X-Men: Messiah Complex: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Crossover storyline in Marvel Comics}} |
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{{for|the psychological term|Messiah complex}} |
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{{Supercbbox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> |
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{{Infobox comics story arc <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> |
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title = Messiah Complex |
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|title = Messiah CompleX |
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| image = [[Image:XMMESSIAH001cvrinks.jpg|250px]] |
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|image = X-Men Messiah Complex.jpg |
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|imagesize = <!-- default 250 --> |
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| schedule = |
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|caption = {{Descript-cvr|X-Men: Messiah Complex||1|Dec 2007|type=variant|art=[[Marc Silvestri]]}} |
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| format = |
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|publisher = [[Marvel Comics]] |
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|startmo = October |
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| date= October 2007 - January 2008 |
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|startyr = 2007 |
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| issues = 13 |
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|endmo = January |
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| main_char_team = [[X-Men]]<br>[[X-Factor Investigations|X-Factor]]<br>[[X-Force]]<br>[[New X-Men]]<br>[[Marauders (comics)|Marauders]]<br>[[Acolytes (comics)|Acolytes]]<br>[[Purifiers]]<br>[[Predator X]]<br>[[Reavers (comics)|Reavers]]<br>[[Cable (comics)|Cable]] |
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|endyr = 2008 |
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| writers = [[Ed Brubaker]], [[Mike Carey]], [[Peter David]], [[Craig Kyle]] and [[Christopher Yost]] |
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|Crossover = y |
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| artists = [[Marc Silvestri]], [[Billy Tan]], [[Scot Eaton]], [[Humberto Ramos]] and [[Chris Bachalo]] |
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|titles = ''[[New X-Men (2004 series)|New X-Men]]'' vol. 2, #44-46<br><!-- |
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| pencillers = Covers by [[David Finch]], [[Marc Silvestri]], [[J. Scott Campbell]], [[Jim Cheung]] and [[Simone Bianchi (artist)|Simone Bianchi]] |
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-->''[[Uncanny X-Men|The Uncanny X-Men]]'' #492-494<br><!-- |
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| inkers = Joe Weems w/Marco Galli, Danny Miki w/Allan Martinez, John Dell, Carlos Cuevas, Tim Townsend, Jon Sibal, Andrew Hennessy and Dave Meikis |
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-->''[[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]'' vol. 3, #25-27<br><!-- |
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| colorists = Frank D'Armata, Edgar Delgado and Brian Reber |
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-->''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' vol. 2, #205-207<br><!-- |
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| creative_team_month = |
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-->''X-Men: Messiah Complex'' #1<br><!-- |
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| creative_team_year = |
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-->''X-Men: Messiah Complex - Mutant Files'' #1<br><!-- |
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| creators = |
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-->Marvel Spotlight X-Men: Messiah Complex #1 |
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|main_char_team = [[X-Men]]<br>[[X-Factor Investigations]]<br>[[X-Force]]<br>[[New X-Men (2004 series)|New X-Men]]<br>[[Marauders (comics)|Marauders]]<br>[[Acolytes (comics)|Acolytes]]<br>[[Purifiers (Marvel Comics)|Purifiers]]<br>[[Predator X (Marvel Comics)|Predator X]]<br>[[Reavers (comics)|Reavers]]<br>[[Cable (comics)|Cable]]<br>[[Forge (comics)|Forge]]<br>[[Hope Summers (comics)|Hope Summers]]<br>[[Mister Sinister]] |
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|writers = [[Ed Brubaker]], [[Mike Carey (British writer)|Mike Carey]], [[Peter David]], [[Craig Kyle]] and [[Christopher Yost]] |
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|artists = |
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|pencillers = [[Marc Silvestri]], [[Billy Tan]], [[Scot Eaton]], [[Humberto Ramos]] and [[Chris Bachalo]] |
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|inkers = Joe Weems w/Marco Galli, Danny Miki w/Allan Martinez, John Dell, Carlos Cuevas, Tim Townsend w/Victor Olazaba, Jon Sibal, Andrew Hennessy, Dave Meikis and Al Vey |
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|letterers = |
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|editors = |
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|colorists = Frank D'Armata, Edgar Delgado and Brian Reber |
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|TPB = Hardcover |
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|ISBN = 0-7851-2899-9 |
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|TPB1 = Softcover |
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|ISBN1 = 0-7851-2320-2 |
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|cat = X-Men |
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|sortkey = Messiah Complex |
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}} |
}} |
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"'''X-Men: Messiah Complex'''" (also known as "'''Messiah CompleX'''") is an [[American comic book]] [[fictional crossover|crossover]] storyline published by [[Marvel Comics]] from October [[2007 in comics|2007]] to January [[2008 in comics|2008]], which ran through the various [[X-Men]] books. |
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The story is the climax of events that began with "[[House of M]]", which led to the [[Decimation (comics)|decimation of mutants in the Marvel Universe]], and the first chapter of a three-part saga, which continued in "[[Messiah War]]", released in 2009, and culminated in "[[X-Men: Second Coming|Second Coming]]", a crossover between all X-Men titles in early 2010. |
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'''''X-Men: Messiah Complex''''' is an ongoing [[comic book]] crossover about the [[X-Men]] which will run from October 2007 to January 2008, published by [[Marvel Comics]]. It is the climax of events that began with ''[[House of M]]'', which led to the [[Decimation (comics)|decimation of mutants in the Marvel Universe]]. |
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==Overview== |
==Overview== |
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The |
The "Messiah Complex" storyline is the climax of events set into motion in "[[House of M]]" and defined the direction of the X-Men franchise for the next several years. The storyline's main plot involves the birth of the first child with the X-gene since Decimation, sparking a race between the [[X-Men]], the [[Marauders (comics)|Marauders]], the [[Acolytes (comics)|Acolytes]], the [[Reavers (comics)|Reavers]], the [[Purifiers (Marvel Comics)|Purifiers]], and [[Predator X (Marvel Comics)|Predator X]] to see who will find the child first. The event also marked the return of X-Man [[Angel (comics)|Angel]], who had been away from the X-Men teams for a while.<ref>Carlton, Brian (June 16, 2007). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10895 "HeroesCon: Marvel Writers Round Table"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621003144/http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10895 |date=2007-06-21 }}. [[Comic Book Resources]].</ref> |
