The following contains spoilers for Legion of X #8, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
The X-Men have been trying to keep up with an ambitious expansion of their responsibilities in the Krakoa Era, readily throwing themselves into the worlds of intergalactic intrigue and world politics. Along the way, they’ve also picked up some more experience dealing with supernatural problems — and may have even gained some key figures who could take charge in those affairs.
Legion of X #8 (by Si Spurrier, Netho Diaz, Sean Parsons, Federico Blee, and VC’s Clayton Cowles) breaks down how the X-Men might have their own personal mutant versions of Ghost Rider and Black Knight among their ranks — but their powers and loyalties could make them as much a threat as a boon.
How Legion Of X Brings Ghost Rider & Black Knight To Krakoa
Currently, the X-Men have become increasingly entangled in a lot of corners of the Marvel Universe — including the supernatural realm, with their excursions into Otherworld drawing Captain Britain into mystical war while the Beast’s vendetta against Wolverine could pull the mutants into the brewing conflict between the Hand and the Fist. Even Dark Web stems directly from Magik’s decision to give away control of the demonic realm Limbo (and it all immediately blows up in her face. But as expanded in Legion of X #8, the X-Men also have two seemingly firm allies set to utilize magical powers to help the mutant cause. Legion of X #8 quietly touches on a lot of different storylines and directions, drawing on the drama of Charles Xavier and Legion’s troubled relationship as well as the growing mystery surrounding Warlock’s possible corruption.
But throughout all of this, the Legion of X team interacts with two supernaturally-tinted mutants: first, there’s Banshee — who, following the traumatic circumstances of his last death, was resurrected with an inner hole that Mother Righteous filled by bonding him directly with the Spirit of Variance to turn him into a Ghost Rider-like figure. Meanwhile, the daughter of Dane Whitman (Jackie Chopra, who’s also taken up the Black Knight mantle) was teased to be a mutant during a previous team-up with the X-Men. This revelation finally comes to light in Legion of X #8, as it turns out her mutant ability is to passively create a mutagenic field around herself. She can temporarily activate the X-Gene even in Homo Sapiens — or amplify the mutations of others even further.
The X-Men Could Get Their Own Versions of Black Knight & Ghost Rider
Both of these developments are potentially dangerous but could add mystical powersets to the X-Men. It’s possible Jackie’s powers could even help amplify the abilities of others and even potentially become a key piece of any mutant technologies that are missing components. However, the uncontrollable nature of her powers has already pushed people like Archangel and Nightcrawler into nearly feral states due to a spell targeting her to amplify the effect, suggesting it might be something Jackie needs to learn control over — giving her even more reason to team up with the X-Men, who have plenty of experience training young mutants.
Meanwhile, notes left by Doctor Strange hint that the Spirit of Variance currently hosted by Banshee has a wild history that lets it stand out even when compared to other Ghost Riders. It turns out in the ancient past, one particular Spirit of Vengeance went through something of a spiritual crisis that resembled a mutation of sorts. Denounced for its attempts to change people instead of condemning them, it was almost killed by the other Ghost Riders before being saved by Mother Righteous. Now that it has bonded with Banshee, it comes with centuries of experience surviving some of Marvel’s strongest forces. It could even continue to evolve in new ways. But being closely indebted to dangerous mystical forces that granted Sebastian Shaw true immortality could present problems for the X-Men. With Banshee’s experience and knowledge, it could be a key complication at a tough time. But if everything works in their favor, Krakoa and the X-Men might have their own personal Ghost Rider on call.
