Summary
After 5 years of epic storytelling,X-Men’s ambitious Krakoan Era has finally come to an end. For years, the X-Men ran a new mutant homeland on the island of Krakoa, where they welcomed all mutants - even former villains - to join them in forging a new society where they would no longer be hated and feared. Indeed, for much of this period,the X-Men couldn’t even die, having developed Resurrection Protocols which allowed them to bring back fallen mutants.
Of course, it wasn’t all roses, andthe years of politicking and living alongside despicable villains led to some of the best insults in X-Men history, ranging from the impressively witty to the cruel-but-true. We’ve collected the 15 biggest burns of the X-Men’s Krakoan Era, delivered to or by mutants. Don’t forget to vote in our end-of-article poll for the best insult ofX-Men’s 2019-2024 Krakoan Era.
15"Wealthy Himbo Mothman" - Doctor Nemesis Mocks Angel, Nightcrawler & Mister Sinister
Legion of X #8by Simon Spurrier, Netho Diaz, Sean Parsons, Federico Blee and Clayton Cowles
Thanks to a spell cast by Nightcrawler’s adoptive mother Margali Szardos, several mutants with physical mutations found themselves transforming to monstrous new extremes, coupled with a growing animalistic rage. InLegion of X, theX-Men’s resident mad scientist Doctor Nemesiscalls out Nightcrawler’s horns and Angel’s stooped appearance, asking how a minor genetic aberration could lead to"a pair of second-string X-people becoming Herr Minotaur and Wealthy Himbo Mothman."
While Nemesis is tactless at the best of times, the jab at Kurt and Warren was likely due to his irritation at them having asked rival geneticist Mister Sinister for help, with Nemesis rightly pointing out,“His name isliterallya synonym for evil. We don’t need him!”
X-Men’s Nightcrawler Just Turned His Powers into an R-Rated Weapon
Nightcrawler may be the X-Men’s beloved ‘Fuzzy Elf,’ but he just unleashed his teleportation powers in a gory attack more characteristic of Wolverine.
14"My Blood’s Useful" - New Hero Jon Ironfire Shows His Disdain for Mister Sinister
Sins of Sinister: Dominion #1by Kieron Gillen, Paco Medina, Lucas Werneck, Bryan Valenza and Clayton Cowles
Jon Ironfire was one of the major new additionsto the X-Men’s ranks during the Krakoan era, with the ability to turn his blood into any kind of metal. In the dystopian timeline of theSins of Sinisterevent, Jon watches as - for a thousand years - Sinister’s attempt to corrupt the X-Men brings ruin to the entire solar system. Worse still, when Jon is finally close to setting things right, Sinister shoots him in the back of the head. Thankfully, Jon is okay, having taken the precaution of lining his bones with protective metal before turning his back on Sinister. When Sinister asks how he could possibly have survived, Jon retorts:
My blood’s useful. Your blood? All it’s doing is keeping you alive. That’s no use at all.
X-Men Red #1by Al Ewing, Stefano Caselli, Federico Blee, Fernando Sifuentes and Ariana Maher
One of the longterm changes the Krakoan Era made to X-Men lore wasbringing back John Proudstar, aka Thunderbird. Thunderbird joined the X-Men inGiant-Size X-Men #1, at the same time as icons like Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus. However,Marvel editorial judged that as a lone wolf brawler, he was too similar to Wolverine, and killed him offin Chris Claremont, Len Wein and Dave Cockrum’sX-Men #95, with John recklessly attacking Count Nefaria’s plane and being killed in the resulting explosion.
In the Krakoan Era, Thunderbird was finally resurrected, but was angered by how the X-Men had co-opted his memory and recruited his younger brother Warpath (aka James Proudstar) into their ranks. When Cable tries to shut down a bar brawl, Thunderbird gets in his face, saying he’d never have let the X-Men turn Warbird into their soldier if he’d been around to stop them. In a brutal putdown, Cable replies:
But you weren’t there, were you, John? Not for James. Not for anyone. You had better things to do. You had a plane to catch.
The X-Men’s Ultimate Form Officially Debuts, Combining Their Powers into Marvel’s Most Powerful Hero
Every X-Men hero in history combines powers, creating a godlike new form that redefines the limits of power in the Marvel Universe.
