Efficient and Divine - Gene Kendall's New Crime Thriller (Also, Free Stuff)

 

Quick-witted and clean-cut Mason Mackay has something dark within. Struggling to accept his sinister urges, Mason must choose between those he loves and those who deserve brutal justice.

Gene Kendall here, once again acting like a hog and using a blog post to plug his projects. I've been at work for a few years now on Efficient and Divine, a small-town crime thriller series. (They're available on Kindle Unlimited, which is currently running a free trial promotion.) The first novel Almost Heaven is an origin story of sorts for Mason Mackay, a handsome documentarian who discovers a staggering capacity for violence.

60 Years of X - 1970

Year 8: 1970
1970 X-Men Comics & Appearances: X-Men #66-68, X-Men Annual #1, Amazing Spider-Man #92

The X-Men have their series cancelled, then revived a few months later as a reprint title! An amazing friendship starts! And that's about it!

043 - Year 8 Cover: X-Men #66

G. I. JOE #72 - June 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)

 

Nobody beats G. I. Joe

Nobody beats G. I. Joe

Fighting hard against the Cobra foe

Nobody beats G. I. Joe

A Real American Hero!

X-amining X-Men (vol. 2) #63

"Games of Deceit & Death Part 2"

April 1997

In a Nutshell

The search for a Legacy Virus cure gets complicated as Sebastian Shaw returns and the Kingpin reveals himself!

Plot: Scott Lobdell

Script: Ben Raab
Pencils: Carlos Pacheco 
Inks: Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Chris Lichtner , Aron Lusen & Liquid Graphocs
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

The X-Men an Shang-Chi battle the cyber ninjas, who reveal they are working for Sebastian Shaw, who shortly thereafter reveals himself to the X-Men. After a brief scuffle, Storm brokers a truce, while Cannonball slips away underneath a rickshaw headed towards Fujikawa Enterprises. At the Hong Kong branch of the Hellfire Club, Shaw admits he's seeking a cure for the Legacy Virus — and a financial interest in the production of it — but claims there is some altruism to his motives. He also secretly receives all of Moira MacTaggert's data on the Legacy Virus from Rory Campbell. Shortly thereafter, the X-Men depart for Fujikawa Enterprises, where Shaw believes the Elixir Vitae sought by Shang-Chi's father and key to the cure, is being held. However, Cannonball is already inside, and learns the new head of the company is none other than the Kingpin, who shortly thereafter reveals himself to the intruding X-Men!

60 Years of X - 1969

 Year 7: 1969

1969 X-Men Comics & Appearances: X-Men #54-65, Sub-Mariner #14

Neal Adams saves the X-Men! Roy Thomas returns! So do the Sentinels & Professor X! Magneto gets a face! Havok, Sauron, Sunfire, the Savage Land mutates (& the Living Monolith...) debut!

037 - Year 7 Cover: X-Men #56

The Week That Was 022523

 Power Rankings, Ads, Shameless Plugs

60 Years of X - 1968

 Year 6: 1968

1968 X-Men Comics & Appearances: X-Men #42-53, Avengers #53 & #60!

Xavier dies, Magneto returns, the X-Men disband! The Avengers crossover, Polaris debuts! Roy Thomas leaves, Gary Friedrich comes & goes, Arnold Drake arrives! All that plus Jim Steranko in 1968!

031 - Year 6 Cover: X-Men #50

X-amining Classic X-Men #26 - Patreon First

"So Much in Common!"

October 1988

In a Nutshell

Banshee & Wolverine swap war stories and realize they indirectly crossed paths years before becoming X-Men!

Writer: Tom Orzechowski, Chris Claremont (additional pages)
Artist: John Bolton, Kieron Dwyer (additional pages)

Inker: Terry Austin (additional pages)
Letters: Tom Orzechowski

Colors: Gregory Wright

Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot

Wolverine, Banshee, Nightcrawler, and Cyclops are having a "boys night" at Harry's Hideaway. When Wolverine tells a story about how he and his lady friend Cracklin' Rosa would sucker patrons of her Calgary bar into trying to beat Wolverine at a drinking contest, Banshee realizes they inadvertently crossed paths while Banshee was working as an Interpol agent. Banshee had followed a pair of wanted criminals to Rosa's bar, and Wolverine's antics had helped distract their bodyguards, allowing Banshee to signal the Mounties to arrest his man without any complication. In the present, Banshee points out how they both inadvertently learned something about teamwork that day, while Cyclops says he's proud to call them both teammates. 

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X-amining X-Men Unlimited #14

"Innocence Lost"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

Franklin Richards deals with the aftermath of "Onslaught". 

Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Pencils: Jim Cheung
Inks: Andrew Pepoy
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Kevin Somerset
Editor: Kelly Corevese

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Franklin Richards is having nightmares of his family disappearing and being replaced by the man he blames for their deaths, Joseph. In the morning, he wakes and is comforted by his friends Artie and Leech. All three boys are visiting Beast's childhood home along with Beast, Gambit, and Storm. Later that morning, Beast's father Norton invites the kids on a tractor ride. Meanwhile, in the nearby town of Dunfee, a group of men led by Grange Janssen discuss the recent assassination of Graydon Creed and the influx of mutants like Hank McCoy in their town. Grange decides its time they do something about it. Back at the McCoy farm, Franklin uses his powers to disable the tractor, creating an opening that allows the boys to run off into the woods. Gambit warns Storm, but when she flies off to find the boys, she is shot by Grange and his posse, who capture Artie and Leech as well as Beast when he intervenes. Unaware of his friends' capture, Franklin uses his powers to teleport Joseph to him, then attacks, angrily holding him responsible for the death of his family. Joseph is confused, but unable and unwilling to overpower Franklin. In the woods, the police arrive and defuse the situation, arresting Grange and his posse. Out in the field, Gambit comes to Joseph's defense and helps convince Franklin not to kill Joseph. But by then, Franklin's power has grown out of his control, and it takes the timely arrival of Leech, delivered by Beast, to shut it down. Having at least made peace with Joseph, Franklin resumes playing with his friends. 

