Warning: contains spoilers for X-Men #13The infamous Charles Xavier is on the run in the first major X-Men crossover of their From the Ashes relaunch, and the former Professor is putting his students to the test. X-Men #13, part four of the X-Manhunt event, sees the Omega-level mutant psychic Quentin Quire shockingly defeat Xavier, using the villainous Cassandra Nova as a psychic trap.
Charles Xavier escapes from Graymalkin Prison after receiving a psychic distress call from his half-Shi’ar daughter Xandra, compelling the mutant leader to break free from his bondage and go on the run.
X-Men #13, from writer Jed MacKay with art by Netho Diaz and Sean Parsons, continues the X-Men’s battle with Xavier and the Eternal Storm, which sees Quentin locked in a brutal – and beautifully illustrated – psychic battle with Charles, before Quire is able to gain the upperhand and defeat his former mentor.
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Kid Omega May Be Marvel’s Most Powerful Earth-Based Psychic
Quentin rivals the power of Jean Grey, Emma Frost, and Xavier
The young Quentin Quire, who also goes by Kid Omega, has always been an exceptionally powerful mutant, classified as a Psionic of Highest Order before he was ever officially documented as being Omega-level. Specifically, Quentin’s specialty is telepathy, which he demonstrates in many battles with some of the X-Men’s most dangerous foes. From wielding a psychic shotgun, to sacrificing himself to save his X-Force teammates on Krakoa, Kid Omega is never afraid to get creative or heroic with his epic abilities. When Quire first became a student at Xavier’s in Grant Morrison’s New X-Men, the headstrong mutant was a kind of protégé under the guidance of Xavier, but he quickly lost his way and became something of a fascist revolutionary.
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Since those early days, Quentin has reformed his ways and become a bona fide hero, although his attitude is still incredibly toxic and annoying at times. While Quire has always had the raw potential to rival the most powerful psychics at Marvel, including Jean Grey, he has not had the proper training or strategic mind to defeat them, even a psychic weaker than him like Emma Frost. Well, it seems like training with the brilliantly strategic Cyclops has paid off, as Kid Omega was able to defeat Xavier in a psychic battle with a sneaky tactical trap. As Xavier assaults Quentin with his many insecurities, the former Professor claims that, “…this is no longer a contest. It’s just abuse.” Quickly though, Quire surprises Xavier by completely turning the tables on him, unleashing a psychic manifestation of Xavier’s monstrous twin Cassandra Nova.
Cassandra Nova Is The Perfect Weapon Against Xavier
He views himself as infallible, but Nova was always a weakness
Clearly, the student has surpassed the teacher. Quentin knew that a psychic manifestation of Cassandra Nova’s immensely evil energy could be used as a weapon if necessary, and not only did he manage to trap and control this thoughtform, but he may have done it specifically expecting he would need to use it against Xavier some day. Charles is incredibly powerful, both in terms of raw power but also his experience and tenacity, but Cassandra has always been stronger than him. In the same run of New X-Men that debuted Quentin, Cassandra was introduced, taking over Xavier’s body and mind and almost destroying the Shi’ar Empire. She will always be a source of trauma and pain for Xavier, and Quentin was brilliant to use this against Charles to incapacitate him.
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An interesting thing to note with Quentin Quire is that he has been shown to be a future host of Jean Grey’s epic Phoenix Force. In fact, after Quentin’s death years ago, a fragment of the Phoenix Force revived him up while searching for Jean Grey, proving his attunement to the cosmic entity. Quentin has a long way to go before he can truly be trusted with the immense responsibility of the Phoenix Force, but it does definitively show just how much potential the young mutant has.
Charles Xavier is an overconfident and condescending man, and it was honestly so satisfying to see Quentin Quire defeat the former leader of the X-Men on his own psychic turf… and I hope we get to see it again!
X-Men #13 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.
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