Death is rarely permanent in superhero comics. This is doubly true in the X-Men comics, particularly during the Krakoan Age. It was here that a complex combination of Mutant powers allowed any Mutant to be reborn. This means of resurrection was meant to be forever shut down following the Fall of the House of X. However, as the latest chapter of X-Manhunt reveals, there were enough resources for one more life to be saved, despite the rules regarding such resurrection.
Written by Geoffrey Thorne, with art by Marcus To, X-Force #9 continues the X-Manhunt crossover event. The action centers on Sage, who is secretly contacted by Professor X. The previous issues saw Charles Xavier reaching out to his former students and stealing various artifacts. Chief among these were a portable Cerebro helmet and the last Krakoan egg. This egg was the key element of the Krakoan resurrection process, creating new clone bodies for fallen Mutants. With Sage’s help, Professor X found a safe-house to complete his plan.
(Image Source: Marvel / Marcus To)
Sage did not question her former mentor’s actions. Her hyper-logical mind allowed her to explicitly deduce what Professor X was planning. She did, however, ask how his plan was supposed to work when Krakoan resurrection only worked on Mutants. Xavier corrected her, further clarifying that it was only meant to be used on Mutants. This was another clue as to whom he planned to resurrect in X-Manhunt: Part 6.
The egg hatched to reveal Lilandra, former empress of the alien Shi’ar Empire and Professor X’s ex-wife. The romance between the two was star-crossed in every sense, though they struggled to make their long-distance relationship work. However, their marriage ended when Lilandra’s memories of Xavier were erased. She was assassinated shortly thereafter, in 2009’s War of Kings #4.
(Image Source: Marvel / Marcus To)
Despite this, the legacy of their love continued through a clone daughter artificially created from their DNA. This daughter was made Empress by a faction of Shi’ar soldiers loyal to the line of Lilandra. It was her imperilment that provoked Professor X to escape prison in the opening chapter of X-Manhunt. It also inspired him to break his own rules regarding resurrection, to bring back the woman he loved.
X-Force #9 is now available at comic shops everywhere.