X-amining Cable #42

"Tolerance"

April 1997

In a Nutshell

Cable & Storm fight Callisto & Marrow at a Lila Cheney concert. 

Writer: Todd Dezago 

Penciler: Randy Green

Inker: Scott Hana

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colorist: Mike Thomas

Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

In the Swiss Alps, Ch'vayre is visited by Sanctity, who urges him to track down Cable and make him realize it's time for him realize his true destiny. But Ch'vayre doesn't believe Cable is ready yet. Sanctity reminds Ch'vayre of his place. Meanwhile, Cable & Storm are attending a Lila Cheney concert on a tip that Callisto and Marrow are planning on attacking it in the hopes of triggering a mutant uprising. When Callisto and Marrow attack, they cause a panic, but Lila manages to calm the crowd while Cable and Storm move the fight outside. Callisto and Marrow escape, and Cable heads back inside to find the bomb they said they planted while Storm continues to search for their foes. Cable finds the bomb and Storm finds Callisto, who reveals the bomb will detonate once Lila is done singing. Cable telepathically alerts Lila, and she teleports the bomb to the other side of the galaxy. Cable and Storm are happy they prevented a disaster, but Cable remains certain a genetic war is on its way. 

X-amining X-Factor #133

"Down Under"

April 1997

In a Nutshell

Val Cooper & General Bowser investigate X-Factor's apparent demise. 

Writer: Howard Mackie
Art: Jeff Matsuda & Art Thibert
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Val Cooper and General Bowser investigate the site of Mystique and Forge's car crash, and discover no sign of them in the Potomac. They proceed to X-Factor's Fall's Edge headquarters, which recently exploded. Despite Val's protestations, Bowser orders a force of six men inside the remains of the building alongside himself and Val to secure Forge's technology. Meanwhile, Jamie Madrox visits the comatose Strong Guy at a hospital in DC, where he is confronted by Havok. Inside Fall's Edge, members of Bowser's team are taken out due to the conditions of the building, and when the group comes across a toxic gas leak, Bowser orders everyone out. Back at the hospital, Havok tries again to get Jamie to join his Brotherhood, but Jamie declines. At Fall's Edge, an electrostatic field is erected around the remains of the building, sealing it off, with the members of X-Factor declared dead. Inside Fall's Edge, Forge and the rest of X-Factor watch Bowser pull out, pleased their ruse has succeeded and thankful for the role Val played in selling it. Now, they can get on with reinventing X-Factor as something better. Back at the hospital, Havok teleports away, urging Jamie to side with him when the time comes. Jamie just wanting a normal life, tells Strong Guy to get better before leaving and missing a small movement of Strong Guy's hand. 

X-amining Wolverine #112

"The Light at the End of the Day"

April 1997

In a Nutshell

Wolverine fights an evil mime. 

Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Anthony Winn
Inks: Dan Green 
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colors: Joe Rosas & Graphic Colorworks
Editor: Mark Powers

Plot
Wolverine arrives in the East Village, where he stops two thugs from hassling a woman and a man. The woman, Kirsten, offers to help Wolverine get an apartment in her building. Meanwhile, a passing street mime is lured into a basement by an evil spirit. Later, Wolverine calls Jean and explains that he's attempting to prove he can live in the real world. But over the next few days, as he explores his new neighborhood, Wolverine finds it difficult to not blame himself for the damage caused by Professor Xavier's transformation into Onslaught. Seeking a job, Kirsten directs him towards a construction crew rebuilding in the wake of Onslaught. The foreman, Helen, makes it clear she abhors violence but brings Wolverine aboard. But when she and Wolverine later come across the thugs destroying Wolverine's motorcycle, she snaps and attacks them, helping Wolverine chase them off. With Helen offering no explanation, Wolverine enters his apartment, where the mime, now wearing a sinister smile, is waiting for him.

G. I. JOE #74 - August 1988 (The Commercial, Not the Comic)

 

Destro's back

On the attack

Out to conquer the world on his own

But nobody beats G. I. Joe

A Real American Hero

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. 

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

Become a Patron!

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!

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

Become a Patron!

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. 

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

Become a Patron!

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!

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

Become a Patron!

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!