![](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/6/63/X-Man_Vol_1_32.jpg)
A homeless killer mutant named Jack Knife stalks Nate, who is out dancing. Jack was one of Abomination’s sewer-dwelling Forgotten club, and apparently he blames Nate for breaking up that crew (when Nate fought Abomination back in X-Man #21).
Jack also wants to kill Roust, also a past member of the Forgotten, but X-Man saves him.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/jack-knife-vs-x-man-823x1024.png)
The big confrontation happens in a club, where Nate is dancing with three nonpowered girls who have been following him around for a bunch of issues: Marita, Jam and Bux. They kind of treat him like a cult leader.
Because the big finale happens in public, a bunch more people see him. The cops try to arrest him, and the crowd rings around Nate, protecting him.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/x-man-32-660x1024.png)
It looks like next issue will bring some of this messiah stuff from the side-story into the main tale.
It makes sense that a guy with Nate’s powers and good looks would have such a role–frankly, I’m surprised nobody thought of it before now. It’s a solid driver and offers a lot of opportunities for storylines. Cable has hints of this, but it’s not done very well and it’s annoyingly tied to a fake future.
Also in this story, we see Threnody raising a bunch of zombies.