X-Force’s leader has finally admitted that one key member of the team was never intended to be a part of their roster.

X-Force #3 finds the eponymous team of mutant heroes racing to Cambodia, where some unknown catastrophe has befallen the country. Even if they aren’t sure what they are in for yet, Forge doesn’t doubt that his team is ready for the challenges that await them. Sage, on the other hand, isn’t so sure, especially not when their youngest member, Surge, was given her invitation after the original lineup had already been established.

Written by GEOFFREY THORNE Art by MARCUS TO Colors by ERICK ARCINIEGA Letters by VC’s JOE CARAMAGNA Design by JAY BOWEN Main cover art by STEPHEN SEGOVIA & RAIN BEREDO Variant covers by BJÖRN BARENDS, CLAYTON CRAIN, and JUNGGEUN YOON

Noriko Ashida, better known as Surge, made her Marvel Comics debut in the pages of 2004’s New Mutants #8 by writers Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir and artists Carlo Barberi and Khary Randolph. When her mutant powers manifested shortly after she turned thirteen, Noriko ran away from home, having previously stated that her father “doesn’t believe in mutants.” Eventually, Noriko made her way to the Xavier Institute to seek help, only to be turned away at the gate by fellow young mutant and future villain Julian Keller, then known as Hellion. Fortunately, Noriko would ultimately find her place as one of Xavier’s pupils, kicking off a long and storied career as Surge.

Following the tragic end of the Krakoan Era, Noriko returned to Japan where she reunited with many of her closest family members. Not long after, Forge’s X-Force arrived to quell the threat of the oozing monstrosity known as Taboo. Initially, Noriko took X-Force’s arrival as a further assault, though once she realized what they were actually doing, she quickly joined them in their fight against the towering mud-like alien beast. Unlike the other members, Noriko found a place for herself in the X-Force rather than being explicitly asked to join as the rest of Forge’s hand-picked roster of mutant heroes had been.

Apart from Forge, Sage, and Surge, the current X-Force lineup consists of Betsy Braddock, aka Captain Britain, Rachel Summers, aka Askani, and the enigmatic Tank, who so far has never removed his crimson armor. Using Forge’s latest invention, the Analog, the heroes of X-Force pinpoint what would be catastrophic events, giving the team a chance to intervene before it is too late or, if possible, before things take a downward turn in the first place. Unfortunately, the Analog provides little to no details regarding any threat, which caused the heroes of X-Force to be at odds with Wakanda.

X-Force #3 is on sale September 25 from Marvel Comics.

Source: Marvel Comics