Issue begins with Jean mentally syncing the X-men team up while they face down the flying Hex. Scott calls out to forge to figure out what he's doing, Turns out Forge is relaxing whilst aiming a nanite cannon right at the Hex. The cannon hits its target and promptly knocks the Hex out. Problem is, its a one time use weapon and there are several more Hex on their way to raise the island.
Magik doesn't want to risk the possibility of the Hex completely wrecking the island so we then get the preview pages of Jean contacting Ikaris and discovering what they need to do to stop the Hex assault. Jean relays the info to the team whilst also protecting the island from a Hex punch with a psy-shield. Iceman pops up and manages to punc the new Hex off the island whilst carrying Magik, Forge and Synch. Magik states in order for them to get there, she needs a visual or mental image of the location. So forge comes up with the idea for Iceman to drop the X-men down to the ocean floor and then let Jean mentally link them the image so that Magik can kick the doors open.
Iceman dives deep, however his collossus sized form is torn apart by one of the Hex that uses portals to attack. Before the Hex can destroy the shield iceman gives them, Ikaris provides Synch with the location and Magik teleports them in.
The team is now split.
Jean and Cyke on Krakoa
Magik, Forge, Iceman, Firestar and Havok in the Hex Armory
Magik takes command of the Armory team and leads them into battle. While at the same time, forge manages to deduce how they can shut the entire armory down in one go. A lot of Ice. Synch mimics Iceman's powers and they have some back and forth with Iceman congratulating Synch on joining the ranks of Omega, but Synch wants none of it cause that means joining Nimrod's kill list. Synch loses an arm whilst he and iceman head to freeze the core, but he's thankful he's copied Bobby's powerset cause he can easily replace it.
Topside, Another Hex makes its way to Krakoa, but it never even manages to touch the beach. Jean using her TK creates a massive whirlpool that swallows it whole.
Magik is directing the battle, making sure firestar is giving the group cover while they fight off the eternal defense systems. Havok wants to know if lethal force is allowed, worried more about whether he'll get sent to the hole for this mission, but Magik doesn't have time for those concerns, she's not even sure if they've managed to protect the five top side so all that matters to her is getting back alive.
At that same time, Iceman and Synch manage to completely freeze the armory core and the entire place is about to collapse in on itself. Forge manages to steal some eternal tech as the make an exit... to find the Hex disengaged. Havok wants to celebrate... but Magik doesn't trust that everything is good just yet and says they'll relax once they've ensured everything, especially the five are safe.
The issue ends with the entire team coming face to face with the Judgement Eternal and Forge stating how he's always wanted to see if he could kill a celestial.
Personal thoughts:
- The entire issue is event shenanigans, but at leats it gives us an idea of Duggan's intended group dynamic
- There's a decent amount of time and focus given to Jean, Magik, Forge, Iceman and Synch.
- Duggan's Firestar doesn't really say much of substance mostly just relates everything back to the Avengers.
- Havok and Cyclops don't get much play at all. For Cyke it's neither good nor bad, but Havok really comes off like a unserious dumbass over his priorities
- This issue is one of the few times where the War Captains feel like their job isn't just a cute title.