Warning: Contains spoilers for NYX #5!!
The Krakoan may style himself as X-Men's new Magneto, but the Master of Magnetism was of sound and free mind when he made his choices. It has become abundantly clear to me, as a reader, that Hellion can't be acting of his own free will, and he's not the villain causing the real threat – instead, Empath is calling all the shots, and his involvement with the Purifiers solidified that.
NYX #5 – written by Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing, with art by Francesco Moratino – Sophie Cuckoo reveals Empath's plan, and while it's as heinous as expected, I can't shake a detail that's convinced me of Julian Keller's innocence. Manuel intends to force mutants to create a new Krakoa, and the Purifiers (or Truthseekers) are an integral domino, but I refuse to believe Hellion would freely work with them.
The Purifiers were responsible for one of the most brutal attacks in X-Men history, which took the life of Julian Keller's best friend. The Krakoan would never accept them as allies.
I'm Positive Empath Is The True X-Men Villain – And His Plan With The Truthseekers Proves It
NYX #5 – Written By Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing; Art By Francesco Mortarino; Color By Raul Angulo; Lettering By Elisabetta D’Amico
Manuel de la Rocha, aka Empath, has the ability to manipulate emotions, and, of course, emotions were already running high following the fall of Krakoa. I've always been drawn to Julian Keller for his passionate, vocal defense of mutant rights, but that deep well of feeling makes him the perfect target for Empath. It would take little effort for Manuel to whip Julian's anger into a fury and use it to guide him toward things he'd never do on his own. Still, I gave NYX a few issues to make the case for the unfortunate possibility of Julian naturally progressing toward becoming an X-Men villain.
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From my viewpoint, the Purifiers involvement eliminated that possibility; the Krakoan is not acting of his own free will, proving Empath is the true mastermind in this scenario. At best, Julian Keller is a hammer that Empath is wielding. It is still not the fate I wanted to see for Hellion, but it's something of a relief to realize that Manuel is the one calling the sickening shots in NYX. Working with the Purifiers, after what he and his friends endured at their hands, would run so antithetical to Julian Keller's character that I honestly refuse to entertain the idea.
I’ll Never Accept That The Krakoan Would Ally With the Purifiers After What They Have Done To Him And Mutantkind
Must Read Backstory : New X-Men #23 – Written By Craig Kyle & Chris Yost; Art By Mark Brooks; Released In February 2006.
Julian Keller and the rest of his "Academy X" peers spent their formative years enduring the biggest tragedies in X-Men history. All of mutantkind suffered after M-Day, but the Academy X students had it worse. In New X-Men #23, the recently depowered students (including Hellion's best friend, Tag) boarded a bus to leave campus. Before they could depart, William Stryker's Purifiers set off a massive explosion, killing the children aboard. As a long-time X-Men fan, I found it heart-wrenching at a level I can only compare to the Genoshan Massacre – and it forever changed the lives of the surviving students.
The idea that Hellion would set that all aside and cut a path for them to cause more pain and potentially take more mutant lives is, as far as I'm concerned, not possible for any faithful interpretation of his character and history.
That Purifier attack is the precise reason I can't accept the Krakoan as anything more than Empath's puppet. Julian watched his best friend, and many of his other peers, die at their hands. The experience was utterly haunting and illustrated the depravity the Purifiers are capable of. The idea that Hellion would set that all aside and cut a path for them to cause more pain and potentially take more mutant lives is, as far as I'm concerned, not possible for any faithful interpretation of his character and history. Even Julian's worst anger wouldn't drive him that far.
Empath’s Plan Reaches Far Beyond The Krakoan’s Worst Impulses
Julian Is A Distraction; Defeating Manuel de la Rocha Is They Key
If Manuel's plan fully succeeds, and mutants create a new nation with Empath as their leader, the Krakoan will have assisted him in all suffering that paves that path. I won't deny that Julian holds anger and resentment toward some of his fellow mutants, as many of the X-Men abandoned him at the time he most needed guidance, but Empath's plan goes above and beyond Hellion's most deep-seated rage. I don't believe that, even at his lowest point, Julian would willingly cosign his fellow mutants to suffer under known murderers, even if it’s meant to lead to mutant supremacy.
The Krakoan may be touted as X-Men's next Magneto, but I'm convinced that Empath is the only true villain now.
I'm not the only person assuming Empath is behind everything happening in NYX, as he flagrantly flaunts his power, but Sophie Cuckoo's outline of his plan is all the proof I need. Ms. Marvel, Prodigy, Laura Kinney, and all of their allies can only hope to succeed if they cut things off at the source and put their full might toward taking down Empath. Julian is a distraction tactic, meant to take the heat that should be applied entirely to Manuel; the Krakoan may be touted as X-Men's next Magneto, but I'm convinced that Empath is the only true villain now.
NYX #5 is available now from Marvel Comics.
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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