Potential spoilers for SWORD and X-Men Red ahead!
In a unique promotional move, writer Al Ewing created a Spotify playlist, titled “XMR,” a reference to the writer’s forthcoming X-Men Red series. However, Ewing has not offered any explanation as to what the songs on the playlist mean, leading to fan speculation. The first issue of X-Men Red, part of the larger Destiny of X event, will be on sale in print and digital April.
The past three years have been some of the most monumental in the X-Men’s history, seeing mutantkind come together on the island nation of Krakoa, creating a paradise (on the surface) where mutants can live without prejudice and fear of human attacks. Recently, the mutants terraformed Mars, rechristening it Planet Arakko and appointing Storm its ruler. This March, the X-Men embark on the next step in their evolution with the Destiny of X event. While exact details are still being revealed, the X-Men are currently dealing with dissension on Krakoa in Inferno. Destiny’s recent revival has exposed cracks in the foundation of Krakoa, ones that threaten to undermine everything the X-Men have worked to achieve. The event will also launch a number of new X-Men related titles, X-Men Red among them. The book will be written by Al Ewing, who is currently writing SWORD, about the X-Men’s interplanetary defense system. X-Men Red promises to spin out of SWORD and to further build hype, Ewing created a playlist that might hold vital clues to X-Men Red’s plot.
In a Tweet, Al Ewing provided a link to the playlist, titled “XMR,” appearing on the streaming service Spotify. Comprised of 27 songs and clocking in at a little over two hours, the playlist features a wide variety of songs, encompassing multiple genres, including rock and roll, EDM, folk as well as music from films and video games. Among some of the more popular artists appearing on the playlist include Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen, Prodigy and the Velvet Underground.
So, what is Al Ewing trying to say with this playlist? Is it a companion piece to X-Men Red, perhaps offering clues as to what fans can expect from the book? Does Ewing intend for it be a soundtrack, to be listened to while actually reading the comic? Or is simply a collection of songs Ewing was listening to while preparing the comic? Many of the songs reference the color red, such as the first two tracks: “Red Planet” by Scandroid and “Big Red” by Black Francis (Frank Black from the Pixies). More than a few songs, such as “War” by Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Alphaville’s “I Die for You Today,” reference combat and bloodshed—reinforcing the red motif. Is Ewing hinting at a large conflict?
The X-Men’s terraforming of Mars, and the discovery of the metal Mysterium, sent ripples through the galaxy—will the other galactic powers sit idly by while the Sol System asserts itself? There are songs of community as well, such as Bruce Springsteen’s “We Take Care of Our Own.” Songs such as these reinforce the notion that Krakoa is, in spirit, for all mutants, whether or not that is true in reality. A few outlier songs, such as The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “The Impression That I Get” as well as music from Metal Gear Solid are puzzles as to their inclusion.
X-Men Red will not be in stores until April of 2022, but fans curious about the new book now have a Spotify playlist, created by the book’s writer, to fuel speculations and theories.
Source: Al Ewing
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