WARNING: The following contains spoilers for X-Factor #9 by Leah Williams, David Baldeon, Israel Silva and VC’s Joe Caramagna, on sale now.
The solution to X-Factor’s problems with the Morrigan lies with an unlikely veteran member of a previous incarnation of the X-Men’s chief investigators, and that revelation paves the way for the reunion of an iconic mutant couple, Shatterstar and Rictor.
In X-Factor #9, a prophecy discovered by Prestige revealed that Shatterstar was the key to defeating the Irish Goddess of Death possessing Siryn. After he plunges his sword into the death god, Shatterstar is cursed with a mystious spiral of energy that entrwins both him and the far-away Rictor, who he hasn’t seen in some time.
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Rictor and Shatterstar were teammates in the original incarnation of X-Force. The two were always close, with Shatterstar accompanying Rictor on a road trip to his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico, to deal with family issues. While there was some subtext that Shatterstar and Rictor were more than friends, it wasn’t made explicit until Peter David brought Shatterstar to the pages of his second X-Factor run. When Shatterstar and Rictor were reunited in 2009’s X-Factor #45, by David, Marco Santucci and Valentine De Landro, they made history. The pair shared a passionate kiss after Shatterstar was freed from the mind control of the villain Cortex. It was the first on-panel kiss between two male superheroes in a mainstream Marvel comic book.
Their relationship wasn’t without conflict. After finally coming to terms with his sexuality, Rictor wanted to be monogamous with Shatterstar. The bisexual Shatterstar wanted to explore his options in an open relationship with male and female partners. In spite of these differences, they resolved to work things out.There were further complications when a pregnant Wolfsbane returned to X-Factor. She allowed ex-boyfriend Rictor to believe the child was his. Shatterstar learned the truth about the child’s paternity when he met its actual father, the Asgardian wolf prince Hrimhari. The trio patched things up enough that Rictor and Shatterstar accompanied Wolfsbane when she was searching for her son Tier.
After sporadic appearances over the years following the end of X-Factor, a listless Shatterstar broke up with Rictor in the first issue of his 2018 limited series, by Tim Seeley and Carlos Villa. He threw himself into running an apartment building for his fellow multi-dimensional refugees. When Shatterstar’s tenants were kidnapped by his former ally Gringrave and her mercenary Death Sponsors, Rictor helped him find them.
Shatterstar’s quest to save his tenants ultimately led to a battle with the Grandmaster. In order to defeat the Elder of the Universe, Shatterstar teleported them to Earth-1218, a world without superpowers that neutralized the Grandmaster’s godlike abilities. After his victory, Rictor reached across the universe to rescue him.
Shatterstar’s return to Krakoa should mean the long-awaited reunion with Rictor. Rictor has become an important figure in the mutant nation. After becoming the ancient mutant’s protege, Apocalypse named him his heir when he departed Krakoa. Shatterstar’s role in Morrigan’s defeat makes him a conquering hero. They should be celebrating at the Hellfire GalaUnfortunately, a curse from the Morrigan might have grim consequences for Shatterstar and Rictor.
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