Inferno #3 Review/Spoilers

[Rift]

Flashback to when Xavier brought Doug to Krakoa. Xavier shows Doug a vision of a future society for mutants ascendance. (Notably, the buildings look similar to what we have now, but less organic.) He leaves Doug to work on language and working with Krakoa. Once he's gone though, Doug and Warlock talk; Warlock doesn't trust Xavier. Doug's sadly agrees.

Later, Doug, Warlock and Krakoa are working out a deal. Warlock expands by eating organic material of the island, while Krakoa feeds on the new bits of Warlock. It's their workaround until everybody is on the island and they can piecemeal-feed Krakoa safely. A month later, the two dead Cuckoos are revived. A month later, Doug explains that Krakoa getting a steady source of food has allowed it to flourish. Doug provided the island with ideas, and Krakoa put them into action by making habitat and gateway flowers. Four months ago, Beast and Doug go on to discuss them; Beast apparently asked Doug to do something. We don't know what it is, but it involves dead bodies and was "super gross."

Two months ago, Krakoa is ready to be announced to the world. Warlock admits that he might have been wrong to doubt the plan. Doug is happy because, despite being ground down and left hopeless by the world, he truly believes in what he's doing. Doug talks to Warlock and Krakoa about No-Places; those tumors where Moira and her ilk can hide away in secret. What Moira and her ilk don't know, is that Warlock will know about them, because Warlock has spread throughout the entire island and acting like a nervous system.

Two days ago, Moira's still butthurt about Destiny being on her island. Straight-up doesn't want her even breathing Krakoan air. Warlock and Doug are listening in, and they're not happy.

Cut to present day, at the White Palace. The Cuckoos meet Mystique and Destiny. The Cuckoos remind them that they weren't invited, but summoned. Mystique explains to Destiny that the Cuckoos are sisters who act as a single unit, and are the first mutant circuit. One of the Cuckoos says that this is wrong; they're not a circuit, but one. They've tried individuality, but they prefer being one. Yes, there's one that wears black - they rotate who does. But that's to make them "more acceptable" to others. Destiny decides to drop some bombs on the girls: two will find love, three will not. One will be changed forever, severed by the other four, in Otherworld. And one of them will never recover from it. Destiny doesn't know which one because she can't tell them apart, repeating the "I can't tell the difference because there isn't one" line one of the Cuckoos said earlier.

Destiny and Mystique hold hands and meet with Emma. Emma's outfit is ugly, but she tells them about how she met with Moira MacTaggert. The others are in disbelief, but Emma explains how it's all possible. She gives them a psychic rundown of how Mystique and Destiny killed Moira in life 3. Mystique panics, but Destiny says, "There's a hole in the world... it's shaped like a person... but inside there is darkness and death and beyond that oblivion -- I see Moira... And I see her terrified of me."

Emma states that Moira's power is annihilating theirs. At any moment, she could destroy everything they made, sacrificed or loved. And she can keep doing it, forever and ever, until she, or Charles and Erik, are satisfied. Mystique thinks they need to be stopped and is willing to listen to Emma. Destiny says that she's just like Charles and Erik, trying to pull their strings. Emma says that she's not trying to ally herself with Destiny and Mystique, but she's not siding with Charles and Erik, either. She's "alone, with all of [her] children." But she does have a gift for them.

The next day, Moira exists her safe house in Paris, but is surrounded by costumed men in guns. They know who she is and say ask if she's heard the story of "the mutant who flew too close to the sun." A story of arrogance and hubris, and a great fall. They take her away to a building and seemingly use an Orchis teleporter to take her somewhere else.

Later, Magneto and Charles meet at Maggy's house. Magneto admits that he's not upset about his role, but he's tired that things will never truly end. Things are good now, but there will never truly be peace or victory because they can't co-exist with others. Charles, however, disagrees. And when they "win," things will be different. They'll be merciful. Magneto doubts that, since they're just two mutants among millions. But Xavier says that they'll be the ones in control - a statement Magneto is unsure of. "You saw how Emma looked at us. She saw right through it. "We always win." She knew immediately that we sold her a lie." Their talk is interrupted when Charles senses Moira being hurt. Magneto finds her location, she's in in an Orchis Node in Terra Verde.

