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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 29, 2017 1:33:40 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #266 "Gambit: Out of the Frying Pan"Cover Date: Late August, 1990 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Mike Collins Featured Characters: Ororo/Storm Villain/s: Nanny, Orphan Maker, Jacob Reisz/The Shadow King, Lian Shen, Hounds, Val Cooper (Controlled by TSK) Guest Stars: Gambit, Mystique Official Plot: In her attempt to steal back some stolen paintings, Ororo has run right into the Shadow King's trap. She desperately struggles against the attacks of his Hounds and, after hurting the King with her haphazard weather power, she falls into a pool, from which she is rescued by a charismatic young thief who calls himself Gambit and has mutant powers himself. Gambit almost manages to mesmerize the King's aide Lian with his charm, but is attacked by the King himself. Together, though, the two thieves manage to trick their attackers and flee via the roof and Storm's parachute. Later, at the junkyard where Storm is staying, she admits that the Shadow King won’t give up and Gambit is now likely part of his vendetta. Nanny and the Orphan-Maker have finally almost located Storm again. Nanny is determined to "rescue" her, before the Shadow King gets Ororo. In Washington D.C., Val Cooper is sent by the Shadow King to assassinate Mystique, who, courtesy of a letter by Destiny, is already expecting her. However, Mystique doesn't act to stop Val. Brodie's View:Well, from the cover, you can guess that the main story of this issue is the introduction of Gambit, who will go on to become one of the most popular of the 90's era X-Men, mainly due to his highly being featured during the Jim Lee era of the team (as well as being included in the 90's FOX cartoon). However, while some gained a dislike of the character, due to what he represents (and the era he represents), I've always been kind of a fan, as, to me, he's Longshot done correctly, and stripped of some of the aspects that made that character so friggin' annoying and corny. Anyways, Gambit ends up making his intro, rescuing the young Storm (who he will take under his wing, as, he, too, is a thief) from the clutches of The Shadow King and his pawns (Lian Shen and the "Hounds" he created out of normal people), which, as Storm warns the Cajun thief, will make him just as much a target of TSK as she is. Speaking of The Shadow King's targets, we see another of his targets, Mystique, seemingly get killed by another of his puppets, Mystique's former Boss (and U.S Government liaison), Val Cooper, which even though Destiny warned Mystique of someone coming to do her in, the shape changer doesn't try to stop Val, as she is still stricken with grief over losing her friend/former lover/former teammate. While we've been talking this entire time about The Shadow King, there is another threat after the young Storm, but one that has a different plan in mind for the young mutant, and that is to protect her. See, Storm has been transformed into a child by the robotic Nanny, who kidnaps mutants and transforms them into children in order to protect them from the various threats against them, and she has her eye on Storm, who managed to escape her before she could be brainwashed into being one of her "children." In the next issue, we'll see Storm and Gambit bond over thieving, while trying to escape both Nanny and The Shadow King, and eventually going down a path that will lead them back to the X-Men, or what's left of them. We'll then tackle a series of Annuals that goes through most of the mutant books (and the Fantastic Four), and then, the full on Jim Lee era on the book begins. GRADE: B (Mostly due to the shitty art by Mike Collins, which keeps this issue from being what it could be)
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 29, 2017 1:40:17 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #267 "Nanny: Into the Fire"Cover Date: Early September, 1990 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee & Whilce Portacio Featured Characters: Ororo/Storm & Gambit Villain/s: Nanny, Orphan Maker, Jacob Reisz/The Shadow King, Lian Shen, Hounds (all controlled by TSK) Guest Stars: None Official Plot: Lian Shen and her Hounds have pursued Ororo and Gambit to a plane junkyard, where the two heroes barely manage to escape thanks to Ororo lifting a derelict plane with her powers. After an encounter with Nanny and the Orphan-Maker that leaves Ororo in his hysterics and denial, she and Gambit arrive in Gambit’s home, New Orleans, where the two of them begin to work as partners-in-crime. During Mardi Gras, Nanny and the Orphan-Maker catch up with them and capture Gambit, though Ororo secretly follows. On Nanny’s ship, she finally remembers how she was captured and taken there. While Nanny had Havok “kill” a SHIELD life decoy model with Storm’s features, the real Storm was reduced to childhood and stripped of her memories. Her panic gave Storm the berserker strength to overload Nanny’s systems and flee before he process was complete. With her memories intact, Ororo confronts Nanny and Orphan-Maker over Gambit. Their battle makes the ship crash in the swamp, with apparently only Storm and Gambit surviving. Afterward, Gambit suggests they continue their partnership. Ororo agrees, but explains she has other duties and begins telling him about he X-Men. Brodie's View:We get the last part of the solo Storm (and Gambit) story, as the two end up bonding over the various threats that are attempting to catch them, and also over being thieves, which they end up making a good team at being. They wind up escaping the Shadow King, but later are caught by Nanny and her Orphan Maker (well, Gambit is, and Storm sneaks onto Nanny's ship to rescue him). On that ship, young Ororo ends up learning the truth of what happened to her, and her past memories come back to her (However, she stays a child), and the two are able to escape, and crashing Nanny's ship into a swamp, hopefully ending Nanny and her Orphan Maker for good (Well, I can vouch that it does end their presence during the rest of this run. ), as they were pretty lame ass villains that had long outlived their usefulness to the plot. At the end of the issue, Storm is able to talk Gambit into going with her to find the X-Men (Probably not realizing that at this particular moment, there Is no X-Men). I will say that the art in this issue takes a huge step forward, as Jim Lee and his friend, Whilce Portacio team for the art on this one, and both do a great job. This would end up landing Portacio a short gig on X-FACTOR, and then later, UNCANNY (although, we won't be covering that, as it's part of the new era that begins Post Claremont), before making the jump with Lee a year or so later to help start IMAGE Comics. However, for now, let's enjoy the awesome era of art that's going to take over the book for most of the rest of this run. Well, after the series of Annuals I'm going to discuss over the next few days, which has varying quality of art and writing. It is a pretty interesting story, as it ties together threads left hanging from both DAYS OF FUTURE PAST and Rachel Summers' run on the main X-Men team (Before joining Excalibur). It's going to have a crap ton of guest stars, and be an important step in getting these little factions of X-Men together, and forming what will be the new team for a good portion of the rest of this run. Then when we come back for #268, we'll be full on into the Jim Lee era, and we'll get a pretty kick ass issue with some pretty kick ass guest stars as well. GRADE: B+
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 29, 2017 20:42:11 GMT -5
Fantastic Four Annual #23"When Franklin Comes Marching Home"Cover Date: July, 1990 Writer: Walter Simonson & Bob Harris Artist: Jackson Guice Team: Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Ben Grimm, She Thing Villain/s: Ahab Guest Stars: Franklin Richards (Present Version), Franklin Richards (Future Version), Rachel Summers/Phoenix II, Meggan, Forge, Banshee, An Impostor version of Power Pack and their Parents. Official Plot: The Fantastic Four are returning home after having a picnic with Reed and Sue's son Franklin. However when they arrive at the scene they are shocked to see that their headquarters, the Four Freedoms Plaza, has been replaced with their former headquarters the Baxter Building. Suspecting a possible trap, Reed lands the Fantasti-Car in nearby Central Park so they can approach the building from the ground. From the front door their headquarters appears as it did before the Baxter Building was destroyed. Inside they are even more shocked to see the old doorman O'Hoolihan, even though he retired some time ago. Trying to operate the elevator, they notice that it operates on the old devices they used to contain in their belt buckles. However Sue has kept her old signal device for sentimental reasons and they are able to access the elevator. As they disappear, O'Hoolihan finds this entire incident troubling and calls upstairs. When the Fantastic Four arrive on the main floor of their old headquarters they are suddenly attacked by the security systems. However these security devices are greatly outdated and they are easily able to fight through them. As they continue on, Franklin becomes more and more upset, telling his family that they have to stop as he feels something horrible is inside the building somewhere. Suddenly they are ambushed by what appears to be the original Fantastic Four as they were early on in their careers. The Reed Richards of this "original" Fantastic Four orders his teammates to attack and a fight breaks out between the two versions of the team. Despite the fact that they are more adept with their powers, the rest Fantastic Four are defeated due to the danger posed to Franklin and their reluctance to attack at full strength. The Fantastic Four are then taken to the fake Reed's lab to be examined. "Reed" comes to the conclusion that they are the real Fantastic Four. However the question comes up at to how two identical versions of the Fantastic Four exist. The real Reed tries to explain that they are future versions of their captors, but Reed's questions fall on deaf ears. Suddenly they are in for a shock when the fake Sue calls in her son Franklin, who is a grown adult. This adult Franklin is confused and doesn't understand how the people contained on the wall could be their family. He has his family right before him. Sue tries to appeal to the adult Franklin to get him to listen to reason, but this only serves to confuse him more. Young Franklin meanwhile renounces his older self, saying that he is the real Franklin. Spurned into anger, the adult Franklin loses his temper and flees to gather his thoughts. Suddenly the illusion the adult Franklin was creating vanishes, along with the "Baxter Building" and the other Fantastic Four. Finding themselves free, Reed orders Sue to place an invisible force field around their headquarters and orders the others to begin searching for sign of their mystery intruder. Meanwhile off the coast of Britain at the lighthouse headquarters of Excalibur, Phoenix spends some time outside with her teammate Meggan. When Meggan asks Phoenix about her life in the future, she admits that her memories of her past are scrambled. Suddenly, Rachel shouts out in pain and keels over. Recovering she tells Meggan that she has to go and deal with some personal business, refusing Meggan's offer to gather the rest of Excalibur to help her. Meanwhile, X-Men members Forge and Banshee are in New York City enjoying the sights when suddenly they are confronted by the adult Franklin Richards. Franklin recognizes them as his old teachers, but suddenly loses his temper again when he notices that they are much younger than he remembers and takes off again. Realizing who they were talking to, Forge suggest that they go to the Four Freedoms Plaza. Meanwhile, in the distant future, the being known as Ahab is awoken by his computers as they have located where Franklin Richards has escaped to. Seeing that he appeared in the modern age at the Four Freedoms Plaza, Ahab orders his minions to prepare for a time jump. Back in New York City, Franklin is hiding out with who he believes to be his old friends the Power family and is passing time by playing hide and seek with them. Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four are examining the situation and Reed has come to the conclusion that this adult version of Franklin must be some kind of manifestation of Franklin's dormant mutant powers. He decides that the only way to protect their son is to remove his mindlocks and unlock his full mutant potential. While down below on the streets, Banshee and Force notice the force field around the Four Freedoms Plaza. They try to use their abilities to pierce it but to no avail. Suddenly as Reed is conducting tests on Franklin a time portal opens inside the building and they are attacked by an army of futuristic drones. Sue manages to gather them up and toss them outside the building where they harmlessly explode. With Sue's force field down, Banshee flies himself and Forge up to the hole in the building to see what is going on. After they explain their encounter with the adult Franklin, Sharon realizes that the man they are seeking is only seeking the comforts of his childhood. Asking Franklin where he would go to be safe if he couldn't be at home, Franklin tells them that he would stay at the Power's house. They make a quick run to the home of the Power family where they convince the adult Franklin to accompany them home. Along the way back, the adult Franklin spots X-Factor's ship looming over the New York skyline and doesn't think it should exist. Suddenly, he teleports out of the Fantasti-Car. Ben tells Reed that the grown-up Franklin has disappeared. They quickly land and within moments both Reed and Forge have developed a device to track Franklin's unique energy signature. Detecting two identical signatures the team splits up into two groups: Ben, Forge, and Sherry to search downtown while Johnny, Sue, Reed and Banshee investigate elsewhere. With Reed's device, Ben and his group follow Franklin's energy signature toward X-Factor's ship.... Brodie's View:Now, before you get excited, John Byrne does NOT draw the interior art in this Annual. However, he does provide a kickin' cover for this, the start of a 4 part story, which goes through the FANTASTIC FOUR, NEW MUTANTS, X-FACTOR, and UNCANNY X-MEN books, which is why I'm even discussing the others. Plus, by the time we get to the UXM part of this story, pretty much all the mutant teams (With the exception of Excalibur and the Wolverine/Jubilee/Psylocke faction) are gathered at the former X-Mansion, which leads straight into #270 and the beginning of the X-TINCTION AGENDA Crossover, so, I might as well explain how they all got together. Anyways, the origin of this whole deal goes back to THE DAYS OF FUTURE PAST story and then Rachel Summers' time in the main X-Men team, where as we saw, Rachel had fallen in love with the future version of Reed and Sue Richards son, Franklin, who is also a mutant. Of course, in that storyline, we also saw Franklin get incinerated by a Sentinel, so, one kind of wonders how this future Franklin is showing up in the here and now. And also, of course, his being drawn into this not only ends up drawing in Rachel to this whole deal, but a good number of the other X-characters as well, as we move through the Annuals. We see Forge and Banshee getting involved with things pretty much from the get go, and the ending hints at future involvement from X-Factor, who the two main members of that group, Cyclops and Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, have a direct connection to Rachel....well, kinda sorta. They did in her timeline, but then again, things have progressed quite differently than they did in Rachel's timeline, which begs the question of whether or not Rachel will ever actually be born in this timeline (She hasn't as of yet). Other things to mention about this particular Annual is that we're in the brief period where Ben Grimm has been cured of being The Thing, but a female former wrestler from his solo book, Sharon Ventura, had been mutated into being a She Thing (Which obviously Byrne didn't get the memo on when he did the cover for this Annual, as he has Ben Grimm very much looking like the classic Thing, when he wasn't). This is also the first appearance of Ahab, who will go on to be pretty connected to future events in Rachel's timeline, and perhaps ours, as we'll eventually meet the man who is fated to become Ahab in the EXCALIBUR book, and we'll see how he started to take the steps into becoming the crazed, mutant hunting creator of the Hounds (Which Rachel was once). The future Franklin's involvement in this past winds up alerting Ahab to his presence, and we see him start to send drones and various other things against our heroes. By the end of this Annual, we'll see his full involvement in things, including temporarily transforming two of the Good Guys into Hounds, giving them a taste of what Rachel went through. Anyways, that's still to come; in the next part of this story, we'll see both X-Factor and the New Mutants (Now being led by the future warrior, Cable) getting involved in things (Which is confusing as to why for the second group, but I'll get to that in that Annual's review). Oh, there is also other stories in this Annual, but being that I don't want to go too in depth on the Annuals for other books, I'm just going to discuss the extra stories in the UNCANNY Annual. Kay? Kay. GRADE: B
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 30, 2017 1:15:08 GMT -5
X-Factor Annual #5"Act of Faith"Cover Date: July, 1990 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Jon Bogdanove Team: Cyclops, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey, Archangel, Iceman, Beast Villain/s: Ahab & Sentinels (Mark VI) Guest Stars: Franklin Richards (Present Version), Franklin Richards (Future Version), Banshee, Forge, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, She Thing, Ben Grimm, Phoenix II/Rachel Summers, Cable, Sunspot, Warlock, Boom-Boom, Cannonball. Official Plot: While X-Factor is playing jai alai and Scott and Jean bicker, a grown-up Franklin flies over New York City and decides that Ship doesn't belong there. He dematerializes it. The Fantastic Four explain that they were attacked by Franklin and call on X-Factor for help. Rachel attacks Franklin and is repelled. Jean meets her and refuses to believe she is her daughter. Sentinels attack Franklin atop the Chrysler building, and X-Factor and the Fantastic Four destroy them. Ahab uses his harpoon to turn Rachel back into his hound, but fails. He and his hounds battle X-Factor, the Fantastic Four, and the New Mutants beneath the Statue of Liberty. Torch and Bobby destroy Ahab's portal and reveal his machinery, which Scott destroys. Ahab and his hounds are immediately sucked to their own time. Franklin reappears and tells Scott that his son will be a powerful mutant, but he should never have been born, so he takes him away. Brodie's View:So, in my original review for this issue, I mistakenly reviewed the NEW MUTANTS Annual before this one, which made this whole deal even more incomprehensible than it already was. As it is, it still seems horribly out of order, as Cable and the New Mutants become involved in this whole deal before they officially join the action in their Annual (Which is the 3rd part of this story), which is probably where the confusion probably happened in the first place. Anyways, this is the issue where Rachel confronts both Future Franklin and Ahab (Who tries to turn her back into the Hound she was for him, but he fails), as well as finally revealing who she is to Scott and Jean (Who kind of reject her, especially Jean). We also have Future Franklin basically erasing Ship (X-Factor's fortress that they took from Apocalypse back in FALL OF THE MUTANTS) and taking Scott's child that he had with Madelyne Pryor, Nathan Christopher Summers (who little does anyone at the time knows, will grow up to become Cable, who is also in attendance along with the other New Mutants), as since neither of them existed in his timeline. Back to the whole story confusion though; I think the thing that's the strangest thing about this whole Annual is that it shares the same writer as the NM Annual, and that's Louise Simonson, who seems to lack even the communication with herself, as she kind of messes up her own lead up with the NM Annual. To add to this, this Annual has some pretty god awful art by Jon Bogdanove (As one can tell by the cover, as, for once, the guy who did the cover art did the interiors), which doesn't help this issue out any. It's not a terrible issue, but definitely a storyline mess that makes what should have been a coherent story into just a mess of characters and things being done that have little impact on the next part. Luckily, we'll end this strong, as the UNCANNY X-MEN Annual will be the best part of this whole deal, as Chris Claremont does a great job trying to turn this mess into a compelling and coherent story, and to top things off, we'll see a couple of characters make their return/arrival to the X-Family, and get some pretty kickin' Arthur Adams art on top of it. However, first, we have to deal with the NEW MUTANTS Annual, which, as I said before, just makes this story more confusing. Damn you, Louis Simonson!!! GRADE: C
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 30, 2017 1:22:38 GMT -5
New Mutants Annual #6"The Once and Future Mutant"Cover Date: July, 1990 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Terry Shoemaker, Chris Wozniak Team: Cable, Cannonball, Boom Boom, Sunspot, Rictor, Wolfsbane, & Warlock Villain/s: Ahab, Hounds, Sentinels (Mark VI) Guest Stars: Franklin Richards (Present Version), Franklin Richards (Future Version), Banshee, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, An Alternate Future Re-Creation of the New Mutants and Banshee. Official Plot: The adult Franklin arrives at the Xavier Institute, but finds it destroyed - so he uses his power to transform it to how he remembers it. In-between space and time, Ahab locates Franklin and sends a Hound after him. The New Mutants are involved in a training session in the Danger Room beneath the ruins of the Mansion, when they are suddenly confronted by Franklin and his team of New Mutants from the future - including a young Rachel Summers and a changed Cypher - known as Magus. The two teams battle, both confused by the others’ presence. An older version of Banshee appears, as he is the mentor to Franklin’s New Mutants. Eventually, Franklin’s New Mutants vanish when the present day New Mutants assert that this is their reality. Franklin disappears soon after, just as Banshee, Mr Fantastic, the Invisible Woman and young Franklin arrive at the Xavier Institute ruins. They trade stories, and it is believed that the adult Franklin is a manifestation from Mr Fantastic’s young son. Suddenly the Hound and a squadron of missiles arrives, and another battle ensues. The Hound is injured and reveals that they are hunting future Franklin who has become a being of destructive power. Ahab arrives and slays his injured Hound, and decides that he will now attempt to destroy the present day young Franklin. Adult Franklin visits the American Museum of Natural History, where he manifests a version of Rachel Summers. They discuss Franklin, and their parents, before more of Ahab’s Hounds, and Sentinels, arrive to capture Franklin. Cable, the New Mutants, Banshee, Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman arrive soon after and battle the Hounds and Sentinels. Young Franklin watches the battle and is concerned when his apparent future self kills the Hounds. Franklin understands that he is bad and announces he wants his powers to be taken away - the future Franklin and he merge for a moment, which puts young Franklin in a coma, but his powers are indeed apparently gone. Mr Fantastic tries to get the adult Franklin to reverse his actions, but Franklin just vanishes. Brodie's View:Once again, even though he provides a cover for this Annual, Rob Liefield, who was the regular artist of THE NEW MUTANTS by that point, does not provide art for this issue. In fact, sadly, we get kind of blah art for every Annual in this story but the last one. We also, as I said in the last review, get kind of a disconnect with the story between the Annuals, as it definitely seems as if there was a lack of communication on the details of each story, as, while it basically lines up, as far as overall story, they have things that happen in one story that is not even acknowledged in the next part, as well as characters who kind of appear and vanish on whims. For example, at the end of the first part, we were very much led to believe that X-Factor would be getting directly involved in the events of this issue, as our heroes ended that issue heading towards the team's Ship fortress. However, this issue just kind of picks up with Future Franklin Richards and an alternate team of New Mutants showing up during an actual NM training session, and then Reed, Sue, Banshee, and Young Franklin arriving at the NM's HQ (which is the basement levels of the destroyed X-Mansion), on the trail of Future Franklin (With X-Factor, who were heavily involved last part, nowhere to be found) . We then see the action shift to the American Museum of Natural History, as Ahab sends Hounds and future Sentinels after the Future Franklin, which leads to a huge battle, as Reed, Sue, Banshee, and the New Mutants aid Future Franklin against Ahab's troops. The Future Franklin then briefly bonds with this era's Franklin, who is still a child, which puts him into a coma-like state, and then the FF (Future Franklin) vanishes, leaving things very much in a state of WTF. Despite all that, this is a good point to talk about the New Mutants as they are now, as Magneto has long abandoned them as their Headmaster, and they are now under the leadership of Cable, a warrior from the future, who will later be revealed as Nathan Christopher Summers, the child of Cyclops and Madelyne Pryor. The infant Nathan will soon be stolen and infected with a techno organic virus by Apocalypse, and then sent into the future, as they have a way for the child to live with the virus. That child will grow up and become a major force against Apocalypse in the future, and then will return to the past to try and stop him (and therefore keep his future from happening), and part of that mission includes training his own army of mutants to aid him, which is what the New Mutants currently are. Of course, the events of the upcoming X-TINCTION AGENDA will alter that team even more, and a few issues after that crossover is over, the New Mutants will be reborn as X-FORCE, and will be the harder edged and more brutal spin off of the other X-Teams, which is a thing that won't sit very well with those other teams. However, this is still to come, and as for now, will have to be put on the back burner, as the last part of this little story will finally bring everybody together, and Chris Claremont will do his best to try to make this mess into a good story. GRADE: C+ (BTW, for those hurting for some Liefield, here is a pinup he did do for this Annual, which shows what he thought at the time would be the future of the team.....)