12"Jean’s Comfort Animal" - Iron Man Casually Hits Wolverine With Maybe His Best Insult Ever
A.X.E.: Eternals #1by Kieron Gillen, Pasqual Ferry, Matt Hollingsworth and Clayton Cowles
In the epicA.X.E. - Judgment Dayevent, the Avengers, X-Men and Eternals teamed up against a rogue Celestial threatening all life on Earth. To defeat the space god, they assembled a crack team, sending them deep into its gigantic body. Despite the presence of heavy hitters like Jean Grey and Sersi, Iron Man wasn’t exactly happy with the roster he’d been given, complaining about various members but admitting he understood why Wolverine was chosen, saying:
I get Wolverine. Sneaking, stabbing and Jean’s comfort animal.
Tony Stark’s joke references the long-simmering romantic tension between Wolverine and Jean Grey. Krakoa seemingly settled that iconic love triangle with strong implications that Cyclops and Jean now had an open relationship - something whichincoming X-Men senior editor Tom Brevoorthas taken pains to insist wasn’t everexplicitlyconfirmed in canon.
11"You’re All Cockroaches" - Mister Sinister Blasts… Everyone Else on the Planet
A.X.E. - Judgment Day #2by Kieron Gillen, Valerio Schiti, Marte Gracia and Clayton Cowles
Another member of the team trying to shut downJudgment Day’s Celestial was Mister Sinister - a former enemy of the X-Men who was offered amnesty thanks to his contribution to their new Resurrection Protocols. However, while he might have been forgiven, Sinister was never redeemed, and was eventually revealed to be playing the long game, with plans to clone himself andestablish a new Sinister societyas the dominant species on the planet. Thus, when the Eternals reveal he’s partly to blame for the world being at risk, he’s willing to help, but only for his own reasons, replying:
Oh, woe is me. Now I understand why you kidnapped me. I feel so responsible and guilty. Of course I’ll help. It’s my planet too. Literally. It’s my planet, and you’re all cockroaches.
Marvel Unleashes the Ultimate Form of Wolverine’s Claws, Making Adamantium Look Pathetic
X-Men just unleashed the ultimate form of Wolverine’s claws, powerful enough to kill a god. Adamantium is now officially second rate!
10"A Savage Who Thinks He’s a Gentleman" - Wolverine Vows to Kill Beast as One of X-Men’s Oldest Friendships Collapses
Wolverine #35by Benjamin Percy, Juan Jose Ryp, Frank D’Armata and Cory Petit
One of the major shocks of the Krakoan era wasBeast’s slide into villainy, as his command over the black-ops X-Force team turned his arrogance into outright authoritarianism. After assembling death squads and experimenting on prisoners, Beast graduated to creating brain-damaged clones of Wolverine to do his dirty work. Having vowed to kill his former ally for his crimes, Wolverine approaches his base with the mercenary Maverick, warning him not to underestimate Hank McCoy:
You don’t know Beast like I know Beast. What you have to remember about him is he’s a savage who thinks he’s a gentleman. He might serve you your heart, but it’ll be on silver and white linen. He loves to talk. So we got time. And we’ll use it.
9"You AreAllWolves" - Magneto Founds the Mutant Nation with a Caustic Callout of Humanity
House of X #1by Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and Clayton Cowles
The founding of Krakoa got off to a rocky start, as Magneto gave a group of ambassadors a tour of mutantkind’s new nation, only to discover they’re all plants from various intelligence organizations. Magneto disarms the agents but allows them to stay on the ‘tour’ in order to deliver a final message,one of the most iconic lines ofX-Men’s massive revamp:
Some would be offended at a wolf presenting as a sheep, but I have learned hard lessons from your kind - so I know the truth. You’re all wolves.
And it’s good that you are here - all of you - as you really are. So you can run home and tell your masters what you have learned. I want you to tell them. Charles Xavier has made you an offer - one full of grace and brotherly love - but one that is also written in stone. This is not a negotiation. … You have new gods now.
X-Men Lore Changes Forever, As Magneto Abandons His Mutant vs Human Ideals for Good
Magneto’s moral compass has shifted greatly over the last 60 years, and now, as the Krakoan era winds down, he has updated his mission.
