe mentioned that there will be another Hellfire Gala before theFall of X event.[3] It was written byGerry Duggan, with art by Adam Kubert, Luciano Vecchio, Matteo Lolli, Russell Dauterman, Javier Pina, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, Kris Anka, and Pepe Larraz.[25]
A third X-Men election was announced with the results to be revealed in the third Hellfire Gala.[26] The one-shot issue would launch theFall of X event after a series of devastating revelations.[27] Marvel also announced thatKamala Khan's resurrection story would begin with theX-Men Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 one-shot that was released on July 26, 2023.[28][29]
A Marvel Comics caricature ofDeclan Shalvey who served asIreland's ambassador appeared as one of the Hellfire Gala attendees.[30][31]
The Hellfire costume designs were created by artists Vecchio and Mancin. Vecchio explained that the costumes for Vigil are still "striking" but unlike previous Gala issues, these looks are "more solemn, less flashy yet still fun, that reflect each character's history in a Post-Krakoan way. Unlike previous years where I focused on individual designs one at a time, here I worked in bunches at once to create a cohesive look while keeping singularities".[33] Dan Grote ofComicsXF commented that "black figures heavily into many of the designs" since it is for a "memorial".[34] On the released designs, Grote highlighted that "the kids fromExceptional X-Men andUncanny X-Men get to play dress-up" along with "characters we haven't seen since Krakoa twinkled out of this plane of existence, likeKarma,Wolfsbane,Catseye,Angel Salvadore andJumbo Carnation".[34]
This section needs to beupdated. The reason given is: 2022 and 2023 event details are needed. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2024)
The gala was first mentioned during a conversation betweenEmma Frost andCallisto when the former asked the latter to be the White Knight of theHellfire Trading Company.[35] Emma Frost asksMagneto to procure and develop an island as a secondary base of operations for the Hellfire Trading Company.[36] Emma 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.[37]
Cyclops andJean 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.[38]Captain America meets with Cyclops at Westchester, questioning the expansion of Krakoa and mutant population.[39] Magneto discusses his plans for Arakko toIsca the Unbeaten and theQuiet Council, and recruitsOmega-level mutants from Krakoa and Arakko for the mission.[39]
10:40 PM: X-Corp CXOs meet withMastermind for the board position.[41]
10:45 PM: The uninvited Hellions gatecrash the gala.Havok is arguing for the resurrection ofMadelyne Pryor.[47]
11:00 PM: Ambassador Reuben Brousseau announces that Great Britain has left the Krakoan alliance.[44]
11:30 PM:Andrea von Strucker sneaks into the X-Corp HQ before being stopped by Penance.[41] The Hellions are teleported away byMagik due to a drunken brawl from the unexpected reunion ofWild Child andAurora.[47]
11:35 PM: The Omega-level mutants leave the gala to terraform Mars into Planet Arakko.[43][39]
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 andSwordsman.
11:45 PM: Emma Frost gives the closing remarks and a celebratory fireworks show.[43] An afterparty is held on Planet Arakko.[48][49]
During the gala, other things happen on the sidelines and elsewhere:
Reed Richards whispers something to Professor X that is yet to be revealed.[40]
TheStepford Cuckoos make Wilhemina Kensington remember something.[40] The suppressed trauma from her father's abuse externalized into sociopathy, letting her kill animals and people without guilt.[51]
The ambassadors from Verendi, Great Britain, and Russia forge an alliance.[40]
With the help of the Druids, Rictor creates a new island around the Braddock lighthouse to annex it from Great Britain.[44]
Emma Frost deals with members of a hidden society for the Kara Kutuça.[43] Mystique gets the black box for Emma to get her vote in the Quiet Council,[53] which is revealed to be a mysterium puzzle box inscribed with Kitty Pryde's name in the Krakoan language.[54]
Laura andDaken search for Laura's clone Gabby during and after the gala; Gabby is found dead in the Wild Hunt byAnole, No-Girl, Rain Boy, and Cosmar.[55] She is later resurrected by the Five, setting a status quo that clones can be resurrected.[56]
An unknown assailant attacks Christian Frost while transporting theShi'ar logic diamonds and leaves the Marauder burning off the coast ofMadripoor. The assailant is revealed to be Solem in his ploy to play games with Wolverine.[46]
S.W.O.R.D. leaderAbigail 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.[50][57]
The mutant resurrection protocols remained a secret from the world untilX-Men #12 (June 2022), during theDestiny of X phase, when reporterBen Urich broke the news of the mutant resurrection in theDaily Bugle after interviewing Cyclops.[59][60][61] The attendees of the Hellfire Gala ended up focusing on this revelation when the event "was meant to highlight mutant contributions to medicine".[4] Emma Frost "telepathically conducted the second annual X-Men election. While Rogue, Laura Kinney's Wolverine, Polaris, and Sunfire stepped away from the team, Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Synch successfully asked to be re-elected. After Firestar was nominated to join the group, Forge, Havok, Magik, and Iceman were also elected to round out the team".[4]
The Hellfire Gala, modeled after the real-lifeMet 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.[65]
The creative team agreed that the story and the party were a success.[2]
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.[66]
The second season of the video gameMarvel Rivals is titled "Hellfire Gala" and is inspired by the comics event.[82][83] The Hellfire Gala also occurred in the tie-in comic seriesMarvel RivalsInfinity Comic.[84][85]
Several cards in the digital collectible card gameMarvel Snap feature Hellfire Gala variants.[86]
