ComicsMarvel ComicsX-Men #2 puts a new twist on an X-Men plot that goes all the way back to the ‘60sWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ComicsMarvel ComicsX-Men #2 puts a new twist on an X-Men plot that goes all the way back to the ‘60sWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
X-Men #2 continues to define what the venerable mutant team looks like in the post-Krakoa era with a new twist on mutant technology and an updated mission that calls back to the earliest days of the X-Men.
But there’s a new twist on the classic X-Men formula that shows exactly how the Cyclops-led era of the X-Men can be different from when Xavier was in charge - possibly for the better.
Spoilers ahead for X-Men #2
Detecting the activation of a new mutant Cyclops and his team dispatch into the field in their new jet the Marauder, which is equipped with all manner of technology meant to integrate with mutant powers (more on that soon). They head to San Francisco, with Cyclops reminding the team that the city once welcomed mutants back in the Utopia era, one of Cyclops’ first attempts to help create a mutant nation.
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
As simple as it seems, this calls back to the earliest adventures of the X-Men in the ’60s, when the team’s adventures would often begin with Professor X sending them into the field to find a new mutant. That motif has been repeated throughout X-Men history, but it’s indicative of the apparent back-to-basics type approach MacKay seems to be aiming for so far in the relaunched title, and it provides an easy backdrop to kick off the action in this issue.
The X-Men arrive to track the mutant down just as the alien invasion is starting, with hundreds of ships descending on San Francisco. Cyclops lands in the field, with Kid Omega using his psychic powers to interface with Cyke’s visor to create a kind of telepathic HUD that provides Cerebro assisted tracking.
This is one of the coolest examples of the new version of mutant interfacing, combining revolutionary tech with advanced uses of mutant abilities - something that Cyclops’ close ally Beast has been perfecting and integrating into their new ship.
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(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
Case-in-point, the Marauder’s psychic interface, which allows Kid Omega to fire telepathic blasts out of the ship’s onboard cannons to destroy the alien enemy ships while also piloting. And there’s one more big bad weapon on board - a so-called “mass-driver” which can launch an invulnerable mutant (or in this case, mutant ally) out of a massive rail gun.
Juggernaut gets in, and the Marauder launches him at the alien mothership, bringing it down in one shot. But that’s when things get weird, as Psylocke realizes that she can’t use her psychic knife on the aliens who have emerged from their ships because they don’t have minds of her own - and what’s more, there’s no wreckage from the destroyed ships.
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
While a crowd of anti-mutant bullies starts to form, the X-Men try to calm the situation, but the new mutant suddenly disappears, much to everyone’s astonishment. But it’s all a trick, as Magik has actually teleported him away to the X-Men’s new Alaska headquarters to offer him medical care and to help him control his powers - another classic X-Men concept.
The question of how this is possible and the mission of helping the newly manifesting adult mutants seems to be a repeated motif for the new core X-Men title, and it’s one of the freshest changes to the classic formula yet. Yes, the X-Men have long sought out newly activated mutants and helped them learn to control their powers. But there have been lingering questions of the morality behind Xavier sending the X-Men into battle as a bunch of young teenagers, which haven’t really been allayed even into the Krakoa era.
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)
It makes sense to focus on the concept of adult mutants suddenly being born, as this not only breaks up the classic formula just enough to provide room for some perspectives and character concepts that haven’t been fully explored yet, but it also draws a line in the sand between Cyclops and the now disgraced Xavier.
I’m not personally expecting that the X-Men will never feature young mutants again, and I’m definitely not advocating that the concept of adolescent and young adult mutants be left behind. But I am excited to see how the X-Men address a newly emerging population of mutants with a whole different set of philosophical questions involved.
X-Men #3 goes on sale August 28.
Stay up to date on all thenew X-Men comicsMarvel has planned for release, includingthe entire ‘From the Ashes’ relaunch.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
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Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
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Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
2
Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3
Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
4
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
5
Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”