At the Orchis Forge, Omega Sentinel and Nimrod talk. Omega Sentinel knows things will be different this time, because she knows a different history of the world. Nimrod says that she hid it well, but now that he knows, he can't unsee it - the tachyon decay gives her away. He has a lot of questions, but only one seems paramount: where is she from? Omega says, "Mutant hell. And the climb out has been long and perilous." In the future she's from, Karima Shapandar originally achieved full Omega synthesis two years from now, but that has clearly changed. Nimrod is also early. She's hear for him now, before it's too late to prevent any of what happened. She reveals that in the future she's from, mutants always win. Soon, the Children of the Vault will be released and appear to be a dominant threat that can supplant both humans and mutants. They'd fall to Krakoa, and post-humanity would have arrived too early and would have to wait its turn. Nimrod would come a year later and be sent back in time to mess things up. Earth, the entire Sole system, was lost to humans and machines. Mutants won.

All their machine hopes rested in being taken in by the timeless Dominion so they could be saved. But the humans captured celestial powers - life and death - and, using the Phoenix blade wielded by the child of the sun, killed Titan after Titan, Dominion after Dominion. Machines were dead, only Omega Sentinel alone survived. One Titan downloaded her mind and sent it back in time to overwrite our Karima Shapandar. Nimrod surmises that she's the one who's pulling all the strings behind Orchis. She's the Moria to Dr. Killian Devo's Charles, even feeding him lies and half-truths about the future by rewriting his brain.

A chart gives us a timeline. This Omega Sentinel is from Life 10 (A), and we appear to be in Life 10 (B.)

Erik and Charles go to Terra Verde to rescue Moira, stupidly neglecting to bring Hellion. However, once they reach the Orchis base, they find everyone inside knocked out or dead. Moira and Destiny had stopped by ahead of time to save her and claim that Charles and Erik wouldn't by there to save her. "They can't save themselves." Mystique, Destiny and Moira are in a No-Space, and Moira is seen with a missing arm. Seems they cut it off and left it at Orchis lure Charles and Mags into an ambush. Or maybe Orchis cut it off themselves. Or Moira? Orchis minions, Nimrod and Omega Sentinel meet them.

The Krakoan at the end reads MYSTIQUE.

TL;DR: Doug and Warlock know everything. Emma's on her own. Omega Sentinel is the Moira equivalent to Orchis and, according to her, mutants always win. (But since she's a Moira equivalent, she could also be lying through her teeth to get what she wants.) Mystique and Destiny have Moira.

Notes:

• "Oh don't worry, Douglass, my boy, everything will work out fine. Just like the time you died while I was in space having sex with a bird lady." Hickman's brutal one-liners are underappreciated.

• Mystique shit-talks Emma, saying that she thought she was their confidant, but was just the other woman. "At this point, I'd think you'd grow tired of that."

[RamaBird]

We start off with flashbacks of Xavier bringing Doug to the island and telling him of his plans.

After Xavier leaves, Warlock and Doug agree that they don't trust him.

As time passes by, the resurrection protocols begin and we see the birth of the Krakoan gates. Doug and Warlock now feel more trusting of Xavier but decide they need backup, and create the No Place. Where Krakoa can not see, but Warlock can. This leads to them learning about Moira. "Damn it" says Doug.

We then see Mystique and Destiny arriving at Emma's. Lots of good one liners from this scene. Anyway, the 5in1 explain that they have gone back too longer differentiating themselves. Destiny then tells them their future. Two will find love. Three will not. One will be forever changed in Otherworld and another will be forever changed after. The 5in1 ask who, but then Destiny tells them she can't tell the difference btw all 5 of them.

Finally they meet Emma, who tells them that Moira is alive. They don't understand this until Emma shows them the memory of them burning and killing Moira. Mystique tells Emma that she should be tired of being the second woman but Emma still won't align with either side, saying she's on her own. Mystique accuses her of sitting this out but then Destiny says Emma has "gifts".

