As X-Men's 'From the Ashes' era establishes a surprising new status quo for Marvel's mutant heroes, Cyclops and Rogue are going to war in a surprising grudge match. Not only are the two mutant leaders coming to blows, but their fight will redefine the iconic 'X' logo, turning it into a symbol of discord rather than unity. With mutant bonds more strained than ever, old alliances aren't what they used to be, and Rogue and Cyclops' alliance is apparently hanging by a thread.

In recently released solicit information for the X-Men #8, Marvel has revealed that Cyclops and Rogue will come to blows, with Ryan Stegman's cover showing Rogue punching Cyclops' iconic visor from his face while stealing his optic blast powers.

The issue's summary notes that this isn't a meaningless scuffle, describing Rogue and Cyclops as "doctrinal rivals" and stating that the X-Men's X symbol is "made by two lines crossing." So far in 'From the Ashes,' X-Men has begun setting up Rogue and Cyclops as the new leaders of mutantkind. However, it turns out they're going to be more rivals than co-workers, creating two different philosophies for the X-Men to be torn between.

Cyclops and Rogue are becoming enemies thanks to their different beliefs about what's next for mutantkind.

Cyclops and Rogue's X-Men Teams Are Now "Doctrinal Rivals"

Charles Xavier Has Created a Power Vacuum

Marvel's new 'From the Ashes' era follows on from its blockbuster Krakoan Era, which saw the X-Men create and ultimately lose an island nation where all mutants were welcome. In the aftermath of that loss, mutants are less trusted than ever, and many of the mutant heroes' bonds have shattered - not least because Xavier betrayed his students and has been imprisoned for the lives he took while working with the anti-mutant group Orchis. While Xavier's plans and reasons were complex, his actions destroyed his former students' trust in him, leaving mutantkind without a de facto leader.

Groups have begun to coalesce, with Ryan Stegman and Jed MacKay's X-Men following Cyclops leading a strike team of mutant heroes, while Gail Simone and David Marquez's Uncanny X-Men sees Rogue and a selection of loner heroes come together to protect a new generation of mutant students on the run from a mysterious villain. While things are currently hard for mutants, Cyclops and Rogue still consider themselves allies and have even been communicating about possible threats, making their rivalry all the more fascinating.

A phone call between Cyclops and Rogue shows that their alliance already has some major cracks in the foundation.

Making Rogue & Cyclops Enemies Is a Great Idea

Marvel Is Establishing the Characters as New Pillars of the Franchise

Uncanny X-Men #1's bonus page (gated behind a QR code in physical copies) named Cyclops and Rogue the new "pillars" of the franchise, and fans naturally guessed they'd be working together with their separate teams, with one based in Alaska and the other in New Orleans. However, X-Men #3 and Uncanny X-Men #2 show cracks beginnin to form, as a phone call between Rogue and Cyclops demonstrates their different approaches, with Cyclops advising caution while Rogue flies into action.

In promotional material leading up to Uncanny X-Men, Simone made it clear that Rogue feels the X-Men have failed her, and that in her time of need her supposed system wasn't there to help. Simone has also promised a major tragedy coming for Rogue in the pages of Uncanny X-Men, creating a schism with Cyclops remiscent of Xavier and Magneto's iconic rivalry. So far, it's hard to imagine where the exact fracture line will be, though it's clear neither hero is taking the new status quo well, with Cyclops assembling a powerful, isolated superhero task force and Rogue grasping for meaning alongside friends who no longer see 'X-Men' as a meaningful identity.

It seems that in of purpose, Cyclops will be dedicated to eliminating threats to mutants, while Rogue will take over the care of a group of neophyte heroes. These roles should fit together nicely, but when Cyclops and Wolverine broke the X-Men apart in 2011's Schism event, it was because Scott insisted on treating young mutants as soldiers in the war for survival, while Logan believed they should be protected. Wolverine is currently a major member of Rogue's team, meaning the split could occur down similar lines.

It's also possible that Rogue will take on a more militant position than Cyclops, who has grown up under the mantra of proving to humanity that mutants can be trusted. Rogue is one of the truest believers in Xavier's legacy and has clashed with human heroes before on the philosophy and politics of mutant rights. It's possible that her up-front methods may conflict with Cyclops' more tactical, long-game approach, as seen in their phone call.

X-Men has always been about conflicting ideologies, but few expected Rogue vs Cyclops to be the new Magneto vs Xavier.

X-Men Continues Rogue's Well-Deserved Rise to Stardom

Rogue Hasn't Always Been on Cyclops' Level, But in 2024 This Grudge Makes Sense

Rogue started out as a villain, only turning to heroism after the X-Men took her in and provided her with a system to become a better person. Because of this, she is a huge believer in Xavier's dream and in his school. Sadly, in the 'From the Ashes' era, the school has become a prison for mutants run by the mysterious Warden Ellis. It's understandable that this use of Xavier's school would act as the flashpoint for Rogue and Cyclops' "doctrinal" rivalry.

While Rogue was once an outsider even by X-Men standards, she's gone from strength to strength in the last few decades. Rogue led her own team of X-Men and eventually became team leader of the Avengers' Unity Squad, showcasing her leadership abilities and sincere belief in fighting to make the world better. With Xavier gone, Rogue has been searching for purpose, even as of her new team like Gambit and Wolverine wonder if the X-Men's cause is over for good. Turning her into not just a pillar of the franchise but the exemplar of a new 'doctrine' of mutant heroism is the latest evolution for the character.

X-Men has always been to some extent about contrasting ideas, with most of Marvel history seeing Xavier's dream in conflict with Magneto's extremism. Now, the next generation are in charge, but it appears that division will be given new life as Cyclops and Rogue become rivals in the fight for mutant survival. The X-Men's 'X' logo has meant many different things over their publication history, but it's an exciting development for Marvel to define it as "two lines crossing," suggesting that Rogue and Cyclops' conflict will get to the very heart of what makes the franchise so unique.

X-Men #8 is coming December 4 from Marvel Comics.