The iconicX-Menhero Rogue has had a long and storied history in Marvel Comics, debuting asa teenage villain of Captain Marvelon the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. But… what if instead of becoming an integral part of the X-Men mythos, Rogue was transformed into a Herald of Galactus? That is the question at the center of the upcoming one-shotWhat If…? Galactus Had Transformed Rogue?, which will explore a vastly different path for the young mutant, one where she has the Power Cosmic at her dangerous fingertips…
Rogue is not the only Marvel hero who will undergo a transformation from the Power Cosmic, asher longtime lover and current husband Gambitgets his ownWhat If…?one-shot,alongside Ghost-Spider, Hulk, and Moon Knight.
Marvel’sannouncementof this exciting new installment ofWhat If…?reveals thatRogue’s epic new Herald look was designed by acclaimedSilver Surferartist Ron Lim, debuting in a gorgeous cover.What If…? Galactus Had Transformed Rogue?is written by the beloved Ann Nocenti with art by Stephen Byrne, and will seeGalactus transforming the young mutant into a Heraldbefore she learned to control her powers, or even become a hero, making Rogue without a doubt the strongest woman in the Marvel Universe.
Written by ANN NOCENTI
Art by STEPHEN BYRNE
When a young Rogue uses her mutant power to absorb the Silver Surfer’s Power Cosmic, the entire course of her storied history is forever changed! Now the rebellious mutant has been blessed with unimaginable power – but also the burden of serving as Galactus’ new herald. Rocket into space along with this iconic X-Man – it’s going to be a bumpy ride!
Rogue Will Become The Newest Herald Of The Devourer Of Worlds
The most famous Herald of Galactus is the iconic Silver Surfer - Norrin Radd - who sacrificed his mortality and regular life to save his homeworld Zenn-La from destruction at the hands of the Devourer of Worlds. Gifted a small portion of the Power Cosmic, the power that turned Galan of Taa into Galactus, the Silver Surfer and other Heralds are transformed into cosmically empowered beings. Each Herald has varied abilities, but nearly all can shoot destructive blasts of cosmic power, travel in space with no protection, and fly, making them wildly formidable opponents or allies. Yet, this power comes at a price, asthe Herald is now forced to scout and discover worlds for Galactus to devour, something that weighs heavily on certain Heralds like the Silver Surfer, and certainly will on Rogue as well.
Galactus' New Herald Reveals the Final Fate of a Seemingly Innocent MCU Hero
Marvel reveals the harrowing cosmic destiny of one fan-favorite mutant and MCU hero: to become the next Herald of Galactus, Devourer of Worlds.
While Rogue is incredibly powerful in her own right, an upgrade with the Power Cosmic would elevate the mutant to a godlike being, capable of besting nearly any hero on Earth-616. Rogue’s mutant gift allows her to absorb the power, and even personality, of anyone she touches, which she infamously did to Captain Marvel in her first appearance in 1981’sAvengers Annual#10.Carol Danvers' powers and personality were so strong that Rogue permanently absorbed them, almost killing Marvel, which eventually led Rogue to Professor Xavier’s doorstep, where she eventually became an X-Men hero. Now,What If…? Galactus Had Transformed Rogue?will see the rebellious and inexperienced young mutant set on a very different path, absorbing the powers of the Silver Surfer as opposed to Captain Marvel.
Will Rogue Be Able To Handle The Trauma Of Dooming Worlds To Destruction?
At her core, Rogue will always be a loving, brave hero
Interestingly, most Heralds are gifted the Power Cosmic by Galactus himself… but in Rogue’s case, she will be forcibly taking the power from the Silver Surfer, raising the question of if Galactus makes her become a Herald, or whether she chooses herself. Rogue will steal the Surfer’s power when she is still a young rebellious mutant, before she becomes a hero on Earth-616, so it would make sense that the disenfranchised orphan - adopted by Destiny and Mystique - would desire to be the most powerful woman in Marvel. However, Rogue is always destined for heroism, so there is no doubt thatshe is going to quickly learn that the cost of being a Herald is not worth the power received. It would be surprising if Rogue felt comfortable sacrificing worlds to Galactus, so the only question that remains is… what will she do about it?
Rogue’s epic new Herald costume is the perfect celestial upgrade for the already powerful young mutant, and it will be fascinating to see how Rogue deals with such immense power, especially without the guiding hand of her mothers or Xavier around her. While it will be shocking to see a reality where Rogue never became anX-Menhero, perhaps she will still end up on the mutant team by the time her adventure with Galactus ends.
What If…?
Cast
What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
