X-amining X-Men 2099 #6

"Freakshow"
March 1994

In a Nutshell
The X-Men battle the Freakshow

Writer: John Francis Moore
Penciler: Ron Lim
Inker: James Sanders III
Letterer: Ken Lopez
Colorist: Tom Smith
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot
As Meanstreak, Krystalin, Bloodhawk & Fitz fly back from New York, Bloodhawk once more bids adieu to the team and flies off, followed shortly thereafter by Fitz, who recklessly jumps out of the craft after Bloodhawk. Disgruntled, Bloodhawk gets him safely to the ground, albeit in the desert still miles away from the rest of the X-Men. Eventually, Fitz comes across a meditating Xi'an, and together, they return to the X-Men's camp. There, the X-Men intercept a transmission from someone calling herself Mama Hurricane. Xi'an hopes this is the same Mama Hurricane who helped mutants during the Great Purge, as she may be able to help him find more mutants. After he dispatches Krystalin on a separate mission, he and the rest of the X-Men track Hurricane's signal to an abandoned town in Arizona. There, they encounter the Freakshow, a group of genetically modified Degens. When Xi'an asks after Mama Hurricane, a fight breaks out, during which Metalhead is infected with a disease by Freakshow member Contagion, prompting Xi'an to confront Breakdown, the Freakshow's leader, and remove the glove from his "destruction" hand.

Firsts and Other Notables
This issue introduces the Freakshow, a group of "Degens" (essentially corporately-created, genetically-engineered mutants) operating out of a town in Arizona. Here, they are presented as antagonists of the X-Men, but they will quickly transition to grudging allies over the next few issues.

The X-Men encounter the Freakshow trying to locate Mama Hurricane, a woman who, according to Xi'an, helped run an Underground Railroad for mutants during the Great Purge. It is unknown at this time if the Mama Hurricane whose broadcast the X-Men intercept in this issue is the same one who helped during the purge, but regardless, Xi'an is hoping she can help connect him other communities of mutants so that he can bring together the scattered mutants and rebuild a mutant nation.

Metalhead is infected by Freakshow member Contagion in this issue; this will lead to a transformation in his physical appearance over the next few issues.

A Work in Progress
Bloodhawk is once again invited to join the X-Men, and once again he declines.

Exhibiting a newfound recklessness that Krystalin attributes to his encounter with Lunatica in issue #4, Fitz dives out of the flying craft after Bloodhawk.

Xi’an experiences a vision in which he is attacked by his darker, more violent past self.

It’s also established that, while with the Lawless, Xi’an had a vision of the future and the X-Men he would lead.

In the Year 2099
Cartoons are called “vidtoons” in the future, because even in 1993, it was difficult to image a non-video based form of entertainment.

Metalhead references a series of Civil Wars that split the United States, one of the few "future history" bits that seems more likely to happen now than in '93...

Austin's Analysis
Six issues in, and this one finally presents an idea for what the overall goal of Xi'an and his X-Men is: to seek out and bring together the remaining mutants scattered in the wake of the Great Purge. It's not quite as snappy as "sworn to protect a world that fear and hates them" or as far reaching and high-minded as "dedicated to the peaceful coexistence of man and mutant", but it's something, and long overdue. 

Meanwhile, Moore keeps things humming along on other fronts. The continued development of Fitz's recklessness gives the series an additional overarching character subplot to follow, along with Xi'an's struggle with his darker side, while the Freakshow presents the first opportunity for the X-Men to face off against another team of super-powered individuals (as opposed to when the subgroup of X-Men battled Lunatica in issue #4). There's even the start of a running gag of sorts, with Bloodhawk rejecting membership in the X-Men for the second time (despite having once again helped out the team). All in all, this is a strong turn for the series coming out of the "Fall of the Hammer" diversion, one which seems to finally be giving the series a sense of direction & theme along with some ongoing character-based subplots.

Next Issue
The Freakshow/X-Men skirmish turns into a Misunderstanding Fight!

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