A dark side to X-Men Founders' party revealed in X-Factor #9 preview

X-Factor #9
(Image credit: David Baldeon (Marvel Comics))

The Founders' party was the high point of the milestone House of X / Powers of X saga in 2019, but in next week's X-Factor #9 it will be revealed there was something dark, brooding, and ancient lurking in it all.

In a preview of X-Factor #9 released to Newsarama, the dark goddess the Morrigan who has been causing trouble for mutantkind is revealed to have been a part of the Founders' party in House of X #6, but only Siryn - who the Morrigan has been subtly possessing - could see the dark force.

Take a look:

'Gaes', for those wondering, is a word from Irish folklore describition a debt or obligation magically imposed on a person. That person, in this case, appears to be Siryn.

(Image credit: Ivan Shavrin (Marvel Comics))

This all comes to light when Rachel and the rest of X-Factor telepathically enter Siryn's mind to discover what's been going on with her - and the true extent of the Morrigan's powers.

The Morrigan has been a part of Siryn going all the way back to 2012's X-Factor #244, when the mutant sacrificed herself to take on the Morrigan's dark power to save her friends. Since the advent of the 'Dawn of X' era in 2019, Siryn has died at least twice by the hand of the Morrigan - only to be resurrected as part of mutantkind's new abilities to resurrect any mutant. The circumstances of Siryn's death is what led X-Factor to investigate.

"BEST! CONCERT! EVER! The Morrigan needs to be destroyed," reads Marvel's description of X-Factor #9. "The answer lies in the Mojoverse. LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GETTING THE BAND BACK TOGETHER."

X-Factor #9 goes on sale on May 12.

Keep track of this and all the new X-Men comics, graphic novels, and collections in 2021 and beyond.

Chris Arrant

Chris Arrant covered comic book news for Newsarama from 2003 to 2022 (and as editor/senior editor from 2015 to 2022) and has also written for USA Today, Life, Entertainment Weekly, Publisher's Weekly, Marvel Entertainment, TOKYOPOP, AdHouse Books, Cartoon Brew, Bleeding Cool, Comic Shop News, and CBR. He is the author of the book Modern: Masters Cliff Chiang, co-authored Art of Spider-Man Classic, and contributed to Dark Horse/Bedside Press' anthology Pros and (Comic) Cons. He has acted as a judge for the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, the Harvey Awards, and the Stan Lee Awards. Chris is a member of the American Library Association's Graphic Novel & Comics Round Table. (He/him)

Read more
Frenzy and the other mutants fight in X-Factor #6.
The X-Factor team face betrayal and infighting as they come to terms with losing another member
Professor X with his eyes glowing.
A jailbreak launches an X-Manhunt for Charles Xavier in the first major crossover of the current X-Men era
Kamala Khan holds Jean Grey's body in an homage to the cover of Uncanny X-Men #136
45 years after the original Dark Phoenix Saga, Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan will travel back in time to save X-Men history
Ultimate X-Men #11 preview
Peach Momoko's horror manga style X-Men will finally get their superhero costumes in Ultimate X-Men #11
Uncanny X-Men #11
Professor Xavier goes into cardiac arrest as X-Manhunt kicks off in Uncanny X-Men #11
A shovel sitting by the open grave of Gwen Stacy
Marvel promises "Nothing is sacred" as it teases the resurrection of the original Gwen Stacy, and also a "long-lost loved one" for Jean Grey
Latest in Marvel Comics
Kamala Khan holds Jean Grey's body in an homage to the cover of Uncanny X-Men #136
45 years after the original Dark Phoenix Saga, Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan will travel back in time to save X-Men history
Doctor Doom facing off with the students of Doom Academy
Doom Academy #5 brings the series to a close with a confrontation between Doctor Doom and his students
Daredevil leaping into action by Chris Samnee
Who is Daredevil? Everything you ever wanted to know about Marvel's Man Without Fear before Daredevil: Born Again
Juggernaut and Cyclops.
The Amazing Spider-Man #68.DEATHS is a major turning point for one former X-Men villain
Uncanny X-Men #11
Professor Xavier goes into cardiac arrest as X-Manhunt kicks off in Uncanny X-Men #11
Concert of Champions #1
Concert of Champions brings together Luna Snow of Marvel Rivals, Dazzler of the X-Men, and many more for the biggest music festival in Marvel Universe history
Latest in News
Dragon Age Inquisition
Dragon Age actor says the last time he played Inquisition, he upheld the RPG tradition led by Baldur's Gate 3 actors and romanced his own character: "Which is the best — the best"
Monster Hunter Wilds
Capcom promises "this is just the start for the next generation of Monster Hunter" as Wilds shatters sales milestones: "The Guild authorizes this celebration!"
Lester sitting at a computer in some artwork for GTA Online
Some GTA 5 players can't bring their characters to the new PC upgrade, and the open-world game's mixed Steam reviews are hammering FPS caps and a lack of text chat
Kamala Khan holds Jean Grey's body in an homage to the cover of Uncanny X-Men #136
45 years after the original Dark Phoenix Saga, Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan will travel back in time to save X-Men history
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the first game in the series with "a fully customizable sandbox" as your base, which is where Yasuke and Naoe hang out and pet baby animals
Monster Hunter Wilds screenshot of spider boss Nerscylla
Monster Hunter Wilds takes an infamously rare and annoying material from the old games and absolutely buries you in it – and also buries you in tiny spiders