Muir Island

Lore & Background

The saga begins with warnings from Forge and Banshee regarding a psychic takeover. Professor X returns to his ruined mansion to use Cerebro, finding Stevie Hunter fleeing a controlled Banshee. After freeing Banshee, Xavier must strip away the Peter Nicholas persona Colossus had adopted since passing through the Siege Perilous—though Colossus was not physically present on Muir Island during the main events; he was in Australia with the Reavers. He recruits the original students, now X-Factor, for aid. On Muir Island, Wolverine is freed from control by Forge, followed shortly by Banshee. They learn that the Shadow King uses Polaris as a nexus between the physical world and the astral plane, having restored her magnetism and using her as a conduit because of her negative energy. The group fears they may have to kill Polaris to break this connection, but ultimately Professor X and Legion are involved in defeating the Shadow King, with Psylocke's psychic knife—not Forge's device—used to sever the nexus.

In Their Own Story

X-Factor lands on Muir Island using resources from Valerie Cooper, quickly neutralizing defenses. At the base, Professor X is attacked by the Shadow King via host Jacob Reisz, who believes he controls everyone present. Cooper reveals herself as a disguised Mystique and kills Reisz. The villain immediately shifts to Legion. As X-Factor and freed X-Men reach Polaris, Legion detonates an explosion destroying much of the island. Storm unexpectedly attacks Legion on the island, freeing captive students while he retreats. Professor X decides to fight on both planes: half the team breaks the nexus with Polaris while others protect his body. Jean Grey joins him on the Astral Plane as physical damage affects Xavier's real form. In the physical world, Forge defeats controlled Psylocke and uses her psychic knife on Polaris to sever the nexus. With his power source destroyed, the Shadow King is ripped apart.

Reader's Guide

The aftermath leaves Legion brain-dead, though Professor X is comforted by X-Factor rejoining the X-Men. Val Cooper recruits Polaris, Guido Carosella, and Jamie Madrox into a new government-sponsored team to replace Freedom Force. The event causes the original X-Factor to rejoin the X-Men, splitting the team into two units. Muir Island suffers great damage, forcing many longtime inhabitants to vacate. Polaris loses her super-strength but regains her magnetic powers, while Professor X once again loses use of his legs. Legion remains in a catatonic state until 'Legion Quest.' Additionally, individual X-Men abandon team-uniform costumes for individual ones, and Colossus rejoins the X-Men without his Peter Nicholas persona.

Did You Know?

• The Shadow King used Polaris as a nexus between the physical world and the astral plane.
• Professor X was forced to strip away the Peter Nicholas persona Colossus had been using since passing through the Siege Perilous.
• Mystique, disguised as Valerie Cooper, killed Jacob Reisz before the Shadow King shifted his host to Legion.
• Psylocke's psychic knife—not Forge's device—was used on Polaris to sever the nexus and defeat the Shadow King.
• Legion was left brain-dead in a catatonic state until the lead-up to 'Legion Quest'.