X-Force is on a mission to eliminate Beast and they have replaced Hank McCoy with a new version of the hero. The new Beast, cloned from Hank's DNA, is lacking 40 years of memories, including the original's descent into corruption. Marvel has acknowledged the original Beast as beyond redemption by replacing him in its ongoing X-Men canon.
X-Men has made a major change to its ongoing canon by permanently killing off one of the founding members, Beast, and replacing him with a new hero. In X-Force #48, the team is attacked by the original Beast, prompting them to use a clone of him with no memories of the original's corruption to join their ranks. This significant change in Marvel lore comes during the Fall of X era and the final battle of mutantkind vs AI life. The new Beast is a heroic replacement and has none of the original's modern memories.In this volume of X-Force, Beast has undergone a shocking transformation. In his role of protecting Krakoa, he abused his power and committed human rights violations, experimented on captive mutants, and even cloned brain-damaged versions of Wolverine for assassinations. Unlike typical superhero narratives, Beast's actions were not the result of mind control or a clever scheme – his arrogance and belief in his own righteousness led him down a dark path.
The original Beast has committed irredeemable acts, prompting Marvel to officially replace him with a younger, reformed clone. This new Beast is based on Hank McCoy's personality from 1985 and is determined to confront his predecessor for his deeds. While he may resemble the Beast fans knew decades ago, this new iteration is a distinct character who will grapple with the legacy of his predecessor's actions.
As X-Force approaches its finale with issue #50, Wolverine is intent on eliminating the original Beast once and for all. With a new heroic Hank McCoy in the X-Men's ranks, the time has come to remove the tainted legacy of the original Beast.Upcoming Release Dates for X-Force Comics:
- X-Force #49: February 21, 2024
- X-Force #50: March 27, 2024
The new Beast in the X-Force franchise possesses the personality and memories of a hero from 40 years ago. Despite being a clone, the franchise emphasizes that clones are their own individuals, shaped by how they are treated. Throughout the X-Men series, clones like Madelyne Pryor, Stryfe, and Gabby carry the weight of who they might have been and the ongoing development of who they are becoming. It will be intriguing to observe how the new Beast navigates a world where his X-Men friends and allies perceive him as a villain. To regain their trust, the new Beast must first assist in X-Force's final mission: killing Beast.
X-Force #48 is currently available from Marvel Comics.
About X-Force: X-Force is a Marvel comic book series that originated in 1991, following the team's debut in The New Mutants #100. Created by Rob Liefeld, the original lineup consisted of Cable, Cannonball, Copycat, Shatterstar, Feral, Boom-Boom, and Warpath. Over the years, other notable Marvel characters such as Jean Grey, Deadpool, Wolverine, Deathlok, and X-23 have joined the team.
Writers: Rob Liefeld, Benjamin Percy, Rick Remender Main Characters: Cable, Deadpool, Wolverine, X-23, Jean Grey