Warning: Contains spoilers for NYX #4!The X-Men have faced plenty of powerful foes over the years, though few made an impact quite like Magneto. As the Krakoan steps in to take over the Master of Magnetism's dream of mutant superiority, his first major battle shows that he also inherited the former villain's fatal flaw. Prodigy is able to catch Julian Keller off-guard with an unexpected tactical move, turning his oversized ego against him.
The Krakoan faces his first major battle against his fellow mutants in NYX #4, by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Enid Balám, Raúl Angulo and Joe Sabino, ultimately failing to secure a win. His defeat comes at the hands of former classmate Prodigy, and the loss reveals the new villain's biggest hurdle.
Like Magneto, the Krakoan is incredibly powerful, but he's also arrogant about his abilities and underestimates the teamwork of his opponents. For decades, Magneto lost to the X-Men again and again because he saw himself as a near-god, never actually finding a way to overcome the bond that Charles Xavier instilled in his students. Now, while taking up Magneto's former political goals and a version of his signature look, the Krakoan is also prone to the same weakness.
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The Krakoan Loses His First Major Battle to Prodigy
David Alleyne Plays on the Villain's Arrogance
The Krakoan is Julian Keller - an incredibly powerful mutant formerly known as Hellion. Although the Krakoan is still new to the villain game, Julian Keller has a considerable amount of battlefield experience under his belt. Both he and Prodigy were aspiring X-Men during the "Academy X" era of students, where they spent most of their time as rivals. Keller never took Prodigy's mutant ability to replicate the expertise and skills of others seriously, which carries over to their confrontation in NYX #4.
Historically, Julian has been able to back up his bravado. He led Emma Frost's team of Hellions at the X-Men Institute, faced a Nimrod Sentinel attack, and mastered and re-mastered his telekinesis after life-changing injuries. In short, the Krakoan has always been incredibly gifted, but he also sees himself as above his allies and opponents. From the beginning of his villainous career, Magneto always saw his allies in the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants as his subordinates, relying solely on his own power and judgment whenever the chips were really down. Because of that, the X-Men's teamwork allowed them to stop his plans again and again, despite his undeniable power. Now, the Krakoan is falling into the same trap.
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It Will Take More Than a Single Loss to Keep The Krakoan Down
Julian Keller Is Still Looking to Fill Magneto's Shoes
The Krakoan starts off by fighting Ms. Marvel, and successfully defeats his intended target. However, his arrogance and lone wolf perspective allow Prodigy to get the drop on him, using the element of surprise to come out ahead. Magneto has always been a genius schemer, unfailingly sure that his vision of the world is totally correct. That rigidity never stood up well against a team of heroes who brought very different perspectives to every situation and would do anything to protect each other. As much as the Krakoan is trying to trade on Magneto's notoriety to construct his own 'villain' identity, he failed to learn some major lessons from Magneto's many defeats.
However, it's worth noting that Magneto never fell for the same trick twice, and it's likely the Krakoan won't underestimate Prodigy again. Julian Keller may overestimate his own abilities like Magneto, but the Master of Magnetism still did a lot of damage to the X-Men before eventually joining them. As flawed as the Krakoan is, he may yet turn out to be just as dangerous as the X-Men's iconic nemesis Magneto.
NYX #4 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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