WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for FCBD 2020 X-Men #1 by Jonathan Hickman, Tini Howard, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia, VC's Clayton Cowles and Tom Muller, available now.
The X-Men may be enjoying one of its most prosperous moments in the franchise's history due to the Dawn of X post-House of X/Powers of X, but some truly dark days are on the horizon. Before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused the comic book industry to halt production, Marvel announced an upcoming X-Men crossover event called X of Swords. The promotional image by artist Mark Brooks featured numerous X-Men wielding different bladed weapons, with 10 X-Men teased to step forward to defend the sovereign mutant island nation of Krakoa from an invading force.
Things have been fairly quiet on the X of Swords front over the last several months, but the release of Marvel's X-Men Free Comic Book Day title reveals how the crossover event will leave a drastic impact on Marvel's mutants. The issue's story takes readers to the Starlight Citadel, where Opal Luna Saturnyne serves as the Omniversal Majestrix over all realities. Saturnyne is currently appearing in the pages of Excalibur, but here she turns to a deck of tarot cards to see what the future holds for the X-Men. Five cards are revealed, which give a glimpse at the types of threats the X-Men can expect as X of Swords rocks the franchise's family of titles. Now, we're taking a closer look at each card and try to decipher the clues hidden in them and what they could possibly be mean.
Judgment
The tarot card of "Judgment" finds Apocalypse standing next to the High Summoner, who was first introduced in X-Men #2 when a piece of Arakko called the Arak Maw bonded with Krakoa. Behind Apocalypse and the Summoner are four purple structures with green vines crawling up them, as they look down at something below them. "Finality. An irrevocable change," Saturnyne reads. "From here, there is no going back. Surrendering to rebirth is the only path ahead."
House of X and Powers of X revealed how Apocalypse played a major role in the splitting of Krakoa and Arakko, with his First Horsemen left behind to defend Arakko. With the Summoner finding Apocalypse on Krakoa, it looks like their alliance has been solidified, with the possible judgment being what happens when Krakoa and Arakko fully reunite, or perhaps Apocalypse being judged for abandoning his First Horsemen and Arakko centuries ago.
Four Of Wands
The "Four of Wands" tarot cards feature Apocalypse's First Horsemen in action. Since they are currently stuck on Arakko, what we're witnessing on the tarot card could be the long war they've been embroiled in during their entrapment. "The labors of a community -- a family. Coming together for a black ceremony," Saturnyne reads. "A baptism of blood."
The family reference may be tied to the four being considered part of Apocalypse's family. Seeing how the former villain was a big proponent of "survival of the fittest," the brutal battle the Horsemen are taking part in may very well be the ceremony being referenced. The bigger question is whether the First Horsemen be loyal to Apocalypse when they reappear, or if they'll turn on their former master. A little later we will address a major clue concerning an answer.
The Hanged Man
Apocalypse leads a group of X-Men consisting of Beast, Rictor, Glob, Trinary, Havok, Banshee, Archangel, and Polaris on the Hanged Man tarot card. "Sacrifice?" the Omniversal Majestrix recites. "Curious. Can any of them be trusted to throw themselves on the pyre of change?" Again in the background are the same four crystal-looking structures, though this time the sun appears to be setting in the distance. The card suggests Apocalypse is leading these brave X-Men to make some type of sacrifice. The X-Men chosen vary from those who have died and come back to life and reformed villains, with Trinary the most recent addition to the team from X-Men Red.
If Apocalypse truly is leading this group to their death, they won't have to worry about being dead for long, thanks to the mutant resurrection protocols. The Five (Egg, Hope Summers, Tempus, Proteus, and Elixir) are five X-Men who can combine their mutant powers to bring deceased mutants back to life and restore their minds with Cerebro. So far the resurrection protocols have been flawless, though the recent death of Kitty Pryde in Marauders looks to test this new process.
Eight Of Cups
Perhaps the most mysterious tarot card in this X-Men free comic book is the Eight of Cups. A woman is shown with her tarot card split down the middle. On the left side, she is without any armor, allowing us to see her Black skin and hair. On the right side, she is wearing Egyptian-style armor with a faceplate. "Disillusionment. Abandonment," Saturnyne states. "That which was once the harmonious lifting of voices is now a mocking echo -- then silence."
Marvel provided a better clue as to this woman's identity when it released the cover to X of Swords: Stasis #1. This classified woman is the leader of the Swordbearers of Arakko, a new group of X-Men villains who will make their debut in the X of Swords crossover. She leads five other villains which include the First Horsemen War and Death, along with the Summoner. Our classified villain will lead the Swordbearers of Arakko against 10 X-Men who will stand to defend Krakoa.
Ten Of Swords
Much like the "X" in Powers of X, X of Swords is pronounced "10 of Swords" with the "X" standing for the Roman numeral of 10. The Ten of Swords tarot card features 10 X-Men, with five standing at the forefront and five others masked in a shadow behind them. In front, we have Cable, Apocalypse, Wolverine, Magik and Captain Britain. Behind them the five X-Men appear to be Gorgon, one of the Captains of Krakoa; Storm and Magneto, with the other two identities a mystery for now.
"Betrayal. Betrayed. By those who would show your back," Saturnyne reads from the 10 of Swords tarot card. "A loss, but an expected one. One always expects a sunset hours after the dawn." Again, we are teased with more death as five X-Men possibly betray their comrades. The thought of Magneto and Gorgon returning to their villainous roots isn't hard to envision, but why would Storm join with them? Storm sits on the Quiet Council of Krakoa, but the events of X of Swords may find this governing body dismantle from within.
X of Swords officially kicks off in September with the release of X of Swords: Creation #1.