Marvel's Uncanny X-Men #2 Preview: Clash with New Mutants

The term “endling” refers to the last surviving individual of a species or subspecies, whose death signifies the extinction of that species. In the latest Uncanny X-Men series by writer Gail Simone and artist David Marquez, the “Endling” is a mutant prophesied to bring about the end of all mutantkind. This character is part of a group known as the Outliers, which represents the next generation of mutants. The Outliers include Calico (Becca Constance Simon-Pinette), Jitter (Sofia Yong), Ransom (Valentin Correa), and Deathdream (Hotoru).

The debut issue of Uncanny X-Men culminated with the Louisiana-based X-Men team — Rogue, Gambit, and Wolverine — taking refuge in an orphanage named Haven, located in the swamps of New Orleans. This setting is where the seasoned mutants will clash with the new generation in the much-anticipated second issue, previewed below.

The Outliers and their mutant powers are explained below:

Jitter (Sofia Yong)
Mutant Power: Hyper-Focus
Bio: Sofia can master any skill she sets her mind to, attaining abilities usually requiring years of training. However, this Singaporean teen suffers from an immediate energy crash if she overuses her power. To cope, she carries a stopwatch to stay continually active, without needing rest.

Ransom (Valentin Correa)
Mutant Power: Black Hole Heart
Bio: Born in Buenos Aires with a black hole instead of a heart, Valentin was abandoned by his parents following a kidnapping incident. Discovering that bullets made him stronger, he escaped his captors and has since survived on the tough streets of the world.

Deathdream (Hotoru)
Mutant Power: Death State/Ghost Summoning
Bio: Hotoru, born in Kyoto, Japan, died at birth but was later resuscitated. As a teenager, he can switch between life and a death state at will. As a walking corpse, he connects deeply with the spirit world, summoning the souls and powers of the deceased. Hotoru often finds the world of the living difficult to comprehend and feels more at peace in the realm of the dead.

Calico (Becca Constance Simon-Pinette)
Mutant Power: Psychic connection with her horse, Ember
Bio: Raised by wealthy, overprotective parents who despised mutants, Becca struggles to accept her own mutant identity. She shares a unique bond with her horse, Ember, who can change into various horse forms upon her command.

Simone, in an exclusive interview, shared insights about these new characters. “Some of these characters do not even acknowledge their mutant nature. Some don’t want to. Some are just discovering their abilities, and the story evolves as they learn,” she explained. “Their mutations are what I term ‘invisible,’ comparable to an invisible disability. Their powers are not immediately evident, which prompts some to deny their mutant identity since they do not fit the stereotypical image of mutants with visible mutations like blue skin or claws.”

Uncanny X-Men #2 is scheduled for release on September 11th by Marvel Comics.