AsX-Men’s ‘From the Ashes’ era establishes a surprising new status quo for Marvel’s mutant heroes,CyclopsandRogueare going to war in a surprising grudge match. Not only are the two mutant leaders coming to blows, but their fight will redefine the iconic ‘X’ logo, turning it into a symbol of discord rather than unity. With mutant bonds more strained than ever, old alliances aren’t what they used to be, and Rogue and Cyclops' alliance is apparently hanging by a thread.
In recently released solicit information for the upcomingX-Men #8, Marvel has revealed thatCyclops and Rogue will come to blows, with Ryan Stegman’s cover showing Rogue punching Cyclops' iconic visor from his face while stealinghis optic blast powers.
Cover Artist:
Ryan Stegman & J. P. Mayer
“RAID ON GRAYMALKIN” PART ONE! With one of their own incarcerated, the X-Men move on Graymalkin Prison in order to free their teammate. But it’s not just one team — in Alaska, Cyclops' X-Men scramble a rescue mission, while in Louisiana, Rogue’s X-Men move to strike out on their own sortie. Doctrinal rivals each with their own objective, will these two fractious teams find themselves at cross-purposes? After all… an “X” is made by two lines crossing.
The issue’s summary notes that this isn’t a meaningless scuffle, describing Rogue and Cyclops as"doctrinal rivals"and stating thatthe X-Men’s X symbolis"made by two lines crossing.“So far in ‘From the Ashes,‘X-Menhas begun setting up Rogue and Cyclops as the new leaders of mutantkind. However, it turns outthey’re going to be more rivals than co-workers, creating two different philosophies for the X-Men to be torn between.
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Cyclops and Rogue are becoming enemies thanks to their different beliefs about what’s next for mutantkind.
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Marvel’snew ‘From the Ashes’ erafollows on from its blockbuster Krakoan Era, which saw the X-Men create and ultimately lose an island nation where all mutants were welcome. In the aftermath of that loss,mutants are less trusted than ever, and many of the mutant heroes’ bonds have shattered- not least because Xavier betrayed his students and has been imprisoned for the lives he took while working with the anti-mutant group Orchis. While Xavier’s plans and reasons were complex, his actions destroyed his former students’ trust in him, leaving mutantkind without ade factoleader.
Groups have begun to coalesce, with Ryan Stegman and Jed MacKay’sX-MenfollowingCyclops leading a strike teamof mutant heroes, while Gail Simone and David Marquez’sUncanny X-Mensees Rogue and a selection of loner heroes come together to protect a new generation of mutant students on the run from a mysterious villain. While things are currently hard for mutants, Cyclops and Rogue still consider themselves allies and have even been communicating about possible threats, making their upcoming rivalry all the more fascinating.
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A phone call between Cyclops and Rogue shows that their alliance already has some major cracks in the foundation.
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Uncanny X-Men #1’s bonus page (gated behind a QR code in physical copies) namedCyclops and Rogue the new"pillars"of the franchise, and fans naturally guessed they’d be working together with their separate teams, with one based in Alaska and the other in New Orleans. However,X-Men #3andUncanny X-Men #2show cracks beginnin to form, as a phone call between Rogue and Cyclops demonstrates their different approaches, with Cyclops advising caution while Rogue flies into action.
In promotional material leading up toUncanny X-Men, Simone made it clear that Rogue feels the X-Men have failed her, and that in her time of need her supposed support system wasn’t there to help. Simone has also promised a majortragedy coming for Roguein the pages ofUncanny X-Men,creating a schism with Cyclops remiscent of Xavier and Magneto’s iconic rivalry. So far, it’s hard to imagine where the exact fracture line will be, though it’s clear neither hero is taking the new status quo well, with Cyclops assembling a powerful, isolated superhero task force and Rogue grasping for meaning alongside friends who no longer see ‘X-Men’ as a meaningful identity.
It seems that in terms of purpose, Cyclops will be dedicated to eliminating threats to mutants, while Rogue will take over the care of a group of neophyte heroes. These rolesshouldfit together nicely, but whenCyclops and Wolverine broke the X-Men apartin 2011’sSchismevent, it was because Scott insisted on treating young mutants as soldiers in the war for survival, while Logan believed they should be protected. Wolverine is currently a major member of Rogue’s team, meaning the split could occur down similar lines.
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It’s also possible that Rogue will take on a more militant position than Cyclops, who has grown up under the mantra of proving to humanity that mutants can be trusted. Rogue is one of the truest believers in Xavier’s legacy and has clashed with human heroes before on the philosophy and politics of mutant rights.It’s possible that her up-front methods may conflict with Cyclops' more tactical, long-game approach, as seen in their phone call.
X-Men has always been about conflicting ideologies, but few expected Rogue vs Cyclops to be the new Magneto vs Xavier.
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Rogue started out as a villain, only turning to heroism after the X-Men took her in and provided her with a support system to become a better person. Because of this, she is a huge believer in Xavier’s dream and in his school. Sadly, in the ‘From the Ashes’ era,the school has become a prison for mutants run by the mysterious Warden Ellis. It’s understandable that this use of Xavier’s school would act as the flashpoint for Rogue and Cyclops'“doctrinal"rivalry.
While Rogue was once an outsider even by X-Men standards, she’s gone from strength to strength in the last few decades. Rogue led her own team of X-Men and eventually became team leader of the Avengers' Unity Squad, showcasing her leadership abilities and sincere belief in fighting to make the world better. With Xavier gone,Rogue has been searching for purpose, even as members of her new team like Gambit and Wolverine wonder if the X-Men’s cause is over for good.Turning her into not just a pillar of the franchise but the exemplar of a new ‘doctrine’ of mutant heroism is the latest evolution for the character.
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X-Men has always been to some extent about contrasting ideas, with most of Marvel history seeingXavier’s dream in conflict with Magneto’s extremism. Now, the next generation are in charge, but it appears that division will be given new life as Cyclops and Rogue become rivals in the fight for mutant survival. TheX-Men’s ‘X’ logo has meant many different things over their publication history, but it’s an exciting development for Marvel to define it as"two lines crossing,“suggesting thatRogueandCyclops' conflict will get to the very heart of what makes the franchise so unique.
X-Men #8is coming December 4 from Marvel Comics.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
