WARNING: Spoilers for Uncanny X-Men #5!Rogue and her a massive, illusive threat called the Hag, who has made it clear her hatred for mutants stems from none other than Professor X. I’ve always viewed Charles Xavier as the beloved mentor and father figure to the X-Men, however, he has since fallen down a path of moral grayness, and his falling out with the Hag has unintentionally put his X-Men in the line of fire once again.

Uncanny X-Men #5 – written by ​​Gail Simone, with art by David Marquez – explains the backstory of Sarah Gaunt, aka the Hag, as she is revealed to be Charles Xavier’s old college flame, and explains that he is her reason for hunting down mutants.

I’m certain after Charles abandoned her and their child, she’s now taking it out on mutants, due to feeling replaced, and while I don’t believe Charles Xavier intended to abandon Sarah, the professor has an infamous track record of wrongdoings, and this time, the consequences are deadly.

New X-Men Antagonist Sarah Gaunt Is A Serious Threat – And Professor X Is Responsible For Turning Her Bad

Uncanny X-Men #5 – Written By ​​Gail Simone; Art By David Marquez; Color By Matt Wilson; Lettering By Clayton Cowles

Throughout the current Uncanny X-Men run, Rogue has shown herself to be an incredibly strong and capable leader, and while she held her own while fighting the Hag, Sarah showed off the brute strength of her previously noted witch powers and brutally defeated Rogue. Sarah Gaunt also defeated Wolverine in Uncanny X-Men #4, exhibiting she’s a genuine threat by taking down some of the X-Men’s heaviest hitters. With Sarah Gaut being set up as a major threat, I’m eager to see what set her off on a war path against Charles and how she became so powerful.

Sarah intentionally became pregnant but Xavier wasn’t ready and it’s indicated she ended up raising their child alone when she’s seen tragically losing her son during a massive hurricane. Sarah losing her son and drowning during the hurricane turns her into a creature that radiates nightmare-fueled forest witch, and I think her claws forged from murderers’ blades and the unknown source of her immense power are incredibly intriguing. Sarah mentions that her power is beyond that of an Omega-level mutant, and though her being a mutant is plausible, I’m not fully convinced and highly anticipate the continuation of her origin.

I Think Sarah Gaunt’s War On Mutants Is Going To Further Separate Professor X From The X-Men

Xavier's Actions Continue To Have Consequences For Mutantkind

Professor X frequently makes poor judgments, but Sarah intentionally made a large life-altering decision for Charles without his consent which I’d consider immorally manipulative. Despite what happened, In Uncanny X-Men #1, Sarah recounts how Charles lets his most loyal students die, while he replaces them with new followers, and there is some merit to this; fans will recall, for example, when recalling Xavier mind-wiped Cyclops after his first X-Men rescue team to Krakoa went wrong. Though I don’t believe Sarah’s actions are Professor X’s fault, Xavier’s tendency to quickly sidestep problems is now coming to haunt his X-Men.

...if Rogue, Wolverine, and the rest of the X-Men find out why Sarah Gaunt is persecuting them, Charles and the X-Men’s connection will be irreversibly damaged.

Because Charles chose to make a family out of the X-Men over her, Sarah Gaunt is making it her mission to destroy everything Xavier values and she’s keeping her word on that as she hunts down mutants and attacks Rogue’s team. I think this could potentially further the growing divide between the X-Men and their former mentor. The X-Men are still resentful about Charles’ betrayal during the fall of Krakoa and if Rogue, Wolverine, and the rest of the X-Men find out why Sarah Gaunt is persecuting them, Charles and the X-Men’s connection will be irreversibly damaged.

Sarah Gaunt Confirms What I Already Suspected: Charles Xavier Is A Neglectful Father and Leader

How Much Pain Has He Caused His Children Of The Atom?

Professor X has a myriad of misdeeds, such as enslaving a sentient being to create the danger room, but Charles is notorious for his abysmal relationships with his children, specifically Legion. Charles and Legion's relationship has always been turbulent but in the Krakoa era, Xavier’s deep suspicion leads him to infect Legion with a psychic virus, leaving his son catatonic. Xavier calls his X-Men his children while too often neglecting his biological ones, and with how Sarah Gaunt refers to herself as “mommy,” it’s clear their son’s death plays a huge part in her vendetta against the X-Men.

The Hag’s powers are shrouded in mystery but I’m enjoying piecing X-Men are picking up the pieces of Krakoa, and now they are forced to fix another of Professor X’s missteps by facing a threat who has already defeated Rogue and Wolverine, two exceptionally powerful X-Men.

Uncanny X-Men #5 will be available on November 13, 2024, from Marvel Comics!