X-Men Legends is a 2021 Marvel comic book. Although set in the X-Men continuity, it is not a part of Dawn of X. Instead, the book is bringing back previous creative teams to tell stories set in the X-Men's past, but still in continuity.
The first two issues are called "The Burning Blood" and are written by Fabian Nicieza, with art by Brett Booth, and finally tells the tale of Adam-X, the so-called "third Summers brother." It begins with the Shi'ar known as Erik the Red kidnapping Cyclops and Havok's grandparents and insisting that they bring "the Forsaken One" to him so that the "burning blood" might ignite "the light of M'Kraan." Little do Cyclops and Havok know that the "Forsaken One" is Adam-X and that he is actually related to them...
The third and fourth issues are written by Louise Simonson and drawn by Walt Simonson and set before the original X-Factor #43. It involves X-Factor's headquarters, Ship, malfunctioning.
The fifth and sixth issues are written by Peter David, with art by Todd Nauck. They are set between X-Factor #75 and 76, with the government-sponsored X-Factor team.
Larry Hama and artist Billy Tan deliver a three-part story arc in issues #7-9. They are set in Hama's Wolverine run and involve Wolverine and Jubilee teaming up to take down Lady Deathstrike and the Hand, with later involvement of Omega Red and Sabertooth.
Issue #10, also written by Nicieza, is set during the events of X-Men (Vol. 2) #34, when Gambit, Psylocke and Beast invade one of Mr. Sinister's labs and face a defective clone of Sabertooth.
Issue #12, penned by Chris Claremont and drawn by Scot Eaton, has Nightcrawler and Shadowcat face Mystique in a prelude to Excalibur: The Sword is Drawn one-shot.
A second volume of the series launched in 2022:
- Issues #1-2, written by Roy Thomas, is chronologically situated between Hulk #181 and Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975).
- Issues #3-4, written by Ann Nocenti, involves Longshot in the Mojoworld.
- Issues #5-6, written by White Portacio and Brian Haberlin, deals with Bishop's decision in the future that leads to Bishop's crossing to the present time in Uncanny X-Men #282-283 and #287.
Tropes in X-Men Legends:
- The '90s: The first two issues are heavily done in the style of the '90s, since that's when the story was originally set to take place. The narration is very nineties and the art by Brett Booth — an artist who already heavily leans into 90s aesthetics — further highlights this.
- Aborted Arc: The book is actually meant to avert this by taking a previous aborted arc (Adam as the third Summers' brother) and letting the author of the original arc (Fabian Nicieza) finally finish it.
- Adam and/or Eve: Adam was born in a Shi'ar birthing pod labeled "Adam"...and there appears to be another birthing pod labeled "Eve." So there might be a Summers sister, too.
- Back for the Dead: In Vol. 2, Diamond Jack, a mutate involved in Cyclops's origin story way back in the 60s, returns as a unwilling participant in Wolverine's secret mission for the Canadian government. During the ensuing fight with Mesmero and a brainwashed Beast, Wolverine uses his adamantium claws on Jack's diamond-hard body and he breaks apart in diamond particles.
- Broken Record: The Shi'ar soldiers Erik the Red commands all repeat "By the light of M'Kraan" over and over again. Xavier even says that he can't penetrate their minds because they have been programmed to simply repeat the chant over and over again.
- Continuity Nod: The first two issues are set after X-Men #39
, the events of which get referenced. Adam also references the events of Captain Marvel (vol 3) #3. Both of those issues also happened to be written by Nicieza. - Horns of Villainy: Erik the Red sports a massive set of red horns.
- Hostage Situation: The first issue begins with Erik the Red kidnapping Cyclops and Havok's grandparents and leaving a note (in Shi'ar) saying that in order to get them back, they need to give him "the Forsaken One."
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: When Cable shows up, he tells Adam, "I thought both of us had gotten over our...extreme phase?" Because it's no longer the '90s, even if the story is set in that era.
- Let's You and Him Fight: Averted at first with Cable, who only comes to talk with Adam and asks Adam to go and see Cyclops and Havok. Once Cyclops and Havok show up, however, and tell him about Erik the Red's plan, Adam decides not to go with them and a three-way melee ensues.
- Long-Lost Relative: This is the comic that finally reveals Adam-X to be the third Summers' brother. Or fourth at this point.
- My Blood Runs Hot: Adam can not just ignite the blood in others, but also in himself. This provides a temporary power boost (somehow), but also is intensely draining, so he doesn't like doing it.
- The Professor: Professor X, Magneto, Moira MacTaggert, Beast and Amanda Mueller - experts in mutations and biogenetics - are gathered in Mr. Sinister's lab to pool their combined knowledge. Of course, they are but clones of the originals created by Sinister himself, who wished to mine the originals' knowledge by proxy.
- Savage Spiked Weapons: Adam-X wields a set of spiked gauntlets, so that he can cut people and then ignite their blood.
