Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Rogue: Savage Land #4!Rogueis one of theX-Men’s strongest mutants after absorbing the strength of heroes like Captain Marvel, but her energy-zapping abilities are not the only powers she possesses. Rogue now has telepathic resistance, and believe it or not, this evolution makes perfect sense. This latest upgrade to Rogue’s power set makes her a jack of all trades and proves that the X-Men’s southern belle is stronger than ever.
InRogue: Savage Land#4, written by Tim Seeley with art by Von Randal, Rogue battles the forces of the sorceress Zaladane when a telepathic Savage Land mutant known as the Worm attempts to take control of her mind.
In a surprising twist, Rogue effortlessly deflects the attack. The Worm quickly realizes that his psychic voice is overwhelmed by the countless minds and memories Rogue has absorbed through her powers. This moment confirmsRogue’s mutant powers of memory absorption have the surprising side effect of psychic resistance, a fitting ability that truly makes Rogue a force to be reckoned with.
Rogue Is Gifted a New Power, Placing Her Among the X-Men’s Strongest Heroes
Rogue Savage Land#4; Written By Tim Seeley; Art By Von Randal; Color By Rachelle Rosenberg; Lettering By Joe Caramagna
Rogue has, by far, one of the most remarkable powers out of all her X-Men allies, asher ability to absorb one’s life forcegoes beyond mere power absorption and allows Rogue to retain others' knowledge, memories, and even their subconscious. Yet despite the unique characteristics of her power, Rogue’s abilities are rarely showcased beyond her permanently absorbed powers from Carol Danvers or her base-level skills.The revelation that the many voices in Rogue’s mind act as a shield against mind controlis an incredibly creative way to evolve her powers.
Juggling the minds and memories of all the people Rogue has touched is a massive burden to carry. Throughout X-Men history, Rogue has had to overcome this hurdle to her powers, but this issue has alsomade her one of the most mentally resilient X-Men.Rogue’s ability to absorb others' powers and strengths alreadyplaces her among the strongest Marvel heroes. With the expansion of her psychic powers, Rogue is arguably the most versatile hero within the X-Men. This power evolution also opens the door for Marvel to further explore her powers and use them in far more interesting ways.
Marvel Reveals Rogue Has a Collection of Other Mutant Abilities Besides Her Energy-Absorbing Powers
Rogue’s Secondary Mutation Is Quietly Revealed During Her Savage Land Journey
The ability to drain a person’s life energy does not come without consequences, asa lot of Rogue’s character development has been heavily tied to the havoc her powers have caused, but there are also clearly many benefits to her powers. This retelling of Rogue’s time in the Savage Land revisits the classic story arc from the 1990sUncanny X-Men#269-257, while also incorporating some much-needed development to Rogue’s powers. At the beginning ofRogue: Savage Land #4,Magneto also argues that Rogue radiates empathy, which has been weakening his powers.
These new powers imply there is more to Rogue’s capabilities than simply absorbing others' powers, and open the door to other possibilities.
Contrary to the original telling of Rogue’s time in the Savage Land,the focus of this revival has been redirected to better defining Rogue’s powers, with Rogue gaining two new abilities that stem from her mutant powers: the ability to radiate emotion and the ability to block mind control. These new powers imply there is more to Rogue’s capabilities than simply absorbing others' powers, and open the door to other possibilities. As Rogue’s powers evolve, Rogue could potentially project the emotions, memories, and powers she absorbs onto other people, turning her powers into a two-way street or a psychic attack.
Rogue Has Gained Incredible Power in the Savage Land, But Will Her New Abilities Last?
Rogue’s Powers May Have Their Limits, But Hope Is Not Lost
Due to how Rogue’s powers work, her ability to retain the minds of others and use them to ward off mind control might ultimately be fleeting, as the amount of power she can absorb is highly dependent on how long she maintains contact with someone. However,it’s indicated that she will always retain traces of others’ minds, similar to how she forever retains Captain Marvel’s strength and flight. In light of her newly disclosed powers, Rogue has grown into the X-Men’s most unique and adaptable hero, gradually becoming the best version of herself.
Rogue’s Savage Land Journey occurs in the past when Magneto was still a frequent antagonist to the X-Men, so it begs the question of why these powers have not appeared in any of her missions or adventures after the Savage Land. Despite Rogue’s new abilities being an excellent evolution of her base-level powers, it is also uncertain whether these abilities will carry over into future X-Men stories. Even if Rogue’s new powers are isolated to her time in the Savage Land, it still presents an innovative way to elevateRogue’s powers and inspire futureX-Menstories.
Rogue: Savage Land#4is available now from Marvel Comics!
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