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 30, 2017 1:56:22 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 "You Must Remember This"/"The Fundamental Things"Cover Date: July, 1990 Writer: Chris Claremont (Both) Artist: Arthur Adams/Mark Heike Feature Characters: Forge, Banshee, Storm, & Gambit/Wolverine, Psylocke, & Jubilee Villain/s: Ahab & Sentinels (Mark VI)/None Guest Stars: Franklin Richards (Present Version), Franklin Richards (Future Version), Rachel Summers/Phoenix II, The Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic Four, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Ben Grimm, She Thing), X-Factor (Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, The Beast, Ship), & The New Mutants (Cable, Sunspot, Warlock, Cannonball, Boom-Boom), Spider-Man, Dr. Strange (the last two are cameos)/Rachel Summers, Franklin Richards (Future Version) Official Plot: (1ST STORY)Rachel Summers sits in a restaurant eating a burger. She thinks of the times in her past that she was unable to do this because she acted as a "Hound" for Ahab. While contemplating this, three armed men enter and tell everyone to hand over their money. Rachel ignores them and then finally uses her powers to turn their guns into scrap-metal. She turns and sees a familiar face outside and runs outside. The person is gone and she flies up into the sky. In using her powers and unleashing the Phoenix, she has sent out a "mental cry" and it has been heard by various telepathic listeners in the city. She runs into the figure as she flies around the city. It is Franklin Richards from her timeline. She cannot believe it and wonders why she should trust him. He tells her to scan his thoughts and then kisses her. Later, in the Four Freedom's Plaza, they both meet with X-Factor and the Fantastic Four. Franklin tells everyone that they are going to start a new life together. All are astounded and wonder what he has done with Nathan Summers, this Earth's Franklin Richards and the X-Factor ship. As they question him, he mentally stops them from continuing their interrogation. Jean Grey tells Rachel that she is not sure how to react to the recent revelation that she has a daughter from another timeline. Rachel and Franklin take off and the others try to come up with a plan on how to deal with Franklin's abilities to alter reality. At the X-Mansion, Gambit (1st True appearance, not a cameo) and the younger Storm arrive and survey the damage since they have been gone and Mr. Sinister destroyed the mansion. They enter in a secret hatch and go underground. They are met by Cable and the New Mutants who think of them as intruders and attack. Forge stops them and they go over a plan of attack on Franklin Richards. Back at the Freedom Plaza, Sue Richards and Cyclops talk alone upstairs. While they are talking about Jean Grey's induction into X-Factor, they are suddenly Sentinels zap them from behind. Ahab stands over them with eyes glaring. Downstairs, X-Factor, the Fantastic Four and New Mutants meet and determine that they need to go after Rachel and save her from Franklin. Ahab has already tied up Cyclops and Sue and then uses his machines to convert them into his "hounds" and they take off in search of Rachel and Franklin. They soon find them in the park with Nathan Summers. An attack ensues and Ahab traps all of them. He takes them back to the Freedom Plaza and ties them up. Soon, the heroes enter and after seeing Rachel and Franklin being held by Ahab they attack Ahab. They fight off his hounds and even battle Cyclops and Sue Richards. Cable finally reaches Ahab and looks at his face and is taken back. Ahab asks if he notices someone he knows and then knocks Cable away. Ahab finally activates an energy field on the floor that incapacitates all the mutants. Only Franklin is safe and he attacks Ahab's machines. Ahab turns to leave and tells Rachel to come with him. She refuses and he throws a harpoon at her. Jean Grey tries to stop it and cannot. She then jumps in front of the weapon and takes a hit to the chest. Ahab tells them he will be back and then vanishes. The team regains their composure and uses the machines around them to heal their wounds. Franklin realizes that he is just a memory that little Franklin has made and that is why Franklin is in a coma while he exists. He picks up Franklin and steps into one of the machines and Phoenix suddenly regains her powers as Franklin disappears. Little Franklin finally wakes up from his coma. They all figure out all that has happened during Franklin's adventures and all reverts back to normal. Rachel suddenly is in her "hound" outfit and fears that she did not change the future and takes off, crying. Everyone says their goodbyes. Later, Jean Grey finally realizes that Rachel is family. (2ND STORY)Jubilation Lee stands in a park in Madripoor putting on a firework's display using her powers. A crowd has gathered and then Wolverine steps in and tells her the show is over. The people see him and recognize him and run away. Jubilee is angry that he stopped her and he tells her to calm down. She tells him that she nursed him back to health and this gives her good reason to not have to obey. He then tells her a story about the X-Men and Charles Xavier. While talking, Psylocke walks up and Jubilee does not trust her. Wolverine tells Jubilee that she is on "their side". He continues his story of how the X-Men were formed. While talking, Rachel Summers and Franklin Richards from an alternate future show up suddenly. Psylocke tries to scan their thoughts but cannot. Jubilee and Psylocke question their intentions and Rachel starts to get angry. Franklin then teleports Psylocke and Jubilee away. Wolverine tells them that they were no danger to them and that they did not have to do this. Franklin finally concedes and the two reappear with a third in tow, Nathan Summers. Rachel, Franklin and Nathan leave together and Wolverine, Jubilee and Psylocke stay in Madripoor. Brodie's View:We (Finally) come to the end of this four part story, and I will say that at least this whole deal ends strong, as Rachel Summers and the Future version of Franklin Richards finally hook up in the first story, and are both hunted by Ahab, who winds up capturing Cyclops and The Invisible Woman, and turns them into Hounds, sending them after their own children (well, kinda sorta in Rachel's case). Needless to say, this brings the rest of the heroes running, and after a huge battle, and after the Future Franklin sacrificing himself to stop Ahab, they are able to defeat him. However, at the end, Rachel regains her "Hound" look, even after curing Scott and Susan of their "Hound" brainwashing, and she runs away, horrified that it appears that nothing she does will change what her future will be, which almost causes Jean to accept her as the daughter she might one day have (She does eventually, but much later on). The second story takes place at some point during the events of the first, as Rachel and Future Franklin happen across Wolverine, Psylocke, and Jubilee, who are in Madripoor, and as Wolverine is basically explaining the history of the X-Men, and how they got to this point. It's an interesting little story to get the history of the team from Logan's perspective, as he's become (and is even acknowledged as) the conscience of the team. As I said before, this is the best part of this whole 4 part story, as Claremont tries to make as much sense of what happened in the first three parts as he can, while making it an engaging and emotional story at the same time, and the art by Arthur Adams (at least in the first story) really adds to the whole experience. Plus, he winds up reuniting Storm with Forge and Banshee, who were originally planning to come look for her a few issues back, but got distracted into not doing that (Which saved their lives, as their plane was destroyed by Fenris), and as a bonus, she brought Gambit to the team (Who, in an interesting twist and a mess up by publishing, is actually making his 1st appearance here, as this Annual came out before #266, which must have confused the hell out of anyone reading it at the time), which forms at least somewhat of an X-Man team leading into the X-TINCTION AGENDA Crossover, which will also involve the other X-teams in this story. The other major part of the team is in the second story, which, as I said in the first paragraph, is a pretty interesting little primer on things leading into what's to come. The X-TINCTION AGENDA will bring these clusters of X-Men back together, but for the next few issues, we'll still be dealing with solo/factions of X-Men. The next issue will involve Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, and some kick ass guest stars, and will also mark the official beginning of Jim Lee's regular artistic run on the book, and then in the follow up issue, we'll see another X-Man return from the Siege Perilous to see that things have changed quite a bit since they've been gone. GRADE(S): B+/B+
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 30, 2017 21:31:59 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #268"Madripoor Knights"Cover Date: Late September, 1990 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee Featured Characters: (In Flashback) Wolverine (Present) Wolverine, Psylocke, & Jubilee Villain/s: (In Flashback) Baron Strucker, Consul Geoffrey Sydenham, Herr Kreutzmann, & Various Nazi Soldiers (Present) Matsu'o Tsurayaba, Fenris, Hand Assassins Guest Stars: (In Flashback) Captain America, Black Widow (as a child), Ivan Petrovitch, & Seraph (Present) Black Widow Official Plot: Madripoor 1941: A fledgling Captain America comes to the aid of a Russian, who is being attacked by Hand Ninjas. Both of the men are rescued by the help of a newcomer who makes the island his home and hates the Hand – Logan. After they win the battle, Logan takes them to the bar Seraph’s, where he tags Baron von Strucker and another Nazi, almost starting a fight. The Russian, Ivan Petrovitch tells them that the Nazis and the Hand are planning an alliance and that they have kidnapped a child in his charge – Natasha Romanoff. A little later, the three men attack the Nazi limousine where Natasha is being held. One Nazi intends to kill the girl, rather than give her up. However, Logan throws himself between Natasha and the gun, seemingly sacrificing his life to save her. Ivan and Cap decide to take Natasha to the American consulate instead of following Logan’s plan. Unfortunately, the consul is working with the Nazis and sells them out. In the Hand hideout, they learn that the Hand intends to make Natasha a master assassin, her first test being the murder of her would-be-rescuers. Fortunately, they are all rescued again by a very much alive Logan, who takes them to a getaway plane. The present: The Black Widow went to Madripoor as a favor to Nick Fury to learn everything about a meeting between Fenris (Strucker's children) and Tsurayaba, the new leader of the Hand. She ends up in a trap by the Hand, but is rescued by Wolverine, Psylocke and Jubilee. Later, they question the underworld and learn that the meeting between Fenris and Tsurayaba is to take place on a certain yacht. They infiltrate the yacht and take out the gangsters, but find out they are impostors: the real meeting took place somewhere else in the meantime. Brodie's View:Aw Yeah! Jim Lee is back, and is now the regular artist on the book, ( ) and he's brought Captain America and Black Widow with him for this story that flashes back to World War II and the Present, both dealing with Wolverine's adventures in Madripoor. In the past, a young Logan teams with Cap and Russian Intelligence agent, Ivan Petrovitch, to fight a Nazi (Led by future Hydra leader, Baron Von Strucker) /Hand Alliance, who means to take a young Russian girl (the future Black Widow), and turn her into one of their deadly assassins. In the present, Wolverine, Psylocke, and Jubilee team with the Widow in order to once again fight The Hand, who are now allied with Von Strucker's children, Fenris. They fail in their mission, as they were kind of played for patsies, but who cares, as we, the readers, are the real winners in this story, as it's pretty clear that Lee's pencils have improved since his last stint on the book (#256-258), and he and Claremont actually compliment each other really well. I know that some don't like Lee's artistic style, but I've always been a fan, and he does a great job drawing a super heroic Captain America and a sleek and sexy Black Widow. Of course, the best is yet to come with Lee, but this issue is a pretty kick ass start for a very memorable run. In the next issue, we'll see the return of one of the X-Men that was sucked into the Siege Perilous, who will come back to discover that things aren't exactly as they were when they left. We'll also see more development on the Shadow King/Muir Island front, which will definitely set the stage for what is to come in about ten issues. We'll also see a long standing story thread involving our returning X-Man get kinda sorta resolved, and the return of a somewhat ally, who was last seen in the ACTS OF VENGANCE story-line. I will say that this all leads to some interesting, and unforeseen developments. Oh yeah, and we also return to the Savage Land. GRADE: A
