Warning: Spoilers for X-Men Hellfire Gala 2023 #1
Summary
The state of the love triangle between Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey has finally been settled. This week marks the X-Men’s annual Hellfire Gala event, where mutants and heroes alike congregate on Krakoa for a night of lavish festivities. Unfortunately for everyone involved, this year’s event ended in an unforeseen tragedy.
This year’s gala ends with an insurmountable number of deaths after an attack by the mutant-hating Orchis group in X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 by Gerry Duggan, Jonathan Hickman, Adam Kubert, Luciano Vecchio, Matteo Lolli, Russell Dauterman, Javier Pina, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, Kris Anka, Pepe Larraz, Valerio Schiti, Rain Beredo, Matthew Wilson, Marte Gracia, Erick Ariniega, Ceci de la Cruz, and Virtual Calligraphy. Following the election of a new X-Men team, a surprise attack by Nimrod is bolstered by Stark Sentinels and Orchis troops, who lay waste to the island of Krakoa. To rub salt in the wound, Professor X is tricked into killing 250,000 mutants after forcing them to walk through sabotaged Krakoan gates. Jean Grey is among the night’s casualties. In her dying breath, she telepathically reaches out to both Cyclops and Wolverine—both of whom are off-island—to tell them that she loves them.
Jean Grey Loves BOTH Wolverine and Cyclops
These three have been entangled in a love triangle for several decades at this point. For years, Wolverine and Cyclops often bickered over Jean’s affections while Jean found herself conflicted over whom she truly wanted to be with. In more recent times, Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey all agreed to co-exist in one polyamorous relationship (albeit one that’s never been openly discussed, just heavily implied). This relationship is not just one in which the male participants get along for Jean’s sake, but Wolverine and Cyclops have been strongly hinted to be just as into each other.
While polyamory always seemed like a logical next step for the would-be throuple, the love triangle continues to evolve with this latest revelation. Wolverine and Cyclops’ love for Jean Grey has always been undisputed, but much of the conflict of the triangle has revolved around who Jean Grey may “choose” between the two. But it was never about her choosing one or the other, not for Jean at least.
Instead, it was always a matter of both of these men sincerely loving and respecting Jean and for Jean to love them both back equally. Jean’s love for both Wolverine and Cyclops doesn’t necessarily need to translate to romance or being together with either of them or both of them. Truthfully, Jean Grey‘s love for Wolverine and Cyclops transcends more traditional ideas around love, and she proves that in her final moments.
X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.
Their love evolves, even in Jean’s death. Read More