What do you think?
Rate this book
Mutopia X #1-5
House of M: Mutopia X
Lights, camera, terrorists! Special investigator of human and mutant affairs Ismael Ortega teams up with ordinary cop Lucas Bishop to make sure terrorists from the Human Resistance Movement don't kill hundreds by sabotaging a glamorous movie premiere! Ismael's daughter, Chamayra, prepares to take part in the Rite of Transcendence, a ritual that unleashes the untapped mutant potential in children! Collects Mutopia X #1-5.
120 pages, Paperback
First published February 8, 2006
7 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 17, 2021
House of M, District X style with Bishop and Izzy... but way too similar to District X and lacking any real cohesiveness... one to swerve in my opinion, unless you're a fan of District X. A weak 5 our of 12.
March 9, 2022
The story of Ismeal Ortega and his fall from grace made for an interesting read. You see the high water mark that was present just before the house of M storyline. With mutants-a-plenty everywhere, and revered as almost pseudo celebrities, the social dynamics were very different from one day to the next. Because obviously, since takes place during house of M, we see the before, and we see the after affects as well.
I think that was the coolest part about the book, showing you how good everything was, and after "no more mutants", seeing the desolation of the characters, as well as the environment changing radically. This causes many spiraling effects, and affects our protagonist on a very personal level.
Unfortunately the story kind of devolves at the end a bit, and to me it felt rushed and less cohesive than the first half. But overall, it was an interesting look at the Marvel Universe, and seeing how Wanda really changed things after the breakdown.
I think that was the coolest part about the book, showing you how good everything was, and after "no more mutants", seeing the desolation of the characters, as well as the environment changing radically. This causes many spiraling effects, and affects our protagonist on a very personal level.
Unfortunately the story kind of devolves at the end a bit, and to me it felt rushed and less cohesive than the first half. But overall, it was an interesting look at the Marvel Universe, and seeing how Wanda really changed things after the breakdown.
Read
June 22, 2020Flashing back from Dawn Of X, a tie-in to House Of M, the event which served as a capstone and end to the last time mutants were in the ascendant. A changed world where mutants, Marvel's long-standing minority metaphor, are on the top of the heap, with normal humans the second-class citizens. Where in a majority human neighbourhood, a mostly mutant crowd watches a mutant rapper drop lyrics like "They say I'm mutant 'cause my skin's kind of blue, But inside where it counts, I'm a sapien too".
For saying this came out in 2006, when 'cultural appropriation' wasn't a term in anything like the same widespread use, it feels very prescient. This was building out of, and finishing off, an era in which the situation of mutants was shifting into something a little Harlem Renaissance, a little late nineties gay – they were still a minority, they were still facing all manner of systemic oppression, but they were also in-world cool. And even back in the complacent noughties (as it seems now, at least, though things looked plenty tough at the time) there were creators alive to the downside of that – not least Grant Morrison, the main mover behind that status quo, who created such hideously plausible foes as the U-Men, humans who felt more deserving of mutanthood than the mutants themselves, willing to literally dissect them and steal their organs to right this perceived injustice. While there are undoubtedly details which haven't aged as well, the overall thrust of it remains horribly relevant.
So that's the background against which the story takes place. The story itself? Well, that's trying to wrap up the odd couple procedural series District X despite the world being turned upside down, and serves mainly to confirm that even in an altered world, sapiens Detective Ismael Ortega remains a complete clusterfuck next to whom Bishop, the mutant half of the partnership, is the very model of togetherness. And ending a series rooted in a neighbourhood when that neighbourhood has been transfigured (even if the last issue takes matters back to the 'real' Marvel Earth) was always going to be a tough ask. But if the worldbuilding made one noughties reader reconsider some of the more awkward affectations they'd borrowed from Eminem, it was still something. Albeit, as we're now seeing, very much a drop in the ocean; I don't even want to think how many of the goons from militarised Stateside PDs get pumped up on hip hop before they head out to cause the very injustices that motivate it.
For saying this came out in 2006, when 'cultural appropriation' wasn't a term in anything like the same widespread use, it feels very prescient. This was building out of, and finishing off, an era in which the situation of mutants was shifting into something a little Harlem Renaissance, a little late nineties gay – they were still a minority, they were still facing all manner of systemic oppression, but they were also in-world cool. And even back in the complacent noughties (as it seems now, at least, though things looked plenty tough at the time) there were creators alive to the downside of that – not least Grant Morrison, the main mover behind that status quo, who created such hideously plausible foes as the U-Men, humans who felt more deserving of mutanthood than the mutants themselves, willing to literally dissect them and steal their organs to right this perceived injustice. While there are undoubtedly details which haven't aged as well, the overall thrust of it remains horribly relevant.
