Krakoa is increasingly working with two mutants — which could open up some very dangerous potential for the future of the mutant nation.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Inferno #1 and Wolverine #16, on sale now.
The X-Men have seen plenty of their former enemies turn into allies during the current Krakoa era. Even monstrous villains like Apocalypse revealed new depths as they saw the hope of change in the vision of a mutant nation. But there are still some potential threats hiding among them — and calling Krakoa home.
Black Tom and Solem are both forming deeper bonds with the living island Krakoa in Inferno #1 by Jonathan Hickman, Valerio Schitti, David Curiel, and VC’s Joe Sabino and Wolverine #16 by Benjamin Percy, Adam Kubert, Espen Grundetjern, Frank Martin, and VC’s Cory Petit — and could either be Krakoa’s greatest weapons or Achilles Heels.
Black Tom has quietly been one of the most fundamentally crucial mutants on Krakoa. Due to his mutant powers connecting him to the Earth on multiple levels, he’s been increasingly bonding with Krakoa. On the one hand, this has made him invaluable on the island, serving as a guardian of Charles Xavier and crucial in the battle against the Cotati during Empyre. He’s even become a useful tool for Beast and X-Force. But he’s also increasingly been losing himself into his connection with Krakoa. Sage’s field report on the matter notes that Tom has never been more physically healthy. But he’s mentally coming untethered, and feeling a deep-seated longing to allow himself to be absorbed by the island nation.
Meanwhile, the Arakko mutant Solem has found a place on Krakoa. Basing himself out of the Arakkon Point — a peninsula left on the edge of the island by Arakko — Solem has made peace with Krakoa and found himself a home, and the island moves to protect him when Logan comes to confront him. Solem has quickly made himself a powerful figure, attracting followers and admirers to his area. He’s also been able to gain a Cerebro helmet, three Proteus eggs, and the stolen Shi’Ar Logic Diamonds. He’s also well-positioned overlooking the Krakoa Gate to Arakko on what was once known as Mars. It quietly makes him very powerful on the island.
Both of these figures have surprisingly deep bonds with Krakoa, and could become great tools for the future of mutant-kind. Black Tom has been adjusting to his powers already, and become a more heroic figure as a result. Emma Frost also confronts Solem and proves to be a match for him — implying sees him as a potential pawn. Her later assessment makes note that she’d been initially tempted to throw him into exile, but decided he might be a useful ace in the hole. Especially with a secret backup of Cerebro being hidden within his little area of land, Solem could prove to be their ultimate emergency contact in times of emergency — which, considering the scope and number of their enemies, could be any day now.
However, both also pose inherent dangers. Solem has proven to be a slippery figure with no loyalty but to his own desires. He’s effectively betrayed everyone he’s appeared alongside, so trusting him at all is a risky proposition. Having him as a backup would be therefore an inherently worrisome concern. There’s also the threat that Black Tom could fuse with Krakoa and become more of a threat than an ally. Both of them could be turned against their fellow mutants — but could also prove to be strong allies if they were to remain loyal to the mutant nation.
About The Author
For all the latest Comics News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