60 Years of X - 1967

Year 5: 1967

1967 X-Men Comics & Appearances: X-Men #30-41

025 - Year 5 Cover: X-Men #39

X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 4x04 - Patreon First

"Proteus Part 1"

Original Airdate

September 30th, 1995

Writer

Bruce Reid Schaefer

Plot

On Muir Island, the energy-based mutant Proteus escapes from his cell. Moira MacTaggert calls Xavier for help, and while the X-Men race across the Atlantic in the Blackbird, Xavier tells them about his past with Moira. On Muir Island, Moira tells the X-Men about Proteus' ability to take control of host bodies and warp reality around him. As Proteus cuts a swath through Scotland searching for his father, the X-Men track him down. Confronted, Proteus uses his powers against the X-Men, overpowering their senses and terrifying Wolverine. From there, Proteus confronts his father, Joe MacTaggert, Moira's ex-husband, prompting a tearful Moira to admit that Proteus is her son!

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X-amining X-Man #26

"Down to Earth"

April 1997

In a Nutshell

Nate seeks Moira's help in the wake of the loss of his telekinetic powers. 

Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Guest Penciler: Pascual Ferry 
Inker: Jamie Mendoz & Howard Shack
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Mike Thomas

Separations: GCW
Editor: Jaye Gardner

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Stuck in Switzerland without his telekinetic powers, Nate psychically projects himself to his friend, Peter Parker, to ask for help with his lost abilities. While touched Nate would seek him out, Peter admits he's not the best person to ask, and steers Nate in the direction of Moira MacTaggert. Nate physically travels to Muir Island, using his telepathy to sneak aboard cargo vehicles and mask his presence from Excalibur as he heads towards Moira's lab. However, Moira is well aware of his presence thanks to a device she's created. Nate asks for her help contacting Forge, but when Moira reaches Val Cooper, she's told X-Factor is dead. Moira proceeds to run some tests on Nate, and concludes there's nothing physically wrong with him: his own mind is, for some reason, suppressing his telekinesis. Meanwhile, Dark Beast suggests to Havok that he recruit Nate to his Brotherhood, but cautions him to leave Beast's name out of it. Back on Muir Island, Moira attacks Nate, hoping his instincts will kick in and allow his power out, but it doesn't. Later, as Nate ponders his next move, Havok and Fatale teleport onto Muir Island, and tell Nate they can help him. 

The Week That Was 1312023

Upcoming X-aminations, Oscars, shameless plugs. 

60 Years of X - 1966

Year 4: 1966

1966 X-Men Comics & Appearances: X-Men #18-29, Strange Tales #156. 

019 - Year 4 Cover: X-Men #28

Not a lot of great covers to choose from in '66. Werner Roth's cover to Banshee's first appearance stands out due to the red background & eerie spectral quality to Banshee & the energy created by the figure's movement.

X-amining Classic X-Men #25 - Patreon First

"Just don't look it in its eyes"

September 1988

In a Nutshell

Wolverine is stalked by a hunter and fights a bear. 

Writer: Ann Nocenti, Chris Claremont (additional pages)
Artist: John Bolton, Kieron Dwyer (additional pages)

Inker: Terry Austin (additional pages)
Letters: Tom Orzechowski, Michael Heisler (additional pages)

Colors: Gynis Wein

Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot

Moonlighting for Central, Wolverine destroys a building in the Canadian wilderness, but gets burned in the process. Making his way back to civilization, he is spotted by a hunter, who thinks the burned Wolverine may be a creature like Big Foot or Sasquatch. The hunter tries to sneak up on Wolverine, but Wolverine is amazed at how noisy the hunter is, noise which attracts a large bear. The bear attacks Wolverine but he manages to kill it. As the hunter gets closer to Wolverine, he fires an arrow at him, but Wolverine catches it and throws it back to the hunter. Hitting his thigh, the hunter is stunned to learn his prey isn't some dumb beast. Wolverine leaves the hunter be, then continues on his way home. 

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X-amining Uncanny X-Men #343

"Where No X-Man Has Gone Before!"

April 1997

In a Nutshell

The Phalanx return as the X-Men fight to save the Shi'ar!

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Joe Madureira
Inkers: Tim Townsend
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Colors: Steve Buccellato and Team Bucce
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

As Bishop and Beast tend to the injured Deathbird, Gambit and Joseph arrive to interrogate her. However, Deathbird grabs Bishop's gun and fires on them, revealing both to be Phalanx, the techno-organic aliens who have decimated the Shi'ar Empire. Meanwhile, Rogue attempts to rescue the real Gambit & Joseph, but is drawn into conflict with the Phalanx. She is partially transmoded, which allows her to learn of the Phalanx plans for galactic conquest, just before Gambit & Joseph rescue her in turn. Back on Earth, Bastion arrives at an Operation: Zero Tolerance base with special cargo: the captive Jubilee. Back in Shi'ar space, the X-Men arrive at distant moon of Chandilar, the Shi'ar throneworld. They allow the Phalanx to destroy their ship, using the debris to mask their descent to the moon inside a makeshift lifeboat. Landing on the moon, they proceed to one of Deathbird's safehouses, and from there, teleport to directly to Chandilar!

