Discover The New White Knight In Marauders #7

The Hellfire Trading Company grows as Emma recruits her White Knight in Gerry Duggan, Stefano Caselli, and Edgar Delgado’s Marauders #7. Meanwhile, Bishop learns more about the truth behind Homines Verendi.

Christina Eddleman: After our last panic-inducing issue, I’ve felt the compulsion to binge issues that we don’t have yet. I’m very impatient, but so excited for this week’s issue. The intrigue is piled on further and I’m so excited to see where it goes.

Vishal Gullapalli: This issue is a more low-key one – it’s very much establishing a tone and baseline so that when things get wild again soon. That being said, I really can’t wait for things to get wild! There’s so much going on and I need my sweet payoff.

Courting Callisto

CE: We knew it was only a matter of time until the position of White Knight was filled. At first, I was baffled by Emma’s choice in this issue, Callisto, but it is an interesting alliance and one that begins to make more sense as the issue unfolds. Emma is carefully constructing her image to the world and Callisto gives her a much wider appeal. It’s a very calculated move that gives us some really fun character interactions.

VG: It’s a calculated move that also gives us Callisto in an amazing suit. Her fashion has been iconic since her very first appearance and I am so pumped for the righteous return of the mutant punk aesthetic. Even Jumbo Carnation agrees, she may be the most stylish mutant on all of Krakoa! I will say though, it’s really interesting seeing her allied with Masque… [Ed. note: Masque is, of course, the former Morlock leader who treats people’s faces like Silly Puddy.]

CE: Coupled with the mention of Callisto’s modeling career, we’re reminded that Krakoa has brought some truly strange alliances. I am incredibly delighted that the Morlocks have made their way out of the tunnels and into… Rio Verde, Arizona? The insight into the community there that Emma is financing is delightful, and I’m happy to hear from the X-Desk again.

VG: The X-Desk operator continues to be an utterly delightful human, proving that there really are a few good ones out there in the sea of bigotry we’re seeing. The Rio Verde community is bizarre in all the best ways – I can’t imagine how Duggan even came up with it, but it makes me cackle every time I think about it. I also love the consideration they’re giving to the name Marauders, because the original Marauders were some baaaad folks.

CE: It’s especially important that we see that Callisto understands the naming choice because Mutant Massacre really was not pretty for the Morlocks. As for Duggan picking Rio Verde, it’s a pretty popular result when Googling “luxury retirement communities.”

VG: Like I said, I can’t imagine. This is why Gerry Duggan is the writer and not me… [Ed. note: That and his stunning good looks.]

CE: I’m betting he wanted those Morlocks comfy, and that the Morlocks wanted to make sure Emma paid a small fortune for it. Callisto seems to be a very solid choice of White Knight, and I’m dying to know what they’ve all been up to on Island M!

Bishop Takes King

VG: Speaking of islands, it looks like Verendi is going to be getting an eyeful (heh) of Krakoan life. These kids have really got some crazy schemes going, and it looks like they’re going to be making literal tons of money alongside continuing to hinder the efforts of mutants around the world. The Russian Ambassador is getting involved now, which will surely go well for all our favorite characters.

CE: I am so pleased to see Bishop on the case, especially with a text to Kate likely from our X-Desk employee just sitting there. Verendi seems formidable, but Bishop is well… Bishop. Bishop isn’t taking his role as the Red Bishop lightly in this issue and he kicks butt. Manuel seems somewhat incompetant here, which is either really clever, or he’s seriously underestimated Bishop. [Ed. note: He is, and I cannot emphasize this enough, a literal child.]

Either way, it’s satisfying to see Bishop piece together what we already know.

VG: Bishop’s consistently been great in this book. I let out a hearty chuckle when he just dropped a grenade through the gate and waited for it to blow up before actually going through. The cast of Marauders has been really whimsical and silly at times, but Bishop’s unrelenting 90s gruffness has been a constant grounding these mutants in the world they still inhabit. I love watching him do his thing, and that Duggan remembers he’s a damn good investigator.

