This article contains spoilers for X-Force #9.
The X-Men's new home, the living island of Krakoa, just became a lot more dangerous. Jonathan Hickman's X-Men relaunch has seen the entire mutant race gather on the living island of Krakoa. There, they've established what they believe to be a mutant utopia, officially recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations - but is Krakoa really paradise?
Krakoa was originally introduced in 1975's Giant-Size X-Men #1 and was originally conceived as a predator that fed on mutant energy. Several issues have hinted this is still the case in the Hickman era; in Fallen Angels #1, one big Danger Room - but he seems to be the only mutant with such concerns.
This week's X-Force #9 confirms that Krakoa is indeed still feeding on mutant energy. According to Beast, Krakoa currently needs to feed upon two mutants a year. That fits with observations from X-Men #3, which revealed every mutant on the island contributes a minimal amount of psychic energy in order to maintain the island's health; presumably ensuring two mutants don't need to die so that Krakoa may live.
It's reasonable to assume somebody would be concerned about living on an island that literally consumes mutant energy. And yet, nobody seems to have questioned this at all; rather, it's just been accepted. A troubling scene in Fallen Angels #1 raises the possibility Krakoa is psychically manipulating mutants in order to make them feel at home; the Japanese mutant Kwannon reflected the air smelled like jasmine, the scent of the temples she grew up in, where she would be most likely to feel at home. It's possible Krakoa is affecting mutants' minds, discouraging them from questioning its intent, ensuring they feel at home - even when they are at risk.
Making matters worse, on close reading it's clear Hickman's X-Men story is being told out of sequence. Beast's notes are presumably from before Krakoa merged with Arakko, its "lover." That means its appetite could conceivably double - or more, depending on just what's going on with Arakko. The mutants should be seriously concerned that Krakoa's appetite is about to increase - and that it may have put them at ease so they don't realize it.
