Waiting for tonight!

---

One has to wonder if those were the words whispered as each resident of Krakoa awaited the announcement of the new X-Men roster.  Afterall, it has become a celebrated custom – not to mention a considerable honor –  for a mutant citizen of Krakoa to be named as a member of the X-Men.  

This year was already set to be something, since the 2023 Hellfire Gala would not just provide a peek at the newest lineup of the X-Men, it was also serving as a farewell to one couple and the promotion of another.  After months of tension, the result of recent team missions, particularly a difference of opinion during their encounter with the Brood, Jean and Scott made the difficult decision to step away from active duty as X-Men.  Meanwhile, they both saw the growing potential in members Synch and Talon, in more ways than one, and in Scott’s absence it was left to Jean to hand the mantle of leadership of the X-Men to mutantkind’s next generation and their team.  

However, it seems this group will be known as the shortest tenured X-Men team, taking the title from Jean’s team in Uncanny X-Men #392.

After months of meticulous movements, including manipulating the media and Krakoa medicines, the organization Orchis chose the night of what has become a yearly festivity to strike against mutants around the world.  Their first act would involve a direct assault on the mutant nation via Nimrod.  The sentinel from the future, who had been stealthily orbiting Krakoa high above Earth’s atmosphere in order to avoid any form of detection, chose the exact moment of the announcement to come crashing down like a chandelier.  With one strike the robotic entity decimated the entire new roster with the exception of Juggernaut.  

While no one will know whether this year’s team nominations were unanimous it is hard not to admit this was a fine X-Men lineup.  But what if instead of waiting for an eventual What If issue about such a scenario there is more to this story.  What If the 2023 X-Men lineup did in fact survive the Hellfire Gala?

We already have seen that at least two members of this X-Men roster – co-team leaders Everett and Laura  – are alive, strategizing with the rest of the night’s survivors and resistors who are currently residing in the Morlock tunnels.  It may be that their ability to walk off that hit from Nimrod was Everett tapping into part of Jean’s powers, but more than likely it was because both mutants accessed Laura’s healing factor, a key component of their survival while trapped in the Vault.  Looking back, not only was this mission that began in X-Men #18 their first steps towards eventually replacing Scott and Jean as leaders, it also saw the first sparks of their romance.  

So is it possible the couple who survived everything gave the couple who has proven they can survive anything a team who can survive something this big?  Even without the Resurrection Protocols could this still be the Unkillable X-Men?

Some of us have the benefit of growing up with the best big brother imaginable; then there is Cain. If you feel the X-Men have gotten a tad religious recently, specifically since the start of the Krakoan Era, you might have overlooked the biblical analogy of Juggernaut’s history as it has evolved since showing up at the mansion in the pages of X-Men #12. This issue, which laid the groundwork for Juggernaut’s years-long hatred of the X-Men, saw Cain as the unfavored son, often abused, witness his biological father’s affection going instead to his younger “step”brother, Professor Xavier.

The parallels to scriptural passages have continued for Cain since the mutants’ established Krakoa. During the island’s earliest days Xavier would deny the Juggernaut’s request for access and accommodations on Krakoa. This rejection would prompt Juggernaut to embark on a redemptive journey, one which began in the pages of his solo series leading to Marko ultimately gaining Nightcrawler’s trust as a member of the Legion of X. Unstoppable as always, Cain would prove to everyone – especially Xavier – that he is a hero.

Even on the night of the Hellfire Gala by serving first as a Jean psi-powered battering ram then a bare knuckle brawler Juggernaut kept Nimrod occupied, preventing the sentinel from assisting in Orchis invasion of the island.  Ultimately this selfless act bought the other mutants the moments necessary to escape.  Sounds like the stuff of legend, the stuff of X-Men.  

With his current whereabouts unknown, although presumably he is in Orchis custody, Cain Marko will have to hold onto the hope that some other hero eventually comes to his rescue.  Perhaps his fellow X-Men. See, it turns out Juggernaut isn’t the only newly elected X-Men who is hard to stop.  

Long before readers would meet Dark X-Men’s Carmen Maria Cruz there was another mutant gimmick, though this one was a disco diva.  The character Alison Blaire was first conceived as a Marvel cross promotional venture into the recording industry, and even if that dream died Dazzler would live on.   

While her power – the ability to convert sound into various lights, beams and strobes – was pretty, at times it was perceived as being pretty unimpressive.  That would remain the general reaction to the pop princess’ presence until the pages of Uncanny X-Men #217, when readers would see this star’s full potential.  After a particularly rough training session involving Rogue, the issue finds Dazzler distraught, suffering from severe doubt regarding her place on the team.  A night out at a pub ends abruptly when Alison discovers none other than the Juggernaut, also enjoying the evening, and decides to pursue him. Mirroring Marko’s current motivations to prove himself an X-Men, Dazzler sought to take on the crimson champion of Cyttorak solo.  This would prove unwise as a reluctant, even remorseful, Cain was forced to battle Alison, eventually crushing the young woman to death with his mighty grip.  

