The Uncanny X-Men #526
Uncanny X-Men #526 opens the 'Five Lights' arc — the first storyline to follow the conclusion of 'Second Coming' — and marks the moment Hope Summers demonstrably activates the re-emerging mutant gene in other people, a power development that redefines her narrative role from mere prophecy figure to active catalyst for mutantkind's revival. It introduces Laurie Tromette (Transonic), the first of the new post-M-Day mutant generation whose powers Hope jumpstarts, directly seeding the Generation Hope ongoing series. The issue also continues the ongoing subplot of Kitty Pryde's post-bullet condition, showing the science team grappling with her inability to re-solidify after Magneto's rescue in #522, giving her a new dramatic purpose in the title. Structurally, it is the pivot point where the book's creative stewardship quietly begins shifting from Matt Fraction to Kieron Gillen, making it the de facto opening chapter of a new editorial era.
In "The Five Lights Part One: Freak Like Me," Hope Summers journeys to Cooperstown, Alaska, seeking answers about her mysterious lineage, while the X-Men race to uncover the truth behind five newly emerging mutants since M-Day. The first of these enigmatic "lights" is Laurie Tromette, a young woman in Vancouver, Canada, grappling with a power that brings her pain. Written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Whilce Portacio, with colors by Brian Reber and letters by Joe Caramagna, this issue sets a haunting, urgent tone for a story that redefines what it means to be a mutant. The cover, a striking collaboration by Terry and Rachel Dodson, captures the tension and mystery of the moment.
Hope Summers heads to Cooperstown, Alaska, chasing whispers of her family’s past, while the X-Men race to track down five mysterious new mutants emerging after M-Day. The first of these enigmatic "lights" is Laurie Tromette, a young woman in Vancouver grappling with agonizing powers she can’t control.
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The issue was written by Matt Fraction with an uncredited co-plotting contribution from Kieron Gillen, who had already designed and pre-built the Five Lights characters in anticipation of writing the Generation Hope spin-off series. Pencils were shared across the issue by Whilce Portacio and Terry Dodson (with Rachel Dodson inking Dodson's pages), with colors by Justin Ponsor and Brian Reber; editor Nick Lowe oversaw production, assisted by Jake Thomas and Daniel Ketchum. A secondary backup story in the same issue, written by Allan Heinberg and drawn by Olivier Coipel, functions as a lead-in to the Avengers: The Children's Crusade limited series, making #526 an unusually double-duty launch pad for two separate Marvel storylines simultaneously.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Laurie Tromette (later known as Transonic) — the first of the Five Lights whose mutation Hope activates by touch in Vancouver, Canada; she goes on to become a core member of the Generation Hope team.
- Written by Matt Fraction; Kieron Gillen co-plotted the issue without a cover credit, having pre-created the Five Lights characters in preparation for his Generation Hope series.
- Pencil art split between Whilce Portacio (main story) and Terry Dodson (additional pages), with inking by Edgar Tadeo and Mark Morales respectively; colors by Justin Ponsor and Brian Reber.
- A backup story written by Allan Heinberg with art by Olivier Coipel serves as a direct lead-in to Avengers: The Children's Crusade, and is frequently collected with Young Avengers material rather than X-Men collections.
- Set during Marvel's 'Heroic Age' initiative — the first issue of Uncanny X-Men to take place in that post-Siege status quo — as confirmed by Matt Fraction in pre-publication interview.
- Continues the Kitty Pryde intangibility subplot: Dr. Kavita Rao and Madison Jeffries assess Kitty at Utopia and conclude she may have lost the ability to re-solidify after months phased inside the Breakworld bullet.
- Hope travels to Cooperstown, Alaska, to investigate her biological origins, beginning the thread that reveals her maternal grandmother in this arc.
- Collected in Uncanny X-Men: The Birth of Generation Hope (2010 TPB, issues #526–529) and again in Uncanny X-Men: The Complete Matt Fraction Collection Vol. 3 (2013).
Cast · 5 characters
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Reprints
Reprinted in Uncanny X-Men: The Birth of Generation Hope #[nn] (2010), Los Increíbles Hombres X, Uncanny X-Men #25 (2011), Wolverine and Deadpool #29 (2012), Avengers: The Children's Crusade #[nn] (2012), Avengers: The Children's Crusade #[nn] (2012), Uncanny X-Men by Matt Fraction: The Complete Collection #3 (2013), Young Avengers by Allan Heinberg & Jim Cheung: The Children's Crusade #[nn] (2017), Young Avengers by Heinberg & Cheung Omnibus #[nn] (2022), Young Avengers Modern Era Epic Collection #3 (2025), Die offizielle Marvel-Comic-Sammlung #67
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