BANSHEE: A FAMILIAR FACE AMONG THE RECRUITS

BANSHEE: A FAMILIAR FACE AMONG THE RECRUITS Banshee brings earlier X-Men history into the 1975 rescue squad. Sean Cassidy first appeared in X-Men #28, years before Giant-Size X-Men #1. Calling the whole group new can obscure the fact that Xavier is also reaching out to people the book has already introduced. Sean's earlier involvement with Factor Three included coercion. By the time of this recruitment, there's an existing connection for Xavier to call on. He enters the group with experience of both his powers and the dangers surrounding mutant life. His sonic scream gives the team another way to attack, and it also allows him to fly. That's a different kind of mobility from Nightcrawler's teleportation or Storm riding the wind. The green-and-yellow costume's wing-like panels make that airborne role visible whenever he spreads his arms. During the approach into Krakoa's temple, Banshee covers the rear while Cyclops leads. It's a small piece of the rescue, but it gives him a clear responsibility in the formation. Sean is older than many of the others and already knows the X-Men. He's in a position to recognize what Xavier and Scott are trying to accomplish, even while several recruits are still deciding how much trust to give them. That familiarity gives him a different starting point within the squad.