Hellions #1 (2020)

A Krakoan strike team intercepts members of the Hellfire Cult in San Francisco, who are fresh off a large weapons purchase. While Wolverine, Siryn, and Rockslide deal with three members of the group, Havok and Nightcrawler secure the group’s van and the weapons within. Suddenly the van is struck by a rocket and explodes. Alex and Kurt are thrown violently to the ground and Kurt is knocked unconscious. The cult members who fired the rocket drag Havok to his knees and find him laughing maniacally. Havok viciously attacks the humans, nearly killing all three before Wolverine and Rockslide restrain him. Havok comes to his senses and asks the others what he did. Later, Havok is summoned to the Quiet Council along with five other mutants who have had trouble adapting to life on Krakoa: Empath, who has been using his powers to manipulate his old Hellions teammates into fighting for his entertainment; Nanny and Orphan-Maker, who have reacted violently to attempts to keep them separate; Wild Child, who has refused to take medication that will tame his feral nature; and John Greycrow, whose role in the Mutant Massacre has made coexisting with the resurrected Morlocks living on Krakoa impossible. Mr. Sinister gleefully asks Havok, who had been standing in the shadows, to step forward into the light. Cyclops’ temper flares when he sees his brother is included in this group of “predators”, but Marvel Girl and Nightcrawler tell Scott about the incident in San Francisco. Magneto says Alex is lucky the humans survived, or they would have no choice but to exile him to the Pit along with Sabretooth. Cyclops’ visor glows red, a warning against the idea. Sinister interjects and says these “outcast” mutants have been damaged by trauma, and rather than punishing them for their instability, the Council needs to give them a way to express their gifts productively. He proposes that the expression of mutant abilities should be a Krakoan birthright. Xavier and Magneto admit that Sinister has a point, to Cyclops’ disgust. Jean and Storm note Scott’s objections but order him to leave so that the Council can make its decision. Beast later produces a memo in support of Sinister’s team after reviewing the Council meeting minutes at Cyclops’ request. Hank outlines that he will back the idea as long as the team is only sent into the field on missions with zero potential for human casualties, so that none of the mutants are put in a position to possibly violate Krakoan law and wind up in the Pit. After the Council officially approves Mr. Sinister’s plan, Cyclops approaches Psylocke to lead - or as Kwannon sees it, “babysit” - the team. Scott and Kwannon agree that she will do what she has to if the team gets out of line, while also doing her best to keep Havok safe. Psylocke briefs the Hellions on their first mission. The Quiet Council has determined that the clone farm Mr. Sinister created in the basement of the orphanage he used to run is not only a crime against nature, but also a redundancy now that mutants can be resurrected. The Hellions are going to destroy the farm, while avoiding engagement with Sinister’s old team of Marauders, who are holed up in the orphanage despite being invited to Krakoa. The team begins to butt heads before they even leave for Nebraska. Greycrow clashes with both Empath and Wild Child, and Nanny warns Sinister not to try to take Peter away from her. Psylocke hangs back as the rest of the Hellions head to the plane off the island. She tells Sinister she knows he’s hiding something. Sinister smiles and confirms her suspicions, then mysteriously reminds her that she has no choice but to go. In the basement of the Essex State Home for Foundlings, the Marauders are hanging upside-down, wounded and unconscious. The Goblin Queen stands below them, conducting some sort of magical ritual. Madelyne tells her captives to “rest for the horror to come”.