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"Messiah Complex" also involves [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]] and [[New X-Men (2004 series)|New X-Men]], [[Office of National Emergency|Sentinel Squad O*N*E*]], and [[Cable (comics)|Cable]]. |
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== |
==Plot== |
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A mutant activation is detected in Alaska and [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]] and several [[X-Men]] investigate, discovering bodies of [[Purifiers (Marvel Comics)|Purifiers]] and [[Marauders (comics)|Marauders]]. After discovering the source of the battle was for possession of a newborn baby, the group returns home and Cyclops seizes control of the X-Men from [[Professor X]] as [[Predator X (comics)|Predator X]] detects the newborn mutant, and devours the bodies of the dead Marauders present. |
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Since [[M-Day]], the event in which the [[Scarlet Witch]] de-powered 90% of the mutant population, Reverend [[William Stryker]] has reunited the Purifiers, an army of fundamentalist Christians engaged in a holy war against mutants, believing them to be the children of the Devil and worthy of extermination. They murdered a number of students at the Xavier Mansion, and arranged the creation of Predator X, a carnivorous monster that tracks mutants, kills them, and feeds on their remains. |
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Cyclops creates an "assault team" (consisting of [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]], [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]], [[Colossus (comics)|Colossus]], [[Warren Worthington III|Angel]], and [[Nightcrawler (comics)|Nightcrawler]]) with the intent of locating the Marauders, who have a comatose Rogue captive. Cyclops sends X-Factor leader [[Jamie Madrox|Multiple Man]] and member [[Layla Miller]] to visit [[Forge (comics)|Forge]], and has member [[Rictor]] (who lost his powers on [[Decimation (comics)|M-Day]]) pretend to join the Purifiers to see if they have the baby. Forge tells Madrox that [[Scarlet Witch]]'s hex spell flatlined mutants across all possible futures until the baby's birth, which spawned two futures with mutants present. Madrox sends a duplicate to each timeline, and Layla Miller runs in the portal with the second dupe as Madrox falls comatose and Forge takes care of his body. |
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[[Mister Sinister]] has gathered the Marauders, a group of mutants who serve as his personal strike force. They instigated the [[Mutant Massacre]], in which they slaughtered the [[Morlocks (comics)|Morlocks]]. The team includes [[Malice (comics)|Malice]], who possessed [[Karima Shapandar|Omega Sentinel]] after disguising herself as an email, and other X-Men who have turned traitor: [[Lady Mastermind]], [[Sunfire (comics)|Sunfire]], [[Gambit (comics)|Gambit]] and [[Mystique (comics)|Mystique]]. Sinister has also associated himself with Exodus and his Acolytes, a group that includes Cargill, Tempo, Unuscione, and Random. |
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Rictor joins the Purifiers and discovers they are working with [[Lady Deathstrike]] and the [[Reavers (comics)|Reavers]], and that they do not have the baby, as a group of New X-Men attack the Purifiers base. In the fight, [[Hellion (Marvel Comics)|Hellion]] is wounded and in an escape, [[Pixie (X-Men)|Pixie]] accidentally scatter-teleports Rictor and her friends. The assault team track the Marauders to Alaska and attack them with Emma Frost's assistance, until Hellion's wounding leads to the assault team's defeat and Nightcrawler's injury. In New York, the [[Office of National Emergency|O*N*E*]] Sentinels are infected by nano-Sentinels and turn on the X-Men, but they are defeated when [[Iceman (comics)|Iceman]] returns with the scattered New X-Men. When the assault team returns and Wolverine tells Cyclops he learned [[Cable (comics)|Cable]] has the baby, Cyclops assumes his son used the nano-Sentinels to attack them for some reason, so he dispatches a new [[X-Force]] (consisting of Wolverine, [[Hepzibah (comics)|Hepzibah]], [[Warpath (comics)|Warpath]], [[Caliban (Marvel Comics)|Caliban]], [[X-23]], and [[Wolfsbane (comics)|Wolfsbane]]) to locate him. Cable wanders Alaska with the baby while Predator X continues killing mutants, making his way to the X-Mansion when it loses the baby's scent. |
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Sinister dispatches Gambit and Sunfire to attack [[Cable (comics)|Cable]] at his home island, [[Providence (comics)|Providence]]; they believe that they have left Cable for dead. The Acolytes attack the X-Mansion to eliminate [[Blindfold (comics)|Blindfold]]; another group, led by Mystique, try to eliminate the X-Men and capture [[Rogue (comics)|Rogue]]. The enemies succeed in capturing Rogue, Blindfold enters a deathlike coma to prevent her death at the Acolytes' hands, while [[Cannonball (comics)|Cannonball]] and [[Iceman (comics)|Iceman]] escape and track down Destiny's diaries. |
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In the future, Layla and Madrox discover there are mutant concentration camps, a result of mutant activity, and they get themselves locked in one and permanently marked with "M" DNA face tattoos. In present day, X-Force finds Cable, who is battling Deathstrike and the Reavers. X-23 defeats Deathstrike at the cost of Caliban's life, and Cable steals X-Force's Blackbird, making a path for Texas, where he goes to Forge's headquarters to use a time traveling device. Cable is hit from behind by X-Man [[Bishop (comics)|Bishop]], who in the future, Madrox and Layla discover would kill the mutant "messiah" since she killed a million people and lead to the camps' creation. Bishop is ambushed by the Marauders, who take the baby to Muir Island under [[Gambit (Marvel Comics)|Gambit]]'s leadership. Once on [[Muir Island]], it is revealed that [[Mister Sinister]], who has the baby, is actually Mystique and that Mister Sinister is dead by her forcing him to touch Rogue. |
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Cannonball and Iceman fail to recover the diaries. Sinister's motives are to eliminate all knowledge of alternate future timelines. Destiny's diaries contained information that might have helped the X-Men undermine Sinister's schemes. With the diaries destroyed, the only way to access their information is Rogue's mind. |
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Cerebro is repaired and used to track Gambit as Cyclops rescues X-Force, Bishop and Madrox. Bishop says Cable knocked Forge out and ran away after both him and Cable lost the baby. Cyclops sends Bishop and X-Force ahead to Muir Island in a faster O*N*E* ship. After they leave, Madrox reawakens after Layla uses a stolen grenade to kill his duplicate and send future Madrox's memories to Madrox Prime, now with the duplicate's M scar. He tells the group about Bishop. Predator X arrives at the [[X-Mansion]] and fights the New X-Men until Pixie teleports them to Muir Island, and Cable uses his stolen Blackbird to get Xavier to help him, explaining that in his future, the baby was a Messiah who united all of man and mutantkind. |
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==Plot synopsis== |
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{{Plot|date=December 2007}} |
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===Chapter 1: ''X-Men: Messiah Complex'' one-shot=== |