So that's the background against which the story takes place. The story itself? Well, that's trying to wrap up the odd couple procedural series District X despite the world being turned upside down, and serves mainly to confirm that even in an altered world, sapiens Detective Ismael Ortega remains a complete clusterfuck next to whom Bishop, the mutant half of the partnership, is the very model of togetherness. And ending a series rooted in a neighbourhood when that neighbourhood has been transfigured (even if the last issue takes matters back to the 'real' Marvel Earth) was always going to be a tough ask. But if the worldbuilding made one noughties reader reconsider some of the more awkward affectations they'd borrowed from Eminem, it was still something. Albeit, as we're now seeing, very much a drop in the ocean; I don't even want to think how many of the goons from militarised Stateside PDs get pumped up on hip hop before they head out to cause the very injustices that motivate it.
July 4, 2024
The House of M changed District X into Mutopia X, the center of mutant culture, but the human ghetto of Sapien Town lies just at its borders. A new human terrorist cell publically attacks mutant media mogul "Shaky" Kaufman, forcing the federal mutant/human investigation organization, the XSE, to team up with the NYPD before things get worse. Special Investigator Ismael Ortega joins Detective Bishop to investigate the new threat and uncover the darker side of Mutopia's most notable businessman.
David Hine and Lan Madina do a good job of quickly flipping from an oppressed mutant culture to a celebrated one. The impressive part was that the creative team kept the focus on the struggles of normal people trying to live on the edge of society. The characters are all still recognizable despite the surface changes in their roles, but that only highlights how much they remain fundamentally the same person inside. The world may be different, but their choices still haunt them. This is particularly true for Ismael Ortega. I think this five-issue limited series better captures his character arc than the 14-issue run of District X.
David Hine and Lan Madina do a good job of quickly flipping from an oppressed mutant culture to a celebrated one. The impressive part was that the creative team kept the focus on the struggles of normal people trying to live on the edge of society. The characters are all still recognizable despite the surface changes in their roles, but that only highlights how much they remain fundamentally the same person inside. The world may be different, but their choices still haunt them. This is particularly true for Ismael Ortega. I think this five-issue limited series better captures his character arc than the 14-issue run of District X.
May 27, 2024
After the first issue that is meant to be spectacular, the second goes into the meat of the issue with this mutant ruled world. It's not enough to simply be ruled over. You also have to be a mutant or made into a mutant to live what is the new normal. Regular humans are the oppressed class, so everyone wants to ascend to mutant status as early in childhood as possible. It made me think of the transgender movement of today, excepting the fact that here, at least, the childrens' parents still have a say in the matter. This author is a visionary, that's for sure.
Regular human Ismael Ortega and beat cop Bishop are assigned as bodyguards to Daniel Kaufman, a suspected gangster, and the most popular actress in the business, Lara Kaufman the illusionist. Ismael thwarts the first attack and gets a bullseye painted on himself.
Regular human Ismael Ortega and beat cop Bishop are assigned as bodyguards to Daniel Kaufman, a suspected gangster, and the most popular actress in the business, Lara Kaufman the illusionist. Ismael thwarts the first attack and gets a bullseye painted on himself.
November 18, 2022
Despite the confusing title change due to House of M, this is the final volume of District X. It does a surprisingly good job of using the House of M alternate reality to provide a satisfying, albeit depressing, conclusion to the series.
January 29, 2012
This book collects the Mutopia X mini-series that was written by David Hine a British artist and writer who seems to be more well known for his writing duties these days. He wrote the District X series for Marvel out of which this series is descended. The art was by penciller Lan Medina and inker Alejandro Sicat - a pair of comic book artists from the Philippines who also worked on District X.
This book was OK but given its pedigree - all the creators having worked on the parent title District X - it may have had more resonance for those familiar with that series and the background of the main characters. There is a sub-plot concerning tensions with Ortega and his mutant wife over their daughter who has the chance of awakening her dormant mutant abilities in a rite of transformation. There was an opportunity to explore this more and elevate the story above the average but it was only touched upon and used as a plot device to enable the villainous Kaufman a shot of revenge at Ortega. Ortega himself is not a very sympathetic character in this story and his plight did not touch me as much as it might have done for characters that I have an emotional connection with. So another House of M related title that adds little to the main story.
