Mister Sinister has finally shown his true colors to Krakoa in Sins of Sinister, Marvel's newest event. Having used The Five to spread his genetic corruption to the entire mutant population, he has turned his sights on the whole of the world and beyond it. While it is hardly the first time Sinister has betrayed the X-Men, it is quickly becoming the most impactful instance.
From the moment Mister Sinister joined the Quiet Council, he has quietly been planning its downfall. With the stakes slowly rising as his fellow Sinisters continue their journey to galactic domination, they could very well be bringing about the next era for the X-Men, 2023's Fall of X.
10 Showing The Quiet Council's Flaws
The Quiet Council has always been a seedy institution, but Mister Sinister's version is even more dangerous. As revealed by Immoral X-Men #1 (created by writer Kieron Gillen, penciler Paco Medina, inkers Walden Wong and Victor Olazaba, Colorists Jay David Ramos and Chris Sotomayor, and letterer Clayton Cowles), each member of the council has been scheming against each other.
Once Krakoa manages to shed Sinister's influence, they will be left with the realization that the Quiet Council has gone too far and is nothing close to flawless. With the Council failing to protect Krakoa from themselves, Krakoan governance itself can no longer be trusted.
9 Making Xavier Unreliable
While Xavier has been a controversial and often untrustworthy figure over the years, Sins of Sinister has taken it to another level. Immoral X-Men #1 sees Xavier outright murdering major players like Nick Fury just to help protect Sinister's Krakoa.
Even if Sinister's influence is fully removed from Xavier, his corruption proves that one of Krakoa's founding fathers is completely unreliable. After hiding Moira from the Quiet Council, Professor X was already in jeopardy of losing the faith of his companions. Now, it will be even more difficult for him to earn back their respect.
8 Setting Up Chimeras
While Nightcrawlers (by writer Si Spurrier, penciler and inker Paco Medina, colorist Jay David Ramos, and letterer Clayton Cowles) revealed the extent of Sinister's chimera program, Immoral X-Men #1 proved Sinister is interested in more than just combining two mutations in a single host.
Sinister is already teasing the existence of Rasputin IV, a chimera made from five different X-gene combinations. When she was first revealed in Powers of X#1 (created by writer Jonathan Hickman, penciler and inker R.B. Silva, inker Adriano Di Benedetto, colorist Marte Gracia, and letterer Clayton Cowles), Rasputin was a member of a race of mutants struggling to survive against the hordes of the X-Men villain Nimrod. If Rasputin is introduced in the Krakoan era, it could very well mean her grim future is swiftly approaching.
7 Taking Nightcrawler Off The Board
Nightcrawler has been the heart of the X-Men since his introduction, and the experienced and kind-hearted mutant has always worked to keep even Wolverine in the side of the light. Despite helping found a Krakoan religion in the Spark, Nightcrawler has morphed into a monstrous beast and can no longer influence mutant politics.
Without Nightcrawler's guidance, the Quiet Council has lost its morality. The mutant who urged justice and fair treatment is away from the decision-making table, meaning the whole of Krakoa considerably less stable and much more vulnerable to bad actors like Mister Sinister.
6 Teasing The Moira Clones
Moira MacTaggert and her unique is the reason that Krakoa was possible in the first place. Unfortunately, it could also be the reason for its downfall. In Sinister's hands, the clones were little more than tools that could help him with a single scheme to help — and himself — grow in power.
In Storm & The Brotherhoodof Mutants #1 (created by writer Al Ewing, penciler Paco Medina, inker Paco Medina, colorist Jay David Ramos, and letterer Ariana Maher), however, the clones fell into the hands of Orbis Stellaris. With Stellaris working to build a dominion, the entire universe is in danger, and it's entirely Krakoa's fault.
5 Proving Resurrection Doesn't Work Perfectly
Mutant resurrection has been the main factor that sets Krakoa apart from other attempts at mutant nations. While Utopia and Genosha were valiant attempts to bring mutants together to defend themselves from outside threats, Krakoa has removed those threats entirely by offering to restore long-dead mutants to life.
Yet Immortal X-Men #10 (created by writer Kieron Gillen, penciler and inker Lucas Werneck, colorist David Curiel, and letterer Clayton Cowles) revealed that resurrection allows Sinister to corrupt the entire population of Krakoa. With resurrection no longer sacred, it can never again be trusted going forward.
4 Destroying Arakko
After terraforming and populating Mars with the inhabitants of Arakko in Planet-Sized X-Men #1 (created by writer Gerry Duggan, penciler and inker Pepe Larraz, colorist Marte Gracia, and letterer Clayton Cowles), Arakko has become a major galactic force and a strong ally to the X-Men. The heart of the solar system, it is the seat of power that Storm rules from.
Yet Sinister completely destroyed the entire planet in Storm & The Brotherhood of Mutants. With millions of mutants now dead, Krakoa's influence has suffered a major blow. The X-Men again have the deaths of an entire race of people on their shoulders, and the moment could easily lead to Fall of X.
3 Isolating Storm
As one of only a few remaining holdouts from Sinister's corrupted resurrection cycle, Storm has become increasingly isolated. Tragically, Storm, Cable, Khora of the Burning Heart, Wiz-Kid, Quick, and Ironfire are all that remain of Arakko after its destruction.
With so few people Storm can rely on, the incredibly powerful Omega-level mutant is practically on her own as she struggles to sustain a revolt against Sinister's reign. Even if Sinister falls, Storm will likely find it difficult to trust the Quiet Council after Sins of Sinister, which could mean Krakoa will lose a very powerful ally.
2 Making Mutants A Galactic Threat
Krakoa has been enjoying increasing influence on a galactic scale, thanks to Storm's work with her Brotherhood. Unfortunately for Krakoa and Arakko, Sins of Sinister has put them on another level and could easily lead to war.
Immoral X-Men #1 teases the potential for war with the Kree-Skrull Empire or the mighty Shi'ar. With Orbis Stellaris also intending to form a dominion using the power of Krakoa, the mutants will come face-to-face with the realization that they are setting themselves up for a battle with powerful forces they may not be able to beat.
1 Giving The World A Reason To Hate Mutants — Again
Humanity has despised the superpowered mutants since before the X-Men ever started wearing costumes and defending the world. While there were always incidents that humans could point to in order to justify their hatred, Sins of Sinister certainly sets up a good reason for a new wave of fury.
Despite the fact mutants offered humanity resurrection as an olive branch, the fact it was corrupting them all along means that it can never be trusted again. Krakoa gave the world a poisoned gift, and it could mean that everything the charitable X-Men have given will be thrown back in their faces in the Fall of X.