X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 3x04 - Patreon First!

"The Phoenix Saga Part II: The Dark Shroud"

Original Airdate

September 6, 1994

Writer: Mark Edward Edens 

Plot

Jean manages to pilot the space shuttle back to Earth, crashing it into the East River. As the X-Men search desperately in the water for Jean, she suddenly emerges, declares herself to be Phoenix, then falls back into the water, unconscious. Later, Jean awakens in the hospital with no memory of the crash. After Beast interrupts an argument between Cyclops and Professor X over who is responsible for Jean's condition, Xavier attempts to return to the mansion, but is hit once again by the strange psychic energy plaguing him, which knocks him out and causes a sinister looking astral projection of himself to emerge. This "Dark Xavier" proceeds to taunt Wolverine with mental illusions, nearly killing him, before doing the same to Gambit and Jubilee, triggering a fight which draws the attention of the police, requiring Storm to intervene to allow the X-Men to escape. Dark Xavier proceeds to the hospital and attacks Scott and Jean, but Jean is able to sense him. Firing a bolt of psychic energy, she destroys Dark Xavier. The real Xavier awakens, and realizes the psychic probe knocked down his mental defenses, allowing his repressed dark side to emerge. While being unknowingly watched by Erik the Red, Xavier decides to visit Muir Island for additional treatment. There, he meets Moira MacTaggert's fiancé, Sean Cassidy. Shortly thereafter, the psychic probe returns, followed by the arrival of an alien woman named Lilandra, who has crossed space for Xavier's help in stopping her mad brother from destroying both of their galaxies. Just then, Juggernaut bursts into the room, announcing he's been hired to kill Lilandra! 

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X-amining Rise of Apocalypse #1-4

"Hammer and Chisel" / "Blood of the Father" / "Face of the Gods" / "First Culling"

October 1996 - January 1997

In a Nutshell

The origin of Apocalypse, as he rises to power to challenge the pharaoh Rama-Tut!

Writer: Terry Kavanagh, with James Felder (issues #2-4) 
Penciler: Adam Pollina, Anthony Williams (with Pollina in issue #4)
Inkers: Mark Morales & Harry Candelario (issue #1), Morales (issues #2-3), Morales and Al Milgrom (issue #4)
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Chris Lichtner

Enhancements: Malibu

Editor: Mark Powers
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

When a gray-skinned baby with facial disfigurations is left for dead by an Egyptian tribe named Akkaba, he is saved by Baal, leader of a tribe of nomads called Sandstormers, who believes the child to be destined for greatness. Two decades later, when pharaoh Rama-Tut learns of the existence of the now grown child, En Sabah Nur, he dispatches his vizier Logos and top general Ozymandias to capture him, believing him to be destined for power and wanting him as his heir. As pharaoh's forces clash with the Sandstormers, Baal takes his son into the crashed spaceship from which Baal rescued the time-traveling Rama-Tut when he first arrived in Egypt; when Baal dies, En Sabah Nur claims the technology in the ship for himself. Meanwhile, Ozymandias returns a conquering hero, though Rama-Tut is upset he didn't capture En Sabah Nur and announces his intention to take Ozymandias' sister Nephri as his bride. Seeking revenge, En Sabah Nur travel's to Rama-Tut's city. Disguised as a slave, he gets caught in the power struggle between Logos and Ozymandias just as the time-traveling Fantastic Four arrive in Rama-Tut's court. Rescued by Nephri, he falls in love with the woman, but when she rejects him due to his appearance, his mutant powers activate, and he uses Rama-Tut's technology to transfigure and enslave Ozymandias. As Rama-Tut flees Egypt in the wake of his encounter with the Fantastic Four, En Sabah Nur christens himself Apocalypse, and sets out to destroy the weak! 

X-amining Classic X-Men #4 - Patreon First!

"The Big Dare"

December 1986

In a Nutshell

Wolverine dares Nightcrawler to walk through Salem Center without using his image inducer.