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 30, 2017 23:51:46 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #269 "Rogue Redux"Cover Date: October, 1990 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee Featured Characters: Rogue Villain/s: Jacob Reisz/The Shadow King, The Reavers (Donald Pierce, Lady Deathstrike, Bonebreaker, Pretty Boy, Cylla Markham, Cole, Macon, Reece), The Host, Strike Lord Guest Stars: Muir Island X-Men (Moria MacTaggert, Polaris, Amanda Sefton), Legion, Amanda Sefton, Ms. Marvel, Val Cooper (All of the previously mentioned possessed by The Shadow King), Gateway, Lila Cheney, and Magneto Official Plot: Rogue is spat out from the Siege Perilous to land in her room in the X-Men’s headquarters in the Australian Outback, seemingly unchanged. From a news report, she learns that Mystique has been murdered. As she tries to alert her teammates, she learns firstly that she has lost her Ms. Marvel powers and secondly that the HQ is now back in the hands of the Reavers. Surprisingly, Carol Danvers now has a body of her own again and, while she fights the Reavers, Rogue absorbs Gateway’s powers long enough to teleport herself and (accidentally) Carol away. Carol ends up on Muir Isle. Though struggling bravely, she falls under the control of the Shadow King and chases Rogue as his servant. Rogue, in the meantime, has ended up in the Savage Land. Enjoying her time there, she travels to the village of the X-Men’s friend Nereel, but finds it abandoned after an attack. As she still mulls over what to do, she is attacked by a badly decomposing Carol. It turns out that there isn’t enough life energy to sustain them both – one of them has to die. Rogue actually wins their battle, but doesn’t want to take Carol’s life a second time. Carol uses that hesitation and almost kills her, but is felled by a newcomer – Magneto. The Master of Magnetism realizes the situation and uses the devices in Sauron’s citadel to restore one of them – Rogue. Brodie's View:Well, as one could probably guess just by looking at the cover, our returning X-Man this issue is none other than Rogue, who comes out of the Siege Perilous without her powers, and without the Ms. Marvel/Carol Danvers persona being a part of her. That's at least somewhat the good news, but the bad news is that she is put back at the X-Men's old base in Australia, only to find that it's been taken over by The Reavers, and that Mystique (her foster mom) has been supposedly killed. To make things worse, not only has she been freed from the Ms. Marvel persona by the Siege Perilous, but the Perilous wound up creating a new Ms. Marvel body for that persona. However, they're splitting a single life force, which means that one of them is going to have to go in other for the other to survive, and Ms. Marvel (Who ends up on Muir Island, and being enthralled by The Shadow King, after Rogue uses Gateway to escape the Reavers) plans on it being her. She follows Rogue to the Savage Land, where she almost ends up doing Rogue in, before Rogue is aided by a mystery person who ends up restoring her to full health (But still without her powers). That person ends up being....Magneto. This is the main story (Once again, beautifully drawn by Jim Lee), but there are a couple of interesting things to note. First thing is Ms. Marvel appearing on Muir Island, where we see that The Shadow King's influence on Muir is no longer a subtle one, as Moria and the others actually have Polaris incapacitated, as she is one of the gateways for the Shadow King to increase his influence, with Legion, who has even been overwhelmed by TSK's power, as another. We will continue to see this whole thing simmer for a bit, and then come to a head about 10 issues from now. Speaking of future storylines, we also see a bit of plot development in space, as teleporting rock star Lila Cheney returns from there to warn whoever will listen about some terrible things going down, things seemingly involving the Shi'ar, who will make their first appearance in the book since before THE MUTANT MASSACRE. This will obviously lead to some space adventures for a new X-Man team, but that team needs to form fully first. This will happen by the end of the X-TINCTION AGENDA Crossover, which begins next issue, and will not only go through the main X-MEN book, but X-FACTOR and THE NEW MUTANTS as well. This story event will feature the return of some old foes of both the X-Men and X-Factor, as well as our last "missing" X-Man from the Siege Perilous returning in a role one would not expect them to be in. GRADE: A-
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 31, 2017 1:38:18 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #270 "X-Tinction Agenda (part 1): First Strike"Cover Date: November, 1990 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee Featured Characters: X-Men (Storm, Gambit, Forge & Banshee), Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, New Mutants (Cable, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom-Boom, Warlock, Sunspot, & Rictor) Villain/s: Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Chief Magistrate Anderson, Pipeline) Guest Stars: Stevie Hunter, Trish Tilby, Lila Cheney, & Guido/Strong Guy Official Plot: Storm is examined by Forge, but her condition of being stuck in a child’s body seems to be permanent. She renews her deep friendship with Jean Grey, who visits from X-Factor. Later the school is attacked by Genoshan troops and, surprisingly, the missing Havok is with them. Storm realizes that they are outnumbered and taken by surprise, and so she decides to lock the underground complex. By this she dooms herself, Boom-Boom, Rictor, Wolfsbane and Warlock, who are all captured and teleported to Genosha, but she ensures that at least the other halves of the teams remain free to prepare a rescue mission. In Malibu, Lila Cheney teleports back from outer space and mentions that Xavier is in terrible danger before passing out. Brodie's View:In this issue, we find ourselves dealing with the fallout from the DAYS OF FUTURE PRESENT story that ran through various Annuals (See why I subjected myself to that mess of a story now? ), as The New Mutants (Now being led by Cable) and somewhat of an X-Men team (Storm, Gambit, Forge, and Banshee) are calling the former X-Mansion (Which was blowed up real good near the end of INFERNO, although, the basement/tunnels part of the house are still intact) their home/base of operations at the current time. Of course, as we see in the first part of this story, their co-habitation isn't exactly a smooth one, as the actual X-Men are not too happy that Cable and the New Mutants have basically taken the X-Mansion (and all that it entails) as their own (and they're equally un-thrilled by Cable and the militaristic methods he uses to accomplish his goals). We also see some tension between Storm and some of the New Mutants themselves, as an angry Wolfsbane confronts her, pissed that she's returned to life after seemingly being killed, while Doug Ramsey never did (He kinda does later, but we'll get into that in a later part of this Crossover). Luckily for Storm, she does get some good news, as Jean Grey visits the grounds, and the two renew their long friendship. Of course, they don't get to enjoy their happy moments for long, as they are suddenly all attacked by Genoshian troops and magistrates (One of whom being Alex Summers, AKA Havok, who obviously returned from the Siege Perilous in Genosha, and was brainwashed into thinking he was a citizen/magistrate for them). A good portion of the New Mutants and Storm are captured (although, Storm does manage to lock down the basement section of the X-Mansion, saving the others from being captured), and those that remain vow vengeance for this act of war declared on them by the Genoshian government. This is, of course, the first part of the X-TINCTION AGENDA story-line that will run through not only the UNCANNY X-MEN book, but X-FACTOR and THE NEW MUTANTS as well. In the next part, which will take place in THE NEW MUTANTS, we will see what the Genoshian government plans to do with the mutants they captured, and one of the characters doesn't make it out of the process alive. GRADE: A-
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Mar 31, 2017 23:43:35 GMT -5
