The future is “Extraordinary” for the X-Men.
The future is also “Sinister” for Children of the Atom.
Extraordinary X-Men #1 by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Humberto Ramos begins a new chapter for the mutants with a classic villain’s comeback.
Lemire revealed the first villain he’s throwing at his Extraordinary X-Men team in an IGN interview including this look at cover to Extraordinary X-Men #4.
Mister Sinister is a genetic genius who has genetically altered himself to give himself multiple powers including super strength, telepathy, shape-shifting, energy projecting and regeneration. Sinister’s real name is Nathaniel Essex. The renegade scientist of the Victorian era discovered Apocalypse as the immortal mutant was coming out of hibernation.
As Extraordinary X-Men launches, there’s a cold war with the Inhumans, Cyclops is MIA and the Terrigenesis that created NuHumans is affecting mutant DNA. Lemire explains why Sinister is the first bad guy for his run:
“Sinister will be only ONE of the threats the X-Men will be facing in the first arc. He was a natural fit for this arc. His fascination with genetics in particular made him a perfect for an X-Men team that is facing extinction and being threatened by Terrigen Mist.” Lemire told IGN.
“In writing this series, I really don’t want to bring back any old villains, or X-Men concepts unless I can add something. So, Sinister will have evolved and changed to a degree when we see him. His motivations and essential character traits will still be intact, but we are taking him to the next level. Humberto is having a lot of fun with his design.”
Mister Sinister was co-created by Chris Claremont. Sinister is obsessed with the genetics Scott Summers and Jean Grey. Young Scott even spent time in an orphanage secretly run by the villain. Sinister even created a clone of Jean named Madelyne Pryor to breed with Scott. The child would grow up to be Cable.
Sinister is the villain behind the Mutant Massacre. Essex ordered Sabretooth and the Marauders to wipe out the secret tribe of mutants called the Morlocks. Several X-Men were radically injured trying to stop the massacre.
Essex briefly evolved into Miss Sinister (courtesy Mike Carey) before becoming a more Victorian era garbed villain at the launch of Kieron Gillen’s Uncanny X-Men run during Avengers vs. X-Men.
With Cyclops missing and young Jean Grey on the team, it’s scary to think what’s motivating Sinister when he strike again.
By Editor