Imagine a future where the heroes we once admired are now twisted shadows of their former selves. This is the chilling reality for the X-Men in Marvel’s Age of Revelation crossover, where the line between good and evil is blurrier than ever. But here’s where it gets truly unsettling: it’s not just the villains who are corrupted—it’s the heroes themselves, manipulated into betraying everything they once stood for. And this is the part most people miss: the emotional toll of a mother’s love being weaponized against her own family.
In a recent CBR exclusive preview of Laura Kinney: Sabretooth #2, written by Erica Schultz with art by Valentina Pinti, we witness the heartbreaking descent of Laura Kinney, the former X-23, into a role she never imagined: a hunter of her own flesh and blood. But here’s the controversial twist: is Laura truly evil, or is she just another victim of Revelation’s mind-bending powers? This question is at the heart of the story, as Laura is forced to chase her sister Gabby and half-brother Akihiro, who are desperately trying to smuggle her son, Sean, out of Revelation’s oppressive territories.
Brian Cronin, CBR’s senior staff writer and comic book legend, has been dissecting these complex narratives for over fifteen years. With books like Was Superman a Spy? and 100 Things X-Men Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die, Cronin is no stranger to exploring the darker corners of comic lore. His insights into the Age of Revelation event reveal a disturbing trend: heroes like Logan and Laura, now known as Death and Sabretooth, are not acting of their own free will. Revelation, the former Doug Ramsey turned Apocalypse’s heir, has manipulated their minds, turning them into pawns in his dystopian regime.
In Laura Kinney: Sabretooth #2, the stakes are personal. Laura, desperate to protect her non-mutant son Sean, enlists Gabby and Akihiro’s help to smuggle him out of danger. But when Hellion, a fellow Revelation follower, discovers her plan, Laura is forced to make a tragic choice: kill him to protect her secret. Yet, Revelation’s reach is inescapable. Using his powers, he twists Laura’s maternal instincts, compelling her to retrieve Sean by any means necessary. The preview pages show Laura’s anguish as her mind is warped, leaving readers to wonder: Can love survive in a mind that’s been broken?
Meanwhile, Gabby and Akihiro, accompanied by a mysterious figure, race against time to reach the teleportation gates to Arrako, the mutant sanctuary on Mars. But Laura, flanked by Revelation’s soldiers, intercepts them. The tension is palpable: will Laura sacrifice her son’s freedom to obey her master, or will she find a way to break free from his control? The answer lies in the pages of Laura Kinney: Sabretooth #2, releasing next week.
But here’s the question that lingers: If heroes like Laura can be so easily corrupted, what hope is there for the rest of the X-Men? And more controversially, does Revelation’s manipulation absolve Laura of her actions, or is she still accountable for her choices? Let’s debate this in the comments—do you think Laura is a victim or a villain? One thing’s for sure: this story is a must-read for anyone who’s ever wondered how far a hero can fall.
