X Deaths of Wolverine recap: Moira MacTaggert runs as Logan returns

X Deaths of Wolverine begins with Moira MacTaggert being hunted by Mystique and a special branch of the CIA. 

Marvel’s X-Men event X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine started with a bang. X Lives of Wolverine began with Jean Grey and Charles Xavier sending Logan back in time to prevent Arkady Gregorivich Rossovich, a.k.a. Omega Red, from killing Charles Xavier as a baby. Having thwarted that, Arkady traveled to another timeline to try again with Logan on his trail.

X Deaths of Wolverine starts where X-Men: Inferno left off, with Moira MacTaggert running for her life. She’s no longer a mutant and is being hunted by Mystique. Usually, this wouldn’t be an issue as Moira would die and return in another lifetime as a baby (read House of X No. 2 for more on that). However, Mystique and Destiny removed that ability when they took away her powers. To make matters worse, she had coughed up blood, and after going to Jane Foster, a.k.a. Valkyrie, she’s diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Before Moira could process the diagnosis, she’s confronted by Mystique who’s still trying to kill her. For the first time since Inferno, she gets lucky when Valkyrie intervenes.

Moira then changes her look to avoid being identified by cameras. Her string of bad luck continues when she finds out that the CIA is after her as well. She escaped again, but for how long?

Krakoa and Wolverine

With all this Moira MacTaggert talk, you’re probably wondering where Wolverine is. His name is in the title and we haven’t mentioned him yet. This writer thought the same thing until an earthquake causes Black Tom Cassidy to see where it’s coming from.

Black Tom investigates the earthquake and sees an egg arising from Krakoa. When it hatches, Logan comes out, cuts and most likely kills Black Tom. Not only is it weird because Black Tom is good now, it’s also perplexing because Logan’s arm and claws look like they’re made of Technarch (Warlock’s people).

After attacking Black Tom, Wolverine makes his way to Jean Grey, Charles Xavier, and himself. When Jean asks Logan if that is him, he replies, “I’m no one. I was never here”

X Deaths of Wolverine review

Benjamin Percy is quickly becoming one of the best Wolverine writers of the last two decades. Considering Logan was written by great writers like Daniel Way, Jason Aaron, and Mark Millar, that’s a lot of praise.

In this issue, Percy doesn’t hide that Logan isn’t the same when he comes out of the egg. Sometimes, taking the suspense away is a good thing. We knew he was going after Jean, Xavier, and himself. There was already enough going on that another surprise would have been too much.

Moira is in a bad situation here with limited options. It seems like she’ll either live long enough to suffer from cancer, be killed sooner or later by Mystique, or taken by the CIA. However, there could be a fourth option we don’t see yet. Percy just created a lot of suspense with this story, adding to an already incredible title.

X of Questions

• Why is Moria the center of X Deaths of Wolverine? Will it take both of them to save Krakoa?
• Has Moira changed her mind about “curing” mutants or will she die trying to kill them?
• If Moira dies, will she really be dead for good?
• How and why did Krakoa hatch an egg with Wolverine in it and why does he look like Warlock?
• Will Moira help the CIA’s X-Desk if it means hurting mutants and Krakoa?
• Is Wolverine trying to kill Logan and Jean? Did Mikhail Rasputin or Omega Red find him in the past, plant him in Krakoa, and brainwash him?
• What if Logan isn’t there to kill Xavier and Jean. Maybe he’s not lunging at them and towards another danger.

What do you think? Are you enjoying this X-Men crossover event? Let us know in the comments below.