X-tinction Agenda

[Mariah]

Is it just me, or was the X-Tinction Agenda one of the best cross overs the x-books ever had? I was re-reading through my old collection, and while it was an ending to some subplots, it just had all that good mutant goodness I just loved when I was growing up. I even enjoyed the Liefeld art, okay, the second issue of his art on this, because the first and last new mutants chapters just sucked hardcore.

[rilokyle]

Heck Yes! I love this x-over. The story is well-written, and very intricate, and actually kinda suprising. I mean, at one point every single X-Man/ New Mutant was captured so it was shocking to see the X-Men actually losing a battle. And I was soo devestated when Warlock died- that was such a sad moment, and so traumatic for poor Rahne to have to watch him die and not be able to do anything about it.

X-Tinction Agenda was just a very high-stakes storyline- everyone was captured, depowered and almost executed. Warlock was killed. Rahne and Storm were turned into Mutates. Very intense situations.

Art wise, its mixed. Obviously, the Jim Lee issues are breathtaking, but the X-Factor issues are soo cartoony that they don't really fit the book in my opinion. The Rob Lefield art isn't too bad though- Warlock's death scene was well-drawn.

All in all, a great crossiver! :)

[xmanson]

The Lifeld parts were horrid. It's such a great story plagued with some terrible art.

[Mariah]

Heck Yes! I love this x-over. The story is well-written, and very intricate, and actually kinda suprising. I mean, at one point every single X-Man/ New Mutant was captured so it was shocking to see the X-Men actually losing a battle. And I was soo devestated when Warlock died- that was such a sad moment, and so traumatic for poor Rahne to have to watch him die and not be able to do anything about it.

X-Tinction Agenda was just a very high-stakes storyline- everyone was captured, depowered and almost executed. Warlock was killed. Rahne and Storm were turned into Mutates. Very intense situations.

All in all, a great crossiver! :)
Exactly how i feel! When I open the first pages of the Uncanny issue, I was like gasp! Gorgeous!! And the story flowed so well together. Steeped in continuity, yet easily accessible at the same time.

Art wise, its mixed. Obviously, the Jim Lee issues are breathtaking, but the X-Factor issues are soo cartoony that they don't really fit the book in my opinion. The Rob Lefield art isn't too bad though- Warlock's death scene was well drawn.
Totally agree with this statement. I just felt they pailed in comparison to the X-Men issues. I mean, he only drew the New Mutants for a couple of issues, and I was like, Dang, this is how they should look.
EEK!! on the X-Factor art. I mean, I liked his art on Power Pack, and the Fantastic Four vs. the X-Men mini, but it was just tres horrible on these issues. I was like, is this the same guy? But I still loved the storyline to the end, and I almost cried when Warlock died. :(

[Mariah]

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/97792366288.270.GIF
http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/97792366288.271.GIF
http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/97792366288.272.GIF
The Jim Lee covers we're sooo great, so breathtaking. Too bad the whole thing couldn't have been drawn by him.

[fishtaco]

It doesn't get much better than this. X-Tinction Agenda was awesome. My ideal X4 plot is based off of a lot of different X-Men stories, but X-Tinction Agenda is one of the most critical.

[Huzzah!]

http://image.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/fullsize/97792366288.270.GIF


Apparentl Havoks secondary mutation is to stretch Storms Breast out

[xmanson]

I just love Psylocke and Wolverine going crazy and stabbig, kicking and shooting magistrates.

This could work as a movie.

[Expletive Deleted]

I did like the story, but the art . . . mostly uck. I'm not a huge Lee fan, but his chapters were at least competent. Liefeld and Bogdanove brought the whole effort down a few levels.

[Huzzah!]

joke aside havok would have had to have grabbed storms breast to pull the fabric up like that

pervy

[DDM]

The Chris Claremont/Jim Lee Uncanny X-Men are the highwater marks for the story. I wish Walter Simonson penciled the X-Factor parts of the story.

[david r]

I felt it was an entertaining story, but stretched too far to fit 9 issues. That is my only real gripe with the crossover, not enough story for a 9-issue span.