60 Years of X - 1965

Year 3: 1965

1965 X-Men Comics: X-Men #10-17, Fantastic Four Annual #3

013 - Year 3 Cover: X-Men #13

On his way out in '65 (shifting to only doing layouts & covers), Kirby turns in some of the strongest covers of his run, w/several icon entries. I like this one just a smidge more than #12, the other Juggernaut cover.

The Week That Was 1202023

 Resolutions, 60 Years of X, shameless plugs. 

60 Years of X - 1964

Year 2: 1964

1964 X-Men Comics: X-Men #4-9, Fantastic Four #28, Journey into Mystery #109, Strange Tales #120, Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1

007 - Year 2 Cover: X-Men #4

Of '64's mostly routine Silver Age covers, this stands out due to Kirby's knack for characterization: Pietro's indifference, Toad's simpering & Wanda's odd intensity. We know something about them before we even open the book.

X-amining Deadpool #3 - Patreon First

"Stumped! (or: This Little Piggy Went… Hey! Where is Little Piggy?!)"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

Deadpool & Siryn team-up to track down Black Tom!

Writer: Joe Kelly

Penciler: Ed McGuiness

Inkers: Nathan Messengill & Norman Lee

Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft 

Colors: Matthew Pain

Separations: Digital Chameleon

Editor: Matthew Idelson

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

In the wake of losing his finger, Deadpool takes bets at the Hellhole on how fast he can grow it back, but loses money when his finger doesn't return. Later, he receives a package from Black Tom Cassidy containing a hand that had been previously severed. This prompts him to visit Siryn at the X-Mansion, where he tells her about the package he received from her uncle. Siryn doesn't know where Black Tom is, but worried about Deadpool, she agrees to help him. They track the hand back to Doctor Killebrew, the former Weapon X scientist who experimented on Deadpool. He says he sent the hand to lure Deadpool to him, as he wants to atone for his past by saving Deadpool, saying not only is his healing factor failing, but his entire body is killing him from the inside!

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60 Years of X - 1963

As an addendum/archive of my "60 Years of X" social media project, I will post the collective results of each year here upon its completion as a standalone post, and add the results to the running "60 Years of X" page (linked on the top of the left column on the home page) which will, by year's end, feature the entirety of the project and my favorite bits from each of the X-Men's sixty years of existence. 

Year 1: 1963

1963 Comics: X-Men #1-3, Tales of Suspense #49

001 - Year 1 Cover: X-Men #1

The pickings are slimmer in Year 1, of course, but it's hard not to go w/the iconic cover to the series' first issue, especially since I've had an Alex Ross recreation of it in poster form hanging on my wall for decades.

X-amining Excalibur #107

"Focus"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

Salvador Larroca debuts as the new series artist while Excalibur is attacked by the Dragons of the Crimson Dawn!

Writer: Ben Raab

Penciller: Salvador Larroca 

Inker: Scott Koblish

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colorist: Kevin Tinsley

Separations: GCW

Editor: Matt Idelson

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Brian Braddock and Meggan arrive arrive in London for what Meggan says will be one of the happiest days of their lives, while back on Muir Island, Colossus, Wolfsbane, and Nightcrawler work together to build their own Cerebro unit to detect mutants. In London, Brian and Meggan discover that despite their recent heroics in saving the city, many of the citizens still blame them for the death of the "real heroes" at the hands of Onslaught. Angry, Brian declares he doesn't want to be a superhero anymore, just a scientist, then laments that he's letting his anger ruin his and Meggan's day. On Muir Island, Douglock urges Moira to take a break from her Legacy Virus research, but she refuses, determined to find a cure for the virus. Back in London, Brian and Meggan are picking out an engagement ring when Meggan is suddenly knocked out onto the street. Just then, Spiral appears, and Brian attacks her, thinking she targeted Meggan. But when Spiral reveals she's been marked by Crimson Dawn, the Dragons of Crimson Dawn, Meggan's actual attackers, emerge and reveal they have come to kill Brian!

X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 4x03 - Patreon First

 "Courage"

Original Airdate

September 23, 1995

Writer

Michael Edens, Sandy Scesny

Plot

On Muir Island, Moira checks out Morph's health, and he insists he's ready to rejoin the X-Men. Meanwhile, a group of Sentinels steal an advanced new polymer. Later, at the X-Mansion, the X-Men are overjoyed to be reunited with Morph. However, their celebration is cut short upon news of the Sentinel attack. Wolverine and Morph investigate the manufacturing plant the Sentinels attack, but pull out as Wolverine fears for Morph's stability. At the Sentinel's base, Master Mold plots to use the polymer to make himself a new, more powerful body, and orders the Sentinels to capture Bolivar Trask, Henry Peter Gyrich, and Professor Xavier. When the Sentinels attack the X-Mansion, Xavier is captured, in part because Morph freezes upon seeing the Sentinels. After Gyrich and Trask are captured, Morph manages to track down the Sentinel base. As Master Mold plans to steal Xavier's telepathic powers, the X-Men arrive and attack the Sentinels. Morph holds his own, using his shapeshifting abilities to fend off Master Mold. Trask ultimately sacrifices himself to destroy the base, allowing Gyrich and the X-Men to escape. But despite conquering his fears, Morph decides he's not ready to rejoin the X-Men after all, and sets out on his own. 