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Bolton
Letters: Tom Orzechowski 

Colors: Glynis Oliver

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

Plot
After a workout in the woods in which the loser is forced to buy the beer, Wolverine takes Nightcrawler into Salem Center, with Nightcrawler using an image inducer to mask his natural demonic look. After a few beers at Harry's Hideout, Wolverine dares Nightcrawler to walk through the town without the image inducer, believing Nightcrawler is ashamed of his true appearance. Remembering the mob that was chasing him when Professor X recruited him to join the X-Men, Nightcrawler is shocked by response he gets: Harry seems nonplussed, another townsperson assumes he's wearing some kind of makeup, a pair of kids waiting to see Star Wars excitedly think he's alien. When a few townspeople mock him for his accent and realize he's not wearing a mask, things threaten to turn violent and Wolverine prepares to intervene, but Nightcrawler simply teleports Wolverine and himself away. On a nearby rooftop, Nightcrawler thanks Wolverine for challenging him. 

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X-amining Wolverine #109

[Untitled]

January 1997

In a Nutshell

Wolverine storms Akatora's island to rescue Yukio and Amiko. 

Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Anthony Winn
Inks: Dan Green
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot
Wolverine watches as the Cyber-Ninjas hassle the Noodle Vendor, but only agrees to help him after the Noodle Vendor agrees to give him Amiko and Yukio's location. Meanwhile, Akatora's attempts to brainwash Amiko continue, and the girl is convinced the dragon who killed her mother was Wolverine in disguise. Enraged, she is given a dagger laced with blowfish toxin secreted inside a doll. Shortly thereafter, Wolverine, Pale Flower, Yohei, and a reluctant Noodle Vendor charter a ferry and attack Akatora on his island. He is in the midst of filming a monster movie, but all of his actors are ninjas who attack Wolverine. However, Wolverine's allies manage to rescue Yukio and Amiko, and Wolverine defeats Akatora. However, he taunts Wolverine that one of his allies is a sleeper agent. Smelling the blowfish toxin on Yohei's blade, Wolverine quickly kills him, but Akatora escapes in the confusion. Wolverine then departs the island, unaware that Amiko has been turned against him. 

X-amining X-Men (vol. 2) #60

"Night"

January 1997

In a Nutshell

Storm returns to Egypt to battle Candra

Story: Scott Lobdell

Script: Ralph Macchio
Guest Pencils: Cedric Nocon
Guest Inks: Chad Hunt
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Joe Rosas

Enhancements: Graphic Colorworks
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

Storm is attacked in her attic room by Cyclops, but she quickly realizes he is being possessed by Candra, who says she wants something Storm stole from her before releasing him. Storm tells Cyclops of the time when, as a child thief, she stole a gem which her mentor, Achmed El-Gibrar, later told her was the heart-stone of Candra, housing her soul. She then leaves to confront Candra. Meanwhile, Jean and Cannonball meet in Washington DC and discuss the recent assassination of presidential candidate Graydon Creed. In New York, Storm arrives at a museum housing a replica of an Egyptian temple. Candra emerges, holding hostage Karima, the young girl who took over from El-Gibrar. She also reveals it was Jamil, another former student of El-Gibrar who joined Candra's side, who discovered Storm possessed the heart-stone. Jamil uses his mental powers on Storm, distracting her long enough for him to obtain the gem, at which point he reveals himself to be the Shadow King!

X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 3x03 - Patreon First!

"The Phoenix Saga Part 1: Sacrifice"

Original Airdate

September 5th, 1994

Writer

Michael Edens 

Plot

After recurring dreams of a starship battles being waged in space, Professor X summons the X-Men and orders them, on the strength of his intuition alone, to board a space shuttle bound for the Starcore One space station. With Jean's help, they telepathically pose as the crew of astronaut scientist Dr. Peter Corbeau, and board the shuttle. When they arrive at StarCore, the X-Men discover the space station has been captured by the alien Erik the Red, who knocks them out with gas. On orders from his emperor, D'Ken, he attempts to throw the X-Men out an airlock, but Jean saves them. As they fight back, Erik reveals that the station is monitoring a wormhole through which the rebel Lilandra is set to emerge. When she does, D'Ken fires on her ship using the station's weapons, but the X-Men manage to damage it enough to save Lilandra, though at the cost of the station's integrity. As they flee the exploding station in the shuttle, it becomes clear the shuttle will have to travel through the contrail of Lilandra's damaged ship; the resultant radiation will kill anyone not sealed in the shuttle's solar probe. With the auto-pilot damaged, Jean acts swiftly, telepathically learning how to fly the shuttle from Corbeau then directing the X-Men into the probe, knocking out Cyclops when he objects. With her teammates safe, Jean takes the shuttle through the radiation, crying out in pain as the image of a fiery bird appears before her. 

