Marvel Comics has released new artwork from writer Jonathan Hickman's House of X and Powers of X, which are illustrated by artists Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva, respectively. While the artwork appears simple on the surface, the publisher is touting it as the most important scene in the history of the X-Men.The scene in question sees a young Charles Xavier and a woman who could possibly be Moira MacTaggert, staring at one another. The way Xavier puts his hand to his head in the last panel indicates he's using his telepathic powers, possibly to read MacTaggert's mind. Of course, it is almost impossible to tell at this very moment what makes the scene the most important in the X-Men's history. Could it be the day Xavier first used his mutant powers? Or, if this isn't MacTaggert, it could show Xavier recognizing there is someone else like him in the world.
Hickman recently revealed story details on House of X and Powers of X, with one series dealing with a pivotal month in the X-Men's history, and the other looking at the franchise's history in the Marvel Universe.
"One, House of X, is a story about a pivotal month in the history of the X-Men where everything changes for mutants on Earth. And the other, Powers of X, is a story about the history of mutants in the Marvel Universe," Hickman told ComicBook.com. "It works as a series of reveals and revelations where each issue of HOX that follows POX -- and vice versa -- makes you reinterpret the issue you had previously read."
Xavier and the woman are featured prominently on Marvel's first piece of promotional art for House of X and Powers of X, with both characters sitting on a bench together in the center of the artwork by Mark Brooks. They are also surrounded by many of the heroes and villains from the X-Men franchise.
House of X #1 and Powers of X #1 go on sale in July from Marvel Comics.