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The Week That Was 120222

Twitter tumult, trading cards, shameless plugs

X-amining X-Force #64

"The Haunting of Castle Doom"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

Writer: John Francis Moore
Penciler: Anthony Castrillo & Mark Pajarillo
Inkers: John Holdredge & Marlo Alquiza
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Marie Javins
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

In the present, Warpath, Sunspot, and Caliban watch in shock as Castle Doom suddenly disappears, though their Latverian companions are unperturbed, saying this sort of thing happens all the time in Latveria; one of them even saw ghosts while working in the castle as a young girl. Back in 1941, Dimitri Fortunov is stunned to realize they have arrived in the time when his cruel grandfather Baron Sabbat ruled Latveria. Sabbat is reluctantly hosting Baron Wolfgang Strucker of Hydra, who is testing a new machine designed to harness the powers of the cosmos. Nathanial Richards realizes it is that device which is preventing him from resynching Doom's time machine and sending the time traveler's home. Appearing as ghosts to the people living in 1941, X-Force works to destroy the machine, in the process staving off an assassination attempt on Sabbat by Strucker. Once Rictor manages to destroy Hydra's machine, everyone — as well as Castle Doom — returns to the present day. Cable destroys the time machine, telling Bridge SHIELD can do as it pleases with the rest of Doom's technology. Bridge surprisingly lets Cable and X-Force walk away without a fight, while Cable parts on friendly terms with Nathanial Richards, not knowing that Richards has his own agenda. 

The Week That Was 112222

First of all, happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US/celebrating. May the day be what you want/need it to be! 

Secondly, what's this, then?

A mea culpa, something new (that's a little old), and shameless plugs. 

X-amining Generation X #25

"The End"/ "Behind the Eight Ball" / "Cutting to the Chase" / "Putting Out the Fire" / "The Great Escape" / "Point of No Return" / "Enemy Mine" / "Duel" / "Splitting Heirs" / "On Land or Sea or Foam"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

Black Tom and Mondo attack the school! 

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Chris Bachalo
Inker: Al Vey and Scott Hana
Letterer: Richard Starkings/Comicraft
Colorist: Vancata
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot
After secretly lurking in the school's biosphere, Black Tom executes his revenge plot against Banshee, capturing Monet, Paige, Chamber, Synch and Skin while taking control of Emma's body and letting his evil Mondo creation loose in the school. As Banshee fights his demented cousin, Bastion secretly arrives and captures Jubilee. He also executes the evil Mondo. Meanwhile, Franklin Richards, Artie, Leech, Tana Nile, Howard the Duck and Beverly Switzler are rescued from Black Tom by the Man-Thing. Black Tom proceeds to force Banshee and Emma to fight one another. Banshee refuses to hurt Emma, but she takes control of his mind and forces him to blast her with his sonic scream in order to save the students. Just then, Banshee realizes the kids Tom has captured are just lifeless shells, and Black Tom reveals he's sequestered the real kids somewhere safe. Suddenly, the overlooked Penance attacks Black Tom, slicing apart his plant body. Thousands of miles away, with Black Tom's influence lifted, a plant pod releases from the ocean floor and rises to the surface, where it opens and reveals the real Monet, Paige, Chamber, Skin and Synch, adrift in the middle of the ocean. 

X-amining Cable #41

"Depths of Time"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

Cable & Bishop battle Sinsear!

Writer: Todd DeZago

Penciler: Steve Crespo

Inker: Scott Hana

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colorist: Mike Thomas

Separations: GCW

Editor: Mark Powers

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Responding to an intruder alert, Cable and Bishop arrive at the remains of Cable's former space station Graymalkin, now residing on the ocean floor. Inside, they discover Sinsear. Angry at having lost his humanity in favor of his cybernetic parts, he hopes to use the station to return to his and Cable's future timeline and reclaim his humanity. But Cable and Bishop tell him he needs to earn back his lost humanity, and in the ensuing fight, the time displacement core is damaged. As it starts absorbing energy, Cable worries that it will overload and wipe out all of reality. He devises a means to shut it down, but to do so, someone must go inside the core, giving up their life to do so. Cable intends to do it himself, but Sinsear steps in, willing to sacrifice himself since he started the problem. Inside the core, Sinsear shuts down the overload, saving reality but scattering his atoms throughout the universe in the process. As they return home, Cable and Bishop discuss their respective dark futures. Upon arriving at the X-Mansion, Cable seeks out Storm, and asks her to tell him more about his sister, Rachel. 

The Runs: Chris Claremont & Paul Smith's Uncanny X-Men

Hey, if you want to hear me talk about the Claremont/Smith run on Uncanny X-Men — arguably the greatest X-Men run of all time — check out my buddy Ryan Alexander-Tanner's podcast The Runs, on which I recently appeared to do just that. 

You can stream the episode directly from here, or listen on most of the usual podcast platforms of choice

. 

X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series Season 1 Episode 1

In celebration of the premiere of X-Men: The Animated Series thirty years ago today, here is my review of the series' inaugural episode. To read the rest of my reviews of the animated series (currently up to the start of season four), become a Patron now for as little as $1.25 a month!