New Mutants #95 "X-Tinction Agenda (part 2): Shell Game" Cover Date: November, 1990 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Rob Liefield Team: Cable, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom-Boom, Warlock, Sunspot, & Rictor Villain/s: Cameron Hodge, Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Wipeout, Pipeline), Genegineer (Dr. David Moreau) Guest Stars: Storm, Gambit, Forge, Banshee, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey, Archangel, Beast, & Stevie Hunter Official Plot: Storm, Boom-Boom, Rictor, Wolfsbane and Warlock have been captured by Magistrates and teleported to Genosha all nude, where they learn that Cameron Hodge, now using a huge mechanical body, has allied with the island nation. The mutants are stripped of their powers and prepared for undergoing the mutate process, but Warlock sacrifices his last energies to help his friends to break out, now clothed. They split up and try to escape the citadel, but Rahne later turns back to help Warlock. She arrives just in time to prevent Hodge from infusing himself with Warlock’s shapeshifting ability, but she can’t prevent her teammate’s death. In New York, X-Factor and the remaining New Mutants and X-Men learn of their friends whereabouts through the TV news. Genosha considers the X-Men as criminals of the state which will be brought to trial, Warlock is reported to have been killed while trying to escape. Brodie's View:As we enter into the second part of the X-TINCTION AGENDA, we see the fallout from the first part's all out attack on the former X-Mansion, and the capture of a nice chunk of the New Mutants (and Storm) by the Genoshian Government (Including a brainwashed Alex Summers/Havok, who is one of the Magistrates). Of course, this causes the remains of the X-teams to bond together, pissed off and raring for revenge against the island of Genoshia for what they've done. However, this story mostly concerns the other end of this situation, as we see Storm, Boom-Boom, Rictor, Wolfsbane, and Warlock arrive in Genoshia, are stripped of their powers and clothes by the Magistrates, and are prepared to undergo the mutate processing, which will transform them into obedient mutant slaves. They also learn that former X-Factor villain, Cameron Hodge (who we last saw being decapitated by Archangel at the beginning of that team's role in the INFERNO storyline), who thanks to his deal with the demon N'astirh (and the Genoshian government), lives on as a head operating a robotic body, and is now in charge of the engineering program. He puts the mutate process on hold to infusing himself with the techno organic alien, Warlock's, shape changing ability, which Wolfsbane is able to prevent, but not in time to save Warlock's life. Of course, Warlock would kind of sort of return years later, as he kind of bonded together with the also deceased Doug Ramsey to form a new entity, Douglock, who would become a member of EXCALIBUR during the last 40 or so issues of that book. However, I will say that while Warlock's apparent death was pretty shocking at the time, and probably pissed long time readers off, it was probably for the best, as with the direction the New Mutant team would take from here on out, an innocent type character like Warlock would stick out like a sore thumb. That being said, in the next part of this story, we'll continue to see the Genoshian captives try to escape/get revenge on those who have kidnapped(/and killed) them, the conflict between the Genoshian government and Hodge, who has his own agendas against the mutant teams, and the rest of the X-family (well, minus Excalibur and the Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee faction, who will appear in UXM #271) assault Genoshia, looking for their lost comrades. Also, we'll get some art so ugly it makes even Liefield's stuff look good. GRADE: B+
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 1, 2017 0:14:32 GMT -5
X-Factor#60 "X-Tinction Agenda (part 3): Brotherhood"Cover Date: November, 1990 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Jon Bogdanove Team: Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, Archangel, Beast, & Iceman Villain/s: Cameron Hodge, Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Wipeout, Hawkshaw, Punchout, & Pipeline), Genegineer (Dr. David Moreau), & Madame Reneau Guest Stars: Storm, Gambit, Forge, Banshee, Cable, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom-Boom, Warlock, Sunspot, & Rictor , Ship, Val Cooper, & Nathan Summers (Baby) Official Plot: The Genengineer and Cameron Hodge don't go along well, but Genosha's President Madame Reneau reminds Moreau that they need their insane ally for a while longer. While the US government officially does not get involved, they unofficially support a rescue mission of X-Factor and the remaining members of New Mutants and X-Men. Once on the island they get attacked by a Magistrate strike-force under Havok's command, but despite the surprise of seeing their former member Havok with them, they can fight them off. Boom-Boom and Rictor escape the citadel, while Storm plans to take someone hostage. Brodie's View:The third part of the X-TINCTION AGENDA concerns what remains of the X-Teams: (X-Men) Storm, Gambit, Banshee, & Forge, (New Mutants) Cable, Cannonball, & Sunspot (Yeah, the NM's got jacked pretty hard), and (X-Factor) Cyclops, Jean Grey/Phoenix, Beast, Archangel, & Iceman, deciding to pull an all out assault on the island of Genosha, which has some of their comrades as future slave workers. Val Cooper assures them that the U.S Government is fully behind the mutant teams, even though they can't officially back them. Surprisingly, the Good Guys do well, even though they get a huge surprise when they see that Cyclops' brother, Alex Summers (AKA Havok), who is playing on team Genosha (as he's obviously, and unsurprisingly, been brainwashed into thinking he's one of the Genoshian magistrates), which allows the Genoshian government a small advantage. However, the X-Teams are able to beat them back for the moment, which allows Rictor and Boom-Boom the chance to escape the citadel, and allows Storm the chance to potentially take a hostage. We also see some strife between the Genoshian government itself and Cameron Hodge, the former X-Factor villain who had survived due to selling his soul, which allowed his head to live on in a large robotic body. The Genengineer realizes that Hodge is using "Genoshian Defense" as an excuse to exact his revenge on the mutant species, and the X-teams specifically. We'll see this relationship continue to deteriorate as things go on, and we'll also see one of our missing groups of mutants (Wolverine, Psylocke, and Jubilee) getting involved in this whole deal. We'll also get MUCH better art; Jim Lee will be back, as the next part will be the next actual issue of UNCANNY. That being said, it'll look heads and shoulders better over the ugly ass art in this issue, done by Jon Bogdanove, which as I said in the last part, actually makes Rob Liefield's art look amazing in retrospect. I'll will, however, keep my Bogdonanove hate to this review, as I don't want to beat a dead horse, but I will say that his run on the X-FACTOR book for these issues kind of keeps its Grade(s) from being higher, and ends up being the low part of the Crossover because of it. But once again, we get Jim Lee back in the next chapter. GRADE: B
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 1, 2017 1:32:12 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #271"X-Tinction Agenda (part 4): Flashpoint"Cover Date: December, 1990 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee Featured Characters: Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, & Storm Villain/s: Cameron Hodge, Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Chief Magistrate Anderson, Various Magistrates), Genegineer (Dr. David Moreau), & Madame President Reneau Guest Stars: Boom-Boom, Rictor, Moria MacTaggert Official Plot: Genegineer David Moreau and Moira MacTaggert face each other in a TV debate. Later Storm tries to take Moreau hostage, but instead she is captured herself and taken to the mutate processing unit. Wolverine, Psylocke and Jubilee, who had been traveling through south asia, arrive on Genosha and rescue Rictor and Boom-Boom from certain re-capture by the Magistrates. While Jubilee is assigned to watch over the two powerless New Mutants, Logan and Betsy dress up as Magistrates and infiltrate the citadel. Once there, Havok exposes his former teammates and the monstrous Cameron Hodge defeats both X-Men. Their last sight before being taken to prison is Storm, processed into a mindless mutate Brodie's View:Of course, as you can tell by the kickin' cover by Jim Lee ( ), that in Part 4 of THE X-TINCTION AGENDA, the last faction of former X-Men that haven't gotten involved in this whole deal (Wolverine, Psylocke, & Jubilee), get involved, and wind up saving Boom-Boom and Rictor from certain capture by the Genoshian Magistrates. Logan and Betsy then sneak into the citadel, dressed as magistrates, only to stumble across Alex Summers, who is still brainwashed into thinking he is and always has been a Magistrate. He winds up giving the two X-Men away, and he and Cameron Hodge end up defeating the two, leaving Jubilee, Rictor, and Boom-Boom as one of the few mutants on the island who haven't been captured. Speaking of mutants that haven't been captured (but is re-captured in this issue), Storm attempts to take Genengineer David Moreau (Who had just finished having a tense conversation with Moria MacTaggert over video telecommunication), only to, as previously stated, be re-captured, and by issue's end, seemingly processed into being one of Genoshia's mindless slaves. The fate that awaits all of the mutants foolish enough to come to Genoshia. In the next part of this crossover, we see another captured mutant being "Processed" into being a slave. We also see more of the X-Family being captured by the Genoshian Magistrates, which makes things look even more dire for our heroes. In fact, this is the third of the story where things get very, very dire. Of course, in the last third of the story, our heroes make a comeback, but things have to get a bit darker before we see the dawn. I will also say that for certain characters directly affected by their experiences in Genoshia, that the effects of that end up lasting a decent amount of time after this storyline ends. GRADE: B+
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 1, 2017 23:16:52 GMT -5
New Mutants #96"X-Tinction Agenda (part 5): United We Stand"Cover Date: December, 1990 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Rob Liefield Team: Cable, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom-Boom, Sunspot, & Rictor Villain/s: Cameron Hodge, Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Wipeout, Chief Magistrate Anderson), Genegineer (Dr. David Moreau) Guest Stars: Gambit, Forge, Jubilee, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey, Archangel, Beast, Cyclops, & Iceman Official Plot: Jubilee, Rictor and Boom-Boom manage to elude the many Magistrate patrols in Hammer Bay’s streets. Cameron Hodge and the Genegineer transform Wolfsbane into Mutate 490. Half of the rescue team (Cable, Gambit, Marvel Girl, Sunspot, Forge) try to plant explosive devices around the citadel but are discovered and kept busy in battle till Wipeout negates all their powers. Having heard the news of Rahne’s mutate bonding process, Tabitha, Ric and Jubilation also planned to attack the citadel, but they arrive just in time to witness the fate of Jean’s team. Helplessly they watch from a safe distance, but at least the can avoid re-capture. Brodie's View:Things get dark in this, the fifth part of THE X-TINCTION AGENDA, as a good portion of the rest of the X-mutants running (Cable, Gambit, Jean Grey, Sunspot, & Forge) are captured while trying to plant explosives around the citadel where Cameron Hodge and the Genoshian Magistrates do their horrible work. We also see a new example of that horrible work, as Wolfsbane is "Processed" into being the newest mutate slave. This will end up kind of mentally bonding her to Alex Summers (AKA Havok), who is currently one of the Genoshian Magistrates, although, it is due to he, himself, being brainwashed into believing so. For a time afterwards, she will be forced to retain her wolfish form, as upon transformation back to her full human form, the "Processing" would kick in, and she would be the mindless slave Cameron Hodge and the others transformed her into. Granted, that eventually gets undone, but that whole deal does last for a good 2 years after this takes place, so, it is important to mention in her case. About the only silver lining at this point is that there is still two small groups of X-people running around Genoshia: Cyclops's group, and the small group of escapees (Boom-Boom and Rictor), who are being "protected" by Jubilee, who is annoyed that Wolverine went and got himself captured. Speaking of Wolverine, in the next part of the story, he winds up getting put in a cell with one of the women he loves, and, yeah, some making out happens. Also, things get even darker for the X-Teams, but at the same time, a small thing (But huge in the long run) happens near the end of the issue that allows for a spark of hope as we approach the last third of this story-line. GRADE: B
