Spoilers for Marauders #5 ahead!
One of the longest-lasting and most important events to come out of the critically acclaimed Hellions series was the burgeoning romance between Psylocke and John Greycrow, an X-Men relationship that has continued in Marauders and beautifully proves the power and importance of Krakoan amnesty.
The mutant nation of Krakoa is incredibly flawed, with a corrupt government run by the egotistical Charles Xavier, but one thing it did get right was its policy of accepting any mutant into their foundling nation, regardless of their past sins. The mutants of Krakoa are trying (and in general, failing) to rise above the faults of humanity, and their desire to create a healing and liberating community for all mutants is a beautiful one, and one that has been proven successful by the rehabilitation of John Greycrow, who for years operated as a supervillain fighting against the X-Men.
Marauders #5 - written by Steve Orlando with art by Andrea Broccardo and Matt Milla - sees the conclusion of the recent Shi'ar Empire and Ancient Mutant history arc for Kate Pryde's newest iteration of her Marauders team, ending with the team successful in their mission, thanks in no small part to the powerful and steady Psylocke aka Kwannon. Since Jonathan Hickman's House of X/Powers of X Kwannon, a character with a problematic history tied to Betsy Braddock, has become a major force to be reckoned with on Krakoa. She has been in the spotlight in several major series, first in Fallen Angels, then in Hellions, and now starring in Marauders. Working alongside Psylocke in Hellions, John Greycrow is a complex man from the Comanche tribe who for many years acted as a mercenary in Mister Sinister's villainous Marauders squad, using his powerful technomorphic ability to wreak havoc on the world as "Scalphunter," including bearing responsibility for many of the murders of the Morlocks in the infamous event Mutant Massacre. When the nation of Krakoa opened its gate for all mutants, regardless of their past, Greycrow joined the island population and was quickly brought onto the outcast Hellions team, once again under the command of Sinister.
Yet throughout Hellions, Greycrow was able to prove that he is not a soulless sociopath, unable to be redeemed like the impossibly evil Empath or Sinister, and has emerged as one of Krakoa's greatest "success" stories. Xavier always thought that, if given the right direction and promise of safety, most "evil" mutants would choose to be heroic, and Greycrow's ability to care about his Hellions team, put himself in danger to protect Krakoa, and develop strong feelings for Kwannon proves that Xavier was right (for once).
In an adorable scene from near the end of Marauders #5 Kwannon is recounting her recent journey to Greycrow at Krakoa's bar the Green Lagoon, and he confidently assures her that the Marauders would have definitely failed without her presence, before leaning in for an intimate kiss, officially confirming that the two are in a romantic relationship. Greycrow, staying true to his nature and history as a violence-loving man, offers to take out Cassandra Nova the minute Psylocke asks him to, and Kwannon, with deep love in her eyes, responds, "You are my first call if recreational murder is required, John." It is a hilarious yet deeply moving scene, showing that Krakoa's promise of amnesty, redemption and safety for its citizens has not changed Greycrow's personality, but has instead given him the opportunity to explore his empathy, compassion, and bravery.
The X-Men's nation of Krakoa is clearly not without its faults, but the beautiful relationship between Psylocke and her lover John Greycrow, which began on the iconic Hellions team, has at least been able to show that the promise of Krakoan amnesty and redemption was not a complete lie.
Marauders #5 is available in stores now!