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X-amining X-Man #23

"Crash Course"

January 1997

In a Nutshell

Nate Grey is visited by Bishop and Rogue. 

Writer: Terry Kavanagh
Penciler: Roger Cruz  & Manny Clark
Inker: Bud LaRosa
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Mike Thomas
Editor: Jaye Gardner

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

As questions continue to swirl about Threnody's true loyalties to Mister Sinister, she leaves the apartment she shares with Nate to get some space, leaving a distraught Nate to miss Bishop approaching the apartment. Meanwhile, vying for the position of Black Rook of the Hellfire Club, Madelyne Pryor battles Sebastian Shaw's candidate, Scribe, ultimately defeating her and revealing Mountjoy to have take control of her body, thereby earning Madelyne the title. Back at Nate's apartment, Bishop wakes Nate, who lashes out at him telekinetically, an attack Bishop is able to redirect. They tussle, eventually spilling out of the apartment where Rogue intervenes, calming things down when she explains Bishop - who experienced Nate's home reality - was simply worried about him, prompting the pair to check on him. Though Nate remains distrustful, Rogue reminds him that he doesn't need to be so wary of all the X-Men. Rogue and Bishop depart, and Nate returns to his apartment, only to suddenly find himself in a changed world. 

X-amining Uncanny X-Men #340

"Relativity"

January 1997

In a Nutshell

Iceman deals with the aftermath of an attack on his father

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

Plot

Storm and Gambit arrive at the hospital where Iceman is at his father's bedside; he reveals that his father was attacked and beaten by Graydon Creed's men in retaliation for speaking out in favor of mutants. Meanwhile, Cannonball remains undercover in Creed's campaign, and is invited to meet with Creed. On the roof of the hospital, Iceman details how Creed staged the reveal of Iceman's beaten father, making it clear he knew about their relationship, but also that Iceman's father assured him he didn't out his son. Iceman struggles to understand why his father - who has no love for mutants - risked himself like that. Storm suggests it was the love of a father for his son. At Creed's campaign headquarters, Creed asks Cannonball about his father, and Cannonball pushes back, indirectly needling Creed about his relationship with Sabretooth. Outside the hospital, a group of Creed's men, registering mutants inside, prepare to attack, but Wolverine stops them before they start anything. Iceman decides to leave the X-Men for awhile, in order to help care for his father, while Cannonball has a clandestine telepathic meeting with Jean and insists on staying inside Creed's campaign despite the danger. At the hospital, a sorrowful Iceman tells his father he loves him. 

X-amining Classic X-Men #3 - Patreon First!

"Mourning"

November 1986

In a Nutshell

The X-Men return Thunderbird home to lay him to rest. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Bolton
Letters: Tom Orzechowski  

Colors: Glynis Oliver 

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

Plot
Following Thunderbird's death, the X-Men, as well as Jean Grey, accompany his body back to New Mexico for his funeral. When his body suddenly disappears, Thunderbird's parents strangely ask the X-Men to leave it be, but they insist on investigating. As they search, the X-Men reflect on their brief relationships with Thunderbird. Eventually, Wolverine tracks the body to the mountains, where he oversees Thunderbird's younger brother James giving him a warrior's funeral. He also discovers a box left by Thunderbird containing medals and a picture of him alongside fellow soldiers in Vietnam, and Wolverine realizes his experiences in war likely made him the angry, bitter person Wolverine knew. He then rejoins his teammates and the X-Men return home. Later, at Thunderbird's gravesite, James swears vengeance on Xavier, declaring it will be another Thunderbird who will claim Xavier's life as payment for the death of the first Thunderbird. 

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X-amining X-Men '96 #1

"One Day at the Mansion"

1996

In a Nutshell

The X-Men, X-Force and Generation X gather at the mansion for a barbecue. 