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[[Cerebro|Cerebra]] detects the birth of a mutant in [[Cooperstown]], [[Alaska]], the first since M-Day. [[Professor X]]avier sends a team consisting of [[Cyclops (comics)|Cyclops]], [[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]], [[Nightcrawler (comics)|Nightcrawler]], [[Warren Worthington III|Angel]] and [[Emma Frost]] to Alaska to find the child. However, the Marauders and the [[Purifiers]] arrive first; the two groups fight over the child. The X-Men find that [[Prism (comics)|Prism]] and [[Blockbuster (Marauder)|Blockbuster]] have been killed; the child is missing. Predator X also hunts for the child and feasts upon Blockbuster's body.<ref>''X-Men: Messiah Complex'' one-shot (October 2007)</ref> |
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Mystique explains to Gambit that [[Destiny (Irene Adler)|Destiny]], her former lover, had told her about the baby and that it would heal Rogue. She holds the baby to Rogue's lips, and Gambit removes her hand, saying Rogue would not want an innocent to die for her, as the Marauders and [[Acolytes (comics)|Acolytes]] battle X-Force and the newly arrived X-Men. Professor X interrupts Gambit, coming in with Cable, and when Cable gets the baby again, Bishop walks in along with Predator X, and the mutant killer bites Bishop's arm off, and is killed by Wolverine. Rogue awakens and disowns Mystique as punishment for risking a baby's life, then touches her before realizing that the baby wiped her memories away. She leaves Gambit, along with her and Mystique's memories. Cyclops demands that Cable hand over the child, and Professor X, in a sudden change, tells Cable to do it, so that Scott can see what everyone has been fighting for. Cyclops remembers what it was like to lose Nathan, and tells Cable to take the baby and give it the chance Cyclops never gave his own son. An infuriated Bishop takes [[Scalphunter (Marvel Comics)|Scalphunter]]'s gun and shoots as Cable timeslides to the future, missing him and hitting Professor X. In retaliation, Cyclops takes out Bishop with a powerful optic blast. After Professor X is shot, his body is teleported away as Cyclops declares there are no X-Men. |
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===Chapter 2: ''Uncanny X-Men'' #492=== |
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At Cyclops' request, [[Emma Frost]] brings in [[Jamie Madrox]] and [[Rictor]]; [[Layla Miller]] tags along, informing the others that she needs to be there for Jamie. Cyclops asks Rictor to infiltrate the Purifiers, since he is still [[Decimation (comics)|depowered]]. Professor X and [[Beast (comics)|Beast]] attempt to fix Cerebra. Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Archangel, and [[Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] hunt down former Acolytes [[Projector (comics)|Projector]], [[Neophyte (comics)|Neophyte]], [[Vindaloo (comics)|Vindaloo]] and [[Gargouille (comics)|Gargouille]] to get information about the current whereabouts of [[Exodus (comics)|Exodus]]. |
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Afterwards, Cable appears in the future, with the baby in his arms. The story ends as Cable thinks to himself, "here comes the hard part". |
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===Chapter 3: ''X-Factor'' #25=== |
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In a ploy to gain their trust, Rictor saves the Purifiers from [[Wolfsbane (comics)|Wolfsbane]]. Cyclops holds the [[New X-Men]] back from action. [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]] and Nightcrawler ask [[Amelia Voght]] for information about the Marauders and the Acolytes. Jamie Madrox and Layla are dispatched to find Forge. Madrox creates two dupes to investigate two alternate timelines that opened up when at the mutant's birth. As the dupes depart, Layla unexpectedly accompanies one of them. Forge reveals that the dupes will kill themselves upon completing their missions so that their consciousnesses will be transferred back to Madrox. Madrox is furious when Forge informs him of this, and passes out. Rictor discovers that the Purifiers' base extends beyond New York, encompassing Washington, D.C. |
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==Publication== |
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===Chapter 4: ''New X-Men'' #44=== |
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Layla and one of the Madrox duplicates travel eighty years into the future and discover that the mutant race has been wiped out following a genocidal conflict with humans. Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Angel attack Mister Sinister's Antarctic base to reclaim Rogue and the mutant baby. Rictor learns that the mutant-hating fanatics are gathering forces from hundreds of allied churches; they do not possess the baby. [[Surge (comics)|Surge]], furious that Cyclops has decided to leave the students on the sidelines, gathers a team consisting of [[Hellion (comics)|Hellion]], [[Mercury (Marvel Comics)|Mercury]], [[Rockslide (comics)|Rockslide]], [[Anole (comics)|Anole]], [[Pixie (X-Men)|Pixie]], [[X-23]] and newcomer [[Armor (comics)|Armor]]) to attack the Purifiers' main church headquarters in [[Washington, D.C.]]. [[Dust (comics)|Dust]], [[Prodigy (David Alleyne)|Prodigy]], and [[Elixir (comics)|Elixir]] opt to remain behind. Hellion is gravely injured by the Purifiers' new allies: [[Lady Deathstrike]] and the Reavers. |
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'''October 2007''' |
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===Chapter 5: ''X-Men'' #205=== |
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* Chapter 1: ''X-Men: Messiah Complex'' one-shot. |
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The X-Men attack the Marauders, telepathically assisted by Emma Frost. Wolverine forces Gambit to tell him who has the baby. The New X-Men are nearly overwhelmed by Lady Deathstrike and the Reavers. X-23 destroys one by herself while defending the injured Hellion. Pixie teleports them all to safety: her spell scatters the team across the country; Emma loses contact with them. Wolverine, ambushed by Omega Sentinel, Lady Mastermind and Scrambler, is severely injured. Nightcrawler rescues him, but is shot by Scalphunter prior to teleporting away. Emma learns from Wolverine that the Marauders don't have the child. Gambit's information is that it is in the hands of an X-Man. The [[Sentinel (comics)|Sentinels]] surrounding the mansion, corrupted by an unknown force, attack the X-Men. Cable is revealed to be alive and in possession of the mutant girl. |
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'''November 2007''' |
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===Chapter 6: ''Uncanny X-Men'' #493=== |
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* Chapter 2: ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #492 |
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The X-Men take down the Sentinels; the mansion is destroyed in the process. Beast discovers that the Sentinel pilots were infected by nano-sentinels created by [[Cassandra Nova]]. Cyclops believes Cable may be responsible and orders Wolverine to assemble the [[X-Force]], consisting of X-23, Warpath, Wolfsbane, Hepzibah and [[Caliban (comics)|Caliban]] to hunt down Cable and retrieve the baby. |
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* Chapter 3: ''[[X-Factor Investigations|X-Factor]]'' #25 |
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* Chapter 4: ''[[New X-Men (2004 series)|New X-Men]]'' #44 |
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* Chapter 5: ''[[X-Men: Legacy|X-Men]]'' #205 |
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'''December 2007''' |
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===Chapter 7: ''X-Factor'' #26=== |
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* Chapter 6: ''Uncanny X-Men'' #493 |
