The X-Men Reveals Professor X's Most Radical Redesign Yet

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Published May 17, 2026, 11:34 AM EDT

John Dodge is an MTV Writer for CBR who specializes in movies, television, comics, and pop culture. He has a deep knowledge of franchises like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and DC Comics, along with a passion for indie and horror titles. An expert on obscure productions from the ’80s and ’90s, John is known for his encyclopedic recall of cult classics like Beetleborgs.

The following contains major spoilers for Uncanny X-Men #27 and #28, on sale now from Marvel Comics.

The founder of the X-Men has officially become one of the most underrated villains in the entire Marvel Universe.

After being seemingly pulled back through time and stripped of their memories, the Outliers find themselves taking on the role of the New Mutants, as overseen by none other than Moira MacTaggert. Somehow, that is far from the most shocking revelation made in Uncanny X-Men #27 (by Gail Simone, Luciano Vecchio, Matthew Wilson, and VC's Clayton Cowles), as the mind-bending circumstances the young mutant heroes are caught in soon break new ground when Professor X and his X-Men step into the picture.

Uncanny X-Men #27

Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by LUCIANO VECCHIO
Colors by MATTHEW WILSON
Letters by VC's CLAYTON COWLES
Design by JAY BOWEN
Main cover art by LUCIANO VECCHIO & EDGAR DELGADO
Variant covers by CAFU & DAVID CURIEL; JUAN FERREYRA; LEIRIX; NetEASE GAMES; and PEACH MOMOKO

This version of Professor X is obviously modeled after Doctor Karl Lykos, better known as the dreaded Sauron. First seen in the pages of 1969's X-Men #59 by Roy Thomas and Neal Adams, Lykos was attacked by a strange breed of pteranodon who escaped the Savage Land, an event which left him with the need to steal away the life force of others in order to survive.

After syphoning the life force of mutant hero Havok, Lykos underwent a shocking metamorphosis from which he emerged as an anthropomorphic pteranodon with even greater power than ever before. Since then, Lykos has terrorized the Marvel Universe, taking on heroes ranging from the X-Men to Spider-Man to the New Avengers along the way.

Although Sauron has seemingly taken over Professor X's classic role as the founder of the X-Men, all of this is merely part of a grander scheme by an even more malevolent villain. In fact, the Outliers aren't even the only ones trapped in an illusion tailor-made to keep them busy while their true enemies make moves unchecked.

Many of the harrowing circumstances that the Uncanny X-Men and Outliers find themselves swept up in today tie back into the goings on at Graymalkin Prison. Formerly Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the X-Men's old home and training grounds were transformed into a maximum security prison for mutants in the wake of the fall of Krakoa.

Lorded over by Corina Ellis, Graymalkin Prison has kept numerous mutants imprisoned in absolutely horrifying conditions, with many being experimented on or forced to serve Ellis' personal interests. Graymalkin Prison has also served as the development and production facility for the likes of the overtly lethal Bloodhound Sentinels that previously tore their way through mutant targets and unwitting humans alike.

Uncanny X-Men #27 and #28 from Marvel Comics are on sale now.