An Uncanny X-Men double feature packed with twists, surprises and Easter eggs to make X-fans giddy.
When Magneto’s Uncanny X-Men emerged in the All-New, All-Different Marvel Now, Warren was Archangel once again. Warren was a void, a weapon to be unleashed, turned off and on by former lover Psylocke.
What happened to the innocent Angel reborn after the Uncanny X-Force arc?
The secrets of Archangel were revealed as Magneto’s squad (Psylocke, Sabretooth, Monet and possibly Mystique and Fantomex*) entered Apocalypse Wars.
Ken Lashley joined writer Cullen Bunn for Uncanny X-Men #6 then Paco Medina joined Bunn for cameo packed second story to make you wonder where the writer is taking Magneto’s squad.
In Awakening Psylocke finally got some answers.
Here’s a quick Angel 101:
When Warren’s wings were amputated he accepted Apocalypse’s offer to become his Horseman, his Archangel of Death with blade wings. Psylocke “killed” Warren before he could become the heir of Apocalypse in Uncanny X-Force, The Dark Angel Saga. Warren was reborn as an amnesiac childlike “Angel” with his original wings again.
Before we continue here’s a SPOILER ALERT!
If you have not read Uncanny X-Men #6 stop reading now.
Seriously
OK
Here it comes:
During the eights months after Secret Wars, Magneto found the mindless drone that Warren is now and that’s why Betsy is working with the Master of Magnetism. Psylocke probed Warren’s empty mind to discover two manifestations (one is the Dark Angel, the other is the angelic amnesiac) and a vision Betsy believes is a prophecy of an assault of Archangels on a small town in Colorado.
Erik and Betsy go to Green Ridge to find Angel in a tent holding a religious service in a tent with a mass of faithful listening to his sermon. Warren appears to be human but with blood where his wings were.
Which Warren is the real Warren?
Watching Lashley’s artwork makes us remember the twisted, tragic love affair of Warren and Betsy. While many X-Fans think of Scott and Jean as the most famous X-Men couple, it’s not to forget the continuing tortured love of the telepath and winged warrior.
You may remember Lashley’s artwork on Excalibur which became X-Calibre during the original Age of Apocalypse epic in the 1990’s.
The Archangel/Angel twist was the big reveal but Bunn delivered much more.
Sabretooth and Monet journeyed to the Morlock tunnels where Victor faced the wrath of Callisto before M stop the rematch to get to the real reason for the visit. Callisto revealed the Morlocks are dying again.
Back in the Mutant Massacre, Sabretooth was a member of Mr. Sinister’s Marauders who were ordered to slaughter the tribe of mutants. It would be very ironic if the “new” Victor Creed helps save them.
The big question: Are the Morlocks dying because of M-Pox (exposure to the Terrigen Mists) or is another enemy killing them? The Dark Riders were killing mutant healers in their fanatical allegiance of Apocalypse and his credo. Is the Morlock mystery tied to the return of the Hellfire Club?
*As the first arc unfolds, we still don’t know Mystique and Fantomex’s allegiances as they investigate the Someday Corporation for the mysterious new masters of the Hellfire Club.
But that’s not all….
In Going Public, Storm and Valerie Cooper (a longtime government official tied to mutant relations) appeared on a new talk show as footage of Magneto’s team’s actions played out for the world to watch.
Who was watching was the surprise as Bunn pulled enemies classic and unseen from X-history.
From the Hellfire Club Inner Sanctum, what looked like Sebastian Shaw (onetime Black King of the Lords Cardinal) reacted to the Magneto footage to someone that, “Magneto’s antics…they’ll ruin everything.”
The Uncanny Avengers watched with Steve Rogers declaring, “we’re going to need to address this.”
Mojo! Yes, Mojo is watching talk news!
Then from an unknown location a mystery viewer watches from a high-tech throne saying, “this…could useful to me.”
Who is this? We’ll think on that.
But Bunn still wasn’t finished blowing our minds…
Magneto is getting “therapy” from Xorn?!
Uncanny X-Men #7 arrives May 4.
By Editor