Since the fall of Krakoa, Charles Xavier has been locked up in Graymalkin Prison, formerly the the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, in Westchester, New York.
I confess that I don't know entirely why; I stopped reading the Krakoa books about two years into Jonathan Hickman's epic saga. The reason why is that I had stopped enjoying them. It felt to me, as a reader, that the natural endpoint of the story had been reached, but that the story was being artifically extended. All the major secrets had been revealed, and it was time for the final showdown between X-Men and Orchis. But all the characters kept going on side quests. The "middle part" just kept going on and on, and it was frustrating me.
So I quit.
And missed the ending! All I knew, from reading "Raid on Graymalkin" (X-Men #8-9, Uncanny X-Men #7-8), is that Charles Xavier did something terrible. I wasn't terribly sure what, and when Cyclops' team and Rogue's team came to blows, they were arguing over whether Xavier deserved to be freed. Yes, some X-Men felt Xavier should rot in jail, and one of them was Cyclops! The word "monster" was thrown around.
I've learned more from a recent one-shot, X-Men: Xavier's Secret #1, which serves as a sort of foreword to "X-Manhunt." It's a collection of two stories from the online-only "Infinite" line of Marvel comics. The first story depicts Scott and Jean's last night together before she heads into space in Phoenix #1. If you wondered how the two of them dealt with this (hopefully temporary) separation, here it is.
The second story, though, follows my least favorite Marvel reporter, Sally Floyd, as she tries to write a story about Charles Xavier's life for The Daily Bugle. It's a simple feature, and she only gets the job because Ben Urich feels sorry for her. (She's in a drunken spiral, and "unhirable.") But she gets hold of a mystery, and as the mystery unfolds, it's apparent that she and everybody she talks to (Urich, Warren Worthington, etc.) is having their memories changed by someone. And who might that someone be?
SPOILER ALERT.
Stop now if you don't want to know Xavier's secret. Honestly, as this thread is going to spoil "X-Manhunt" weekly, I expect anybody reading this has to anticipate spoilers. But I feel the need to say something anyway.
So, yes, it's Chuck. We get the story of why everyone believes he's a monster ... and he's using his powers to make sure everyone keeps believing it. Because, as we learn, he faked it all. His reasoning is that someone has to be the scapegoat, so he wants everyone to hate him instead of hating the X-Men.
TBH, I don't really follow this reasoning. In fact, I'd call it a plot device. But, going back to the Silver Age, he's always been as much a plot device as a character. And when you look at his actions at a whole ... well, he doesn't come off very well.
Floyd touches on this briefly, highlighting four Xavier decisions that are hard to defend. The first one, of course, is sending teenagers out to fight Magneto in The X-Men #1. Plus Vanisher, Blob, Unus, Mastermind, Sub-Mariner, Toad, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, The Stranger ... seriously, this is a master class in child endangerment. He was acting in loco parentis, and was building a child army. I can only excuse it as the sort of blithe abuse of power that might well have been normal to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, men who grew up in a conservative era when authority was not to be challenged.
But I grew up in the rebellious '60, and I kept seeing red flags on Xavier throughout the Silver Age. Like keeping Juggernaut locked up extra-judicially in the basement, and not telling the students who were sleeping in the same house. Like mind-wiping people on the regular — he mind-wiped the entire towns Hank and Bobby grew up in — and reading their minds without permission. Like bringing the dangerous Cal Rankin onto the team. Like pretending to lose his powers so the X-Men could go on a mission without his guidance, as a graduation exercise. Like pretending to be dead from The X-Men #42 to #65. (OK, that was obviously a retcon to bring him back to life after they meant for him to be sincerely dead, but the casualness of this revelation in X-Men #65, and the fact that Jean apparently knew the truth but had to lie to her friends, is mind-boggling.) Throughout Marvel history, Xavier has had secrets upon secrets, many of which have blown up in the X-Men's faces.
I don't think any of this was intentional. I think Marvel's writers through the years thought of Xavier as a hero, and he has certainly been treated that way by the other superheroes in-story, from his presence at Reed and Sue's wedding all the way through to the Illuminati. But as a plot device, he was always called upon as the set-up for various dangerous situations. — "Oh no! How did Juggernaut get in our living room?" "The Prof had him sedated in the basement, and he just woke up." — which had the unintended consequence of making him look very much like an unethical narcissist with no regard for the lives of others. And his plot-driven duplicitousness has now, to an extent, become his characterization.
