Potential spoilers for Runaways #35 ahead!
The X-Men have established the island utopia of Krakoa, but Marvel has revealed in a preview for Runaways #35 that in the process of making their new homeland, they are also hurting innocent mutants.
Since Jonathan Hickman helped reboot the X-Men franchise in 2019, most of Earth’s mutants have resided on the island of Krakoa – a place where mutants can live out their lives with no fear of being hunted or hurt. The island is open to all mutants, but there have been holdouts, one of which is Molly Hayes, AKA Princess Powerful of the Runaways team. In the previous issue of Runaways, Wolverine and Pixie arrived to take Molly back to Krakoa, believing the young mutant sent them a distress call. Instead, they learn someone else sent the signal and it was mistakenly attributed to Molly. The two mutants team up with the Runaways to find who actually sent the signal and end up fighting a legion of monsters. The issue ended with Runaway Nico Minoru, AKA Sister Grimm, casting a powerful spell that destroyed the monsters and the team found themselves in front of a sprawling mansion.
The preview for the upcoming issue – written by Rainbow Rowell, with art by Andres Genolet and colors by Dee Cunniffe – reveals the mutant that actually did send the distress call: a young woman named Jodi with the power to create hallucinations, explaining the monsters that suddenly appeared in the last issue. Jodi is in extreme pain and anguish and Jodi’s mother tells them her daughter created the illusions to scare the Runaways and the X-Men away. As the preview ends, the mother goes on to inform them that Jodi’s powers take a toll on her, hence why Jodi was in such pain, but this time it is worse than before.
The previous issue made it clear there was much more to the distress signal than originally thought. In fact, there were two signals: the actual signal, pleading for help, and then a follow-up cautioning the X-Men not to come. After this preview, it’s easy to see who sent which one. Jodi’s mother wants help for her daughter and thus sent the signal, whereas Jodi herself wants nothing to do with Krakoa, and is actively trying to scare the mutants off. The preview does not say exactly why Jodi does not want to travel to Krakoa, but it is clear she is willing to harm herself to keep from going. While it is unclear if the X-Men have reached out to Jodi before, she was aware of their reputation and did everything in her power to drive them away, causing herself great harm to herself in the process.
While this may be an extreme case, Marvel has revealed there are mutants, such as Pete Wisdom, who refuse to make their home on Krakoa, for whatever reason. Now the X-Men and the Runaways have met another such mutant, one who will take extreme measures to keep from going – no matter the cost. The issue is in stores April 7.
