Part of what Marvel’s latest twist onX-Menlore so surprising to long-term fans of the franchise was, in fact, that it took so long for it to happen;the resurrection of Jean Grey’s long-dead sister, Sara, most likely sets the stage for the Sara to join the X-Men, though there are, of course, darker possibilities for her character arc.
Phoenix#10, written by Stephanie Phillips, with art by Alessandro Miracolo, ends with the shocking return of Sara, who has been dead in Marvel canon for thirty-five years.
Notably, Sara very nearly joined the X-Men in the 1980s, following Jean’s original death, in what is considered one of the great “roads not taken”inX-Menfranchise history. So, her joining the team, in the short or long-term future, would be a major full-circle moment inX-lore. Still, there is also a chance, especially in the immediate aftermath of her return, that she could become an antagonist for her sister.
Sara Grey’s Return Is An X-Men Milestone Decades In The Making
Phoenix#10; Written By Stephanie Phillips; Art By Alessandro Miracolo; Color By David Curiel; Lettering By Corey Petit
According to all-time greatX-Menauthor Chris Claremont, hisoriginal plan in the wake of Jean Grey’s deathwas to replace her with Sara Grey. Instead, by editorial edict, he was made to bring Jean back, a move which ultimately led to her complicated role inX-lore over the past forty-plus years, and her still-increasing cosmic status in the wider Marvel Universe. Instead of becoming the next greatX-Menhero, Sara was officially killed off, off-panel, in 1994, and has lain dormant as a character ever since.
Readers are eager to know if this is the first step toward fulfilling Claremont’s intention for [Sara Grey], so many years after he originally conceived of making her a mutant and adding her to theX-Menroster.
So, as far asPhoenixpromised to take Jean Grey in exciting and unexpected new directions,Sara’s resurrection is a perfect fit for the series.Naturally, however,X-fans have already started to question what the greater implications of this move are. Namely, readers are eager to know if this is the first step toward fulfilling Claremont’s intention for the character, so many years after he originally conceived of making her a mutant and adding her to theX-Menroster. That said, before she becomes a hero, Sara may have a different role to play at first.
For Marvel’s “Phoenix” To Take Jean Grey To The Next Level, She Needs The Ultimate Antagonist
Could Marvel Make Sara Grey A Villain?
For decades, Jean Grey has wielded the powers of one of Marvel’s most ancient cosmic forces, the Phoenix, but she has largely done so within the milieu of theX-Menfranchise. By sending her into space to start this new ongoingPhoenixseries, Marvel declared its intention to properly elevate Jean to the echelon of power shedeserves to occupy as an individual Marvel hero. The early issues of the series have taken a step in the right direction bypitting her against Thanos, but Jean Grey deserves an arch-nemesis all her own.
The cliffhanger ending ofPhoenix#10 certainly frames Sara’s return as a fraught moment for Jean, rather than a joyous one.
It would be a bold direction to take the series, butSara Grey could be that villain forPhoenix.The cliffhanger ending ofPhoenix#10 certainly frames Sara’s return as a fraught moment for Jean, rather than a joyous one; a dark note seemingly hangs over that final page, at least hinting that the long-awaited reunion between the Grey sisters may not be an entirely happy occasion. This would be a massive inversion of Chris Claremont’s pitch for the character, but it wouldn’t necessarily rule her out as a member of the X-Men forever.
Sara Grey’s Mutant Status Is As Big A Mystery As The Details Of Her Resurrection
Phoenix#12; Written By Stephanie Phillips; Art By Roi Mercado; Available June 04, 2025 From Marvel Comics
It is worth noting that Marvel’s synopsis forPhoenix#11 teases that Sara Grey’s return “will throw everything Jean knows into total chaos.” Whether Sara plays an antagonistic role in the series or not, the publisher has made it clear that it considers this a milestone event for theX-Menfranchise, which lends credence to the argument that it will have longer-lasting implications than just the next stage of Jean Grey’s journey. This is what makes it seem more possible that Sara could return as a villain, before eventually having a redemption arc that ends in X-Men membership.
Sara has never actually been depicted as a mutant before, and so the precise nature of her powers, and her power-level, remain open to interpretation.
Phoenix#11 will provide some answers to fans’most urgent questions about Sara’s return, and even more of the truth of her role in the Marvel Universe moving forward will come to light in the following issue. Marvel is treatingPhoenix#12 as a big deal, as the issue promises to uncover “the secret origin of Sara Grey,” including answering the essential “why” and “how” of her survival. Hopefully, these issues will also clarify another essential question, which is what Sara’s mutant status is.
Before her death, Sara was at timesteased to be a powerful mutant herself; naturally, considering Chris Claremont’s plans to add her to the X-Men. That said, Sara has never actually been depicted as a mutant before, and so the precise nature of her powers, and her power-level, remain open to interpretation. Of course, the answers to these questions will be fundamental to Sara Grey’s role inPhoenix, and ultimately,her place inX-Menmythology moving forward, in which she has the potential to be a major impact player after all these years.