We cut to Moira in France walking out on the street and being kidnapped by ORCHIS crew.

Meanwhile, Magneto and Xavier discuss the future and if they'll ever win this war. They get a distress signal from Moira and she's in Terra Verde at an ORCHIS factory. They head to find her as she seems to be in severe pain.

Meanwhile, at ORCHIS in space, Omega Sentinel and Nimrod discuss who they are. It turns out Omega is from a timeline where mutants always win. In her timeline, the Children of The Vault came out to early and were eventually stopped by a returned Apocalypse and Armageddon. The entire SOL system became dominated by mutants who had taken out machines and enslaved humans, and used the Phoenix Force to take out Celestials and Dominions (the machine Gods).

All machines were wiped out except Omega who traveled to the past to create ORCHIS and activate Nimrod at the right time. They then find out there are intruders at their Terra Verde location and head there to stop mutants.

Magneto and Xavier arrive at Terra Verde and find the ORCHIS crew brutally murdered all over. It turns out Mystique and Destiny have Moira... in the No Place. They tell her Xavier and Magneto will not save her this time.

Cut to Magneto and Xavier at the ORCHIS factory when tons of crew arrive with Nimrod and Omega right behind them.

[Mercury]

It was so obvious that Emma was going to tell Destiny and Mystique about Moira and that the latter was going to get her comeuppance. Still, this was a fantastic issue.

[RamaBird]

Ooh much better review than mine.

[Alex.]

There's a LOT going on here. An amazing issue overall.

I just want to point out that I believe the proficy said by Irene to the Cuckoos is related to the creation of black brain telepaths

[Odd Rödney]

So I get to these threads pretty late as I don't get to read my comics as soon as the rest of y'all. I especially loved the stuff with Doug and Warlock. This was a fantastic issue and I'm excited to see what comes next!

Y'know, looking back, they really didn't do anything with the Krakoan language, did they? Like, I know not everyone's Tolkien and has the patience for that sort of worldbuilding, but just think about the practical use? You have a language no one else on Earth uses, let's see them shout orders so enemies don't know what they're plans are, or express Krakoan swears that slip under the radar of racist guests.

Yes!!!! This is such a brilliant idea, crazy that it hasn't been done!

First issue of Inferno that I've loved from start to finish. It was bitter sweet read cause I'm sad to think we're so close to the end of Hickman's time in the office.

I felt the same way, bittersweet indeed.

I just want to point out that I believe the proficy said by Irene to the Cuckoos is related to the creation of black brain telepaths

Makes sense. Those black brain telepaths are spooky as hell, by the way, at least, they are to me.

Very boring , like this whole event so far IMO. Lots of talking from characters I don't give a damn about. This is an X-Men event with no real X-Men involved. Where's Cyclops, Storm, Jean, etc.? At least Wolverine got his event coming up(looking forward to that), so maybe they'll be involved in that. Oh and there goes Mystique causing trouble again, who could've seen that coming? Also, is a Nimrod and a bunch of humans with guns suppose to be a threat to Magneto and Xavier? Unless I'm missed something over the years, this should be a cakewalk for them.

If you don't give a damn about the characters and you don't see the stakes in the story then you don't have to read it, let alone come on the internet to complain about it.

But you do you I guess.

So all the fancy stuff Krakoa can suddently do and how it's bio-mass can be used for machinery is indeed thanks to Warlock fusing with it. Which means the entire mutant nation is overy relying on techno-organic machinery too. Just with a different paintjob. Oh the irony.

Ouch for the cuckoos. Seems that being a hive mind is not easy when all the parts are still so human, with individual ability for emotions, feelings and thinking.
Though i wonder if that part is actualy meant to reflect how under all the pretense of superiority, talk of forming "circuits" and being above them, mutants are and remain fundamentaly human (with all the good and bad that entails), compared to the machine humanity that Karima comes which desires to get rid of these traits?

Also great. Now we get another set of time traveling unrealiable narrators on how there is no co-existence possible and one side has to "win".