"Night of the Sentinels Part 1"

Original Airdate
October 31 1992

Written by
Mark Edward Edens

Plot
After young mutant Jubilee's foster father reports her to the Mutant Control Agency, a Sentinel attacks her house, intent on capturing her. Jubilee has, however, snuck out to the local mall. The Sentinel tracks her there, drawing the attention of fellow mutants Storm, Rogue, Gambit & Cyclops, who destroy the Sentinel and take the unconscious Jubilee back to their mansion home. There, she encounters Beast, Morph, Wolverine, Jean Grey & Professor Xavier, and learns the group is called the X-Men a team dedicated to mastering their powers and achieving peaceful coexistence with the humans who often fear & hate mutants. Learning the Sentinels are the product of the Mutant Control Agency, the X-Men infiltrate their headquarters in order to destroy their files on mutants, but the agency's security forces are, unknownst to the X-Men, lying in wait for them.

X-amining X-Factor #132

"Breakaway"

 March 1997

In a Nutshell

X-Factor starts quitting the government!

Writer: Howard Mackie
Penciler: Jeff Matsuda
Inker: Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Glynis Oliver

Separations: GCW
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Forge tenders X-Factor's resignation to General Bowser. He reminds Forge that Mystique is still a wanted criminal in connection to Graydon Creed's death, but Forge doesn't much care. As X-Factor leaves, Val asks Forge why he didn't let her know about his plans; he tells her that she's not a mutant, and thus, it's none of her business. Elsewhere, Madrox visits his own grave. He is joined by Shard and Wild Child, who stage an encounter in an effort to gain Madrox's trust in order to get closer to Havok's Brotherhood. Meanwhile, Forge brings Mystique to the home of Trevor Chase, where they discover he's been kidnapped. The pair are attacked, and are seemingly run off a bridge to their deaths as they try to escape. At Fall's Edge, Sabretooth, Polaris, Shard and Wild Child are watched by government agents as they enter a building, after which the building explodes, leaving the agents to believe no one has survived. 

G. I. JOE #68 - February 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)

Battle Force 2000

The secret force of G. I. Joe

Battle Force 2000

They can take on any foe

For G .I. Joe...a real American hero!

X-amining Wolverine #111

"Restoration"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

Wolverine returns to the X-Mansion, finds himself out of place, and sets out on his own again. 

Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Anthony Winn
Inks: Dan Green
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Colors: Dana Moreshead
Separations: Graphic Colorworks
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

Wolverine returns to the X-Mansion. He checks in with Cannonball, who has been maintaining his motorcycle, and learns Iceman is leaving the team following the attack on his father. Wolverine receives a mysterious package in the mail with a message from Zoe Culloden, entrusting it to him for safe keeping. Storm gives Iceman a unique mutant flower as a going-away-present, saying it has a hard time surviving in a standard environment — seemingly like a lot of the X-Men. Later, the team visits Harry's Hideaway, but Wolverine finds himself disconnected from the group. He goes to Auger Inn, and drinks a toast to his dead Madripoorian friends. He then returns home alone and depressed, and goes into the Danger Room. There, he is attacked by a evil spirit which raises Mariko's soul and offers to restore her to life. Wolverine rejects the offer, and drives off the spirit, at which point Stick appears and puts Mariko back to rest. He explains that the evil spirit is the enemy he and Elektra have been preparing Wolverine to fight. The next day, Wolverine gives Cannonball a new motorcycle, then rides off on his own, determined to prove he can survive in the real world on his own. 

X-amining Magneto #1-4

"Return of the Messiah" / "Atonement" / "Kill Zone" / "Specters"

November 1996 - February 1997

In a Nutshell

Joseph battles Exodus and comes to terms with his past as Magneto. 

Plot: Peter Milligan

Script: Jorge Gonzalez

Penciler: Kelley Jones
Inks: John Beatty, Mark Heike & Jim Sanders III (issue #4)
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Brad Vancata

Separations: Graphic Color Works

Editor: Kelly Corvese

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Separations: Digital Chameleon

Plot

Haunted by his past as Magneto - a past he doesn't remember - Joseph seeks out the ruins of Magneto's fallen space station Avalon. He encounters a group of Acolytes being hunted by Humanity's Last Stand. They decide Joseph is indeed Magneto reborn. Reaching Avalon, Joseph is horrified after he reviews Magneto's personal logs. Elsewhere, Exodus remains the leader of another group of Acolytes, who plan to launch a New Avalon which, when launched, will kill millions of humans. Determined to stop Exodus, Amelia Voght grudgingly makes an alliance with Fabian Cortez, telling him about Joseph. Cortez locates Joseph and convinces him to pretend to be Magneto in order to stop Exodus. Joseph's efforts to pass himself off as Magneto reborn are strengthened when he helps fight off Humanity's Last Stand, but the Acolytes are perplexed when he spares the life of their commander, Colonel Armstrong. However, Armstrong ultimately dies of his injuries anyway. 

X-amining X-Men (vol. 2) #62

"Games of Deceit & Death Part 1"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

The X-Men team-up with Shang-Chi to hunt for a Legacy Virus cure! 

Plot: Scott Lobdell

Script: Ben Raab
Pencils: Carlos Pacheco 
Inks: Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Chris Lichtner & Liquid Color
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

Outside the Scottish home of an old associate, MI-6 agent Clive Reston, Shang-Chi, Master of Kung-Fu, is attacked by a group of ninjas. He fights them off, only to be attacked in turn by Wolverine, who wants to test him. Their fight is ended by a lightning bolt from Storm, angry at Wolverine's actions. Cannonball arrives, and the group is introduced to Shang-Chi, after which they go inside Reston's home, where Reston, Cyclops, and Phoenix are waiting. They explain that Sebastian Shaw, leader of the Hellfire Club, is seeking the Elixir Vitae, which he hopes to use to cure the Legacy Virus (and make massive profits in doing so). Since Shang-Chi's villainous father created the elixir, the X-Men need his help. Later, Shaw is at his Hong Kong offices when he's told the X-Men are en route to the city; he orders a "reception" for the group. Shortly thereafter, as the X-Men and Shang-Chi make their way through the streets of Hong Kong in a pair of cars, they are attacked by a group of Cyber-Ninjas. 

