House of X / Powers of X in French

Twelve American issues read in alternation, one story that changes the face of the X-Men: Jonathan Hickman's project was designed to be read as one block, and that is how Panini finally bound it. Between the single-issue release and the 2021 albums, however, French readers had a choice between several objects, and their listings do not always agree.

As always in this guide, only verified information (creators, issue numbers, dates) is stated as fact; the analysis is our own, with no reproduction of protected artwork or dialogue.

The original US run in brief

Marvel publishes House of X and Powers of X from July to October 2019. They are two miniseries of six issues each, written by Jonathan Hickman. Pepe Larraz draws House of X, R.B. Silva draws Powers of X, and Marte Gracia handles the colors on both series. The first issue of House of X comes out on July 24, 2019, that of Powers of X on July 31, and the last of Powers of X on October 9 of the same year.

The release schedule is staggered, and this detail matters for reading. Powers of X #3 appears on August 21, a week before House of X #3, dated August 28: the publication order is therefore not strictly "one House, one Powers". When reading in French, the question becomes how the publisher chose to present the twelve episodes. The answer depends on the edition, and the single-issue listings do not detail the order of episodes in each volume: check the table of contents of the book you are holding before concluding that it follows the original order.

The episodes that matter on the American side are reviewed in our guide to the House of X / Powers of X key issues; what follows deals only with the French books.

The French editions, in order of publication

2020: three single issues at Panini Comics

The first French publication takes the form of softcover single issues, classified by booksellers in the Panini Comics Fascicules line. The listings record three issues of 112 pages each. The first is dated June 3, 2020 and measures about 26 by 17 centimeters; its blurb announces that the world has changed and that Krakoa has become the heart of the mutant nation. The second, from July 2020, is presented as the one that starts to answer open questions, including the role of Moira McTaggert; it contains three new episodes. The third, dated August 5, 2020, is announced as the penultimate chapter of the saga, with a space mission against humans ready to do anything.

One point remains open: the listings of several albums published afterward say that the material has already appeared in "House of X / Powers of X 1 à 4", whereas bookseller listings record only three single issues, the third carrying the mention "3 sur 3" (3 of 3). The sources differ, and we do not settle it: if you are looking for the complete series, explicitly ask for the table of contents rather than relying on the numbering.

For the collector, these single issues are both the original French format and the least durable object: a 112-page softcover bends, gets dirty and loses its spine.

October 2021: the Marvel Deluxe album

On October 6, 2021, Panini publishes "House of X / Powers of X" in its Marvel Deluxe collection: a hardcover album of 448 pages, about 28.5 by 19 centimeters, which gathers House of X #1 to #6 and Powers of X #1 to #6. The listing gives the credits: Jonathan Hickman on script, Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva on art, Marte Gracia and David Curiel on colors. It is the simplest form for reading the whole in one go, without completing a series of single issues.

October 2021: the Marvel Absolute album

A week later, on October 13, 2021, the same material comes out in the Marvel Absolute collection: a fuller hardcover album, of 552 pages according to most listings. One listing gives 536; we keep 552, noting that the sources differ. This edition reprints the twelve issues and adds extras: the first issue of House of X appears in black and white, and the publisher promises other supplements, though we found no list of them.

To decide between this edition and the previous one, our comparison of Omnibus and Absolute at Panini recalls what a collector's format changes in practice: weight, durability, value of the extras.

October 2025: the Marvel Poche volume

On October 8, 2025, a bookseller's listing reports a "House of X / Powers of X" volume in the Marvel Poche collection, at 440 pages. It is a pocket format, therefore lighter than the 2021 albums; the full contents are not detailed by the listing, which merely names Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva. We found only one source on this book: treat it with caution, and check its contents before making it your reference edition.

What cannot be found

We found no newsstand magazine publication and no translation by any publisher other than Panini. The 2020 single issues are therefore, to our knowledge, the first French edition.

US / French correspondence

We do not match the single issues to the American issues one by one, for lack of a cross-checked table of contents. The Deluxe and the Absolute, for their part, reprint the twelve issues according to the listings.

Which edition to choose for your profile

You want to read the story

The Deluxe is the most reasonable choice: a 448-page hardcover volume that contains the twelve episodes. If you prefer a light book to carry around, the 2025 Poche is tempting, provided you first check its table of contents, since we have not cross-checked it. In both cases, read the story straight through before moving on to the series that follow from it; our X-Men reading guide shows where to continue.

You collect the first French edition

Look for the three Panini Comics single issues dated June, July and August 2020. Unlike a hardcover album, they are judged on the condition of the softcover, the spine and the corners. Also check that all three are present: an incomplete lot leaves a hole in the story.

You like large format

The Absolute is made for you: it is the biggest, and the only one with extras, including the first issue in black and white. It is heavy, and its appeal depends on the value you give to these additions. If you want the story without the extras, the Deluxe does the same job with less bulk.

Pitfalls and points to watch

Two albums, two dates, two page counts

The Deluxe and the Absolute come out a week apart with different page counts, and databases do not always tell them apart. Some listings attribute the identifier of one to the other. Look at the collection mention on the cover (Marvel Deluxe, Marvel Absolute) rather than the title alone, which is identical.

The number of single issues

Three single issues are recorded, but some listings speak of four volumes. Before paying for a lot presented as complete, compare the cover numbers and dates, and keep in mind that the sources differ.

A reading order that is not self-evident

The American schedule alternates the two series, and the release of Powers of X #3 precedes that of House of X #3. An album that arranges the episodes by series and another that arranges them by publication date do not read the same way. Open the table of contents: it is the only sure way to know how your copy is built.

Pocket and extras

A pocket format does not necessarily have the same pages as a large format. Do not assume that the Poche contains the Absolute's extras: the listing we found says nothing about them.

What these editions are worth in a collection

The value of a recent French edition depends on three things: its scarcity, its condition and its completeness. The 2021 Deluxe and Absolute albums are widely distributed bookstore titles: their value follows that of a fine second-hand book, and the intact copy, without a crushed corner or a twisted spine, comes out ahead of the others. The 2020 single issues, more fragile, mainly interest those who want the very first French edition.

To estimate a copy, use completed sales for the same edition and the same condition; a Deluxe is never aligned with an Absolute, even in equal condition. The French-edition collector's glossary explains the trade terms used here: printing, reprint, legal deposit.

Finally, do not confuse the value of the French edition with that of the American one. The 2019 American single issues have their own market rules, detailed in our key issues page; French editions are judged by their local scarcity, their condition and their place in the history of the publisher's collection.

Frequently asked questions