The comic series “Sins of Sinister” offers a glimpse into a bleak future for the X-Men, highlighting a significant error made by the Krakoa Quiet Council.
Upon reflection on the consequences presented in Sins of Sinister, it’s natural to ponder if the X-Men could have taken measures to avoid their horrifying destiny. Issue #2 of Nightcrawlers (by Si Spurrier, Andrea Di Vito, Jim Charalampidis, and VC’s Clayton Cowles) offers a glimpse into this bleak future, taking readers one hundred years ahead to a reality where mutants have metamorphosed into monstrous beings and evolved into an ever-expanding, dominant intergalactic force. The Quiet Council’s intentions of subtle diplomacy are abandoned as they wage war for their own hegemony.
Upon closer examination, it becomes evident that there were certain decisions made by the Quiet Council that could have prevented the bleak future depicted in Sins of Sinister. Specifically, their choice of Magneto’s successor could have served as a warning that their DNA was vulnerable to manipulation before the resurrection process. A few months ago, they opted for Hope Summers to take over Magneto’s position, but this came at the cost of losing Selene, a powerful and immortal mutant who was among the few on the island with knowledge of magic. Had Selene been a member of the Council, there is a possibility that the mutants would have been aware of the potential for Sinister, or anyone else for that matter, to corrupt their resurrection technology.
The X-Men’s Quiet Council Chose Hope Summers Instead of Selene
In the comic Immortal X-Men #1, the resignation of Magneto from the council came as a surprise, leading to emergency elections to choose his replacement. Among the candidates, Selene, an External mutant with natural immortality, and Hope Summers, considered by some to be a mutant messiah, emerged as the strongest contenders. Selene argued that the council’s failure to replace Apocalypse required someone with not only immense power but also an immortal perspective, making her the ideal choice.
Rewritten: During the emergency elections to replace Magneto in Immortal X-Men #1, Selene and Hope Summers emerged as the leading candidates. Selene emphasized the need for someone with both immense power and an immortal perspective, as the Quiet Council had failed to replace Apocalypse. She also highlighted her expertise in magic, an area where the council was lacking. On the other hand, Hope appealed to the politics of the island, arguing that as the leader of the Five, the team responsible for resurrecting mutants, she deserved a seat on the council. Rejecting her would also risk the disapproval of the entire mutant population. Despite Selene’s arguments, the Quiet Council ultimately chose Hope, and Selene died shortly after.
The Inclusion Of Hope Summers By The Quiet Council Was A Mistake
The Quiet Council’s Decision to Elect Hope Summers Over Selene Could Have Prevented Sinister’s Plans
During the emergency elections to replace Magneto on the Quiet Council, Selene, and Hope Summers emerged as the top contenders. Selene argued that her immortal life and knowledge of magic made her the ideal candidate. At the same time, Hope played the political game, citing her leadership of the Five and popularity among mutants. Ultimately, the council chose Hope, but this decision proved to be a mistake.
Had Selene been elected, she may have recognized that some mutant genetics had been tampered with by outside forces, such as the hexed DNA of Nightcrawler. This knowledge would have alerted the council to the vulnerability of the resurrection process and the need for increased security measures to prevent interference with mutant DNA. Unfortunately, the council’s failure to elect Selene ultimately played into Sinister’s plans.
If the Quiet Council had chosen Selene instead of Hope, they could have averted the dark timeline created by Mister Sinister. Selene’s knowledge of magic would have allowed her to recognize that some mutant genetics had been affected by outside forces, such as the hexed DNA of Nightcrawler in Nightcrawlers #1. This could have led to increased security measures during the resurrection process to prevent any tampering. With the scrutiny of Krakoa’s most intelligent members, Mister Sinister’s genetic handiwork would have been discovered, and he would have been dealt with accordingly.
However, the Council chose Hope, and Mister Sinister manipulated votes in his favor using her position as a “messiah.” This allowed him to carry out his plans, leading to the mutants’ conquest of the stars and the fall of the X-Men. While it’s uncertain whether choosing Selene would have completely avoided this outcome, it would have given the Krakoans a better chance.
