X-Men Gold

"Back to Basics"

The series begins with politician Lydia Nance justifying why she's so strongly against mutants during a televised interview. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde leads her new team of X-Men against Terrax as civilians gather to watch the battle. After the battle ends and Terrax is subdued Kitty attempts to address the onlookers with a speech about how the X-Men can be heroes for everyone, but is unsuccessful as the public view of the X-Men has been darkened ever since their feud with the Inhumans. Kitty faces even more hardships when the government provides her with an increasing amount of paperwork due to the X-Men now living in Central Park. After almost having an awkward reunion with Colossus, Prestige informs the team that a group of mutants are attacking the city. The X-Men arrive at the United Nations building and find it under attack by a brand new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, now including the X-Men's old ally Magma.^[6] During the ensuing battle Mesmero captures Logan and the Brotherhood teleports away. S.H.I.E.L.D. arrives on the scene and shows Kitty footage of Nance using the X-Men's fight against the Brotherhood as a means of stirring up paranoia of an impending race-war. The Brotherhood only fuels Nance's anti-mutant stance further when they announce that they kidnapped the mayor and intend to execute him in 24 hours, leading to Nance suggesting mutant-deportation.^[7] Logan attempts to escape but ends up under Mesmero's mind-control. The X-Men find the Brotherhood's base and Logan attempts to ambush them until Storm manages to subdue him. Prestige manages to defeat Mesmero, and it's revealed that Magma was under his control. Not knowing what's real and what isn't anymore, she attacks Kitty and almost burns the whole building down. Kitty manages to get through to her and together they all escape the building and S.H.I.E.L.D. arrests the remainder of the Brotherhood. After Prestige realizes that the entire Brotherhood was under Mesmero's control after he was employed by Nance to stir up anti-mutant hysteria by any means necessary, the X-Men visit Nance personally and threaten to expose her if she continues her campaign.^[8]

"Techno Superior"

Gambit is hired to steal a supposedly empty vial. Upon returning to his new employer he realizes that it's Olivia Trask, granddaughter of Bolivar Trask. Gambit then angrily discovers that the vial actually isn't empty and is home to a bunch of nanites. Gambit attempts to destroy the vial so Trask can't use them but the nanites escape and take on the form of a brand new breed of Sentinel. Gambit calls the X-Men for help. Storm manages to rescue Gambit just before the Sentinel is able to kill him. While the rest of the X-Men clear civilians, Kitty uses her phasing power to disrupt the Sentinel. As it dissipates Prestige falls unconscious due to massive psychic backlash, revealing that this new Sentinel is self-aware and is capable of learning from past encounters. Lydia Nance uses this latest incident to label the X-Men as terrorists as their fight against the Sentinel caused major damage to a nearby skyscraper. Meanwhile, the Sentinel reforms and uses a telepathic attack to kill everyone with genetic differences instead of only mutants. S.H.I.E.L.D. and other heroes soon join the X-Men to help disperse the crowd and fight off the exponentially increasing onslaught. While unconscious, Prestige telepathically discusses her fears of what the future given her own history and legacy with astral versions of her deceased family. Upon waking up she unleashes the full magnitude of her powers to destroy the Sentinel's consciousness, leaving her unsure of how using her powers like that will affect her in the future. As the X-Men and other heroes leave after making sure all of the civilians are safe, the Sentinel begins to discreetly reform underneath the rubble.^[9]

"Secret Empire"

Colossus took on critical injuries during the battle against the Sentinel that left him unable to change his body into steel. Prestige kisses Nightcrawler after having figured out his attraction to her given the stronger nature of her psychic powers. Before they can discuss their blossoming relationship further they realize that Manhattan is becoming shrouded in the Darkforce dimension. After communing with Dr. Strange about what to do Kitty sends Storm, Logan, and Nightcrawler to handle crowd control. Nightcrawler immediately gets attacked by a frightened mob who thinks he's one of the Darkforce demons. Meanwhile, the X-Men learn that a serial killer has infiltrated the mansion in the chaos and has started killing the students. It's revealed that the killer is a new X-Cutioner and just as he's about to murder Eye-Boy he's discovered by Kitty, Colossus, and Prestige. X-Cutioner shoots directly at Colossus.^[10] Prestige manages to divert his attack and allow Kitty a chance to fight him. Logan and Storm manage to disperse the mob beating Nightcrawler and find him miraculously alive despite the severe and lethal nature of his injuries; Nightcrawler claims that Heaven won't accept him after he escaped the first time. Kitty ends up fighting X-Cutioner on her own after everyone else is evacuated from the mansion. Before beating him she learns that mutants killed his wife and son and blames all mutants for fighting each other with no regard for humans in the crossfire. He shoots at Kitty but Colossus intercepts the shot with his shoulder. After X-Cutioner is arrested Kitty receives a congressional summons for a meeting about a new bill regarding mutant deportation.^[11]

