The X-Men's Rogue is now host to a magical invader. Rogue is one of the most popular X-Men, gifted with the ability to absorb the powers and memories of others. The last year has seen her powerset expand, and nowadays she no longer needs physical contact in order to use them.
Rogue has recently learned the greatest secret of her powers; that her emotions are tied to them. Her powers triggered at the moment of her first kiss, and she was feeling the normal mix of excitement and fear any teenager experiences at that moment. That horrific experience primed Rogue to fear her abilities, and her fear prevented her gaining control of them all these years. She's learned to conquer her fears, though, and as a result is more capable and competent than ever before.
Unfortunately, this week's Excalibur #1 sees Rogue go beyond her limits. A new portal has opened on Krakoa, one that allows entry to the mystical realm of Avalon, which is seeking to invade the mutant nation. Apocalypse encourages Rogue to drain power from the portal in order to allow the X-Men to enter it and rescue one of their own, Betsy Braddock, who's trapped within. The experience is a traumatizing one for Rogue, and the magic attacks her, choosing her as its host. She's left comatose, transmutating into a new form.
Excalibur #1 subtly hints that Apocalypse knew that this was going to happen. He appears to be far more familiar with magic than he's ever revealed before, and he encourages Rogue to initiate contact with the magic with a longing expression on his face. "He looks down his nose at you the whole time you're doin' it like he knows he's makin' you do something nasty," Gambit observes. The ancient mutant clearly has his own agenda, and it's entirely possible he knew that the changes on Earth - including the rise of the mutant nation - would lead to conflict with Avalon. Certainly his unknown goals clearly involved bringing Rogue into contact with this magical, invasive force.
The question, of course, is just how this experience will affect Rogue in the long term. Excalibur #1 suggests that she's now possessed by this unknown energy, but it will find Rogue to be quite capable of resisting. She's no stranger to having other entities living within her own mind, and knows how to assert herself against them. This, too, could fit into Apocalypse's plan - in that it means Rogue is becoming someone who is both mutant, and magical.
Excalibur #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
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