{"id":21852,"date":"2026-07-30T08:51:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T03:51:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=21852"},"modified":"2026-07-30T08:51:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T03:51:51","slug":"the-marvel-comics-history-of-exodus-and-the-acolytes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=21852","title":{"rendered":"The Marvel Comics History of Exodus and the Acolytes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div wp_automatic_readability=\"200.85351755252\">\n\t\t\t<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ????><\/p>\n<aside class=\"quick-take ignore\" aria-label=\"Quick Take Summary\" data-role=\"article-summary\">\n<h2 class=\"quick-take__heading\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-take__icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u26a1<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"quick-take__title\">Quick Take<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"quick-take__body ignore\">\n<ul class=\"ignore\">\n<li class=\"ignore\">X-Men \u201997 season two reintroduced the Acolytes, along with their militant leader Exodus, in an episode that reintroduced Colossus.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In one of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"info-target-blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nerdist.com\/tags\/x-men-97\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"196312\"><em>X-Men \u201997<\/em> season two<\/a>\u2018s best episodes, \u201cStrange Land, Savage Heart,\u201d we find that Colossus, wracked with grief after his sister Magik\u2019s death on Genosha, has joined the militant mutant group, the Acolytes. You may remember this group\u2014albeit a with a different roster of characters\u2014from season four of the original <em>X-Men: The Animated Series<\/em>. This group, one of the most \u201990s of the \u201990s, transcend merely following a leader to devoting themselves to a messianic figure.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"920\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured-130x74.webp 130w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured-262x148.webp 262w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured-363x205.webp 363w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured-403x227.webp 403w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured-512x288.webp 512w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured-675x380.webp 675w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured-920x518.webp 920w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured.webp 1200w\" class=\"wp-image-1099004\" alt=\"Exodus the Acolyte in X-Men.\" loading=\"eager\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">Their history in <em>X-Men<\/em> comics begins with one of the most pivotal moments in all of Marvel Comics.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-first-acolytes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The First Acolytes <\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"920\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes-115x74.webp 115w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes-230x148.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes-318x205.webp 318w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes-353x227.webp 353w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes-447x288.webp 447w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes-590x380.webp 590w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes-808x520.webp 808w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101106\/X-Men-Magneto-Acolytes.webp 960w\" class=\"wp-image-1099015\" alt=\"Magneto and the Acolytes in X-Men #1.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-the-first-acolytes\">The Acolytes first appear in the seminal <em>X-Men<\/em> Vol 2 #1 from 1991. This is the legendary issue which relaunched the conflict between the formerly rehabilitated Magneto and Charles Xavier\u2019s X-Men teams. As Magneto reemerges as the villain he had been for the balance of the \u201960s and \u201970s, he has a new team of mutant followers. No longer the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, but instead the Acolytes, those who fervently believe in Magneto\u2019s mutant supremacy. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of these Acolytes, the most important figure is Fabian Cortez, seemingly the most fawning of the group. Cortez\u2019s mutant abilities are generally in a support role. He can augment the abilities of other mutants, revive them when they\u2019re exhausted, and supercharge them when needed. However, this augmentation becomes like a drug to the augmented, making them dependent on Cortez\u2019s \u201ctreatments,\u201d and thus giving him control over them. He can also completely nullify the abilities of mutants, which is obviously a boon to him.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"546\" height=\"648\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics-62x74.webp 62w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics-125x148.webp 125w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics-173x205.webp 173w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics-191x227.webp 191w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics-243x288.webp 243w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics-320x380.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics-438x520.webp 438w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100919\/Acolytes-Comics.webp 546w\" class=\"wp-image-1099013\" alt=\"The Acoytes in Marvel Comics.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">The reader and Magneto eventually learn that Cortez is a double agent, actually a member of the Upstarts, working to destroy the Master of Magnetism for the enjoyment of another mutant villain, the Gamesmaster. Cortez crashes Asteroid M, killing all the other Acolytes, though Magneto survives.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-second-acolytes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Second Acolytes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"920\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics-130x65.webp 130w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics-262x131.webp 262w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics-363x182.webp 363w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics-403x202.webp 403w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics-512x256.webp 512w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics-675x338.webp 675w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics-920x460.webp 920w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100404\/Exodus-comics.webp 1120w\" class=\"wp-image-1099005\" alt=\"Exodus in Marvel Comics.