The X-Men Embrace Magic Like Never Before

This article contains spoilers for Excalibur #16 by Tini Howard and Marcus To.

The X-Men are embracing magic like never before. There’s always been a blurred line between magic and mutantdom, personified in examples of characters like Magik, whose mutant powers appear difficult to separate from their sorcery. But that gap has narrowed even more during Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men relaunch, notably in Tini Howard’s Excalibur run.

Excalibur has rewritten the history of the mutant race, revealing early mutants were often confused with magical beings. Excalibur #1 appeared to suggest the history of anti-magic violence—from the Valais witch trials of the 15th century to French legends like the Beast of Gévaudan—was in part directed against mutants. Excalibur #4 expanded upon that idea, revealing some of the ancient magical communities of Earth, such as the Druids of England, are actually mutants. All this has been recently supported in Jason Aaron’s Avengers #39, which even confirmed legends of monsters like the cyclops appear to actually be mutants.

But Excalibur #16 is another step toward unifying mutants and magic. The Excalibur team has suffered numerous losses as a consequence of the X of Swords event, with Apocalypse departing for Amenth and Captain Britain apparently killed. In Excalibur #16, the remaining team members work together to perform an ancient ritual in an attempt to trace Betsy Braddock across the Multiverse. The ritual involves five of the mutants synergizing their powers; Rictor, Gloriana, Jubilee, Gambit, and Rogue. According to Rictor, Apocalypse believed this was Excalibur’s true purpose and destiny, to use the resonance of their X-genes to connect in order to achieve the impossible.

Excalibur has essentially become a coven, just as Apocalypse hoped they would. Interestingly, Rictor’s notes suggest the Five of Krakoa – the mutants who are synergizing their powers to resurrect mutants on a daily basis – are performing another mystic ritual in order to accomplish resurrection. Though Rictor may not be aware of it, two similar covens united in the recently-published SWORD #1 to steal what appears to be a duplicate of the M’Kraan Crystal from the heart of reality itself. Curiously, Savage Avengers #0 may well have confirmed all these feats are indeed real magic, because in that issue Doctor Strange arrived on Krakoa and immediately sensed something strange. “There is magic here,” he observed curiously. “What have you all been up to?”

It seems the boundary between mutants and magic is finally breaking down. If that is the case, then it has potential implications beyond Tini Howard’s Excalibur run, most notably as to whether or not Scarlet Witch should be considered a mutant. The current consensus is not, with the X-Men routinely vilifying her as “the Pretender,” but it’s possible that view will soon be challenged – simply because “mutant” and “mystic” may well become one and the same thing.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4899 Articles Published)

See also  Naruto Fans are Completely Missing Boruto's True Ultimate Villain

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

More From Thomas Bacon