Warning: Contains SPOILERS for X-Force #7! Right now in Marvel Comics, the new era in X-Men canon is called “From The Ashes” for a reason, as the X-Men are currently rebuilding in every sense of the word. However, one of the biggest recent changes can be found in a single X-Man, as it seems they have gone rogue.
In X-Force Vol. 7 #7 by Geoffrey Thorne and Jim Towe, Forge, Betsy Braddock, and Rachel Summers are battling a mysterious villain: La Diabla. La Diabla is trying to use Rachel’s powers to murder not only her and the X-Force, but thousands of people in the surrounding area by forcing Rachel to set off a psychic bomb. Thankfully, the combined force of Forge and Braddock proves enough to defeat La Diabla. However, the issue ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, as another threat presents itself to the X-Force, and it’s one the team might not be as equipped to handle: Colossus.
Colossus bursts through the X-Force’s Blackbird with a sinister grin on his face while wearing a strange headband. As he stands there amid the destruction he just caused, smiling evilly at his former friends and colleagues, Colossus says, “I hope you’re happy to see me. Because it’s time to die”. All the X-Force can do is look upon the former X-Men hero in horror and utter disbelief, shouting his name as if questioning if this is actually him. Unfortunately, this does seem to be the real Colossus - and this isn't the first time he ‘broke bad’.
Why Did Colossus Just ‘Break Bad’ in X-Men?
Colossus Might Still Be Under the Control of His Evil Brother, Mikhail Rasputin
The biggest question on everyone’s mind right now is this: why did Colossus just ‘break bad’ in X-Men? The last time readers (and in-world characters alike) saw Colossus, he was fighting alongside the X-Men against Nimrod and the seemingly unstoppable forces of Orchis. Not only that, but Colossus had just freed himself from his brother, Mikhail Rasputin, who was secretly controlling Colossus’ mind for two years while Piotr was a sitting member of the Quiet Council of Krakoa. Or, did he?
Mikhail Rasputin used another mutant named the Chronicler to control Colossus, meaning the Chronicler - who is supposedly living a peaceful life in Paris, at the moment - could be involved in this current storyline as well.
Colossus had his final showdown with his brother in X-Force Vol. 6 #46, where he punched a hole in Mikhail’s chest, and sent him spiraling into oblivion. From the looks of things, Mikhail was dead. However, that could have just been how Mikhail wanted it to look. Mikhail is an Alpha-Level mutant with spatial warping powers, as he’s able to manipulate subatomic matter and warp energy at will. Could Mikhail have used his power to make it look like Colossus beat him, when in reality, he has been inside Piotr’s head all along?
X-Force #46 wasn’t that long ago, and it would make sense that Mikhail would lie low for a while and allow the events of the “Fall of X” to unfold. Now, Orchis is gone, mutants are at their most vulnerable, and the X-Men are utterly divided. In other words, now would be the perfect time for Mikhail to strike, using his brother, Colossus, to do so. And having the big reveal that Mikhail is still alive and controlling Colossus in an X-Force comic - the same comic in which Mikhail allegedly died - is just pure poetry.
The Headband Colossus is Wearing Could Be the Reason for His Villainous Turn
Someone Else Could Be Controlling Colossus Through That Headband (Maybe La Diabla?)
At this time, it remains to be seen if Mikhail is secretly controlling Colossus (or if he’s even still alive). However, that doesn’t mean mind-control is off the table entirely, as this X-Force issue gives readers a pretty big potential clue as to why Colossus suddenly ‘broke bad’: the headband. Colossus is wearing a headband that isn’t immediately recognizable, which is suspicious given his sudden turn to villainy. Could this mysterious headband actually be a mind-control device? And, if so, who is using it to control Colossus’ mind?
The comic doesn’t answer either of those questions, so it would just be a guessing game at this point. However, assuming this headband is a mind-control device, there’s a pretty guilty-looking villain staring readers directly in the face: La Diabla. La Diabla is a mysterious new villain that neither fans nor the X-Force know very much about. She can infiltrate mindscapes and sophisticated VR environments like it’s nothing, and can even make someone as powerful as Rachel Summers lose control of her powers. Therefore, it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibility that she has the ability to mind-control Colossus.
Congrats, Colossus: The X-Men Icon's Son Just Debuted, And He's On a Big Mission
Colossus has a new son in Marvel Comics, and he’s dead set on avenging his father, who in this universe wasn’t as good a guy as readers would expect
The theory that Colossus is being controlled by La Diabla also helps propel this current X-Force story arc. Bringing Mikhail back into the mix as an X-Force villain once again would only lessen La Diabla’s impact on the team. La Diabla is hitting the X-Force hard and where it hurts, so it would make sense that she would barrage the team with one attack after another. Perhaps moments after failing to use Rachel to kill the X-Force, La Diabla tries to use Colossus to do the same - and, if she is secretly behind this, she may very well succeed.
Colossus is a Villain in the Main Marvel Universe & Marvel’s Ultimate Universe
Colossus is a Member of the Maker’s Council in Earth-6160
No matter who is secretly controlling Colossus (or if he’s being controlled at all), the only thing fans know at this point is that, in the current state of Marvel canon, Colossus is a villain in Earth-616. That is especially interesting given that Colossus is also a major villain in the new Ultimate Universe of Earth-6160, where he is a member of the Maker’s Council, and is even responsible for creating the Ultimate Universe’s Wolverine aka the Winter Soldier. While Earth-6160’s Colossus has no control over what his Earth-616 counterpart does, it’s still a fascinating coincidence.
Wolverine vs Colossus Settles Who'd Win Forever, Ending with the Perfect Symbol of Their Shattered Bond
In one fateful battle, Wolverine comes face to face with Colossus, settling their strength - and ending one of the X-Men's oldest friendships.
The striking parallel to Marvel Comics’ new Ultimate Universe aside, fans obviously have a lot to consider regarding Colossus’ recent turn to villainy in Marvel’s main continuity. Did Mikhail secretly survive getting murdered by Colossus only to continue to manipulate his mind? Has La Diabla somehow placed a mind-control device on Colossus' head to force him to attack his former X-Force teammates? Right now, anything is possible, and the only thing fans know for sure is that Colossus has just gone rogue, and that is a major upset in X-Men canon.
X-Force #7 by Marvel Comics is available now.
- Movie(s)
- X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
- X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
- X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men '97 (2024)
- Character(s)
- Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Video Game(s)
- X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine's Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Comic Release Date
- 213035,212968
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
