Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Mystique #1!Mystique has been a main character in X-Men canon practically since her introduction, playing major parts in franchise-wide storylines throughout that time. However, she’s never really had the opportunity to stand out on her own. Sure, she’s had a few starring roles in certain storylines here and there, but Mystique has yet to reach the A-list status that she deserves. At least, until now, and Mystique’s new nemesis cements that status perfectly.
In a preview shared by Comic Book Club for Mystique #1 by Declan Shalvey, Mystique is on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D. while working on a top-secret mission that has yet to be revealed. At the start of the preview, Mystique is hiding out in a cabin in the woods, writing a memoir of sorts. The comic then cuts to two weeks earlier, showing a strike team hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. and led by former Weapon X operative, Maverick, as they are hunting Sabretooth in an industrial facility.
Meanwhile, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D. himself, Nick Fury, is doing some investigative work, connecting the dots of his current investigation, and finding that the one person who is at the center of them is none other than Mystique. The preview ends with Mystique brandishing a weapon, standing in the facility where the S.H.I.E.L.D. strike team was operating, greeting an unseen person who she was waiting to meet (potentially Sabretooth). Obviously, this preview presents more questions than answers, though it does reveal one thing: Mystique has a new nemesis, and that person is Nick Fury.
Nick Fury is the Perfect Nemesis for Mystique’s New Era
Marvel Comics is Leaning into Mystique’s Espionage Side
Mystique has been many things in Marvel Comics. She’s led government-backed mutant strike teams, she revamped the Brotherhood of Mutants, she’s operated as a villainous solo-agent, and – most recently – she’s even been a member of the X-Men. But, above them all, Mystique has always shined the brightest as a spy, as her mutant powers make her exceptionally skilled in that profession.
The story that featured Mystique’s skills in espionage the best has to be Tinker, Tailor, Mutant, Spy, which showed Mystique working to uncover the mystery of an illness that spreads telepathically – and that’s just a single example. Truthfully, there is no shortage of instances where Mystique has proven herself a more than capable spy, which is why it’s perfect that her new nemesis is arguably the ultimate spy, Nick Fury.
Why Nick Fury is Trying to Catch Mystique in Her New X-Men Series
While the details of why Fury is trying to catch Mystique haven’t yet been revealed, there are a few clues that fans can gather from this preview – as well as the events surrounding it. This story takes place immediately after the fall of Krakoa, and Mystique has seemingly severed all ties with the X-Men. That means she’s a solo-agent once again, and she’s more committed than ever to fighting for mutants, with no regard for the now-forfeit ‘laws of Krakoa’. Therefore, Mystique is likely plotting the downfall of all humankind, and Fury has made it his mission to stop her.
Whatever Mystique is plotting, her skills as a spy make her a threat that’s serious enough for Nick Fury to handle himself, which elevates her to A-list status, as Nick Fury doesn’t give that kind of attention to just anyone. Not only that, but this new X-Men series is shining a light on Mystique’s skills as a spy, which is easily when she’s at her best, and having Nick Fury be her nemesis is absolutely perfect.
Mystique #1 by Marvel Comics is available October 16, 2024.
Source: Comic Book Club
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.