Potential spoilers for Children of the Atom #6 ahead!
The shape-shifting mutant Mystique is recruiting young mutants ahead of the upcoming X-Men event Inferno. In a preview for Children of the Atom #6, on sale in print and digital August 11, Gimmick, the only mutant member of the Children of the Atom, is taken to Krakoa and immediately approached by Mystique, who seems to be playing a game of her own.
Children of the Atom is a unique X-book in that there are no mutants; instead, this team of humans idolizes the X-Men and uses special technology to duplicate the team’s powers. One member, Gimmick, has based her identity around Gambit, adopting an outfit very similar to his. Gimmick is also the only true mutant on the team, and her powers were only recently discovered. The Children of the Atom had tried several times to travel to Krakoa, but since they are not mutants, this was impossible. Now, with Gimmick’s mutant status confirmed, the X-Men have invited her to the mutant homeland, where she immediately finds herself thrown headfirst into the world of the X-Men. Children of the Atom is written by Vita Ayala, with art by Paco Medina, inks by Walden Wong, and colors by David Curiel.
Storm brings Gimmick to Krakoa at the height of the Hellfire Gala. Gimmick, who has only heard of many of these mutants, is awestruck at finally seeing them. Storm tells Gimmick that Cerebro has classified her powers as being physio-morphological, meaning she is a shape-shifter. No sooner can Storm finish the sentence than Mystique, decked out to the nines, approaches them and tells Gimmick that if she wants to truly know about her powers, to come see her. Storm sternly cautions her not to frighten the children, but Mystique is undaunted and saunters back to the Gala.
It's possible Mystique’s piqued curiosity may be nothing more than one shape-shifter recognizing another, but Mystique seemed to be playing Gimmick. Mystique planted the seeds of doubt in Gimmick’s head about the X-Men, almost as if she is trying to recruit Gimmick. Mystique will be front and center in the upcoming Inferno event, where she will seek revenge on Professor X, Magneto and the Quiet Council for their failure to resurrect her lover Destiny. Krakoa’s leaders have promised Mystique several times to resurrect Destiny but have failed to deliver. Mystique may by now know that the Quiet Council have no intention of honoring their word—as Destiny’s resurrection could spell doom for their agendas; it is now on Mystique to take action and recruiting Gimmick is the first step.
The upcoming Inferno event will kick off the next phase in Jonathan Hickman’s reboot of the X-Men, and Mystique will be front and center. Now, it seems, ahead of the event, she is trying to recruit soldiers.