X-amining X-Man #25

"Closer  to the Flame"

March 1997

In a Nutshell
Nate and Jean Grey confront the revived Madelyne Pryor!

Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Pencilers: Roger Cruz with Casey Jones
Inks: Bud LaRosa with Jason Martin
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft AD
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Jaye Gardner

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Madelyne talks to Threnody in a cemetery, trying to find out where Nate is. In the course of their conversation, Threnody realizes Madelyne is actually dead. Angry, Madelyne removes one of Threnody's psionic bafflers, knocking her out. Meanwhile, Nate senses Madelyne's return; after tracking her to the cemetery but finding her gone, he goes to Switzerland in search of her. At the X-Mansion, Jean is visited by the Askani woman named Sanctity, whom cryptically makes her aware of Madelyne's return. In Switzerland, Nate finds Madelyne and brings her to the cabin where they first met. Just then, Jean arrives in the Blackbird, and Madelyne attacks. During the ensuing three way battle, Madelyne realizes that, ultimately, Nate is going to side with Jean, while Nate realizes that Madelyne is his creation, formed of his psionic energy and memories of Jean from his own world as he sought comfort upon first landing on Earth. Angrily insisting she is a person with a right to exist, Madelyne angrily returns Nate's energy to him and leaves. Jean offers him a place with the X-Men once again, but he turns her down. He does tell her that he wished she'd been his mother. Later, Madelyne Pryor joins Sebastian Shaw in his bed. Back in Switzerland, Nate realizes that his telekinetic powers are gone, but is unsure if it is because of his confrontation with Madelyne, or the beginning of his end as his powers begin to consume him. 

X-amining Uncanny X-Men #342

"-- Did I Miss Something?"

March 1997

In a Nutshell

A contingent of X-Men are flung into Shi'ar territory via an out-of-control spaceship!

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Joe Madureira
Inkers: Tim Townsend
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Steve Buccellato and Team Bucce!
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Teleported by Gladiator onto an out-of-control starship, Beast, Bishop, Rogue, Gambit, Joseph, and Trish Tilby find themselves hurtling through space on a pre-set route as the ship threatens to blow apart around them. Beast manages to stabilize the vehicle, but can't alter its course, even as it heads into an asteroid field. Joseph steps up, and uses his power to clear the field in front of the ship until it reaches the Shi'ar stargate. Back on Earth, Cannonball alerts the rest of the X-Men to what happened, and they try to contact the Shi'ar. When no one answers, Cyclops must decide whether to go after their teammates, or focus on the numerous earthbound threats facing the X-Men. Back in space, the X-Men don Shi'ar uniforms as the ship arrives at its destination: a massive and heavily damaged Shi'ar space station. Exploring the wreckage, the X-Men find only one survivor: Deathbird!

X-amining Venom: Tooth and Claw #1-3

"Into the Jaws of Death" / "Vollied and Thundered" / "To Do and Die!"

November 1996 - January 1997

In a Nutshell

Wolverine and Venom battle Dirt Nap and Chimera!

Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Joe St. Pierre
Inks: Al Milgrom
Letters:  Ken Lopez
Colors: Tom Smith 
Editor: Tom Brevoort

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot
As Eddie Brock, human host of Venom, is possessed by the villainous Dirt Nap, two young boys, Jerry and Rocky, are captured along with the symbiote Scream by an orb-like spaceship designed to hunt symbiotes which is seeking Venom. On orders from Chimera, Dirt Nap heads to the offices of Landau, Luckman and Lake, but finds Wolverine waiting there. When Emmet, a young LL&L agent, arrives, he determines that Dirt Nap is possessing Venom. During the ensuing fight, Venom is able to escape, but Wolverine is unable to kill Dirt Nap, as he is still possessing a young boy Wolverine tried to save during their first encounter. Venom, however, has no such compunctions, but he is hit by the suddenly-arriving orb. In the confusion, Dirt Nap escapes into a nearby warp chamber, followed by Venom and the orb, as well as Wolverine and Emmet, who give chase. During the ensuing fight, the orb opens and Dirt Nap possesses Scream, at which point Chimera enters the fray, at the head of a group of plasma wraiths. 

X-amining Onslaught Epilogue #1

"Prisoner M-13"

February 1997

In a Nutshell

A captive Professor X helps a fellow prisoner escape from Bastion!

Writer: Larry Hama
Penciler: Randy Green
Inkers: John Holdredge with Hilary Barta
Letters: Richard Starkings and Comicraft
Colors: Dan Moreshead

Editor: Mark Powers
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras
Separations: Digital Chameleon

Plot

Charles Xavier is being held by Bastion at an Operation: Zero Tolerance facility. Bastion is eager to learn more about why Onslaught happened, though Henry Peter Gyrich is confused as to why Bastion treats the seemingly-helpless Xavier so poorly. When psychologist Ingrid Thysson, accompanied by government agent Daryll Smith, arrives to conduct a full psych evaluation of Xavier, the prisoner in the cell next to his "slides" through their shared wall. She is Nina, a young girl with massive powers she is able to use to at least partially keep Bastion at bay. When Thysson arrives to evaluate Xavier, Nina returns to her cell. As Xavier sows doubt in Thysson about the validity of her job, Gyrich and Bastion discuss Nina, and decide to have Smith execute her. Later, Nina enters Xavier's cell, and offers to restore his telepathy; he turns her down, so instead she creates a phone, which Xavier uses to contact Renee Majcomb. With Thysson's help, he orchestrates an escape for Nina. Though Xavier provides a distraction, Smith captures both Thysson and Nina; when Xavier sees the unconscious Thysson, he believes his attempt failed. However, when Thysson visits him again in a few days, he receives a call from Majcomb, who puts the freed Nina on the phone, who reveals that Smith in fact helped her escape. Xavier tells Nina to try and find, and help, others like her, and she promises to one day restore his telepathy. 