This book was OK but given its pedigree - all the creators having worked on the parent title District X - it may have had more resonance for those familiar with that series and the background of the main characters. There is a sub-plot concerning tensions with Ortega and his mutant wife over their daughter who has the chance of awakening her dormant mutant abilities in a rite of transformation. There was an opportunity to explore this more and elevate the story above the average but it was only touched upon and used as a plot device to enable the villainous Kaufman a shot of revenge at Ortega. Ortega himself is not a very sympathetic character in this story and his plight did not touch me as much as it might have done for characters that I have an emotional connection with. So another House of M related title that adds little to the main story.
January 19, 2022
As a stand alone comic, this doesn't hold up unless you've read District X. There are too many non-leading rolls played here with only the loose tie-in to Wanda Maximoff's mental breakdown that started the House of M story arc. However, if you have read District X, you may also be disappointed as it's very similar and, therefore, predictable and a bit blasé, so I guess we're at a Catch-22 with this. Which, honestly, is unfortunate because the idea of a Hollywoodesque mutant-run construct of a town nestled right up against a large settlement of sapiens begs for a good story.
Regardless, it is a good caveat with a great friendship built between Lucas Bishop and Ismael Ortega. The story runs smoothly, as opposed to other installments of the House of M overlap in other comics, and I definitely enjoyed it more than most.
Regardless, it is a good caveat with a great friendship built between Lucas Bishop and Ismael Ortega. The story runs smoothly, as opposed to other installments of the House of M overlap in other comics, and I definitely enjoyed it more than most.
January 5, 2018
The House of M storylines happened at a time in the Marvel Universe when sells were slipping and the Marvel movies had not reversed some of the losses, although it was time when Marvel was throwing spaghetti at the wall and produced some of its more creative plotlines. I, however, was not into comics at the time and barely knew about titles like District X.
Mutopia X picks up in District X has a flash that places it in the House of M continuity. While Ismael Ortega is a knot of noir cliches and bad life choices, the way his life choices in the main continuity and the House of M continuity are contrasted in Hine's writing successfully. The world of mutant elites and oppressed sapiens does make for an interesting backdrop for a noir and requires no knowledge of the House of M plot.
Lan Medina's art is solid, but someone predictable. Nothing particularly original here artistically, but it is not distracting either.
Mutopia X picks up in District X has a flash that places it in the House of M continuity. While Ismael Ortega is a knot of noir cliches and bad life choices, the way his life choices in the main continuity and the House of M continuity are contrasted in Hine's writing successfully. The world of mutant elites and oppressed sapiens does make for an interesting backdrop for a noir and requires no knowledge of the House of M plot.
Lan Medina's art is solid, but someone predictable. Nothing particularly original here artistically, but it is not distracting either.
November 2, 2017
Continuing the great X-read of 2017…
From what I understand, this brings to an end the story of District X. Which is disappointing to me as it has been one of the strongest of the X-titles in this catch-up read for me.
That said, while this volume is among the best of the House of M crossover event, it just isn’t quite as good as the other District X volumes in my opinion. While it’s interesting to see where these characters ended up in the alternate world, the plot doesn’t really come together in a meaningful way until the very end (which is really interesting but maybe a tiny bit half-baked).
I will miss District X far more than I will miss House of M.
From what I understand, this brings to an end the story of District X. Which is disappointing to me as it has been one of the strongest of the X-titles in this catch-up read for me.
That said, while this volume is among the best of the House of M crossover event, it just isn’t quite as good as the other District X volumes in my opinion. While it’s interesting to see where these characters ended up in the alternate world, the plot doesn’t really come together in a meaningful way until the very end (which is really interesting but maybe a tiny bit half-baked).
I will miss District X far more than I will miss House of M.
December 1, 2022
This was another volume that almost entirely followed characters that I've never read before.
Despite that, I thought this was a solid contribution to the overall House of M story, with some extremely messed up violence throughout.
The most interesting idea here was the ceremony and transformation process for mutants with the mutant gene who hadn't had it activated yet. It makes sense that in a suddenly mutant-filled world, there would also be new rituals and spiritual ideas based in mutation.
Despite that, I thought this was a solid contribution to the overall House of M story, with some extremely messed up violence throughout.
