This week in the Fall of the House of X, Xavier makes some surprising decisions — and he’s not the only one doing it.

PRELUDE TO THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

This week: X-Force #50, Wolverine #46, Cable #3, and Rise of the Powers of X #3.

RECAP OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

Clone Beast and Wonder Man continue their pursuit of Beast Prime, but he finds them before they find him, and he jettisons Wonder Man away. Beast Prime tries to reason with his other self’s intellectual mind, but the clone can’t find himself to agree with the other’s methods, so Prime launches the missile anyway. X-Force and a Stark Sentinel respond to the threat; Beast Prime martyrs himself for his cause as the missile atomizes both him and the Stark Sentinel. With the treacherous Beast out of the way, X-Force reconvenes at the Greenhouse.

Using Kid Omega’s severed head, Sabretooth forces Wolverine into a hallucinatory trance to help him find his “treasure” beneath Krakoa. Meanwhile, the Exiles pursue Sabretooth in their continued bid for revenge. They eventually catch up with Sabretooth and Wolverine, but accidentally goad Logan into killing or seriously maiming the entire team, giving Creed enough time to retrieve his treasure: Forge’s depowering gun. He then shoots Wolverine with it and attacks. Elsewhere, X-23 prepares an escape plan.

Sometime later, the Cables fight the clones of their allies created by Black Womb, but they quickly become weaker and deteriorate as the battle goes on. Black Womb escapes, and Cable mercy kills Empyrean. Parvenu HQ is alerted to what happened in Black Womb’s lab, and the Cables are given press passes to meet with Henri Parvenu by their friend in the media. They confront Parvenu; Black Womb reveals herself. She divulges her origin story to them, which involves Mister Sinister (of course) and how he led her to become obsessed with genetics to a dangerous degree. Cable threatens to kill her for what she’s helping Parvenu do —essentially eradicate humanity— and quickly loses his patience, dooming her to a quick death if it means accomplishing their goal. Kid Cable, who doesn’t agree with his older self’s methods, shoots Cable in the head.

On the morning of her mutant powers manifesting in her last life, a young Moira is surprised to find Xavier waiting for her; he announces that he needs to kill her. Moira tries to flee, but Xavier keeps her close, and explains why she needs to die. On the outside, Raputin IV protects Cypher-Sinister as he works to keep Xavier in the timeline, but she quickly grows distrustful of him and divulges the real plan to Aksani. They run into the timeline to stop Xavier from killing the young Moira, and are able to convince him that Sinister’s plan isn’t the way. Instead, he sends a telepathic message to Moira, hoping she grows up to make the right decision and erases her memory of their encounter. Back at No-Place X, Xavier allows Rasputin IV to kill Cypher-Sinister. Aksani suggests they resurrect the Phoenix for their next move, but instead, Xavier shoots her in the back.

Elsewhere, Moira makes contact with Enigma, and he proposes they make a deal to work together. In exchange for Moira incorporating herself fully into Enigma, it claims she will have total freedom over herself and what she does. She accepts the offer, and is immediately able to see into the entire universe with the power of a Dominion.

ANALYSIS OF THE FALL OF HOUSE OF X

Wolverine #46, Cable #3, and X-Force #50 are all fairly inconsequential compared to the events that occur in Rise of the Powers of X #3, so that will be the focus here. Another dense chapter of the core series, I don’t really know what to make of it just yet; I’m going to need to see where the story proceeds. The major development in this issue is the pivot away from Xavier’s original goal —killing Moira before her powers develop— into something else we’re not totally sure about, but somehow involves incapacitating or killing Rachel Summers. Also, RIP Cypher-Sinister.

Meanwhile, Moira takes a Faustian deal with the devil (or rather, an evil AI) that is similarly unclear right now, but I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough. I really do wonder how this all ends for Moira specifically, and if Xavier’s faith in her to make the right choices in her life will bear fruit. Based on the recent “From the Ashes” reveal, we know the X-Men make it out somewhat alright (obviously) but at what cost??

NEXT IN THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF THE FALL OF X

Next week: X-Men #33, and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes finally get involved in The Avengers #12.

Fall of the House of X: Week 13

6.3

X-Force #50

6.0/10

Wolverine #46

6.0/10

Cable #3

6.0/10

Rise of the Powers of X #3

7.0/10

Credits

Wrtiers: Benjamin Percy (XF), Benjamin Percy & Victor LaValle (W), Fabian Nicieza (C), Kieron Gillen (RotPoX))
Artists: Robert Gill, Cory Smith & Oren Junior(W), Scot Eaton, Lan Medina, & Cam Smith w/ Victor Nava (C), R.B. SIlva (RotPoX)
Color Artists: Guru-eFX (XF), Alex Sinclair (W), Joe Tartaglia (C), David Curiel (RotPoX)
Letterers: VC's Joe Caramanga (XF), VC's Cory Petit (W), VC's Joe Sabino (C), VC's Clayton Cowles (RotPoX)
Cover Artists: Daniel Acuña (XF), Leinil Francis Yu & Romulo Fajardo Jr. (W), Whilce Portacio & Alex Sinclair (C), R.B. Silva & David Curiel (RotPoX)