The X-Men comics have used their recent relaunch to tease the emergence of the next evolution of humanity. Jonathan Hickman's effective 'reset' has completely transformed the X-Men status quo. Inspired by knowledge of the future, Charles Xavier has established the mutant nation of Krakoa, a last-ditch attempt to end the genocidal conflict between man and mutant.
Powers of X #6 revealed that the mutant-human war is essentially just a distraction. Mutantdom is the natural evolutionary successor to humanity, as Xavier always claimed. But as science and technology develops, humanity ceases to live in a natural environment. Instead, inevitably, humans use science to evolve into a post-human state known as Homo novissima. And the latest previews have revealed this evolution if happening already.
Newsarama has published a preview of Fallen Angels #1, which reveals that Homo novissima is beginning to emerge. The excerpt focuses on Kwannon, the psychic ninja who's taken over as the new Psylocke, and it sees her experience a mysterious vision. In this vision, she's warned of a new god: Apoth, "the new name of God."
The name "Apoth" is clearly derived from the Greek word "Apotheosis." Most readers will be familiar with this term from Biology class, where it refers to the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. It has an older heritage, though, in which it speaks of the transformation of the human into the divine. "Apotheosis" is used to describe the moment when a Pharaoh takes the throne and becomes a god, the granting of divine honor to a hero of Greece who is welcomed into the Parthenon, or a Roman ruler's recognition as divine. In Eastern Orthodox theology, the concept was replaced by the word "divinization," or another Greek word "theosis." It refers to a human being transformed by grace, united with the Divine nature. The idea was picked up by the New Age movement, and Grant Morrison incorporated it into his New X-Men run in relation to Jean Grey and the Phoenix Force.
It seems that Charles Xavier waited far too long before he formed the mutant nation of Krakoa; the post-humans are already evolving, emerging in Tokyo. While the other X-books concern themselves with life on Krakoa, the mutation of Rogue, or a trip to Shi'ar space, Fallen Angels may be the most important of the lot. Psylocke and her team of killers have been assigned to deal with a threat that's greater than everything else. And if they fail in their mission to end the threat of Apoth, it could ultimately mean the end of the entire mutant race.
Source: Newsarama