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Professor X voices his concerns over Cyclops' willingness to order the X-Force to kill his own son Cable. Cyclops asks Charles to leave the mansion, permanently. Cable is cornered by Lady Deathstrike and the Reavers. Predator X kills [[Peepers]], but not before calling X-Factor for help; [[Siryn]] finds his dismembered body. X-Force searches a Cooperstown Hospital for Cable. Wolverine, surmising that Warpath will not be able to kill Cable should the need arise, asks Wolfsbane to keep an eye on him. She learns that Warpath will indeed do what needs to be done. In the future timeline, Jamie Madrox captures a guard from the mutant prison camps and learns that a mutant is responsible for the situation. He and Layla are captured. |
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* Chapter 7: ''X-Factor'' #26 |
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* Chapter 8: ''New X-Men'' #45 |
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* Chapter 9: ''X-Men'' #206 |
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'''January 2008''' |
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===Chapter 8: ''New X-Men'' #45=== |
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* Chapter 10: ''Uncanny X-Men'' #494 |
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An injured Cable and the mutant newborn are cornered by Lady Deathstrike and the Reavers. X-Force arrives and the two groups engage in a brutal battle. Wolverine goes for Cable, and is stopped by Deathstrike. Deathstrike's attack is countered by X-23, who engages the Reaver's leader in single combat. X-23 is overpowered and severely injured. However, she disables the cyborg's right arm, crippling her cybernetic systems and healing factor. X-23 outmaneuvers Deathstrike and runs her through, apparently killing her. X-Force dispatches the remaining Reavers, and Caliban sacrifices himself, jumping in front of Warpath as he is about to get shot. Wolfsbane learns that her abusive father Reverend Craig is in league with the Reavers. Cable steals the Blackbird and escapes with the baby. At the Xavier Institute, Beast treats Hellion's injuries, and aids Nightcrawler and the numerous other wounded mutants. Surge, consumed with guilt over her recklessness, is supported by Emma Frost, who offers some words of reassurance. In the future, Jamie and Layla are taken into the mutant internment camp for processing. |
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* Chapter 11: ''X-Factor'' #27 |
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* Chapter 12: ''New X-Men'' #46 |
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* Chapter 13: ''X-Men'' #207 |
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===Additional books=== |
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* X-Men: Messiah Complex - Mutant Files #1 |
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Brutal camp officers process Jamie and Layla in the mutant internment camp: their heads shaved and faces branded with an "M". The X-Men arrive to help X-Force: the bloody remains of the Reavers lie around them. Warpath is consumed with grief over Caliban's death. Hepzibah tries to comfort him, but he is inconsolable. Wolverine tells Cyclops what happened before the team's arrival and blames himself for letting Cable escape. Strong Guy and Warpath load Caliban's body onto a storage locker; the Blackbird takes off in pursuit of Cable. At the Xavier Institute, Prodigy, the Stepford Cuckoos, Rockslide, Mercury, and Surge restore Cerebra. Cable ditches the Blackbird in Texas and steals a truck. [[Stepford Cuckoos|The Cuckoos]] discover that Cable is headed for Forge's Aerie in Texas, seeking a chronal slippage regulator (Which could be used to escape through time with the baby). Cable finds Forge injured by gunfire, and unconscious. Cable is shot from behind by [[Bishop (comics)|Bishop]], who is poised to shoot the baby. |
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===Collected editions=== |
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===Chapter 10: ''Uncanny X-Men'' #494=== |
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The storyline has been collected into a single [[trade paperback (comics)|volume]]: |
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Bishop stands over the mutant newborn with his gun drawn. He is ambushed by the Marauders, and wounds [[Vertigo (Marvel Comics)|Vertigo]], but is quickly overpowered by Gambit and Sunfire. While Malice/Omega Sentinel seizes the baby, Gambit brings a section of the ceiling down on Bishop, immobilizing him. The Marauders depart with the baby. In the future, Jamie seeks Layla, but the hostility of the prisoners and the guards impedes him. Layla appears and brings Madrox to a child named Lucas Bishop. Back in the present, Bishop reports that Cable shot Forge, who is in the Eagle Plaza's infirmary along with Madrox. Emma is not receiving any messages from the duplicate operating in the future. The X-Force prepare to go with Bishop; Warpath wants Hepzibah to stay behind, fearing for her safety. She objects and Wolverine agrees, telling Warpath he has no say about who is on his squad. At the Institute, Prodigy and the Cuckoos can't track the baby; Emma instructs them to concentrate on the Marauders instead. Cable, on the outskirts of Dallas, berates himself for losing the baby. As he boards the Blackbird, he realizes he can't save the child alone and contacts Professor Xavier. |
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* ''X-Men: Messiah Complex'' (collects "X-Men: Messiah CompleX", ''Uncanny X-Men'' #492-494, ''X-Men'' #205-207, ''New X-Men'' #44-46, ''X-Factor'' #25-27, and "X-Men: Messiah CompleX - Mutant Files", 352 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, April 2008, {{ISBN|0-7851-2899-9}}, softcover, November 2008, {{ISBN|0-7851-2320-2}}) |
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===Chapter 11: ''X-Factor'' #27=== |
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Speaking with the young Bishop, Madrox and Layla learn that the mutant child is responsible for the deaths of over one million humans, fulfilling Stryker's prophecy of a "mutant antichrist." Following the mass deaths, the United States government rounds up the remaining mutants and places them into camps. Bishop says that if given the chance, he would travel back in time and kill the child. Realizing what must be done, Layla tearfully kills the Madrox dupe. In the present, Madrox awakens and warns the X-Men of Bishop's treachery. He demands to go back for Layla; Emma psionically sedates him. |
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==Aftermath and consequences== |
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Aboard the stolen Blackbird, Xavier treats Cable's injuries the best he can, confronting him on his apparent treachery. Cable explains that the baby is a savior of the future, responsible for saving both humanity and mutant-kind from an unspecified threat. Xavier says he's found the baby on Muir Island, but fears for what they'll find there. |
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Since Mystique risked the baby's life by touching it to Rogue, Rogue disowned her foster mother, but only after touching her before realizing the baby's touch cleansed her of her gained memories from a lifetime of touching. Rogue left, wanting time alone. |
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'''Divided We Stand''': The "[[X-Men: Divided We Stand|Divided We Stand]]" event followed on from the end of ''Messiah Complex'', with the X-Men no longer being a team, and encompassed the ''Uncanny X-Men'', ''X-Factor'', ''X-Force'', ''Young X-Men'', ''X-Men: Legacy'', ''Wolverine'', and ''[[Cable (comic book)|Cable]]'' ongoing series.<ref name="dws">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12348#xsolicits "Marvel Comics Solicitations for April, 2008 - UPDATED!"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111075142/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12348#xsolicits#xsolicits |date=2009-01-11 }} Comic Book Resources. January 23, 2008</ref> |
