With Professor X retiring from theX-Menfranchise, it begs the question of which mutant leader willfill Charles Xavier’s shoes. While many fans will understandably look toCyclops, Dani Moonstar, aka Mirage, doesn’t think so. Following the Fall of Krakoa, heroes such as Cyclops and Rogue have sought to lead their own versions of the X-Men, but Professor X’s successor may not be the usual suspects.
In the preview toMagik#4, written by Ashley Allen and drawn by Germán Peralta, Magik accuses Mirage of being sent by Cyclops to watch over her, but Dani Moonstar adamantly rejects the notion and asks,“Why the hell would I be following orders from Cyclops?“Cyclops and Dani are both revered leaders and have shown great respect for each other, butMirage makes it clear she does not answer to Cyclops.
Scott Summers was one of Charles Xavier’s most devoted proteges, yet with a polarizing leadership history, not all mutant heroes will rally behind him. And with years as a notable leader of mutants herself, Dani Moonstar might actually be better positioned to take Xavier’s place.
Cyclops Is the X-Men’s Most Iconic Leader, But Dani Moonstar Is No Follower
Magik #4By Ashley Allen, Germán Peralta, Arthur Hesli and Joe Caramagna
Despite Mirage’s brief but harsh words towards Cyclops, the two heroes share a history shaped by mutual respect, as Dani has proven to Cyclops that she is a capable leader in her own right.Dani was a prominent leader of the New Mutants, was made an Asgardian Valkyrie, and was specifically asked by Cyclops to take charge of teaching at the Xavier Institute. It’s evident from her time as the New Mutants’ leader and her talk with Illyana inMagik#4 that Dani values thought-out objectives, and Scott has not been the picture of level-headedness lately, withCyclops catastrophically breaking downinX-ManhuntOmega #1.
With Xavier leaving Earth and heading into space, mutantkind no longer has a figurehead to gather around, andCyclops has argued that rather than ‘Xavier’s dream,’ the X-Men should now be about protecting larger mutant cultureand enabling other mutants to create a better world as they see it. Despite this, fans have argued that Cyclops should take over from Xavier as a rallying figure and mentor. Now, Dani makes it clear she’s not looking to anyone else for answers.
Cyclops Will Not Be Replacing Charles Xavier, and Scott Summers Has Made It Clear He Doesn’t Want To
But Could Dani Moonstar Fill the Role of Professor X?
Not only is Cyclops taking a drastically different approach to rebuilding the X-Men, butScott has also admitted he does not want to be like his former mentor. InUncanny X-Men#8 by Gail Simone and Javier Garron, Rogue tells Cyclops,“I’m never going to be you, and you’re never going to be Professor X,“to which Cyclops simply replies,“Good.“On the other hand, Dani’s experience as a leader and her time dedicated towards training the next generation of mutant heroes havemade Mirage a viable candidateto take on Charles Xavier’s previous role. In a recent vision created by Apocalypse, Dani took Xavier’s headmaster’s seat, suggesting thatshe may be the mutant who brings back X-Men’s iconic school.
Though Dani Moonstar undoubtedly respects Scott, she long ago graduated from following anyone else’s orders. Instead, Dani seems to be carving out her own path with an undisclosed group called “The Society of the Eternal Dawn.” With theX-Mendivided andCyclopsdealing with the internal and external turmoil of Charles Xavier’s absence, Dani Moonstar may be a conceivable contender to usher in a new dawn for mutant-kind as Charles Xavier’s successor.
Magik #4will be available on July 06, 2025, from Marvel Comics!
