X-amining X-Force and Cable '97 #1

"The Last Valkyrie"

July 1997

In a Nutshell

Dani Moonstar reunites with Cable and the New Mutants to save the Valkyrie from Malekith. 

Writer: John Francis Moore

Layouts: Rob Haynes

Penciler: Casey Jones
Inkers: Jason Martin & Jon Holdredge
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
Colorist: Leann Clark

Editor: Jaye Gardner
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

In Montana, the Valkryie Brunnhilda crashes into the Mutant Liberation Front's base, warning Dani Moonstar of mortal danger in Asgard. She passes the concentrated life force of the Valkyrie to Dani before being captured by giant demon dogs and dragged into a dimensional portal. Dani proceeds to contact her old friends in X-Force, who have history with Asgard, and the group travels there to discover the realm is being ruled by the Dark Elf Malekith. As X-Force battles his army of rock trolls, Malekith, sensing the power of Valkyrie in Dani, attempts to claim it using a Runespear, but Cable pushes Dani out of the way, taking the spear instead. X-Force retreats, leaving Cable behind, and unites with the dwarf Kindra and the giant Skadi. As Cable endures torture at the hands of Malekith, Dan and Sunspot travel to Valhalla, where Hela is waiting in the Hall of Death alongside the bound but lifeless Valkyrie. Dani manages to shoot a psychic arrow at the Valkyrie containing their life force given to her by Brunnhilda, and they revive. With their help, Malekith is defeated and order restored. Though she says she must return to the MLF, Dani and X-Force part amicably, and she promises she will soon explain everything to them about her connection to the MLF. 

X-amining X-Men (vol. 2) Annual '97 #1

"Not A Cloud In The Sky"

May 1997

In a Nutshell

The Gamesmaster traps the X-Men in a world that seems too good to be true!

Writer: John Francis Moore
Pencils: Steve Epting
Inks: Dan Green
Letterer: Richard Starkings & Comicraft/KF 
Colorist: Brad Vancata
Editor: Kelly Corvese

Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot

Life is good for the X-Men: they are treated like celebrities, chased through the streets of Salem Center by autograph seekers. Rogue and Gambit are happily dating, Beast has cured the Legacy Virus, and Cyclops can control his optic blasts. The government has shut down the Friends of Humanity, and Bastion has been arrested. But something doesn't feel right to Joseph. Looking at old photos of the X-Men, he realizes what it is: Jean Grey is missing, and none of the other X-Men seem to have any idea who she is. Worried about his sanity, Rogue and a reluctant Gambit humor Joseph as he uses Cerebro to track down Jean, discovering she is a captive of the omnipathic Gamesmaster. He explains that he's given the X-Men a perfect world in exchange for Jean — the one member of the X-Men whose psychic abilities could pierce the illusion. If they give her up— or sacrifice one of the other X-Men in her place —  they can live in a paradise. If they refuse, he'll revert reality, but they'll always remember what they lost. Joseph manages to distract the Gamesmaster long enough for Jean to escape and attack him on the Astral Plane. She tries to learn as much as she can about him, but he escapes, leaving behind only an address of his possible location. The X-Men investigate it, but find the house abandoned, save for a TV playing a news report about crimes against mutants, making it clear the Gamesmaster's perfect reality has crumbled.

X-amining Incredible Hulk '97 #1

"Sins of the Father" / "Where the Wild Things Are"

1997

In a Nutshell

Hulk battles Gladiator, and gets blamed for Franklin's nightmares. 

Writer: Chris Cooper, Bill Roseman (2nd Story)
Penciler: Jeff Rebner, Kevin Lay (2nd Story)
Inker: Mark Irwin, Andrew Pepoy (2nd Story)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos 
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Polly Watson & Bobby Chase

Plot

1st Story: Members of the Pantheon approach Doctor Samson, seeking his help to find the Hulk's illegitimate son, David. Samson is stunned, having never heard of of Bruce Banner having a son. Meanwhile, Gladiator and Oracle of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard are searching for a shape-shifter named Elamron, who was last seen with Hulk. All parties, including David, converge on the Hulk. Gladiator and Hulk fight, with Gladiator taking Hulk into space and Hulk turning Gladiator's heat vision back on him. But when Hulk sees the look of fear on David's face, he stops, reminded of his own childhood. In the confusion David — actually Elamron — disappears.