Now that readers are in the aftermath of House of X/Powers of X and the ‘Dawn of X’ has broken the horizon of the Marvel universe, we can now see exactly how the dust is settling on the mutant utopia of Krakoa.
Overlooked, often maligned mutants once thought irrelevant and downright silly now have a significant presence and depth, enemies are now unlikely allies, and long-time fan favorites have found new purpose in the promise of mutant unification in this new status quo. Here’s a list of the new mutant whos-who moving forward into the ongoing relaunch of the homo-superior saga of X-titles:
10 Krakoa
The mutants literally wouldn’t have this home with this...complex...character. Both a person and “place”, Krakoa is an ancient sentient mutant island that has a history with the mutant formerly known as Apocalypse that goes way back like spinal columns and car seats. Once part of a larger sentient landmass known as Okkara, an attack by a being wielding the Twilight Sword cleaved the continent in twain creating Krakoa and its currently missing counterpart Arakko. Apocalypse held the mysterious being back and routed their forces at the cost of Arakko and his original Horsemen, leaving them trapped in Limbo. Poor Krakoa hasn’t felt whole since, until recently.
9 Black Tom Cassidy
One of the best running jokes from Deadpool 2 is now head of security for the fledgling mutant nation, and well, it completely makes sense in a Johnathan Hickman sort of way. This is an island nation that is covered up to the X-genes in new, exotic and potentially dangerous flora, so why not have someone who can manipulate every plant into a security system component, complete with a spore dome field that can recognize incoming mutants and bogeys? And Cassidy is pretty invested in his new position as security chief, even going as far as dressing-down Xavier himself over the laissez-faire comings and goings of the portal-hopping mutant population.
8 Cypher
Once seen as a kind of one-trick-pony, the mutant omni-polyglot Douglas Ramsey finds himself with several essential duties in the day-to-day administration and infrastructure maintenance because, well, he’s the only one who can most accurately and fluently communicate with Krakoa.
That being said, his newly established responsibilities didn’t stop him from getting all hopped up on Krakoa’s finest dark roast java then hitching a ride with the Starjammers, and getting himself marooned in Shi’ar space just so he could take a friend a very complicated potted plant.
7 The mutant formerly known as Apocalypse
One of the oldest living beings native to this planet, the mutant formerly known as Apocalypse has now changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol (unable to be comprehended by humans - and by extension, the reader) then moved into a new chapter of his incredibly long life as mutant priest and steward of magic on Krakoa. Due to his past as a formidable foe, he’s very much seen as a mutant other mutants need to keep their eye on, and they’re not wrong. While he sees the nation of Krakoa as a dream of mutant superiority realized, he’s also not entirely forthcoming about his agenda for the mutant island (literally, the mutant Krakoa itself) with others on the Quiet Council.
6 Captain Britain
Betsy Braddock has had an immensely complicated background and very unique struggle with identity. Now she finds herself in a conflict of loyalties between her family and her new mutant home, which thrusts her into the mantle of Captain Britain, and as such, she also becomes the chief magical authority on Krakoa and becomes the first line of defense in terms of Krakoa's magical borders. Braddock is currently working closely with the mutant formerly known as Apocalypse to better understand the intersection between the "witchbreed" (what ancient witches, sorcerers, and other magic practitioners called mutants) and "human" magic communities, and in doing so have incurred the wrath of the realm of Avalon.
5 Captain Kate Pryde, Red Queen of the Hellfire Trading Company
Shadowcat is gone. Kitty doesn’t exist anymore. And don’t dare speak of Sprite. Now, it's just Kate. Captain Kate actually, and one would do well to remember that and show the proper deference or they likely find out how she got that sword.
Known in homo-superior gossip circles as the infamous mutant who can’t use the portals, she spends most of her time acting as a shepherd for mutant refugees that are being prevented from using the Krakoa portals, smuggling mutant pharmaceuticals into those same unfriendly countries, and running mainland contraband to Krakoa on the word of Emma Frost and fellow Hellfire Trading Company chess pieces.
4 Emma Frost
The White Queen of the Hellfire Trading Company has a pretty full plate lately: running the public face in boardroom negotiations, headhunting (manipulating, probably) Kate Pryde for a captain's commission, keeping the black market operations running smoothly, and dealing with one of the worst and most conniving business partners, Sebastian Shaw. That still doesn’t stop her from being the mutant impresario that she is, making moves behind the scenes in Krakoa’s economic relations and the pharmaceutical black market. Her past and her obscure motives do make her a wildcard for mutant culture moving forward.
3 Jean Grey/Marvel Girl
One of the strongest, competent and most talented mutants (let alone telepaths), Jean Grey is a key member of the mutant intelligence agency X-Force. She’s one of the only members that do both intel and wet-work, kinda like a more bad-ass female version of Jack Ryan that doesn’t whine about being an analyst before embarking on her mission. Her role in Krakoa could be even more pivotal as one of the only mutants powerful enough to operate Cerebro in wake of Xavier’s untimely demise at the hands of cybernetic Ravagers.
2 Cyclops
Scott Summers is Krakoa’s version of JFK, George Washington, and Barack Obama rolled into one fun-loving tactical adventure dad and all-around snappy dresser. Being one of the strongest and most notable leaders in mutant history (and alternate histories) makes him the obvious choice for the top job as captain commander of the Krakoan state defense forces, otherwise colloquially known as the X-Men. He also holds a special place in mutant culture as a member of the legendary Summers clan, the first family of mutants, as it were. His wife is an omega-level legend in her own right, his children are incredibly powerful, and energy powerhouse siblings Havok and Vulcan (and ?) makes him the perfect figurehead for Krakoans.
1 Moira X
Lurking somewhere in the shadows of mutant culture, in the dark No-Spaces where even Krakoa can’t see, hides the puppet-master pulling the strings of mutantdom, Moira X. Though readers haven’t seen her whereabouts since the end of House of X/ Powers of X, Johnathan Hickman revealed back in October that Moira will be getting her own miniseries, the focus of which is still a mystery. As it stands now, the Quiet Council has made a very unfortunate promise to Mystique that could see her good works undone: resurrect the precognitive mutant Destiny, one of the few individuals with the power to “see” Moira’s self-reincarnation ability.