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Outside of the Xavier Institute, Dust, Rockslide and Mercury discover Predator X has arrived at the mansion, and is eating the remains of the victims of the bus attack. Meanwhile, the Cuckoos track the Marauders to their hideout on Muir Isle due to Gambit's willingness to be followed. Gambit presents the baby to Sinister, who transforms into Mystique; the real Sinister lies on the floor in a pool of blood, with shock etched into his face. When X-Force and Bishop arrive to a seemingly empty part of the island, Wolverine senses a trap; he thrusts forward and kills Lady Mastermind, revealing the Marauders ready for battle. |
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'''Uncanny X-Men''': A separate ''Divided We Stand'' storyline ran in ''Uncanny X-Men'' from #495 to 500 and ended with the X-Men reforming in San Francisco and pursuing "Cyclops’ vision of what the X-Men should do".<ref name="dws"/> |
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===Chapter 12: ''New X-Men'' #46=== |
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Mystique is pulling the strings behind the Marauders' attacks; in a flashback she forces Sinister to touch Rogue, whose now-lethal absorption power kills him. Gambit hands the child to Mystique as X-Force and Bishop arrive. [[Scalphunter (Marvel Comics)|Scalphunter]] shoots Wolverine in the eye, incapacitating him. [[Scrambler (comics)|Scrambler]] disrupts his healing factor, but is killed by X-23, who cuts off his hands and eviscerates him. Scalphunter attacks Hepzibah, but is dispatched by a knife thrown by Warpath. Mystique escapes to the lab; she touches the child to Rogue's face, informing Gambit that [[Destiny (Irene Adler)|Destiny]] foretold that the child would save her daughter's life. Gambit pushes Mystique away and takes the child into his arms: she is completely unaffected and Rogue is still comatose. Gambit is furious that Mystique would trade the child's life to save Rogue, and hands the child to Professor Xavier, who has arrived on Muir Isle with Cable. |
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'''Cable''': At the Baltimore Comic-Con on September 10, 2007, Marvel Comics announced that a new solo ''[[Cable (comics)|Cable]]'' ongoing series (replacing ''[[Cable & Deadpool]]''), with [[Duane Swierczynski]] as the writer<ref>[http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/006204356.cfm "Wizard Entertainment: DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI'S 'CABLE' VISION"]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027031920/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/006204356.cfm |date=October 27, 2007 }}</ref> and [[Ariel Olivetti]] as the artist, would be launched after the conclusion of ''Messiah Complex'' in March 2008.<ref>Tramountanas, George A. (September 10, 2007). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11385 "'X-Force' and 'Cable' Special Edition"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111043739/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=11385 |date=2009-01-11 }}. Comic Book Resources.</ref> This series followed the attempts of Cable to protect the Messiah child from the recovered Bishop's time traveling wrath. |
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Predator X attacks the Xavier Institute. The New X-Men confront the beast, but it heads to the medical ward, seeking out the injured. As [[Gentle (comics)|Gentle]] (Nezhno) and [[Armor (comics)|Armor]] defend the wounded, [[Pixie (X-Men)|Pixie]] casts a teleportation spell to bring the monster into X-23's vicinity, remembering that she was able to kill the other Predators. However, the spell goes awry and Predator X, the New X-Men, Beast, and the injured mutants are transported to Muir Island. The monster devours Vertigo, then abandons its prey and stalks off, to the confusion of the combatants. Xavier brings the child to Cable and urges him to flee with her into the future. As Cable prepares to leave, he is confronted by Bishop and then Predator X. |
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'''X-Men (vol. 2)''': [[X-Men: Legacy|''X-Men'' (vol. 2)]] was renamed ''X-Men: Legacy'' as of issue #208 in February [[2008 in comics|2008]]. [[Mike Carey (British writer)|Mike Carey]] remained as writer with various artists contributing to the art, including CompleX artist [[Billy Tan]] and [[Scot Eaton]], among others, with [[David Finch (comics)|David Finch]] as the cover artist.<ref>Tramountanas, George A. (January 2, 2008). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12245 "X-Position: Week Thirty Two"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111043900/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12245 |date=2009-01-11 }}. Comic Book Resources.</ref> The book turned to a focus on Professor Xavier, Rogue and Gambit, and featured plans regarding Magneto, as well as a female character from the ''New X-Men'' title. |
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===Chapter 13: ''X-Men'' #207=== |
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'''X-Force''': A new ''[[X-Force]]'' series was launched in February [[2008 in comics|2008]] with [[Craig Kyle]] and [[Christopher Yost]] as the writers and [[Clayton Crain]] as the artist. The team consists of the X-Force team introduced in "CompleX", minus the ones that died and the ones that suffered injuries.<ref name="dws"/> |
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Cyclops decides to send the New X-Men into battle (even though Emma doesn't agree). Then switch over to Cable pointing a gun at Cyclops when he asks Cable to turn over the baby. Professor X tells Cable to do as Scott says. Rogue wakes up to a crying Mystique and Gambit, and they begin to argue. Back at the fight, Pixie has just taken down Malice who is still possessing Omega Sentinel. Emma faces off against Exodus, and in the process Exodus starts coughing and Dust emerges from inside of him having killed him by using her sand form to destroy his lungs. Logan gets fed up with nothing working against Predator X so he lets it swallow him. Logan busts out of Predator X's stomach killing it. |
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'''X-Factor''' saw [[Layla Miller]] remain trapped in the future. Additionally, two of Madrox's duplicates were sent into future alternate realities. One duplicate traveled into the future with Miller and found himself in Bishop's future. The other duplicate returned as an X-Factor character with the ability to possess others using techno-organic abilities named [[Jamie Madrox|Cortex]]. |
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Back to Rogue and Mystique, Rogue says she's tired of people getting hurt whenever Mystique is around. She takes her glove off and grabs Mystique's face fully absorbing Mystique into herself and killing her. Rogue tells Gambit that when the baby touched her it healed Rogue of everybody she has ever touched. That right now it is only Rogue and Mystique in her mind. She says she needs to be alone and tells Gambit not to follow. |
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'''New X-Men''' (formerly New X-Men: Academy X): A new series, titled ''[[Young X-Men]]'', debuted in April [[2008 in comics|2008]] with [[Marc Guggenheim]] as the writer and [[Yanick Paquette]] as the artist and will replace the ''[[New X-Men (2004 series)|New X-Men]]'' series, which was cancelled with issue #46 in January 2008. The team consisted of [[Dust (comics)|Dust]], [[Rockslide (comics)|Rockslide]], [[Blindfold (comics)|Blindfold]], [[Wolf Cub (comics)|Wolf Cub]], and [[Anole (comics)|Anole]] (from the cancelled ''New X-Men'' series), as well as new members [[Ink (comics)|Ink]] and [[Graymalkin]].<ref>Renaud, Jeffrey (January 25, 2008). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12375 "Youth Served: Guggenheim Talks 'Young X-Men'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111081758/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=12375 |date=2009-01-11 }}. Comic Book Resources.</ref> |
