Warning: Spoilers for X-Men #3!Two new versions X-Men was leading Cyclops and naughty they are bound to collide. As the franchise reboots after the end of the Krakoa Era, the new era creates two X-Men teams operating in different parts of the world: a roster led by Cyclops in Alaska and a New Orleans-based unit led by Rogue.
Despite being on two different sides of North America, the respective teams of Rogue and Cyclops are set up for conflict, as shown from the start. X-Men #3 Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, Livesay, Marte Gracia and Clayton Cowles of VC. One bad phone call could be the first step in an all-out war against the X-Men.
It could go deeper than that, as Cyclops' X-Men could quietly be the more antagonistic of the two, closer to the Brotherhood of Mutants than the X-Men, with Scott Summers himself taking on the role of Magneto.
Marvel teases X-Men vs. X-Men
And a Magneto-esque Cyclops
While Cyclops' team deliberately tries to pull the X-Men out of Krakoa's ashes on behalf of Scott Summers, Rogue's X-Men are all inadvertently drawn into each other's arms. The weirder of the two X-Men crews consists of Rogue, Gambit, Jubilee, and Wolverine, all former X-Men who no longer have anything to do with the team as they all try to recover from their trauma in Krakoa. The end of an era. The accidental death of a little boy who touches Rogue is enough to bring them all together in search of their true purpose.
X-Men #3 begins with Cyclops on the phone with Rogue – the other half of the conversation can be seen in November. Uncanny X-Men #2 – discusses plans with the latter and then hangs up. Enraged, Scott approaches the Beast, referring to the Uncanny “Possibly four of the most pig-headed mutants to ever exist.” It takes a lot to make Scott this angry, and some of that anger carries over into a later conversation with Agent Lundqvist, where Scott implies that his anger might encourage him to lead the X-Men the way Magneto leads the Brotherhood..
Rogue has a Deep Connection to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants
Is this a coincidence or is history repeating itself?
When talking about the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, it's easy to forget that When Rogue first debuted in the comics, she was a villainous member of Magneto's infamous crew (led by Mystique at the time). He would have a change of heart once Professor X and company were by his side as he struggled with the abilities and empathy he gained from mastering Captain Marvel's powers. Still, his early roots were in opposing the X-Men long before he even considered officially becoming an X-Man. Therefore, it feels more obvious to say Cyclops: “You want them to be my X-Men, not my Brotherhood.”
Considering his speech against Agent Lundqvist is mere pages after talking about Rogue. It cannot be a coincidence that the Cyclops mentioned the Brotherhood. This must have been a deliberate choice on behalf of the creative team, perhaps planting the seeds for something bigger developing for Rogue's story. Maybe it's X-Men Vs. The X-Men tease is bigger than the marquee's name suggests. Instead, it could be a bigger part of Rogue getting déjà vu from seeing a leader with diabolical plans up his sleeve from a well-intentioned leader. And this time, Cyclops becomes that leader.
Is Cyclops the villain of Rogue's story?
Will it be X-Men vs. X-Men or X-Men vs. Brotherhood of Evil Mutants?
Every hero vs. hero encounter, even one built on miscommunication or misunderstandings, usually has an actual hero and an actual antagonist. A story doesn't necessarily have a villain because both sides are still heroes, but the story may be geared toward favoring one side, or at least one person is more at fault than the other. This could make them antagonistic, and these new developments could make Cyclops the antagonist of that encounter. Honestly, Cyclops can actually be shown to be a true supervillain like Magneto..
For example, Cyclops appeared in 2012's Avengers Vs. He was the de facto antagonist of the X-Men event, and he had a different take on how to handle Hope Summers' situation with the Phoenix Force. Because Scott's vision was different from that of the Avengers, he fired the first shot that started the war. The same thing can happen here. Cyclops is very passionate about his cause, especially when he's convinced he's right, which has gotten him into intense conflicts in the past.. He says it clearly naughtyof X-Men are wrong in their pursuit and if Cyclops he could unleash his wrath on them and unleash his proverbial Brotherhood.
X-Men #3 on sale now from Marvel Comics.
X-Men
Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the X-Men franchise focuses on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they fight discrimination and the evil mutants that threaten humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a mix of action, drama and complex characters spanning comics, animated series and blockbuster movies.