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Welcome back to Mutantversity, a class offered at the Krakoan Akademos Habitat. This isnt a place to find big reviews of X-books, (thats what our Review section is for!) but its a great way to keep up with one of the most complicated superhero series around. Were going to dive into the deep end as we try to parse all the secrets of this new era of X-Men comics. As your designated X-Pert, I will do my best to help you work through everything Marvels Merry Mutants have to offer!

This month in X-Men

Ra Ra Rasputin

With Inferno was on the horizon, the end of Krakoa was prophesied. I didnt believe it for a second though. I said that one thing needed to happen before Krakoa shattered, and that was the arrival of Rasputin IV. And um, the seal has been opened. Shes here! Does that mean doom?

Rasputin first showed up in HOXPOX, in Powers of X #1. She met her end in that story when she was sucked through a black hole, unleashed by Xorn. But everyone knows that black holes in sci-fi just zip you through time and space, so I figured it was a matter of time before she landed in our present.

We learned a lot more about this Rasputin. Shes a chimera, created by Mr. Sinister using multiple mutant powers- she has the steel skin of Colossus, the psychic powers of Quentin Quire, the force fields of Unus the Untouchable, the intangibility of Shadowcat, and the healing factor of Wolverine. Oh, and shes got a Soul Sword. She was the mightiest mutant Sinister ever created and as his hellish universe collapsed, he restored her free will. And while she saved the multiverse from an unstoppable Sinister plague, she also arrested her creator and brought him to Krakoa in the present.

So does that mean the end? Its not a great sign for Krakoa to continue as a paradise. But Id like to be an optimist. Maybe Rasputin is just who the X-Men need to save them from their fate.

Sinister Fate

Then again, maybe its too late. While Sinister conquered the universe, he also warred with himself. Last month we talked about the four suits of Sinister. This month, our very own Nathaniel Essex came the closest he ever will be to triumph. You see, each of the Sinisters was meant to study a unique discipline, with the goal of eventually ascending to Dominionhood.

If you need a refresher, a Dominion is a sort of machine-god. When one being becomes smart and intelligent enough, it needs to take on more mass for storage capacity. When that mass reaches the singularity point, it collapses into a black hole and boom, youre a Dominion. Thats what Sinister wants to be. But when he dove through the weave of reality to meet his destiny to smash up against something red.

They also talk in red caption boxes. They only offer one hint as their identity, and its sort of an anti-hint. Who am I? the being asks Sinister. Not you. Are we to believe that Mother Righteous, the magical Sinister, succeeded? Or someone else. The mystery beings font looks a lot like Carnage- wouldnt that be a hoot? But its more likely to be someone powerful and surprising, like Apocalypse. Whats your most crackpot Sinister-dominion theory?

As for our Sinister, he is banished to the depths of the Pit. And after Sabretooths prison break, hes going to have plenty of room to sit with his thoughts. Im sure that wont drive him any crazier. He will be sharing cell space with Professor Xavier, Emma Frost, Hope Summers, and Exodus. That sounds like a real quick way to break Mister Sinister.

Behold, Excalibur!

I was disappointed that Faiza Hussain didnt get more page time this month (even though Betsy Braddock: Captain Britain owns bones). Last month, I promised Id touch on Faiza, and I still plan to.

Faiza first showed up in Captain Britain and MI-13 #1 and for what its worth, thats definitely the definitive Captain Britain comics of the modern era. She got blasted with some Skrull whammy, which gifted her with total control over biomatter. This is like a more precise version of Elixirs powers, and that dudes omega level and on the Five! Because Faiza is also an accomplished medical doctor, this psychic ability allows her to heal, to harm, and to grant crazy mutations (though she is not known to be a mutant herself).

If that wasnt enough power, she is also the literal wielder of actual Excalibur. King Arthurs magic sword, its a blade so mighty that Britain never got over it. In the Marvel universe it can wound anyone, mortal or god. It also (along with its magic scabbard) gives the wielder total invincibility. Though theres not a specific rule regarding the sword and shattering enchantments, it has often been used in that capacity as well.

As Faiza points out in this issue, the UK is not the most supportive and tolerant place right now. They have a lot of trouble with a lady Captain Britain. A Muslim lady with their special sword? Better to pretend that sword doesnt exist. I disagree though! I remember Excalibur and I remember that badass lady who wields it.

When the Pride Goeth

Everywhere you turn no matter the universe, the Fall of X is coming. A lot of people are taking this literally. Sure, the cracks in the foundation of Krakoa were obvious since the very beginning, but that doesnt mean Krakoa has to be the one to fall. But maybe its even more literal. Maybe the eponymous X is also the titular X. What I mean is, what if this is about the fall of Professor Charles Xavier?

Magneto warned Storm of this in his dying moments back in X-Men Red. He said that Xavier would be lost without him. And Xavier is a shady guy, even if we all love him because of Patrick Stewart. We saw how much damage an off-the-chain Xavier can do in Sins of Sinister. And there are foes on every side.

Feilong seems to be everywhere, even on Earth-63, where a displaced Lucas Bishop encountered him as a member of the Human Liberation Front. And now that Moira is leading ORCHIS, shes made an appearance in every evil scheme that threatens Krakoa, if only for the love of the game. Plus, the Fenris Twins have been plotting something against Krakoa for years! Beast has finally gone fully insane and filled a meat mecha full of clones of himself! Clan Akkaba is forming a deadly alliance with Brexiters! Truly things have never looked more dangerous for Krakoa, even when a resurrected god was going to wipe it from existence.

X-Books Read:

Immoral X-Men #3 Kieron Gillen loves Warhammer 40K, and here he gets to write some X-Men 40K fan fic. Hes having fun. Im having fun.Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants #3 It is so nice to have a book that centers on Storm being the coolest, because Storm is the coolest.Nightcrawlers #3 This issue is trying to have a lot of fun, but its hard to remember anythingafter youve put it down.Sins of Sinister: Dominion #1 Woah. This kind of story is hard to predict an ending for, and even knowing that going in, I was totally shocked.Sabretooth and the Exiles #5 At some point, this became the best 90s throwback series.Wolverine #32 The Dark Beast story gave this series some juice!X-Men #29 A familiar Brood conflict is a great chance to let the members of this superhero team go through some serious superpowered drama.Bishops War College #3 A straightforward alternate universe story on the surface is actually teeming with interesting details and good character work.Continued belowBetsy Braddock: Captain Britain #3 Part of what makes this series work so well is the large cast of villains, each with their own agenda. Things have never looked worse for Betsy.Rogue & Gambit #2 This is sort of light and forgettable. I feel like Rogue and Gambit have been in this same story dozens of times.New Mutants Lethal Legion #2 This remains a fun story, squaring off young mutants against classic villain Count Nefaria.

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X-Men Mutantversity: Where Does the Pride Goeth? - Multiversity Comics