Warning: Contains spoilers for X-Men (2021) #17The identity of the next Captain Krakoa, the X-Men's very own version of Captain America, may have been given away before the hero joins the next iteration of the Uncanny Avengers. Who exactly was behind the mask of Captain Krakoa was a major mutant mystery before it was revealed to be a resurrected Scott Summers. With the recent unveiling of the upcoming FCBD 2023 Avengers/X-Men, it seems as though a fresh Captain Krakoa will be joining Marvel's newest Uncanny Avengers team, and X-Men #17 may have just given fans a major hint as to who it will be.
The Captain Krakoa identity was created by the Quiet Council, mutant fashion designer Jumbo Carnation, and mutant inventor Forge as a way to conceal the resurrection of a major X-Men hero if they were to die in public. At the time, before Judgment Day revealed the secret of mutant resurrection to the world, Scott Summers was killed by agents of Dr. Stasis in an incredibly public setting, forcing Cyclops to take on the new identity of Captain Krakoa until the secret was revealed and he was allowed to go back to being Cyclops.
The reveal of the mutant's Resurrection Protocols to the human world just before Judgment Day seemed to be the end of Captain Krakoa's usefulness to the X-Men. However, the recent reveal of the cover for FCBD 2023 Avengers/X-Men teased that Captain Krakoa will be joining Captain America and other heroes on Marvel's fresh iteration of the Uncanny Avengers. In the recent X-Men #17 - written by Gerry Duggan with art by Joshua Cassara - the brilliant mutant inventor Forge travels into the Vault, home of the dangerous evolutionary Children, on the hunt for the missing mutant Darwin. Eventually, Darwin reveals himself to Forge, explaining that to survive the Children's torture and experimentation he evolved into coding, and established a connection with Forge's mind to communicate with him. Forge awakens in a world within his mind amid his most lofty dreams of what Krakoa could look like, and that includes him wearing the Captain Krakoa costume. While this certainly does not confirm that Forge will be the new Captain Krakoa, it does open up the possibility that the Uncanny Avengers Captain Krakoa could be the mutant Forge.
Was It A Dream, Or Foreshadowing?
Forge was the main inventor behind the original Captain Krakoa design, and made it very clear that he thought this mix of Krakoan biotechnology was a truly brilliant step in mutant innovation. He even told Scott Summers that he thought every mutant should wear one. So, there is a chance that Forge saw himself in the Captain Krakoa suit in his dream version of Krakoa because in his perfect world everyone would wear one. However, Sunfire, Banshee, and Rogue can all be seen in Forge's mindscape Krakoa, and they are not wearing the suit. Additionally, the Captain Krakoa on the cover of the FCBD 2023 Avengers/X-Men cover is incredibly pale skinned - whereas Forge is a darker skinned Cheyenne Native American - and it would be surprising if Forge left the main X-Men team halfway through the year to join the Uncanny Avengers. However, often times comics covers are not exact replicas of inside designs, meaning that the actual Captain Krakoa in the issue could have a darker skin tone on page, plus Psylocke is seen on the cover and she is currently a part of the Marauders, meaning Forge could also potentially leave the X-Men to join the Uncanny Avengers.
Forge cared a lot about his Captain Krakoa suit, enough to push for all Krakoan mutants to be given one, so while it is still a mystery as to which X-Men will take on the Captain Krakoa mantle in the new Uncanny Avengers, it is clear that Forge will continue to be a major part of the Captain Krakoa identity.
X-Men #17 is available now in stores!