Warning: contains spoilers for Uncanny X-Men #2A spine-tingling nightmare is headed straight for Rogue's new team of X-Men as "The Hag" hunts innocent mutants - like the newly introduced Outliers - for horrific experimentation. The existential horror that is the Sentinels has been replaced by the supernatural terror of the Hag, haunting and hunting mutantkind for villainous humans in Uncanny X-Men #2.

For decades now the Sentinels have been a symbol of mutant oppression, and the violent lengths humanity will go to eradicate mutantkind. Now, X-Men's new demonic villain flips the science-fiction horror of Sentinels on its head, as Dr. Corina Ellis of the Graymalkin Prison partners with the supernaturally empowered Hag to collect new mutants for her prison.

The Hag is not a programmed machine, like the Sentinels, but is instead choosing to hunt these innocent mutants. Uncanny X-Men #2, from writer Gail Simone and artist David Marquez, sees the Hag delivering the young mutant Fawn to Graymalkin Prison, before Ellis addresses the monster as "Sarah," revealing that somehow the Hag is a twisted version of Xavier's first love interest Sarah, introduced earlier in the issue.

The Hag Is Replacing Sentinels As The Scariest Mutant Hunter

But the mutant-hunter appears to be Xavier's secret first love

Little is known about the Hag, except that she has a monstrous form, pulled straight out of a nightmare, and that she is hunting mutants, including the Outliers, for Dr. Ellis. In Uncanny X-Men #1 the Hag is seen stalking, attacking, and capturing the mutant Fawn - a young woman with physical characteristics of a deer - with the help of two human-looking warrior henchmen. She is truly horrifying, with terrible distorted limbs, creepily long fingers like spider legs, and the pale gray skin of the recently deceased. The Hag is hunting mutants for a bounty, bringing "prezzies" for Ellis to Graymalkin Prison, and it is clear that even the despicable doctor is terrified of the supernatural being... or is the Hag a mutant herself?

Regardless, Ellis calls the Hag "Sarah," the name of Xavier's love interest introduced earlier in the issue, which makes the entity even more terrifying. If the Hag was once Sarah... what happened to the sweet woman the reader met, and how was Xavier involved? Regardless, the Hag has quickly replaced the Sentinels as the X-Men's scariest mutant hunters, because it appears that she is willingly choosing to hunt these young mutants and bring them in for experimentation, unlike the Sentinels who are simply programmed machines. In many ways, the Hag represents the condensed essence of Orchis, the vile anti-mutant agency that hunted, tortured, and killed countless mutants during the fall of Krakoa.

Could The Hag Be Related To One Of The Outliers?

Calico and Sarah look very similar...

Back in July Uncanny X-Men writer Gail Simone tweeted that one of the Outliers is related to a well-known mutant... and it is now seeming likely that Sarah and Calico could be blood-related. Not only do Calico and Sarah look similar - white, blonde, with similarly shaped faces and features - but Calico says she is "not a mutant." Perhaps Sarah drilled this into Becca, so that as the Hag she would not need to hunt and capture her own daughter? It would be fascinating if Becca turned out to be... Charles Xavier's daughter. Since Sarah was Xavier's love, before Moira and Lilandra, it wouldn't be a major surprise if they had a secret child together, especially given Xavier's penchant for keeping secrets.

The Hag is one of the scariest X-Men enemies to be introduced in years, a true nightmare that has taken shape in the world to hunt mutants for pleasure and payment. The Sentinels will always be the most iconic mutant hunters in the franchise, but in just one issue the Hag has become the most terrifying hunter in mutant history.

Uncanny X-Men #2 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.

Source: Gail Simone