For example, it's fine and dandy to convince the world that he's a monster because (mumble, mumble). Sure, if he thinks that will help. But why keep it a secret from those who, theoretically, love him? Why not tell Scott the truth? Or Jean? Or Ororo? Or Anna Marie? Why does he need for them to hate him too? They could know the truth, and it woudln't affect his goals. But he doesn't tell them his plan. Because since when has Xavier ever told anyone his plan? Lying to everybody is just what he does now.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
In "Fall of X," the world was being attacked by an Orchis satellite, and the 12-man crew of a space shuttle sacrificed their lives by flying into the satellite. Only Xavier confessed that he had mentally compelled them to do that, essentially murdering a dozen humans. Xavier's Secret reveals that there were never any people on the shuttle; Xavier had engineered some non-sentient meat puppets using Sinister's clone vats and crewed the shuttle with them. Nobody really died, and Xavier has been using his powers to keep anyone from looking too closely at the "crew" and its non-existence. He confessed to killing these non-existent people, and has been locked up by the feds in Graymalkin Prison ... until now.
That's where we begin "X-Manhunt." It will be a tour of the current X-books — most of them anyway — and it begins with Uncanny X-Men #11, NYX #9 and Storm #6 on March 5.
Replies
X-MANHUNT PART 1: UNCANNY X-MEN #11
We know Charles is going to break out, because that’s the premise of the crossover. But why he breaks out surprised me. It turns out his daughter, currently the queen of the Shi’Ar empire. is in danger from a Shi’Ar anti-royalty resistance movement. Like, imminent death sort of danger. Given how Xavier has been depicted lately, I expected him to break out due to some not-so-good reason that he would justify with some tortured moral reasoning. But no, he has a good reason: He’s a parent who wants to protect his child.
Meanwhile, Graymalkin is suffering a “flu” outbreak, and a lot of guards call in sick. They don’t know it, but we do: It’s a psychic infection. One of the “sick” guards is shown killing his whole family, whom he sees as Sentinels. I’m guessing it’s Scurvy (who’s in sickbay). This is going to go south pretty quickly, I imagine.
At Rogue’s Louisiana base, she is putting new characters through the Danger Room, but they aren’t taking it seriously. She goes the tough-love route and injures one of them. Jubilee tells her “don’t forget your ruby quartz visor,” which apparently stings. Why is there so much Cyclops hate? He’s always been my favorite X-Man, but man, they've made him almost as bad as Xavier for years. I don't even want to talk about that Phoenix thing where he goes to jail.
Anyway, Charles gets out by simply asking Sarah Gaunt to let him out. I don’t know much about her except Internet chatter, which makes her a former gf (or wannabe gf) of Charles’ who hates him. (Does every woman from Chuck’s past hate him? And how many of them are there, anyway?) She’s also really powerful, although I’m not clear what her power is. She’s also a prisoner at Graymalkin, but she can escape any time. Do they know this at the prison? They don’t seem very good at what they do.
When Charles escapes, Warden Ellis (that’s got to be a play on the writer’s name) calls Rogue’s X-Men, and they come a-running. It is not explained why they are so willing to do the warden’s bidding, especially since it was Rogue who was arguing back in “Raid on Graymalkin” to free Xavier, and it was Cyclops who didn’t want to. Why didn’t Ellis call Summers? He’d be more likely to help, given his philosophical position.
Maybe it’s a plot point that will be cleared up later. Or maybe I missed something. Or maybe they were just closer.
Anyway, Rogue & Co. show up and Charles is drugged out of his mind. That explains why they fight, which I appreciate, because usually when the X-Men fight each other, there isn’t a good reason. Drugs is a pretty good reason.
Also, Chuck really lets loose here, and it’s refreshing to see him so powerful. Usually he’s all milquetoast-y, but here he takes down Rogue’s team without batting an eye. What he does to Nightcrawler is pretty unnerving.
X-MANHUNT PART 2: NYX #9
Anyway, Xavier tells them that Doctor Doom has the last seed of Krakoa, and they have to go get it. I don’t know what a seed of Krakoa is, but apparently it’s important. But, of course, Charles doesn’t care about it – his mission is to help his daughter, remember? So he’s lying. THAT’S the Xavier I’ve grown accustomed to lately.
Anyway, Prodigy – apparently the leader – wants nothing to do with Xavier and throws him out. But Anole -- whose super-power is one big arm, apparently? – and Ms. Marvel fall for Xavier’s trick and volunteer to help him. I'd like to know where Anole gets his shirts. They'd have to be custom-made.
They go to the X-Men’s old treehouse where the seed is kept. But a buyer is already there, negotiating with Volta, whom he apparently kills. His sidekick is Fauna, whom I think we’re supposed to know. Fauna talks to plants.
Awp! The buyer is secretly Mojo! Xavier abandons his team (sigh) and goes after what he’s really there for, which is a Cerebro helmet. He takes it and leaves.
There is a V/O narration that we later find out is Mojo. And he points out that Xavier sacrifices other people to get what he wants, and then justifies it to himself and thinks he's a good man.
Fair.
