Marvel’s Sins of Sinister brings back a mutant beloved by Jonathan Hickman fans

Marvel’s sins of evil was always meant to call back on trifles House X/Powers of X, the founding text of the modern X-Men line. And yes, technically, Rasputin, an awesome genetic experiment that looks like a cross between Colossus and his sister Magik, was a “disposable character” destined to live in only a limited glimpse of a possible future timeline. But it’s not a slam. Characters don’t necessarily become any less cool just because they don’t stick with them, and Rasputin is a great example of the power of brevity.

HoX/smallpox was a tale of alternate futures and timelines going up and down so often that author Jonathan Hickman and his collaborators gave the reader a chart directly to keep track of. What did … do HoX/smallpox Work was a commitment to make these timelines an unforgettable experience. We might not have spent a lot of time in them, but we would know for sure that they were cool.

Though Rasputin might have had a smaller role to play than expected with her crystal clear visual design, it was a hell of a time. That’s why I’m so happy to see her again for another finite story arc in the alternate future sins of evil. I’m getting more Rasputin, a badass gene splice with five different mutant gifts – but there’s no chance she’ll survive her welcome as a completely overpowered and bizarre character five different mutant gifts.

What else is happening on the pages of our favorite comics? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Monday Funnies, Polygon’s weekly list of books our comics editor has enjoyed over the past week. It’s part society pages about the lives of superheroes, part recommended reading, and part look at this cool art. There may be some spoilers. There may not be enough context. But there will be great comics. (And if you missed the last issue, read this.)

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Image: Kieron Gillen, Andrea Di Vito/Marvel Comics

Also, Kieron Gillen laces Rasputin’s storyline with Star Trek references like it was made especially for me.

Image: Greg Rucka, Eric Trautmann, Mike Henderson/Image Comics

I’ll always give a Greg Rucka book at least one chance, and his new series with artists Eric Trautmann and Mike Henderson is spacey and sexy and mech-y and weird, weird, weird. Huge Warhammer and Dune vibes, with an intergalactic quasi-religious empire featuring genetically engineered mecha attack teams and sex oracles – plus an all-female lead who’ll be fit as hell, a central mystery and beautiful coloring by Nolan Woodard. I’m very interested to see more.

Image: Priest, Carlo Pagulayan/DC Comics

Priest’s writing style can be hit or miss for me, but if there’s one thing I like about him, it’s that he lets moments breathe. All pitch on Superman: Lost is that Superman loses 20 years in a strange adventure, while time flies on earth – for priest and artist Carlo Pagulayan it is an inflection, a very dramatic and eerie one, to still devote four pages to the weight of this realization.

Image: Benjamin Percy, Juan Jose Ryp/Marvel Comics

Congratulations to Hank McCoy on joining the ranks of Marvel Comics characters who are so big assholes the only people who can stand to be around them are them other versions of themselves. It’s an exclusive club that includes Kang, Reed Richards and Mephisto. I hope you’re really happy, Hank.