Writer: Larry Hama
Pencils: Roberto Flores & Anthony Castrillo
Inks: Nathan Massengill & Al Milgrom
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Paul Becton

Enhancements: Malibu
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot
In the wake of Onslaught's defeat, the X-Men, X-Force and Generation X gather at the mansion for a day of rest and relaxation. After an intra-team baseball game, a Sentinel suddenly lands on the mansion grounds. The combined heroes attack, but the Sentinel reveals it gained sentience during Onslaught's attack and decided to warn the X-Men. It then succumbs to the damage inflicted by the X-teams, with Jubilee holding its finger as it dies. Later, the Summers family hosts a barbecue as the teams gather for a group picture, followed by fireworks compliments of Sunspot, Cannonball, Jubilee and Meltdown. Afterwards, Phoenix and Cable telepathically meld everyone's minds together briefly, in an effort to help everyone heal from their recent ordeals. 

X-amining X-Men Unlimited #13

"Fugitive From Space" / "Junction"

December 1996

In a Nutshell

The X-Men team-up with Silver Surfer to save the galaxy! 

Plot: George Perez

Script: Jorge Gonzales  
Pencils: Duncan Rouleau, Jim Calafiore, Andrew Robinson
Inks: Rob Hunter, Mark McKenna, Al Milgrom
Letterer: Comicraft
Colorist: Tom Smith
Editor: Kelly Corvese

Plot

A group of five X-Men - Cyclops, Phoenix, Bishop, Beast and Rogue - are aboard the Starcore space station along with Binary, helping the scientists on the station with their research. Suddenly, Binary loses control of her powers, and when the Shi'ar suddenly appear to arrest Binary, she flies off, leaving the X-Men to be captured instead. Deathbird declares the X-Men will be executed for helping Binary escape, but Lilandra intervenes, revealing that the Silver Surfer has apparently destroyed his home planet of Zenn-La. The X-Men offer to help the Shi'ar get to the bottom of the situation. Meanwhile, Binary finds herself in a white hole, while a confused Silver Surfer is attacked by the Shi'ar and learns about Zenn-La. Back with the Shi'ar, Beast discovers a shared energy signature between the white hole, the place where Zenn-La was, and a third anomaly. He says that if all three were to go nova at once, the galaxy would be destroyed. Phoenix confronts Binary, breaking her free of the control of alien beings called the Inciters, while Rogue & Cyclops confront Silver Surfer inside the third anomaly. Rogue and Silver Surfer team-up to confront the Inciters, learning they destroyed Zenn-La and framed Silver Surfer for it. Working together, the X-Men, Silver Surfer and Binary destroy the Inciters and save the galaxy, but Lilandra and Deathbird decide to keep their existence a secret from the empire. 

X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 3x02 - Patreon First!

"Out of the Past, Part 2"

Original Airdate

August 5th, 1994

Director: Larry Houston

Writer: Len Wein 

Plot

The monstrous Spirit Drinker emerges from the alien craft, and quickly drains the spirits of the Reavers. As Lady Deathstrike and the X-Men retreat, Jubilee sacrifices herself to save Gambit, her spirit consumed by the creature as well. Monitoring the situation from the X-Mansion, Professor X reaches out telepathically to call Beast, Cyclops and Jean Grey into action. In the Morlock Tunnels, Wolverine, Gambit and Deathstrike try to destroy the Spirit Drinker in order to free the souls it captured, but have little luck. Wolverine sends Gambit to the surface with Jubilee's body, after whic Lady Deathstrike is caught and drained as well. Just then, the rest of the X-Men arrive. As Beast and Xavier investigate the alien craft, the rest of the team manages to force the creature onto the third rail of the subway, where the electricity is enough to destroy the Spirit Drinker, restoring to their bodies the souls it had consumed. Back at the alien ship, Xavier is suddenly overcome by visions of alien beings and the world afire. 

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G. I. JOE #59 - May 1987 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)

 

Joe's in trouble

He's got it bad

'cause Cobra's got a Pogo

And its hopping mad

On the run

For a gun

G.I. Joe SLAM

G.I. Joe -- A Real American Hero