Marvel Comics have announced Jonathan Hickman’s “Inferno” series will consist of four double-sized issues (160 pages in total), illustrated by Valerio Schiti, R.B. Silva and Stefano Caselli. The comic, which begins in September, will pay off the seeds planted in Hickman’s “House of X” and “Powers of X,” with Mystique deciding to betray the rest of the Quiet Council of Krakoa, after they once again deny her request to resurrect her longtime love, Irene Adler (Destiny).
“Promises were made and broken,” reads the synopsis. “The rulers of Krakoa have been playing a dangerous game with a dangerous woman, and they are about to see how badly that can burn them. Having been denied her wishes yet again, Mystique is ready to follow through on her promise to burn the nation of Krakoa to the ground. Mutantkind’s bright future is threatened like never before as Hickman brings his game-changing plans to a head. Fans can expect more revelations from the lives of Moira MacTaggert, Nimrod’s revenge, vicious power plays, and more in this pivotal chapter in X-Men history.”
Destiny was last seen alive in 1989’s “Uncanny X-Men” #255, when she was killed by Legion (David Haller), and Mystique can be seen wearing her armor in Mark Brooks’s teaser image. The premise of the new series was foreshadowed in Hickman and Matteo Buffagni’s “X-Men” #6, which revealed Destiny had foreseen the rise of Krakoa and told Mystique about it, but warned her that Krakoa’s leaders would decide to avoid resurrecting anyone with precognitive powers, yet continue to promise otherwise. She warned Mystique that if she were unable to bring her back, then she would have to destroy Krakoa.
The book’s name also recalls the 1988-89 crossover event ‘Inferno,’ where Madelyne Pryor, Cyclops’s wife and Cable’s mother, made a deal with a demon after Scott left her following Jean Grey’s return; it was also revealed there that Madelyne was a clone of Jean created by Mr. Sinister. Other than the theme of “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” it is unknown if or how the stories will be connected.
Hickman simply stated, “I’m very excited that we’re finally getting to share with everyone the follow-up to ‘House of X/Powers of X,'” adding, “I cannot wait for people to read it.” In the meantime, Gerry Duggan and Pepe Larraz will be relaunching the X-Men team proper in July, while Magneto will be dealing with a murder accusation in “The Trial of Magneto” from August.
