Uncanny X-Men No. 15, ‘This is Forever’ review: Trust issues

By Mark Lynch | Apr 3, 2019

Scott Summers’ name just got more appropriate in this issue of Uncanny X-Men.

Previously, in Uncanny X-Men No. 14, another blow was struck to the mutant community. In the sewer, the Morlocks took heavy casualties. Piles of dead mutant bodies littered their subterranean home. Chamber, who’s their current leader, felt as though he failed as their protector. Cyclops called in a favor with Valerie Cooper. She said if the X-Men took care of a problem in Chernaya that the Morlocks could stay there and be safe. Having completed the deal, the Morlocks had their new home. Back at their base/bar, the X-Men were celebrating, until Captain America showed up looking to talk to Cyclops.

Writer: Matthew Rosenberg

Artist: Salvador Larroca

Cover artists: Salvador Larroca

Image Source: Comixology Digital Comics

In just one page, readers should be concerned. Dark Beast “accidentally” spilled some liquid around the X-Man Shan and says, “Oh, Heavens. I ruin everything. I’m all thumbs, I’m afraid.” As she’s cleaning it up, he says that he senses a sadness in her. Shan says she doesn’t feel sadness and gets into how she has nowhere else to go. Dark Beasts then offers his help.

First, it should be noted that Dark Beast’s reflexes would never allow him to be, “all thumbs.” Secondly, he doesn’t care about anything or anyone but himself and his experiments. In the Age of Apocalypse universe, Dark Beast did things that, as it was put in Exiles, would “make Mr. Sinister’s skin crawl.” He’s probably looking for yet another way to upgrade his body using the alien virus in Shan. Regardless, it won’t end well for Shan or the rest of the X-Men.

Image Source: Comixology Digital Comics

More from Comics

Upstairs, Captain America is having a heart to heart with Cyclops (Wolverine and Havok stick around). Cap offers to help Cyclops and the X-Men. After everything that’s happened between them (Avengers VS X-Men for example), it’s not shocking that Cyclops would have some reservations about trusting Cap. Cap tells Cyclops that he understands, but also says that he knows they’re working with Valerie Cooper and that they shouldn’t trust her. Cap leaves his card before exiting the bar. Cyclops asks Logan what he thinks (to Logan’s surprise). He then tells Cyclops that Cap is half right. He shouldn’t trust him or Valerie Cooper. But before a real discussion could be had, Mardox tells them they found Hope.

Image Source: Comixology Digital Comics

Hope and the rest of the Mutant Liberation Front (MLF is still a terrible acronym) are at a rally protesting a politician who’s against mutant rights. Cyclops catches up to Hope and Sean “I look like a zombie” Cassidy on the roof. Cyclops tries to have a heart to heart about Cable dying, but she isn’t hearing it. Wolverine pops up behind her, but it causes her to shoot Cyclops in the face. She gets Wolverine off her and then gets the shot she was looking for. Logan gets up and stabs her in the back and is ready to kill her. Cyclops then tells him to stop and passes out.

Image Source: Comixology Digital Comics

Back at the base, Cyclops wakes up to Dark Beast telling him that surgery from getting shot went fine, but now the name Cyclops’ name more appropriate. Scott Summers only has one eye. Havok comes in and tells Cyclops that Dark Beast did something to all of the X-Men infected by the Warlock virus. Cyclops leaves in a fury, and he grabs Dark Beast. As he’s yelling, his optic blast flares up and gives Cyclops a major headache. Before things get out of hand, everyone affected by the Warlock virus comes out and is cured. When asked how, Dark Beast says he found the near perfect host. A Jamie Madrox duplicate that’s asking to be killed. Or is that madrox prime?

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Image Source: Comixology Digital Comics

X-Marks the Spot

Dark Beast just can’t help himself. How is Madrox going to react now? Especially since this isn’t the first time Dark Beast has used him as an experiment.
Will Cyclops be able to use his powers again? If he can’t, this is just another major hit the X-Men have taken.
Will Hope remain a mutant terrorist or will she help the rest of the X-Men? How will she react to seeing a younger version of her father?
How long until the X-Men run out of space to keep villains in? I’m sure a bar basement is much of a secure place.
Will the Avengers ever publicly help the X-Men? They’re going to have to poop or get off the pot at some point.