8"Frauds Tend to Flee at the Sight of a True Aristocrat" - Namor Isn’t Impressed with Xavier’s New Nation
X-Men #21by Jonathan Hickman, Sara Pichelli, Nick Dragotta, Russell Dauterman, Lucas Werneck, Matt Wilson, Sunny Gho, Nolan Woodard, Frank Martin and Clayton Cowles
Despite Magneto’s boast of godhood, some Marvel characters weren’t buying it, and foremost among them was Namor the Sub-Mariner. Technically a mutant,Namor has fought alongside the X-Men before, seeing it as a matter of honor to safeguard a group of innocent people under attack because of bigotry and ignorance.
Namor respected Cyclops, who was leading mutantkind at the time, however, he didn’t think as highly of the X-Men once they became a global power.Namor turned down an offer to join the mutant nation as one of its leaders on the ‘Quiet Council.‘In typical Hickman style, Namor takes Xavier and Magneto to task after being asked what he thinks of their offer.
I think if I stepped one foot into your council chamber, there would be a rush to surrender a seat to me… even if one were not available. Frauds tend to flee at the sight of a true aristocrat. I am a real king, Erik. Never forget this.
… I tell you truly, Charles. At night, when I dream, I dream of this entire world under my thumb. Me seated on a throne of thrones, and the people - human, mutant and all living things under the sun - they cry out and cheer with love and affection. For the blind can finally see me as I really am. Which I assure you, is not my being on a council with those who pretend to be my peers.
I have dominion over 70 percent of this planet, gentlemen. You currently control, what… an island? Get back to me when you have something more to offer.
“The Omega Mutant”: X-Men Settles Its Greatest Mutant Hero with New Codename
As the X-Men defeat their ultimate foe, one iconic hero is labeled “the Omega Mutant” - the last hero standing when everyone else falls.
7"So… Human" - Apocalypse Proves Wolverine Isn’t in His League
X-Men #35by Gerry Duggan, Joshua Cassara et al.
The Krakoan Era finally came to an end inX-Men #35, in which the mutants said a bittersweet farewell to their nation, which evolved into a new form outside their reach. One person who took this twist particularly badly was Apocalypse, who has been fighting for millennia to force mutantkind to evolve through his doctrine of"survival of the fittest.“Seeing his past efforts as a failure,Apocalypse attacks the X-Men, declaring:
You are not ready for the quest. You do not have the proper leadership. Once more, I must bear the load. For I am the Apocalypse - the Revelation unending. And if you hate me for what I must reveal? Know that I love you, as I always have, even as I break you to the work.
During the fight,Deadpool and Wolverine attempt to do some damage, with a bloodied Apocalypse declaring,“These loathsome metal claws. So… human.“It’s an insult that comes from the heart of Apocalypse’s mutant-supremacist philosophy, and one he punctuates by using his superior strength to impale Wolverine with his own claws.
6"You Are Insulting, Charles” - Doctor Doom Actually Has a Point About Xavier
X-Men/Fantastic Four #3by Chip Zdarsky, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Ransom Getty, Laura Martin, Pete Pantazis, Andrew Crossley amd Joe Caramagna
A world leader who is used to being cast as the tyrannical leader of a rogue state (because he is),Doctor Doom was surprisingly supportive of Krakoa from the beginning. While he refused the island’s unique medicines, he did formally recognize its nationhood, however when he met up with Xavier and Magneto inX-Men/Fantastic Four, he made it clear that he had no interest in honoring the X-Men’s request for diplomatic immunity. Revealing a similar perspective to Namor, Doom makes it clear that he finds Professor X’s performance of statesmanship unacceptable, saying:
While I have little respect for traditional “diplomats,” Doom at least recognizes that they are supposed exceptional examples of an underwhelming populace. You, however, have decided to make all your citizens free to do what they will in countries that come begging for your plants. Make no mistake: Doom recognizes the country of Krakoa. But I do not recognize that having claws protrude from your body makes you worthier than a human who dedicates their life to diplomacy and the study of culture. It is insulting. You are insulting, Charles, with this pretense of superiority.
Wolverine Just Delivered the Defining Quote of His Existence (Movies, Comics, Everything)
50 years since he was first introduced to the Marvel Universe, Wolverine just got his best quote of all time, perfectly defining his journey.
