X-men Supreme Issue 147: Vengeful Anarchy PREVIEW!

In case you haven’t heard it enough already, Happy New Year everybody! Welcome to 2017. For the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, the new year is an even bigger holiday of sorts. It seems so long ago, but X-men Supreme officially began on New Years Day way back in 2010. A lot has happened since then and I’m not just talking about this fanfiction series.

The X-men comics have gone through plenty of upheaval, including extinction plots, sterilization plots, and time travel plots. In that same time, X-men Supreme has undergone many upheavals involving cosmic forces, mutant uprisings, tense presidential elections, and alien adventures. In all that time, I have not once resorted to sterilization or time travel. That says as much about X-men Supreme as it does the current X-men comics, but that’s another topic altogether.

At the moment, the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is entering its seventh year. Fittingly, this momentous anniversary will mark another major upheaval for this fanfiction series. There are only two issues left of X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation. The events of these issues will shape the course for the future of this fanfiction series while also laying the foundation for the next volume. Make no mistake. This upheaval will be severe. This isn’t like the losses the X-men suffered after the events of Dark Legacy or the uncertainty they faced after the election of President Kelly. This conflict will run much deeper.

The catalyst of this conflict will come from a familiar face. Stryfe, who made his chaotic presence known during the Inauguration Day arc back in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear, is looking to succeed where Toad failed. His role in the Mutant Liberation Front did not pan out. They suffered a crippling loss at the end of the Natural Disorder arc. He lost again in the recent Proactive Regression arc. The weight of those losses are getting heavy and Stryfe is getting more desperate. With no more support and no Mutant Liberation Front backing him up, he’s ready to launch one final attack that will help cap off X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation. The scars this attack will leave on the X-men will not heal easily.

Throughout X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation, the clashes and conflicts the X-men face have taken on new complexities. The Mutant Liberation Front undermined efforts by both humans and mutants to manage their affairs. The X-men tried to do their part. General Grimshaw and President Kelly tried to do theirs. In the end, the results leave much to be desired. The Mutant Liberation Front did a lot of damage and the recent disillusion of Genosha left a lot of uncertainty. How will humans and mutants deal with one another now? Is it even possible?

This question is about to gain one more major complication, thanks to Stryfe. In the penultimate chapter of X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation, the X-men will face one final clash that will leave their team and their spirits wounded in ways they’ve never endured. It will lead to changes. It will lead to upheavals. The future of the X-men and the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is about to get murky and for once, it won’t be resolved through time travel, clones, magic, or sterilization. As always, I’ve prepared a preview of the penultimate issue of X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation to set the stage for this devastating clash that promises to upend the X-men as we know it.

“This is what you’ve been reduced to? Taking your frustrations out on my X-men?” questioned Xavier, “It won’t make your reckless endeavors any less futile!”

“This isn’t about the past, Xavier. I’ve always been forward thinking in my goals. Unlike you, I don’t run from the inevitable. The war between humans and mutants is inevitable. Time and again, I’ve tried to confront it with our side having the upper hand.”

“You think unleashing needless terror is a rational way to confront conflict?” retorted Xavier.

“It’s more rational than you’ll ever understand! You and the X-men failed to see it. Only through confrontation can our people be liberated. If you’re going to keep standing in the way of the inevitable, then you leave me no choice. For mutants to prosper, the X-men must die!”

There was no cunning to Stryfe’s plan this time. It was cold-blooded murder. His hatred for the X-men was almost as irrational as the hatred he inspired in those he influenced. Xavier looked up towards the observation deck and saw his faint outline. He was clearly taking a perverse pleasure in this.

“If you’re just going to stand there and watch, then you’re a coward, Stryfe!” yelled Xavier, “You’re an insult to your own ideals!”

“Who said I was just going to watch?” said Stryfe ominously through the speakers, “I’m just going to make sure you and your students are sufficiently distracted. I know this high tech playground of yours has some sort of psychic amplification device. Cerebrum, I believe it was called.”

“How…how do you know about that?” gasped Xavier.

“A friend of a friend told me. He also said that anyone with psionic powers could wield it. That means my knack for bringing out everybody’s inner asshole can be expanded to a global scale. Forget terrorism! Forget political stunts! With one mind, I will cleanse this world in chaos! Only then will mutants be truly liberated!”

The Professor paled at the notion. Looking into the enraged eyes of his X-men as they approached, he imagined the whole world being overcome by this rage. It would effectively render any effort at peace and understanding meaningless. The world was already consumed with fear and uncertainty. A thrust of rage would send humans and mutants over the edge and beyond.