Meanwhile, Anole is injured but he and Ms. Marvel manage to get the seed and escape. Turns out it’s a fake seed, and Mojo has the real one. He also has some mutant children he’s kidnapped, and he’s using all of this for a Master Plan which we’ll apparently find out about if we keep reading NYX. Which I don’t plan to do. So sorry, Mojo. But I never liked you anyway.
X-MANHUNT PART 3: STORM #6
We are not privy to what Xavier tells Storm. It doesn’t matter – as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I don’t know who this character is. The Storm I knew doesn’t exist anymore, because she wasn’t anywhere near this aggressively arrogant. Nothing she does surprises me, because she’s a stranger.
Somehow, Cyclops’ X-Men know to go to SF and arrive (via what I assume is a Magik portal) just in time. I'm not exactly sure where they've arrived. Storm's base? Or the secret SF base? (I'm assuming there's a secret SF base, or why else would they go there?) Cyclops tells Storm, Maggot and Xavier to stand down, because Xavier has to go to jail.
Cyclops: “I know he’s probably given you some sad story, but you should know more than anyone else here. That is what he does. He uses people, and his most effective tool is not his telepathy … it’s his ‘greater good.’ ”
Fair.
Cyclops: “If there’s going to be any hope of peaceful co-existence with humans and among us – we need to be as accountable as the people we demand it from. Professor X is no exception.”
Also fair.
Storm: “Don’t make me do this, Cyclops. Go home.”
Um … arrogant much? He’s right, Storm. And he’s not making you break the law, you know. Your moral compass stills exists, doesn’t it? And have you forgotten how to TALK to your friends and colleagues?
Never mind. You do whatever you want, Storm, and the writers will justify it. Whatever you do will turn out to be the Right Thing To Do. You’re Ororo Mary Sue Monroe, after all. And it's your book! You have to win in your own book. I think that's in the Constitution somewhere.
Anyway, Scott deploys his X-Men in a very strategic way, as is his wont. (That’s HIS most effective weapon.) They are winning when apparently Eternity takes over Storm and defeats the X-Men with Eternity-type weapons that Storm doesn’t have. (Wait, when did Eternity get inside Storm? And why? And does she know this? Was she counting on it? Does Xavier know this? And was he counting on it, too? So many questions!)
Storm wins, but Cyclops’ plan wasn’t a frontal attack. That was a diversion. Instead, he had sent Beast to look for the “Storm Engine,” which is apparently some huge alien-looking guy hooked up to, well, an engine. Is this what power Storm’s home? (She flew her home to SF.) Or is this inside the SF place they were all going to? Unclear.
But it will all come to naught, because Xavier is shown lurking behind Beast with the Cerebro helmet on. No doubt he will ambush his former student and take what it is he wants, whatever it is. (Spaceship, maybe?) Really, he's despicable now.
I guess I’ll find out next week.
(Small note: Nyx #9 is Part 2, not 3)
X-Men #11-12 (the book with Cyclop's Team) are a two-parter involving a team-up with Alpha Flight against aliens who want to abduct Scott. Scott receives a call from Beast in the very last scene of #12 telling him that Xavier has escaped, so it is conceivable that Rogue's team might be the second option and Scott's team was simply busy up until now. Presumably that leads to the confrontation in Storm #6.
NYX doesn't often feature its entire cast. X-23 is indeed a regular, but missing in this issue. The Cuckoo that is featured here is Sophie, currently nearly powerless for reasons not explained. The book ends with #10 (alongside X-Force and perhaps X-Factor); it has been policy of this relaunch to assure at least a ten-issue run for its ongoings. Mojo has been the main overall villain in Nyx, even if much of it is behind the scenes.
Storm currently resides in Atlanta, in very spacious and luxurious installations that she calls the "Storm Sanctuary", previously seen (only?) in #2 of this series. It is indeed a sanctuary - an animal sanctuary. In #6 it is revealed that the whole enchillada transforms into what must be a rather impressive flying device dubbed the "Thundercloud". I have to wonder who is paying for all that. There may be an interesting as of yet unrevealed story to be told about Wakanda's treasury and Ororo's access to same.
Anyway, the Thundercloud is shown approaching San Francisco, presumably because Xavier wants something that is either in the city itself or in Utopia. Most likely Utopia, given the last panel spotlighting the Island's ravaged installations.
Storm presumably knows that Eternity has taken residence within her body, but it is not known for certain. In the last few issues of her own book she was dying from radiation poisoning and got a reprieve in the form of intervention from an evil spirit or deity, mediated by Doctor Voodoo. In exchange she was under obligation to avoid using her powers for a whole week. A certain circunstance involving an innocent being threated by Doctor Doom made her fail the promise in the last possible moment, and then... I think she died, then was somehow chosen by Eternity as a holiday house of sorts, and then some combination of Eternity and Ororo herself attacked the evil spirit with something that is drawn like rigid little thunderbolts. And then she went home to be all regal, all the time, and sometimes the body through which Eternity acts and speaks to mortals.