CE: Kate’s definitely made a solid choice in appointing Bishop. I hope to see more of him undercover next issue. If the ship he’s on is really hoping to salvage the ship Kate stole, he may just find out what happened to her. I keep trying to decide if the name “Gallagher Salvage” will be significant. [Ed. note: Let’s keep an eye out for any strange looking Watermelons.]

VG: I’m really curious if this is another grand plan that Verendi’s enacting, because they’ve consistently been 5 steps ahead of the Marauders since they first appeared in the book, but I also really really hope that Bishop finds Kate and she’s okay. Please?

No Body, No Crime

CE: Kate’s disappearance doesn’t really rock the boat in this issue. No one but Bishop seems concerned. Bobby is preoccupied with Christian, Storm’s catching knives, and the Quiet Council continues as normal.

VG: What does rock the (fishing) boat is a pretty heavy fish they accidentally catch, that turns out to be Lockheed! While they say that they think he’s dead, I’m sure he’ll be fine (because if he isn’t I will riot). Now obviously Shaw can’t just go around telling everyone he killed her, but I’m curious how long he’s gonna let it sit before trying to appoint Shinobi as the new Red King.

CE: Emma definitely seems to know more than she’s letting on or plays it incredibly cool. Emma has been able to communicate with Kate telepathically over great distances, so she either knows something we don’t about Kate’s disappearance, or is making sure that Shaw doesn’t have the chance to appoint anyone new as she tries to figure out how to resurrect her. Her thinly veiled threat of “enjoy today” seems to imply that she is fully aware of Shaw’s actions. I for one am not concerned with Kate’s well-being at this point, only Lockheed’s. We will riot together.

VG: I do think that Emma’s going to be involved in whatever turns out to be Kate’s miraculous survival, but as we noted earlier she’s also an incredibly shrewd politician, and could just be running damage control. The text message that Kate got is the real casualty of this issue, though, as it’s quite possible no one besides us, the readers, will ever see it. My crackpot theory is that the X-Desk operator sent it. I hope we find out who it was.

CE: Not a crackpot theory at all. I’m certain it’s got to be them. Distracting Krakoa with attacks to their ships is nothing compared to the sabotage they’re covering up. We need Kate back to read that text, or perhaps not reading it may bring the X-Desk out of hiding? I can’t wait to find out.

VG: Even the more low key setup issues are really fun in this book, as Duggan and Caselli do a fantastic job moving this story forward. I really can’t get over how much fun I’m having with this book, and also how nervous I am for how things are going to go over the next couple of arcs. And with the double shipping slowing down as new books are added, we might be waiting longer than I’m used to… my nails are going to be chewed really far down by the next issue.

CE: We’re on our last month of double-shipping, so it’s going to feel like a long March for sure. If I have to wait until April to see Kate in Marauders again, I will definitely have nubs for nails. That said, I’ve really enjoyed this book and appreciate it’s pacing. The building of the cast of characters feels not at all rushed, and the story has me on the edge of my seat. I’ve appreciated that though the art team has alternated between issues, the book has felt cohesive. This is definitely my favorite X-Book out now.

X-Traneous Thoughts

“Do you need some clothes?” – Calisto
“Their reign must be over.” – Tell us how you really feel, Em.
Callisto and Storm’s reunion on Island M gave me all the feels.
“They just whip knives at each other’s faces. No wonder the Brotherhood never finished off the X-Men.” -Pyro
Masque and I [Ed. note: Me] have the exact same feelings towards golf
The Lockheed riot will begin at 9AM (EST) in front of the Marvel Offices tomorrow. Please bring your own pitchforks.
Ending Krakoan reads: DEAD BODY

Christi Eddleman is the world’s first Captain Kate Pryde cosplayer and co-host of Chrises On Infinite Earths.

Vishal Gullapalli is a comics enthusiast studying computer science to enable his media consumption. He’s currently reading through the entirety of DC’s New 52 (for some reason) and logging his experience.