The X-Men Comics That Might Be Teasing Captain Krakoa’s True Identity – Gizmodo

Cyclops announcing his desire to step down as one of Krakoas four Great Captains.Image: Valerio Schiti, David Curiel, Joe Sabino/Marvel.

While the developments of this weeks Inferno #2from writer Jonathan Hickman, artist Stefano Caselli, colorist David Curiel, and letterer Joe Sabinoare the big, flashy pearl-clutching sort, a certain someone being resurrected (or not) isnt the only major twist Marvels been teasing for its Krakoan mutants.

Even though the newest team of X-Men just got itself together, Marvels already hinted at a major shakeup to the roster following Cyclops being replaced by an unknown newcomer: Captain Krakoa. Following Captain Krakoas arrival being teased in the solicitations for Gerry Duggan and Pepe LarrazsX-Men #6, due out in December, Marvels released more detailed concept art of Captain Krakoas costume that gives you a better sense of the mutants seemingly plant-focused power set.

Captain Krakoas design.Image: Pepe Larraz/Marvel

Because Captain Krakoas civilian identity has yet to be announced, theres been some speculation as to who might be hiding beneath his visor, which looks something like a cross between the helmets Cyclops and Professor X have been wearing as of late. Given how the X-Men, along with the rest of Krakoas various mutant teams, are all finding a new footing in the universe following the terraforming of Mars, there are a variety of wild possibilities when it comes to who Captain Krakoa could be. Like, for example, him actually somehow being Cyclops in disguise after he stepped down, being able to operate as more of an unknown agent.

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Interesting as that might be, a more solid hint about whos under the floronic mask may have been tucked into Inferno #1 from Hickman, artist Valerio Schiti, and colorist David Curiel, in one of the comics quieter moments that wasnt about a certain reincarnating mutant living in fear of a certain dead clairvoyant. In a sequence immediately preceding Cyclops announcing that he plans to step down as one of Krakoas four Great Captains, were shown a snapshot of Cyphers life as he greets the day and the people most important to him in the entire world: his wife and his best friends. The degree to which Doug and Bei the Blood Moon have gotten along with one another in the wake of X of Swords is debatable, given how their respective powers make it difficult for them to communicate with one another. But Cypher insists to Warlock, the technarch hes fused with, and Krakoa, the sentient embodiment of the island as a whole that only he can understand, that he genuinely loves Bei.

Image: Valerio Schiti, David Curiel, Joe Sabino/Marvel.

Cyphers declaration of love for Bei prompts both of his friends to express a possessiveness of him that whiffs of jealousy, and the chumminess that Cyber uses to diffuse the moments tension feels like it might be a subtle hint about who Captain Krakoa might really be. Though Cypher, Warlock, and Krakoa might not be seen as the same exact kind of mutant circuit that the Five arethe mutants who govern the resurrection process that has made Krakoa the superpower it istheir pasts and power sets have made them a unique unit in the Dawn of X. Though Warlock can exist on his own, he often spends his time physically (and to a certain extent, mentally) bonded with Cypher, who himself has a profound connection with Krakoa, who appreciates that the humanoid mutant can interpret its form of speech.

Krakoa being Krakoathe literal sentient Earth landmass without which the mutants new age of glory wouldnt be possibleit was necessary for the being to have a seat on the mutants Quiet Council, mutantkinds secretive governing body, with Cypher (and perhaps Warlock by extension) joining as interpreters. Both of the first two issues of Inferno have been detailing how the balance of power on Krakoa is gradually shifting as different members play their hands at wresting control from Xavier and other members of the Quiet Council. Between Cyclops stepping down as one of the four Great Captains, and the shuffling that occurs on the Quiet Council in Inferno #2, its interesting to wonder whether Captain Krakoas arrival might be the result of Krakoa and Cypher making moves of their own, to further extend their powers reach beyond the Quiet Council itself to the primary X-Men team specifically.

What little weve seen of Captain Krakoas plant powers and costumes could plausibly be some sort of combination of Cypher and Krakoa stepping out in a new identity to mix things up a bit, but Inferno #1 also includes a curious tidbit suggesting another potential true identity for the new hero. Benjamin Percys recent run on X-Force detailed how Beast and other X-Force members came to be involved in an underhanded espionage plot targeting the human nation of Terra Verde that ended disastrously.

In response to the Terra Verdan government developing sophisticated telefloronic technology that, if left unchecked, could have posed a threat to Krakoa, Beast attempted to hack the technology for his own ends, and in doing so caused hundreds of thousands of people to lose their lives as Terra Verdes population was transformed into plant monsters. The fallout of Beasts actions were something that he and the rest of X-Force continued to deal with well into the Hellfire Gala and beyond, as individuals like Black Tom Cassidy fell victim to an unknown menace hunting people on Krakoa. While Black Toms yet to properly resurface since he was attacked by something in the forest back in X-Force #18, a medical report from Dr. Cecilia Reyes in Inferno #1 confirms that hes alive, and than ever, but suffering from some sort of profound mental trauma from his assault.

Image: Joshua Cassara, Robert Gill, Guru-eFX, Joe Caramagna/Marvel

The concerns about whats happening with Black Tom are mirrored somewhat in X-Force #21, where Reyes details various strains of intelligent plant life that now exist on Earthincluding those hailing from Terra Verde, but also those that transformed Dr. Theodore Ted Sallis into the creature known as Man-Thing. Reyes singles out plants born of Man-Thing as having given rise to the mutant Man-Slaughter strain of plants seen in the issue itself, acting as a benevolent figure and ally to X-Force. While the point of Reyes Man-Slaughter speculation was whether or not plants grown on Krakoa might have infectious properties mutants should be worried about, X-Force #21 also underlined how, despite being made of several plants, Man-Slaughter considers himself to be a singular person.

There are more than a couple of possibilities when it comes to who Captain Krakoa truly is, but whether its Cypher and Krakoa in a trenchcoat, Black Tom reborn, Man-Slaughter in a new guise, or someone else entirely, everything about the characters impending arrival points to them being rather suspicious. Flowers or not, the worlds perceptions of Krakoa are still being formed, and everything the X-Men have been working towards could definitely be ruined by one flashy Krakoan patriot insisting that he alone stands as the embodiment of the best and brightest of mutantkind.

Inferno #1 and Inferno #2 are now on sale. Captain Krakoa is set to make their debut this December, in the pages of X-Men #6.

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The X-Men Comics That Might Be Teasing Captain Krakoa's True Identity - Gizmodo