X-amining Wolverine #106

"Openings and Closures"

October 1996

In a Nutshell

Wolverine and Elektra visit Silver Fox's grave and Elektra's childhood home.

Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Val Semeiks
Inks: Chad Hunt & Al Milgrom
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft's Kolja Fuchs 
Colors: Derek Bellman & Malibu's Hues
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot
Traveling through the Canadian Rockies, Wolverine & Elektra are surrounded by wolves, but Wolverine wins them to their side by sharing their food stores. Later, the pair arrives at the cabin Wolverine once shared with Silver Fox, and visits her grave. Later, Wolverine accompanies Elektra home to Greece. There, he meets Stavros, who recalls having served with a Canadian corporal during World War II. Stavros and the rest of the staff tell Elektra they have located Sawyer, the last of the men involved in the murder of her father, but Elektra insists it is time to move past vengeance. That evening, Stavros and his associates free the captive Sawyer in response to Elektra's wishes. As he rushes away to alert the police, a waiting Wolverine confronts him and scares him into staying quiet. Wolverine then covers for Stavros with Elektra, having been the Canadian corporal who fought with Stavros during the war. 

X-amining Generation X #20

"Bodies in Motion"

October 1996

In a Nutshell

Banshee throws a barbecue to help the kids deal with recent events. 

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Penciler: Chris Bachalo
Inker: Mark Buckingham
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Steve Buccellato

Enhancements: Malibu
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

Bastion watches footage of Generation X's encounter with Emplate at Logan airport, ordering his assistant Daria to find everything she can on Chamber. Meanwhile, Banshee throws a barbecue in the Danger Grotto to lift everyone's spirits. During the party, Emma is visited by Nightmare and Banshee receives a call from Chamber and Skin, still on their way to California. Later, Penance joins the group and Emma helps Monet deal with the recent revelation of her relationship to Emplate. Just then, Nathanial Richards arrives with this grandson Franklin. In Boston, would-be handyman Chevy is urged to go back to Xavier's School, while in California, Chamber & Skin find a willing driver. At Xavier's School, Nathanial agrees to leave Franklin at the school, where he can learn how to handle his powers in light of his parent's recent death. Franklin quickly joins Artie & Leech in play, and the trio encounter a mysterious figure near their treehouse. Elsewhere, Bastion learns Chamber flew to Boston on a ticket purchased by Frost Enterprises, and orders an investigation into the company. In California, Chamber & Skin learn they've been picked up by known other than Howard the Duck. 

X-amining Ms. Marvel #19 - Patreon First!

"Mirror, Mirror!"

August 1978

In a Nutshell

Ms. Marvel & Captain Marvel team-up to battle Ronan the Accuser! 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Carmine Infantino 
Inker: Bob McLeod
Letters: Joe Rosen
Colors: Janice Cohen
Editors: Roger Stern & Jim Salicrup

Plot

In Texas, Ronan the Accuser targets a pair of Kree who are trying to lead new lives on Earth. He then proceeds to New York, where he attacks Carol Danvers. She transforms into Ms. Marvel, but is overpowered by Ronan. Just then, Captain Marvel arrives, having sensed Ronan's arrival on Earth. They fight, but Captain Marvel's surprise at finding Carol Danvers in a uniform similar to his allows Ronan to gain the upper hand, knocking them both out. Aboard his ship and under the supervision of the Kree Supreme Intelligence, Ronan probes Carol's mind, learning about her past and the events which led to her creation as Ms. Marvel. Though the Supreme Intelligence wants to use Carol's unique fusion of human & Kree DNA to his own ends, she manages to break free & release Captain Marvel. Together, the pair escape from Ronan's ship and later, reconcile, agreeing to remain friends before parting. 

What to read the rest before everyone else? Become a patron via Patreon!

Become a Patron!

Blind Cerulean: Brisk, Brutal, & Coming Soon

Gene Kendall here, appropriating a blog post like some hog and announcing the release of my new novel, Blind Cerulean. In recent years, I’ve written about a fictional ’90s post-Nirvana alt-rock band, a politically incorrect cartoonist who accidently brings a supervillain into reality, and a paranormal investigator/crappy husband who finds himself trapped in a corner of the afterlife with a coven of horny ghosts. It’s only natural that my next novel would feature a teenage vigilante determined to bring down a corpulent drug kingpin. Clearly, there’s a logical progression here.

X-amining X-Man #20

"The Mourning After"

October 1996

In a Nutshell
Nate battles the Abomination to rescue Threnody

Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Penciler: Steve Skroce
Inker: Bud LaRosa
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Dana Morehead
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

Telepathically searching New York City for Threnody, Nate Grey discovers her a captive of the Abomination, leader of the Forgotten, a group of sewer-dwelling people no longer welcomed by society, to which she formerly belonged. Nate intervenes, getting into a fight with the hulking Abomination. Reading the Abomination's mind, he realizes that he and the Abomination view Threnody differently, and proceeds to create a telepathic illusion in Abomination's mind of successfully beating Nate rather than fight him. As Abomination walks off, Nate explains to Threnody what he did, saying he's learning not to fight the fights he doesn't have to. Meanwhile, Selene is flying back to Manhattan, accompanied by Trevor Fitzroy & Madelyne Pryor, with her sights set on Sebastian Shaw. 

