WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Marvel's Voices #1 by Vita Ayala, Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo, on sale Wednesday, Feb. 19.
The X-Men have re-established themselves at the top of the Marvel pecking order with all the changes Jonathan Hickman has introduced into the franchise. Marvel's Merry Mutants transitioned from an underdog status where it really appeared mutants would become extinct, to declaring a new sovereign mutant island and joining the United Nations. It all happened so quickly, that it is no surprise that those major power plays would draw the attention of groups looking to oppose the X-Men.
Hickman sprinkled data pages inside his House of X and Powers of X miniseries, which revealed key details about the X-Men's new status quo. One of the more intriguing data pages came in House of X #5 after the United Nations passed a vote allowing the X-Men to establish Krakoa as a mutant sovereign nation. Part of Charles Xavier's declaration to the world involved selling mutant pharmaceutical drugs that can extend the human life cycle. More than 100 nations have agreed to a trade deal with Krakoa, though some have rejected Krakoan overtures. Readers were shown a list of countries that have rejected a trade treaty with Krakoa, with Black Panther's Wakanda standing out from the pack.
The House of X #5 data page highlighted the African nation of Wakanda in red, stating its reason for rejecting the X-Men as, "THEY DO NOT NEED MUTANT DRUGS." On the surface, this decision makes some sense for Wakanda. It is a highly-advanced, technological nation with no peer in the Marvel Universe. Wakanda has mined its natural resource, Vibranium, and turned it into weapons and medicine, so what use would mutant drugs be to Wakanda's citizens?
On the other hand, the defiant way Wakanda rejected Krakoa possibly teases a conflict between the two in the near future. But if you don't want to wait that long to see the two nations compete against one another, then have a look at a preview for Marvel's Voices #1.
Marvel's Voices is a new anthology that spins out of the popular Marvel podcast series of the same name. The preview picks up at the first annual International Science Race Expo, where drivers will navigate a course that takes them across the world. We then meet two of the race teams that are competing, which happen to come from Krakoa and Wakanda.
Forge and Prodigy are representing for the X-Men, with the former listed as the driver and the latter as co-designer/engineering support. Princess Shuri will pilot for Team Wakanda, with her brother, King T'Challa aka Black Panther, there as moral support. Black Panther tries to wish Shuri luck, but she quickly dismisses his kind words. After all, who needs luck when she clearly has the superior design? Of course, Forge hears this and they exchange some friendly trash talk before the race begins.
This may not be the first showdown fans envisioned when House of X set up an X-Men vs. Black Panther confrontation, but the race should still provide a good deal of entertainment. Forge and Shuri will want to win for their respective nations, meaning they will go all-out to secure victory. Plus, you never know if this race will be the catalyst that finally sparks a superhero war between Krakoa and Wakanda.