It’s the end of an era in Uncanny X-Men #5 as Magneto destroys a huge part of X-Men history, does a major makeover to an old school locale and strikes two rogues – not Rogue – who have been working for mystery masters.
Magneto, Psylocke, Sabretooth, M and Archangel investigated the Someday Corporation and tried to save mutant healers hunted by the Dark Riders.
Mystique and Fantomex are running their own investigation of Someday and working for the resurrected Hellfire Club.
Spot-on character portrayals, fast-paced action, killer chemistry and multiple engaging plots and counterplots – writer Cullen Bunn is nailing it with this book. The first arc is racing to a big finish and this chapter is packed with major changes.
Before we continue here’s a SPOILER ALERT!
If you have not read Uncanny X-Men #5 stop reading now.
Seriously.
OK.
Here it comes:
Triage is of our favorite newer mutants from the Brian Bendis era. Magneto uses the healer as bait in a battle with the Dark Riders. Apocalypse’s cult followers learned they aren’t the strongest fit to survive. In a bold sneak maneuver Magnus wiped out the Riders and sinks Genosha.
The island is a major part of X-Men history created by Chris Claremont. The once “green and pleasant land” was a technologically advanced paradise off the coast of Afria with a dark secret: mutants were considered natural resources to be mined like slave labor. Claremont’s early Genosha stories were an allegory inspired by South Africa’s former policy of aparthied.
The X-Men took out the corrupt government leaders and Genosha later became a refuge for mutants ruled by Magneto. The new nation became home to 16 million mutants until Cassandra Nova (Professor Xavier’s evil “twin”) unleashed a Sentinel army on the country killing millions and turning the island into a wasteland.
Magneto and Xavier tried to rebuild the country followed by various takeovers and invasions by different villains. The Master of Magnetism sank the island as a “warning to the world” and destroyed an island that was the symbol of mutant hate, hope and tragic history.
This issue was the first time members of the Uncanny and Extraordinary teams met since the All-New, All-Different Marvel Now began. It was a happy reunion for Storm and Elizabeth who questioned why she is staying with Magneto’s squad and acknowledging she and Magneto don’t agree on X-Haven in Limbo.
Storm even admits, “it’s almost a precondition for knowing the man. Sooner or later you’re going to butt heads.”
Monet rebuffs Ororo’s overtures of welcome.
This exchange is a hint of what’s to come in Civil War II: X-Men (also to be written by Bunn) which sees a rift between mutant leaders when a new Inhuman emerges and an Inhumans vs X-Men war.
It’s not all destruction and uneasy reunions.
Magneto relocates his team to his old citadel in The Savage Land and designates it “War Room X.” The Master of Magnetism often called this home and even led the “mutates” of this prehistoric jungle hidden in Antartica.
In the issue’s final act Mystique and Fantomex are traveling in his E.V.A. “ship” when Magneto seizes the ship and demands to talk.
The big burning questions:
Mystique and Fantomex – have they been working for Magneto all this time meaning Magnus is part of the new Hellfire Club or are they on their own?
How will the Avengers, Inhumans, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world react to Magneto’s destruction of Genosha?
Is this really the end of the Dark Riders and how will Apocalypse react to their slaying?
Who is behind the Hellfire Club?
Emma Frost? The former White Queen turned X-Men leader is MIA in since the post Secret Wars relaunch? Given Emma’s ties to Magneto during his tenure in the Hellfire Club and in Cyclops’ “Revolution” X-Men team – she’s a perfect character to connect all the mysteries Bunn is weaving. Given Bunn’s specialty at writing villains and antiheroes, Emma would be a perfect character for him to take on.
By Editor