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 1, 2017 23:21:01 GMT -5
X-Factor#61"X-Tinction Agenda (part 6): Betrayal"Cover Date: December, 1990 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Jon Bogdanove & John Caponigro Team: Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, Archangel, Beast, & Iceman Villain/s: Cameron Hodge, Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Wipeout), Genegineer (Dr. David Moreau), & Madame Reneau Guest Stars: Storm, Gambit, Forge, Banshee, Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, Cable, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom-Boom, Warlock, Sunspot, & Rictor Official Plot: Cameron Hodge examines his recent captives (Marvel Girl, Cable, Gambit, Sunspot and Forge) and is angry that the inventor Forge is in an unexplainable coma for he wanted to utilize his cybernetic knowledge. Jean is brought into a prison cell, where she meets the dying Wolverine and shares a moment of passion with him. Cyclops, Iceman and Beast infiltrate the citadel disguised as mutates while Banshee, Cannonball and Archangel cause a distraction at the citadel’s penthouse. Soon the flight team is defeated by Hodge and the others are exposed too. Hank and Bobby get trapped between sliding walls, while Cyclops is forced to fight Havok. Right as Alex remembers his past life as an X-Man Cameron Hodge arrives and captures Cyclops. Havok decides to pretend to be the still loyal Magistrate, and plans to attack when least expected. Brodie's View:It's the "Always Darkest Before the Dawn" chapter of the X-TINCTION AGENDA, as Cameron Hodge messes with the X-people he captured in the last chapter (Jean Grey, Cable, Gambit, Sunspot, and Forge), and ends up throwing Jean in a cell with the severely wounded (and powerless Wolverine), and the two, as would be expected, start making out. Meanwhile, the other major group not captured (Cyclops, Iceman, and Beast) split up, and try to infiltrate the citadel, as Cannonball, Banshee, and Archangel cause a distraction, but all of them are captured, leaving the tiny group of Jubilee, Rictor, and Boom-Boom as the only X-people running loose in Genosha. However, there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel as we head towards the last third of this storyline, as during the capture of Cyclops' team, Alex Summers/Havok suddenly is shaken out of his brainwashing and remembers who he is. However, he still pretends as if nothing has happened, as he realizes that he's basically the last hope of the X-Teams to get out of Genosha without suffering the same fate Storm and Wolfsbane had, or worse, Warlock. In the next chapter, we see the X-Teams at their lowest point, as they are put on trail by the Genoshian government, and offered a simple choice; volunteer to become a mutate slave or die. ( x 2) We also see Cameron Hodge becoming more unbalanced, which causes things to start to break down in the chain of command for the Genoshian government. We also will see somebody being framed, somebody being restored, and somebody dying. ( x 3) Oh yeah, being that we're going back to UXM, it also means that we'll also be going back to Jim Lee being the artist, so, everything we see will look f**king AWESOME! (Unlike this issue's art ) GRADE: B-
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 2, 2017 1:30:47 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #272 "X-Tinction Agenda (part 7): Capital Crimes"Cover Date: January, 1991 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee Featured Characters: X-Men (Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit, Banshee, Forge & Storm), X-Factor (Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, Archangel, Beast, & Iceman), & The New Mutants (Cable, Cannonball, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, Rictor, & Boom-Boom) Villain/s: Cameron Hodge, Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Chief Magistrate Anderson, Wipeout, Various Magistrates), Genegineer (Dr. David Moreau) Guest Stars: Emmanuel da Costa (Sunspot's father), Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, Reed Richards, Frank Castle/The Punisher (all cameos, on TV) Official Plot: The captured members of the X-teams are put on trial in Genosha. They are offered to volunteer for the mutate bonding process, otherwise they have to face death. All of them choose the latter and are brought to Cameron Hodge, who enjoys having so many "toys". The mechanical monster has Archangel and Wolverine fight each without restraints and forces the others to watch. Psylocke pretends to no longer bear the brutality and accepts being transformed into a mutate. Soon after she is led away she surprises her guards with her ninja skills and escapes. The Genegineer Moreau and Tam Anderson decide that Hodge has finally snapped and plot behind his back. Outside the citadel Dr. Moreau orders a mutate to create a tunnel below the citadel; not aware that they are being watched by Rictor, Jubilee, and Boom-Boom. Cameron Hodge murders Wipeout and frames Magistrate Havok for the crime, getting rid of both the only way for the X-Men to regain their powers and a possible opponent. Tam Anderson and Psylocke take mutate 20 (Storm) to the prisoners, who have just freed themselves thanks to Gambit’s lockpicking. Something strange happens as Storm hits Cyclops with lightning. Ororo is back to her former adult self and has washed off all effects of the mutate bonding process and Scott too got his optic blast back. Brodie's View:We begin this, the 7th part of the X-TINCTION AGENDA, and the beginning of the last third of this story-line, with most of the X-Family captured and at the mercy of the Genoshian government, as they are being put on trial in the Kangaroo courts of all Kangaroo courts. We see that this has become quite the controversy, and we see various reactions from various characters; some people on the street (Including The Punisher, although, only we the readers know that ), and some important known heroes like Reed Richards and She-Hulk (who speaks on the legality of such an action), who denounce the Genoshian government for acting in such a way, even though the Genoshians claim it was self defense. Anyways, the mutants are given a choice, become one of Genoshia's mutate slaves or DIE. Needless to say, everyone chooses death, but instead are given to the insane Cameron Hodge to use as playthings. Speaking of Hodge, some interesting political moves are made both in his favor and against him in this issue. In the case of the latter, Genengineer David Moreau and the leader of the Magistrates, Tam Anderson, plot against Hodge, as they realize that whatever cheese was on Hodge's cracker from the get go has long slid off, and that he's becoming more of a danger to the country than even the X-Family. Speaking of the mutants, or at the very least their currently estranged member, Havok/Alex Summers, who in the last part of this story, finally regained the memory of who he was. However, he is still playing along as if he were a loyal Magistrate, in order to help the X-characters escape when least expected. Little does he know, regardless of whether Hodge realizes this or not, he considers the mutant a potential threat to his power, and frames him for the murder of Wipeout, who Hodge himself kills. Of course, this ends up being a huge mistake, as Wipeout was the one thing who was nullifying the power of the various mutants, and as they escape captivity (Thanks to Psylocke's acting as if she were going to submit to the mutate process, only to escape, and Gambit, who uses his lockpicking skills to free the rest), they quickly start getting their powers back. Of course, none get their powers back more dramatically than Storm, who is now once more an adult due to the mutate processing, and once she is hit by a bolt of lighting, regains not only her powers, but her memories as well. Needless to say, the issue ends with a whole lot of pissed off mutants who want revenge on Hodge and the Genoshian government for all they've put them through over the course of this story-line. In the next part of this story, the X-Family starts to fight back, although, they have by no means an easy fight with both Hodge and the various Magistrates gunning for them. GRADE: B+
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 2, 2017 22:18:52 GMT -5
New Mutants #97"X-Tinction Agenda (part 8): War"Cover Date: January, 1991 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Guang Yap Team: New Mutants (Cable, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom-Boom, Warlock, Sunspot, & Rictor) Villain/s: Cameron Hodge, Genoshan Magistrates (Magistrate Alex Summers/Havok, Wipeout, Chief Magistrate Anderson), Genegineer (Dr. David Moreau) Guest Stars: X-Men (Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, Storm, Gambit, Forge, & Banshee), and X-Factor (Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, Archangel, Beast, & Iceman) Official Plot: After Storm restores both Cyclops and Jean‘s powers the three together fight Cameron Hodge, but he is slowly winning; suddenly the citadel is shaken by a bomb explosion in the basement lab complex. While Hodge rushes away to save all of his information stored there, Storm restores all the X-teams‘ powers as Cyclops reveals that the explosion was caused by a robot autobomb of Forge’s design. To ensure the secrecy of this back-up plan, Forge had willed himself into unconsciousness to avoid mindscans. The mutants split up into three squads, two try to battle Hodge, the third will search for Wolfsbane. Downstairs Cameron Hodge checks the computer systems and find the mainframe still active, he leaves again to hunt the mutants by utilizing much of the computers sensory input like body heat signatures, and building blueprints. Rictor, Tabitha and Jubilee followed the Genegineer through a secret tunnel into the basement lab complex where they discover Wipeout’s dead body guarded by mutate 490 (Rahne). At first Ric and Boom-Boom believe the only way to restore their powers is gone, but then Storm, Cable and the other New Mutants arrive in the labs. With lightnings Ororo is able to reverse the power-negation, but Wolfsbane can only partially be restored. In wolfen form she has free will, but in human appearance she will be the mindless mutate again. The mixed groups of X-Men, New Mutants and X-Factor members hunt their opponent through the citadel and run into various fights with the mechanical monster during which many receive major injuries, though Hodge too is weakened. During one of these battles Hodge snaps the Genegineer‘s neck. Brodie's View:The X-Family strikes back, and amasses their forces, in this, the penultimate part of the X-TINCTION AGENDA (Thank God! These crossovers wear me out . So glad I'm not doing the crazy amounts of crossovers that happen once Chris Claremont is gone), as Storm uses her powers to give all the X-people stripped of their powers their powers back. This allows them to slowly start turning the tide against Cameron Hodge, who still puts up a hell of a fight (He also is starting to mentally break down, as not only has he killed Wipeout, but before this issue is over, he snaps the neck of the chief Gengineer (David Moreau). ) In addition, they split into two groups, and one of those groups go to find Wolfsbane, who is still a mindless mutate. They wind up somewhat snapping Rahne out of her brainwashing, but it only works when she is in one of her wolfen forms, which means