G. I. JOE: SPECIAL MISSIONS #28 - November 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)

  

"The final issue— and it's a space-race blockbuster! The new Joe Space Shuttle is put to a high orbit combat test by the ultimate Cobra weapon— the Cobra Condor!"

X-amining Tales From the Age of Apocalypse

"By the Light"

December 1996

In a Nutshell

Magneto's X-Men battle the Horseman of Death and his Inhumans!

Plot: Scott Lobdell

Script: Ralph Macchio
Penciler: Joe Bennett
Inkers: Joe Pimentel
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Gloria Vasquez

Separations: GSW

Editor: Mark Powers

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

With the help of the X-Men, Magneto is able to defeat Diablo and the Absorbing Man in order to liberate Robert Kelly from a prisoner of war camp. Later, Nightcrawler informs Magneto that Mystique has located where Apocalypse is hiding. Elsewhere, Sabretooth is tending to the recently rescued Blink, when Morph arrives and calls him to Magneto's emergency meeting. He reveals that Apocalypse is on the moon, and Blink will need to teleport them there. On the moon, Cyclops watches as the Horseman of Death tortures Sunfire. Cyclops remains disturbed by Death's actions and questions his loyalty to Apocalypse. Just then, Blink teleports the X-Men to the moon, just below the Celestial ship on which the X-Men believe Apocalypse to be recuperating. Death is aware of their arrival, however, and sends his Inhumans to attack. All the X-Men save Blink are captured. Death intends to use the Terrigen Mists to mutate the X-Men further and use them to overthrow Apocalypse. But Cyclops helps Blink teleport onto Ship where the X-Men are being held. He frees Sunfire, who kills Death, and then Blink teleports everyone away as Ship explodes. Back on Earth, Magneto and Rogue gaze up at the moon, and ponder whether Cyclops is truly their enemy, or an ally. 

X-amining Classic X-Men #16 - Patreon First

"Dearest Friend"

December 1987

In a Nutshell
Sean Cassidy meets Maeve Rourke, and begins to vie with this cousin Tom for her affections. 

Writer: Chris Claremont

Artist: John Bolton

Pencils: Kieron Dwyer (additional pages)

Inks: Terry Austin (additional pages)

Letters: Tom Orzechowski, Ken Lopez (additional pages)

Colors: Glynis Oliver, Petra Scotese (additional pages)

Editor: Ann Nocenti

Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot
Being chased by the Northern Irish police, Sean Cassidy is rescued by a mysterious biker wearing a helmet. When the police run them off the road, Sean uses his power to save them both in turn. He flies the biker to his home, where she is revealed to be a woman named Maeve Rourke, enraged at the loss of her bike. Sean invites her inside, where she meets his rakish cousin, Tom. Over the ensuing weeks, she becomes friends with the two men, and finds herself genuinely torn between which one she cares for more. She agrees to accompany Sean to a spring dance, but when he's run off the road by the police sergeant he escaped earlier, he asks Tom to take his place. Tom stays silent about the reason for Sean's absence at first, confident he can win over Maeve, but eventually tells her the truth to spare her sorrow over Sean's absence.  

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X-amining Excalibur #106

"A Portrait of the Artist"

February 1997

In a Nutshell

The Acolytes make Colossus an offer he easily refuses!

Writer: Ben Raab

Pencilers: Randy Green, Casey Jones, Rob Haynes, and Aaron Lopresti

Inkers: Martin, Rob Haynes, Ketcham, Pinnock, Simmons, Aaron Lopresti, Casey Jones

Letterer: Richard Starkings

Colorist: Ariane Lenshoek 

Editor: Matt Idelson

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

After finishing a painting Meggan intends to give to Brian as a wedding present, Colossus is contacted by Frenzy, one of Magneto's Acolytes. Having regrouped under Exodus' leadership following the fall of Avalon, the Acolytes want Colossus back in the fold. Learning the Acolytes are operating out of the X-Men's old base in the Outback, Colossus, Shadowcat, Wisdom, Nightcrawler and Wolfsbane travel there. Reaching the base, they find that only Colossus is able to enter. Inside, the Acolytes, including Frenzy, Unuscione and Scanner, urge him to rejoin the group and help bring about Exodus' vision for mutantkind's future. Colossus tells them he is done following the visions of others, and urges a wavering Scanner to leave with him. But the girl ultimately refuses, and Colossus is expelled from the base, with Unuscione warning him this was his only chance; when next they meet, the Acolytes won't be so cordial. Later on Muir Island, Colossus laments his failure to reach Scanner, in whom he sees a lot of himself. Wisdom points out that if someone as stubborn as Colossus can admit and learn from his mistakes, there's hope for anyone. 

