Warning: Spoilers for X-Force #26 ahead!
While the new mutant nation of Krakoa is supposed to be a safe haven for all mutants, a preview for X-Force #26 shows otherwise. For the most part, all outsider attempts to infiltrate Krakoa have been thwarted by the X-Men, however, in this issue the Wolverine-led strike team must go on a rescue and retrieval mission after several non-human interlopers made it past the island's defenses, tricked Wolverine, and kidnapped a bunch of mutant babies!
There has been a lot of mutant baby-napping attempts against Krakoa recently, with young Cable recently finally defeating Stryfe and ending his ploy to steal mutant babies, so this is just the latest attempt to snatch up mutant babies. The fact that this group of insurgents were able to successfully make it past Krakoa's defenses raises a lot of questions for X-Force, especially for Black Tom and Sage who are both in charge of different aspects of maintaining Krakoa's perimeter defenses. This attack is also a huge blow for Wolverine (as leader of the team) because it was his vulnerability that gave the kidnappers what they needed to know.
The exciting preview for X-Force #26—written by Benjamin Percy and illustrated by Robert Gill and Guru-eFX—doesn't reveal too much about the plot of the issue, just that Wolverine, Kid Omega, and Domino will be going on a dangerous mission to retrieve the stolen babies. Marvel reports that, "If the team can survive the volcanic eruption and stormy seas, there’s still the organization behind the plot—the reveal of which will have major ramifications on the next issues of X-Force!" Not only will this issue hopefully reveal the devious forces behind the kidnapping, but it is also expected to be the debut of a new era for Krakoan technology, likely brought on by Forge, the X-Men's fearless builder.
It is revealed that Krakoa is not just vulnerable to attacks from the ocean (the large crashing waves make it hard to maintain a secure perimeter) but also through its people. Wolverine was out surfing and met a woman named Pike who he was romantically interested in. He began bonding with her throughout the day and night before being unknowingly betrayed by her; Pike asked him seemingly innocuous questions that revealed the location of where Krakoan babies are raised on the island. Hopefully X-Force #26 will feature a confrontation between Pike and the guilty Wolverine, who is putting a lot of the blame on himself. This issue will also explore the next step in Krakoan technology with Wolverine, Kid Omega, and Domino adventuring into the wild Krakoan ocean to chase after the kidnappers, donning new Forge-created Krakoan/mutant blended diving technology.
The ramifications of this issue will most definitely have an impact on how Krakoan defenses are treated, will explore X-Force's new enemy, and also introduce Forge's newest blended tech. The X-Force team, if they can survive erupting volcanoes and vicious sea storms, will display the teamwork and skills that the small but powerful team has. And hopefully, the next time Logan decides to go surfing on his new adamantium-lined surfboard he won't be so easily tempted by an exciting new woman. Make sure to check out X-Force #26 to catch up with X-Force's latest adventures protecting Krakoa from threats before the X-Men ever need to intervene.
Source: Comic-Watch