But I agree with most of the posts here: the Claremont/Lee issues are the best; the "It's Wolvie's Turn" issue #271 was great; Warlock's death was well-handled.

I also liked the sequences where Gambit "outdoes" Storm and frees himself from his bonds; and the moment where Wolverine and Archangel are thrown into the ring together and Hodge ponders how "these two REALLY don't like each other, do they."

[Huzzah!]

commenting on the same cover

Havok's storm boob grabbing has apparently turned on those robot suits

[spoon_jenkins]

I'm another guy who likes the Uncanny issues more than the others. I think #272 is really swell. :p Actually, I think I've only read one of the NM issues of X-Tinction Agenda. This was one of those crossovers where I really freaked out about what was gonna happen next. Does rank as high as Fall of the Mutants and Inferno for me, but still pretty good.

[david r]

I liked that moment in UXM #270 where Rahne explodes with emotion and rage at Storm, I think over Doug Ramsey's death. How the X-Men always "get better". But not for the New Mutants.

If she only knew what was about to happen to Warlock!

[spoon_jenkins]

I liked that moment in UXM #270 where Rahne explodes with emotion and rage at Storm, I think over Doug Ramsey's death. How the X-Men always "get better". But not for the New Mutants.
That's such a powerful scene. You feel so bad for Rahne reading it. Actually, my sympathies weren't so strongly with her when I first read it, because I wasn't that familiar with the New Mutants back then.

[Mariah]

I liked that moment in UXM #270 where Rahne explodes with emotion and rage at Storm, I think over Doug Ramsey's death. How the X-Men always "get better". But not for the New Mutants.

If she only knew what was about to happen to Warlock!
Ahh, if only Louise got Rahne as much as CC did. That scene was so poignant. I also love the scene between Storm and Jean in the danger room...Take that Jean lovers:p

[comicbookzombie]

You guys hit everything that I like about it too. But the one thing you can't forget is the villian. Cameron Hodge was great, and the fact that he can't be killed even after being decapitated leaves me wondering when he will return. With his head buried deep beneath the earth rotting and plotting, he will eventually return. And when he does return, he is going to be completely crazy and filled with revenge!

Another critical part of this story is, this is when the X-Men return to the public after faking thier death in the Fall of the Mutants.

[DDM]

You guys hit everything that I like about it too. But the one thing you can't forget is the villian. Cameron Hodge was great, and the fact that he can't be killed even after being decapitated leaves me wondering when he will return. With his head buried deep beneath the earth rotting and plotting, he will eventually return. And when he does return, he is going to be completely crazy and filled with revenge!

Another critical part of this story is, this is when the X-Men return to the public after faking thier death in the Fall of the Mutants.

I like how the seeds of X-Tinction Agenda is planted with Uncanny X-Men #235-238 & Cameron Hodge's deal with N'Astrigh to be immortal in X-Factor #34 just prior to Inferno. Never make deals with demons. Although Hodge is decapitated by Archangel in X-Factor #34, he takes over Genosha's government.

[david r]

Another critical part of this story is, this is when the X-Men return to the public after faking thier death in the Fall of the Mutants.

I doubt that this was how Roma's spell was meant to be broken. We NEVER got any explanation as to how Roma's "invisible to electronics" spell was broken. I suspect it was more an editor at that time, who disliked this particular subplot and nixed it in midstream, leaving Claremont and we readers in limbo.

But you're correct, it was during the X-Tinction Agenda that suddenly the Australian X-Men can be seen again by electronic devices. Chalk up another continuity error "victory" for Marvel and their editors. :mad:

[Mariah]

I doubt that this was how Roma's spell was meant to be broken. We NEVER got any explanation as to how Roma's "invisible to electronics" spell was broken. I suspect it was more an editor at that time, who disliked this particular subplot and nixed it in midstream, leaving Claremont and we readers in limbo.

