A harrowing future is finally defeated. Mister Sinister is buried in the Pit, where he can no longer hurt mutants everywhere. So why is the Quiet Council still at odds? In Immortal X-Men #11, Kieron Gillen and Lucas Werneck have put forth a thorough examination of the aftermath of Sins of Sinister. In doing so, they delve deep into Storm’s point of view.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Immortal X-Men #11!
The action and tragedy are finally over, as the Quiet Council resume their places at Krakoa’s head. After months of the Sins of Sinister event, anyone asking “Can we get back to politics?” is going to be immediately pleased.
Charles Xavier, Emma Frost, Hope Summers, and Exodus have all been banished to the Pit after Sins of Sinister: Dominion #1, but Immortal X-Men #11 doesn’t leave them there long. Venting her fury at Xavier, Storm orders them back to the surface. With Forge’s support, they manage to purge the Sinister infection from their genes. Unfortunately, they aren’t sure if Forge’s method is particularly permanent.
While the Sinister-infected Krakoans are refused a vote in the Council, they are still welcome to retain their seats in future Immortal X-Men issues. While Storm may be furious at Xavier’s hubris and hypocrisy, she still values his voice. Hope, as well, will be continuing to serve on the Five — though in a limited capacity.
Marvel Comics
Because the infected are still furious at the dismissal of their votes, Storm elects to show them a video recording of their time in the Sins of Sinister universe. Rasputin IV has been happy to help. Unfortunately, Storm doesn’t exactly trust her, which will likely lead to later tensions.
Hope and Exodus witness their past-future conflict, and the two immediately begin to bicker. While Exodus is apologetic, Hope won’t hear it. Xavier, meanwhile, is finally stunned into complacency and agrees to support Storm. They isolate Destiny, who proceeds to offer some recap of Sins of Sinister, while also offering new insight into her powers. Storm recognizes a lie, but Immortal X-Men #11 doesn’t give her much space to reflect.
Off in the sky, Hope and Exodus have taken their fight public. With a burst of lightning, Storm manages to separate them, but they aren’t exactly messiah and follower anymore. Hope has rejected her Judas, and she apologizes to Storm after beating Exodus to hell and back.
Mother Righteous, meanwhile, isn’t interested in petty fighting. She’s earned Mystique’s thanks by delivering a copy of Destiny’s recording from Immoral X-Men #3. Mystique technically isn’t supposed to listen. Technically. But Mystique is Mystique, so of course she does.
While Mystique schemes, Mother Righteous approaches Sebastian Shaw. Shaw predicts the fall of Krakoa — another little hint at the Fall of X — and the two strike a deal. In exchange for Mother Righteous’ help in capturing Krakoa’s wealth after the fall, Shaw will work to pass a few key laws.
Immortal X-Men #11 isn’t all about power, of course. With Storm being summoned back to Arakko, she also focuses on her friends. She takes her last few moments on Krakoa to talk to Xavier about Magneto’s death. Xavier isn’t ready, and he dismisses her completely. Storm is disappointed, but there isn’t long to dwell on it. Emma has her own speech to give, as she reminds Storm that they aren’t the Sinister-corrupted Council anymore, but Storm was the one who failed to notice in the first place.
Ororo returns to Arakko. Yet, before she does, she recognizes that her split attention to Krakoa and Arakko failed both nations. She approaches Colossus and invites him to vote for her by proxy. Colossus, under Mikhail Rasputin’s control, happily agrees.
Marvel Comics
Nothing particularly stands out about the art in Immortal X-Men #11. At a few points, it feels rushed, as the backgrounds are just filled with an empty white or undetailed grasses. It’s hard to blame Werneck, as the artist has been stretched pretty thin with this event. Besides, in a character-focused issue, it isn’t too much of a distraction.
In terms of that focus, the conflict between Xavier and Storm initially feels somewhat contrived, but quickly settles into an understandable grievance. Xavier has been looking down on Storm for years, and she’s tired of it. It’s an interesting note for them both, especially since Xavier has spent so much of the Krakoan era shielding himself in hubris and secrets. Now, it’s just too much.
Yet Emma’s point is still prudent. What felt like an odd plot beat in the early issues of Sins of Sinister has returned as a point of contention. Should Storm have recognized sooner that the Council was corrupted? Is it too much to ask that she step in prior to five years of Sinister’s infection? Emma argues yes, and it’s hard to disagree.
After all, trusting Colossus is going to come back to bite them all. The Council is so distracted by its own internal bickering and external interests that no one notices that Colossus is in danger. Colossus has been screaming his plight in X-Force, but it seems like no one cares. If Immortal X-Men is exploring any flaw in the Council, it’s that they are failing mutants in favor of their own desires for power. Colossus’s plight is really the perfect example.
It is somewhat disappointing that the Sinister-infected Councilmembers are released so quickly. A half-empty Council is an interesting premise that the issue completely skips. Yet, since Storm can’t exactly stay away too long, it is somewhat fitting that the Council will be rushing their schemes.
Immortal X-Men #11 offers a complex look into a political game that has turned deadly. After a galactic xenocide, the Council desperately needs to get itself together and install some failsafe. Yet, if Immortal X-Men has been about anything, it’s the weaknesses in the Council. As a follow-up to Sins of Sinister, Immortal X-Men works perfectly and sets up some interesting notes for the future.
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