Overall i think i would feel more tension in all of this, if i didn't knew for a fact that no side here can ever win. Earth in the Marvel Universe has to remain reflective of present day real world Earth (and the general layout of the Solar system too, so Planet Arrako's days are numbered too), because of the "the world through our window" approach to how the universe is set up.

So unpowered humanity can't be replaced by mutants (or any kind of super human people) anytime soon (or entirely given what we know about the division of powers mutants can have), because the world has to remain reflective of our own (My Hero Academy has the advantage there by turning the super humans into normality and make their world reflective of our own anyway) but mutants can't completely "lose" either, because they are a fundamental part of the fictional element of the Marvel Universe and they are a million dollar sub-franchise of Marvel (plus being constant stand ins for metaphors for discrimination, etc.).

Which overall means the only stable and "believable" path for mutant heros is and remains fighting to achieve co-existence.

Moira X and Karima X in this regard are basicly demagogs making the allready tense and problematic situation worse, by trying to enforce their limited visions upon others, who they sway by pandering to their fears and desires.

Still despite the obvious longterm outcome. This is a fascinating read.

Yeah, I think the only way the mutant mythos can move forward (from co-existence to domination) is for the X-Men to be in their own reality, untethered from the 616 "world outside your window". If not they're stuck with that tendency for everything to snap back into it's "satus quo" state like a rubber band. I don't want the X-Men to be off in their own universe but I think that's the only way you get that story, long term.

So if I'm reading this right, the Nimrod who came back from the future in the 80s and became a construction worker is from the original timeline of Moira Life X, and we're now in the branch created by that act; and now this Omega Sentinal has come back from the far future of that same timeline to found Orchis and stop the mutants from winning Life X. A lot more actually makes sense with this information, including most obviously the sudden appearance of Orchis, and how OS seemed to be nudging rather than actively participating in events - she's only intervening at key points to create the outcome she believes will stop the mutant nation. This also explains somewhat why Charles and Erik's attempts to stop Nimrod are not working, as OS has the future foresight to pre-empt anything they might try.

Also, on a meta level the ban on time travel stories in Dawn Of X makes a lot more sense - the whole thing is a time travel story!

About the "Mutants always win", it is not that Moira lied. Karima came from the future of life 10 of Moira, her current life. Aparently, they did everything right with Krakoa and mutants finally won, instead of lose as previous lives.

But the machines sent Karima back in time, creating a new timeline in Moira's 10th life, the things we're seeing now! So around the time Krakoa was being built, Karima was creating Orchis to counteract the Mutants and prevent her reality, when humans and machines lost.

I think you're both reading this exactly right. If not then we're all wrong I guess.

[Lady Midnight]

I enjoyed this, sad that it is the last time we see Hickman at the helm but i hope he goes out on a high note.

So show of hands, who else here thinks Frost gave them her depowering gun she used on Shaw? *RAISES HAND*

And also, who thinks they will use it on Moira, kill her and secure this time line? *RAISES HAND AGAIN*

Here's hoping.

[Grunty]

I wish this future war between CoV,humans,Krakoans and Arraki (Arraki fighting CoV on Mars perhaps as CoV fight humans and Krakoans on Earth as well)is visualised in a 10 issue ark at some point.Looks epic already and knowing that CoV now have a 'Darwinian' mutation spurt I don't think history will repeat itself.Hickman has laid the groundwork for a reckoning between the 3 species and I hope some writers take this up.

Call me a cynic, but my experience with the cape comics of the big 2 at this point has given me the impression, that the subject matter and the specialization of the selected artists is not suited to display large fights or conflicts between full blown groups of super beings in a dynamic or "epic" manner.

The artistic focus of super hero comics (western or eastern) are stand out individuals, hence why fights either boil down to very small groups of individuals fighting against each other with enough "room" to let them each show their specilizations in one on one encounters (see Captain America: Civil War), OR small groups of individuals against large hordes of generic often faceless grunts/mooks/henchmen, where the individuals can show off by cutting/bashing/blasting down underpowered enemies in mass (see Avengers Endgame).

And unlike other works of heroic stories, they are explicitly not tied to factions which would provide massive armies to back them up, because the whole value of super heros is that they independent and can do everything by themself.

