The X-Men Battle Wakanda (In The Weirdest Way) | Screen Rant
The X-Men have finally begun their battle against Wakanda - in the weirdest possible way. The mutant race has established a new nation on the living island of Krakoa, and the United Nations has approved its existence as a sovereign state - granted, with a little psychic nudge from Emma Frost.
Xavier has essentially bribed human governments with the promise of Krakoan bio-organisms - medicines that help deal with various illnesses, and that allow humans to live longer. A handful of nations are resisting, though, and the X-Men have a secret policy of instituting regime change in these countries. That sets up a direct conflict between Krakoa and Wakanda, simply because the isolationist Wakanda sees no need for mutant medicines. Right now, peace seems to depend upon the relationship between Storm and Black Panther, but that may not be enough to prevent the two nations going to war.
The recent Marvel Voices one-shot features an entertaining story by Vita Ayala, Bernard Chang, and Marcelo Maiolo. It tells the tale of the first annual International Science Race Expo, which sees racers from different nations compete on a course that uses site-to-site transporters to traverse the globe. Forge and Prodigy are competing with a racing car constructed from Krakoan biotechnology, while Shuri represents Wakanda. The competition between the two is intense, with Shuri eager to prove herself and Forge likely keen to prove himself superior to a Wakandan; he's always been a little jealous of Storm's relationship with Black Panther.
At first Forge's biotechnology appears to give him the advantage, but Shuri has correctly anticipated the variety of terrains they're going to traverse; the Antarctic track cools Krakoa's hot streak, and Shuri's Vibranium vehicle is able to effectively cope with an erupting volcano. Unfortunately the fire damages Forge's controls, and as a result the two racing cars crash spectacularly. Forge is almost injured in the collision, although Shuri ejects to safety.
This is hardly the conflict readers were expecting, but it may well serve as a parable for what will happen if Krakoa and Wakanda do indeed wind up going to war. These are the two most technologically advanced nations in the entire Marvel Universe, one wielding unprecedented biotechnology and the other master of the secrets of Vibranium. The technological genius of Forge and Shuri would no doubt be key to the battle, but the two are equally matched, and the only result will be mutual destruction. Both the mutants and the Wakandans would be wise to avoid outright conflict.
Marvel Voices is on sale now from Marvel Comics.