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">Believing he\u2019d successfully killed Magneto, Cortez assembled a second group of Acolytes, all of whom true believers who exalt Magneto as a martyr. After several violent raids on mutant holding facilities, and run-ins with both the X-Men and X-Factor, a new mutant, Exodus, appears on the scene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exodus was a 12th century French nobleman who became one of Apocalypse\u2019s champions in history. Exodus is an Omega-level telekinetic who also possesses a very fitting power, that of enhancement through faith. He can bolster the powers of other mutants or his own if he or others around him believe in that mutant strongly enough. Thus, as a man of faith himself, his powers grow exponentially and is essentially one of the best hype men in X-Men.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"864\" height=\"854\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics-75x74.webp 75w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics-150x148.webp 150w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics-207x205.webp 207w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics-230x227.webp 230w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics-291x288.webp 291w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics-384x380.webp 384w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics-526x520.webp 526w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100632\/Fabian-Cortez-Comics.webp 864w\" class=\"wp-image-1099008\" alt=\"Fabian Cortez in Marvel Comics.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exodus knows the truth of Cortez\u2019s treachery and exposes it to his fellow Acolytes. This causes a rift in the group, with most now following Exodus and some remaining to follow Cortez. Upon Magneto\u2019s return, Exodus bent the knee and became one of Magneto\u2019s most staunch supporters. During this in-fighting, Cortez is killed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the <em>Fatal Attractions<\/em> event, Illyana Rasputin, aka Magik, died, the first victim of the Legacy Virus. When the Acolytes arrived to pay their respects at her funeral, her older brother Colossus became enraged with Xavier and his starry-eyed dream for peace. He then joins with Magneto and the Acolytes. Despite Kitty Pryde trying to persuade Colossus to return to the X-Men, he chooses to stay.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"920\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics-130x65.webp 130w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics-262x131.webp 262w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics-363x182.webp 363w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics-403x202.webp 403w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics-512x256.webp 512w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics-675x338.webp 675w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics-920x460.webp 920w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29101310\/X-Men-Colossus-Acolytes-comics.webp 1200w\" class=\"wp-image-1099016\" alt=\"Colossus fights the X-Men in Marvel Comics.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the aftermath of the <em>Age of Apocalypse<\/em>, one of Apocalypse\u2019s Horsemen, his son Holocaust, jumps into the 616 universe. Exodus is thrilled and brings him into the Acolyte fold. However, Holocaust, go figure, is a living nightmare, absorbing mutants into himself and generally causing mayhem. The Acolytes all agree to turn themselves in to the X-Men if they will help, but Exodus remains with Holocaust. Magneto seemingly dies again during this, and Colossus likewise escapes.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-third-acolytes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Third Acolytes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">Exodus and another small band of Acolytes appear when Joseph, the \u201creborn\u201d Magneto, arrives on the scene. This group lasts all of four issues, in the <em>Magneto<\/em> miniseries.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-fourth-acolytes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Fourth Acolytes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">A group of Acolytes are among those slaughtered by Wild Sentinels on Genosha during Cassandra Nova\u2019s destruction of the island. This takes place in the first issue of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely\u2019s <em>New X-Men<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-fifth-acolytes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Fifth Acolytes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exodus assembles a group of Acolytes yet again following the mass-depowering event, M-Day. During this period, in <em>Decimation<\/em> and forward, the Acolytes become major figures in the search for the first newborn mutant since M-Day. Eventually, Xavier convinces Exodus to disband the Acolytes once Hope Summers, the selfsame Mutant Messiah, arrives on the scene.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"502\" height=\"596\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa-62x74.webp 62w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa-125x148.webp 125w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa-173x205.webp 173w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa-191x227.webp 191w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa-243x288.webp 243w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa-320x380.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa-438x520.webp 438w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100548\/Exodus-Krakoa.webp 502w\" class=\"wp-image-1099006\" alt=\"Exodus leads mutants to the promised land in Marvel Comics.