The X-Men have always been about mutants facing prejudice, but one founding member, Jean Grey, has transcended Earthly conflicts to become a cosmic hero!
A Long Time Coming: Revenge
For nearly two decades, fans have wondered who orchestrated the brutal massacre of Jean Grey's family. Now, Marvel has finally revealed the mastermind: Gladiator, leader of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard! This shocking revelation, confirmed in Phoenix #4 (written by Stephanie Phillips, art by Alessandro Miracolo), isn't just a retcon; it sets the stage for an epic showdown between Phoenix and Gladiator!
Gladiator's Sinister Act
The Phoenix #4 storyline has two parts. One involves Jean Grey battling Gorr the God Butcher. The other shows the galactic powerhouses deciding Jean Grey's fate! Leading the charge against Phoenix is Gladiator. The big reveal confirms his role in the 2005 storyline, Uncanny X-Men which previously left it up for speculation! This moment really changes Gladiator from just being another cosmic entity. He goes up to becoming one of the biggest villains for the X-franchise, something fans haven't seen for ages!
The Grey Family Massacre
The heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Uncanny X-Men #467, a moment that broke the hearts of X-Men fans for nearly 20 years. Author Chris Clarement did an awesome job highlighting the events, that showed such extreme destruction! What we know now? This really shook things up and set up Gladiator as one of the more noteworthy villains.
Initially narrated by Jean's daughter, Rachel, (also a Phoenix avatar) the story described the vicious killing. Despite the earlier storylines acknowledging this tragedy, Jean is now finally ready to confront this loss! Her solo series, Phoenix, gives this ultimate chance to deliver the necessary closure to a massive tragedy that made an enormous impact to these X-Men.
Confrontation With Gladiator
This villain was the mastermind of Jean's family's demise! The current Phoenix series creators are smart! They want to use this fact to build a new saga that creates something incredibly epic! The storyline in Phoenix #4 already does a lot. It directly connects the killing and gives a powerful, unforgettable context for future battles with Gladiator!
This is an exciting direction! By building Gladiator as a new enemy, we will see Jean Grey develop. What started as Earthly challenges will elevate to major cosmic battles!
Jean Grey: A Cosmic Hero
This series wants Jean to finally stand amongst those major, cosmic players! Early installments had her already facing powerful figures like The Children of Thanos and Gorr the God Butcher, this is truly just the beginning!
- Gladiator is super strong!
- He has connections with powerful figures!
- This conflict is deeply personal for Jean Grey
If Jean Grey, a major hero, truly wants to become a top-tier player amongst the universe. Then Gladiator is her perfect nemesis, showing us an awesome, unforgettable tale!
