In X-Men Annual #1, a hero is judged harshly because of a prior affiliation with the Avengers, and points out the hypocrisy of Marvel’s mutants.
This article contains spoilers for X-Men Annual #1, on sale by Marvel Comics
During this year’s Hellfire Gala, Emma Frost nominated Angelica Jones, aka Firestar, to become a member of the X-Men in an attempt to right some of her wrongs. Firestar has been a part of many teams, including the Avengers and the Hellions, however, her struggles are not always highlighted for fans. In X-Men Annual #1 (by Johnathan Hickman, Steve Foxe, Andrea Di Vito, Stefano Caselli, and Frederico Blee), readers get an insight into her dual life and the hypocrisy she faces from her fellow Krakoans because of it.
Angelica had a rough childhood, with her powers manifesting as a young teen. She is able to generate and manipulate microwave radiation energy, which allows her to generate heat and even fly thanks to these emissions. After detecting her abilities, Emma recruited her to attend a private school that would help her control her powers. During that time, she looked up to Emma as a mentor but was ultimately betrayed by her when she discovered her nefarious plans to use her as an assassin.
Firestar Recently Joined the X-Men
Eventually, she was accepted into the Avengers alongside the likes of Iron Man and Captain America. She also developed close friendships with Black Cat, Hellcat, and Monica Rambeau. The community she had been a part of also allowed her to get the treatment and support she needed for her breast cancer. As an Avenger, her mutant origins were not ridiculed or mocked by neither her teammates or the public.
However, the same cannot be said for her fellow mutants on Krakoa. After joining the X-Men, she underwent constant scrutiny for her affiliations, and tensions were set high between her and the rest of the team. Krakoans would constantly question her motives and her loyalty toward mutants. At the beginning of X-Men Annual #1, Angelica is being harassed by the Hellions, who also happen to be her former classmates. The mutants may resent her for being able to belong while they were hunted and feared.
Firestar is Unfairly Scrutinized by Her Fellow Mutants
Angelica was the only mutant who received unfair treatment despite the fact that Wolverine, Beast, and Havok have also been Avengers. This hypocrisy may have stemmed from the three mutants’ impressive victories. Wolverine and Beast are known to be heavy hitters for the X-Men and have saved mutants on multiple occasions, with Beast even aiding in the development of Krakoan drugs. Meanwhile, Havok was a figurehead for mutant and human relations during his time as an Avenger. When Captain America wanted to help ease the tensions between mutants and the rest of the world, he chose Havok to lead the team.
Additionally, Firestar’s most notable feats were during her time as an Avenger up until the end of the comic, when she manages to take down her old villain, Whirlwind, after he stole some Krakoan drugs at a hospital. She took charge of the situation whereas the X-Men wanted to delegate the problem to another team. Her experiences on both teams have allowed her to become a better hero who helps save others, mutant and human alike.
