X-amining X-Men: Brood #1-2

"Day of Wrath"

September - October 1996

In a Nutshell

The X-Men defend Hannah Connover from assassins sent by the Brood Empress!

Writer: John Ostrander 
Penciler: Bryan Hitch, Bryan Hitch & Sal Velluto (issue #2)
Inker: Paul Neary, Neary, Anyd Lanning & Harry Candelario (issue #2)
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Joe Rosas

Separations: Malibu

Editor: Jaye Gardner

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Issue #1: Hannah Connover, wife of Reverend William Connover, suffers from nightmares in which the Brood Empress tells her to submit to the Brood Queen inside her, or be killed by the Empress' assassins. Hannah's mental anguish is sensed by Jean Grey, vacationing nearby. As she and Cyclops try to track down Hannah, Professor X assembles a group of X-Men to assist them. Meanwhile, Hannah grapples with her past actions, infecting various followers of her husband's mission with Brood eggs before her humanity re-asserted itself. As the Brood Empress' Firstborn assassins arrive on Earth and are greeted by Josey Thomas, the Brood who infected Hannah, Hannah heads into town with two of the followers she infected. Tracking her, the Firstborn and the X-Men collide, with the Firstborn killing Josey and Hannah's Brood. The X-Men manage to fight off the Firstborn and escape into the desert with Hannah, where she is joined by more of her followers. Though Wolverine insists Hannah needs to die to kill the Brood Queen inside her, the rest of the X-Men vow to defend her. Hannah, however, begs them to kill her. 

X-amining Ms. Marvel #15 - Patreon First

"The Shark Is a Very Deadly Beast"

March 1978

In a Nutshell

Ms. Marvel battles Tiger Shark 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Jim Mooney
Inker: Tony DeZuniga
Letters: Bruce Patterson
Colors: Phil Rachelson
Editor-in-Chief: Archie Goodwin

Plot

Returning from Boston, Ms. Marvel has a brief date with Michael Barnett, before returning to the office of Woman magazine. Meanwhile, Tiger Shark breaks free of his cell on Hydrobase. At Woman magazine, Carol learns about the break-in to her office when Jean DeWolff interviews Frank Gianelli. After DeWolff leaves, Carol calls Frank on the dodgy answers he provided; Frank admits that he knows the culprit - Ballard - to be a CIA operative, and wants to investigate further on his own. Carol gives him the go ahead. Elsewhere, Tiger Shark comes ashore, seeking out Namor's cousin, Namorita. A few blocks away, Carol checks out her new apartment, but is interrupted when the super-powered Wundarr crashes into her. She transforms into Ms. Marvel and attacks, but Wundarr turns out to be a friend of Namorita, who tried to stop Tiger Shark from abducting her. Desperate to save a helpless woman from Tiger Shark, Ms. Marvel chases after him and gains the upper hand, until he targets a pair of young bystanders, escaping while she saves their lives. Ms. Marvel then spots Tiger Shark entering the water with Namorita, and prepares to fight him on his ground, swearing that if he harms Namorita, she'll make him wish he'd never been born!

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G. I. JOE #51 - September 1986 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)

Swampfire changes color in bright sunlight

The Joes attack and Swampfire takes flight

Dreadnok Thunder Machine

Meanest machine you've ever seen!

Dreadnoks' Thunder Machine

is Joe's evil new foe

G.I. Joe a real American hero!

X-amining X-Force and Cable '96

"Transmission"/"Denouement (Tribute, Part 4)"

1996

In a Nutshell

X-Force battles Pulse, a cybernetic Kree refugee, before helping him evade the Shi'ar. 

Writer: John Francis Moore, Terry Kavanagh & Ben Raab (2nd Story)

Penciler: Luke Ross, Ed Benes (2nd Story)

Inkers: Rob Hunter & Matt Ryan, Joe Pimentel & Matt Ryan (2nd Story)

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colorist: Shannon Blanchard & Malibu Color, Mike Thomas (2nd Story)

Editor: Jaye Gardner

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Pulse, a cybernetic being composed of Shi'ar technology created by a rebellious faction of the Kree, flees the Shi'ar, ending up near Earth, where he covers his escape by destroying his ship. Meanwhile, Cable & Domino are overseeing a training session of X-Force in the Danger Room when the room suddenly goes haywire. Manifestations of Ultron, Deathlok and Warlock appear, each doing battle with X-Force. As Cable & Domino try to figure out what's wrong with the room, Deathbird contacts them, ordering them to help apprehend Pulse. Eventually, X-Force manages to break free of the room, at which point "Warlock" escapes. Upon seeing a surfboard near the boathouse, Warlock transforms into Pulse, his memory restored. He explains that he was drawn to the Shi'ar technology in the Danger Room, where he combed through the databanks for similarly-cybernetic beings as he tried to remember who he was. Just then, the Shi'ar forces arrive and demand Pulse. While Cable and the rest of the team stall, Siryn & Warpath help Pulse escape by beaming his mind off the planet, then feigning ignorance while turning over his robotic shell to the Shi'ar. Later, Pulse, reconstitutes a physical form aboard a passing ship, and continues his quest to find the Silver Surfer. 

