This project has been long-rumored. On again, off again, Jemas was going to write it, Howard Mackie was going to write it, and now, it's really going to happen.

And this time, it's Joe Quesada writing it. Well, go figure. The art looks good, though this cover makes me think ...hmmm. And well we should -- the book is rated PSR + , so be aware that the artwork you download contains mature themes.

From Marvel:

Professor Charles Xavier can't educate and provide a welcome home for every young mutant in the world. His gift of creating hope from despair doesn't reach everyone who needs it, and that simple premise serves as the basis of NYX, the long awaited and controversial new MARVEL PSR+ ongoing series debuting October 10th, 2003.

Written by the Marvel Editor-in-Chief himself - Joe Quesada, and illustrated by exclusive Marvel creator and rising superstar Joshua Middleton, this new street-level X-Men series introduces a pack of New York City gutterpunks, a group of young mutants that have to rely on themselves for everything from food to shelter to love. Kids who instead of preparing for Magneto's next big assault in the Danger Room, must learn to survive in the cold, harsh, and dangerous world of the city that never sleeps - begging for change in Washington Square Park and finding a warm place to sleep in the Port Authority bus station.

But while the cast of NYX will be the mutants who fall through the cracks of Xavier's dream, it won't be without its ties to the core X-MEN universe. By December's NYX #3, readers will be introduced to a new character that is related to one of the most prominent mutants characters of all time. A very close blood relative to a current X-Man, and the Marvel Universe will never
be the same...

Here are a couple comments from Comics Buyer's Guide review of NYX #1:

"...the art attitude and atmosphere is convincing. Art, story, characters: It looks as if Marvel has solid - if out of left field - hit on its hands."

"The long-awaited return of Middleton to a regular comic-book gig high-lights this interesting title. Character development is the key..."

NYX #1 (AUG031497), the 32-page debut issue of a new ongoing series, goes on sale October 10th with a cover price of $2.99 and a MARVEL PSR+ rating. Retailers are reminded its Final Order Cut-off (FOC) date is Thursday, September 18th. Readers, ask your retailer to reserve you a copy before the order cut-off date.

Download the pages here.

Derek McCaw