Summary
Warning: contains spoilers for NYX #1The Krakoan Age of theX-Mencemented into canon that “Xavier’s Dream” -of peaceful and accepting cohabitation between mutants and humans- was well and truly dead, withCharles Xavier himself admittingthat his lofty goals of integration were impossible. Now that mutantkind is once again living among humanity in theFrom the Ashesera, the brilliant Prodigy has succinctly explained the fatal flaw in Professor X’s Dream, and why it will never truly be possible.
While philosophically Xavier’s Dream might be “dead,” in practicalitythe X-Men are once again being forced to play integration with humanity, afterthe fall of Krakoaand the necessary emigration back into the world of humans.
In this way, reflecting on the Dream is more important than ever, so thatmutants can decide for themselves how they want to engage with it. Professor David Alleyne - the mutant Prodigy - sums upXavier’s Dream in one devastating momentwhile teaching a class on Krakoan history at Empire State University inNYX#1, from Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, and Francesco Mortarino.
“They were killing us. Hunting us always. And yet we protected them… That was Charles Xavier’s dream. That we take it. Forever.”
The X-Men Can Never Truly Go Back To Xavier’s Dream
A majority of mutants would not accept the regression
Editorially, the X-Men will always return in some fashion to Xavier’s Dream because, in many ways, it represents the lofty hopes of true peace in our world. However, theFrom the Ashesera of the X-Men shows thatmutants have never been more divided over integration with humanity. Some of the X-Men, like Cyclops' team in Alaska, are trying to integrate with the human world they live close to, while heroes like Laura Kinney and “villains” like Hellion inNYXare convinced that humans and mutants will never accept each other, and some heroes like Wolverine are just too exhausted to try anymore.
X-Men’s Era-Defining War Finally Gets an Official Name, Cementing It’s Place In History Books
After the devastation of World War Orchis, and the human governments siding with the organization, it seems a majority of mutants will never accept the Dream again, and rightfully so. Throughout the X-Men’s history, as Prodigy says, humanity has tried to commit genocide against mutantkind countless times, killing children and students with no regard, while the mutants have been convinced to remain as “defenders of those who hate and fear” them. The huge flaw in Xavier’s Dream is asking mutants “to take it,” over and over again, watching their loved ones killed and traumatized.Many mutants will never “take it” again, forced to live among humans after their paradise was destroyed.
Xavier Has Sacrificed His Future To Protect His Children
TheFrom the Ashes Infinity Comichas revealed thatXavier set himself up to be seen as the Butcher of Krakoaso that humanity would have a scapegoat to target their hate, giving his X-Men a fighting chance back among humanity. It seems doubtful that Xavier fully believes in his dream anymore, but he still has faith in mutantkind’s future. Ideologically, Xavier’s longtime friend Magneto has been shown to hold an opposite philosophy to Charles, advocating for the separation of mutants and humans for decades, but after his death on Arakko he realized the importance of humans and mutants working together and the complexity of the Dream.
Magneto Has Finally Embraced Xavier’s Dream
Now that Magneto is acting as the Xavier of Cyclops' new X-Men team,a part of Xavier’s Dream will live onunder the harsh, demanding expectations of the powerful Magneto. Xavier’s Dream may never be possible, since the mutants of Earth will no longer accept the abuses of humanity, but the people of Krakoa still live on, fighting for a safe and peaceful future every day.