The only exceptions are splash pages where the artist will try to cram as many individuals into a singular scene as possible and have each shown fighting someone to indicate a large scale battle going on, but offers very little dynamic in getting a good understanding of how the fight might be "fair" or how strong any of the sides are.

It's one reason i have started to consider the idea of a mutant army to be a hollow concept, since one major aspects of mutants is that their super powers are entirely randomized which makes forming an army which depends on uniformity of individuals for tactical cohesion a logistic nightmare. Compared to Avatar where the super powers were at least grouped into 4 general elements, allowing each bender to fullfill different styles or roles of combat.
Even in the Krakoa status quo where millions of mutants are grouped together in a nation, the focus lies on a small elite of powerfull beings single handedly bringing victory, rather than the nation having a proper militarized fighting force.
Because their very nature makes coordination of mass units of mutants impossible. At least if the focus is entirely on fighting with powers (as opposed to giving every underpowered mutant a gun, which would make them no more better than unpowered humans).

In addition to that the Krakoan mutants and the Children of the vault explicitly lack the structurs to employ large masses of backround filling "mooks", as the former are explicitly not mass militarized and as hero faction can only ever muster the named characters, while the later are also highly focused on using individuals to the point where there are barely more than 10 Children of the Vault ever shown or used.

Overall there is a reason why all the big wars, which were remarked to have taken place in the history shown in HOX/POX were only ever shown in their aftermath or via very narrow images of Moira standing besides a partner in victory or defeat. The established iconography of these comics aren't meant for detailed depictions of multi-frontal wars and they mostly don't have the artist to provide it.

A victory of mutants is usualy shown by them standing on rubble with dead people and non-mutant heros around them. A victory of Children of the Vault would be similar only with heros from all side lying among the bodies around them. A victory of Sentinels is usualy them standing on a mountain of (human looking) bodies or skulls or flying over ruined cities. The wars themself are never fully shown, because these settings are not suited for proper depiction of large scale wars. Especialy since the X-men lack the quality to provide themself a large army of generic grunts to fill the ranks that clash against other large forces.

Also there is the over reliance of Deus Ex Machinas happening off pannel or in singular recap images. Where the narrative will just say "And then Jean Grey gave everyone an headache and the mutants beat the Avengers." Or "And then Nimrod unleashed a neo-legacy virus and 17 million mutants were dead." and that was that for the victory or defeat.

As such a mini-series about the various wars of the human groups with super powers would not be very "epic" visualy or narratively from my perspective. Beause these works don't have the basis for making it work since the established narrative tools, artistic focus and value of characters, compared to other types of science fiction and fantasy.

That is not to say you can't make epic conflicts in super hero comics. But it needs a specific groundwork, which this conflict does not have.

Of course i might be dead wrong, again i admit i have a much more sober look at what can be done in super hero comics, based on past examples.

On a side note. I refuse to see it as a war between "species". Mutants are humans and the "human" side would involve super powered people at the forfront who are as "detached" from normal humans (or downright aren't human) as mutants are, furthermore making it a conflict of proclaimed or insisted "identities" rather than species.

The only case i see for such a war involving 3 "species" would be if it's about humans (powered by X-gene or otherwise and unpowered), machines (Sentinels) and beings no longer comparable to humans in any way but shape (post-humans, cyber-humans, aliens, demons, etc.).

But as long as it's only mutants and unpowered humans, it's just another inter-human war based on ideologies, identities and overly focused differences between groups. In general a retreat of colonization era ideologies, but with weapons of mass destruction at both sides' finger tips.

[jwatson]

So I get to these threads pretty late as I don't get to read my comics as soon as the rest of y'all. I especially loved the stuff with Doug and Warlock. This was a fantastic issue and I'm excited to see what comes next!



Yes!!!! This is such a brilliant idea, crazy that it hasn't been done!



I felt the same way, bittersweet indeed.



Makes sense. Those black brain telepaths are spooky as hell, by the way, at least, they are to me.



If you don't give a damn about the characters and you don't see the stakes in the story then you don't have to read it, let alone come on the internet to complain about it.