It is not a terribly clear storyline, and I fear that it does not do Ororo (nor Eternity) many favors either. Unless the reader is really into reading people be utterly insufferable, I suppose.
The Storm Engine is presumably inside Thundercloud, but not very near the place where Scott's team fought Storm's. The last page suggests that it is related either to the apparent imprisomned giant in armor or the pair of apparently unconscious hippos. Either way, there is something worrisome about its nature, but it is not spelled out clearly in this issue.
San Francisco had somewhat friendly relations with the X-Men for an extended period when they attempted to establish the nearby island of Utopia as a mutant homeland for an extended period starting in 2009. It is not entirely out of question that there may be some form of Shiar ship, teleporting device or astronomical distance beacon hidden in there.
Thanks for filling in all the blanks, Luis!
The Cuckoo that is featured here is Sophie, currently nearly powerless for reasons not explained.
I prefer the Cuckoos as a unit — it’s spooky! — so I don’t retain much when I read about them as individuals. Was Sophie the one that dated Quentin Quire? (A mistake, if you ask me. The boy needs a therapist, not a girlfriend who has to act like one.)
Sadly for me, the Cuckoos haven’t acted as a unit for a while. I’m not quite sure how many of them there are, currently. (One died long ago, but I think was revived on Krakoa.)
I suppose we’ll find out eventually what’s up with Sophie’s powers, but I probably won’t be there to find out.
The book ends with #10 (alongside X-Force and perhaps X-Factor).
I have read this as well. Those titles don’t appear in solicitations past April.
Mojo has been the main overall villain in NYX, even if much of it is behind the scenes.
I wasn’t kidding: I actually don’t care for Mojo as a character, and don’t enjoy stories involving him, which always seem to think they’re more clever (commenting on media) than they are. Now I have even less reason for reading NYX #1-8 and 10 than I did before.
Anyway, the Thundercloud is shown approaching San Francisco, presumably because Xavier wants something that is either in the city itself or in Utopia.
When I was looking at panels of a glowing installation, I wasn’t sure if I was looking at Thundercloud or whatever it was that drew everyone to San Francisco. And Storm made mention of not setting off perimeter alarms, so I thought something high-tech was the target. But I trust your interpretation that all scenes in this issue took place on Thundercloud, not a new locale. So I’m going with that; all the scenes took place on Thundercloud and we have yet to see why everybody came here. (And now I’m really curious why Storm has a giant strapped to a machine in her basement.)
Most likely Utopia, given the last panel spotlighting the Island's ravaged installations.
That does seem likely. Weird that an abandoned ruin has perimeter alarms.
Storm presumably knows that Eternity has taken residence within her body, but it is not known for certain. In the last few issues of her own book she was dying from radiation poisoning and got a reprieve in the form of intervention from an evil spirit or deity, mediated by Doctor Voodoo. In exchange she was under obligation to avoid using her powers for a whole week. A certain circunstance involving an innocent being threated by Doctor Doom made her fail the promise in the last possible moment, and then... I think she died, then was somehow chosen by Eternity as a holiday house of sorts, and then some combination of Eternity and Ororo herself attacked the evil spirit with something that is drawn like rigid little thunderbolts. And then she went home to be all regal, all the time, and sometimes the body through which Eternity acts and speaks to mortals.
You know how sometimes you’re reading a book and it feels like you’ve missed an issue? In this case it turns out to be true.
I’ve read Storm #1-4; I have yet to receive Storm #5 from Westfield, the mail-order company I use for books I don’t think I’ll need to read immediately. I guess Storm #5 was more immediate than I knew. Your summary will tide me over until the actual book, so thanks again, Luis.
It is not a terribly clear storyline, and I fear that it does not do Ororo (nor Eternity) many favors either. Unless the reader is really into reading people be utterly insufferable, I suppose.
“Insufferable” seems to be the guiding principle for Storm. I’ll be done with it after issue #7, I think.
The Storm Engine is presumably inside Thundercloud, but not very near the place where Scott's team fought Storm's. The last page suggests that it is related either to the apparent imprisoned giant in armor or the pair of apparently unconscious hippos. Either way, there is something worrisome about its nature, but it is not spelled out clearly in this issue.
Save the hippos!
San Francisco had somewhat friendly relations with the X-Men for an extended period when they attempted to establish the nearby island of Utopia as a mutant homeland for an extended period starting in 2009. It is not entirely out of question that there may be some form of Shiar ship, teleporting device or astronomical distance beacon hidden in there.
I was thinking along those thoughts as well. Xavier is clearly after something that will get him to Shi’Ar space, and as usual, is lying and manipulating his way to it.