August 2022 Sales Ranking: "Knights of X" Ends With a Whimper

Comic Book Revolution: Knights of X #5 continued its free fall as it plummeted from the number #79 spot to the number #143 spot. Now, to be fair, Knights of X #5 was released on August 31, 2022. However, a number 143 ranking is so awful that even it Knights of X #5 was released earlier in August its sales ranking still would have been outside of the Top 100.

Again, pay attention to the writers of these poorly performing titles. You will notice the same names resurfacing again and again. This title is a Tini Howard “gem.” Knights of X failed when it was Excalibur. We know that Marvel is already canceling Knights of X and is going to replace it with a similar title penned by Tini Howard. And we all know that the new title will also be a sales failure. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I am pretty sure that is the slogan for the X-Men editorial staff.

The full ranking for X-Books:

12 X-Men #13 A.X.E.

18 Immortal X-Men #5 A.X.E.

25 X-Men Red #5 A.X.E.

34 X-Men #14 A.X.E.

40 X-Men Legends #1

43 X-Force #30 A.X.E.

66 Ms. Marvel & Wolverine #1

74 Gambit #1 (Of 5) (Resolicitation)

81 New Mutants #28

84 Legion Of X #4

102 X-Men ’92 House of XCII #3 (Of 5)

107 X-Force #31 A.X.E.

112 Marauders #5

113 Gambit #2 (Of 5)

116 X-Men Unlimited X-Men Green #1 (Of 2)

122 X-Men ’92 House of XCII #4

133 Wolverine Patch #5 (Of 5)

143 Knights of X #5

190 X-Men Hellfire Gala #1 (Resolicitation)

Knights of X #5 Art

 

Knights of X #5 Spoilers

Spoilers: Mr. M explains he had the Siege Perilous pulverized to create the realm of Mercator, but that he needs all ten Knights to remake it. While Shogo approaches the Knights bringing Roma and Saturnyne with him, with Merlyn following their trail, the Knights decide to investigate a mysterious card castle. They deduce Gambit might be there and that the castle represents his heart. While investigating, Arthur emerges from a scrying pool and pulls Mordred with him. The Knights just leave them behind to their fates. Later, they come across a number of Gambit statues representing Remy at different points in his life. Rachel uses her chromoskimming powers to find the real Gambit among the different timelines. A manifestation of Wrongslide emerges, and the Knights think Wrongslide represents Gambit’s fear of being resurrected wrong once he goes through the Resurrection Protocols. Gambit appears as his “Death” person and attacks the Knights. After a brief battle, Betsy frees Gambit with her psychic sword. Sunfire appears and cleanse Gambit with fire just like he did when they were both Horsemen of Apocalypse together. Gambit is confused when he suddenly sees Rogue rushing to his arms. With all ten Knights together, the Siege Perilous opened up as a door from Mercator to Krakoa. Many Krakoan mutants come to help the Knights, squashing Merlyn’s army (Yes. The final battle is reduced to a single splash page). Next page is the mutants celebrating their victory. Arthur and Mordred somehow are on good terms. Brian offers to tutor the young Mordred. Betsy tells Rachel that what they did to Gambit can be done by any other telepath and that death in Otherworld is fixed now (It makes no sense). Betsy returns to the Starlight Citadel to meet Saturnyne, Roma and Merlyn. She proclaims herself a free agent now and declines any allegiance to Saturnyne or Roma. As for Merlyn, she sentences him to death by beheading him. With the Captain Britain Corps by her side, Betsy decides to patrol the multiverse for whatever reason and asks Rachel to join her.

Tini Howard’s brilliant, exciting new direction for Betsy, which she described as “Betsy’s greatest ride yet” is essentially New Exiles Part 2. May God help us all in these trying times.

Knights of X #5 Advanced Preview

Knights of X #5 Preview - Final Issue

Knights of X #5

Writer: Tini Howard

Art by: Bob Quinn

Cover by: Yannick Paquette

The Story: Merlyn has finally tipped into full-blown madness: He’s sent his Furies on a campaign across the realm to burn everything in sight, and only those who swear fealty to the mad king will be spared. But there is still hope! A bargain between a powerful new ally and the Knights of X may just secure the Siege Perilous and the future of Avalon. Elsewhere, Saturnyne forges an alliance with a former enemy. But trust is a fickle thing. Will these new allegiances bring triumph or ruin for the mutants of Otherworld?