X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 3x16 - Patreon First

"Cold Comfort"

Original Airdate

February 4, 1995

Writer

Len Uhley

Plot

When Professor X is alerted to a break-in at a government facility committed by Iceman, a former member of the X-Men, he joins the team in the field to apprehend him. At the government facility, the X-Men manage to capture Iceman and bring him back to the mansion. He tells Beast about how after he and girlfriend Polaris left the team following Polaris' injury, they tried to live normal lives, but as things got worse for mutants, Polaris wanted to do more to help . One day, Iceman came home and found their apartment ransacked and Polaris gone; he's been looking for her ever since. Overhearing this, Jubilee decides to free Iceman and together they return to the facility where the X-Men caught Iceman. The two are knocked out by X-Factor, and after they awaken and are joined by the rest of the X-Men, a confrontation breaks out between the X-Men and X-Factor. After the X-Men gain the upper hand by switching up their opponents, Forge and Polaris put an end to the fight. Forge explains that X-Factor is a recently formed government backed mutant team, and he'd hoped a little scuffle with the X-Men would be good training. Polaris explains to Iceman that she was recruited by Forge to join the group, and has since fallen in love with its leader, Havok. Having found Polaris, Professor X offers Iceman a place with the X-Men once more, but he declines, much to Jubilee's dismay. 

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X-amining Deadpool #2 - Patreon First!

"Operation: Rescue Weasel! (or: Operation: That Whacky Doctor’s Game!)"

February 1997

In a Nutshell

Deadpool battles Taskmaster in defense of Weasel!

Writer: Joe Kelly

Penciler: Ed McGuiness

Inkers: Nathan Massengill & Norman Lee

Letters: RS/Comicraft/DL

Colors: Chris Lichtner

Enhancement: Digital Chameleon

Editor: Matt Idelson

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras 

Plot

Deadpool watches a sleeping Siryn through a window at the X-Mansion, then teleports away, lamenting that his feelings for her aren't reciprocated. Meanwhile, Weasel is kidnapped. The next morning, Blind Al teases Deadpool about his unrequited love for Siryn. When he seeks out a more comforting ear in Weasel, he discovers his friend is missing. Thanks to a special homing beacon, he tracks Weasel to a training academy run by the super-villain instructor Taskmaster. Deadpool is captured and reunited with Weasel, who isn't being held captive: Taskmaster has offered him a job, and he's considering taking it. Hurt, Deadpool agrees to fight Taskmaster as part of a class, and is soundly between, thanks to Taskmaster having copied Deadpool's fighting moves. Deadpool counters by using techniques he's never used before, giving him the edge over Taskmaster and humiliating him in front of his students, who leave the school. Taskmaster swears revenge on Deadpool, and Deadpool gets Weasel to agree to come back to work with him in exchange for the benefits Taskmaster promised him. 

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X-amining Classic X-Men #15 - Patreon First

"Starjammers Aloft!"

December 1987

In a Nutshell

Corsair encounters the future Starjammers on a Shi'ar prison world. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Bolton, Chuck Patton (additional pages)

Inker: Terry Austin (additional pages)
Letters: Tom Orzechowski, Diana Albers (additional pages)

Colors: Petra Scotese, Glynis Wein (additional pages)

Editor: Ann Nocenti
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot

Christopher Summers is a broken man. Captured by the Shi'ar emperor in an attack that sent his sons plummeting to the Earth, only to watch his wife be slain by the emperor shortly thereafter, he has lived out his time since doing hard labor on a Shi'ar penal planet. He is so broken he doesn't even help when a cat-like woman is accosted by two guards. But when he's later questioned about the incident by two of the woman's friends and fellow prisoners, Ch'od and Raza, he finds a defiance within himself and decides to fight back. Using the fact that the guards consider him beneath their notice, he helps free the woman, and together, the foursome slay the guards who had taken her. The woman cautions that they'll continue to be hunted unless they can leave the planet, but for that, they'd need a pilot. Christopher tells them he's a pilot, and offers to join them, if they'll have him. The other three agree and ask his name; he responds that it is "Corsair".

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X-amining X-Force #63

"Wish You Were Here"

February 1997

In a Nutshell

X-Force is pulled into a conflict over the legacy of Doctor Doom!

Writer: John Francis Moore
Penciler: Anthony Castrillo
Inkers: Mark Morales with Chad Hunt
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Lee Ann Clark with GCW 
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Meltdown awakens in a strange town and eventually runs into its only other resident, a man named Dimitri Fortunov who has been in the town for a week. Meltdown thinks back to how she got there: X-Force had been tasked by Nathanial Richards to acquire Doctor Doom's time traveling technology before it fell into the wrong hands. After infiltrating his castle, X-Force was attacked by Doombots and in the ensuing fight, Meltdown was knocked out and woke up in her current situation. Dimitri explains that he is the heir to Latveria following Doom's death, at which point a looming image of Cable in the sky reveals the truth: they've had their consciousnesses transferred into miniature synthetic clones and placed in Doom's artificial miniature city of Liddleville. Outside the castle, Sunspot, Warpath and Caliban wait as backup with a tribe of Romani whom Cable knows. When a woman named Sofia touches Warpath, she faints. Inside the castle, Cable restores Meltdown and Dimitri's minds to their bodies, and they proceed to Doom's time platform, only to find GW Bridge and SHIELD waiting for them. SHIELD wants the tech for themselves, while Dimitri wants to use it for the benefit of Latveria. During the ensuing fight, Dimitri is knocked into the platform's control panel. Outside, Sofia's mother explains that Sofia has precognitive abilities, and something in Warpath's future scared her enough to knock her out. Just then, the group is stunned to realize Castle Doom has suddenly disappeared!