X-Men's New X-Force: The Full Alien vs. X-Men Roster

Screen Rant reports that Cable has assembled a new X-Force in the pages of Alien vs. X-Men #1, from Kieron Gillen, Geraldo Borges, Andrew Dalhouse and Travis Lanham. In the issue, a vessel brings enhanced Xenomorphs to Earth, and the aliens attack the X-Men. Cable shows up at the end of the issue to lead a group back in time and stop a future where the Xenomorphs win.

Screen Rant describes the lineup as a mix of X-Force's best leaders and deadliest members from across the team's history. Here is who is on the team, and what each one brings.

The roster

• Cable: The original X-Force founder is a time-traveling soldier, a telepath and an Omega-level telekinetic. Much of his power goes into holding back the Techno-Organic Virus in his body, but he can use that virus to make weapons and interface with technology. Screen Rant notes he has fought Xenomorphs before.

• Deadpool: Cable's frequent frenemy is a blades-and-guns expert with a powerful healing factor. Screen Rant warns that could backfire. Wolverine survived multiple Chestbursters, and his healing factor let the aliens keep using him, which produced Xenomorphs with retractable claws. If Deadpool ends up the same way, X-Force could face aliens that regenerate and cannot be killed. The comic also leaves Deadpool with a cybernetic eye, which Screen Rant says could mean new upgrades or a lost healing factor, since a working healing factor would normally reject artificial parts.

• Bishop: A cop from a dystopian future, Bishop can absorb energy and fire it back as kinetic blasts. That could blunt the aliens' claws and reduce the effect of their acid, though Screen Rant says it is unclear if his powers will help him defensively. He is also a weapons expert who can channel energy through firearms. Bishop joined X-Force in 2013 during Uncanny X-Force Volume 2, seeking redemption after a villainous era spent hunting Cable and Hope.

• Sage: A genius mutant with a computer-like mind, Sage has strong recall, sharp senses, fast learning and a low-level telepathic ability. She served as mission control for the Krakoan-era X-Force and helped expose the Beast. Her skills include weapons, vehicles, hacking, forensics and engineering, though Screen Rant notes she has no direct offensive or defensive power against Xenomorphs.

• Abigail Brand: The only member who never served on X-Force before, Brand ran S.W.O.R.D., Earth's anti-alien organization. She can generate fire and heals quickly because of her half-Axusian biology. Screen Rant calls her a brilliant tactical thinker with a history of galactic scheming and multiple betrayals of the X-Men, and says she could choose to merge humanity with the Xenomorphs.

• Hope: She is not part of Cable's time-traveling team, but Screen Rant says she is a major character who will likely fight alongside her adoptive father. Hope is an Omega-level power manipulator who can copy or alter mutant abilities and supercharge her allies. Since these Xenomorphs carry mutant powers, she may be able to turn those powers against them.

What X-Force is up against

In the opening scenes, an X-Men team of Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast, Kitty Pryde and Wolverine investigates a stash of Xenomorph eggs and ends up attacked by Facehuggers. Once the Xenomorphs reach Earth, they display mutant powers, including Wolverine's claws and Kitty's phasing. The Xenomorph Queen has Emma Frost's diamond skin. Screen Rant says if the whole team was taken, the aliens may also have telepathy and optic blasts. The issue also shows the X-Men losing Jamie Madrox, which could let the aliens multiply even faster.

The arrival of Cable's team is meant to be a rescue, but Screen Rant frames it as a warning. Without the time-traveling squad, the Xenomorphs win, and by time-travel logic they already have. With Abigail Brand as a possible traitor and Deadpool as a way to make the aliens stronger, this X-Force might doom the X-Men instead of saving them.

Screen Rant notes that Marvel has Alien vs. X-Men #1 on sale now, with issue #2 arriving Oct. 28.

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