In a dark reinvention, a foundingX-Menhero has been totally reimagined, twisting their powers in a truly evil way. While X-Men heroes often discover new aspects and extremes of their powers, they rarely change them this drastically, but it’s to be expected when a character goes from iconic hero to outright villain.
In today’sNew Avengers #2- from Sam Humphries, Ton Lima, Rain Beredo and Joe Sabino - the budding team go up against Professor X-Tinction.An evil version of Professor Charles Xavier, X-Tinction has the immense psychic powers of the X-Men’s founder and mentor, but with a sick twist.
New Avengersrecently introduced the Killuminati - evil clones of some of Marvel’s most iconic heroes, including Mister Fantastic, Black Panther, Namor the Sub-Mariner and Professor X. With the original Xavier having recentlyretired from the X-Men franchiseand left Earth, fans are now left only with his evil clone, whose powers add a predatory twist to Xavier’s Omega-level telepathy…
Xavier’s Evil Clone Is a Psychic Vampire
The Professor X Clone Has Replaced the Original
After resurrecting his alien wife Lilandra, Xavier recently set sail for the stars, saying goodbye to his former students and leaving Earth (presumably to become part of Marvel’s cosmic landscape, as its status quo is rewritten in the ongoingImperial.) In his place,New Avengershas introduced a dark clone of Xavier named Professor X-Tinction.
This issue, Professor X-Tinction clashes with Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Namor and Clea Strange, revealing that his own incredibly powerful mental abilities arepowered by draining psychic energy from his victims. This process appears to be lethal, and allows Professor X-Tinction to charge up his telepathy and telekinesis. Thankfully, the New Avengers manage to fend off the Killuminati, causing Professor X-Tinction to flee alongside Doctor Strange’s clone, Guru Strange.
Professor X-Tinction Is a Critique of Professor X
His New Power Is Also a Metaphor
The change to Professor X’s power is a smart move, since unfetteredOmega-level telepathy would make hima nearly unconquerable foe, even before the rest of the Killuminati got involved. However, it also acts as a critique of the original hero. In recent years,theX-Menfranchise has questioned whether Xavier did the right things by turning a group of teenagers into his personal strike force, robbing them of the lives they might otherwise have lived.
Turning Professor X-Tinction into a psychic leech asks whether he’s truly different from the original Professor X, or if both have always succeeded by sacrificing others to their cause.New Avengershas turned one ofX-Men’s most iconic heroes into a psychic vampire, forcing fans to consider how much of a transformation this really is.
