X-amining X-Factor #125

"The Ticking Clock" / "Free Fall" 

August 1996

In a Nutshell

Dark Beast sets a brainwashed Havok against X-Factor as Onslaught launches his Sentinel army. 

Writer: Howard Mackie
Penciler: Jeff Matsuda, Stefano Raffaele (2nd Story)
Inker: Al Milgrom
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Kelly Corvese
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Onslaught confronts Dark Beast, asking what use he can be to him; Dark Beast reveals that in addition to Fatale, he has brainwashed Havok into serving him, and that he has another agent in place with X-Factor. Meanwhile, X-Factor's training Sentinel goes wild, and while the team tries to shut it down, Mystique is sent to release Sabretooth, but the two are teleported away. Shortly thereafter, Fatale arrives and then telports away with the the Sentinel. X-Factor is able to trace the Sentinel to an abandoned Brand Corporation warehouse, where they discover numerous other Sentinels, all programmed to answer to Onslaught and prepared to launch. They are attacked by Dark Beast's allies, including Havok, and Random, despite his feelings for Polaris, reveals himself as a double-agent. Polaris is ultimately able to take out Fatale & Havok, but X-Factor is unable to stop the Sentinels from launching and flying off to join Onslaught in New York City! 

X-amining Generation X #18

"For the Sake of the Children"

August 1996

In a Nutshell

Emma kidnaps half the school to keep them safe from Onslaught. 

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

Enhancements: Malibu
Editor: Bob Harras

Plot

Paige is writing a letter to her brother while aboard Emma Frost's private plane flying back to Boston. Banshee, who knows a thing or two about flying, suddenly realizes the plane isn't heading back to the school. When he points this out to Emma, she telepathically suggests he leave the plane, and he promptly flies off on his own. He lands some distance away, his head clearer, and realizes what's happened, vowing the save the kids from Emma. Meanwhile, back at the school, Chevy has taken it upon himself to begin his work as the school's handyman, while Penance watches. In the biosphere, Artie & Leech play, while a watching Mondo is told it's not time to act yet. Out on the interstate, Skin steals some food as he and Chamber continue to make their way to New York. Later, Emma's plane lands in Canada, and the kids realize they're not in Boston; they attack Emma but she takes control of their minds, making them act like docile children. Meanwhile, Banshee hacks into a computer in Montreal, trying to track the flight path of Emma's plane. Getting nowhere, he decides he's going to have to find some local help. Elsewhere, Emma and the kids arrive at a mansion where Emma intends to keep them safe for a good long while. But unbeknownst to her, Toad is watching from the shadows. 

X-amining Excalibur #100

"London's Burning"

August 1996

In a Nutshell

Excalibur battles the Hellfire Club, Black Air, and Margali Szardos for the city of London! 

Writer: Warren Ellis

Pencilers: Casey Jones, Randy Green, Rob Haynes

Inkers: Tom Simmons, Jason Martin, Rick Ketcham, ROb Haynes

Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Colorists: Ariane Lenshoek, Jim Houston

Separations: Malibu Hues 

Editor: Suzanne Gaffney

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Excalibur arrives in London, determined to stop Black Air & the Hellfire Club even as the demon under the streets feeds upon the basest emotions of the people inside the city, driving them wild. Spotting Black Air agent Scratch from the air, Wisdom tells the rest of the team to keep going, while he goes after Scratch. Meanwhile, back on Muir Island, Amanda Sefton arrives, having tried - and failed - to stop her mother's plans. Just then, a contingent of the X-Men arrive in the wake of Onslaught's attack. Moira proceeds to lead them to a secret underground chamber Professor X had built in the complex. At the Hellfire Club, Brian Braddock confronts the Black Queen, believing her to be Mountjoy, but Mountjoy reveals himself to be Scribe, and attacks Brian. Elsewhere, Excalibur arrives at Black Air headquarters. They enter the facility, and Colossus is forced to stay behind to hold off a contingent of guards as the rest of the team goes deeper into the facility. On Muir Island, the X-Men & Moira discover the chamber contains files created by Professor X outlining ways to defeat all the X-Men, including himself. In London, Wisdom battles Scratch while Brian takes on the Black Queen & Mountjoy and Excalibur penetrates deeper into Black Air, with Meggan breaking off to battle a group of techno-organic Brood while Nightcrawler duels the Red King. Back on Muir Island, the X-Men, horrified by what Xavier did, depart with files on how to counter Xavier's psychic powers. In London, Brian defeats Mountjoy, while Wisdom gets an assist from Lockheed, enabling him to stop Scratch. At Black Air, Kitty & Wolfbane reach Margali, still entranced by the demon, and realize Douglock is the conduit channeling the demon's power. They are joined by Amanda, and as Kitty's taps her laptop into Douglock, deleting the files used to channel the energy, Wolsfbane severs the connection between Douglock and the demon, while Amanda binds the demon, ensuring it can't escape. Cut off from its power, Margali screams, then fades away. Later, Excalibur emerges from Black Air and reunites with Wisdom, then discover that his old connections in the intelligence community have set about ending Black Air and the Hellfire Club; London is saved. 

X-amining Incredible Hulk #444

"Cable Vision"

August 1996

In a Nutshell

Cable (and Storm) battle Hulk (some more). 

Writer: Peter David
Pencils: Angel Medina
Inks: Robin Riggs
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Glynis Oliver

Enhancement: Malibu
Editor: Bobbie Chase

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Storm races after Cable, who's been captured by the Hulk. He leaps away, and lands inside a magazine office, where Hulk spots a pinup of model Betty Page; the name "Betty" causes him to pause in his attack, giving Cable an opening to get inside his mind. He tries to remove the blocks Onslaught has placed around Bruce Banner's mind, to no avail. He emerges from Hulk's mind just as Hulk prepares to attack; Storm intervenes with a tornado that tosses Hulk away, but he sends Cable flying as well. Cable grabs a gun from a nearby sporting goods store and fires a gas pellet at Hulk. Storm ensures Hulk breathes in the gas, leaving him open to a combined attack as she hits him with lightning and Cable goes back into his mind to free Banner. Later, Hulk joins Cable & Storm as they proceed to rendezvous with the rest of the X-Men, determined to get a piece of Onslaught for messing with his mind.