Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics, X-Men | Tagged: 616, Age Of Krakoa, alan davis, House of X, HOXPOX, jonathan hickman, krakoa, scott lobdell

Let's All Read Excalibur #31 in the Light Of HOXPOX

Let's all re-read Excalibur #31 in the light of Krakoa, the House Of X and the Power Of X playing out right now.

Published Sat, 14 Sep 2019 14:30:37 -0500

by Rich Johnston

Last updated Mon, 04 May 2026 09:18:07 -0500

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Article Summary

Excalibur #31 introduces Vega, the Son of Krakoa, reviving giant-size X-Men ideas years before HOXPOX.
The issue features pod-grown X-Men created from Krakoa’s absorbed genetic data, echoing House of X #1.
Doug Ramsey’s unique bond with Krakoa may hint at deeper control, identity twists, and Xavier’s true agenda.
Excalibur #31 reads like an uncanny precursor to Hickman’s mutant era, from Krakoan growth to invasion fears.

Ah, Excalibur #31, published in the early nineties, in the dark, dark days of the between-Alan Davis runs of that mutant spinoff. I've been rereading a few in an attempt to find the first US mentions of Marvel being the 616 universe. Excalibur #44 by Alan Davis is the earliest so far. Any previous? But I did find Excalibur #31 written by Scott Lobdell. And it may have quite a lot of relevance to the House Of X and Powers Of X series from Jonathan Hickman. Excalibur #31 begins with Nightcrawler stranded on an island, Vega, dubbed the Son of Krakoa. One that watched the original visit of the X-Men to Krakoa, that spawned the Giant-Size X-Men team.

And, it seems this Son Of Krakoa has been growing things in pods. Very familiar-looking pods.

Versions of the X-Men, grown by Vega, the Son of Krakoa, as the first Krakoa absorbed the genetic codes of every being it encountered, including the X-Men. And they are controlled by Vega, and used to attack Nightcrawler.

And let's check in with that opening scene from House Of X #1 shall we?

With very familiar-looking people coming out of some very familiar-looking pods. And called "My X-Men" by Professor Xavier.

Have these X-Men been grown? Does it give new meaning to the 'my' in that phrase?

Remember, Doug Ramsey is the only person who can directly communicate with Krakoa.

And in Powers Of X #4, we saw that first meeting of minds.

What was the point of that mind meld? Is Doug Ramsey being controlled by the Professor? By Krakoa? And if the X-Men are pod people, is this a Krakoan invasion of Earth, of Mars, of the universe? With Krakoan flowers everywhere – and humans ingesting the Krakoan seed products to heal, to fight dementia and to extend human life?