The following contains spoilers for Wolverine #30, now on sale from Marvel Comics
The development of Beast and Wolverine's relationship across the course of X-Force has been one of the most fascinating developments of the Krakoa era of X-Men comics. Initially united in goal and purpose, their different perspectives and moralities have increasingly pitted them against each other, even leading them to lash out at one another.
Their conflict has been escalating in some gritty ways, and it's just taken another dark turn. Wolverine #30 (by Benjamin Percy, Juan José Ryp, Frank D'Armata, and VC's Cory Petit) sees Wolverine finally confront Beast over his recent heinous actions, including murdering him and turning him into a mindless killer. But Wolverine's decision to ultimately kill Beast could cause some seriously chaotic fallout for himself, the rest of Krakoa, and the world at large.
How Wolverine Gets His Revenge Against Beast
Things on Krakoa have been tense lately, even outside the efforts of Mister Sinister to set off his own ideal timeline in Sins of Sinister. The mutant nation has been increasingly tested by external forces like Orchis and the Eternals while contending with internal strife set off by figures like Abigail Brand. One of the darkest developments for the mutants though can be found in the evolution of Hank McCoy, aka the Beast. A founding member of the X-Men, a veteran of the Avengers, and a long-time leader in the mutant community, Beast has increasingly embraced a more cynical and ruthless view of the world as commander of X-Force. His determination to protect the mutant nation above all else has sacrificed his morality multiple times. This reached a boiling point when he executed Wolverine to resurrect as a mindless assassin.
This carried on for a short while before X-Force's increasing distrust of Beast saw Sage and Domino investigate his recent transgressions. This led to the discovery and restoration of Wolverine. Although Logan has every right to be furious with Beast, Sage advises him on restraint. For all of Beast's crimes, he still has importance to the overall structure of the mutant nation. He's represented Krakoa to the United States government, for example, so it has to fall to the Quiet Council to determine his fate. But after hunting Beast across the globe and watching him try to kill two humans in a bid to cover his tracks (including an innocent child), Logan delivers two deadly blows to him.
How Beast's Death Could Disrupt Krakoa
Wolverine's actions make a certain amount of sense as a mean impulse, but it's one that could have dire consequences for Krakoa going forward. In the short term, it seems Beast's death has set off some sort of hidden protocol to clone new versions of him. This seemingly set off the grim events glimpsed briefly by Kang during his travels through time in Timeless. This could complete Beast's slide into villainy, which has become a steadily more tragic throughline of the Krakoa Era. Even as villains like Apocalypse and Gorgon could find redemption on Krakoa, heroes have also been able to find their worst selves.
Beast's actions also invite a host of complications into Krakoa's continued stability as a nation. The Quiet Council having their authority undermined by Wolverine's actions could invite further doubt in the community's ruling body, and force them to take action against Logan. Beast's actions had been in the name of monitoring Krakoa's enemies, with Wolverine's ally Jeff Bannister forced to serve as his mole in the CIA's mutant taskforce. Now, with Bannister wounded and Beast dead, this fountain of information is cut off. The death of Beast could leave the mutant nation uniquely vulnerable at the worst time possible, and help set up the upcoming Fall of X.