X-amining X-Force #59

"Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?"

October 1996

In a Nutshell

X-Force launches an investigation into Shatterstar's origins

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Penciler: Anthony Casrtrillo
Inker: Bud LaRosa
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Marie Javins
Confused by it all: Bob Harras

Plot

With Shatterstar growing increasingly more unsure of his true identity - Mojoworld warrior bred or comatose mental patient Benjamin Russell - Cable interrogates him hard, psychologically & telepathically, to find the truth, much to the dismay of the rest of the team. As Rictor returns in Shatterstar's hour of need, the team sets out to find clues to his identity. Cable meets with Detective Charlotte Jones, only to learn that Benjamin Russell's file - as well as all the files on X-Force - have gone missing. Similarly, when the team investigates the Weissman Institute, they find it seemingly long-abandoned. Just then, the group is attacked by bounty hunters from Mojoworld, Gog and Magog, who teleport away with Shatterstar. But Cable manages to leap into their teleportation field and follow them, leaving the rest of the team behind on their crashing ship. Luckily, they land safely, thanks to the presence in the pilot's seat of none of other than Longshot! 

X-amining Ms. Marvel #18 - Patreon First!

"The St. Valentine's Day/Avengers Massacre"

June 1978

In a Nutshell

Ms. Marvel teams up with the Avengers to battle Cenurion!

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Jim Mooney
Inker: Ricardo Villamonte 
Letters: Denise Wohl 
Colors: Phil Rache
Editor-in-Chief: Archie Goodwin

Plot

Hit by Centurion's blast, Ms. Marvel crashes into a building, attracting the attention of Wasp & Scarlet Witch. They intervene, preventing Centurion from killing Ms. Marvel. When he fights them off, they call the rest of the Avengers for backup. Centurion holds his own against the Avengers, but their attack gives Ms. Marvel time to transform into Carol Danvers, at which point Centurion seems to lose track of her. Meanwhile, Raven Darkholme is contacted by her superior and told to end her assault on Ms. Marvel, as it's attracting too much attention. Meanwhile, on Kree-lar, Bun-dall and Phae-Dor discuss whether or not the Supreme Intelligence has returned. Back on Earth, Ms. Marvel, wearing a new costume to disable Centurion's tracking abilities, rejoins the Avengers' attack on Centurion. She leads him to a power plant where she creates a giant electromagnet which disables Centurion's computer, making him vulnerable & allowing Ms. Marvel to knock him out. She and the Avengers unmask him to reveal Ballard; knowing he's been stalking her & Carol Danvers for months, Ms. Marvel worries that despite her victory, a nasty war has just begun. 

What to read the rest before everyone else? Become a patron via Patreon!

Become a Patron!

X-amining X-Factor #127

"Darker Destiny"

October 1996

In a Nutshell

X-Factor is interrogated while Mystique tracks down the attackers of a young mutant. 

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

Enhancements: Malibu
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

In Washington DC, young Trevor Chase, a friend of Raven Darkholme, is chased & severely beaten by members of the Friends of Humanity. Later, X-Factor is brought to a secret government facility to be interrogated, though Mystique, having learned of the attack on Trevor, escapes. Bastion questions the rest of X-Factor individually; each is asked about Shard, but everyone denies knowing anything about her. Meanwhile, Mystique visits Trevor in the hospital, disguised as a doctor, then gets the files on Trevor's case from the police while disguised as an assistant. She proceeds to run down the members of the Friends of Humanity, and scares them into confessing who ordered them to attack Trevor. As Forge is being interrogated, Val comes to get him, telling him Mystique is loose. He tracks her implant to Trevor's hospital bed, where she agrees to quietly return with him to X-Factor, but as she leaves, she sees Graydon Creed on TV, and promises that she's coming for him. 

