WARNING: The following contains spoilers for X-Force #15 by Benjamin Percy, Joshua Cassara, Guru-eFX, VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now.
As the chief architects of Krakoa's national security, X-Force has been forced to make some harsh decisions since the formation of the mutant nation. But now, a major X-Man, Colossus, might be the key to tempering the black ops group's darker impulses.
Even though the veteran X-Man begins X-Force #15 under arrest in the custody of people he's known for years, Colossus is being considered for a major role with X-Force, where he could be vital in the fight against his villainous brother and serve as a natural counter to an increasingly ethically dubious Beast.
Tensions have been brewing in X-Force, with the team being an official branch of Krakoa's government assigned that often pushes the boundaries of what they can do. Their actions have already resulted in the accidental creation of Terra Verde, an act that cost the lives of hundreds and led to Jean Grey stepping down from the organization formally. While she continues to help the team with psychic scans on suspects in other cases, she leaves before she can fully learn whatever Beast is planning. This leaves an opening in the organization, which Jean actually has a possible solution for as well.
One of the suspects Jean was brought in to psychically investigate was their long-time teammate and friend, Colossus. Colossus' brother Mikhail has returned and is orchestrating plans against Krakoa, assembling a Russian equivalent to Krakoa, among other things. Beast's suspicion of Beast led him to publicly arrest and shame Colossus, a decision that infuriated most of his teammates. Jean reveals that her psychic scan confirmed his innocence as well as his desire to just help others on the island -- not through his strength or fists, but through kindness and a lending hand. Jean even notes that his experience with Mikhail would make him pivotal to Beast's ongoing investigation into Russian attacks on Krakoa. This all leads Jean to suggest Colossus as a possible replacement for her now vacant position within X-Force as part of Beast's penance for making a spectacle out of their friend's arrest.
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Colossus -- despite his occasional fury and periods of corruption as both an Acylote and the Avatar of Cyttorak -- has usually been defined as a gentle giant among the X-Men. Currently, his only desire is to help his fellow mutants, make them happy, and keep them safe. He still has an innate need to help -- so it makes perfect sense to find a place for him within the Krakoa structure where that can flourish and do some real good. Jean likely sees him as an empathetic and soft-hearted counter to the ruthless pragmatism that Beast has been embracing since taking over command of X-Force. Beast even seems to somewhat agree: Beast gives Colossus specially crafted Krakoan paints and apologizes for his actions, before asking Colossus a question that the issue cuts away from.
If Colossus does join X-Force in an intelligence role, it would be a huge step forward for the former X-Man. He could impact the future of Krakoa going forward, and hopefully with a steady hand to balance out Beast's choices. But it might also force Colossus to make some hard decisions -- and would reunite him with his ex-flame Domino, which might complicate the romance that has blossomed between Colossus and Kayla.
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