X-amining Defenders #57 - Patreon First

"And Along Came...Ms. Marvel"

March 1978

In a Nutshell

Ms. Marvel teams up with the Defenders to rescue Michael Barnett from AIM! 

Plot: Gerry Conway

Plot: Gerry Conway

Guest Writer: Chris Claremont

Plot: Gerry Conway
Penciler: George Tuska & Dave Cockrum
Inker: Dan Gree
Letters: Gaspar Saladino & Peter Iro
Colors: Francoise Mouly
Editor-in-Chief: Archie Goodwin

Plot

In the past, Doctor Strange's Orb of Agamotto suddenly projects an image of Ms. Marvel, which sends Hulk into a rage, prompting Strange and Valkyrie to work in order to calm him down. The pair suggest the Defenders investigate the sudden appearance of Ms. Marvel, but they are soon drawn into other matters. In the present, Michael Barnett is captured by a hypnotist named Shaman. Meanwhile, Ms. Marvel, acting on a premonition from her seventh sense, seeks out the Defenders at Nightwing's apartment, where she meets him & Hellcat. Michael is taken by Shaman to agents of AIM, who seek to plumb his mind for information about Carol Danvers. Learning she fears an attack by the Hulk, AIM sets out to capture him using an advanced Warbot, attacking Hulk, Valkyrie, & Clea at Doctor Strange's home. Hulk is captured, but Nighthawk manages to get a tracer on the robot, and he alerts Ms. Marvel & Hellcat. The Defenders and Ms. Marvel track Hulk to AIM's base, where Ms. Marvel destroys the Warbot and the Defenders defeat the AIM agents, before Michael is freed from his hypnosis by Clea. 

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X-amining Wolverine '96

"The Last Ronin"

1996

In a Nutshell

Wolverine & Sunfire battle Red Ronin

Plot: Jeph Loeb (1st Story)

Script: Ralph Macchio, Joseph Kelly (2nd Story) 
Pencils: Ed McGuiness, Tommy Lee Edwards (2nd Story)
Inks: Nathan Massengill with Norman Lee, Rich Case (2nd Story)
Letters: RS & Comicraft, John Workman (2nd Story) 
Colors: Gloria Vasquez, Paul Becton (2nd Story)
Enhancements: Malibu
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

In Japan, Wolverine visits Mariko's grave. He is approached by Silver Samurai, who wants his help freeing Sunfire from government custody. Meanwhile, Bastion meets with Japanese officials, trying to get their support for his anti-mutant Zero Tolerance operation. General Hirito tells him Japan as its own anti-mutant weapon already: Red Ronin. As Hirito executes the seizure of Red Ronin from the Fujikawa Corporation, he is watched by Yukio. Later, Wolverine frees Sunfire, who is struggling to control his powers, and Silver Samurai tells the pair the Hand is plotting to take control of Red Ronin for themselves. Working together, they stop the Hand, but Hirito orders Red Ronin's controller to activate the robot. As Red Ronin charges into action, Sunfire manages to create an opening to allow Wolverine inside, where he damages enough critical systems to stop the robot. Sunfire, however, almost loses control of his powers, prompting Wolverine to take him to Canada, in the hopes that James & Heather Hudson can help him regain control. Meanwhile, Red Ronin's controller is executed by Hirito, on orders from his mysterious benefactor, the government still intent on using Red Ronin to take control of the mutant problem. 

X-amining Ms. Marvel #14 - Patreon First

"Fear Stalks Floor 40"

February 1978

In a Nutshell

Ms. Marvel fights to protect her father and win his respect

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Carmine Infantino 
Inker: Steve Leialoha
Letters: John Costanza
Colors: Janice Cohen
Editor-in-Chief: Archie Goodwin

Plot

Checking on her father Joe at his construction site, Ms. Marvel manages to save him when he's trapped in a cascade of falling girders. Once he's safely on the ground, she transforms into Carol and overhears Joe angrily accusing the site's owner, Maxwell Plumm, of skirting codes & using substandard material. Carol offers to help investigate & gather evidence on Plumm, but her father refuses, saying it's man's work. Meanwhile, at Woman magazine, Frank Gianelli chases out someone trying to burgle Carol's office. Back in Boston, Carol suddenly feels as though she's being followed, and transforms into Ms. Marvel before flying off, not realizing she barely missed an encounter with Dracula. Just then, she gets a flash of her seventh sense, showing her father being threatened by a villain named Steeplejack. The strength of the flash makes her realize the events are happening in the present, and she races to the construction site, where she once again saves her father and defeats Steeplejack, who turns out to be Maxwell Plumm. Joe remains cold to the idea of a female superhero, despite having his life saved by one twice. Carol's mother, however, who immediately recognizes Ms. Marvel as Carol, insists that Joe loves her, while Carol comes to accept that her father will likely never change, and she no longer really cares if he does.

