The following article contains spoilers for X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1, on sale now from Marvel.

The X-Men have thrown two Hellfire Galas so far, and the lavish affairs have already proven to be ripe with revelations, conflict and drama. One such conflict involves Reed Richards, as shown in the recent Hellfire Gala special, who's closing in on the memories Charles Xavier previously stole from him.

In X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 by Gerry Duggan, Russell Dauterman, Kris Anka, C.F. Villa and Matteo Lolli, Reed reveals to Tony Stark Xavier had earlier erased some of his memories -- and made no secret he was doing so. The revelation comes amidst the celebratory nature of the second Hellfire Gala, where the X-Men and the governing body of the mutant nation Krakoa are seeking to solidify and strengthen relations with the rest of the world.

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Why Xavier Erased Reed Richards Memory

That memory, of course, was an invention by Reed enabling a mutant's X-gene to be masked -- and even removed. The development goes back to the events of 2020's X-Men/Fantastic Four by Chip Zdarsky, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson and Ranson Getty. In that storyline, Reed and Sue Richards' son Franklin is invited by Xavier to come live with his fellow mutants in Krakoa. Wary parents Reed and Sue, though, aren't all that thrilled with the idea, and instead of simply acquiescing to their concerns, Xavier continues to pressure the family.

To forestall the issue, Reed develops his device to use on Franklin, hoping to prevent him from being able to access the Krakoan gates -- which only transports mutants through to the island nation. Seeing the device as a potential means to exterminate the mutant race, though, Xavier not only erases Reed's memory of how to construct the device, but in a show of mutant dominance, ensures he knows Xavier erased those memories. Magneto also destroys the only functional device, ending its perceived threat to mutantkind but forever putting the X-Men at odds with Reed.

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Reed wasn't about to let that transgression go, however. At the first Hellfire Gala, as shown in Duggan and Lolli's Marauders #21, Reed is seen whispering to Xavier, although what exactly Reed says is unknown. It's possible he's put Xavier on notice he's getting closer to learning what he’s stolen from his mind, though -- in the later Marauders #27, Reed in fact reaches an agreement with Katherine Pryde to help him discover exactly that.

And as of the second gala, it's apparent that he has, although what comes next remains to be seen.

X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 is now on sale from Marvel.

Source: Marvel