"Kitty Goes to Washington"

In Russia, a resurrection ritual begins taking place. Back in the States, Kitty and Colossus travel to Washington DC where they rendezvous with Stevie Hunter, who now works in Congress. Stevie helps prepare Kitty and Peter for the meeting. Meanwhile, Rachel and Kurt finally go on their first date together and discuss Rachel's fears of what her heightened powers after the Sentinel incident may mean for her future. After Kitty speaks to the congressmen, Peter invites her to dinner where they acknowledge that there is still an attraction between them leading to Peter suggesting that if they were to get back together then the only way they could move forward is via eventual marriage. The next day Kitty returns to speak with Congress again but the meeting is interrupted by Whiplash, who has a grudge against Congress and attempts to assassinate them. Even though Kitty and Peter manage to stop him and save the congressmen, Stevie later on regretfully inform them that it didn't change their minds and they're still going to pass the bill on mutant deportation. Back in Russia, it is revealed that Omega Red has come back to life.^[12]

"En'Kane"

Omega Red adjusts to his newly resurrected life but knows that the resurrection is only temporary, causing him to seek out a way for the resurrection to remain permanent. A short while later Colossus receives a mysterious phone call from an uncle he never met named Anatoly Rasputin, who informs Colossus about Omega Red's mysterious resurrection. Colossus and Magik take the X-Men to Russia with them to survey their meeting with Anatoly. Shortly after Colossus and Magik meet Anatoly, they are ambushed by monsters imbued with magic. As the rest of the X-Men reveal themselves and join in the fight, Illyana ends up captured as and the mob leaves. It is soon revealed that Omega Red needs Illyana's powers as Magik in order for his resurrection to remain permanent.^[13] Peter agrees to let Anatoly lead him to the rest of the mob so they can find Magik, but once they find the mob Anatoly double crosses him. Peter and Nightcrawler manage to find Magik and free her. Omega Red meanwhile ambushes Logan, Storm, and Kitty. After easily defeating Storm and Kitty he fights Logan, seeking vengeance for Logan having killed him in the past. Logan manages to best Omega Red again. As Magik tries to interrogate Anatoly he uses his own magic abilities to fight back and almost kills her until Peter finally becomes able to reuse his abilities again and stops his uncle. After Anatoly is arrested for his crimes with the Russian mob, Kitty and Peter officially get back together as a couple.^[14]

Controversy

In the first issue, Colossus wears a shirt with "QS 5:51" printed on the chest.^[16] It represents a verse from the Qur'an, Surah Al-Ma'idah 5 verse 51, which reads:

O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.

The verse was topical at the time of printing in Jakarta, Indonesia, where penciller Syaf lives. During the governor election in Jakarta, the sitting governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, was being attacked by opponents for being a minority Chinese Christian. The Qur'an verse QS 5:51 was being used as justification to pressure Muslim voters not to vote for a non-Muslim leader such as Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. Syaf admitted on Facebook to have participated in these protests and drew this scene after attending one.^[16]

On April 8, 2017, Marvel released a statement via ComicBook.com.^[17]

The mentioned artwork in X-Men Gold #1 was inserted without knowledge behind its reported meanings. These implied references do not reflect the views of the writer, editors or anyone else at Marvel and are in direct opposition of the inclusiveness of Marvel Comics and what the X-Men have stood for since their creation. This artwork will be removed from subsequent printings, digital versions, and trade paperbacks and disciplinary action is being taken.

As a result of his actions, Syaf was terminated from his position at Marvel.^[18]