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Cable, Cyclops and the Professor have a discussion where Cable hands the baby over to Cyclops. Cyclops starts to think about all of the sacrifices he has had to make about his children and Jean. He gives the baby back to Cable and tells him to teleport away with the baby. As Cable teleports away with the baby, Bishop appears and tries to shoot Cable, he misses and shoots Professor X in the head, killing him. Cyclops lets off a major optic blast taking out Bishop. All of the X-Men are standing around his body and Cyclops says " There are no X-Men". Immediately after saying this the Professor's body vanishes. |
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== |
==Sequels== |
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"[[Messiah War]]", a seven-issue crossover between ''Cable'' (vol. 2) and ''[[X-Force]]'' (vol. 3) which writer [[Craig Kyle]] describes as being the follow-up to Messiah Complex and "the middle chapter of what I think will be a major three-part saga, which will continue to define and redefine the X-Universe moving forward".<ref>Richards, Dave (December 12, 2008). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19158 "Kyle/Yost/Choi Talk 'Messiah War'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217003719/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=19158 |date=2008-12-17 }}. Comic Book Resources.</ref> |
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Marvel will disband the X-Men following the crossover; a story-line entitled ''[[X-Men: Divided We Stand|Divided We Stand]]'' will come to a close in ''Uncanny X-Men'' #500, where the team will reform to pursue Cyclops' vision of what the X-Men should be.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12414 Marvel Comics Solicitations for February 2008], [[Comic Book Resources]], November 19, 2007</ref><ref>[http://independentcomicssite.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=313&Itemid=33 State of the Art: The X-Men Post-Messiah CompleX], [[The Independent Comics Site]], December 31, 2007</ref> |
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"[[X-Men: Second Coming]]", was the final part of the trilogy that began with "Messiah Complex" and "Messiah War", intended as a conclusion to Cable's efforts to save Hope from Bishop, who has hunted the so-called Mutant Messiah since her birth.<ref name=cbr23289>{{cite web |first=Dave |last=Richards |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23289 |title=X-Writers Prepare for the 'Second Comin' |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=October 12, 2009 |access-date=2010-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310202549/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23289 |archive-date=2010-03-10 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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At the Baltimore Comic-Con on [[September 10]] [[2007]], Marvel Comics announced that a new ''[[Cable (comics)|Cable]]'' ongoing series (which will replace the ''[[Cable & Deadpool]]'' series), with [[Duane Swierczynski]] as the writer<ref>[http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/006204356.cfm Wizard Entertainment: DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI’S ‘CABLE’ VISION]</ref> and [[Ariel Olivetti]] as the artist, will be launched after the conclusion of ''Messiah Complex'' in March 2008.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11793 "X-Force" and "Cable" Special Edition], [[Comic Book Resources]], September 10, 2007</ref> |
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[[X-Men (vol. 2)|''X-Men'' vol. 2]] will be renamed ''X-Men: Legacy'' as of issue #208 in February. [[Mike Carey]] will remain as writer with various artists contributing to the art, including [[Billy Tan]], [[Scot Eaton]], among others. David Finch will provide the cover art.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12680 X-Position: Week Thirty Two], [[Comic Book Resources]], January 2, 2008</ref> The book will focus on Professor Xavier, Rogue and Gambit, and will also feature important plans regarding Magneto, as well as a female character from New X-Men. Iceman will make a cameo appearance as well.<ref>http://independentcomicssite.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=313&Itemid=33</ref> |
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''[[New X-Men]]'' ceases publication with issue #46 (January 2008). The writers of ''New X-Men'' shift to the relaunch of ''[[X-Force]]'', starring [[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]], [[X-23]], [[Warpath (comics)|Warpath]], and [[Wolfsbane (comics)|Wolfsbane]]. [[Clayton Crain]] will serve as artist.<ref> |
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http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12474</ref> |
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A ''Young X-Men'' title will be launched after Messiah Complex according to a Marvel press release. <ref>http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.2116</ref> No details have been given as to whether or not this title will be a replacement for ''[[New X-Men]]''. |
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A promotional card given out in comic book shops, promoting the upcoming "Divided We Stand" storyline in Marvel's mutant titles, puts the first issue of Young X-Men out in April. Marvel's solicitations for April confirm that Young X-Men will be debuting, written by [[Marc Guggenheim]] and pencilled by [[Yanick Paquette]]. The new line-up seemingly made up of Rockslide, Dust, Blindfold, Wolfcub and possibly two new characters. <ref>http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/April08/solicitations.html</ref> |
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==Publication== |
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[[Image:Messiah Complex.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Variant cover for ''X-Men: Messiah Complex'' featuring [[Mystique (comics)|Mystique]], [[Cyclops (comics)|Cyclops]], [[Mister Sinister]], [[Professor X]], and [[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]]. Art by [[Marc Silvestri]].]] |
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The checklist for the storyline is as follows: |
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===October 2007=== |
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* Chapter 1: ''X-Men: Messiah Complex'' one-shot. |
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===November 2007=== |
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* Chapter 2: ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #492 |
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* Chapter 3: ''[[X-Factor Investigations|X-Factor]]'' #25 |
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* Chapter 4: ''[[New X-Men]]'' #44 |
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* Chapter 5: ''[[X-Men (vol. 2)|X-Men]]'' #205 |
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===December 2007=== |
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* Chapter 6: ''Uncanny X-Men'' #493 |
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* Chapter 7: ''X-Factor'' #26 |
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* Chapter 8: ''New X-Men'' #45 |
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* Chapter 9: ''X-Men'' #206 |
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===January 2008=== |
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* Chapter 10: ''Uncanny X-Men'' #494 |
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* Chapter 11: ''X-Factor'' #27 |