she must stay at least partially transformed, or else revert back to being a mindless mutate. This lasts for a few years after this storyline takes place, until an all powerful villain cures her of it, to try and get her loyalty (It doesn't work). Before this issue is over, she leaves the New Mutants, electing to stay behind and help the former mutates live in what will supposedly be a free society. However, she doesn't stay there long, as she will soon join Havok and others in the second incarnation of X-FACTOR. Of course, this is yet another major step in the transition from the New Mutants into what will become X-FORCE. Another step is the loss of long time writer, Louise Simonson, who finishes up her run on the book with this issue, which was most likely at the request of artist Rob Liefield (who, despite doing the cover for this issue, didn't draw the interior art), who had started to become really popular at this point, and obviously pulled his "Creative Control" card and had Simonson removed from the book. The last three issues of the NEW MUTANTS book would be co-written by Liefield and Fabian Nicieza, and would see other long time members of the NM leave the team, and new members join to complete the transition into the new team. Simonson would also be removed from X-FACTOR shortly after, which I'm sure Chris Claremont saw as the "writing on the wall," as Jim Lee would soon do the same thing to him. The rest of his run kind of involves trying to tie up as many story plots as he could before he was officially jacked from the X-Books (Which is where my whole run of reviews ends as well). We'll see that from #273 on, but first, we must finish with the X-TINCTION AGENDA, which we do later, as the X-Family battles Cameron Hodge for all the marbles. GRADE: B
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 3, 2017 0:01:01 GMT -5
X-Factor #62"X-Tinction Agenda (part 9): Capital Punishment"Cover Date: January, 1991 Writer: Louise Simonson Artist: Jon Bogdanove Team: Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, Archangel, Beast, & Iceman Villain/s: Cameron Hodge & Madame Reneau Guest Stars: X-Men (Storm, Gambit, Forge, Banshee, Wolverine, Psylocke, & Jubilee,) New Mutants (Cable, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Boom-Boom, Warlock, Sunspot, & Rictor), Alex Summers/Havok, Chief Magistrate Anderson Official Plot: Rictor and the mutated Wolfsbane make their way through the Genoshan Citadel, when they come across Cameron Hodge whom Wolfsbane attacks. Nearby, Cable and Storm learn of the attack, and make their way to the corridor. Hodge is aware of them coming, and shoves his stinger through Cable. While Storm attacks Hodge, Cable is able to radio Cyclops, who is with Wolverine and Marvel Girl. Cyclops subsequently radios Archangel, and sends him to help Cable. Cyclops tells Jean that when they reach Hodge, she is to stay away from him, causing Wolverine to get annoyed, and suggest to Cyclops that he stop telling Jean what to do. The men argue, before Jean points out that she is capable of looking after herself. Archangel arrives just in time to help Storm, but the hate between him and Hodge runs deep, and their battle is brutal, only resulting in Archangel getting captured, and Hodge preparing to slice his head off. In the prison, Beast manages to free himself, but the others are still unconscious. Seeing some mutates nearby, the Beast plans to use them to help him. Havok arrives in the corridor just in time to save Archangel from decapitation, by attacking Hodge. Wolverine, Cyclops and Jean Grey aren’t far behind, and they join in the battle, although Hodge manages to shove his stinger into Wolverine’s back, and injure Jean. Jubilee, Cannonball, Sunspot and Boom-Boom, who is carrying the ashes of Warlock, are soon found by the Beast, who is with the mutates that are carrying the others. They then meet up with Chief Magistrate Anderson, who is holding the President of Genosha at gunpoint. Hodge makes his way to the top of the Citadel, where he is attacked by Cyclops and Havok, who combine their powers. The rest of the mutants are all reunited below, and watch as the citadel explodes. Havok and Cyclops continue to pour the power on, and eventually all that is left of Hodge is his head, which still causes trouble, as he extends his tongue and wraps it around Havok, throwing him off the top of the Citadel. Jean catches Havok and Cyclops in a telekinetic field when they fall from the ledge, while Hodge’s head is found by Wolfsbane, who tears it apart, and throws it under the Citadel as it collapses thanks to a seismic wave created by Rictor. In the aftermath, Genosha is put under military control, while the President is placed under custody. Havok warns Chief Magistrate Anderson that he will be keeping an eye on Genosha, as he will be remaining on the island, while Wolfsbane announces that she too, is staying, and asks the New Mutants to scatter Warlock’s ashes on Cypher’s grave. Upon returning to Westchester, they do just that. Brodie's View:Well, we finally come to the end of THE X-TINCTION AGENDA storyline, and as to be expected, it's pretty much all of the mutants dog piling on Cameron Hodge, until Cyclops and Havok are able to destroy his body. However, his head still lives, and will pretty much go on due to the deal he made with N'astirth, so, after being found and messed up by a very angry Wolfsbane, she and Rictor throw it under the citadel, and then bring it down in a monster earthquake, burying it. In addition, the mutants end up basically putting an end to the whole Genoshian mutant slave thing, which, for the most part, sticks. Eventually, Magneto takes it over, making it a mutant paradise until a super sentinel destroys everything (and kills almost everyone) on the island at the beginning of Grant Morrison's X-run. However, for now, things are done, and we see Havok and Wolfsbane deciding to stay on the island to keep an eye on things, which they will do for the brief future, before Val Cooper talks them into being a part of the second incarnation of X-FACTOR. The last bit of business to take care of is spreading Warlock's ashes on the grave of Doug Ramsey, the New Mutant that died during the FALL OF THE MUTANTS. Eventually, Warlock absorbs Doug's essence, creating a new entity called Douglock, who joins up with Excalibur for the last part of their run. As for the rest of the X-Teams, we have the unsettled argument of who gets what, and who's leading who, which started in #270, but was kind of interrupted by the whole Genoshians invading thing. We continue that argument to a point in the next issue of UNCANNY, as both the newly assembled X-Men and X-Factor try to deal with the new status quo, and how to (or not to) deal with Cable leading the New Mutants. We also get a pretty kick ass little jam session of artists on the book, which includes some names from the past, present, and future of the X-Books. Of course, after that, a plot thread that has been going through the last few Pre X-TINCTION AGENDA issues comes a calling, and our new team of X-Men are transported somewhere they haven't been in quite a while. GRADE: B
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 3, 2017 1:21:18 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #273"Too Many Mutants!"Cover Date: February, 1991 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee, Whilce Portacio, Klaus Janson, John Byrne, Rick Leonardi, Marc Silvestri, Michael Golden, & Larry Stroman Team: Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit, Banshee, Forge & Storm Villain/s: The Shadow King (Controlling Jacob Reisz, Dr. Lian Shen, and Moria MacTaggert) Guest Stars: X-Factor (Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl, Archangel, Beast, & Iceman), & The New Mutants (Cable, Cannonball, Sunspot, Rictor, & Boom-Boom), Lila Cheney, Guide/Strong Guy Official Plot: In the complex underneath the ruins of the Xavier School, Storm, Cyclops and Jean Grey contemplate the changing world that they live in since the earlier days of the X-Men, and compile the current threats they are faced with. Cable joins them and suggests they get with the times and become more militant, attacking the enemy before the enemy attacks them. Storm, Cyclops and Jean aren’t sure that is the right option, and after Cable points out recent deaths and failures in the world of the X-Men and New Mutants, Storm gets angry and lashes out at him. Cable leaves the room, and finds Boom-Boom, annoyed that Iceman is hogging the only bathroom in the complex. Cable tells Iceman to get out of the bathroom, so Iceman does, only when Boom-Boom enters, everything is covered in ice, as he played a practical joke on her. suggests everyone move into X-Factor’s Ship, as there is more room there. Storm decides that is a bad idea, as it totally removes the X-Men from a society they are trying to integrate into. Banshee has a reunion with Moira MacTaggert via hologram display, and finds her new outfit and attitude perplexing, but doesn’t have time to dwell on it, as he is needed elsewhere. The Beast and Forge discuss how they can liberate Wolfsbane from her mutate state, and realize it may be an impossible task, while Archangel gives Cannonball a training session in the Danger Room. Storm finds Gambit, who suggests they leave and go back to their previous life of roaming. Storm is determined to remain with the X-Men, and Gambit suggests that she start acting like she wants to be here. Boom-Boom is chasing Iceman through the makeshift living quarters, hoping for some payback, when Iceman runs into a steely Psylocke. Boom-Boom uses this opportunity to drop a time-bomb down the back of Iceman’s shorts, before Jean Grey tells them both to leave. She showers, while Psylocke explains why she has not called her brother yet. Wolverine and Gambit face off in a training session in the Danger Room, which gets quite dangerous, as Gambit tries to prove himself better than Wolverine, and even goes as far as defeating him in the battle. Jean Grey attempts to use Cerebro to try and find some former X-Men, but on the Astral Plane, is attacked by the Shadow King, who revels in her presence. Psylocke is forced to use her psi-knife on Jean to free her, but upon returning to the real world, neither woman is sure who their foe was or what he really wants. Storm reunites with Cyclops and Jean, while the X-Men - Wolverine, Psylocke, Banshee, Forge, Jubilee and Gambit - have gathered in their team costume. Cyclops and Jean leave Storm to talk to her team, and wonder whether they should return to the X-Men. Suddenly, Lila Cheney and Guido arrive, and Lila urgently reports that Professor X is in trouble, and teleports the X-Men away. Brodie's View:We finally are finished with the X-TINCTION AGENDA, but we still have to deal with the fallout from that, which goes back to the argument that started the whole crossover off, and that is the path to follow: Professor X's (who we will come back to shortly) or Cable's, who follows a much more militaristic path than Xaiver ever would have. There's also the question of what the X-Men are, and what they will become, as Storm tries to talk Cyclops and Jean Grey into merging X-Factor and the X-Men, which they consider (and eventually do), but before they can give their answer, the new team of X-Men are transported away by teleporting rock star, Lila Cheney, who tells them that the long lost Charles Xaiver is in trouble. We'll come back to that in a second, but I will say that the rest of this issue (Which is a jam session of different artists. I mean, look at the names above. Hell, we get