In X-Men, the strange pocket reality created by the Weapon Plus program just got some new residents, including one fan-favorite mutant hero.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Giant-Size X-Men: Storm by Jonathan Hickman, Russell Dauterman, Matthew Wilson, and VC’s Ariana Maher, on sale now
One of the most bizarre and unique locations the X-Men have visited is The World, the super-science domain full of mechanical monsters and creations. It’s one of the most uninhabitable locations in the Marvel Universe — and yet, it just got some new residents.
Three people brought to The World in Giant-Size X-Men: Storm decide to stay there, and they could turn it into either the next threat or potentially even ally to Krakoa.
The World is a self-contained research facility constructed by the Weapon Plus program, with the assistance of scientists from A.I.M. The lab was designed to construct powerful new super-soldiers, specifically ones to utilize the gifts of mutants to contend with the expanding off-shoot of humanity. Home to ever-changing and constantly evolving machinery, the World moves on a different time flow than the rest of Earth, allowing for entire decades to pass within the span of a regular day. It was the birthplace to certain products of the Weapon Plus Program, including the Stepford Cuckoos, E.V.A, and Fantomex. Fantomex has been particularly connected to the World, with his brother Ultimaton living there and even at one point helping him create Genesis, a clone of Apocalypse that the pair raised as a hero.
It’s been proven to be an incredibly dangerous location to explore alone, and full of dangerous threats that can quickly overwhelm any unprepared party venturing into it. But the X-Men have been forced into a corner and have to venture into the World in hopes of finding a cure for the Techno-Organic Virus that’s currently afflicting Storm. Luckily, a group of X-Men — alongside Fantomex and an AIM scientist named Ned — are able to successfully locate a device that can split organic and technological substances that have become bonded. This rescues Storm, and restores to her full power. But as the X-Men prepare to leave, some of their party elects to stay.