This article contains spoilers for Legion of X #1 and #2, on sale now by Marvel Comics.
Over the years, readers have several X-Men teams rise and fall, each with their own set of beliefs, standards, and values. In Marvel's new Legion of X series (by Si Spurrier, Jan Bazaldua, Federico Blee, and VC's Clayton Cowles), David Haller (aka Legion) and Nightcrawler work together to form a new team of mutants that will be running things a bit differently.
David is the extremely powerful son of Charles Xavier. With his mutant abilities, he's able to create a bubble reality in his mind known as the Altar. Additionally, it's another dimension, manifested as an island on the astral plane. Mutants can access this dimension through a gate on Arakko, and it is meant to provide a place outside of Krakoa where mutants can feel free to be who they are without judgment.
Nightcrawler has a place in this dimension called the Station, where his tasks are similar to but more nuanced than police work. He and his team have a mission to fulfill. Their work doesn't just involve catching criminals and stopping crime in the mutant nation, but rather on true rehabilitation. This line of work has many benefits that the comic begins to explore, and ultimately appears to be a better option for mutants in the long run.
In Legion of X #1, the team is presented with a few different cases. Xabi, aka ForgetMeNot, along with his infamous partner, Juggernaut, track down a smoke mutant named Paulie. He's been accused of killing his wife and trashing a neighborhood in Queens. The local police want him extracted, but the Legion wants to try something different. Unfortunately, Paulie isn't interested in coming quietly, and Xabi has to knock him out in order to take him to the Station. Later, in issue #2, he is extended an opportunity to share his pain with a congregation. Legion also offers to erase his memories in order to alleviate his pain, although Paulie refuses this benevolence.
Pixie and Lost investigate a mutant known as the Skinjacker who's been possessing mutants and making them mutilate themselves. They begin to solve this puzzle by talking to the mutant's latest victim, Spike. With kindness and empathy, Lost is able to convince Spike to come to the Station to get to the bottom of things. In issue #2, the team is able to confront the mutant when he possesses Juggernaut. Instead of arresting or threatening him, Kurt offers the unusual mutant help. Everyone just wants to understand his motives and give him a chance to try something new, although he too refuses their help.
Over the course of these issues, Nightcrawler refers to something called a Spark. In his own words, this is simply the ability to try new things. Keeping the Spark is an important part of the Legion's mission, because it gives all mutants an equal chance at redemption and becoming better versions of themselves. The former villain, Juggernaut is given the opportunity to do something good by joining the Legion at Kurt's request, despite him not technically being a mutant. This premise allows similar characters to be painted in a new light.
This "community watch" approach also allows mutants who have committed crimes to see the error of their ways on their own without the pressure of harsh punishment. This new method grants a chance for reform and reflection, and is a demonstration of the evolved manner the mutants are now employing to solve their problems. It is a mature approach that sets this new society apart while acknowleding that the old way of doing things simply hasn't been working.
"Keep the peace, keep the law, keep the spark" is the motto of the new team, and this edict resonates in the actions of the Legion. David doesn’t want to do things his father’s way. He doesn’t want to dehumanize people by simply assuming the worst like people have done to him over the years. Instead, he wants to provide a welcoming environment for all regardless of their mistakes. Thanks to this new team, mutants are now being given a second chance at healing in addition to reformation, and in this way are acting as true heroes of the people.