But you're correct, it was during the X-Tinction Agenda that suddenly the Australian X-Men can be seen again by electronic devices. Chalk up another continuity error "victory" for Marvel and their editors. :mad:
Maybe it wore off after the x-men went through the siege perilous. I also think that the invisible thing kinda was a stupid idea, so it was much welcomed for me. But i did love the nod to the computer virus they put into the computer when the x-men first encountered rogue, or was that something Forge did? hmm...damn it, i gotta go back and read both of those issues.

[DDM]

Maybe it wore off after the x-men went through the siege perilous. I also think that the invisible thing kinda was a stupid idea, so it was much welcomed for me. But i did love the nod to the computer virus they put into the computer when the x-men first encountered rogue, or was that something Forge did? hmm...damn it, i gotta go back and read both of those issues.

Psylocke, Dazzler, Colossus, & Havok are still invisible to all electronic devices after they pass through the Siege Perilous. For instance, due to Betsy's invisibility to computers, the Hand had to use their own psychics to monitor Betsy's corruption into Lady Mandarin. The psychic dies as a result of his link to Betsy's mind when she becomes a ninja (possibly due to Mojo's tampering with Betsy's mind within the actual story since both Mojo & Spiral are the true source for Betsy's subvertion into Lady Mandarin).

Wolverine & Storm are remain invisible to electronic devices as well.

[Zombienorthstar]

I like the story but the art of this crossover is so sub standard its unreal.

[Huzzah!]

How can anyone deny the awesome havok coping a feel cover turning on robots? I contest they cannot

[Syzygy]

The Lifeld parts were horrid. It's such a great story plagued with some terrible art.

Ditto on this point.

Two problems plot-wise, though.

1) As I recall, Wolvesbane just threw Hodge's immortal, magicked head away. I think he was later buried under some rubble. It's scenes like this that remind me I'm just reading a damn comic book. Surely, the X-Men would take the head to Dr. Strange for magical imprisonment, or otherwise, not just toss it away so that it can be retreived by his minions and Hodge can become a threat again. Either the X-Men, or the writers, make some really dumb tactical decisions. I'd like to think it was the writers.

2) That mecha-scorpion body Hodge had was way too tough. I had a hard time believing that a single energy beam by either Cyclops or Havok wouldn't have trashed it.

Peace,
Syzygy

[Syzygy]

I doubt that this was how Roma's spell was meant to be broken. We NEVER got any explanation as to how Roma's "invisible to electronics" spell was broken. I suspect it was more an editor at that time, who disliked this particular subplot and nixed it in midstream, leaving Claremont and we readers in limbo.

But you're correct, it was during the X-Tinction Agenda that suddenly the Australian X-Men can be seen again by electronic devices. Chalk up another continuity error "victory" for Marvel and their editors. :mad:

I noticed this too at the time.

How can you be sure its the editor's fault? Couldn't CC have thrown in a line of dialogue explaining matters? He might have had Storm say, for example, "As Roma told us, the spell fades now that our time in the Outback is done."

That was really all that was necessary. Why do you maintain that some editor wouldn't let Claremont put that in? Seems to me the fault is his...another forgotten Claremont plotline.

And yet aother problem with that Outback plotline was that the X-Men never took advantage of their anonymity. The purpose behind "remaining dead", and causing all their friends to enduring the pain of parting, was so that the X-Men could "get the drop" on the bad guys--presumably their major enemies at the time, the Marauders. I was waiting and waiting for the X-Men to UTILIZE their anonymity to get the drop on the Marauders and bring their whole operation down...but, inexplicably, it never happened.

As I recall, they never really utilized the strategic advantage they got from playing dead. This was a huge disappointment to me as I was really looking forward to the close of all the mysteries of the Mutant Massacre, which I were sure to follow. After all, now the X-Men can strike at the Marauders, who aren't expecting them at all!

It was time for a really big finish, which, of course, never occurred. I felt Claremont let me down with that one, especially after all the build up.

Peace,
Syzygy

[Huzzah!]

i recall a great line about the whole no sensor seeing thing (which as i recall was mentioned on a x-men trading card that featured what claremont would have had for his blue team if he remained on..or maybe it was on the next year..but he would have kept it up)

anyway

when someone asked him when the x-men were able to be seen by electronics Claremont replied something to the affect of

"halfway into Uncanny X-men 280"

the point being he wrote the first half, someone else finished it.

[Sentinel K]

Cable really does look like a tit on this cover.

Worst. Cable. Evva.

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/x-factor/x-factor61.jpg

[Huzzah!]

just for clarity Tit is bad

and tits are good.

Now no more confusion shall be had.



EXCELSIOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[david r]

@Syzygy, Chris Claremont has since stated that the Outback X-Men period was meant to last a lot longer. The editor Bob Harras appeared in 1988 and did not like the direction Claremont had taken the books. Too far from the core concept. So Chris was basically TOLD to move the book away from Australia, Gateway and end Roma's spell.

Shouldn't Claremont have added some dialogue during "X-Tinction Agenda" explaining away Roma's spell? Sure, he could have. But I suspect the spell subplot was headed somewhere, and perhaps CC hoped he could still tell that story later down the line. I also suspect Chris was quickly losing control over such details.

Why do I maintain some editor wouldn't let Claremont put that in? Haven't you heard about Bob Harras and his oppressive editorial style? Changing dialogue and plots right under the writers' nose to suit his fancy? Go ask Chris Claremont, Peter David, Mark Waid, Fabian Nicieza, Scott Lobdell, Louise Simonson, John Byrne, etc. etc. about the editors at that time. The writers were WAY down on the totem pole.

I completely agree with you that the X-Men never took advantage of their decision to attack the villains first. This seemed to be the direction Storm meant to lead the team once the "Outback era" began. Yet the only team they struck at were the Reavers. Why Claremont didn't play up on this "attack first" policy is unknown. It does seem to be a missed opportunity.

[Domo Goddess]

X-Tinction Agenda is one of my favorite X-graphic novels.

I can't remember if Cameron Hodge is still around or not since
Rictor did bury him alive.

[david r]

I seem to recall that Cameron Hodge appeared in the Phalanx Covenant. Around 1994. But I don't think he's popped up since then.

[Mariah]

Psylocke, Dazzler, Colossus, & Havok are still invisible to all electronic devices after they pass through the Siege Perilous. For instance, due to Betsy's invisibility to computers, the Hand had to use their own psychics to monitor Betsy's corruption into Lady Mandarin. The psychic dies as a result of his link to Betsy's mind when she becomes a ninja (possibly due to Mojo's tampering with Betsy's mind within the actual story since both Mojo & Spiral are the true source for Betsy's subvertion into Lady Mandarin).

Wolverine & Storm are remain invisible to electronic devices as well.
But there was evidence way before they went that the spell was already starting to wear off, when they went up against the mastermold/nimrod thingy(yes, if i don't know what a word is, i use words like thingy and whatsitcalled)

[Frank]

I liked it but it was confusing at times and the story was so all over the place and rushed than it gave little time for the artists to shine.

X-tinction Agenda is something that`s remembered fondly by many but personaly I see it as a lost opportunity because orginaly it was supposed to be the legendary Mutants War that had been mentioned for over a while in the mutant books. The idea was to use Genosha has the spark of that war and do a real clean-up job with getting rid of many magor villains and so forth. But Bob Harras put a stop to that so he could stall some plotlines for later so he could put the wheels in motion for X-Men 1 with more preparation and marketing power(remember around X-Men 1, they did a clean-up on the villains too and set-up the last Magneto story).

So in short it ended up being this little confusing tale of this weird character in the form of a bodyless Cameron Judge putting X-people through Hell and that was it(with Genosha being changed in the process). But entertaining nonetheless.

[Mariah]

I liked it but it was confusing at times and the story was so all over the place and rushed than it gave little time for the artists to shine.

X-tinction Agenda is something that`s remembered fondly by many but personaly I see it as a lost opportunity because orginaly it was supposed to be the legendary Mutants War that had been mentioned for over a while in the mutant books. The idea was to use Genosha has the spark of that war and do a real clean-up job with getting rid of many magor villains and so forth. But Bob Harras put a stop to that so he could stall some plotlines for later so he could put the wheels in motion for X-Men 1 with more preparation and marketing power(remember around X-Men 1, they did a clean-up on the villains too and set-up the last Magneto story).

So in short it ended up being this little confusing tale of this weird character in the form of a bodyless Cameron Judge putting X-people through Hell and that was it(with Genosha being changed in the process). But entertaining nonetheless.
I thought it was supposed to be the war with the living sentinels, at least that's what i remember reading way back when in some solicits in marvel age or some magazine like that.

[Volk1]

I seem to recall that Cameron Hodge appeared in the Phalanx Covenant. Around 1994. But I don't think he's popped up since then.

Yes - I was going to mention that. But then I don't recall what happened to him there. Harvest was the biggest evil until Blink killed him, but what happened to Hodge in the Phalanx Covenant?

About X-tinction agenda.....

*Cameron Hodge was seriously an evil baddy. Even I was scared of him!:eek:

*Rictor was money! Him and Rahne with the big kiss (AWWW).

*I liked Boom Boom's and Jubilee's little rivalry. For some reason, I was rooting for Tabitha over Jubes....:p

*Alex/Scott team up!

*Stevie Hunter! Where is she now??:confused:

[spoon_jenkins]

Yes - I was going to mention that. But then I don't recall what happened to him there. Harvest was the biggest evil until Blink killed him, but what happened to Hodge in the Phalanx Covenant?
I'm not sure that Hodge appeared in the Phalanx Covenant proper. I know he appeared as a member of the Phalanx is the Uncanny #306 in the run-up/forshadowing about a year before the actual storyline. He was apparently killed in #306, but then again that didn't stop him before.

[Mariah]

I'm not sure that Hodge appeared in the Phalanx Covenant proper. I know he appeared as a member of the Phalanx is the Uncanny #306 in the run-up/forshadowing about a year before the actual storyline. He was apparently killed in #306, but then again that didn't stop him before.
Wouldn't the fact that a spell that said you couldn't die, mean you couldn't die no matter what? Although, that could also mean the same thing with their invisiblity thing, so what the heck do i know?:p

[spoon_jenkins]

Wouldn't the fact that a spell that said you couldn't die, mean you couldn't die no matter what? Although, that could also mean the same thing with their invisiblity thing, so what the heck do i know?:p
True. But immortality from N'astirh might be a bit dicey considered how soon Nasty himself kicked the bucket after offering that deal.

Apparently, Cannonball's immortality has been dropped suggesting that immortality's not forever . . . if that makes any sense.

[Mariah]

True. But immortality from N'astirh might be a bit dicey considered how soon Nasty himself kicked the bucket after offering that deal.

Apparently, Cannonball's immortality has been dropped suggesting that immortality's not forever . . . if that makes any sense.
about as much as New Avengers being the best selling marvel comic month in and month out, which is not at all.

jk, Yeah, I understand that, although, I thought that the whole reason for the phalanx covenant was because Nastirh was spread through the community or something like that, god, now i gotta dig up that crossover and read that one again. Damn you faulty memory!!!

[Stagier]

this was one of the highlights for me, as well as the following story in shiar space.

Imagine if marvel had made this house of m style and jim lee got to do the whole thing. insane.

i loved how the teams had to intermingle, and jubes was out there alone saving powerless rictor and booms.

good times indeed.

[Stagier]

*Stevie Hunter! Where is she now??:confused:


I think she was seen in the shadow king/muir island stuff.

she might have been mentioned in the current academy x, when there were students, but i don't think stevie has been seen for a while.

Kitty might want to check in on her old teacher.

[david r]

X-tinction Agenda is something that`s remembered fondly by many but personaly I see it as a lost opportunity because orginaly it was supposed to be the legendary Mutants War that had been mentioned for over a while in the mutant books. The idea was to use Genosha has the spark of that war and do a real clean-up job with getting rid of many magor villains and so forth. But Bob Harras put a stop to that so he could stall some plotlines for later so he could put the wheels in motion for X-Men 1 with more preparation and marketing power(remember around X-Men 1, they did a clean-up on the villains too and set-up the last Magneto story).


Yes, I recall the advertising saying "The First Silo in the Mutant Wars."

I've also wondered about what this "Mutant War" was. But knowing much of what Chris Claremont's plans were for X-Men in the early 90s, I can only assume that these Mutant Wars were Claremont's plans. Senator Robert Kelly running for President. Wolverine's death and later return as a Master Assassin for the Hand. The new "Living Sentinels" appearing (using poor dead Warlock's ashes to construct new Sentinels that utilize Warlock's bizarre abilities.) And culminating with the Shadow King's push to spark a war between humans and mutants.

The X-Tinction Agenda was probably the beginning spark for the powder-keg that would have exploded in the 290s. Claremont wanted the world to come to the brink of the dreaded "Days of Future Past." And X-tinction was the starting point. Bob Harras vetoed it (and years of build-up along with it.)

[DDM]

But there was evidence way before they went that the spell was already starting to wear off, when they went up against the mastermold/nimrod thingy(yes, if i don't know what a word is, i use words like thingy and whatsitcalled)

Nimrod & Master Mold are alive in some form. That's why they could see the X-Men.

[Mariah]

The X-Tinction Agenda was probably the beginning spark for the powder-keg that would have exploded in the 290s. Claremont wanted the world to come to the brink of the dreaded "Days of Future Past." And X-tinction was the starting point. Bob Harras vetoed it (and years of build-up along with it.)
I just find it funny that even though they vetoed it here, they went back and revisited many of his unused plots later, and made them suck hardcore-ixnay on the Phalanx covenant and AoA-their greatest moments

[Sentinel K]

I just find it funny that even though they vetoed it here, they went back and revisited many of his unused plots later, and made them suck hardcore-ixnay on the Phalanx covenant and AoA-their greatest moments

This is why Harras is a ******* ****.

[Marty4Magik]

Great story...Liefeld isn't as bad in these issues IMO, it went downhill after these issues.

My biggest disappointment was Bogdanove's art.
I can not believe this is the same man who also did the Fantastic Four vs The X-men mini.....A UNIVERSE of difference!:(

[Mariah]

Great story...Liefeld isn't as bad in these issues IMO, it went downhill after these issues.

My biggest disappointment was Bogdanove's art.
I can not believe this is the same man who also did the Fantastic Four vs The X-men mini.....A UNIVERSE of difference!:(
that's what i thought.

[DDM]

This is why Harras is a ******* ****.

I just love the lackluster response his stories are getting him at DC Comics. I suppose Bob Harras, I mean Robert Harras, is just not weird enough to grab the audience's attention. Although, I find most of his stories to be predictable comic book cliches.

[fishtaco]

I thought it was supposed to be the war with the living sentinels, at least that's what i remember reading way back when in some solicits in marvel age or some magazine like that.Yeah. When Warlock was killed, the Genoshans were going to use his "ashes" to create Living Sentinels, which would have pretty much had the same abilities as Warlock. That would have rocked. I'm not sure if what happened to Genosha in X-Men (2nd Series) 2 was Claremont's idea, or if it was Lee or Harras's.

Oh, and Cameron Hodge appeared again in the ridiculously silly Uncanny X-Men #306. There was no point to that issue at all. Plain silly. I just find it funny that even though they vetoed it here, they went back and revisited many of his unused plots later, and made them suck hardcore-ixnay on the Phalanx covenant and AoA-their greatest momentsWelcome to the House of "Ideas". :p :rolleyes:

[d newton]

Welcome to the House of "Ideas".
And the biggest 90's hater just showed up! :p

[Mariah]

And the biggest 90's hater just showed up! :p
giggle, i was gonna be nice. He has the right to his opinion, no matter how unfairly biased it is.