X-men Supreme Issue 172: High Evolution Part 4 PREVIEW!

The first shots of Magneto’s last stand in X-men Supreme Volume 7: United and Divided have been fired. The X-men, X-Force, and a very vulnerable world after the events of Crimes Against Inhumanity braced themselves for this moment. They all knew Magneto was capable of destruction on a global scale. Even after the events of Overlord and The Cambrian Explosion, he found way to step up that scale by bringing a new world in Asteroid M to the mix. Now, that world is about to take this fanfiction series into one of this most climactic moments.

It’s a moment that has been building since the final moments of Time Bomb. I’d always intended to bring Magneto back into the mix. He has been a guiding force in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series since its earliest days. Just like the X-men comics, he has a knack for bringing out the best and worst in Charles Xavier and his X-men. Without a doubt, they need their absolute best on all levels.

The division between Charles Xavier and Cyclops has put the whole vision of the X-men into question. It started as a simple disagreement on how to move forward after the devastation in X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation. Xavier believed that the X-men had to work with General Grimshaw and President Kelly. Cyclops believed that was a mistake that would come back to haunt them in a major way. This clash has unfolded in many ways. The Drug War arc hinted that Xavier’s approach may have merit, but the events of Crimes Against Inhumanity somewhat vindicated Cyclops’ concerns.

It’s still not clear which side is right, but Cyclops and Charles Xavier agree on one thing. Nobody can afford to be wrong when Magneto is involved. His return has forced the X-men and X-Force to unite, albeit under some very tenuous circumstances. On top of that, they have to rely on the cooperation of the Scarlet Witch, someone the X-men have clashed with before during her time with the Brotherhood of Mutants.

While she has been an ally in the past as the ruler of Genosha, the Scarlet Witch has shown many times that her loyalty and love for her father shows few limits. However, the growing relationship she has been developing with Nightcrawler since X-men Supreme Issue 158: Power Brokers has added a new complication. The presence of the High Evolutionary has added another. Magneto doesn’t just have overwhelming power and a vision for his kind to drive him. He has an entire world in Asteroid M.

I’ve said before that this is Magneto's last-ditch effort. This is his Hail Mary play to win the day for the entire mutant race. He’s left nothing to chance. He and the High Evolutionary have exerted immense control over Asteroid M and the inhabitants that were promised paradise. The X-men, X-Force, and the Scarlet Witch are in his domain. Any chance at stopping him is slim at best and he hasn’t even shown the full extent of his power. This may very well be the darkest hour in the history of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, but it may help set the stage for its finest as well. As always, I’ve prepared a preview of this omega-level showdown.

“YOU DO NOT BELONG HERE!” yelled the woman.

“Ack! I’m pretty sure you don’t belong in my lungs either,” coughed Psylocke.

Psylocke was quickly rendered immobile. Five other former humans tried to go for Storm, forcing Domino, Colossus, and Warpath to pick up the slack. Domino saved herself the bullets by jumping up and using the butt of her gun to strike two of the former humans that had a plant-like appearance. The other three included a father and his two young children, each of which had malleable ink-like skin. Warpath tried to get in their way, but he was reluctant to strike the young family.

“This ain’t good parenting, pal. Leave your kids out of this!” urged Warpath.

“WE ALL STAND FOR OUR WORLD! MAN AND CHILD ALIKE!” yelled the man.

Warpath tried to shove the trio aside. That proved messy because the two children shifted their ink-like form to become more vicious, allowing them to smother the Native American mutant.

“Ugh! Tastes…like mud,” choked Warpath.

“THIS WILL TASTE WORSE!” yelled the man.

Despite his children still covering Warpath, the man shifted his arm to form a club-like weapon. With it he slammed the Native American mutant across the face. It hit with such force that even his durable form couldn’t withstand it. He fell back, tumbling onto his hands and knees while the two children continued slithering around him in their ink form.

“James!” Storm cried out.

“He’s survived worse, Storm. Try and stay focused here!” urged Domino as she fought off an aerial attack from a few flying mutants, “It looks like they’re preparing for something and we need to be out of its way.”

As Storm looked out over the hordes of former humans, she saw what Domino meant. This coordinated attack didn’t attempt to overrun them with sheer numbers. Whoever was guiding the people wanted to keep everything focused and organized.

By now the former humans and animals were pulling back. That allowed the hundreds of other mutants to form an inescapable semi-circle around the X-men. Around that circle every mutant with firepower of some kind stood in the front, preparing to fire a simultaneous blast. Above them any mutant with flight powers along with various animals hovered above, ensuring they had nowhere to run.

“DESTROY THE SOURGE! PURGE OUR WORLD! DESTROY THE SCOURGE! PURGE OUR WORLD!” they all chanted in perfect unison.

“Storm, we’re out of time!” yelled Colossus, who was shoved back by a couple of sisters with gravity manipulation powers.

“I know. I’m…trying,” grunted Storm, her eyes flickering in a white hue, “These winds…are too…stubborn!”

The air around her grew hot and stale. With every ounce of strength, she tried to connect with these artificial forces of nature. They resisted her as if someone was actively pushing her back.

