Warning: Contains spoilers for INVISIBLE X-MEN #2!!Since the establishment of the X-MenThe Xavier Institute was their home base, and a place of refuge for the world’s wayward mutants. But now, it has taken on a very different role in the post-Krakoan era of the franchise; The school is now a Greymalkin prison, and the mutant known as Sirin is revealed as its first inmate.
Invisible X-Men #2 – written by Gail Simone, with art by David Marquez – offered a look at the horrifying Greymalkin prison, created from the shell of the former Xavier Institute. As the nightmarish creature called “The Hag” hunts mutants to drag them to confinement, Dr. Ellis approaches the first of her mutant inmates: Theresa Cassidy, aka Sirin.
Claiming Sirin as an inmate is a bold move for Greymalkin Prison, and a major twist for the new Invisible X-Men Run, hint at how dangerous the people in charge of it really are.
GREYMALKIN PRISON REVEALS ITS FIRST PRISONER: SIRYN.
Invisible X-Men #2 – Written by Gail Simone; Art by David Marquez, Matthew Wilson, & Clayton Cowles
Theresa Cassidy, or Siryn, made her debut back in Spider-Woman #37. She went from a former criminal at Black Tom’s side to the righteous daughter of Sean Cassidy, alias Banshee. She inherited her father’s abilities and can generate sonic screams, propel herself through sonic flight, and use hypnosis. After training with the X-Men, and then working with the Fallen Angels, X-Force and X-Factor Investigations, and surviving heavy combat against Juggernaut, Morlocks and many others, She became a formidable fighter. While Sirin is sometimes easily silenced, at her full power she can generate so much energy that even Dazzler is overloaded.
Along with her mutant abilities, one of Theresa’s greatest strengths is her connection with others. Her friendships and relationships have carried her forward, pulled her through the worst events of her life, and she does the same in kind. Her meeting with the Morrigan demonstrated this most of all. Theresa took the Morrigan’s essence into herself for the sake of healing her friend, Lorna Dane, from the fragile mental state she had fallen into. Syrin took it further by agreeing to sacrifice herself literally thousands of times to save Kraka from the slaughter that Morrigan had promised, and it was her allies who freed her for good.
Shady new villain Dr. Ellis is underestimating Siryn’s X-Men connections
Theresa Cassidy has powerful allies
Dr. Ellis was no novice, and while she may intend to try this to her advantage, it probably won’t be as simple as she expected.
It’s clear through their brief interaction that Dr. Ellis intends to manipulate Theresa into doing something on behalf of Greymalkin Prison, but it’s hardly Syrin’s first run-in with this type of pressure. She’s proven through her deal with the Morrigan That she is willing to go through great personal suffering if it means saving her fellow mutants, and suffering is certainly what Dr. Ellis is promising. She threatened great physical harm to Teresa, Perhaps not realizing that Banshee’s daughter has willingly endured several deaths for the sake of others. She is not weak, and not easily influenced in a long-term sense.
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Moreover, Theresa’s absence is something that will be noticed. Greymalkin Prison has barely stayed off the radar. The young mutants they drag in may not have strong backing, but Sirin sure does. She is the daughter of Banshee and a long-time friend of Polaris, Monet, Strong Guy and Multiple Man, in addition to joining several major teams. Dr. Ellis is no novice, and while she may intend to try this to her advantage, it probably won’t be as simple as she expects. Even if Therese agrees to her demands, her friends have already released her from a literal Goddess, making Dr. Ellis seem like the lover.
Greymalkin Prison becomes more dangerous the longer it exists
The X-Men must act fast
Sirin is not the only prisoner of Greymalkin prison, but the first one whose identity has been revealed. The holiday clearly worries Dr. Ellis with new prisoners, and will continue until something stops the operation. The longer the prison is left standing, the greater the danger becomes. Mutantkind knows that the more their enemies are allowed to fasten and plan, the harder they are to overcome. Not every inmate will be a Teresa Cassidy, and the more Dr. Ellis is allowed to work, the more likely it becomes that she will find what she’s looking for.
Syrin may be able to save herself from the horrors of Greymalkin Prison, or at least resist them, but the X-Men need to move fast and eliminate the threat for the sake of all mutantkind.
This precarious situation for Sirin has thrust her into a prominent role in the X-Franchise reboot era. Fans of the character will be excited to know how this arc plays out, both for Theresa and Dr. Ellis. Right now, the antagonist is already bold enough to try to turn one of the first X-Men into a “trustee.” As the first inmate revealed, Sirin may be able to escape the horrors of Greymalkin Prison, or at least resist them, but the X-Men Need to move fast and eliminate the threat for the sake of all mutantkind.
Invisible X-Men #2 is available now from Marvel Comics.