Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Phoenix #10 (2025)
In a dramatic evolution of her character, Jean Grey has fully embraced her role as the Phoenix, shifting her focus from Earth to the expansive cosmos. As she journeys through space, Jean has taken on a divine presence, dedicating herself to safeguarding the universe from various threats that jeopardize the fragile balance of peace. Poised to confront new challenges, Jean’s world is shaken with the unexpected return of a familiar face long believed to be lost.
In the latest issue, Phoenix #10 (2025), crafted by Stephanie Phillips and Alessandro Miracolo, Jean confronts the Dark Gods, spearheaded by Perrikus, in a climactic showdown within the Nexus of All Realities. Determined to shield the young Adani from the Dark Gods’ corrupting influence and their insatiable desire for the Phoenix Force, Jean engages in a fierce battle for the fate of all.
After successfully overcoming these malevolent deities and rescuing the young girl, Jean returns to her cosmic duties, tending to her “garden”among the stars. However, her tranquility is abruptly interrupted by a cryptic psychic message transmitted through the vastness of space—it’s from her sister, Sara Grey, whom she had long thought dead.
The Return of Jean Grey’s Sister After 31 Years
Sara Grey, Jean’s elder sister and a pivotal figure in her life, had a significant role during Jean’s formative years at Xavier’s School. Although the two sisters maintained a close bond, tragedy struck during Jean’s year-long absence, following the notorious “Dark Phoenix”saga, as Sara was presumed dead after a space incident. Remarkably, while Jean was navigating her resurrection, Sara and her husband became vocal advocates for mutant rights, publicly supporting the X-Men—a commitment tragically overshadowed by their eventual fate.
In the aftermath of Jean’s resurrection, chaos erupted as anti-mutant factions violently targeted supporters, including Sara. Viewing her sister on television, Jean attempted to reach out, unaware of the looming danger. It was later uncovered in X-Men #36 (1994) that Sara and her husband had been ruthlessly murdered by the anti-mutant zealot Cameron Hodge before their bodies were absorbed by the Phalanx, deepening the familial tragedy.
Debating Sara Grey’s Potential Mutant Legacy
A Potential Unveiling of Dormant Powers
For the majority of her story arc, Sara Grey was perceived solely as human, devoid of mutant abilities. Despite her lack of powers, hints from the ex-Atlantean king Attuma and the Phalanx suggested that she could, in fact, be a latent mutant with untapped potential. Sara’s mysterious demise led to a profound sense of loss within the X-Men universe, raising questions about her true nature.
The Speculation of Sara Grey’s Child Potential
In a historical context, the Bizarre Adventures #27 (1981) storyline reveals a chilling attempt by Attuma to exploit Jean and Sara for their mutant genetics, aspiring to engineer a powerful hybrid offspring. Fortunately, Jean freed them in time, but this plotline suggests intriguing possibilities for the ongoing Phoenix saga. Should Sara indeed possess mutant qualities similar to Jean’s, she could potentially confer these attributes to her children, amplifying the stakes for the X-Men universe.
Even if Sara never unlocked her own powers, her offspring might inherit remarkable abilities. The gruesome fate of her first children at the hands of the Shi’ar military, however, presents a formidable barrier, leaving a vacuum of tragedy around her character’s journey. If Sara cannot ascend to a divine role akin to Jean, perhaps her child could—suggesting a tantalizing threat within the cosmos. As a result, this return of the presumed dead Sara Grey could herald a significant shift, potentially evolving her into a major adversary for the Phoenix and the X-Men.
Phoenix #10 (2025) is currently available from Marvel Comics!