New X Men - Academy X - Choosing Sides / Marvel Comics - 2005

  This trade paperback collects the first arc of the Academy X era — the relaunch that shifted the X‑books toward a true “school book,” focusing on the students’ teams, rivalries, and emotional development. It’s the beginning of the New Mutants → Academy X → New X‑Men student‑era continuity.

  Choosing Sides follows the young mutants as they’re sorted into squads, mentored by senior X‑Men, and forced to navigate. Team rivalries, Romantic tensions, Power struggles, and the pressure of being the next generation of mutants

The central conflict revolves around who belongs where — socially, romantically, and on the battlefield. It’s very character‑driven, with emotional stakes rather than world‑ending threats.

Key Characters Featured

• Sofia Mantega (Wind Dancer)

• Julian Keller (Hellion)

• David Alleyne (Prodigy)

• Noriko Ashida (Surge)

• Josh Foley (Elixir)

• Laurie Collins (Wallflower)

• Kevin Ford (Wither)

• Danielle Moonstar, Emma Frost, Cyclops (as mentors)

This run is beloved because it gives depth to characters who later become major players in the X‑books.

*** Read Once and Put in Protective Cover ***

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