But you do you I guess.



Yeah, I think the only way the mutant mythos can move forward (from co-existence to domination) is for the X-Men to be in their own reality, untethered from the 616 "world outside your window". If not they're stuck with that tendency for everything to snap back into it's "satus quo" state like a rubber band. I don't want the X-Men to be off in their own universe but I think that's the only way you get that story, long term.






I think you're both reading this exactly right. If not then we're all wrong I guess.

Seeing Frobisher posts requoted makes me realize the REAL irony of it all is all the times hickman and co said "THIS IS NOT A TIME TRAVEL STORY." and "i get paid to lie." lmao. It's actually quite funny in non sarcastic way. lol

[Rev9]

Seeing Frobisher posts requoted makes me realize the REAL irony of it all is all the times hickman and co said "THIS IS NOT A TIME TRAVEL STORY." and "i get paid to lie." lmao. It's actually quite funny in non sarcastic way. lol

Although I'm not certain, I think Hickman's original story was different. I think he probably had plans for OS, but I think his story was for her not to travel back in life 10 ,but jump across from life 9 when she was sucked into a black hole and I think the reveal was meant to be that life 10 was also lost and we are in life 11 already(hence the clue of Destiny there will be an island not the first but the last). Anyway I think he changed his plot a little.I could be wrong but some things just seem too sudden ,like Emma becoming part of the inner circle seems strange ,because she might as well have been part of the inner circle from the beginning but broken with them if it was revealed to Xavier and Magneto that Krakoa had already existed once before.

[Grunty]

Yeah, I think the only way the mutant mythos can move forward (from co-existence to domination) is for the X-Men to be in their own reality, untethered from the 616 "world outside your window". If not they're stuck with that tendency for everything to snap back into it's "satus quo" state like a rubber band. I don't want the X-Men to be off in their own universe but I think that's the only way you get that story, long term.

The interesting thing to consider is that if they would have their own universe free of constant status quo snapbacks and near extinction events or mass quantity death and suffering of mutants every few weeks (because of the sliding timescale Genosha was barely 4 years ago, House of M barely 3, M-Pox less than 2 and Age of X barely 1), basicly all the piles of continuity marked by misery, there would be less reason (or even basis) for something like Krakoa and the total seperation of mutants from the rest of humanity to happen.

Likewise the mythos wouldn't need to move from co-existence to domination and could instead follow a path of co-existence seeking "progression".

Because the more reasonable way to adress the rise of mutants is that they would be what humans are becomming, a continuitation in a different shape rather than "replacing" them.

A perspective obviously not allowed to take root, since mutants can't become normality and need to suffer setbacks to keep the status quo and mutant and anti-mutant human villains need to follow an ideology of hate and seperation.
Again something that would not need to be as enforced if they had their own universe.

So it could progress towards examining a global society in which a notable amount of the global population having super powers is a normality and how the societies around the globe would evolve or stagnate under it, or in which nearly everyone has some form of super power and the logical emerging problems like discrimination based on form and level of powers have to be adressed.

I agree with you in the main as a large scale LoTR style battle is not easily transmitted to comics.I was thinking the war to be shown in piecemeal skirmishes ,in 'chess moves' as teams jostle for specific elements or items to win the war for example the Phoenix Spear. It can be done but the story has to be very engaging through individual characters serving a specific purpose similar to how Second Coming played out.

I agree it's possible. But i have my doubt about the established narrative used by the publisher and their writers being able to fullfill it.

Still if it does happen, i hope it will be satisfying for those who are looking foward to it.

As for a definition of species yes mutants are born to humans but right now birth or death is of little meaning to their survival ,they have more in common with CoV than humanity as they have embraced genetic tinkering, consciousness storage technology to make a quantum leap over humanity.The CoV are a different species in the sense that being so isolated in artificially accelerated time,they have drifted from human genetics .I think in the first Supernovas arc it was hinted they probably cannot reproduce with humans(not merely because they multiply asexually..which I guess is a way of saying cloning is their forte) Who knows with Arraki being in Amenth thousands of years, same genetic drift applies.It's not just Krakoans that are mutants after all.With that 'scientific' kind of explanation I don't see any problem terming it a species war, it may not sound diplomatic but it is in-universe probably right.Although that is not to say the factions are monolithic and there can't be switching of sides or unexpected alliances.

