Warning: spoilers for Wolverine #13 are ahead.
It may seem like X-Men’s Beast and Thanos have nothing in common, but a startling new development in Marvel Comics is bringing them closer than ever before. One of the brainiest members of the X-Men, Beast is known for his intellect, leadership, and diplomacy, alongside his distinctive appearance. Beast always has mutantkind’s best interests at heart, but his concern has just taken a Thanos-like turn for the worst, firmly cementing as a new villain in the X-Men comics.
In Wolverine #13, Beast admits that he has been keeping the mutants of Krakoa in check through mind control (written by Benjamin Percy, pencils by Scot Eaton, inks by Oren Junior, colors by Matthew Wilson, letters by VC’s Cory Petit, design by Tom Muller). As if this fact isn’t bad enough, Beast defends his actions by making grandiose statements about how “Krakoa is more than a nation. It is a god,” utilizing language eerily similar to that which was applied to Thanos in Jim Starlin, George Pérez, and Ron Lim’s Infinity Gauntlet saga. Despite his unethical decisions and practices, Beast feels no remorse for what he has done, exemplifying a trait that both the Infinity Gauntlet Thanos and his MCU counterpart showcase to great length.
Beast’s perspective about mind controlling Krakoa’s mutant population reveals his lofty ambitions and arrogant paternalism that eclipse any chance for him to seriously consider the ramifications of his actions. By becoming Thanos-like in his beliefs, Beast exemplifies the ethos of this current age of X-Men stories. With their usual slate of villains no longer a threat to them, the isolation of Krakoa has exposed the growing evil that already exists within mutantkind. Instead of evil appearing in the form of a purple alien from outer space, it has now revealed itself as the familiar face of a friend, seen in Beast’s villainous descent as a character.
What defines Thanos as a villain, aside from his plans to destroy half of all life in the universe, is his attitudes, which are mirrored by Beast in Wolverine #13. Despite being one individual, Thanos sees himself as above other living beings, endowed with knowledge and a perspective where only he is able to guide the universe towards a favorable fate. Worse, he disguises this arrogance behind a tragic façade, as if taking on this role makes him a selfless hero.
In justifying his decision to spy on Krakoans, Beast says, “Krakoa is a god, and if you want people to believe in you and to fear you as a god, you need to be omniscient… We need to spy… Our goal is long-term survival. Remember?” Beast frames his invasion of Krakoans’ free will as a decision that is critical to mutantkind’s survival, placing an onus on himself as the hand guiding mutants towards a better future. This infringement, which mutants are deliberately left in the dark about, is done with the knowledge that Beast has taken on a god-like position on the island. Like Thanos, Beast sees his actions as necessary for the betterment of people he never consulted with in the first place.
Thanos’s decision to wipe out half of the universe’s life is inarguably horrible, but what makes Beast’s decision to mind control Krakoa even more reprehensible is that he betrays the trust of the entire mutant community. Like Thanos, Beast sees criticism of his actions as evidence that he’s right. He says, “I’ll be that bastard. I’ll take the blame. I’ll earn the hate. If that’s what saves us from annihilation.” Beast’s shamelessness makes him not only delusional, but a tyrant hiding in Krakoa’s shadows.
This turn for Beast showcases an awful truth about Krakoan society. When given the opportunity for self-determination, mutants have found more ways to oppress each other. It is a shame that a population as vulnerable as mutants have been unable to experience true freedom on their own island, but with more troubling secrets coming to light, there is still hope that the jolly veneer of Krakoa can be discarded all together.
