I found Powers of X #1, to be underwhelming relative to House of X. It still is. However, this issue was better than the first. Powers of X #2, like the previous issue splits the X-Men timeline into for eras, Year 1, Year 10, Year 100 and Year 1000. In Year 1, Moira MacTaggert and Charles Xavier meet with Magneto. The dynamic between Magneto and Xavier is always tense, either their enemies, friends or temporary allies. Regardless, when Xavier reveals to Magneto the history Moira has experience, Magneto decides to join Xavier. Only he will continue to “check him (Xavier) at every moment of weakness.”
We then move to Year 10. Xavier informs Cyclops of the new type of Master Mold, Mother Mold. This version makes other Master Molds while orbiting the sun. Mother has been completed, but lie dormant. Xavier believes that they’re waiting for the “right catalyst.” Magneto explains what was found on the information that Mystique stole, which is all the information on Orchis. Xavier tells Cyclops that they must prevent Mother Mold from “coming online.” The fear is that NIMROD will become operational. Cyclops promises that he will “get it done.” Despite the fact that I don’t like Cyclops, I think he makes a good soldier.
We fast forward to Year 100, on Asteroid K. Wolverine is being a downer. With Cylobel and Percival gone they can no longer hide from the machines. Apocalypse is given the information, and plans on sacrificing mutants for the greater good. Just the idea of Wolverine and Apocalypse working together makes this series more interesting. The dynamics of the mutants are different now that machine and human have teamed up. Many of the mutant supremacist like Apocalypse, Cyclops and Magneto are now important and their views have been validated, if for no other reason than humans are trying to exterminate all mutants now.
Meanwhile, Nimrod is “disturbed” by the theft of the indexing machine. Nimrod is so odd in this series. He rambles. Nimrod is a juvenile and often funny. I’m not sure if that is how Hickman intends for Nimrod to be portrayed but it’s working for me. In the Year 1000, we are introduced to a Nimbus. I’ll admit that didn’t completely comprehend what Nimbus was, other than a Worldmind. Hickman has his explainers for the types of societies based on the measured species intelligence. I found it to be interesting, but its purpose is to explain the way the Phalanx function. Now my only history with the Phalanx was an episode of from the X-Men animated series that I hated.
Regardless they’re back. The Phalanx is an “interstellar society that operates on a galactic scale.” The Phalanx consume lesser societies, if they view the society a worth consuming then “Ascension” occurs. During the Year 1000, the Librarian when asked by the Phalanx “what do you seek,” her answer was Ascension. Even though I think Power of X is inferior to House of X, I think it’s important to read both together and in the order intended. They time jumps isn’t nearly as daunting as it could be. Seeing the villains and heroes from X-Men together against a greater threat is what makes this series the most interesting.
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