X-amining Excalibur #102

"After the Bomb"

October 1996

In a Nutshell

Excalibur deals with the fallout of Onslaught

Writer: Warren Ellis

Artist: Casey Jones & Rob Haynes

Inkers: Scott Koblish, Jason Martin

Letterer: Comicraft 

Colorist: Ariane Lenshoek 

Editor: Suzanne Gaffney

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Amidst news reports of the deaths of the Avengers and Fantastic Four in New York, Nightcrawler & Moira mourn their passing, Meanwhile, Kitty & Pete Wisdom have breakfast on the mainland, discussing the situation in the states and how the British Prime Minister is looking more favorably on Excalibur than the view of mutants held by the Americans. Meanwhile, Brian reminiscences about fighting alongside Captain America. Outside, Moira, Nightcrawler & Douglock oversee the transfer of Muir Island's prisoners to the new British intelligence agency. In Germany, Amanda Sefton, Colossus, and Wolfsbane return to Amanda's childhood home in search of her mother, Margali, but depart when their search comes up empty. As Kitty and Wisdom finish their breakfast, they are accosted by US government agents, sent to warn Kitty that she and her American teammates in Excalibur are no longer welcome in the US. Wisdom & Kitty respond by thoroughly beating them up, then including their bound-and-gagged leader in the prisoner transfer, sending along instructions to mail him back to America. Later, Excalibur receives word that Professor X is to be arrested by X-Factor, though Wisdom notes at least that means he's alive, then proceeds to lead the group out to the local pub. 

X-amining Ms. Marvel #17 - Patreon First

"Shadow of the Gun"

May 1978

In a Nutshell

Ms. Marvel struggles with repeated visions of her impending death. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Jim Mooney
Inker: Tony DeZuniga 
Letters: John Costanza 
Colors: Janice Cohen
Editor-in-Chief: Archie Goodwin

Plot

After experiencing a series of vivid premonitions of her death brought on by her seventh sense, Carol has grown increasing distraught and stressed out. Combined with a heavier than normal workload at Woman magazine, her co-workers are starting to notice, and Frank Gianelli comes up with a plan to break her out of her funk. Meanwhile, Ballard and a woman named Raven, who has assumed the form of SHIELD director Nicky Fury, infiltrate the Helicarrier to retrieve a weapon Raven believes capable of destroying Ms. Marvel. Later, as Carol approaches the offices of Woman magazine, she is hit by snowballs thrown by Frank Gianelli, the beginning an office-wide snowball fight he's organized to lift her spirits. He succeeds, and they pair end up embracing, before Carol pushes him away, saying she needs a change of clothes. Transforming into Ms. Marvel, she flies off towards her apartment, at which point, she is blasted out of the sky by someone wielding the weapon which killed her in her visions. 

What to read the rest before everyone else? Become a patron via Patreon!

Become a Patron!

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

"Dreams of Darkest Destiny" / "The Destine's Darkest Dreams" 

October - November 1996

In a Nutshell

The X-Men meet ClanDestine

Writer/Penciler: Alan Davis
Inkers: Mark Farmer
Letters: Pat Prentice
Colors: Rosas & Laughlin
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Issue #1: Xavier has a dream which he realizes is a memory, of helping two mysterious women repel an invasion by a demon named Synraith. As the original X-Men head into town, leaving Xavier to ponder this newfound memory, one of the women, Gracie Gamble, learns of Synraith's imminent return. She casts a spell to try and stop it, but instead, the spell splits and causes unforeseen happenings in two locations: the Xavier Institute, and Ravenscroft, home of Gracie's superpowered family, the clan Destine. There, Adam Destine and Kay, the other woman from Xavier's memory, are pulled into a portal, which the rest of ClanDestine traces to the X-Mansion. Meanwhile, when the Danger Room starts to act funny during a training session between Wolverine, Storm & Cannonball, Forge & Colossus are called in to help investigate. Just then, another rift opens, pulling in Xavier & Colossus. The X-Men debate going through the portal after them, but pull up short as it appears something else is coming through. 

X-amining Ms. Marvel #16 - Patreon First

"The Deep Deadly Silence!"

April 1978

In a Nutshell

Ms. Marvel fights Tiger Shark in the ocean depths. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Jim Mooney
Inker: Frank Springer
Letters: Gaspar Saladino & Rick Parker 
Colors: Janice Cohen
Editor-in-Chief: Archie Goodwin

Plot

Ms. Marvel breaks into Avengers Mansion, desperate to find the necessary scientific resources to give her the ability to fight Tiger Shark underwater. She briefly tussles with Beast and Scarlet Witch, but once she explains her situation, they give her access to the equipment she needs. After devising a method to both track Tiger Shark and breathe underwater, Ms. Marvel flies off. As she heads out over the bay, she is watched from afar by a sinister figure. Diving underwater, she tracks Tiger Shark to an sunken battleship, where he is holding the captive Namorita. Tiger Shark's raw strength overpowers Ms. Marvel, and when he hurls the battleship's missiles at her, she swims off to regroup. Drawing the attention of a giant squid, she fights it off, then is attacked by Tiger Shark. Taking advantage of his poor fighting skills, she gets close enough to knock him unconscious just as her ability breathe underwater wears off. She passes out, only to wake up aboard an Atlantean ship. Namorita explains that as Ms. Marvel fought Tiger Shark, Namorita was able to escape and summon help. Ms. Marvel is grateful, as the Atlanteans take Tiger Shark into their custody. 

What to read the rest before everyone else? Become a patron via Patreon!

Become a Patron!