The most interesting idea here was the ceremony and transformation process for mutants with the mutant gene who hadn't had it activated yet. It makes sense that in a suddenly mutant-filled world, there would also be new rituals and spiritual ideas based in mutation.
April 9, 2024
2.5 Stars
This was weird. It's basically the House of M version of the District X comic, but the whole story is just odd. I think it tied a little too much into District X, so unless you're really familiar with the comic, you feel lost. I also think the final issue of this takes place after the main House of M series, which is fine, but comes across as jarring the context of the limited series.
This came across as a misfire in the House of M event, but I have a feeling it would be a lot better to someone who followed Distrct X closely.
This was weird. It's basically the House of M version of the District X comic, but the whole story is just odd. I think it tied a little too much into District X, so unless you're really familiar with the comic, you feel lost. I also think the final issue of this takes place after the main House of M series, which is fine, but comes across as jarring the context of the limited series.
This came across as a misfire in the House of M event, but I have a feeling it would be a lot better to someone who followed Distrct X closely.
January 20, 2024
I was disappointed this was not better, as I really enjoyed District X. Here the characters are in the House of M world, and it doesn’t translate well. There are too many plots slammed into too few issues to be effective, and some of the stories turn out to be repetitive of the main District X series.
March 30, 2020
This was like a cop drama with mutants. Not really my thing, and also kind of confusing. It was pretty dark all around and not really relevant to the Marvel universe, more like a side story that didn't effect anything.
April 5, 2025
i actually don't know a THING about the district x comics but i rly enjoyed this !! honestly i just rly like getting to see the physical transition between house of m -> m-day and the sort of effect it had on everyday people........ i love bishop i gotta read more of this stuff
January 24, 2021
Dull, dull, dull.
January 20, 2022
EL PERSONAJE DE LARA ME ENCANTOOOO
December 5, 2025
Hard no. Just depressing with a big dollop of WTF.
January 2, 2026
Pensé que tenía este tomo marcado desde hacía mucho. Tomo único de Mutopía-X que hace las veces de tercer tomo de Distrito-X.
April 3, 2013
"Mutopia X" is the 5-part House of M tie-in from "District X", a short-lived series about mutant/human relations in Mutant Town, a predominantly mutant neighbourhood of New York City. I have to say that I've not (yet) read any of "District X", but after reading this book, I think I just might go to my LCS and try to find the 2 trades of that series.
As for "Mutopia X", from the context (and through some inference), I realised that some plot elements of the main "District X" series were re-explored here and some "twist" was put on them in the interest of creating a world that's familiar but different. Props to David Hine for crafting a story that newcomers can get into & that followers of "District X" can enjoy as well.
One of the stronger "House of M" tie-ins, in my opinion (and maybe that's because it's happening on the fringe of the event and that it remained in the spirit of the main "District X" series).
As for "Mutopia X", from the context (and through some inference), I realised that some plot elements of the main "District X" series were re-explored here and some "twist" was put on them in the interest of creating a world that's familiar but different. Props to David Hine for crafting a story that newcomers can get into & that followers of "District X" can enjoy as well.
One of the stronger "House of M" tie-ins, in my opinion (and maybe that's because it's happening on the fringe of the event and that it remained in the spirit of the main "District X" series).
July 24, 2025
I think this is the best of the House of M tie-in books, with the caveat that you've already read District X, as this book serves as a coda to that series. It doesn't touch the plot of House of M, where all the superheroes are trying to discover how to return the world to the status quo. Instead, it follows only the characters from District X, but in a world where the mutants are in power and District X, once a mutant haven, is now Sapien Town, a haven for non-mutants.
It expounds well on the themes and plots from District X, and when the world is returned to normal (which, again, nobody in this book has any hand in, nor do they have any understanding of how the world has changed), we see some of the carnage wrought by a world where most of the mutants were depowered.
If you enjoyed the District X books, I think you'll love this. If you're just reading this as a part of House Of M, you will likely be disappointed.
It expounds well on the themes and plots from District X, and when the world is returned to normal (which, again, nobody in this book has any hand in, nor do they have any understanding of how the world has changed), we see some of the carnage wrought by a world where most of the mutants were depowered.
If you enjoyed the District X books, I think you'll love this. If you're just reading this as a part of House Of M, you will likely be disappointed.
February 6, 2021
I see this had my old review. This is really the conclusion to the series District X, so it could be confusing if you think this is a standalone side series to House of M.
