Warning: Contains spoilers for Sins of Sinister: DominionThe iconic mutant chimera Rasputin IV - first introduced in 2019's Powers of X - has finally entered Marvel's main Earth-616 reality, ing the X-Men on Krakoa after the millennia-long horror that was Sins of Sinister.
The original Rasputin IV introduced in Powers of X was an incredibly super-powered warrior working alongside Apocalypse's X-Men in an attempt to take down Nimrod, only to be killed along with her peers by the black hole inside of Xorn's head. Since then, fans of the gorgeously designed and impressive hero have clamored for her introduction to Earth-616. Now, in Sins of Sinister: Dominion they have finally got their wish granted.
Sins of Sinister: Dominion - from writer Kieron Gillen and artists Paco Medina and Lucas Werneck - is the finale of the grand alternate timeline that saw Mister Sinister corrupt the Quiet Council and turn them vastly evil. Once the timeline is reset, Rasputin IV dramatically arrives on modern day Krakoa due to the help of both Mother Righteous and Moira X.
Krakoa Was A Myth Of Legend For Rasputin IV
The Rasputin IV introduced in Sins of Sinister is not the same as the one from Powers of X, but she does have the same look, powers, and weapon. For years in the Sins of Sinister timeline, Mister Sinister attempts to perfect a mutant chimera using the X-Gene of five mutants but is unable to for the longest time. He finally achieves his goal with the creation of Rasputin IV, an incredibly genetic combination of Piotr Rasputin (organic steel skin), Quentin Quire (telepathy), Unus the Untouchable (force field), Kate Pryde (intangibility), and Laura Kinney (healing), while also being equipped with a powerful Soulsword. After her creation, Sinister gives her freedom from the Sinister Gene, and manipulates Rasputin into thinking he needs a "device" to save the universe from the Quiet Council, asking her to help him.
For 900 years they travel the universe until Rasputin IV finally finds the "device," and realizes it's really Sinister's "Moira Engine." Sinister plans to use this engine to reset the universe and give himself the means to rule. Before Rasputin IV is able to stop him, he betrays her. As she is about to die Mother Righteous saves her, and she makes a deal with Righteous to take down Sinister. Mother Righteous puts Rasputin IV's essence and DNA into a "Magic Virus" that is able to travel back through time. After Moira X takes control of the virus and resets the universe, Rasputin IV is reborn in the present day just as Sinister is about to corrupt the Quiet Council again. She captures him and brings him to the Council for punishment in the Pit. In the alternate future timeline, Sinister had pumped Rasputin with stories of the Krakoa of legend, a mythical paradise for mutants. When she is reborn in the present, she is truly astonished to actually be alive on the real life Krakoa.
Hopefully Rasputin IV Sticks Around For A Long Time
Sadly, Rasputin IV did not learn from her 900 years of blindly following Sinister, and is now blindly following Mother Righteous, who is another Sinister variant and is manipulating the Council and everyone else in an attempt to become all-powerful. Rasputin IV is a character with so much potential and a huge fan base. She's even gotten a gorgeous Hellfire Gala variant cover of her own. It would be amazing if the hero was able to stay around Earth-616 for a while, even with the calamitous Fall of X quickly approaching.
Through the years, many alternate universe or future timeline stories in Marvel Comics have been immediately forgotten once they are over. However, Sins of Sinister has promised to have a lasting impact on the X-Men, and Rasputin IV's resurrection on Krakoa is perhaps the only good thing to come out of the twisted timeline.
Sins of Sinister: Dominion is available now from Marvel Comics.
