House of X #6: Recap and Review

Charles Xavier’s change of heart

The final issue of House of X has finally arrived. House of X #6, “I am not ashamed,” concludes the phenomenal series. Having successfully established a home for mutants on Krakoa, Charles Xavier uses Cerebro to inform humanity that they have created three miracle drugs. However, since humanity had tried too kill mutants too often, humans must pay for the drugs. This moment official marks when Xavier announces that he no longer believes in his dream for harmony. Xavier has shifted his view to more of a mutant supremacists view shared by Magneto and Apocalypse. While not hostile in terms of violence toward humans, it is a dramatic change from his initial position. Anyone familiar enough with X-Men, know that this is an important change of heart for Xavier. In a way I find it sad, even though it’s necessary.

The first meeting of the Quiet Council of Krakoa

The council consists of Professor X, Magneto, Apocalypse, Mister Sinister, Exodus, Mystique, Sebastian Shaw (Black King), Emma Frost (White Queen), and empty seat for someone known as the Red King, Storm, Jean Grey, Nightcrawler, Cypher and Krakoa. The Great Captains were separate from the Quiet Council, they were responsible for defending the state of Krakoa. The Captain Commander is Cyclops, with Gorgon, Bishop and Magik rounding out the group. Their first business for the council to address is to pass judgement on Sabertooth. He is guilty of murdering several guards while on a mission. The council are tasked with creating new mutant laws. Apocalypse points out that mutants cannot truly be killed now, so how can they be murdered? Jean suggests that because of this, killing a human would be the crime of the highest order. Then council establishes that the other two laws are “make more mutants,” and “respect this sacred land (Krakoa).”

Punishment in Krakoa

Xavier tells Sabertooth that he will be the first to be judged. He believes that “no one is above mutant law.” The judgement for Sabertooth is unanimous. Guilty. Sabertooth of course is pissed. He threatens to kill them, their kids, their grand-kids and “make their lines extinct.” Sabertooth is sentence to “Stasis inside Krakoa.” Professor X suggests that “prisons aren’t tolerated on Krakoa.” This seems a bit hypocritical to me as prison is not just cages and bars. Exiling Sabertooth to the center of Krakoa with him remaining “alive but immobile” is far crueler than prison is. The issue ends with a big party, marking a turning point in the X-Men series.

As you know by now I love this series. It’s ending is hopefully, but it’s unlikely to last. Humanity isn’t going to tolerate this utopia, even if most of the mutants seem to. House of X marries the two things that make a comic book series great, magnificent art (Pepe Larraz) and great storytelling (Hickman). This assumes that the quality of writing will be on par with Hickman, which is unlikely. That said, the future of the X-line seems to be bright. House of X is worth the read and will change your understanding of the X-Men universe. Let’s hope that future writers and artists take the newly established world, and continue to create great X-Men stories.