Yes the implication is that the COTV are basicly in the third group i mentioned.

Though you raise an interesting point about the Arraki being potentialy allready too detached from humanity aswell. Which makes me wonder if they are actualy still affected by anti-X-gene technology, or even still able to mix with the Krakoan mutants without requiring artifical genetic manipulation first (not mention unpowered humans)?

That would be a suprising twist about trying to unify both groups again (a mirror of Krakoa and Arrako no longer desiring to bond because of having evolved away from one another).

Still my point was that i refuse to see the conflict between present day unpowered humans and mutants to be one of species.

[Spiderfan001]

Y'know, looking back, they really didn't do anything with the Krakoan language, did they? Like, I know not everyone's Tolkien and has the patience for that sort of worldbuilding, but just think about the practical use? You have a language no one else on Earth uses, let's see them shout orders so enemies don't know what they're plans are, or express Krakoan swears that slip under the radar of racist guests.

They already do these things telepathically but I agree they should have done more w/ the language

Also I heard a theory that Omega Sentinel is actually Moira and it's a loop or smth. Any idea how that would work?

[Rift]

The timeline is so weird to me. Like everything that has happened - X of Swords, the Gala, etc. - has been within the span of a couple of months? Or maybe I read that wrong.

Ooh much better review than mine.

Nah, mine is rambling. I like yours better.

Y'know, looking back, they really didn't do anything with the Krakoan language, did they? Like, I know not everyone's Tolkien and has the patience for that sort of worldbuilding, but just think about the practical use? You have a language no one else on Earth uses, let's see them shout orders so enemies don't know what they're plans are, or express Krakoan swears that slip under the radar of racist guests.

We saw them use Krakoan language to mark gateways at the Jerusalem habitat - giving them a way to get around and confuse any non-mutants who try to get around. And I always assumed they spoke Krakoan on Krakoa, as a unifying language. But I completely agree, more should be done. We don't even know how to pronounce the language. And I want swears and slurs. And while we're on the subject, bring Wanda (the slur) back.

And what was even the point of Colossus being the cliffhanger last issue?

I thought he was finally gonna do something and bam he's out of story already.

Set up for the next era, I assume. I wouldn't be surprised if the use of Terra Verde here might be another X-Force connection, considering it's been relevant in that book. Destiny's comments make me think Quentin and/or Cable aren't done with the Cuckoos, and that one of the Cuckoos might be in Knights of X.

[alanyoung909]

And what was even the point of Colossus being the cliffhanger last issue? I thought he was finally gonna do something and bam he's out of story already.

I don't think there will be anymore of Colossus in Inferno. We'll pick up on him (and his brother in Russia) either in XLoW / XDoW or more likely, in the relaunched X-Force next year.
The real purpose of the Colossus appointment in the last issue was to show how desperate Professor X and Magneto have become and how that has lead them to make disastrous half-baked moves.

The timeline is so weird to me. Like everything that has happened - X of Swords, the Gala, etc. - has been within the span of a couple of months? Or maybe I read that wrong.

Behold the invisible hand of Jordan D. White, who's obsessed with the idea that characters don't age.
I had the exact same reaction reading the 'two months ago' caption in this issue as to when I read 'Arakko arrived two weeks ago' in Planet-Size X-Men, which I feel was also enforced by editorial.
Was it Ambaryerno who used to say that in five years time, the X-Office will claim that everything in the Dawn of X era happened in a couple of weeks? Well, their prediction seems to be coming true.
Does anyone actually believe that the Krakoa we are reading about in the books published today is literally just a two-month old nation?

[ZephyrSurf]

I feel like the background around this conflict is super engaging, but the actual conflict in "real time" is too nebulous. Like it's too sparse in the here and now.

Like the Doug Stuff and the Karina #(who knows at this point) stuff is really engaging but everything that's happening between destiny, mystique, moira, chuck and erik is... it exists