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* Chapter 12: ''New X-Men'' #46 |
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* Chapter 13: ''X-Men'' #207 |
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==References== |
==References== |
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| Line 129: | Line 114: | ||
==External links== |
==External links== |
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*{{comicbookdb|type=storyarc|id=2405|title=Messiah Complex}} |
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*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11967 X-Writers talk “Messiah CompleX”], [[Comic Book Resources]], September 26, 2007 |
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*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id= |
*Furey, Emmett (September 26, 2007). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11967 "X-Writers talk 'Messiah CompleX']. Comic Book Resources. |
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*Tramountanas, George A. (October 4, 2007). [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=12037 "X-POSITION Week 19: Mike Carey"]. Comic Book Resources. |
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*[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=132737 On ''Messiah Complex'' 1: Ed Brubaker kicks it off], [[Newsarama]], October, 12, 2007 |
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{{X-Men}} |
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{{X-Comics}} |
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[[Category:X-Men storylines]] |
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{{Ed Brubaker}} |
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[[Category:Comics by Mike Carey (writer)]] |
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[[hu:X-Men: Messiah CompleX]] |
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[[Category:Comics by Ed Brubaker]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:33, 19 April 2024
| "Messiah CompleX" | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Variant cover of X-Men: Messiah Complex 1 (Dec 2007), art by Marc Silvestri | |||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||
| Publication date | October 2007 – January 2008 | ||
| Genre | |||
| |||
| Main character(s) | X-Men X-Factor Investigations X-Force New X-Men Marauders Acolytes Purifiers Predator X Reavers Cable Forge Hope Summers Mister Sinister | ||
| Creative team | |||
| Writer(s) | Ed Brubaker, Mike Carey, Peter David, Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost | ||
| Penciller(s) | Marc Silvestri, Billy Tan, Scot Eaton, Humberto Ramos and Chris Bachalo | ||
| Inker(s) | Joe Weems w/Marco Galli, Danny Miki w/Allan Martinez, John Dell, Carlos Cuevas, Tim Townsend w/Victor Olazaba, Jon Sibal, Andrew Hennessy, Dave Meikis and Al Vey | ||
| Colorist(s) | Frank D'Armata, Edgar Delgado and Brian Reber | ||
| Hardcover | ISBN 0-7851-2899-9 | ||
| Softcover | ISBN 0-7851-2320-2 | ||
"X-Men: Messiah Complex" (also known as "Messiah CompleX") is an American comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics from October 2007 to January 2008, which ran through the various X-Men books.
The story is the climax of events that began with "House of M", which led to the decimation of mutants in the Marvel Universe, and the first chapter of a three-part saga, which continued in "Messiah War", released in 2009, and culminated in "Second Coming", a crossover between all X-Men titles in early 2010.
Overview
[edit]The "Messiah Complex" storyline is the climax of events set into motion in "House of M" and defined the direction of the X-Men franchise for the next several years. The storyline's main plot involves the birth of the first child with the X-gene since Decimation, sparking a race between the X-Men, the Marauders, the Acolytes, the Reavers, the Purifiers, and Predator X to see who will find the child first. The event also marked the return of X-Man Angel, who had been away from the X-Men teams for a while.[1] "Messiah Complex" also involves X-Factor and New X-Men, Sentinel Squad O*N*E*, and Cable.
Plot
[edit]A mutant activation is detected in Alaska and Cyclops and several X-Men investigate, discovering bodies of Purifiers and Marauders. After discovering the source of the battle was for possession of a newborn baby, the group returns home and Cyclops seizes control of the X-Men from Professor X as Predator X detects the newborn mutant, and devours the bodies of the dead Marauders present.
Cyclops creates an "assault team" (consisting of Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Angel, and Nightcrawler) with the intent of locating the Marauders, who have a comatose Rogue captive. Cyclops sends X-Factor leader Multiple Man and member Layla Miller to visit Forge, and has member Rictor (who lost his powers on M-Day) pretend to join the Purifiers to see if they have the baby. Forge tells Madrox that Scarlet Witch's hex spell flatlined mutants across all possible futures until the baby's birth, which spawned two futures with mutants present. Madrox sends a duplicate to each timeline, and Layla Miller runs in the portal with the second dupe as Madrox falls comatose and Forge takes care of his body.
Rictor joins the Purifiers and discovers they are working with Lady Deathstrike and the Reavers, and that they do not have the baby, as a group of New X-Men attack the Purifiers base. In the fight, Hellion is wounded and in an escape, Pixie accidentally scatter-teleports Rictor and her friends. The assault team track the Marauders to Alaska and attack them with Emma Frost's assistance, until Hellion's wounding leads to the assault team's defeat and Nightcrawler's injury. In New York, the O*N*E* Sentinels are infected by nano-Sentinels and turn on the X-Men, but they are defeated when Iceman returns with the scattered New X-Men. When the assault team returns and Wolverine tells Cyclops he learned Cable has the baby, Cyclops assumes his son used the nano-Sentinels to attack them for some reason, so he dispatches a new X-Force (consisting of Wolverine, Hepzibah, Warpath, Caliban, X-23, and Wolfsbane) to locate him. Cable wanders Alaska with the baby while Predator X continues killing mutants, making his way to the X-Mansion when it loses the baby's scent.
In the future, Layla and Madrox discover there are mutant concentration camps, a result of mutant activity, and they get themselves locked in one and permanently marked with "M" DNA face tattoos. In present day, X-Force finds Cable, who is battling Deathstrike and the Reavers. X-23 defeats Deathstrike at the cost of Caliban's life, and Cable steals X-Force's Blackbird, making a path for Texas, where he goes to Forge's headquarters to use a time traveling device. Cable is hit from behind by X-Man Bishop, who in the future, Madrox and Layla discover would kill the mutant "messiah" since she killed a million people and lead to the camps' creation. Bishop is ambushed by the Marauders, who take the baby to Muir Island under Gambit's leadership. Once on Muir Island, it is revealed that Mister Sinister, who has the baby, is actually Mystique and that Mister Sinister is dead by her forcing him to touch Rogue.
Cerebro is repaired and used to track Gambit as Cyclops rescues X-Force, Bishop and Madrox. Bishop says Cable knocked Forge out and ran away after both him and Cable lost the baby. Cyclops sends Bishop and X-Force ahead to Muir Island in a faster O*N*E* ship. After they leave, Madrox reawakens after Layla uses a stolen grenade to kill his duplicate and send future Madrox's memories to Madrox Prime, now with the duplicate's M scar. He tells the group about Bishop. Predator X arrives at the X-Mansion and fights the New X-Men until Pixie teleports them to Muir Island, and Cable uses his stolen Blackbird to get Xavier to help him, explaining that in his future, the baby was a Messiah who united all of man and mutantkind.
