We all remember House of M (and if you don’t—you should!) and, at the end of it all, the Scarlet Witch with three words: “No More Mutants.” It stands as one of Marvel’s defining stories of the 2000s, a reality‑shifting event that transformed the X‑Men line, reimagined Wanda Maximoff’s role in the universe, and set off a chain reaction of consequences that echoed through major storylines from Decimation to Avengers vs. X‑Men. But that’s not all of the story. In fact, to get the whole picture, it takes a few thousand pages!
First up is the House of M Omnibus, at over 1,200 pages and containing the mini-series, but also all the supporting miniseries and tie-ins like Spider-Man: House of M and Iron Man: House of M. It is loaded with A-List talent like Bendis, Claremont, Bunn, and McNiven.
At its core, this reality in which mutants reign and humans are pushed to the margins is explored through political intrigue, personal struggle, heroism, and heartbreak. The tie‑ins don’t just fill space—they meaningfully broaden the scope of the world. I recently reread the whole thing, and beneath the drama and superheroics, there is a lot of sadness in the story. In this reality, not only is Gwen Stacy alive, but she’s married to Peter, and they have a son. The whole Parker sub-story is not a happy tale, and to make matters worse, Peter remembers everything when reality resets.
If I had one qualm, it’s that the contents are listed in a mini-series order rather than chronologically. You have the House of M mini-series, followed by the other mini-series and tie-ins. I would have liked to see it assembled chronologically, because I think some of the plot points might have resonated more.
Now, X-Men: Decimation Omnibus has a different feel and tone to it, as it deals with the ramifications, fallout, and consequences of House of M. Technically, you don’t even need to read House to appreciate and get House. First, it starts with House of M 8, which serves more of an epilogue.
Again, it picks up the story of what happens after Wanda says, “no more mutants,” and just like that, over 90% of the mutants lose their powers. Some lose it devastatingly, tragically. See, the Blob—no longer the Blob—hammers that it is a new era, not only for the remaining mutants, but the whole Marvels mythos.
The trade is a collection of both ongoing series (like New X-Men 20-24) and mini-series. Without giving away too much of the story, one of the mini-series, Son of M, starts with a depowered Quicksilver and the ramifications of his role in the House of M event.
One interesting thing is that this is a different Scarlet Witch who is now the Sorcerer Supreme. Granted, House of M is now twenty (!) years old, but it took a long time to redeem and remake—in a sense—Wanda into the character that you see today. Both omnibuses were released in the past couple of years, and both are worth seeking out for the characters and the overall stories that weave through them.
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