Perhaps one-star is ungracious, there are a few decent human moments. But if you have read Gotham Central you already know the police procedural in the midst of a super-powered world. Though this one is really pushing the seedier noirness of it all.
Whatever. Only read this if you are doing the deepest dive in X-Men comics and have read District X. There are some ties to Peter David’s revived X-Factor series but that is merely found in the location.
Perhaps one-star is ungracious, there are a few decent human moments. But if you have read Gotham Central you already know the police procedural in the midst of a super-powered world. Though this one is really pushing the seedier noirness of it all.
Whatever. Only read this if you are doing the deepest dive in X-Men comics and have read District X. There are some ties to Peter David’s revived X-Factor series but that is merely found in the location.
March 8, 2012
I'm not crazy about the whole House of M Marvel event. This was one of the harder books in the series to get my hands on (affordably. House of M Prelude still eludes me.) This is the House of M version of the (now defunct) ongoing series, District X of which I know nothing. It's a tale, set in an alternate Marvel Universe, of counter-terrorism, marital infidelity, revenge and tragedy. This is easily one of the best volumes in the House of M event, but still merely okay. Three stars.
And thanks, Amazon.com, for folding this book to fit it into a box of the wrong dimensions for it. Ugh, really?
And thanks, Amazon.com, for folding this book to fit it into a box of the wrong dimensions for it. Ugh, really?
September 4, 2014
I really like the X-Men stuff that is less superhero-y and more day-in-the-life. The stuff I like about this is the interpersonal stuff and the tour of the world stuff. In a world populated with liberated mutants, how does it feel to be a human? What does it feel like to be a defeated and powerless minority, which nonetheless can claim no moral high-ground due to its past oppression? Where the rhetoric about mutants being the next stage in evolution is the accepted reality, and being human is like being a limited, obsolete, pitiable irrelevance? That stuff's totally up my street. Plus there's some typical noir cop fare to push the story along. Loved it.
February 1, 2015
I read this as part of an overall Marvel 616 read, and in that context as part of a read-through of all House of M issues and tie-ins.
This one was barely related to the event of course - it was more a noir/ horror thingie and all about the trials and tribulations of one Ismael Ortega, detective. It was rather twisted - in a very Preacher-esque way, at times. Oh, and overall I hated Preacher. So there. I said it.
I could've done without this one to be honest, and I'm going to be wary of reading limited series/ TPBs going forward just because they are a part of some big crossover or event!
This one was barely related to the event of course - it was more a noir/ horror thingie and all about the trials and tribulations of one Ismael Ortega, detective. It was rather twisted - in a very Preacher-esque way, at times. Oh, and overall I hated Preacher. So there. I said it.
I could've done without this one to be honest, and I'm going to be wary of reading limited series/ TPBs going forward just because they are a part of some big crossover or event!
September 3, 2015
Tak trochu WTF. Místo třetího booku Districtu X odstarovala díky House of M tahle minisérie. Hine ve 4 sešitech znovu (a trochu jinak) odvypráví to, co se stalo v 14 sešitech Districtu. V posledním díle se pak všechno vrací do našeho světa a slouží to jako závěr celého Districtu X, který byl trochu uspěchaný. I když jsem vlastně podruhé četl téměř totéž, je to velmi dobře napsané a bavilo mě to.
Fajn série a jsem rád, že jsem se k ní díky Dni nepřečtených knih dostal
Fajn série a jsem rád, že jsem se k ní díky Dni nepřečtených knih dostal
February 15, 2011
Lo leí a principio de año y recuerdo que si bien me gustó, me pareció inferior al tomo anterior (Distrito-X #2), y aquel -a su vez- me había parecido inferior al primer espectacular tomo. La historia promete más de lo que da pero en ningún momento resulta aburrida o tediosa. De todos modos, cuando relea este tomo y sus secuelas, quizás escriba algo más elaborado al respecto.
February 17, 2013
Boring and barely tied into the overall House of M storyline. Maybe it's because I don't read or know anything about the District X comic. If that is the case though, this certainly didn't encourage me to learn more about it.
April 30, 2011
Great ending to District X, shame it had to end though because it was a good short series. One of the better House of M titles.
November 9, 2015
Ok story
Interesting to see some of the fallout from the sudden loss of mutant powers, would've been nice if that'd been more than just a page or two of background
Interesting to see some of the fallout from the sudden loss of mutant powers, would've been nice if that'd been more than just a page or two of background
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews