We've Got Issues: An X-Posters' Thread

[mattbib]

Okay, thanks to foxfire for suggesting this resurrection of a pre- Zero Hour thread.

Each day we'll discuss a different single issue of an X-title. Whichever title is suggested first on a daily basis is what we'll discuss. Just post the cover image and, if possible, a link to an issue summary for those of us with failing memories. And then we'll all offer our fond memories, insights, or criticisms.

So, have at it!

[mattbib]

And we'll start with Uncanny X-Men #305. You can find a synopsis here (http://www.chronology.net/default.pl/cited/rd_uncannyxmen/3).
http://image2.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/97792366288.305.gif (http://milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=97792366288%20305)
This issue really played with morality and ethics. For the first time ever, that I can recall, we see an X-Man question Xavier and even suggest the possibility of having been mentally coerced to join the X-Men and follow Xavier's goals. This issue also provided one of my favorite exchanges ever:

Storm: I have, for the most part, done as you requested. Yet rather than destroy the prototype, I felt the humans should be allowed to defend themselves... to the benefit of the fruit of their labors.

Xavier: I'm uncomfortable with the thought of the governments of the world believing they can take on Magneto.. But I trust your judgement.

Storm: Do you, Charles? I wish I could believe that were so. When you first asked me to leave my home-- my life I had forged in Africa-- I did so because you had me convinced of my greater responsibilities to the world in which I lived. Whether I did so on my own resolve-- or because I had little choice denying any request from the most powerful mind on the planet-- is a question to which I may never know the answer. All I can say for certain- at this very moment in my life-- is that I refuse to allow you, or anyone, to drag me through the mud... to shatter my belief that the X-Men are a force for Good, ultimately for change. I will not allow the world to destroy us-- and more importantly for what we stand for. I will fight for you. Someday, I might dies for you. But do not ever ask me again to steal for you, Professor Xavier. I am an X-Man. And we have to be better than that.

[The Dosadi Experiment]

I didn't like the issue.

Jan Duuresma improved later on, but this issue suffered art-wise under his pencils. Lackluster art, very flat, and lacking detail, it didn't jive with me at all. Lobdell's story is a bit uninspired if you ask me, this isn't a period for Storm that should be looked upon with admiration, at this point she was already dissolving into a background character with no prominent personality. Stale and bland is how I'd describe her.

This was also tied into the Phalanx-covenant storyline, and to be honest, this is one of those issues that shows Lobdell's lack of planning. We first saw a glimpse of the Phalanx when one person was shipped off to a sanitorium, and this is, I think, the second appearance of the Phalanx. With no real information given, and as the storyline unfolds, it is painfully clear that it doesn't ever really connect to the main threat that the Phalanx poses. It isn't a decent tie-in.

I did like however that Xavier becomes a more down to earth man who's far from infallible.

[mattbib]

Jan Duuresma improved later on, but this issue suffered art-wise under his pencils.Jan Dursema is a woman, by the way. ;)

[The Dosadi Experiment]

Jan Dursema is a woman, by the way. ;)

you learn something new every day. She draws females awkwardly suggestive with big breasts, a tiny waist, an arched back, and long sultry legs. That made me think that it was a man... Jan is a man's name in Dutch.

[Huzzah!]

Are those blue things on the cover supposed to be Bishop's legs? If so there is some wierd anatomy going on there.

[foxfire]

I haven't read this, but i do have the next issue. Did this issue set up the Ororo-Forge meeting in #306?

[Ryan K]

I went and pulled out the issue and read it.

I really liked the story that Ambassador St. Croix told regarding the death of his wife and how the paramedics wouldn't touch her becuse they feared they could be infected by a mutant. Lobdell must have really liked that name St. Croix. I never noticed that before.

I wasn't a big fan of the other storyline involving Rogue, Bishop, and Iceman. The issue would have been much better had it concentrated on Storm and Prof. X. Wasn't a big fan of the art either. I'm not a big Madureira fan but it was fun to see the Pizza Hut ad he did with the X-men in the middle of the book.

To be fair though, this issue is smack dab in the middle of my least favorite x-stories. Right after the death of Illyana and the betrayal by Colossus. I don't think Lobdell had hit any kind of stride yet.

[Cyke]

Except for a few panels, I HATED the art. Iceman looked like he belonged in a kiddie novel or a coloring book. Though, it was the first time that I saw Storm in her ponytail, and I still love that look to this day.

I think I was also a wee bit too young to truly understand the story and the ramifications, but when Rogue tried to absorb the thoughts of one soldier and it turned out to warp her inside out (b/c, y'know, he wasn't natural), I could feel myself get sicker.

[mattbib]

No takers for day two?

Okay then, let's continue with New Mutants #81. You can find a synopsis here (http://www.chronology.net/default.pl/cited/rd_newmutants/7).
http://image2.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/56757119524.81.gif (http://milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=56757119524%2081)

This was really the last regular issue of the original New Mutants series to focus on Amara, even though the story was a flashback. What I liked most was Empath's question of whose faith was stronger, as he continued to have faith without proof of his God's existence. I think this was a strong fill-in solely due to Claremont having written it. Art-wise it was passable, but nothing that great.

[Sabre]

I've never liked Simonson's work on New Mutants (or much of anything, really), and when I read this issue, I didn't notice Claremont credited as the writer. I assumed it was written by Simonson, and after finishing it, thought "wow, that's way better than her other issues!" :p Ultimately, it didn't come as a surprise that it was Claremont's work.

[Ryan K]

I have fond memories of this issue and the next 4 to 5 that followed it. I really see these issues as the end of the New Mutants, since they concentrate on the characters that had been in the series during the high points. It all went downhill after the artist-who-shall-not-be-named took over.

[Indigo Al]

I have fond memories of this issue and the next 4 to 5 that followed it. I really see these issues as the end of the New Mutants, since they concentrate on the characters that had been in the series during the high points. It all went downhill after the artist-who-shall-not-be-named took over.

I cried after reading that issue - having been forced to suffer through the pain and horror of Simonson and Blevins's ruination of my favorite book ever, it made me realize how much I truly missed New Mutants.

[newscott]

I found this as a break between bigger arcs. I liked the arc that came after it, so I didn't really focus on this issue too much.

I've never really liked Magma, so this issue was always a..*ahem* non-issue for me.

[Siddon]

I have the full New Mutants run except for that single issue. I look at the price of a 1.30 and I see Magma and Hercules and I just can't bare to waste the 7 minutes and dollar thirty. Its all pretty impressive considering I have the full runs of X-men (1991), Excalibur, X-force, X-factor, Gen X and X-man and the only thing keeping me from adding New Mutants to that list is that single issue.

[Grendel0606]

The issue was well-written, especially regarding the faith problem: who was the bigger faith: Mara for having seen her god in action or Manuel for trusting in a God who cannot be seen. The problem I have is with Claremont (understandably) continuing Simonson's characterization of Manuel as a spoiled, lost, but ultimately redeemable character, whenb efore Claremont pretty much had set him up as evil incarnate. It's not that either is a bad interpretation, it's just that they don't fit together.

[DrDoomX]

Hey guys, I got an issue for us to discuss today....this has always been a personal favorite...

BTW heres the Link for a pretty goood Summary...http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=442


This is one of my favorite issues of Uncanny as it shows Rogues pain at taking the identity of Carol Danvers...it shows us the doubt Rogue has in herself and it shows how at the end she is spurned by Carols former Lover...

I like the subtle handling of many things in this issue, such as the way as Michael is shocked at Rogue cooking a certain dish, and how she would know it...

It is a great example of how Claremont took single issues and helped flesh out the various members of the X-Men

Your thoughts?

[Grendel0606]

It was a good story for realls showing Rogue's problem to the reader: not being able to touch people was a cinch in comparison to not knowing who she really was. Good issue and i don't even overly liked Rogue. I though it a pity that during the Outback days Claremont suddenly decided to have CArol and Rogue being two distinctive but complete personalities vying for dominace, whne previous stories like this one made it clear that Rogue's problem was that her personality and Carol's had merged.

[Ryan K]

I rather liked that issue. Though I rather liked like most of the issues from that era. Takes place around the time when I actually liked Rogue.

[Flight]

Aww I don't have any of these issues except the first one which was crap

[atoningunifex]

I loved the Carol Danvers/Rogue conundrum. I remember jsut loving this issue to pieces. The horrific conseqences to Rogue's absorption of Carol's persona- to Rogue,Carol and the people in Carol's life- was really brought home in this issue.

I was very disappointed several years later when the trip through the Siege Perilous ended that long-running subplot.

[For the Good of X]

Uncanny 182 kicked ass. I recently read it again after many many years in Essential X-Men 5. I'd forgotten how well Claremont captured Rogue as a confused, scared, yet cocky post-teen who was in over her head and wouldn't have it any other way. The art was tops too. JRJr at the top of his 80s game.

[mattbib]

My first issue ever was 197 but 182 was one of the first back-issues I bought. Of course I was quite lost but I agree with FtGoX that it was full of emotion. The writing in this issue made the book enjoyable despite my at-the-time unawareness of the characters' histories.

[Huzzah!]

That issue is from the era of X-comics i have no real interest in for some reason. I like the team before, and i like the characters in that team, but for some reason i have little interest in reading them.

Who knows why. Ive only read a few of the Jr./CC comics and i liked them, but eh

[Ryan K]

That issue is from the era of X-comics i have no real interest in for some reason. I like the team before, and i like the characters in that team, but for some reason i have little interest in reading them.

Who knows why. Ive only read a few of the Jr./CC comics and i liked them, but eh

When first went back to read all those issues from that era, I was very intimidated. I think a lot of it was all the horror stories I heard from fellow readers abot the whole Madelyne Pryor storyline. I really didn't want to get into that.

Once I got into it and realized that it really wasn't that complicated, I really enjoyed the issues. Especially anything having to do with Rogue or Rachel in that era.

[The Lucky One]

I have the full New Mutants run except for that single issue. I look at the price of a 1.30 and I see Magma and Hercules and I just can't bare to waste the 7 minutes and dollar thirty. Its all pretty impressive considering I have the full runs of X-men (1991), Excalibur, X-force, X-factor, Gen X and X-man and the only thing keeping me from adding New Mutants to that list is that single issue.

Now, wait a second. You're saying that you have every other issue of The New Mutants -- meaning, by extension, all of Liefeld's issues, some of which I happen to know cost upwards of $10, plus the worst-comic-ever Summer Special -- and you're saying you can't part with the time and money it would take to get an actual good, intelligent comic with cool theological discussion, regardless of the characters involved? Dude... come on. Get with it. You have the entire run of X-Man, for God's sake- the time to pick and choose is clearly past.
;)

-D, who's also 1 issue away from completing his NM run, and can't bear to part with $10 to watch Caliban fight Sabretooth for 22 pages...

[Huzzah!]

I can understand his aprehension. Hercules is by far the lamest character ever made.

[The Lucky One]

I can understand his aprehension. Hercules is by far the lamest character ever made.

I would have to differ and give that distinction to Nate Grey... who carried his own book for 75 bloody issues, every one of which Siddon apparently has. I think he could probably handle a New Mutants issue where Hercules appears for a total of about 7 pages.

-D

[foxfire]

UXM #182 is the oldest X- book i have. I really enjoyed the action, especially the SHIELD scenes. I also liked the emotional/ mixed up memory aspects. Good stuff.

[Mr. Jip]

i LOVED THAT NEW MUTANTS ISSUE!!!!!!!!!
The Magma & Hercules story made me see just how Magma's ethnic background is truly different from ours. It showed her as a REAL character & not some cardboard cutout pastiche of a time-displaced Roman.

The talk she had with Empath in the beginning about religion & spirituality & faith was awesome & inspiring for me back then, still is.
Actually, it brought tears to my eyes at the end when Amara realizes that the big pervert IS indeed Lord Hercules, & she bowed down before him & Herc was a gentleman & was very forgiving & didn't try to get Amara naked with him (actually... i thought they'd make a GREAT couple back then, i mean, they've got similar cultural backgrounds, & she's a powerful-enough mortal to be his companion...)

Also, it was a much needed blast-from-the-past & a break from the ongoing storyline back then, which was all bleak & dark.. the New Muties were trapped in Asgard, captured by Hela & drugged up Valkyries, & Moonstar went WHACKO. Plus Magma had been gone for a long time, so i was happy to see that character being in a book again!


MY first Uncanny was #200, so no, i didn't get #182. Never picked up the back issue for it either. Seems like great X-Men drama, and a definite definitive ROGUE story.
Issue #305, i didn't buy, so i missed Storm's kickass speech. But that was right after Illyana's death, right?
i dropped the X-books at that period like they were a ton of moldy bricks covered with smelly flesh-devouring maggots.

[Siddon]

Now, wait a second. You're saying that you have every other issue of The New Mutants -- meaning, by extension, all of Liefeld's issues, some of which I happen to know cost upwards of $10, plus the worst-comic-ever Summer Special -- and you're saying you can't part with the time and money it would take to get an actual good, intelligent comic with cool theological discussion, regardless of the characters involved? Dude... come on. Get with it. You have the entire run of X-Man, for God's sake- the time to pick and choose is clearly past.
;)

-D, who's also 1 issue away from completing his NM run, and can't bear to part with $10 to watch Caliban fight Sabretooth for 22 pages...

Well thanks to Ebay I was able to get the full X-man run for 20 bucks and it was a good read all the way through. As for Liefeld's New Mutants run thanks to the trades and Megazine I didn't have to pay more then 5 bucks to get the issues. All in all I think I spent maybe a hundred bucks for my New Mutants and X-man comics. And I do not think that Nate Grey is a "lame" character reading the 75 issues in 2 days you really got close to this guy who is destined to die. I actually think that his Revolution stories were the best of all the titles.

[spoon_jenkins]

Uncanny X-Men #306 - Not a particularly strong issue. Some of surrounding issues were solid and other were mediocre, and I think this was one of the poorer ones. The fill-in was pretty weak. I'd agree with Dosadi about the bland and uninspired writing and the fact that, while it was cool to see some Phalanx foreshadowing, it did seem to synch up all that well with how the Phalanx played out. I also dislike how Lobdell took the opportunity to bust up the Iceman-Opal romance in a such a shoddy fashion. The civilian-superhero romances were some of the better elements to come out of Louise Simonson's X-Factor, and it's a shame that later writers didn't really build upon them.

New Mutants #81 - I bought this about a month ago but didn't get around to reading it until it popped up on this thread. I mostly enjoyed it. Claremont takes a novel plot idea and executes it well. I liked the Louis Williams art; I'm not sure I've ever seen that name elsewhere. I didn't like a couple of things in the first couple of pages. I thought the Catholic-bashing in the first couple of pages was stupid (and I'm a Catholic turned atheist). Come on, the innocent Roman polytheist just wants ever to live in harmony while Catholicism is all about pushing people around. It's ironic because the Romans were beating down the early Christians. And the New Mutants spewed insults about the movie got repetitive and annoying. I've heard that Amara was CC's favorite New Mutant, which is surprising, because I thought she generally didn't get a lot of time in the spotlight.

Uncanny X-Men #182 - I think is really a great top-flight issue. I think JRjr's first few issues were weak, but he had picked up steam by this point. This was a Golden Era for Rogue when she was a fairly new member and not firmly trusted. This was the first in-depth focus on the trauma of her powers and her vulnerability. I really felt for her in her struggles and identity crisis. The characterization and dialogue were pretty good and both the Rogue and Rossi viewpoints get to be heard.

[Ryan K]

Well, does anybody wanna talk about this one today...

New Mutants #35

Here's a picture and synopsis from uncannyxmen.net
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1426

I read this issue last night as I was going back through my New Mutants collection, so I figured why not bring it up.

It's the issue where Magneto takes over the school and the New Mutants aren't quite sure what to make of him.

I very much like the issue. Especially Magneto's little monologues to himself. He second guesses a lot of the decisions he makes regarding teaching the New Mutants, and I always liked him better as their headmaster than Xavier.

Thoughts?

[foxfire]

But did Magneto's view really have a lasting impact on the New Mutants? I mean in early X-Force he was always wailing about how he lost out in the chance to mold the minds of the next gen of mutants. Did he really change Sam and the others?

[Flight]

Can't we have a bit of variation...?
Only 2 titles so far reviewed and 3 were around the same era
AND NO HAVOK BASED ONES!!!

[Ryan K]

But did Magneto's view really have a lasting impact on the New Mutants? I mean in early X-Force he was always wailing about how he lost out in the chance to mold the minds of the next gen of mutants. Did he really change Sam and the others?

I dunno if he really changed them, but Xavier abandoned them to go play "Intergalactic Knight" with Lilandra, and Cable turned them into bitter, hardened, "can't trust anybody but yourselves" semi-terroristic fugitives. Hence, Magneto was my favorite. He ran a tight ship for the most part.

[Ryan K]

Can't we have a bit of variation...?
Only 2 titles so far reviewed and 3 were around the same era
AND NO HAVOK BASED ONES!!!

Well we were 16 hours into the day (over here anyway) and nobody had posted an issue to discuss, so I just kinda threw the last one I read out there. I'll post something from Generation X or something next time.

The only Havok stuff I have is PAD's X-Factor, The Meltdown mini, and the Australian days stuff. I don't have any Mutant X, though I keep meaning to find a lot on ebay with all the issues.

[The Lucky One]

But did Magneto's view really have a lasting impact on the New Mutants? I mean in early X-Force he was always wailing about how he lost out in the chance to mold the minds of the next gen of mutants. Did he really change Sam and the others?

I think he definitely did, though probably not in the way he wanted to. What Magnus taught Sam and the others was not to blindly follow any authority figure who comes along, and that even the ones who manage to win you over still might turn on you eventually. It's what led them to the state of mind where they could eventually accept Cable as their mentor, for good or ill, and much of the time since then has had the kids on their own, trying to stay away from all of their former headmasters and find their own way in the world... which is, after all, the essence of young adulthood. In his more benevolent, saner times, Magnus wanted to help them grow into their own people, not mold them in his image (that was more Emma's thing with the Hellions); I would say he succeeded in that quite admirably, even though by the time it happened, it was no longer what he wanted.

It'll be interesting to see if Magneto -- apparently returned to a saner state of mind in Excalibur -- will have any interaction with his former charges, as he would probably be quite proud to see how they've developed. I'm very much hoping to see some of that.

(Side note: for a look at a different way that the Magneto/New Mutants relationship might have grown [and one that probably greatly influences how I think of him with them], it's definitely worth checking out Kid Dynamo, located at http://stoic-simplicity.net/ebonbird/kiddynamo.htm )

-D

[Ryan K]

By the way Matt, when is appropriate to post a new issue for the day? After midnight? In the morning hours? (Those are both different for everybody because of the time differences) 24 hours after the last issue was posted? I'm curious.

I sound like an eager internet nerd in that post don't I?

[venuscameback]

I sound like an eager internet nerd in that post don't I?

yes


but we love you anyway


DLW

[Huzzah!]

I’m hardly a prof X. fan so I liked this issue. Plus with a "Harry's hideaway" appearance how could you not like it.

Magneto has always to me been the superior character to Charles. This issue is one of those instances that reveals such things. The second-guessing and uncertainty is a welcome change to Xavier’s almost do no wrong persona. Although it's not all good, that Magneto haircut and costume were pretty bad.

The new mutants themselves were also pretty good this issue. Cypher's little don’t shoot bit was pretty funny; shame he would later get shot isn’t it?

Also a point of interest in this story is how masterfully it deals with attempted rape. Not only is it subtle enough that kids probably wouldn’t get the implications, and thus be kid friendly, is obvious enough to the adults so it can be seen as more than simply for kids. Most comics nowadays lose this type of subtly and either adult it up (with nudity and saying f*** every 2 seconds) or dumbing it down for kids (avoiding any serious issues and coming off as disingenuous).



Side note, that bearded frat guy, how the hell did he get in?

[DrDoomX]

Here is an issue that I like alot, read it at a friends house, and it was one of the first issue that introduced us to Genosha

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny236.jpg

Here is the summary (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=161)
I liked this issue great second issue introducing us to Genosha....Also helps lead into the Inferno storyline which I like alot....

[For the Good of X]

I liked the initial Genosha story...except that the ending was rushed and the art so so. Silversti was sloppy and hurried here, busy gearing up for Inferno, during which his art was tops. Leonardi's guest issues were his usual greatness, but really the wrong type of art for the story. Claremont was tapping into his usual themes about mutant rights/tolerance/freedom, etc, but giving it a whole new twist. Some of the dialogue was getting a bit preachy/speechy, but it still worked.

Too bad the Inferno lead up took up so many pages and we didn't see more of the everyday workings in Genosha. More of the politics, as later stories devolved into ridiculousness.

[Sheldon]

One of my 1st X-men comics.....great stuff.....

Seeing that cover makes me miss the little floating heads.....

[Flight]

One of my 1st X-men comics.....great stuff.....

Seeing that cover makes me miss the little floating heads..... Yeah, look at Havok all sexy and moody

[For the Good of X]

One of my 1st X-men comics.....great stuff.....

Seeing that cover makes me miss the little floating heads.....
I loved how the floating heads kind of clued you in to who was in the X-Roster in those days, as the roster tended to shift rather quickly. sigh.

[Huzzah!]

I was always a fan of floating heads. Or at least poseie pose.

[mattbib]

By the way Matt, when is appropriate to post a new issue for the day? After midnight? In the morning hours? (Those are both different for everybody because of the time differences) 24 hours after the last issue was posted? I'm curious.

I sound like an eager internet nerd in that post don't I?
Yes. :):):)

[mattbib]

What I didn't like about #236 was that too many people came to the conclusion that Rogue had been raped, when she hadn't.

[Huzzah!]

That is sorta the way it reads.

Funny that the last issue of X-posters involved frat guys wanting to rape, and this next one has a quasi implied rape. If this trend keeps up Uncanny 304 will be the next comic up for discussion

I always liked the Genosha concept, it being what i would assume more likely than not what would happen should mutants pop up.

The best part about this comic is how Wolverine and Rogue are spotted (although that might be the issue before or after this).

[foxfire]

One of my 1st X-men comics.....great stuff.....

Seeing that cover makes me miss the little floating heads.....

I was thinking the same thing earlier. Funny thing is, now that we have established rosters for every team, rather than wandering members, you think it would make more sense to have the heads up there.

[The Lucky One]

What I didn't like about #236 was that too many people came to the conclusion that Rogue had been raped, when she hadn't.

True that. It shouldn't even have been an issue, either; the captions themselves specify that she wasn't, and Carol Danvers' psyche confirms it later. But oh well- put it in the bin with "Did Rogue and Gambit have sex in UXM #349?" [no] and move on.
:rolleyes:

-D

[For the Good of X]

I also enjoyed Psylocke going ballistic on the jailed Magistrates. Signs of the tyger within already....

Man, I miss Betsy. I liked how she WANTED to be an X-Man and she wanted to be a good one. Eventually, her ambition sunk her (ie Sending the gang through the Siege Perilous) but she rebounded after the Lady Mandarin stuff. Until they screwed her up big time.

sigh

[foxfire]

I thought todays issue would be X-Factor #88.

Summary:
http://uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=384

Pic:
http://uncannyxmen.net/covers/x-factor/x-factor88.jpg

I liked the first story about the X-terminators. Too bad they haven't been seen much since...

I didn't really like the generic, guns-blazing merc type that Random is. Too close to Bishop or Cable or Deathlock or Punisher etc. But he did have an interesting power though.

I liked the second story, on Quicksilver, even more. They even made a refference to the Death of Superman! Good stuff. Like people say, PAD gave Pietro more characterization in those stories than anyone has since.

[Flight]

Random was so funny under PAD
What went wrong??!

[DrDoomX]

I remember this ish too....great stuff...

I love Peter Davids X-Factor, and this is another great issue from that run....The Quicksilver characterization was great...too bad we donot see him much these days.

[foxfire]

Is Quicksilver currently part of the Avengers? Or he just in limbo now?

[mattbib]

Is Quicksilver currently part of the Avengers? Or he just in limbo now?
His hair can be seen in the previews of Avengers #501.

[Huzzah!]

That has to be the best response to a question in the history of the world

[Ryan K]

I wasn't a big fan of this issue. Nothing wrong with it in particular, I just don't think it was one of David's strongest. I did like Rahne making a play of Madrox though, that was pretty funny. I wasn't a big fan of the secondary Quicksilver story at all (and I like Crystal). I'd still take it over anything else X that was being published at the time.

[For the Good of X]

This issue is near where PAD's X-Factor started to skid off the rails a bit. Quesada's inconsistent art wasn't helping and the introduction of Random was not a good thing. Much like what's happened with X-Force/X-Statix, the unique newness was wearing off/thin.

[DrDoomX]

I read this ish yesterday....and I thought it would be good for our issue of the day....
Here is a Summary (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=606) for those who need it.
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/newmutants/newmutants15.jpg

My Thoughts....

A good issue, and a good way to continue this storyline which began in Uncanny 180....I loved the way Illyana used her astral self to go Emma Frosts academy...The ending was great, and showed that the White Queen can be pretty darn scary especially to a bunch of kids....

[Ryan K]

Any issue with Kitty, Magik, and Emma is a good book in my opinio. 3 of my favorite characters. I love the continuing distrust some of the New Mutants have toward Illyana, especially Rahne who believes she's like the devil or something.

[The Lucky One]

I like it a lot, not least because it does a great job of showing what Emma was like. I think there's a bit of tendency these days to sort of gloss over her past misdeeds; she's been sitting on the quasi-hero fence for almost a decade, so it's understandable. But issues like this one help you remember what a horrible, unrepentant bitch she really was. Kudos to Whedon for having Kitty remind us of it in Astonishing #2.

-D

[foxfire]

Great cover BTW.

[mattbib]

Yeah, in those early issues I remember being shocked at some of the situations these young kids were getting involved in. Some were pretty frightening.

[Ryan K]

OK everybody talk about this one today...

Muties #1

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=769

I absolutely loved this issue. Though I have no idea how it ever got published. The story is kinda predictable but no less effective because of it IMO.

[foxfire]

Never read the other mutant stuff they were putting out around this time, like the Kitty Pryde series or Muties.

Salgood Sam? Who's he?

[SOGG]

I actually have this issue. I thought that the 'Muties' title had an interesting premise -- mutants who weren't with the Xmen or any other superhero team. In many ways, this was a more ambitious try at Runaways.

But the execution was kind of weak, a shame since the plot was very good. The art was nice, and made me remember the good ol days with Sienkewicz on New Mutants.

Were there different writers in the succeeding issues?

[Ryan K]

Were there different writers in the succeeding issues?

Karl Bollers wrote all 6 issues. :)

[venuscameback]

Karl Bollers wrote all 6 issues. :)
sorry, I haven't read any of thse books.

Ryan, you win the x-hero of the day award for obsessively collecting as many x-books as you can get your hands on.

although that said ... methinks i'll have to keep my eye out for this series in them back issue bins

DLW

[Ryan K]

Ryan, you win the x-hero of the day award for obsessively collecting as many x-books as you can get your hands on.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I tried to post an issue that was a little outside the normal New Mutants/X-men of the mid 80's comics we'd been talikng about. But I think I may have gone a little to obscure with this choice. Heh. :D

[Ryan K]

OK, since nobody read that last one except me and SOGG, how about...

X-Factor #70
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=412

Nice little issue that is the epilogue to the Muir Isle Saga, and sets everything for X-men #1, Uncanny #281, and X-Factor #71. Lots of nice little moments in this issue as Prof. X try to wake Legion from a coma and everybody else waits and talks about various things. My favorite joke though has to be the bit with Forge and the broom.

Thoughts?

[Huzzah!]

Wait a minute. Didnt Uncanny Xmen 280 kill Legion? I know he comes back somehow, but i remember him being dead in that, not in a coma.

[mattbib]

I remember really enjoying this good, though somber, issue. And I loved the Mignola cover.

[foxfire]

Really? I think the faces on the cover look horrible, actually.

I really enjoyed this time in the X-verse for some reason. 2 X-Men teams, a new X-factor, a new X-force, changes for Excalibur. Plus there was some great interaction in this issue.

[For the Good of X]

Wasn't this PAD's first issue of X-Factor? Things had reached a new high in the X-books then. Claremont was back in the swing thanks to his great collaboration with Jim Lee. The New Mutants were growing up...although they looked bad. The two X-teams were forming, etc etc. As someone mentioned fun times...or so we thought. I didn't like Uncanny after Portacio took over. Just terrible. His art is so freakin stiff.


Sadly, it soon came crashing down and took the entire industry with it.

[foxfire]

When do you think it all went to #&^%(#%? Right before the X-cutioner's Song which was one of the huge crossovers?

[Flight]

When do you think it all went to #&^%(#%? Right before the X-cutioner's Song which was one of the huge crossovers? Nah, I reckon the X-Books went bad when the AOA finished

[DDM]

Nah, I reckon the X-Books went bad when the AOA finished

The X-Books went wrong when Claremont left. However, PAD's X-Factor remains one of the few titles that have fun substantive stories...

The New Mutants became X-Farce (until Jeph Loeb took over then John Francis Moore wrote his good stories).

[Huzzah!]

I think the X-books went wrong after Jim Lee left. His stories were actually pretty good collabed with John Bryne? X-men 13 was the real poop point for me. Screw Hazard

[SOGG]

I loved this issue!

It brought back the whole 'family' feel of the xmen.

But this was the beginning of the end for me, I think. I never could stand the gold team, blue team garbage... (nice art there though)

[foxfire]

Anyone know why Wolfsbane went to X-factor instead of joining some of her old New Mutant buddies in X-Force? I don't remember. Did she disagree with Cable's motives or something?

[Ryan K]

Anyone know why Wolfsbane went to X-factor instead of joining some of her old New Mutant buddies in X-Force? I don't remember. Did she disagree with Cable's motives or something?

To be with Havok, whom she had grown "attached" to in Genosha.

[Grendel0606]

Anyone know why Wolfsbane went to X-factor instead of joining some of her old New Mutant buddies in X-Force? I don't remember. Did she disagree with Cable's motives or something?
At first she seemed infatuated with HAvok. AS this grew stalkerish with time, it was revealed that when the Genoshans turned her into a mutate, they had also created a slavebond between her and havok. She had no choice but to be close to him.

[riotgear]

Because the Genoshan Mutate process bonded her to Havok, who was her "keeper" while his personality was submerged after going through the Siege Perilous.

[foxfire]

Oh yeah, that's the reason. But did she ever tell anyone else some other reason first before that was revealed?

[Ryan K]

Oh yeah, that's the reason. But did she ever tell anyone else some other reason first before that was revealed?

I think it was just because she had a "crush" on Alex and didn't want Lorna to sink her claws into him again.

That and Liefeld apparently had no use for a "nice" wolf-girl, so he created Feral to take her place. :rolleyes:

[foxfire]

You can't get more ridiculous then having Wolfsbane, Feral, and Thornn around. 3 derivative characters... no wonder there's a glut of characters today. You can't just change Wolfsbane a little to make her fit your plans?

[SOGG]

I know, eh? Plus Wolfsbane was actually an interesting character -- including seeing what being in Genosha did to her. The whole Ferral thing really bit the big one.

Actually, wasn't shatterstar the harbinger of derivative heroes?

[Flight]

The X-Books went wrong when Claremont left. However, PAD's X-Factor remains one of the few titles that have fun substantive stories... Well exactly
If there was still something good with them then they didn't all go bad after Claremont left. There were still some good stuff

[foxfire]

Today's issue: Excalibur #71.
Cover: http://uncannyxmen.net/covers/excalibur/excalibur71.jpg
Summary: http://uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1087

Yes, this part of Fatal Attractions, a crossover that many hated. However, the two parts that i have, this issue and Xforce #25, i really liked.

Anyway, i liked this issue a lot. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the X-Men and Excalibur didn't interact much in this time period, right? So it was nice seeing Cyclops, Jean, and the Professor go to Muir Isle instead of Excalibur coming to them. Plus the Collosus and Kitty parts were very well done and pretty emotional. Plus Kurt was great in his battle against some of the Acolytes!

The art was kind of sketchy, they stretched it too thin i think.

[mattbib]

IIRC this issue had some of the better character interaction of Fatal Attractions.

The art was spotty because there were three pencilers on this issue...rarely a good thing.

[mattbib]

Okay, today's issue is...X-Factor Annual #1! Here's (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1828) a summary.
http://image2.milehighcomics.com/istore/images/large/97458228206.1.gif (http://www.milehighcomics.com/cgi-bin/backissue.cgi?action=fullsize&issue=97458228206%201)

This was in my early years of collecting and at the time I didn't know that X-Factor and the return of Jean Grey was a bad thing so I was really enjoying the series. I remember really liking this annual. Layton's story and pencils were pretty good, and I really lliked the introduction of the Soviet mutants...some of whom would appear years later in the Soviet Super Soldiers one-shot and X-Men. This was also one of the earliest stories that I can remember in which experimentation on mutants was shown.

[SOGG]

This issue was interesting. I think it may have been my first X-Factor issue.
For some reason, the thing that really stood out to me was the bit that Angel was subject to Bernoulli's law and things like drag and downdrafts. (I think 6 entire panels were devoted to this.)
It's stuff like that and the Whizzer's need to accelerate that made me really like Marvel in the old days.

Experiencing Cameron Hodge in those days was a great backdrop for Extinction Agenda too.

Props to the issue as well for not playing up the entire 'The whole USSR is evil!' even if some members of X-Factor (Bobby) seemed to have thought so.

Well done.

[For the Good of X]

I didn't read X-Factor when it began. Didn't start until Fall of the Mutants and that was only because of the Power Pack crossover/cameo. (LOVE me some Power Pack before it went bimonthly and into Bogdanove hell.) I was glad Cyclops was finally gone from the X-Men post Uncanny 201.

But this issue, as SOGG pointed out, is in retrospect total old school Marvel.

[Huzzah!]

This issue never did anything for me. And its was one of the few X-factor issues i ever read.


Nice to see angel is continuing his tradition of wearing the crappiest costumes possible

[foxfire]

At least its better than the X-Terminator costumes.

[SOGG]

At least its better than the X-Terminator costumes.

Kidding? I LOOOOOOVE single colour cybernetic wheelchairs. And Artie's costume was the best.




(yes I'm being sarcastic) :D

[mattbib]

Kidding? I LOOOOOOVE single colour cybernetic wheelchairs. And Artie's costume was the best.




(yes I'm being sarcastic) :DI think he meant X-Factor's X-Terminator costumes; the ones they wore when playing mutant hunter. :)

[Ryan K]

I'm curious to see people's opinions on this issue...

X-men (Vol. 2) #30
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1525

The marriage of Jean Grey and Scott Summers.

I personally found the issue to be completely underwhelming and didn't enjoy it very much at all. It felt more like a publicity stunt Marvel was pulling than the actual right time (within the books) for Jean and Scott to tie the knot. Did it have anything to do with Marvel wanting to make sure the characters married within the book before they did on the cartoon (like Superman and Lois Lane) or did Marvel feel that sales were slipping after the departure of their big artists (Lee, Portacio, Liefeld) and wanted a big event to springboard the numbers?

[Ryan K]

OK. Maybe nobody wanted to talk about that one. How about...

Generation X #26
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=651

Featuring the Greatest X-Book Cover Of All Time!!!

This one was part of the Operation Zero Tolerance crossover. While I'm not particularly fond of the crossover, I do rather enjoy this issue for one reason...lots and lots of Jubilee!!! :D

[foxfire]

So she's the original Fury? Hmm...

Was this the one where Bastion messed her up?

[Ryan K]

Was this the one where Bastion messed her up?

That's the next issue (where Bastion tries to get Jubilee to spill X-men secrets, but my girl don't play dat). In this one she tries to escape Bastion's complex with a very big gun. She saves the life of one of Bastion's henchman, which causes her to be recaptured.

:(

She's so noble.

:cool:

[atoningunifex]

This was actually the point that I dropped Generation X. I wasn't liking the art so much anymore and the stories just wouldn't stick with me form month to month.

[venuscameback]

I'm curious to see people's opinions on this issue...

X-men (Vol. 2) #30
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1525

The marriage of Jean Grey and Scott Summers.
I was really disappointed by this issue.

I'd be excited for Scott & jean to finally marry for years ansd when they finally did ... it felt soapy, over-done and frankly lacking in emotion as a result. Some of the dialogue is appalling, and the whole books lacks atmosphere.

I suppose there's one other thing I hold against it. although part of me wanted Scott & Jean to end up married or living happily ever after, I always felt it was a doomed love affair. Thye should only have got married if Jean were to die at the end of the wedding day. Just as she died in Fate of the Phoenix just after Scott proposed for the first time.

Their's is a love that's much more interesting when they're apart, or fighting for a way to be together. They are more interesting as people when angst-ridden than when they're lovey-dovey. For me, the two characters were struggling as a result of being happy and stable together & continued to suck for many years to come. Scott inparticular just doesn't come over right - I think people don't know how to write his character - when he's happy. He's the classic brooder.

Dragon LongWind

[foxfire]

I did like the Wolverine/Sabretooth encounter.

[For the Good of X]

I'll only toss in that the last two issues up for discussion in this thread were bad issues. Which is a shame. Gen X only worked when Lobdell and Bachalo were giving it equal and full attention. Which happened in a total of MAYBE 14-18 good issues. The rest was dreadful pap.


X-Men under Nicieza and Andy Kubert: ick.

[The Lucky One]

I'll only toss in that the last two issues up for discussion in this thread were bad issues. Which is a shame. Gen X only worked when Lobdell and Bachalo were giving it equal and full attention. Which happened in a total of MAYBE 14-18 good issues. The rest was dreadful pap.

Hey now, don't forget the light but highly enjoyable Faerber/Dodson run. True, it was sandwiched in between twin mountains of crap, but it was pretty good itself, for what it was. And the last multi-part storyline in the book, "Four Days," was good.

-D

[Ryan K]

Uncanny X-men #201

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=695

This is one of those issues that alluded me forever as a back issue hunter. Damn all those people who drove the price up because it's Nathan Summers first appearence!

Rant over.

I thought this was a great issue overall. I especially like the moments with Wolverine rooting against Cyclops, not because he dislike Scott, but because he knew Scott couldn't do the job of leading the X-men anymore.

[atoningunifex]

I loved the periodic duels between Scott and Ororo. This was anotyher good one. And even though I've come to grudgingly accept that Maddie affected the outcome so that Scott would lose, you still see how Scott has lost his internal balance while Ororo is still knife-sharp. very yummy issue.

[Flight]

Och.
I don't have this one either.

[For the Good of X]

Loved it.

Great story. Great character interactions. A turning point for the series as a whole. The Professor was gone. Scott 'dethroned.' Rachel getting edgier. The tone getting more serious and heavy. The large questions wrought by the Beyonder and the intense events of the following year transformed the X-Men for the next several years and they didn't really get it back unitl 74 issues later when Xavier returned the team split in two. For this long time reader, it was fascinating to watch the X-Men 'family' spin out of control and take on so many rosters and variations after being relatively stable for such a long time.

[SOGG]

Very solid issue. I've always liked Leonardi's pencils -- heck I bought a lot of Marvel Fanfare because of him. This is where we see Chris Claremont at his best -- creating textured characters that still have a 'slant'. The summary makes it seem like it's the normal, whiney Scott, but really, this was a point where too many things just conspired to confuse him. (I think this was shortly after him hanging out with Lee Forester, right?). We get to see the internal turmoil of a guy who's just that far away from cracking. Even better, we get to see Wolverine acting like a jerk(somewhat anyway).
Nuances like this aren't really present in today's mainstream comics. It's like comics went backwards -- from Impressionism to that weird 'realistic' phase that the Academy of the Arts was trying to push in the 1900s.

Good show, ryankirk. That was a good bit of nostalgia there.

[SOGG]

The large questions wrought by the Beyonder and the intense events of the following year transformed the X-Men for the next several years and they didn't really get it back unitl 74 issues later when Xavier returned the team split in two.
<snipped for space>

And this too. Any writer who can make a good, plausible connection to Secret Wars is firmly in the 'amazing' (or is that uncanny?) category.

[Ryan K]

Alright it's a little late in the day, but nobody posted anything so here talk about this one...

Uncanny X-men #275
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=786

One of my personall all-time favorites. If for no other reason than it was the first one I ever bought. I absolutely LOVE the X-men in space (in general). I can read and reread this issue over and over just like I did when I first bought it.

I LOVE the team of Storm, Wolverine, Jubilee, Gambit, Banshee, Psylocke, and Forge. I wish everyday that they could have done more with this lineup before the whol Blue/Gold team thing.

We got Imperial Guard, We got Lila Cheney. We got Rogue, Magneto, and Fury in the Savage Land. We got Ka-Zar and Shanna. We got the Shadow King. We got Deathbird and Lilandra. We got Starjammers. What are we missing? NOTHING.

Oh and Flight. I purposefully went to the "post your x-title collection" thread to make sure that I picked an issue I knew you had, so that you could participate in the discussion. Do you feel the love? Do you?

[Mr. Jip]

OOOOoooooooooooh #201~~~!!!!!
BIG JIPSMOOOCHES to RYANKIRK.

201 was my FIRST X-MEN BOOK~~~~~~!!!!!
It wasn't the first X-Men comic i reaad, but it was the first one i BOUGHT.
Well actually i bought like, almost sixty of them together from a classmate (until the issue where Destiny dies, i believe.. or maybe when Gambit appears, i forgot... coz i started buying issues on my own)
AND that collection STARTED WITH #201.
And i started reading on the X-Men with wonder from that issue.
It was all so exciting back then... it felt like learning another language & culture~! So much i didn't know, so much history to dig into, all these characters interacting with each other!~
It wasn't just Peter Parker stopping Mysterio from robbing banks. It was DRAMA, maaaaaan!!!~~~
It felt so.. deliciously wicked & adult~!!

That's the issue when ORORO KICKS SCOTT'S ARSE~~~~!!!!!~~
YEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhh~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~
OK that was my first X-Men so maybe i'm a bit biased.
(WHATEVER. Maddie influencing the fight?!?! RET CON.)
i miss Leonardi's art. Is he still drawing?


Nuances like this aren't really present in today's mainstream comics. It's like comics went backwards -- from Impressionism to that weird 'realistic' phase that the Academy of the Arts was trying to push in the 1900s.

No $#iT.
Business ruins everything.
Reading those old Uncanny X-Men books, it was like reading a (GRAPHIC) NOVEL, art + literature together.
Nowadays, it's just like reading a... a comic book. :( :mad:


OOOOOOOoooooOOOOOOOooooooooooh #275~~~!!!!~~~
More Jipsmooches for Ryan~~~~~!!!!!

So i had finished like, all 60ish X-Men books in like, 3 days or something.
My eyes were bugging out.
But i had to get MORE.
i went to get back issues, i went to get Excalibur, i went to get New Mutants. i went to get X-Factor just to see what tragedy would befall on Scott & Jean. i hated them with a passion back then. & waited waited waited for the NEW issue to come out. It was like, addiction back then. And when you're a kid, a month actally seems long...
And i'd been with my X-Men through the Mutant Massacre, the Fall of the Mutants, Australia, Inferno, & back. My 8 X-Men Then they were all dispersed. Through the Siege Perilous. *GASP!~ :eek:
It was actually still SHOCKING back then.
OMIGAWD will they get back together!!!~???


They DID, but this time, it wasn't my 8 Outback X-Men anymore. Some were still lost. It was a very rag-tag team of old & new X-Men.
And it felt REFRESHINGLY ... NEW!

And they're off to reunite with Xavier in Sh'iar space!!!!!
Yet another milestone.

Storm was back, with short hair, in tow with Gambit, tall, dark, handsome & still charming & mysterious back then. Logan was in tow with the loud Chinese American kid who saved him from the Reavers, & Psylocke was now back in an Asian body, with 90% more kickass in her!!~! Storm's old lover Forge was there, and his buddy relationship with veteran X-Man Banshee was also very well done.

Jim Lee's art back then was exciting fanboy "perfection" cream.

A new era was coming. i could just feel it (..Little did i know that it meant the 90s were coming... UGH... thank god i still had decades of back issues)!

[Flight]

Oh and Flight. I purposefully went to the "post your x-title collection" thread to make sure that I picked an issue I knew you had, so that you could participate in the discussion. Do you feel the love? Do you? Ryankirk, you love me really. And I love you back :o

I don't have the Uncanny issues of the Shiar Saga and the Shadow King story but they made a British comic that reprinted them and I read them there.
They were some of the first comics I read and I loved them!!!!!!11111
They had loooooooads of characters (I can't recall Havok being with them) and I remember re-reading the stories about 7 times...
I guess I have a really biased view on any team that DON'T feature the original 5.
I really should go and seek some Aussie Outback issues

[atoningunifex]

275 was an issue I really enjoyed. That was the point that I thought Jim Lee's art worked the best. I do beloieve 275 is the issue with the huge splash page of Storm in space, yes? I loved that freakin splash.

I remember being so happy that some really cool art was on the book after years of Silvestri and the Fill-Ins.

[For the Good of X]

275 was the issue where it all came back together after a couple of years of scattered stories and dispersed characters. The story and dialogue were on. The art amazing. It felt grand. It was epic. The Rogue/Magneto storyline was fantastic (274 remains for me the best Magneto story ever.) and set the stage for X-Men 1-3, Claremont's 'swan song' at the time.

sigh.

To think what could have been had Claremont and Lee continued their collaboration.

[foxfire]

Yeah, I've said that before. Claremont/Lee on Uncanny X-Men would be the biggest thing since... i don't know what.

[mattbib]

I loved #201 AND #275!!!

What exciting times those were.

Storm beats Cyclops!!! OMHMYGAWD! I couldn't believe it.

And then the "reunion." It was such a happy time. ;)

[Mr. Jip]

Storm beats Cyclops!!! OMHMYGAWD! I couldn't believe it.

And then the "reunion." It was such a happy time.

Um... Bib just summarized what i was attempting to convey through my rambling... ...
:p :o :rolleyes: :cool:

[Mr. Jip]

275 was the issue where it all came back together after a couple of years of scattered stories and dispersed characters.

Was it years??~

See i got half of those issues of scattered stories ALL AT ONCE from my friend... so it didn't register for me like that...

... but yeah, it was EPIC.
The X-Men were GETTING BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
IN RETRO (but dirrrty) yellow & blueblack team uniforms as well. ;) :D :cool:

[For the Good of X]

Was it years??~

See i got half of those issues of scattered stories ALL AT ONCE from my friend... so it didn't register for me like that...

... but yeah, it was EPIC.
The X-Men were GETTING BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
IN RETRO (but dirrrty) yellow & blueblack team uniforms as well. ;) :D :cool:
For those of us reading the monthlies, the 'Shattered Star' storyline felt like a freakin eternity. We'd go months without seeing certain characters. Look how long we went without Rogue - who was still Rogue back in those days. Psylocke received the fastest turnaround. Then Peter and Allison were sent to character limbo for a while.

[Mr. Jip]

i can imagine how epic it was~~~!!!~~~~~

[Frank]

I loved #201 AND #275!!!

What exciting times those were.

Storm beats Cyclops!!! OMHMYGAWD! I couldn't believe it.

And then the "reunion." It was such a happy time. ;)

I thought Storm beating Cyclops blew chunks! There`s no way she`s a better field leader than Scott who`s maybe second only to Captain America in that department in the whole Marvel Universe.

I think Chris gets too carried away with his female characters sometimes...

[DDM]

Was it years??~

See i got half of those issues of scattered stories ALL AT ONCE from my friend... so it didn't register for me like that...

... but yeah, it was EPIC.
The X-Men were GETTING BACK TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
IN RETRO (but dirrrty) yellow & blueblack team uniforms as well. ;) :D :cool:

Uncanny X-Men #246-273

It was roughly 2 years even when the books came out twice a month in the Summer. Rogue wasn't even reunited with the X-Men until X-Men #1 (second series).

[Frank]

275 was the issue where it all came back together after a couple of years of scattered stories and dispersed characters. The story and dialogue were on. The art amazing. It felt grand. It was epic. The Rogue/Magneto storyline was fantastic (274 remains for me the best Magneto story ever.) and set the stage for X-Men 1-3, Claremont's 'swan song' at the time.

sigh.

To think what could have been had Claremont and Lee continued their collaboration.

The split of Claremont and Lee after X-Men 3 is the biggest tragedy in the history of comics in my opinion. They were gonna shake up that whole X-Men Universe up, creating new characters, new concepts from years and years to come. It was so exciting to contemplate, I remember Jim Lee saying he was gonna be on board for at least 50 issues(!!! :eek: ).

They never were as great separated as they were together ever since. Sure they both had moments but look at Jim Lee`s work on Batman and Superman for instance; there`s a feeling like the writers fail to take advantage of his skills somehow, like disigning things, drawing super-technology and spaceships and such. Crazy visual stuff. That`s why I like X-Men: The End because it takes me back when Claremont and Lee were working on all those great Sh`iar adventures in space.

[mattbib]

I thought Storm beating Cyclops blew chunks! There`s no way she`s a better field leader than Scott who`s maybe second only to Captain America in that department in the whole Marvel Universe.That was the whole point, though. Scott's mind and heart were torn...they weren't in the fight. His face after he lost was heartwrenching.

[Huzzah!]

Cyclops as a field leaders is overrated. Way. The only time he really led well was with his old friends from the original team. Other than that he was just the leader, where as Storm basically kept the troops in line. Cyclops never really could led wolverine effectively, but storm could.


Issue 275 was freaking sweet, even though because of Claremonts departure (id imagine since Magneto was supposed to lead one of the core teams in the blue/gold era) Magneto went sorta bad.

As for that whole era it was really the last time we ever saw Xmen outside of the established inside Mansion stuff. I mean claremont was pretty much the only writer to move the Xmen around substantially. They crashed in spiderwomans house i seem to recall, then moved back to the mansion, then like texas, then the outback etc. That took a lot of courage, and i wish marvel would allow him to take such chances again. I mean, to think for a while the Xmen were banshee/forge/polaris and Guido. Id love to see another writer try to float a lineup like that

[The Lucky One]

Cyclops as a field leaders is overrated. Way. The only time he really led well was with his old friends from the original team. Other than that he was just the leader, where as Storm basically kept the troops in line. Cyclops never really could led wolverine effectively, but storm could.

Storm could keep Logan in line because he liked her, while he saw Scott as a rival. But don't confuse liking each other with the ability to lead effectively; Scott often had to bitchslap Logan back into line, but he always pulled it off. I like Storm as a leader, but to say that Cyke didn't lead the All-New, All-Different team effectively is ludicrous. Read UXM #150. Or #167. Or X-Men vs. Alpha Flight. Or the battle against Proteus. Cyke's moments of effective leadership really can't be denied; who's the BETTER leader, he or Ororo, is up for debate, but whether Cyclops was a good leader definitely isn't. There's a reason it's so often said that as a leader and a tactician, he's second only to Captain America.

-D

[venuscameback]

Storm could keep Logan in line because he liked her, while he saw Scott as a rival. But don't confuse liking each other with the ability to lead effectively; Scott often had to bitchslap Logan back into line, but he always pulled it off. I like Storm as a leader, but to say that Cyke didn't lead the All-New, All-Different team effectively is ludicrous. Read UXM #150. Or #167. Or X-Men vs. Alpha Flight. Or the battle against Proteus. Cyke's moments of effective leadership really can't be denied; who's the BETTER leader, he or Ororo, is up for debate, but whether Cyclops was a good leader definitely isn't. There's a reason it's so often said that as a leader and a tactician, he's second only to Captain America.

-D
I agree Drew.

and I seem to remember him barking out appropriate orders against the Imperial Guard in fate of the Phoenix.

okay, that battle didn't go the X-Men's way in the slightest - but they were severely outgunned

DLW

[Ryan K]

Well the weekends around here are notoriously slow, and nobody posted an issue today, so I'll go again...

Today we shall talk about a milestone issue in the history of the X-men. And adventure so epic that it would change the lives of the X-men and every reader who read it. From this issue on, the creative floodgates were broken, and we as readers were immersed in the glory that is...Jubilee

Uncanny X-men #244
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=623

The X-men pick up a mall rat by the name of Jubilation Lee and defeat the menacing M-Squad. So great were these villains, that no creator has since tried to top their initial appearence. To do so would be foolish. For it would not compare.

How do the lot of you feel about this all too important issue? How has it changed your life? Share with us your stories of personal encouragement that you recieved from this particular book.

[Huzzah!]

Great issue. Didnt like the all male issue myself, but this issue was fun.

[venuscameback]

How do the lot of you feel about this all too important issue? How has it changed your life? Share with us your stories of personal encouragement that you recieved from this particular book.

bah. humbug.

young girl; runs off and joins the circus

you're really asking for trouble these days, aren't you, Ryan ...


DLW

[foxfire]

At least its better than the crummy Jubilee origin from TAS.

[Ryan K]

you're really asking for trouble these days, aren't you, Ryan ...

Why whatever do you mean... :D

[Ryan K]

Alright, we've done a bunch of Uncanny issues these past couple of days, so how about...

Generation X #21
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=542

Probably one of my favorite issues of the entire run. Two stories. One is Jubilee, M, Husk, Mondo, Synch, and Penance taking a test administered by the Beast. The other...Howard the Duck raising hell.

Genius.

[Ryan K]

I was gonna post a Havok issue in honor of Havok week, but I don't have detailed memories of any Havok issues, so how about...

Uncanny X-men #205
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=750

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny205.jpg

Great work by Barry Windsor Smith in this issue, and a great stand alone X-men tale IMO. Lady Deathstrike and the Reavers haven't looked nearly as cool since this issue. I'm not a big Power Pack fan and even that little brat Energizer couldn't spoil this one for me.

Thoughts?

[SOGG]

Ahhhhhh... yet another trip through nostalgia. Here again, you can see Claremont's powers close to their peak. Before Busiek amazed us with how he could keep up with Avengers' continuity , Claremont showed us that he could even keep up with supporting characters' continuity.

The reavers were some of my favourite wolverine villains, weren't they the same people hunting the X-men when they went through the Siege Perilous?

The interplay between Yuriko and Logan here was one of the reasons that I thought X2 sucked so badly. They hurried so much that they reduced Yuriko's character into a generic wu xia character. That, AND they didn't show that wolverine had any connection to her whatsoever.

BWS was, of course, phenomenal. Heck, even his name rules. How exactly do you score a surname like Windsor-Smith?

Btw. This Wolverine-as-ninja thing, I heard rumours that this was a purely Frank Miller creation, and that Chris actually ripped him off in the miniseries that they did together. Not sure how true this is.

[DDM]

Ahhhhhh... yet another trip through nostalgia. Here again, you can see Claremont's powers close to their peak. Before Busiek amazed us with how he could keep up with Avengers' continuity , Claremont showed us that he could even keep up with supporting characters' continuity.

The reavers were some of my favourite wolverine villains, weren't they the same people hunting the X-men when they went through the Siege Perilous?

The interplay between Yuriko and Logan here was one of the reasons that I thought X2 sucked so badly. They hurried so much that they reduced Yuriko's character into a generic wu xia character. That, AND they didn't show that wolverine had any connection to her whatsoever.

BWS was, of course, phenomenal. Heck, even his name rules. How exactly do you score a surname like Windsor-Smith?

Btw. This Wolverine-as-ninja thing, I heard rumours that this was a purely Frank Miller creation, and that Chris actually ripped him off in the miniseries that they did together. Not sure how true this is.


Donald Pierce created & financed the original Reavers; after the X-Men defeated the Reavers in Uncanny X-Men #229, Donald Pierce reclaimed the outback town & rebuilt the Reavers. He added new members Lady Deathstrike, Cole, Macon, & Reese. Cylla was to be the new Bonebreaker.

When the Reavers fought the X-Men & Freedom Force in Uncanny X-Men #254-255, I would have loved to have seen Lady Deathstrike's face when she confronted Spiral--who is responsible for her transformation into an adamantium enhanced cyborg. However, convenietly, Spiral was not in that story.

[Grendel0606]

Btw. This Wolverine-as-ninja thing, I heard rumours that this was a purely Frank Miller creation, and that Chris actually ripped him off in the miniseries that they did together. Not sure how true this is.
Miller never wrote or drew Wolverine before, so I'm not sure sure how Claremont could rip him off.

[SOGG]

Donald Pierce created & financed the original Reavers; after the X-Men defeated the Reavers in Uncanny X-Men #229, Donald Pierce reclaimed the outback town & rebuilt the Reavers. He added new members Lady Deathstrike, Cole, Macon, & Reese. Cylla was to be the new Bonebreaker.

When the Reavers fought the X-Men & Freedom Force in Uncanny X-Men #254-255, I would have loved to have seen Lady Deathstrike's face when she confronted Spiral--who is responsible for her transformation into an adamantium enhanced cyborg. However, convenietly, Spiral was not in that story.

And Cole, Macon and Reese were the guys Wolvie filleted in the Phoenix saga, right?

[SOGG]

Miller never wrote or drew Wolverine before, so I'm not sure sure how Claremont could rip him off.

Well, the rumour goes that Miller actually plotted that miniseries, but only got art credits for it.... (the one with Shingen)

[DDM]

And Cole, Macon and Reese were the guys Wolvie filleted in the Phoenix saga, right?

Yes, they were the survivors Wolverine faced in Uncanny X-Men #133. They were revealed to be cyborgs in Uncanny X-Men #151-152, but were not individually noted until Uncanny X-Men #205.

[For the Good of X]

Was this issue the last of BWS's special fill ins on Uncanny? They were such nice tasty treats. Funny how Energizer came into it. Funny how Marvel was really pushing Power Pack back then, only to then isolate the title to bimonthly, direct market only.

[Brian Cronin]

Great work by Barry Windsor Smith in this issue, and a great stand alone X-men tale IMO. Lady Deathstrike and the Reavers haven't looked nearly as cool since this issue. I'm not a big Power Pack fan and even that little brat Energizer couldn't spoil this one for me.

Thoughts?

I lurved this issue.

One of my favorite Uncanny issues.

The way Energizer is contrasted with Wolverine.

Brilliant.

And the art...amazing.

And yes, it WAS funny to see Power Pack get pushed so much. Then again, it should not come as much of a surprise that Claremont would want to help his old editor Weezie by having her characters appear in X-Men...and her husband Walt certainly would like to use her characters in Thor and X-Factor (was she writing X-Factor by then?).

Then again...I think it was more than just helping out their friends. I think they all honestly liked Power Pack, and think it deserved to be more popular.

It truly was the Runaways of its generation.

Anyone read the Power Pack Holiday Special from 1991?

-Brian

[DDM]

Was this issue the last of BWS's special fill ins on Uncanny? They were such nice tasty treats. Funny how Energizer came into it. Funny how Marvel was really pushing Power Pack back then, only to then isolate the title to bimonthly, direct market only.

No. BWS did the art for Uncanny X-Men #214 when Malice attacked the X-Men via a possessed Dazzler. Dazzler reluctantly joined the X-Men in this issue out of fear for her life since mutant hysteria hit an all time peak. I consider Uncanny X-Men #214 part of the Mutant Massacre since Malice is a Marauder. I don't know why it was not included in the Mutant Massacre TPB.

[mattbib]

#205 was a great issue. Remember how Wolverine went to the Powers' on Thanksgiving (or was it Christmas?)? Any BWS X-Men art is a welcome treat.

[For the Good of X]

Anyone read the Power Pack Holiday Special from 1991?

-Brian
I collected Power Pack until it's dying issue. It was the Runaways of its time. And like Runaways, it couldn't find and audience. At least Runaways has creators who know what to do with it. Power Pack suffered unless less skillful creators than Simonson and Brigman. And that was also a time when the Marvel Universe was very much 'the Marvel Universe.' I loved how PP always ran into Spidey or the X-Men.

[mattbib]

I loved how PP always ran into Spidey or the X-Men.Or that one brilliant issue with Dakota North (http://geocities.com/dakoat_north_ny).

[Steeven]

Uncanny #205 is probably my favorite Wolverine story ever told.

[Ryan K]

Well, little by little I've been going through, rereading my X-men collection. More or less chronologically now that I've accumulated a good chunk without any missing pieces. So I'll just keep posting the issues that strike me as I go on my little quest.

This time...

Uncanny X-men #207
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=866

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny207.jpg

Known primarily as the issue where Wolverine stabs Rachel.

Very nice issue IMO. Nice arguments between the characters on what a hero is. I especially loved it when Selene pointed out to Rachel that she remembered the name of the man Rachel was there to avenge, but Rachel did not.

[Brian Cronin]

I collected Power Pack until it's dying issue. It was the Runaways of its time. And like Runaways, it couldn't find and audience. At least Runaways has creators who know what to do with it. Power Pack suffered unless less skillful creators than Simonson and Brigman. And that was also a time when the Marvel Universe was very much 'the Marvel Universe.' I loved how PP always ran into Spidey or the X-Men.

I bring up the Holiday Special from 1991 only to note how amazing it was.

If you remember (obviously, as a Pack fan, you would)...the book got TERRIBLE by the end of the run.

It was just insanely depressing and bad.

But then Simonson and Brigman got back together for the Holiday Special, and they fixed EVERYTHING!!!

It remains to this day one of the happiest comic book reads that I've ever had.

-Brian

[Brian Cronin]

Or that one brilliant issue with Dakota North (http://geocities.com/dakoat_north_ny).

MATT!

I clicked on the link, and I didn't get a page!!

That's not your site, is it!?!?

-Brian

[DDM]

Well, little by little I've been going through, rereading my X-men collection. More or less chronologically now that I've accumulated a good chunk without any missing pieces. So I'll just keep posting the issues that strike me as I go on my little quest.

This time...

Uncanny X-men #207
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=866

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny207.jpg

Known primarily as the issue where Wolverine stabs Rachel.

Very nice issue IMO. Nice arguments between the characters on what a hero is. I especially loved it when Selene pointed out to Rachel that she remembered the name of the man Rachel was there to avenge, but Rachel did not.


Selene's self dialogue in Uncanny X-Men #208 explains why she remembered her victims' names: As a result of her mutant power, she must experience the totality of her victims' lives. She mentions that she is a Shimkah & the fates can be cruel. Regular humans are nothing to her; they are means to an end. They are her food.

[Ryan K]

How about...

New Mutants #42

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/covers/image.asp?ID=1600&CAT=cover

A nice little story about Cannonball going home to see his mother and siblings. Early appearence by Icarus (Josh Guthrie) as Sam's angst-ridden younger brother. While home, Cannonball plans to bring Lila Chaney home for a visit to his mother, but misinterprets something she does as criminal and criticizes her for it. He later realizes he was mistaken and Lila takes him back. The issue ends with Lila meeting Ms. Guthrie.

Thoughts?

[SOGG]

How about...

New Mutants #42

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/covers/image.asp?ID=1600&CAT=cover

A nice little story about Cannonball going home to see his mother and siblings. Early appearence by Icarus (Josh Guthrie) as Sam's angst-ridden younger brother. While home, Cannonball plans to bring Lila Chaney home for a visit to his mother, but misinterprets something she does as criminal and criticizes her for it. He later realizes he was mistaken and Lila takes him back. The issue ends with Lila meeting Ms. Guthrie.

Thoughts?

Is this the issue where josh and sam have it out because josh could play the guitar but sam got super powers?

[atoningunifex]

I love Claremont's take on the Guthries. Always have. I was very disappointed to find out that Josh had become a mutant. It seemed to cheapen this truly excellent story.

[Archyduke]

Huh? Wha-? Josh is a mutant? Since when?
Anyway, quite a good issue. Was it the first time Lila Cheney had shown improved precision with her teleports? I remember that in the first annual she had to teleport the New Mutants to her apartment in England due to her inability to gauge short distances or something along those lines. Speaking of Lila, was this the only appearance Dazzler made as a member of her band? It's quite odd seeing her as a brunette...
Looking through the issue again, I notice something sort of unusual, particularly for a Cannonball-centric issue; Sam manages to go an entire issue without declaring "Ah'm invulnerable while Ah'm blastin'"... it's disconcerting. It's like if Wolverine popped his claws and the sound effect was "Florb" or something... or if Psylocke's psychic knife was suddenly "a distracted notion of her short term memory"... or if Nightcrawler teleported away in a puff of sweet smelling fragrance... alright, time to stop.

[The Lucky One]

Huh? Wha-? Josh is a mutant? Since when?
Anyway, quite a good issue. Was it the first time Lila Cheney had shown improved precision with her teleports? I remember that in the first annual she had to teleport the New Mutants to her apartment in England due to her inability to gauge short distances or something along those lines. Speaking of Lila, was this the only appearance Dazzler made as a member of her band? It's quite odd seeing her as a brunette...

Lila's power is that she can only teleport over interplanetary distances, and only to places she's already been. So to go from, say, New Jersey to Philly, she'd have to make a stop in Alpha Centauri, and she'd have to have been to both Alpha and Philly before.

Looking through the issue again, I notice something sort of unusual, particularly for a Cannonball-centric issue; Sam manages to go an entire issue without declaring "Ah'm invulnerable while Ah'm blastin'"... it's disconcerting. It's like if Wolverine popped his claws and the sound effect was "Florb" or something...

Heh heh... nice one. :D

-D

[Ryan K]

Huh? Wha-? Josh is a mutant? Since when?

He's featured in New X-men: Academy X as Icarus. He has red wings (like Archangel) as revealed in the "She Lies With Angels" arc from Uncanny X-men this last year.

[Grendel0606]

Huh? Wha-? Josh is a mutant? Since when?
Anyway, quite a good issue. Was it the first time Lila Cheney had shown improved precision with her teleports? I remember that in the first annual she had to teleport the New Mutants to her apartment in England due to her inability to gauge short distances or something along those lines. Speaking of Lila, was this the only appearance Dazzler made as a member of her band? It's quite odd seeing her as a brunette...
.
Not at all. Dazzler was revealed to have joined Lila's band in the Gladiators storyline (New Mutants 29-31) and also appeared with them in Uncanny #210 and 214

[mattbib]

Okay, a new issue for a new day...

Issue summary (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1136)
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/mini/chamber1.jpg

This was the first time I was consciously made aware of Brian K. Vaughan and I really loved this series. The characters were believable and the story engaging. Also, while the art was great, what really grabbed me most were Jose Villarrubia's colors. Simply beautiful.

[foxfire]

Why was Chamber given an "Icons" series? I mean, Rogue and Cyclops i understand. But characters like Colossus have never had their own series. Why did Chamber get one?

[mattbib]

MATT!

I clicked on the link, and I didn't get a page!!

That's not your site, is it!?!?

-BrianWHOOPS! (http://geocities.com/dakota_north_ny)

[mattbib]

Why was Chamber given an "Icons" series? I mean, Rogue and Cyclops i understand. But characters like Colossus have never had their own series. Why did Chamber get one?Because up-and-coming BKV submitted a very good proposal I'd assume. :)

[Mr. Jip]

... if Wolverine popped his claws and the sound effect was "Florb" or something... or if Psylocke's psychic knife was suddenly "a distracted notion of her short term memory"... or if Nightcrawler teleported away in a puff of sweet smelling fragrance... alright, time to stop.

HEeeHEHeEHEHEEEE~~
You're funny. :p


um, never read that New Mutants issue.
& never read Chamber.

[DDM]

Huh? Wha-? Josh is a mutant? Since when?
Anyway, quite a good issue. Was it the first time Lila Cheney had shown improved precision with her teleports? I remember that in the first annual she had to teleport the New Mutants to her apartment in England due to her inability to gauge short distances or something along those lines. Speaking of Lila, was this the only appearance Dazzler made as a member of her band? It's quite odd seeing her as a brunette...

As a result of the events of the graphic novel,Dazzler: The Movie which revealed to all the world that Alison Blaire is indeed a mutant, her movie & singing careers were ruined. All her albums were blacklisted. To make ends meet, she joined Lila Cheney's band & dyed her hair jet black as a disguise. Unfortunately, Malice possessed Dazzler in Uncanny X-Men #210. Malice also took over Alison's consciousness at different intervals as shown in Uncanny X-Men #213. In Uncanny X-Men #214, Malice became the dominant personality again. To all involved, Dazzler was a criminal helped by the outlaw mutants, the X-Men (who actually saved Alison from Malice). Dazzler then reluctantly joined the X-Men for fear for her life by anti-mutant hatred or taken out by one of the X-Men's many foes.

[Ryan K]

I really liked the Chamber mini series. Easily my favorite of the Icons series. With Cyclops coming in at second. At the time, I wasn't paying attention to who wrote it really, I should go back and reread it now that I know it's Vaughan.

[mattbib]

Today's issue is Uncanny X-Men #122! Here's (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1837) a summary.
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny122.jpg

[Ryan K]

Luke Cage is the man!

The danger room sequence with Wolverine and Colossus is absolutely classic.

Great issue!

[SOGG]

I got this issue via X-Men Classic, and even if the issue itself was all kinds of good stuff, the backup story was good too. (It's the one about the spigot in the middle of the desert.)

This was a great issue if only to show that yes, once upon a time, Scott wasn't a whiny bastard.

[SOGG]

Oh... and Sweet Christmas!

[DrDoomX]

Ok I have not done one of these in a while so here goes...
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny178.jpg
This one is a personal favorite, it was the first x-men comic i ever read...and the thing was that as a ten year old it scared me but I loved it(Due to its ending with a supposed dead Kitty lying in a pool of blood)

Heres a summary (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=517)

P.S I thought I would bring this thread before we all fogot about it :D

[DDM]

Ok I have not done one of these in a while so here goes...
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny178.jpg
This one is a personal favorite, it was the first x-men comic i ever read...and the thing was that as a ten year old it scared me but I loved it(Due to its ending with a supposed dead Kitty lying in a pool of blood)

Heres a summary (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=517)

P.S I thought I would bring this thread before we all fogot about it :D


Loved this issue. Storm almost drowns out Pyro's fire with a minature monsoon. She controls her anger as a missing Kitty looks for the Fantastic Four for help (Peter's organic metal is super-heated by Pyro then Avalanche covers him in dirt; the combination has a chemical change to Peter's form--possibly killing him in the process). Mystique tries to take Rogue back, but learns to her dismay that Rogue does not want to leave the X-Men. The battle ends in a stand-off as the X-Men trade the defeated Brotherhood of Evil Mutants for Xavier.

[Huzzah!]

Loved it. It showcases the best part about Xmen Brootherhood fights, storm shutting Pyro down.

[Sabre]

I like this story a lot, but the X-Men/Brotherhood fight is kind of a weird rehash of their last fight in Days of Future Past. Both stories have Storm raining out Pyro (who never bore a grudge for that, which I liked), have Avalanche and Nightcrawler trying to hit each other whilst Destiny attempts to predict where Nightcrawler will be, and Blob versus Wolverine. It's still a fun story despite that, which I think shows how strong it is. Plus, it's the first story to make Pyro a likable character, instead of the pure a-hole he was before :p

[Ryan K]

Anybody read this, or anything else in this mini

Nightcrawler (Vol. 2) #1 (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=658)

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/nightcrawler/nightcrawler2-1.jpg

Decent issue. Decent mini series.

I always like movies like this. Bad guy underestimates good guy, gets his butt whooped. The Russian prostitute was a pretty good character.

How does this mini fit in with the revelations in Austen's run about Nightcrawler's priesthood?

[Ryan K]

OK. How about something a couple more people have probably read.

Uncanny X-men #165 (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1074)

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncanny165.jpg

The calm before the storm (no pun intended).

One of my favorite story arcs in X-men history. This one has a bunch of great small moments in the middle of this gigantic space epic.

[Ryan K]

Today, I present to you, the following issue to discuss...

Longshot #1
Written by Ann Nocenti. Pencilled by Arthur Adams.

http://www.tslendinga.com/Marvel/long1.jpg

Summary:

Basically, Longshot comes to Earth. He is a classic "fish out of water" with other-dimensional bad guys on his tail. He meets, and befriends a man named Eliot. He later runs into his "Pup". After hearing about the kidnapping of a baby from a woman named Hester, Longshot (and Eliot) decide to try and save the baby (because that's the right thing to do). Turns out the baby has been kidnapped by the same bad guys after Longshot (including Spiral). The baby is to be sacrificed to return them home. Longshot saves the day and leaves Eliot and Hester with his Pup.

Review:

A pretty confusing first issue, but much better after the entire story is unfolded by the end of the mini series. I love the character of Eliot. And of course pencilled by the great Art Adams. Which automatically kicks it up a couple of notches in my book.

Thoughts?

[mattbib]

I agee it was confusing upon first read; but I ended up really loving the series. Though I have to wonder how much better Adams' art would have looked with today's inking and coloring techniques.

[Vegetarian Goat]

I always liked Pup. I was mad at what happened to him at the end of the mini. But this mini is the reason i started questioning why Longshot is so embedded in the X-Men's history... he has such a rich background on his own... and a movie could certainly be made about him with no mention AT ALL of the X-Men... someone needs to do SOMETHING to bring back Longshot.

[DDM]

I always liked Pup. I was mad at what happened to him at the end of the mini. But this mini is the reason i started questioning why Longshot is so embedded in the X-Men's history... he has such a rich background on his own... and a movie could certainly be made about him with no mention AT ALL of the X-Men... someone needs to do SOMETHING to bring back Longshot.

Ann Nocenti--who co-created Longshot, Spiral, Mojo, & Mojo World--with Art Adams was a full time editor on all the X-Men books; therefore, it was a no-brainer to include Longshot into the X-Men eventually. Spiral, as part of Freendom Force, & Mojo would also become X-Men adversaries in abducting the New Mutants, X-Men, Psylocke, Captain Britain, & Phoenix II.

[Ryan K]

Hmmm, lets go with a nice Peter David issue shall we . . .

X-Factor #76 (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=356)

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/x-factor/x-factor76.jpg

I love this issue. Pretty disturbing stuff from Rahne.

[Huzzah!]

this is actually the only X-factor comic i own i think.


Dont remmeber liking it. But i havent read it in a loong time

[Ryan K]

A classic . . .

Uncanny X-men Annual #4 (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1351)

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncannyannual4.jpg

One of my favorite X-men tales. It's nothing particulary special. Just a really fun superhero comic. Action. Adventure, Romance. Intrigue. Doctor Strange and the X-men battling through hell (kind of) to save Nightcrawler. What's not to love?

[DDM]

A classic . . .

Uncanny X-men Annual #4 (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1351)

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/uncanny/uncannyannual4.jpg

One of my favorite X-men tales. It's nothing particulary special. Just a really fun superhero comic. Action. Adventure, Romance. Intrigue. Doctor Strange and the X-men battling through hell (kind of) to save Nightcrawler. What's not to love?

Loved this issue. Uncanny X-Men Annual #4 is the first appearance of Margali Szardos--whose power rivals Dr. Strange, but Claremont did very little with the character until his run on Fantastic Four years later.

[For the Good of X]

Is this the first time JR Jr drew the X-Men? This is long before his run on the title in the mid-80s.

[Brian Cronin]

Heck, I think it was one of the first times JRjr drew ANYthing for Marvel!

-Brian

[DDM]

Is this the first time JR Jr drew the X-Men? This is long before his run on the title in the mid-80s.

John Romita Jr's. earliest assignment was Uncanny X-Men #130 cover:


http://cyberspace-market.com/chrisclaremontchecklist/X-Men-130.jpg (February 1980)

[Ryan K]

I bet drawing all those little lightbulbs on the X-men logo really sucked.

[DDM]

I bet drawing all those little lightbulbs on the X-men logo really sucked.

That's the letterer's job.

[Vegetarian Goat]

John Romita Jr's. earliest assignment was Uncanny X-Men #130 cover:


http://cyberspace-market.com/chrisclaremontchecklist/X-Men-130.jpg (February 1980)

And thus, a legend was born. Best. Comic. Ever.

[Ryan K]

Anybody read . . .

X-Man Annual '96 (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=955)

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/xman/xmanann96.jpg

This one of the issues that adds to the Age of Apocalypse storyline. Though it does not need to be read to read, understand, and enjoy that crossover, I think it really adds a nice touch to it. Very nice to see why Magneto and Forge are no longer allies in X-man #1-4.

[Brian Cronin]

All I remember from that issue was thinking, "Why the hell is Alan Davis wasting his time on a freaking X-MAN Annual?!?!"

-Brian

[The Lucky One]

Plus it means I have to find, and buy, yet another issue of X-Man just to complete my AoA collection. That makes 6 total. Damn you!

-D

[For the Good of X]

All I remember from that issue was thinking, "Why the hell is Alan Davis wasting his time on a freaking X-MAN Annual?!?!"

-Brian
Is that Davis or Hitch from his clone days?

[Ryan K]

Is that Davis or Hitch from his clone days?

It is indeed Alan Davis.

[Ryan K]

Time to bring this thread back.

Today's issue . . .

X-Force (Vol. 1) #1 (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=505)

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/covers/xforce/xforce1.jpg

At the time this issue came out, I liked it. The idea behind X-Force's reason for existing was an interesting one to my 11 year old self. At the time I had no bitter taste in my mouth about the dismantling of the New Mutants by Liefeld. Part of me wishes I could enjoy this book now like I did then.

Oh well.

Thoughts.

[mattbib]

I hate to admit it but I looiked forward to these issues at the time as well. And I bought one of every enclosed trading card also. I was so sad, so sad. In retrospect I hate what Liefeld did to the New Mutants, and therefore I hate the early issues of X-Force.

[Ryan K]

I hate to admit it but I looiked forward to these issues at the time as well. And I bought one of every enclosed trading card also. I was so sad, so sad. In retrospect I hate what Liefeld did to the New Mutants, and therefore I hate the early issues of X-Force.

I think I bought 3 or 4 of the polybagged issues to get all the trading cards too. Never could find the 5th one (I don't know which one). I was sure I was paying for college through those issues.

[SOGG]

Ah. Thi