Since Jonathan Hickman’s relaunch of the X-line of titles in 2019’s House of X/Powers of X, readers may have noticed there hasn’t actually been an official team on the new mutant nation of Krakoa referred to as X-Men. During the events of the recently-concluded X of Swords crossover, Cyclops and Jean Grey have made their intentions clear, however: the world still needs X-Men, whether the Quiet Council ruling over Krakoa agree or not.
This new mutant status quo requires a new way of determining who belongs on the flagship team. And so, Marvel has opened the floor for fans to decide who they would like to see in the final spot. The list of candidates is made up primarily of former members of the X-Men, New Mutants, and X-Factor, but one mutant stands out as being a dark horse contender, never having served on any prominent mutant team. Heather Tucker, the former mutant freedom fighter also known as the time-manipulating Tempo.
This new mutant status quo requires a new way of determining who belongs on the flagship team. And so, Marvel has opened the floor for fans to decide who they would like to see in the final spot. The list of candidates is made up primarily of former members of the X-Men, New Mutants, and X-Factor, but one mutant stands out as being a dark horse contender, never having served on any prominent mutant team. Heather Tucker, the former mutant freedom fighter also known as the time-manipulating Tempo.
Tempo’s allegiance with the MLF wasn’t completely solid. Prior to an MLF attack on a health clinic, Tempo provides X-Factor with an anonymous tip as to their whereabouts. Sensing some heroism within her, Cable even once offered Tempo a spot on X-Force, which she ultimately refused.
Following the Scarlet Witch’s decimation of the mutant race, Tempo was one of the few to retain her powers. After a brief stint with the Magneto-worshipping group the Acolytes, Tempo allied herself with the X-Men and took up residence on their makeshift mutant island utopia. Following a reality warp by Professor X’s mentally unstable, highly-powerful son Legion, Tempo was killed by a squad of human soldiers. She has since been seen on Krakoa, presumably resurrected by The Five, and providing the new mutant nation with a supposedly stellar batch of artificially aged whiskey.
Despite her relatively low number of appearances and history as little more than a side character, Tempo has developed a shockingly high amount of support by fans on social media since the announcement of her new X-Men candidacy. Presented as black, and heavily implied to be queer in the Age of X storyline, many readers are sensing that Tempo’s potential inclusion in the X-Men could bring more diversity and representation to the team. With much of her backstory and motivations unexplored or ill-defined, Tempo’s presence on the team opens the door for a level of character exploration most of the other candidates have already received throughout their publication history. Also, there’s something to be said for that totally ridiculous, yet awesome helmet she wears.
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