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X-amining Onslaught

I have long been frustrated with the way Blogger presents older posts and limits page results (frankly, I've long been frustrated with a lot when it comes to Blogger, but who has the time or mental bandwidth to change to something else now?). In an effort to somewhat combat that, this is the first in what I hope will be numerous posts collecting links to all the reviews of a relevant storyline/run in one handy place, in order. I will then post a link to this post on the site's X-aminations page (where I currently have links to assorted runs and storylines, but which are presented in Blogger's stupid "newest first and then only some" model). 

First up, of course, is "Onslaught". I'll update this with the link to Onslaught: Epilogue, once I review it (it wasn't published until December of 1996, roughly three months after the story to which it is meant to serve as an epilogue ended, a testament to its role as more of an "Operation: Zero Tolerance" prelude than an "Onslaught" epilogue), but for now, here's a handy guide to reviews of every issue of the crossover for your reading pleasure (?). 

Onslaught: X-Men #1

Uncanny X-Men #335

Avengers #401

Fantastic Four #415

Cable #34

Incredible Hulk #444

Excalibur #100

Generation X #18

Wolverine #104

X-Factor #125

X-Man #18

X-Force #57

X-Men (vol. 2) #55

Uncanny X-Men #336

X-Factor #126

Onslaught Tie-Ins Part 1

Cable #35

X-Force #58

X-Man #19

Generation X #19

Wolverine #105

X-Men Unlimited #12

Onslaught Tie-Ins Part 2

X-Men (vol. 2) #56

Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1

Cable #36
Uncanny X-Men #337
X-Men (vol. 2) #57

The Road to Onslaught one-shot
Onslaught Action Figures
Marvel Ultra Onslaught Trading Cards

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Unstacking the Deck: Marvel Ultra Onslaught

Fleer Skybox 1996

Vital Statistics

100 cards, plus a three card promo set (featuring Heroes Reborn Captain America, Mr. Fantastic and Iron Man), a four card Autographs chase set, a three card "Mirage" chase set featuring lenticular cards, and four exclusive Overpower hero cards and nine exclusive Overpower mission cards. 

Categorically Speaking

The majority of these cards are standard hero/villain portraits, with the standard 100th card checklist, plus twelve cards smack in the middle of the set that summarize the plot of "Onslaught" (these basically functions as an additional category but are not labeled as such). 

Firsts and Other Notables

"Marvel Ultra Onslaught" functions, essentially, as a trading card set featuring the major players in the "Onslaught" crossover. Each card front image is full bleed (no borders) and enhanced with CGI coloring/effects. Card backs list the character's real name, team affiliation and power, with brief biographical information about the character written either from the perspective of Professor X or Onslaught, along with information about the artists who worked on the card. 

X-amining Ms. Marvel #13 - Patreon First

"Homecoming!"

January 1978

In a Nutshell

Carol Danvers visits her parents and battles Golden Blade & Sapper. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Jim Mooney
Inker: Joe Sinnott
Letters: Gaspar Saladino & Peter Iro
Colors: Francise Mouly
Editor-in-Chief: Archie Goodwin

Plot

Carol Danvers, along with Michael Barnett, visit her parents in Boston. In the wake of her recent encounter with Hecate and the Silver Scarab, Carol is now in full control of her transformations into Ms. Marvel, able to shift between the identities at will, and feeling more like herself than ever. Later, Carol & Michael attend a ball held on the deck of the USS Constitution, anchored at the Portsmouth Naval shipyard, in honor of a visit by the nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Halsey. When two alien robots - Sapper and Golden Blade - attack the Halsey, trying to absorb the radiation from its nuclear reactor, Carol springs into action as Ms. Marvel. Sapper tries to absorb Ms. Marvel's energy, but when she manages to damage Golden Blade, he orders a retreat. The two robots flee, but Carol suspects she hasn't seen the last of them. 

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X-amining X-Men Action Figures: Onslaught

Year of Release 

1996

Roll Call

Apocalypse (aka "Apocalypse Rising"), Jean Grey, Onslaught, Wolverine (aka "Wolverine Unleashed")

Firsts and Other Notables

"Onslaught" gets its own line of action figures, the second comic book-specific story to inspire its own line of figures (following after the "Age of Apocalypse" figures, as well as the animated series-inspired "Phoenix Saga" figures). These figures are on the whole larger in size than previous ones (both in height and overall girth) and most come with a smaller, less poseable, second figure: Franklin Richards with Wolverine, Ozymandias with Apocalypse, and Jean Grey with a small Juggernaut trapped inside the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. 

Rather than a second figure, Onslaught comes with additional snap-on armor pieces that mimic his transformation from his original Magneto-inspired form to the more monstrous form he assumes in Uncanny X-Men #336.