SPOILER WARNING for Marauders #19!
The formation of the mutant nation of Krakoa has caused some major changes for the Marauders, who have been banned from Madripoor by the United Nations.
Tensions between Krakoa and Madripoor have been increasing thanks to an anti-mutant group of children called Homines Verendi. With billionaire Chen Zhao financially backing their operations, the mutant-hating kids are trying to purchase land from the poor districts of Madripoor in order to evict the residents and build brand new high-rises. The Marauders don’t take too kindly to this and they begin helping the nation’s impoverished citizens, but Verendi strikes back, setting up a trap to make the mutants look bad. The anti-mutant group then uses this against the heroes, persuading the UN to ban the Marauders from entering Madripoor. With Krakoa still looking for recognition from several countries of the world, this leaves the mutants in a tricky situation as the rich and powerful of Madripoor continue to make life miserable for their disenfranchised neighbors.
In Marauders #19 by Gerry Duggan, Stefano Caselli, and Edgar Delgado, the Marauders are forced to stand by as genetically enhanced soldiers known as the Reavers terrorize the civilians in Madripoor’s Lowtown. Not wanting to cause an international incident, the heroes decide that they must find another way to help and they call in the Morlocks for an assist. With Kate Pryde stealthily infiltrating the island to plant a Krakoan gate in Madripoor’s sewers, the outcast mutants arrive to face off against the Reavers and save the day. Sadly, the Morlocks aren’t able to save everyone, but their actions build upon Krakoa’s already strong bond with Lowtown’s residents.
Luckily, the Marauders’ quick thinking during this issue helps to protect many of Madripoor’s citizens, but their inaction also costs several people their lives. On the one hand, it’s great that the Marauders are able to save Lowtown without jeopardizing Krakoa’s international standing, but at the same time, their inability to directly intervene means that the Reavers have more time to spread destruction and despair. Readers get to see this firsthand, as the Reavers murder a resident who would have been fine if the mutants had deployed with Lowtown’s safety as their primary concern. Of course, this is something the Marauders would have done if they didn’t have their own nation to worry about.
Unfortunately, pulling out of conflicts in the interest of Krakoa is a practice that has become more and more common for the X-Men as of late. A prime example of this occurs in Donny Cates’ King in Black storyline, wherein Professor X and Magneto decide against sending in more Krakoan reinforcements after Knull’s initial strike takes out several heroes. Obviously, founding a nation is a long and arduous task and there are many things that can go wrong throughout the process, but the upsetting truth of the matter is that putting Krakoa first is costing many lives that could otherwise be saved. Marauders #19 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores and online.