Up in the observation deck, Stryfe grinned as he watched the X-men destroy themselves. Rogue and Cyclops stood over the defeated Phoenix. Gambit and Wolverine were ready to deliver their final blow as well. Colossus, Iceman, Shadowcat, and Storm surrounded Professor Xavier on all sides. They had no chance of stopping him. It was only a pity they would not be around to witness the coming destruction.

“Have fun with your students, Xavier! When all is said and done, your legacy will be sealed. You simply do too little when you have the chance to do so much.”

“Stryfe!” yelled Xavier in a fit of outrage.

It was no use. Stryfe had already turned off the speaker and slipped out of the observation deck. He was now on his way towards Cerebrum and the X-men weren’t in a position to stop them. Instead, they were poised to destroy one another in their blind rage.

“I GET FIRST DIBS!” yelled Iceman as he got in position for a shot.

“YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING! IT IS I WHO SHALL STRIKE HIM!” said Colossus.

“I’M YOUR TEACHER! I HAVE THE RIGHT TO HIT FIRST!” argued Storm.

“TO HELL WITH YOUR RIGHTS! HE’S MINE!” exclaimed Shadowcat.

Professor Charles Xavier watched his enraged X-men approach while he sensed Stryfe running off. His frustration was quickly turning into desperation. He refused to let this be how his X-men ended. Stryfe took a big chance attacking the X-men in their own home. It was bold and desperate. If Xavier was going to stop him, he had to be equally determined. That meant crossing lines he once never dared to cross.

“No…not like this,” he seethed, “My X-men…forgive me.”

As his students closed in, he closed his eyes and channeled the full force of his telepathy. He shut out the swirling winds from Storm and the ongoing tremors from Avalanche, tapping the vast reserves of psionic energy that made him the world’s most powerful telepath. From these reserves, he unleashed a telepathic onslaught the likes of which he had never unleashed before. It was aggressive, forceful, and overwhelming. As soon as it struck the minds of his students, Stryfe’s influence was forcibly and painfully broken.

“ARRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!” they all cried out.

Cyclops, Iceman, Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Shadowcat, Gambit, and Colossus each clutched their heads in agony. Rather than try to reach them, Professor Xavier actually attacked their minds. It rendered them unconscious within seconds, their bodies going limp and falling to the floor. It was such a powerful attack that Xavier needed to catch his breath. It also allowed a dazed Phoenix and Psylocke to recover as well.

“Professor…what did you just do?” gasped Phoenix.

“I had no choice,” he said solemnly as he rose to his feet, “In order to break Stryfe’s hold, I had to strike it head on.”

“Next time, could you aim more carefully? I felt that too and my head is pounding like a jackhammer!” groaned Psylocke.

“I wish I could explain why this was necessary, but we don’t have the luxury of time,” said Xavier in an urgent tone, “I have to go after Stryfe! I must stop him from using Cerebrum!”

“That wanker’s gone mad! He can’t use it! Don’t we have security protocols?” said Psylocke.

“He was resourceful enough to enter the institute without us detecting him. We must assume he’s resourceful enough to get around Cerebrum’s safeguards! That’s why I must stop him!”

The Professor started running for the emergency exit to the Danger Room. At the same time, a new round of tremors rocked the Xavier Institute. This time they were so severe that the lights flickered. Phoenix and Psylocke looked around anxiously while tending to their unconscious teammates. It was one thing to be this vulnerable in the field. It was quite another for it to happen in their own home.

“Avalanche is getting bolder,” said Psylocke, “One of us should go topside and make him wish he drowned in that submarine.”

“Don’t worry about, Avalanche. For now, get the others to hanger and out through the emergency escape!” urged Xavier as he reached the exit.

“And leave you behind to face Stryfe alone?” said Psylocke.

“In a mansion that may crumble at any moment?” added Phoenix.

“I’m not crippled anymore. I can handle this,” he assured them. “Now hurry! Do not give Stryfe the satisfaction of playing into his hands!”

Professor Xavier didn’t linger for Phoenix and Psylocke to question his orders. He was already on his way to confront Stryfe. For once, his X-men wouldn’t be the ones to carry out his vision. This time, Charles Xavier was taking matters into his own hands.

I’m excited and anxious about the future of X-men Supreme in 2017. I have a feeling I’ll upset and worry a lot of readers with how X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation ends. Some of those concerns will extend into future volumes as well. However, I sincerely hope that the drama and upheaval of this fanfiction series will be compelling in a way that X-men fans will appreciate, especially given the state of the comics. With that in mind, it’s still critical that I continue to receive feedback and comments on X-men Supreme moving forward. I need to know whether I’m going too far with these upheavals and I can’t know that unless people tell me. Either contact me directly or post your comments directly in the issue. Either way is fine and I’m always happy to chat X-men. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Xcelsior!

Jack