Professor X’s New Codename Basically Confirms a Huge X-Men Theory

Summary

• Dialogue during Doctor Doom’s encounter with the X-Men hints that Charles Xavier, the X-Men’s leader, is poised to increase his powers in an unprecedented way.
• Xavier’s potential transformation into a Dominion, a being with god-like power and intelligence, could be the catalyst for profound changes in mutantkind – for better or worse.
• The X-Men’s loss of Krakoa, their unifying force and homeland, creates a need for a new leader; if Xavier becomes a Dominion he could take them places they never imagined…whether they want to go or not.

Contains spoilers for X-Men #29!A recent X-Men encounter with Doctor Doom lends credence to the idea that one of their leader, Professor Charles Xavier, is set to level-up his powers in a way never previously imaginable. Doom refers to Xavier as “The Last Krakoan” – driving home both the idea that the current era of mutantkind is at a close, and that its end will bring about profound change for Charles.

A Dominion is the highest level of intelligence in the Marvel Universe, as established by Jonathan Hickman in 2019’s
House of X
. A Dominion possess power at the level of a god, along with seemingly immeasurable intelligence, and exist across (and outside) time and space.

X-Men #29 – written by Gerry Duggan, with art by Joshua Cassara, Marte Gracia, and Clayton Cowles – features Xavier’s team heading to Latveria, seeking one of the few remaining pockets of mutants. They’re confronted by Doctor Doom and his Legion of Mutants, resulting in a brief scuffle. Afterward, Doom invites the X-Men back to his palace, engaging in a brief, if pointed, discussion about mutantkind’s future.

Doom’s words add further fuel to speculation that the Krakoan era’s conclusion in Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X will also result in a previously unimaginable level of power for Professor X.

Doom Knew Xavier Wasn’t Ready for Krakoa

Yet No One Could Have Anticipated the Impact of Charles’ Failures

During their encounter in X-Men #29, Doom alludes to the fact that Xavier will either be his own end, or come out of the current situation as something entirely different. Although he’s vague with the group, the comment seemed to lean into the theory that Charles Xavier was slated to become the God-like Dominion. Earlier in the issue, there’s a flashback glimpse into the moment Xavier, Magneto, and Moira geared up to reveal Krakoa to the world. Doom interrupted Charles in the process, telling him that he was not “that crown” he wore. Though the comment could be interpreted as some of Doom’s usual bravado, the catastrophic failure of Krakoa lends it weight.

As it turned out, Doom’s words were prophetic; Krakoa’s leader was, indeed, not ready. Still, Xavier is now effectively “the Last Krakoan,” as Doom declares him. He left Krakoa at the urging of the piece of Sinister still inside him – the very thing that linked him to the next Dominion. At that point, it was already established that a Dominion was controlling Orchis, and further, that the Dominion was a Sinister. At the same time, Charles’ narrative pushed him to a point that will either result in his permanent death or an incredible rebirth. This is the very thing Doom confirms in his conversation with the X-Men in X-Men #29.

Charles’ inner monologue in
Immortal X-Men
#16 – by Kieron Gillen, Lucas Werneck, and David Curiel – also touches upon the idea of becoming stronger after one version of a person dies.

Xavier’s Actions After Krakoa Change Everything

Professor X is Desperate to Make Up For His Mistakes

Mutantkind is scattered, and more lives may be lost in the raging battle against Orchis. They’re at their best when united, and with Krakoa gone, they need a new unifying force. To put that power into the hands of the man who led and shaped the trajectory of mutant life for most of his own would have an immeasurable impact on their future. If Doom’s words were taken at their grandest potential, the X-Men will soon see their “Last Krakoan” ascend to god-hood with Charles Xavier as Dominion, but the truth is turning into something far more complex.

Xavier did not rise to godhood in the technical sense, yet he is electing to take the actions of one.

Ultimately, it was not Professor X who ascended to becoming a Dominion. The title, instead, went to Nathanial Essex’s secret “child” called Enigma. Not only did Enigma’s new title shatter the dreams of Mother Righteous and the other Sinister clones who’d attempted to claim the crown for themselves, but it effectively eliminated any shred of hope Charles had for mutantkind’s future. As a Dominion, Enigma has the power to destroy the multiverse itself – a fact that Krakoa’s founder cannot abide. Xavier did not rise to godhood in the technical sense, yet he is electing to take the actions of one.

Xavier Can Still Write the X-Men’s Future

And He’s Willing to Go Scorched Earth to Do It

In Rise of the Powers of X #3, Charles attempts to subvert Enigma’s ascension by killing a young Moira McTaggert, though he backs down and agrees to a “much worse” alternative. To fight one god, they need another, and Rachel Grey takes the shot meant for Moira as Xavier opts to resurrect the Phoenix. Moira’s death would have erased Krakoa from existence, returning the grand dream to just that – a dream. Now, instead, Xavier has made a move that will put mutants at the center of a war between two incomprehensible powers as they hope for the best.

In that way, Doctor Doom’s words were still prophetic. He did not become a Dominion, but his actions have made him a “more interesting” person. He is nearly unrecognizable from the Professor X who formed the first mutant superhero team, and markedly different even from the man who helped found the Krakoan nation. He tells Moira that that man is dead. Now, his choice to resurrect the Phoenix is more than a return of one god – it is a twisted rebirth for the X-Men’s founder, and only time will tell if it joins Xavier’s long line of mistakes.

X-Men #29 is available now from Marvel Comics.