Mystique explains to Gambit that Destiny, her former lover, had told her about the baby and that it would heal Rogue. She holds the baby to Rogue's lips, and Gambit removes her hand, saying Rogue would not want an innocent to die for her, as the Marauders and Acolytes battle X-Force and the newly arrived X-Men. Professor X interrupts Gambit, coming in with Cable, and when Cable gets the baby again, Bishop walks in along with Predator X, and the mutant killer bites Bishop's arm off, and is killed by Wolverine. Rogue awakens and disowns Mystique as punishment for risking a baby's life, then touches her before realizing that the baby wiped her memories away. She leaves Gambit, along with her and Mystique's memories. Cyclops demands that Cable hand over the child, and Professor X, in a sudden change, tells Cable to do it, so that Scott can see what everyone has been fighting for. Cyclops remembers what it was like to lose Nathan, and tells Cable to take the baby and give it the chance Cyclops never gave his own son. An infuriated Bishop takes Scalphunter's gun and shoots as Cable timeslides to the future, missing him and hitting Professor X. In retaliation, Cyclops takes out Bishop with a powerful optic blast. After Professor X is shot, his body is teleported away as Cyclops declares there are no X-Men.
Afterwards, Cable appears in the future, with the baby in his arms. The story ends as Cable thinks to himself, "here comes the hard part".
Publication
[edit]October 2007
- Chapter 1: X-Men: Messiah Complex one-shot.
November 2007
- Chapter 2: Uncanny X-Men #492
- Chapter 3: X-Factor #25
- Chapter 4: New X-Men #44
- Chapter 5: X-Men #205
December 2007
- Chapter 6: Uncanny X-Men #493
- Chapter 7: X-Factor #26
- Chapter 8: New X-Men #45
- Chapter 9: X-Men #206
January 2008
- Chapter 10: Uncanny X-Men #494
- Chapter 11: X-Factor #27
- Chapter 12: New X-Men #46
- Chapter 13: X-Men #207
Additional books
[edit]- X-Men: Messiah Complex - Mutant Files #1
Collected editions
[edit]The storyline has been collected into a single volume:
- X-Men: Messiah Complex (collects "X-Men: Messiah CompleX", Uncanny X-Men #492-494, X-Men #205-207, New X-Men #44-46, X-Factor #25-27, and "X-Men: Messiah CompleX - Mutant Files", 352 pages, Marvel Comics, hardcover, April 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2899-9, softcover, November 2008, ISBN 0-7851-2320-2)
Aftermath and consequences
[edit]Since Mystique risked the baby's life by touching it to Rogue, Rogue disowned her foster mother, but only after touching her before realizing the baby's touch cleansed her of her gained memories from a lifetime of touching. Rogue left, wanting time alone.
Divided We Stand: The "Divided We Stand" event followed on from the end of Messiah Complex, with the X-Men no longer being a team, and encompassed the Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Force, Young X-Men, X-Men: Legacy, Wolverine, and Cable ongoing series.[2]
Uncanny X-Men: A separate Divided We Stand storyline ran in Uncanny X-Men from #495 to 500 and ended with the X-Men reforming in San Francisco and pursuing "Cyclops’ vision of what the X-Men should do".[2]
Cable: At the Baltimore Comic-Con on September 10, 2007, Marvel Comics announced that a new solo Cable ongoing series (replacing Cable & Deadpool), with Duane Swierczynski as the writer[3] and Ariel Olivetti as the artist, would be launched after the conclusion of Messiah Complex in March 2008.[4] This series followed the attempts of Cable to protect the Messiah child from the recovered Bishop's time traveling wrath.
X-Men (vol. 2): X-Men (vol. 2) was renamed X-Men: Legacy as of issue #208 in February 2008. Mike Carey remained as writer with various artists contributing to the art, including CompleX artist Billy Tan and Scot Eaton, among others, with David Finch as the cover artist.[5] The book turned to a focus on Professor Xavier, Rogue and Gambit, and featured plans regarding Magneto, as well as a female character from the New X-Men title.
X-Force: A new X-Force series was launched in February 2008 with Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost as the writers and Clayton Crain as the artist. The team consists of the X-Force team introduced in "CompleX", minus the ones that died and the ones that suffered injuries.[2]
X-Factor saw Layla Miller remain trapped in the future. Additionally, two of Madrox's duplicates were sent into future alternate realities. One duplicate traveled into the future with Miller and found himself in Bishop's future. The other duplicate returned as an X-Factor character with the ability to possess others using techno-organic abilities named Cortex.
New X-Men (formerly New X-Men: Academy X): A new series, titled Young X-Men, debuted in April 2008 with Marc Guggenheim as the writer and Yanick Paquette as the artist and will replace the New X-Men series, which was cancelled with issue #46 in January 2008. The team consisted of Dust, Rockslide, Blindfold, Wolf Cub, and Anole (from the cancelled New X-Men series), as well as new members Ink and Graymalkin.[6]
Sequels
[edit]"Messiah War", a seven-issue crossover between Cable (vol. 2) and X-Force (vol. 3) which writer Craig Kyle describes as being the follow-up to Messiah Complex and "the middle chapter of what I think will be a major three-part saga, which will continue to define and redefine the X-Universe moving forward".[7]
"X-Men: Second Coming", was the final part of the trilogy that began with "Messiah Complex" and "Messiah War", intended as a conclusion to Cable's efforts to save Hope from Bishop, who has hunted the so-called Mutant Messiah since her birth.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Carlton, Brian (June 16, 2007). "HeroesCon: Marvel Writers Round Table" Archived 2007-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Resources.
- ^ a b c "Marvel Comics Solicitations for April, 2008 - UPDATED!" Archived 2009-01-11 at the Wayback Machine Comic Book Resources. January 23, 2008
- ^ "Wizard Entertainment: DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI'S 'CABLE' VISION". Archived October 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Tramountanas, George A. (September 10, 2007). "'X-Force' and 'Cable' Special Edition" Archived 2009-01-11 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Resources.
- ^ Tramountanas, George A. (January 2, 2008). "X-Position: Week Thirty Two" Archived 2009-01-11 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Resources.
- ^ Renaud, Jeffrey (January 25, 2008). "Youth Served: Guggenheim Talks 'Young X-Men'" Archived 2009-01-11 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Resources.
- ^ Richards, Dave (December 12, 2008). "Kyle/Yost/Choi Talk 'Messiah War'" Archived 2008-12-17 at the Wayback Machine. Comic Book Resources.
- ^ Richards, Dave (October 12, 2009). "X-Writers Prepare for the 'Second Comin'". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2010-03-10. Retrieved 2010-03-10.
External links
[edit]- Messiah Complex at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
- Furey, Emmett (September 26, 2007). "X-Writers talk 'Messiah CompleX'. Comic Book Resources.
- Tramountanas, George A. (October 4, 2007). "X-POSITION Week 19: Mike Carey". Comic Book Resources.