In Stores: August 31, 2022

Tini Howard Babbles About "Knights of X"

Tini Howard confirms in her newsletter that Betsy has been "finding herself" for the past 3 years and 30+ issues (Yes, we could tell) and that she thinks her book is "really good" (😂). Check it out:

TH: Knights of X #4 confirms the long-simmering feelings between Betsy Braddock and Rachel Summers with a big, deep, wet kiss. Captain Britain has a girlfriend and her girlfriend has started going by Askani. There’s been some very kind recognition of that, and I just want to express my gratitude.

This book is one of the rare times in my life where I think every issue just gets better and better. It’s part of why I’m so comfortable with our final issue coming next month with Knights of X #5. Read beginning to end, it feels like a perfect little 2.5 hour superhero movie. And oh boy... the sequel. What’s coming next is taking Betsy to whole new heights. She’s been finding herself for 31+ issues of comics, and now she’s come back through the Siege. We’ll see what happens in Knights of X #5. Hope everyone survives the experience. All this kissing is great but is Gambit going to be okay!!?!?

Editor Explains why Ongoing Books become Minis

Off Panel: Marvel Editor Sarah Brunstad, who edits Knights of X among other books, joins Off Panel for a discussion about the wider world of editing comics.

Do you think of a comic book run length before going in or you hope for more because five issues might be it? Do you have to orient around for just those five issues?

Brunstad: It’s a big challenge because from the get go you want to go in and fight for more [issues] and the sad truth is that the fate of a lot of books is decided by the time issue #2 comes out if the sales have already dipped. I think both readers and retailers are impatient. My gut instinct is usually when I know it might end at #5 is just to [approach the author] and say we should just plan that it’s probably going to end in #5. I’d rather let somebody tell a really satisfying story in five issues than to get them excited to build up and try to put in a B-plot that we’re not going to be able to pay off. A lot of the things that fans complain about are the direct result of not being able to get an extended series. We want more soap opera, more romance, more B-plot kind of structures but you can’t do that in just five issues. When you get an extension, you have another five issues, but you’re going to build another five-issue unit. You can’t build it like a ten-issue [unit] at that point.

Tini Howard Explains her Uninspired Take on Betsy Braddock

EW: Writer Tini Howard shares her thoughts on her uninspired, bland version of Betsy Braddock and her uneventful book "Knights of X".

On Captain Britain

Tini Howard: For me, the most interesting thing about this character has always been that they're not a nationalist hero, they're a magical hero who defends the idea of story and legend. I like looking at those legends and talking about what kind of people are allowed to have these victory stories. What kind of people are allowed to be heroes?

On Brian and Betsy Braddock

Tini Howard: The biggest difference between Betsy and Brian is that Betsy is too smart to trust the narratives because she understands they weren't written for her. They were written for people like Brian. The fact that she knows that, and isn't afraid to change the story, is what scares the people in power. If you're Brian Braddock and you are a straight white man that lives in England, and a magical man appears to you and says, 'I have a quest for you,' you're more likely to trust that. But if you are a queer woman and mutant, and a man appears to you and tells you that he has something for you to do, that carries a different charge and a different level of trust.

On Betsy and Rachel

Tini Howard: One of the most exciting and affirming moments I can remember as a comics reader was reading Peter David and Valentine De Landro's X-Factor #45, turning the page and being completely surprised by a kiss between Rictor and Shatterstar. It was just such an incredible thing, how it was treated like any other awesome surprise kiss, and so exciting. Also, I think kissing is very important to good X-Men stories. There's such a thrill when two characters you like kiss, it's like winning the Super Bowl...I imagine. I've spent three years working behind the scenes to create that feeling for others that I so loved myself. That's what making art is all about, to me.

On archetypes

Tini Howard: I have a real love for the sorceress and the knight. From Final Fantasy to Geralt and Yennefer in The Witcher, I love a sword-wielder and their more magical partner who is equally powerful and tough. That dynamic lets the characters react to the expectation that one of you defends the other or something; instead they can show how partnerships actually work and how people actually love each other.

On Knights of X #5

Tini Howard: In Knights of X #5, we'll learn a bit more specifically about the power and potential that the connection between Rachel and Betsy is capable of. Rachel's past taught her to claim space for herself outside of the desires of others, and she's going to be in a role to help Betsy to learn this as well.