“Hnn…I know you’ll do it, Storm,” said Warpath, still choking on the ink-like mud that had covered his upper body, “If you can reach someone…as stubborn as me…you can make these winds your own.”

Storm’s gaze drifted towards Warpath. As she watched him fight off the inky sludge that consumed him, a new rush of determination surged through her. Asteroid M was so artificial and controlled. Trying to control it herself was a losing battle. Her only hope was to try a different approach.

‘Nature can never be controlled. It can only be harnessed. I may not be able to wrestle control away from you, Magneto. But I can still introduce a little chaos to the winds. Let’s see how your world handles true nature!’

No longer attempting to control the winds, Storm redirected her efforts. In an ominous display, her eyes erupted in a burst of white light. That did not dissuade the army of former humans unleashed their blast.

In an effort to thwart her response before it began, they unleashed their powerful attack. It included forces such as energy blasts, laser blasts, electrical shocks, fireballs, ice shards, telekinesis, and sonic waves. Psylocke, Warpath, Colossus, and Domino braced themselves for the impact. But it never came.

Before the blast struck, a powerful gust of wind swirled around Storm. From that gust, a dark cloud formed that overtook the X-men. In the process, it blew off the ghost-like woman from Psylocke and the ink-like sludge on Warpath. Once inside this cloud, the X-men were literally throw up into the wind just in time to avoid the onslaught.

“WHOA!” they all yelled out.

“It’s happening!” proclaimed Storm, her eyes still glowing.

As the X-men went flying across the lake, the winds continued to swirl. As the energy from so many different blasts converged on the cloud, it triggered a white-hot burst and unleashed an air blast that momentarily engulfed the whole lake in a blinding light.

It was quickly accompanied by a blast so powerful that it kicked up water from the lake and cause any winged being within a half-mile radius to falter. The force on the ground was even more intense, knocking waves of former mutants back and disrupting their once perfectly coordinated attack.

“DESTROY…SCOUGE…PURGE OUR…WORLD!” they all stammered as they tried to reorganize.

The cloud continued to grow, following completely random patterns that further disrupted the once peaceful lake. The swirling clouds continued to carry Storm, Colossus, Warpath, Psylocke, and Domino. It was not the smooth ride they were used to with Storm’s powers. Within moments they found themselves falling towards the lake where a group of hungry alligator-like creatures was waiting for them.

“Bloody hell…those things look hungry,” said Psylocke as she saw the creatures.

“Pull us up already, Storm! Some of us didn’t pack our swim suits!” yelled Domino.

“It’s not entirely up to me this time,” she replied.

The alligator creatures were already on the surface preparing to take a bite out of them. Then another sharp gust of wind blew in and pushed them further up into the sky. It was another disorienting blow to their senses, but it took them out of the line of fire. Some mutants from below still tried firing at them, but due to their lack of coordination they missed. They did not handle the chaos well. It was as if chaos itself was the X-men’s best weapon.

As Storm ascended with Psylocke, Domino, Colossus, and Warpath their path stabilized. They noticed the starry mosaic that made up the sky became wavy and disoriented. The once awe-inspiring sight was exposed as a façade. As it faltered, Storm gained greater control of the winds.

“Ugh! Now I know how a bug in a washing machine feels,” groaned Psylocke.

“You did it, Storm!” exclaimed Warpath, “You got control of the-whoa shit!”

The X-men felt more gusts blow around them. While they were moving forward, it was by no means a smooth ride. They were not the same winds they were used to on Earth.

“It would seem that control is a work-in-progress,” said Colossus, fighting off dizziness and nausea.

“I can only manage partial control,” said Storm as her eyes kept flashing, “I’m not actually guiding these winds. It’s only when the winds are guided by chaos that I can exert power over them.”

“So you basically have to screw it up and then put it back together?” said Domino, “Sounds tricky.”

“You have no idea,” groaned Storm.

“But it’s working,” said Warpath as he shook off his daze, “I think we’re onto something here. Throw a little dirt onto this bullshit paradise and we have the advantage.”

“You think the others know that?” asked Colossus.

“We’ll share it with them when we meet up,” said Storm as she focused harder, “Get ready for a bumpy ride because I’m taking us to City X. We need to pull the plug on Magneto’s new world. We need to show him he’s vulnerable.”

“In more ways than you think,” said Domino with a smirk.

Getting X-men Supreme to this point has been a long, tedious journey. I’ve seen Magneto go on a similar journey in the X-men comics. He’s someone who often walks the line between a hero and a villain, but he’s at his best when he taps into his villainous instincts to the utmost. It has made for some of the most powerful moments in the history of X-men. I hope to set up just such a moment in this fanfiction series, one that will complete the journey Magneto began back in X-men Supreme Volume 1: Mutant Revolution.

I want that culmination to be the biggest and best payoff it can possibly be. That’s why feedback and reviews at this point are more critical than ever. Regardless of whether you’re a Magneto fan, there’s no denying his influence on the X-men and the iconic moments he has helped forge. I want to create such a moment in this fanfiction series and I need to know I’m doing that right. Please, if you can, take the time to provide me your feedback and your comments. Either contact me directly or post them in previous issues. Either way is fine and I’d love to hear from you. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Xcelsior!

Jack