WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Hellions #5 by Zeb Wells, Carmen Carnero, David Curiel, & VC's Ariana Maher, on sale now.
Mister Sinister has always painted himself as a brilliant manipulator, capable of twisting his forces into specific shapes and turning enemies like the X-Men into pawns for his plans. But in Hellions #5, his latest scheme may have just backfired in the most spectacular way possible, endangering his life itself.
While trying to figure out the best way to deal with the duels against Apocalypse's first, lost descendants that will determine the fate of the X-Men and the Marvel Universe, Mister Sinister just volunteered the Hellions for an all-but-ensured doomed mission to prevent any additional bloodshed in X of Swords, and he's been forced to lead it.
The coming duels for the future of mutantkind, Krakoa, and the Earth itself in X of Swords has been weighing on the X-Men, particularly when it was revealed through the loss of Rockslide that death in Otherworld is more permanent than they've grown accustomed to lately. However, one possible solution presents itself, thanks to Mister Sinister. The former villain suggests a plan where his band of mutant killers, the Hellions, venture to Arakko. By using King Jamie Braddock's Krakoa Gate, they can sneak into Otherworld. From there, they can stealthily make their way through Saturnyne's Kingdom and find their way into Arakko lands. From there, they could potentially steal one of the chosen blades for the Sword-Breakers of Arakko -- thus forcing them to be incapable of completing their duel.
If this works, it could allow the mutants of Krakoa to win their duel without ever lifting a sword. If they fail and are captured, however, Saturnyne could easily rule against Krakoa and disqualify them -- putting the entirety of Krakoa and even Earth itself at risk. Despite the possible ramifications of the plan, the potential reward is enough to convince some of the Quiet Council. With the Council somewhat split apart due to various missions, it only takes five votes to ensure a majority decision. Xavier and Magneto are hesitant about the plan -- especially the risk it poses to any of the Hellions are killed while on the mission, as dying in Otherworld erases any and all back-ups of the mutants, preventing their resurrections. However, Mister Sinister gets the support of Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost, Mystique and Exodus.
This is just enough votes for the plan to pass, setting up the Hellions to embark on maybe their most potentially dangerous mission ever. However, Exodus suggests an addition to the plan -- that Sinister himself leads the Hellions on this mission, venturing into Otherworld himself to ensure the plan is a success. Again, five votes are needed -- with Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost, Mystique, and Exodus all voting in favor. Sinister votes to not go -- but his inability to keep from mocking Magneto over his daughter leads Magneto to change his vote to yes, forcing a very reluctant Sinister onto the mission.
Even though he leaves a clone of himself on Krakoa, ensuring that Sinister will continue to be a factor on the island, this is perhaps the most existential threat the clone-happy villain has ever encountered. Sinister could find himself wiped out -- with Otherworld's magic even potentially destroying his own secret clone farm. Mister Sinister has long been one of the most indestructible figures within the X-Men corner of the Marvel Universe, coming back from otherwise lethal and destructive ends.
But Otherworld's mystical properties might be enough to even leave him concerned. With the Hellions unlikely to complete their mission, it'll be interesting to see if the Hellions actually even survive their encounter with the forces of Arakko, and what remains of them after the battle. It's equally disconcerting that the Quiet Council is increasingly turning on their own number, sewing more discord in Krakoa at a time when the X-Men need to be more united than ever.