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-acolytes-return-on-krakoa\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Acolytes Return on Krakoa<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Xavier and Magneto announce their new mutant haven on Krakoa, and the new ability to resurrect dead mutants, Exodus, Cortez, and several other former Acolytes choose to move to the island. Cortez would join the space-based S.W.O.R.D. team under Abigail Brand, while Exodus became a member of the Krakoan Quiet Council and a major figure in saving the mutants during the <em>Fall of X<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-acolytes-in-x-men-the-animated-series\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Acolytes in <em>X-Men: The Animated Series<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"576\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS-99x74.webp 99w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS-197x148.webp 197w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS-273x205.webp 273w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS-303x227.webp 303w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS-384x288.webp 384w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS-507x380.webp 507w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100656\/Fabian-Cortez-X-Men-TAS.webp 576w\" class=\"wp-image-1099009\" alt=\"Fabian Cortez in X-Men: The Animated Series.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">Fabian Cortez and the Acolytes appeared in the two-part fourth season story, \u201cSanctuary.\u201d It dramatizes the Asteroid M incident from the comics. Magneto seemingly dies and Cortez assumes control of the base, sending missiles to Earth and leading to the X-Men saving the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">Cortez would appear once more in <em>X-Men: TAS<\/em>. In the season five episode \u201cThe Fifth Horseman,\u201d Cortez kidnaps Jubilee and attempts to revive Apocalypse through using her body as a vessel. Instead, Apocalypse possesses Cortez\u2019s body. Serves him right, the weasel.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-acolytes-in-x-men-97\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Acolytes in <em>X-Men \u201997<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"920\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus-130x74.webp 130w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus-262x148.webp 262w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus-363x205.webp 363w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus-403x227.webp 403w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus-512x288.webp 512w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus-675x380.webp 675w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus-920x518.webp 920w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100832\/X-Men-97-Exodus.webp 1200w\" class=\"wp-image-1099012\" alt=\"Exodus in X-Men '97.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exodus appeared briefly in a non-speaking role in season one\u2019s standout middle episode, \u201cRemember It.\u201d He reappears in \u201cStrange Land, Savage Heart,\u201d as the new leader of the Acolytes. This version, which includes Colossus and several other \u201cOh hey, yeah, that guy\u201d mutants, fulfills the remit of the Magneto as martyr group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The episode also reinterprets a scene from the comics in which Exodus oversees a trial with Colossus as one of the de-facto lawyers. However, while in the comics, Colossus is defending a mutant accused of betraying the Acolytes, here he\u2019s the judge, Exodus the prosecutor trying the case of anti-mutant leader Graydon Creed, and the man\u2019s half-brother Nightcrawler for the defense. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img width=\"920\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge-130x74.webp 130w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge-262x148.webp 262w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge-363x205.webp 363w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge-403x227.webp 403w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge-512x288.webp 512w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge-675x380.webp 675w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge-920x518.webp 920w, https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100734\/X-Men-97-colossus-judge.webp 1200w\" class=\"wp-image-1099011\" alt=\"Colossus in X-Men '97.\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 575px) calc(100vw - 30px), (max-width: 767px) 510px, (max-width: 991px) 690px, (max-width: 1199px) 620px, 740px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marvel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\">Before Colossus can render his verdict, Exodus believes him a traitor and attacks, leading to a brawl between X-Men and Acolytes. In the skirmish, Creed shoots Exodus in the back, seemingly killing him. (Exodus is too cool to stay dead for long.) Colossus then rejoins the X-Men.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph ignore\"><em>Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"info-target-blank\" href=\"https:\/\/podcasters.spotify.com\/pod\/show\/laserfocus\">podcast Laser Focus<\/a>. You can find his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"info-target-blank\" href=\"https:\/\/nerdist.com\/tags\/kyle-anderson-review\/\">film and TV reviews here<\/a>. Follow him on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"info-target-blank\" href=\"https:\/\/letterboxd.com\/kyle_anderson\/\">Letterboxd<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u26a1 Quick Take X-Men \u201997 season two reintroduced the Acolytes, along with their militant leader Exodus, in an episode that reintroduced Colossus. In one of X-Men \u201997 season two\u2018s best episodes, \u201cStrange Land, Savage Heart,\u201d we find that Colossus, wracked with grief after his sister Magik\u2019s death on Genosha, has joined the militant mutant group,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21853,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cdn.nerdist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/29100146\/Exodus-Comics-featured.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21852","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21852","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21852"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21852\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21853"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21852"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21852"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21852"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}