Knights of X #4 Art

 

Knights of X #4 Spoilers

Spoilers: King Arthur and his minions pursue the Knights, while they argue about Gambit’s death and the meaning of his sacrifice. Mad Jim Jaspers is freed and incapacitates the Furies. Jaspers then opens a portal to Mercator. Betsy decides to go alone, but her Knights follow her. King Arthur also crosses the portal to Mercator and ends up in the new realm sinking in black mud. Absolon welcomes him and explains that Mercator is the Siege Perilous itself turned into realm and that the Siege forces one to face oneself. A data page follows with a letter from King Arthur addressing Merlyn ending their alliance and writing about how he loves his son (Don’t worry, it makes no sense). Each Knight of X is also faced with their innermost fears/desires. Rictor desires to die, but sees Apocalypse instead. Meggan sees an aggressive version of Brian. Mordred sees a version of King Arthur. Betsy sees the Captain Britain Corps blaming her for her failures, but realizes she had been in that place before when she crossed the Siege Perilous back in the day.

Meanwhile in the Floating Kingdom, Roma senses that something has awakened within Shogo. Roma and Saturnyne ride on Shogo and head to Mercator. Merlyn, who was randomly nearby spying on them after disappearing last issue (?), decides to pursue both women. Rachel somehow realizes what Roma and Saturnyne are up to and says she won’t let them tie Betsy to them in every timeline. The peasant woman Geraldine approaches Rachel and says she must gather the Knights to save the timeline. A data page follows explaining how Rachel is unique in the multiverse.

Afterwards, Shatterstar is fighting Spiral and Adam the X-Treme when Rachel interrupts his vision and recues him. Rachel proceeds to rescue Bei from a vision in which she kills Doug and Kylun from a vision where he relives the death of his former lover Sat’neen. Meggan and Rictor break free from the illusions by themselves, and the Knights regroup. Rachel flares up a beam of light to guide Betsy back to them. When they reunite, Besty and Rachel kiss passionately with butterflies around them. Absolon Mercator welcomes them and points out to Shogo arriving shortly with Roma and Saturnyne. Merlyn is pursuing them and says it’s time to end the battle.

Knights of X #4 Preview

Knights of X #4

Writer: Tini Howard

Art by: Bob Quinn

Cover by: Yannick Paquette

The Story: Brave Through the Darkness! With Arthur and his army on their heels, all but one of the Knights of X have made it to Mercator — the province void of light. But all isn’t what it seems. Will Betsy and her team be able to overcome the darkness and find the Siege Perilous?

In Stores: July 20, 2022

 

Tini Howard Confirms End of "Knights of X", Threatens New Book

 

Source: Tini Howard's newsletter.

There you have it. Tini Howard took to her newsletter to confirm that Knights of X #5 is indeed the final issue. Unfortunately, she also confirms that she's not done writing Betsy Braddock yet and teases a new book focused on Captain Britain. Maybe third time's a charm, right? 😢

Knights of X #3 Art

Knights of X #3 Spoilers

Spoilers: Roma and Saturnyne meet to teach Shogo a lesson, showing him a vision of the Knights of X battling through the scrying pool. Roma and Saturnyne warn Shogo that he needs to watch one of his friends die as a knight must know sacrifice.

Back to the Crooked Market, Gambit’s team works together to subdue the Furies. Gambit and Rachel end up arguing as he wants to rescue Mad Jim Jaspers while Rachel wants to follow Betsy. The argument is interrupted when the Furies bring Mad Jim for his public execution.

Meanwhile, Betsy’s team makes their way to Sevalith, taking down a number of vampires with Arthur’s army following their trail. Betsy’s team reaches Death, who’s being kept imprisoned by the vampire Countexes. While Death rejects their offer to be rescued, he helps Rictor understand Apocalypse’s annotations in the Grimoire.

Death tells the tale: When Krakoa was founded, Apocalypse sought Absolon Mercator and took him to a desert land. Apocalypse revealed he had retrieved the Siege Perilous and asked Mister M to keep the Siege Perilous with him and turn the desert land into a kingdom of his own. Apocalypse requested Mister M to keep his kingdom closed off until a great sacrifice was made, at which point he should open his kingdom to mutantkind.