our last Claremont/Byrne team up on the X-Men, even if it is just for a few pages, in this issue) is the various X-Men, X-Factor, and New Mutants dealing with all living under the same space, and trying to define their specific roles in this new status quo. In some cases, this plays out with harmless jokes between Iceman and Boom Boom, in some it plays out with violence, as Gambit nails Wolverine during a Danger Room session, in order to, at least in his mind, take Logan's place as the "Alpha Male" of the team. Needless to say, Wolverine gets his back, but not for a while, as Claremont seemed to want to get over that Logan was kind of a shell of his former bad ass self, especially since being brutalized at the hands of the Reavers (and then made worse during his time in Genoshia). Had Claremont stayed on the book, he eventually wanted Wolverine to be killed, and then resurrected as one of the Hand's Assassins in #300. Needless to say, that's not what the new writing/artist team wanted to do with the highly popular character, although, writer/artist Alan Davis would sort of do this idea in his 1998-2000 run on the books. Anyways, we get the hints throughout of the growing threat of The Shadow King, which is a threat the X-teams will have to deal with. However, we still have a few twists and turns that the new X-Men (and the other X-teams) must deal with before TSK, and the next few issues will see all that play out. The major story will involve the return of Professor X, of course, and some old friends and enemies of the team in outer space. Of course, as we'll eventually see, things are not necessarily as cut and dried as we initially see them as being. However, the main story of the next issue will pick up where #269 left off, as we head back to the Savage Land, and find Rogue and Magneto (among others) dealing with the threat of Zaladane and her Savage Land Mutates. Then we hit our big milestone with #275, and huge battles, deaths, and other shocking moments happening, as, yes, we are officially in the Home Stretch of this run, but as I said before, we're ending on a high note. GRADE: A-
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 3, 2017 21:29:39 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #274"Crossroads"Cover Date: March, 1991 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee Team: X-Men (Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit, Banshee, Forge & Storm), Rogue Villain/s: Deathbird, Manacle, Savage Land Mutates (Zaladane, Amphibius, Whiteout, Barbarus, Lupo, Brainchild, Gaza, & Worm) Guest Stars: Magneto, Ka-Zar, Zabu, Lila Cheney, Guido/Strong Guy, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D, Cyclops, Jean Grey/Marvel Girl Official Plot: Zaladane has erected six towers in the Savage Land and is now in sync with earth’s magnetic field. With her magnetic powers she has scrambled all communication within the Savage Land, and the effects of her mad quest for power are already felt far away, as Argentina was hit by a massive earthquake. SHIELD has sent in Nick Fury and a team of agents, but most of them perished with their choppers down because of such electro-magnetic pulse neutralizing all electronics, and then rocks hurled from an air-cavalry of pterasaurs. Magneto and Rogue have allied up with Ka-Zar but they don’t fare much better. Apparently something went wrong when Magneto reintegrated her bio-matrix, as she is only a shadow of her former self. Her absorption power doesn’t work and she is only slightly stronger than an average person. Magneto finds himself in a moral conflict, he knows that there is only one way to stop Zaladane, but killing her would surely end his beginning relationship with Rogue. Meanwhile the X-Men have been teleported to Shi’Ar space by Lila Cheney. Immediately they get captured by Deathbird who wants them to kill Charles Xavier. Brodie's View:Holy Poop-sickles!!! At the end of last issue, we saw our new group of X-Men teleported away by Lila Cheney, and near the end of this issue, we see where they were teleported to; outer space, and more importantly, in the Shi'ar's section of the galaxy (Awesome! I do so love X-Men space adventures! ). However, before they can even figure out what's happening, they are captured by longtime foe, Deathbird, who has brought them there to help her kill Charles Xaiver ( ). This is only the capper of this issue, and other than an additional scene with Cyclops and Jean Grey wondering what happened to the X-Men, the rest of this issue belongs to Rogue, Magneto, and the Savage Land. Continuing off of #269, Rogue and Magneto have been kind of hooking up in that pre-historic world (as Rogue is still without her absorption powers, allowing Magneto to mack as hard as he can mack), but suddenly, reality intrudes, as they come across Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D, who tell them about Zaladane and her Savage Land Mutates slowly taking over the Savage Land, and in her lust for amplifying the power she took from Polaris in #250, she has been causing earthquakes as far away as Argentina. Needless to say, the two former X-Men (and former X-Men villains) team up with Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D, and later Ka-Zar and Zabu, to fight Zaladane and her mutates (although, Magneto internally realizes that this is most likely going to have to end with his killing Zaladane, which will mess up his chances with Rogue). I will say that although the Rogue/Magneto romance is a short one, we do get to see a glimpse of what would have happened had they stuck together in the AGE OF APOCALYPSE story-line, where in an alternate reality where Xaiver was killed early on, and Magneto formed the X-Men to fight Apocalypse (who takes over North America), Rogue and Magneto marry and have a child. However, in this reality, things don't go this way, and Rogue will soon develop a taste for Cajun food ( ) instead. Speaking of Cajuns, in the next issue, the Double Sized #275, we get a LOT of kick ass action, and both the Rogue/Magneto/Savage Land story and the X-Men in space story being continued. It's a really kick ass issue with deaths, swerves, and surprises. Be there! GRADE: A-
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Post by BrodietheSlayer on Apr 4, 2017 0:09:01 GMT -5
Uncanny X-Men #275"The Path Not Taken!"Cover Date: April, 1991 Writer: Chris Claremont Artist: Jim Lee Team: X-Men (Wolverine, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit, Banshee, Forge & Storm), Rogue Villain/s: Deathbird, Manacle, Savage Land Mutates (Zaladane, Amphibius, Whiteout, Barbarus, Lupo, Brainchild, Gaza, & Worm), Deathbird, Colonel Yuri Semyanov, The Host/Skrulls ("Professor X, Corsair, Hepzibah, Ch'od, Raza, Cr'reee" and Lord Chamberlain) Guest Stars: Magneto, Ka-Zar, Zabu, Lila Cheney, Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D, Chief Nereel, Shanna the She Devil, Empress Lilandra Neramani, The Imperial Guard (Gladiator, Oracle, Tempest, Titan, Warstar, Starbolt, Smasher, & Earthquake) O fficial Plot: The Starjammers led by a mysterious Warlord force their way on the royal Behemoth flagship in order to turn back the Shi'ar Throne to Lilandra usurped by her sister Deathbird, the Starjammer found their welcome by the imperial guard, the x-men are prisoners of Deathbird's pet Manacle, Wolverine freed himself with a little help of Jubilee but he was nearly killed by Deathbird, meanwhile the Starjammers to defeat the imperial guard joined with recently freed X-men, Wolverine recovered with his healing factor and went in hunt of Deathbird, he manage to capture her and brought her before Lilandra. At the Savage Land, Rogue has made team up with Ka-Zar and Nick Fury. Magneto has been made captive by Zaladane who tortures him and steal his powers through a device created by Brainchild. While Rogue and her team fight against Zaladane and the others Magneto uses the device to regain his powers and then he kills Zaladane, he warns Rogue to abandon the citadel before he smashes it. Back in Shi'ar Lilandra enjoys her victory over Deathbird and the Warlord reveals himself to be Charles Xavier, the Professor attacked to Oracle and Gladiator make them kneel before him. Brodie's View:Man! This issue brings back memories of being back in high school, as I, who hadn't read an X-Men comic in quite a few years, was handed this particular comic during study hall, and I was pretty blown away by reading it, as it was pretty clear things had changed quite a bit, on various levels, since I had read last. I wouldn't get fully back into the book until 1994, but I would say this issue kind of planted the seed of my comeback, as, once again, I was pretty blown away by it. There's a crapton of action and story here, as, even though it was kind of the lead up to his being gone from the X-books, one can tell the amazing art by Jim Lee kind of reinvigorated Chris Claremont as a writer, as he's doing a kind of business here he hadn't really done since the 80's (Not cracking on any of his stuff past that, as some of it had been quite good, but this was going back to the Claremont we all love to remember). On one end, we get a mammoth battle with the X-Men and Starjammers against Deathbird and the Imperial Guard, as the X-Men, assuming that things are still as they were the last time they encountered any of these entities, automatically sort out who's the Good Guys and Bad Guys, and act accordingly. They wind up taking out Deathbird and the IG, and a mysterious figure who was fighting alongside them reveals himself to be.....Professor Charles Xaiver, or is it? Later on, as many of the X-Men (Not Psylocke, who is taken out by a mysterious figure as she's coming out of the shower earlier) are occupied at a celebration dinner (You would think after the whole Brood thing, they would suspect those "celebration dinner/parties," at least those taking place in space ), Jubilee and Gambit spy Xaiver acting very un-Xaiver-ish by enjoying his victory over Deathbird and Gladiator, and taking delight in making them kneel before him. On the other end of things, we get a big conclusion to the events of the Savage Land, as thanks to a traitorous turn by a Russian Colonel, who wanted revenge on Magento for his sinking that Russian sub back in #150, Zaladane captures Magneto, and attempts to steal his power. She does, but Rogue (Who has regained her power), and the others bust in, allowing Magneto to regain it. What happens next pretty much solidifies his turn back towards the dark side, as he ends up killing the Russian Colonel in somewhat of an act of self defense, but then also offs Zaladane as she is helpless, reasoning that the world is better off without her. He then leaves Rogue and the others behind, ending their short relationship as well. We'll be seeing Magneto once more before this run is over, and he'll be sliding fully back into his BAD GUY role, as that is what Marvel wanted him to be (Most likely due to the launch of the cartoon that would happen the following year, and their not wanting the viewers to be confused if they decided to pick up an X-MEN book because of that). The next time we'll see Rogue, she'll be on Muir Island, and under the control of the Shadow King ( ), which is where we'll be ending things up on UNCANNY. However, before that happens, we still have our storyline in space to finish up, and that will play out over the next couple of issues. In the next issue, the X-Men start to piece together that things aren't what they seem (well, some of them do), but is it too late of a realization? GRADE: A
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