WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for X-Men/Fantastic Four #2 by Chip Zdarsky, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Karl Story, Ransom Getty, Laura Martin and VC's Joe Caramagna, on sale now.
In the new X-Men/Fantastic Four series, the two titular super-teams have, once again, found themselves at odds. This time, they are quarrelling over the fate of Franklin Richards, the son of Reed Richards and Susan Storm.
After the X-Men declared sovereignty on Krakoa, they extended an invitation to every mutant on the planet. Since Franklin is a mutant (unlike the rest of his family), the invitation obviously extended to him as well. But the case with him is even more important because Franklin's powers are depleting. Professor X wishes to bring Franklin to Krakoa to attempt to fix him and ensure that his condition doesn't happen to other mutants. Xavier and his X-Men come knocking to 4 Yancy Street, and things don't go well. Now, Franklin has run away, and the Fantastic Four and the X-Men are in the middle of a conflict.
This all prompts Sue to declare the mutants are "not the people we once knew. They're not heroes." Is she exaggerating, or is she right?
When Franklin runs away at the end of X-Men/Fantastic Four #1, he is joined by his sister Valeria. Together, they join Kitty Pryde and the Marauders on their boat to go visit Krakoa. However, they disappear when they are taken by Doctor Doom to Doom Island. Naturally, Reed and Sue are concerned for their children, and they quickly wish to find them. But the same cannot be said for Professor X and the X-Men. In fact, they make it clear that all they wish is to find Franklin. They don't care about Valeria, which is what prompts Sue to declare the mutants are no longer heroes.
This is a microcosm of what the X-Men believe in now as far as the rest of the world is concerned.
Sue is right in saying the X-Men are no longer acting as heroes, at least from a certain point of view. In fact, ever since Professor X and Magneto founded the mutant nation of Krakoa, they have only acted in the best interest of mutants. Their interests, as a species, are now self-centered. They deal with threats to their existence, but nothing outside of it. Their concern is now the survival and dominion of mutants. They are so dedicated to this cause that they have now befriended some of their sworn enemies, such as Apocalypse and Mister Sinister.
There certainly is merit to the mutants' point of view. After all, the mutants have long been the subject of hatred and fear, as well as victims of attacks that drove them near to extinction. After everything they have been through, it's only normal that, now that they are a powerful nation, they would only wish to look out for themselves.
But it's also important to note that some of the X-Men, ever since the start of House of X/Powers of X, have been acting differently -- some might even say out of character. They are a considerably darker bunch, and their self-serving interests make them more of a menace to anyone who isn't a mutant -- even to other heroes, who themselves recognize the X-Men are acting strange.
From the point of view of other heroes like the Avengers and the Fantastic Four, the X-Men are now a secretive bunch who have cut themselves off from the rest of the world. Before, other heroes could count on them for help in dealing with all matter of otherworldly threats. But now, they have to face the very real possibility that the X-Men may no longer want to help.
The only thing the X-Men fight for now are themselves and those like them. They've certainly earned that right, but they also might not want to burn all of their bridges as they do so. They still have friends out there.