Betsy’s team spends the night in the sewers of Sevalith, and Rictor deduces he must be the one to be sacrificed. As the psychic rapport between Rachel and Betsy is restored, Betsy decides to put the quest on hold and has Shatterstar teleport them to the Crooked Market. The Knights of X reunite and fight the Furies together. The townsfolk suddenly turn against Mordred, and Rachel deduces hist mutant power must be making people want to fight him. Gambit and Meggan team up to rescue Mad Jim Jaspers when Merlyn suddenly appears before them. Gambit uses a magic card he had stolen from the Starlight Citadel against Merlyn and claims he once was Death. Gambit’s trick backfires (or is he in the know?) as he dies holding the “death” tarot card. Roma and Saturnyne have Shogo watch Remy’s death as it is “necessary”.

A page of Apocalypse’s Grimoire has Apocalypse musing about how the Horseman of Death is the hardest role to fill. Death must not be a bad man because Death is selfless as he must be ready to die himself.

Knights of X #3 Preview

Knights of X #3

Writer: Tini Howard

Art by: Bob Quinn

Cover by: Yannick Paquette

The Story: The fall of the Knights of X! Gambit and his team gain a momentary victory over the Furies in Crooked Market, but as the group is hit by another wave of attacks by Merlyn's army, Rachel Summer's connection with Captain Britain is severed before she can call in reinforcements. In Sevalith, the Captain and her team face off against blood thirsty vampires as they seek out a lethal potential ally. Their quest required ten knights to begin, but no one said anything about the end. A knight dies here – and the hateful quest goes on.

In Stores: June 22, 2022

Knights of X #4 Variant Cover by Felipe Massafera

Knights of X #2 Art

Knights of X #2 Spoilers

Spoilers: Merlyn gathers the regents of all provinces in the Lunatic Citadel and scolds them for not eradicating the mutants left. Merlyn takes out his rage on Mister M from Mercator and Mad Jim Jaspers from the Crooked Market, as they’re both mutants. While Mister M is absent, Jaspers is taken prisoner with the aid of blightswill, a power-dampening liquor.

Meanwhile in Lavender’s Keep, Betsy contacts the Quiet Council telepathically with the aid of a mutant circuit and updates Xavier on Otherworld, Mordred and Shogo, to Jubilee’s relief. While Kylun and Mordred spar with each other, Betsy and Rachel overhear Jaspers’ cry for help in their minds.

The team splits up, and Gambit takes Meggan, Bei, Kylun and Rachel to the Crooked Market. While Gambit smuggles food to mutants in hiding, Rachel realizes the people of the Crooked Market are terrified of blightswill and warns Betsy, who has remained in Roma’s Floating Kingdom.

Betsy leaves Shogo under Roma’s care as he is just an innocent baby. Captain Britain then takes Rictor, Shatterstar and Mordred to Blightspoke to investigate the source of the blightswill liquor and the whereabouts of Sheriff Whitechapel. The Knights of X find Blightspoke overrun by Vescoras and the Sheriff and her posse imprisoned. While Rictor, Shatterstar and Mordred fight off the Vescora army, Betsy attempts to rescue Sheriff Whitechapel; however, the Sheriff instead fakes her death to fool the Vescora. Betsy contacts Rachel and warns that her team will head off to Sevalith to look for Death.

Elsewhere, Merlyn dispatches Furies to eliminate Gambit’s team. One of the Furies detects Rachel as an anomaly, someone without alternate counterparts. Gambit’s team works together and combines their powers strategically to take down the Furies in order to free Jaspers.

In the meantime, Betsy, Rictor, Shatterstar and Mordred make it to Sevalith and are watched by the vampire Countexes.

Knights of X #2 Preview

Knights of X #2

Written by: Tini Howard

Art by: Bob Quinn

Cover by: Yanick Paquette

The Story: Betsy Braddock has assembled her Knights! Their mission: to save Otherworld from Merlyn and his powerful henchmen...by finding the holy grail of mutantkind. But Otherworld is vast, and innumerable armies stand in their way. When Merlyn targets the Crooked Market, a safe haven for mutantkind, the Knights must split up. Will Captain Britain find the grail? Will Gambit lead the others into a deadly trap? Death looms over the Knights — in more ways than one.

In Stores: June 1, 2022

Knights of X #2 Advance Preview