WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Excalibur #12 by Tini Howard, Marcus To, Erick Arciniega, & VC's Ariana Maher, on sale now
The Externals would have you think that they're the most important group of mutants in the history of the X-Men. However, the ambitions of this ancient, immortal order of mutants have usually outweighed their actual accomplishments. However, Apocalypse found a use for several of his fellow Externals in Excalibur #12.
United together at the Eternal Caldera on Krakoa, Apocalypse is met by the other Externals: Selene, Crule, Gideon, Saul, Candra, Nicodemus and Absolom. Revealing his intentions to sacrifice some of their life energy to power the new Otherworld Gate, Apocalypse -- along with Selene and Gideon, who are revealed to be a part of his plan -- quickly turns on their fellow immortals. With the unexpected help of Rictor, the group is actually able to wipe out four of the Externals and extract their life energy to open a gate to Otherworld and seemingly end their natural resurrection cycle.
While it may be possible for the Externals to potentially be restored through the Krakoan resurrection process that brings all mutants back to life, their natural life force has been used by Apocalypse to fuel the crystals that create the Otherworld Gate, which likely diminished their power and possibly killed them for good. Now, we're taking a closer look at the four Externals who were just killed and why they might become the first four permanent mutant casualties of the Krakoa Era.
SAUL
Debuting in Rob Liefeld, Fabian Nicieza and Mark Pacella's X-Force #10, Saul was one of the first Externals, and -- alongside Crule and Nicodemus -- formed the concept of the High Lords. Becoming a gifted sorcerer, Saul even became capable of assuming a dragon form, which he uses to attack Apocalypse and his ilk during their battle in this issue. Saul ruled over a kingdom in Mongolia for a time and was crucial to a younger Apocalypse learning more about magic and the technologies of the Celestials during the 12th century, before being (literally) stabbed in the back by the younger En Subah Nur.
In the modern-day, Saul was one of the Externals most interested in Cannonball, who was hinted to have a connection to the Externals. Beliving that Cannonball was the key to the survival of the Externals from the Legacy Virus, Saul became a frequent thorn in the side of X-Force before being targeted by Selene and drained of his life force. He would briefly return not long after but was killed by another External -- a time-traveling Gideon -- before being restored before Dawn of X.
CANDRA
Candra is an exceptionally powerful psionic mutant, capable of telekinesis, energy blasts, and telepathy who debuted in Howard Mackie and Lee Weeks' Gambit #1 in 1993. While much of her origins are a mystery, Candra convinced the other Externals to take part in a ritual that would transfer some of her life energy out of her body and into a special stone in the 12th century. Although this limited her abilities, it gave her an additional level of immorality outside of her natural regenerative powers as an External.
After arriving in North America during the period of colonization, Candra made a deal with the Assassins and Thieves Guilds that placed her in power over them. She's been a frequent enemy of Gambit in the modern-day while still having a connection to the guilds. This is what leads directly to her final death -- although her body is destroyed in Apocalypse' ritual, the stone with her life force survives in Otherworld. Found by Gambit, she tries (and fails) to convince Gambit to hold onto the stone. Instead, Gambit turns it over to Apocalypse, who drains it of power to finally kill Candra and finish the ritual.
NICODEMUS
Nicodemus formed the original High Lords alongside Saul and Crule, and they worked together to try and manipulate world events to their likings. Blessed with incredible pyrokinetic powers, Nicodemus spent centuries working with his fellow Externals. However, Nicodemus proved that even immortals weren't safe from the Legacy Virus. The highly infectious disease targeted mutants specifically, with Nicodemus suffering from the virus until it turned his powers against him.
His control over fire failed him and instead consumed him in flames, killing him. He would eventually be restored alongside his fellow Externals, only to be killed again by a time-traveling Gideon. After being restored once more, he tries to use his flames to defeat Rictor and brags that the Externals could wipe out the Quiet Council if they really wanted in this issue. However, his powers can't keep up with Rictor once the young mutant takes control of the molten magma around them and kills Nicodemus -- and his fellow Externals -- in a wave of lava.
CRULE
Crule is one of the older known mutants in existence and one of the first Externals, even being hinted to be connected to the Hyborian Age. While the other Externals proved crafty and conniving, the brutish Crule became the External assassin, with his mutation giving him enhanced strength, durability, and a set of claws instead of hands. After debuting in Liefeld, Nicieza and Pacella's X-Force #12, he was sent after Cannonball and ordered to eliminate Cable, who was then serving as Cannonball's mentor. Eventually deciding that the Externals were threatened by Cannonball, Crule tried to kill the young mutant once and for all, even targeting his extended family.
Eventually, Crule was blasted out of a Hele-Carrier, with the healing process proving time-restraining even for someone with his natural restorative abilities. He turned against his fellow Externals and gave information about them to his enemies, and he was eventually forced on the run when Selene began targeting other Externals. Drained of his power by Selene, Crule wouldn't be resurrected for quite some time, and he was overwhelmed by a time-displaced Gideon when he finally returned. After another resurrection, Crule was again defeated, and this time he was the first External to be downed by Apocalypse.