Crickets chirping usually means something is dull or dead, that is unless you’re Dazzler.  In Uncanny X-Men #218, as a new day’s light shows the shallow grave Marko made for Ali, it is the subtle sounds of wildlife stirring that start Alison’s heart beating again.  Managing to dig her way out and escape from her burial plot Dazzler then rejoins Rogue, Psylocke (Betsy) and Longshot in tracking down and apprehending the Juggernaut.   From that point forward several stories have shown that Dazzler, and at least her comic book musical career, refuses to die.  

As you can already see the 2023 Hellfire Gala was in no way any of the roster’s first brush with death.  This especially holds true for Samuel Gutherie, a.k.a. Cannonball.  In fact, Sam, like Dazzler, is one of those special mutants whose power was not activated passively, instead it occurred because he was in peril.  The collapse of a Kentucky coal mine where he was working was the trigger to unleashing the tremendous power of the human rocket.  

Though initially working with Donald Pierce, Sam would turn on the mutant hater, a move which would earn him a spot at Xavier’s, first as a member of the New Mutants before graduating to X-Force.  During that period readers would witness Sam’s death at the hands (or wings) of Sauron in X-Force #7 only to have him return from the dead by the end of issue #9.  Whether his return was due to him being an External or not, one aspect of this story that would stick around would be the hayseed’s ability to avoid the reaper.  Eventually Sam would go on to become the first of the New Mutants to serve as a “senior” X-Men and finally an Avenger.  Even among Earth’s Mightiest death kept following Sam.  During the battle against the invading Chitauri, in U.S. Avengers #6, Cannonball was again seemingly killed; dying in an explosion.  He would remain missing if not for Izzy Kane, alias Smasher, Sam’s wife and mother to his child, and his best buddy Roberto DaCosta, a.k.a. Sunspot, trusting that as long as Cannonball was blasting he was invulnerable.  

Okay, so maybe Orchis was on to something.  We’re on the fourth member of this roster and it just so happens this one too has a history of violence, often siding with individuals with known to commit anti-human, pro-mutant acts.    

Readers would first meet Joanna Cargill in the pages of X-Factor #4.  Back then the mutant was known as Frenzy and was a part of the terrorist team The Alliance of Evil.  With the mutant gift of super strength along with dense skin offering high levels of resistance to injury Cargill is both powerful and fierce, leading to Joanna often towering over her other teammates, even Tower.  This personality trait would also mean that Cargill wasn’t scared to stand beside and step up to some of the X-Men’s most formidable foes.  

Long before anyone knew of -[A]- ancient lineage the Alliance would serve as the unofficial first four Horsemen; consider Frenzy this version’s War.  Later, Cargill would align with Magneto, first as an Acolyte and then as an ambassador for Genosha.  Despite any allegiances to these two individuals, Frenzy wasn’t afraid to question either of their decisions and ledership.  Though both would lash out in outrage, what is remarkable is that neither left a mark.  If Joanna could survive direct strikes from either of these enraged omega level mutants, can you count Cargill completely out?  When you consider that most recently Joanna had an opportunity to work with S.W.O.R.D., an organization which saw their own assortment of conspiracies and double crosses, is it likely Cargill would be caught completely off guard?  

Though brick and mortar stores may be a thing of the past that doesn’t mean the X-Men’s resident mall rat is ready to lay down and die.  Not after doing everything she could to avoid being dust at dawn. Neither of those statements should be taken lightly, considering they deal with Jubilation Lee’s life since first encountering the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #244.  

While the X-Men teams often go through shakes ups, even schisms, just like now, they were struggling to survive.  After their battle with the Adversary, Roma of Otherworld rendered each team member invisible to any form of detection – a wise move given the climate of anti-mutant hysteria at the time.  This didn’t stop Ms. Lee from spotting the X-Women, which included Dazzler – whose powers are quite similar to Jubilee’s plasmoid firework, as they returned to the Outback from a San Francisco shopping trip.  

Jubilee, the mutant who Bishop once famously called “The Last X-Man” would go on to experience several more deaths; even her own.  There was the death of Blink and later on Everett, both members of the Professor’s Generation X.  She was on hand to watch as even those on the X-Men’s peripheral were put in peril as the Legacy Virus took the life of young Illyana Rasputin.  After being among most of Earth 616’s mutants to be depowered as a result of Scarlet Witch’s words, Jubilee found herself in the company of the undead after a bite turned her into a part of the Vampire Nation.  This tactic was part of a failed plot to turn Wolverine, however, Jubilee would remain in this state for some time until Quentin Quire used the Phoenix Force to cure her vampirism.  But was this a cure all or did this merely cure the cravings and weaknesses, and if so, does the ability to heal remain, just dormant?  

When you consider each of these X-Men, the thing that stands out is that they have an “active” power.  For anyone unclear, the designation of a power as active versus passive hinges on the perception of whether an ability has usefulness in combat or emergency situations.  Interestingly enough, the Captain Krakoa suit, now in possession of the individual whose distraction caused Scott to leave the Gala, was designed by Forge specifically for mutants with passive powers.  

