X-Men #7 SPOILERS

[Vegan Daddy]

Oh, boy.

The issue begins with Melody Guthrie waking up in the Akademos Habitat. She enters the kitchen to have her morning coffee. Husk, Sam, and Skin are waiting for her with concerned faces. They inform Melody that word has come from the Quiet Council. Today is THE CRUCIBLE(dun dun dun!).

We cut to Logan and Scott enjoying their morning coffee on the moon habitat. There’s some sexually charged innuendo. Scott invites Logan to join him and Jean on a field trip to Chandilore. The conversation settles on The Crucible. Scott is conflicted. He doesn’t know if they’re doing the right thing. Logan flippantly suggests he talk to a priest. (Keep in mind we don’t actually know what The Crucible is yet)

We cut to Scott strolling through the jungle. He stumbles upon Douglas, Krakoa, and Warlock(!!) having a conversation. Scott is flabbergasted, does a double take, but Warlock is gone (what are you up to, Dougie?).

Scott continues on until he finds Kurt perched on a cliff overlooking the landscape. This begins a philosophical conversation between Scott and Kurt that lasts the rest of the issue. Basically, Kurt is reeling from Krakoa. He’s filled with existential questions:

“It’s true, we have laws and the foundation of some kind of government. But what was it built on? Hope? Anger? Inevitability? Arrogance? What’s at the real center of it?”

“Consider my faith. I can’t help but wonder what happens to our souls when we die?” Do they linger waiting for eternity, or do they return to their mortal vessel when that vessel is reborn, as you and I recently were?”

“Am I really me? Are you really you?”

“Think about it. Mortality. If one cannot die — if one is immortal — then what lure is eternity?”

Kurt and Scott make their way through the forests. They walk past Exodus teaching mutant children about M-Day and The Crucible. We learn that The Crucible is a sort of ritual for re-powering the victims of Wanda Maximoff(The Pretender). Apparently, de-powered mutants have to die so they can be resurrected by The Five with their powers intact.

The pair arrive at a colosseum where all of Krakoa is gathered. In the middle is an arena with Apocalypse and Melody Guthrie standing, each wielding a sword. Apocalypse speaks of the folly of humanity and the glory of mutants. He questions Melody’s identity. Apocalypse says that Krakoa will not accept de-powered mutants simply killing themselves to regain their powers. Their will, strength, character, and loyalty to Krakoa must be tested in combat. They must fight and die to prove their worth. Only then can they be reborn as mutant. This is The Crucible.

Melody puts up a good fight, proves her strength to Apocalypse, and is swiftly put down. We cut to her resurrection. She is welcomed back to life by Storm, Charles, and Apocalypse. She expresses her gratitude and is embraced by the crowd gathered around her. She rises into the air with a radiant smile. Mutant once again.

End issue.

[Jackraow21]

This is all so weird. Fun. But super weird. And OOC. There’s for sure some big reveal coming down the line that flips this whole thing on its ear. The X-men standing by and watching a former enemy engage in brutally killing one of their own, even understanding that she’ll he brought back whole, is just weird AF. Surely someone suggested just putting her down peacefully, no? Lethal injection not an option on Krakoa?

[Ferro]

oh its super meal and puts krakoa away from silly human traditions

[Proto]

This was the weirdest and most unsettling issue to date. I loved it but I'm anticipating some major backlash.

Also that Cypher scene was chilling. What the hell is going on

[Ferro]

its absolutly alien ,but also chilling powerfull that mutants embrace death like this, its for a long time their only unifying cultural trait, now they go into it to be reborn.
very metal

[numberthirty]

This was pretty heavy on the "Hickman" while keeping a lot of the character's "Voices" totally intact.

Exodus fit into the bigger picture while never once seeming like the character was compromised in order to achieve it. That was even more so for Apocalypse.

One guy's take, I hope this goes on for as long a it's set to or as long as Hickman is interested.

[ExodusCloak]

Oh and great Wanda insult

[Ferro]

if people want x-martyrs in the mansion pesker the xoffice for a title and then keep it from the cancelation line, me? im into this high conceptual sci fi take on mutants with interesting characther discussions

[Vegan Daddy]

Listen to your High Priest. Humans are scum.

[Rosebunse]

But what if someone doesn't want to die?

[Proto]

I seriously hope this continues for a long time. I can't honestly remember ever reading an X-book that gets this philosophical and deep. I honestly wish there was more of this. I need another book just straight up exploring life on Krakoa. No venturing out on missions or defending the homeland. Just give me a slice of life series.

[ExodusCloak]

I found this unsettling. Surely Selene or Emplate would have been a better option then Apocalypse

[numberthirty]

I found this unsettling. Surely Selene or Emplate would have been a better option then Apocalypse

Got to politely, but completely, disagree. It would have lost a lot of significance if it had been anyone other than Apocalypse.

[spirit2011]

This is all so weird. Fun. But super weird. And OOC. There’s for sure some big reveal coming down the line that flips this whole thing on its ear. The X-men standing by and watching a former enemy engage in brutally killing one of their own, even understanding that she’ll he brought back whole, is just weird AF. Surely someone suggested just putting her down peacefully, no? Lethal injection not an option on Krakoa?

Survival of the fittest.

Apocalypse want mutants to fight for their pwoers and for krakoa.

This is so messed up

[Ferro]

Survival of the fittest.

Apocalypse want mutants to fight for their pwoers and for krakoa.

This is so messed up

the fittest being by choice and characther, not genetics, you need to die to get your powers backs, at least die in a way that shows your determination.
melody gets her powers, and she got them like a badass