Warning: contains spoilers for Legion of X #7!Marvel has revealed the full power of the bad news for the X-Men, but these revelations reposition the Phalanx as a true threat. The issue is on sale now in print and digital.
The Phalanx first appeared in 1993’s Uncanny X-Men #305, created by Scott Lobdell and Jan Duursema. This techno-organic collective sought to enslave Earth by assimilating humans into its hive-mind, similar to the Borg on Star Trek: The Next Generation. The Phalanx, however, were unable to assimilate mutants and came to see them as a menace to defeat once and for all. In the summer of 1994, the Phalanx were the antagonists of The Phalanx Covenant, a major event that crossed over into the entire family of X-Men titles and was ultimately responsible for bringing together the mutant team Generation X. The Phalanx have made appearances since then, attempting over and over to conquer the universe. They have been thwarted at every turn by the X-Men, but the true extent of their power has been revealed–and there may be no stopping them now.
Warlock and Cypher are Phalanx encounters resistance: the local Technarchy is summoned, resulting in the assimilation of all data and the purging of “waste.” Warlock finally reveals that each Technarchy believes itself to be its own boss, that is self-determining–but in reality they are slaves. And now, to make matters worse, they wish to establish a Technarchy on the Astral Plane. Text pieces later in the issue provide readers with more detailed information on the Phalanx. The issue is written by Si Spurrier, illustrated by Netho Diaz, inked by Sean Parsons, colored by Federico Blee and lettered by Clayton Cowles.
The Phalanx Have Received a Cosmic Upgrade.
Warlock’s revelations about the Phalanx, and the extent of their evil, have made these already lethal foes even deadlier. Previously, the X-Men believed the Phalanx to merely work within their own universe, never suspecting that the Phalanx had corrupted whole realities. This ability, to turn all matter into raw data to be assimilated, is terrifying enough when simply applied to one universe; however, make it multiversal, and they become a real threat. The X-Men are fortunate to have Warlock, who hails from the Technarchy as well, on their side, as he provided them with valuable information.
The Phalanx Now Threaten the Entire Multiverse.
And Warlock’s shocking revelations come just in time, as the Technarchy wish to take over the Astral Plane. If they are successful, then they would unlock even more power; harnessing the power of the Astral Plane would make the Phalanx a true existential threat to the entire multiverse. The ultimate power of the X-Men’s final villain has been revealed for all to see–and it does not bode well.
Legion of X #7 is available now from Marvel Comics.