But, even with the active powers among these particular X-Men, the pictures don’t lie.  And the images that have come out since the 2023 Hellfire Gala have continuously confirmed that with the exception of Juggernaut there were no other survivors of this team.   

Good thing there is an “I” in Prodigy, who happens to be a genius in addition to the final member of this team.  

Now, unlike the other mutants elected to this X-Men team, David Alleyne has a passive power.  That knowledge might cause some to consider Prodigy the possessor of the weakest power among his peers, his fellow classmates once did, until they witnessed an Omega level Prodigy. In New X-Men Academy #10, students and staff at Xavier”s would learn that knowledge, which is David’s power, is in fact an unstoppable power. With an ability to receive and retain the knowledge of individuals he has come into contact with, David is as smart as everyone he’s ever met or even just been close to.  

When you look at the short span that David has been associated with Xavier’s, in comparison with his other teammates, Prodigy has dealt with many of the situations his “senior” X-Men have.   This includes issues with authority figures, and proving yourself capable to them, similar to Juggernaut and Cargill.  It also meant showcasing the full potential of his mutant gift, like Ali did.  And even enduring the loss of his powers, like Jubilee, and still finding a reason to not give up, to keep living.  

One thing is certain, Prodigy has a good understanding of the obstacles the other members of this X-Men lineup have endured to get to this point; the struggles and sacrifices.  

However, it is the similarities between David’s journey and Samuel’s that may be this team’s saving grace.  That’s because just like Cannonball, Prodigy was considered dead.  David’s death not only took place off panel but was rectified there as well.  It seems somewhere prior to the official Krakoan reveal to audiences that David was among those initial mutants resurrected by the Five, allowing David to be one of several mutants to play a critical role in establishing Krakoa’s network and data infrastructure.  Prodigy would then accept a position with X-Factor where his interest in the ethics of the Resurrection Protocols led him to discover the real details of his death in X-Factor #10.  

With the work he did with X-Factor, David gained a greater look at the mutants’ newly acquired ability to resurrect themselves.  Tasked with a passive power – that may not always register on Cerebro – along with experiencing the lose of his with losing that power as well as his life, Prodigy is probably the best to advocate for and create a procedure that would ensure mutant resurrections take place under specific criteria.  This includes ensuring a resurrection is absolutely warranted and avoiding any forms of nepotism regarding resurrections.  

Of course none of that matters until Hope and the rest of the Five return, but remember like Layla Miller, Prodigy knows stuff.  

David knows a lot about the security and internal workings of Kraka having worked alongside Forge, Beast, and Sage on the designs.  Prodigy also has access to up to date information dealing with Krakoa, like Sage and Black Tom.  So since Colossus’ decision to bench X-Force meant no security was present to detect the incoming Nimrod, the arrival almost imitating XENO’s attack in X-Force #1, David would have received this data via his HUD displays.  He also may well have specs on Nimrod’s signature from their previous dealings.

Or details on what to do should he die, given his previous brush with death.  Would this smart guy leave it up to others to not just investigate, they would need to insist that this mutant power receive any sort of preferential treatment in the Resurrection Protocol process, already with a backlog that has surely seen an increase after the 2023 Hellfire Gala and subsequent increase in anti-mutant violence.   

---

What if one time was enough for David, and by being close enough to not just Beast but perhaps Mr. Sinister too, David picked up a thing or two, like how to clone himself.  This would make sense since it follows a natural progression where Beast tends to duplicate much of Essex’s work, this was even true in the Age of Apocalypse.  Most recently in the 616 Universe, in the pages of Wolverine, Hank, following in Sinister’s footsteps that led to the Sinister Timeline, was able to clone not just himself but Logan as well.  While Wolverine dealt with this threat, X-Force would work with recently returned teammate Quentin to travel to the future to stop Beast as part of his plan consisted of other “Beasts” waiting to come online when activated. 

Could David have done the same? 

It would be a pretty smart strategy, maybe not enough to stop the Fall of X, but at least slow it down some.

The last time someone orchestrated something like that occurred was when Roberto was dealing with Agent Brand’s betrayl, or involving Isca in the Magneto/Tarn battle, both taking places in the pages of X-Men Red.  

Now that you mention it, while readers have seen images of the Hellfire aftermath, it was Bobby who explained the scene in X-Men Red #14.  Several of Roberto’s statements were kinda dodgy, almost hinting he was up to something.  

Suppose Sunspot did go to the party, just late, in order to congratulate those mutants who got a spot he never could.  You may not remember but Berto, and his buddy Sam, were among the nominees to become X-Men that fans could vote for way back at the Inaugural Hellfire Gala.  Though neither would earn a place on that X-Men team it did lead to Roberto enlisting all the loser’s aid – minus someone with mental abilities – on a mission to Sh’iar space to save Professor Xavier’s daughter, Xandra.  Their mission was a success, however Xandra, taking a cue from her father, removed the memory from their minds. 

Until this point that seemed like the best way to keep an X-Men team a secret.  

But, there really is only one way to keep a secret…speaking of which.