Marvel Announces X-Men: Children of the Atom

The X-Men line continues to grow with Marvel Comics as the Dawn of X stretches into 2020 with a brand new title featuring the next generation of mutants. But unlike the New Mutants or Generation X or Young X-Men characters that fans have already gotten to know, this series will feature a brand new group of characters who are inspired by some of Marvel's most popular mutants in the franchise. Children of the Atom was just announced by Marvel Comics with the creative team of Vita Ayala and Bernard Chang, and the new mutants in the series might look somewhat recognizable.

The new series Children of the Atom features new characters inspired by Cyclops, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Angel, and Gambit. It's not clear what timeframe this comic will take place, whether it's in the future of the X-Men's continuity as explored in Powers of X or in the present day.

Check out the press release and new cover image for Children of the Atom below:

The new era of X-Men books continues this April with CHILDREN OF THE ATOM, a new ongoing series from writer Vita Ayala and artist Bernard Chang! This thrilling new team book will debut a new squad of super heroes that will turn the X-Men's world upside down and you can get your first glance at these new young heroes in R.B. Silva's stunning cover below! Further details surrounding the cast remain a mystery but it's no secret that these teens have been inspired by your favorite X-Men. But don't let their admiration fool you, their adventures will be far different and you won't believe the twists and turns that await you from the very first issue!

Writer Vita Ayala is currently taking Marvel's famous living vampire on a chilling journey in MORBIUS and is eager to bring their creative genius to the X-Men line with this brand-new ongoing series!

"The initial seed of the idea actually came from [Editor] Chris Robinson: What if the X-Men had sidekicks?" explains Ayala. "MY take on it became, what would actual kids from our current time be like, if they were X-Men sidekicks? What would Gen Z X-Men be like?"

Joining Ayala on CHILDREN OF THE ATOM will be Bernard Chang who, throughout his illustrious comic book career, has crafted stories for some of Marvel's most iconic characters from Deadpool to the X-Men. Now, he's using his legendary skills to create a brand new team of iconic Marvel Heroes!

"I have never known a world without mutants and the X-Men, and to be able to create characters that would become part of the canon is WILD. I love them very much. Bernard, Chris and I have worked so hard on them, and I was practically itching to let them out into the world so others could love them too," said Ayala. "What makes the new cast special to me is that they are reflective of a lot of people I know who look up to what the X-Men stand for, and have taken it upon themselves to further those ideals. These kids are exactly the kids who, in real life, have posters of Storm and Wolverine in their rooms, who grew up seeing them as heroes and want to live up to that.

There's no word yet on when Children of the Atom will be released.