Warning! Spoilers ahead for Uncanny X-Men #6!Tensions are high between Rogue’s X-Men and their new mutant recruits, as it’s been heavily hinted that one of the young trainees will betray them, possibly leading to the destruction of the X-Men and all mutantkind. I think this is an interesting predicament for the X-Men, as it leads to many questions of who this “Endling” could be, and how their betrayal will lead to the superheroes' ruin.
Uncanny X-Men #6 – written by Gail Simone, with art by Javier Garrón – shows Rogue pondering which Outlier could be the Endling. Throughout the series, there have been multiple suggestions that the Endling is Calico. Calico’s powers, backstory, and her interactions with the villains show she is a strong contender to become the franchise's new apocalypse-level villain.
I’ve noticed Calico has undergone immense growth throughout her time with the X-Men, but with the villains of Graymalkin prison kidnapping her, she could betray Rogue’s team, willingly or unwillingly. In any case, I am nervous for the character – and everyone around her, honestly.
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Uncanny X-Men #6 – Written By Gail Simone; Art By David Marquez; Color By Matt Wilson; Lettering By Clayton Cowles
Becca Simon-Pinette, aka Calico, has gotten significantly more page time than her fellow teammates as she’s been shown to have a complex relationship with her mutant identity, and holds immense power that rivals the likes of Juggernaut. Calico came to Rogue’s X-Men team while being chased by Sarah Gaunt, aka the Hag, and I’ve noticed that, out of the entire X-Men team, the Villains have been keeping an eye on Calico. When Sarah Gaunt and her mind-controlled army attack Rogue and the X-men, they are instructed to single her out in the hopes of kidnapping her for mysterious reasons.
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At the end of Uncanny X-Men #6, a militant group belonging to Corina Ellis and Graymalkin prison captures Calico and earlier it’s revealed that Warden Ellis is weaponizing former X-Men in order to capture the remaining mutants roaming the world. From this, I think it’s apparent Calico will be an important factor when it comes to the X-Men’s inevitable battle in Graymalkin and more pressingly, their foreseen tragedy. Calico’s tragic origin story is also likely to play a part in her future downfall, as her initial beliefs ingrained by her mother veer towards being prejudiced against mutants.
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I Think Calico Will Become the Endling
In a flashback of Calico’s childhood, it’s shown that Calico’s mother taught her to be bigoted towards mutants and kept her hidden away from the outside world, making her world-view small and causing her to develop a hatred towards mutants, referring to her kind as “goblins.” Though Gambit shows Calico the error of her ways, there’s a likelihood that Warden Ellis will manipulate or brainwash Calico into believing her old ways and attack her former friends. I think Calico’s troubling worldview, mixed with her incredibly unique and powerful abilities, make her a prime suspect for the Endling.
Warden Ellis has demonstrated she’s more than willing to weaponize her mutant prisoners, and now that Becca is in her custody, it's likely Calico’s powers will be used against her teammates.
Calico’s mutant abilities not only allow her to telepathically bond with her horse, they also allow her to take on the powers of any superhero. Even if Calico is not the Endling, which I’m certain she is, Warden Ellis has demonstrated she’s more than willing to weaponize her mutant prisoners, and now that Becca is in her custody, it's likely Calico’s powers will be used against her teammates. More so than other mutant prisoners at Graymalkin, Calico’s powers make her a dangerous threat to the X-Men, and any use of her abilities will lead to catastrophic consequences.
Whether Calico is willing to or not, I’m convinced she will betray the X-Men in some capacity, as even her hero name “Calico” hints at there being multiple sides to her character. With powerful villains like Sarah Gaunt held within the prison along with Calico, there is potential for Calico to receive a devastating brainwashed power upgrade. The emphasis on Calico could be a misdirect, but I find it suspicious that Calico’s teammates have not received her level of character exploration, making the possibility of the other Outliers becoming the Endling less unlikely.
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I believe Calico is the only hero who has been shown to have the potential to backstab her former teammates, considering her initial close-minded beliefs and current predicament. Calico may even hold some relation to Sarah Gaunt as they share similarities in appearances and prejudice towards mutants; Sarah may even influence her into teaming up with her captures to fight Rogue’s team. The X-Men are set to travel to Graymalkin prison to rescue Calico but I’m confident their reunion will be more hostile and reveal Calico as the Endling or, at the very least, reveal she has betrayed them.
Uncanny X-Men #6 is available now from Marvel Comics!
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X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
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