X-amining Bizarre Adventures #27

"Phoenix" / "Winter Carnival" / "Show Me The Way To Go Home"
July 1981

In a Nutshell
A trio of tales featuring Phoenix, Iceman & Nightcrawler

Writers: Chris Claremont (1st Story), Mary Jo Duffy (2nd & 3rd Story)
Plot: Mary Jo Duffy & Bob Layton (3rd Story)
Artists: John Buscema & Klaus Janson (1st Story), George Perez & Alfredo Alcala (2nd Story), Dave Cockrum & Ricardo Villamonte (3rd Story)
Letterers: Janice Chaing & Rick Parker
Colorist: Joe Rosas
Editor: Dennis O'Neil
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot
1st Story: Visiting her sister's grave, Sara Grey recalls the time in which she and Jean were kidnapped by the undersea warlord Attuma and transformed into water-breathers, part of Attuma's plot to breed super-powered children to conquer Atlantis. But Attuma was unprepared for the power of Phoenix, allowing Jean and her sister to escape. Afterwards, Jean wiped Sara's memory of the events, but her memories returned upon Jean's death, and now Sara is less apprehensive about the idea of her children being mutants.

X-amining Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4

"Madrox the Multiple Man!"
February 1975

In a Nutshell
The first appearance of Madrox the Multiple Man

Writer/Editor: Len Wein
Co-Writer: Chris Claremont
Illustrators: J. Buscema, C. Stone & J. Sinnot
Letterer: J. Constanza
Colorist: Glynis Wein

Plot
On his way to a football game with Alicia Masters, Thing's train is stopped due to man in a strange suit standing on the tracks, calling himself Madrox. When Thing punches him, a duplicate of Madrox is created, and with each ensuing blow, more Madrox are created, until Thing is overwhelmed. He wakes up at the Baxter building, where Reed Richards detects a series of power outages drawing nearer to the building. The outages are caused by Madrox, whose suit is absorbing the power and fueling his anger, and the Fantastic Four attack him. Madrox' duplication power proves to be too much for the Fantastic Four, until Professor Xavier arrives. He tells the Fantastic Four of how he gave Madrox' parents a suit to help control his power, but after his parents died, the suit malfunctioned and began absorbing energy, driving Madrox mad. Working together, Mr. Fantastic and Professor X are able to repair and improve Madrox' suit and knock him out, after which his duplicates disappear. Professor X then departs with Madrox, in order to help repair his mind.

X-amining Wolverine #10

"24 Hours"
August 1989

In a Nutshell 
Sabretooth stalks Wolverine on his birthday. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artists: John Buscema & Bill Sienkiewicz
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Colorist: Mike Rockwitz
Editor: Bob Harras
Time Keeper: Tom DeFalco

Plot
In Lowtown, Wolverine drinks at a bar, thinking back to an earlier saloon, when he found Sabretooth after Sabretooth had killed Wolverine's girlfriend, Silver Fox. In the present, Wolverine breaks up a bar fight, then heads out as the clock strikes midnight. In the past, an enraged Wolverine attacks Sabretooth. In the present, Wolverine helps save a pair of US Naval servicemen attacked by a gang of thugs, though one of them is shot. In the past, Wolverine and Sabretooth's fight spills outside, where Sabreooth buries Wolverine in a wood pile. In the present, Wolverine brings the wounded servicemen to Madame Joy'ss for treatment, where he meets Jessica and Lindsay, who have opened an office above the brothel. In the past, Wolverine flees into the woods, pursued by Sabretooth, and climbs up a nearby cliff face trying to escape. In the present, Wolverine meets with Chief Tai, who informs him the men from the bar fight are none too pleased with him, then confirms the individual Wolverine asked Tai to investigate is indeed dead.

X-amining Wolverine #8

"If It Ain't Broke...!"
June 1989

In a Nutshell 
Wolverine tricks Mr. Fixit into further damaging General Coy's operation. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Buscema
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Your Tour Guide: Tom DeFalco

Plot
Mr. Fixit awakens in his hotel room to discover that Wolverine has replaced all his clothes with tattered purple pants. Later that evening, Wolverine is at the Princess Bar when Fixit busts in, looking for Patch to ask him about General Coy. Wolverine agrees to help Fixit locate the general, and takes him to a brothel run by Coy which is actually a clearing house for the slave trade. Once there, Wolverine manipulates Fixit into taking out the criminals on guard and freeing the enslaved women. The next evening, Fixit awakens to angrily discover the female companionship arranged by Patch was enjoyed by Bruce Banner while Fixit slept, then sets out again to find Coy.

X-amining Wolverine #7

"Mr. Fixit Comes to Town"
May 1989

In a Nutshell 
The Hulk arrives in Madripoor. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Buscema
Letterer: Ken Bruzenak
Colorist: Mike Rockwitz
Editor: Bob Harras
Consigliere: Tom DeFalco

Plot
In Tahoe, Nevada, Mr. Fixit is tasked by a mob don to check on the recent setbacks of his partner in the Far East. In Madripoor, the prince admonishes everyone present for fighting in his home, but when he spots Lindsay McCabe amongst them, he is delighted and declares everyone his guests, much to General Coy's consternation. En route to the airport, Mr. Fixit's car stops for gas and his driver is harrassed by a biker gang, prompting Fixit to fight them off. Back in Madripoor, Wolverine helps Tyger remove her protective armor, telling her the prince has agreed to allow both her and Coy to continue to operate, each focusing on their respective activities, a compromise that Wolverine believes to be good enough for now.

X-amining Wolverine #6

"Roughouse!"
April 1989

In a Nutshell 
The gang war escalates into a confrontation inside the prince's palace. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Janice CHiang
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot
In the midst of a storm, Karma uses her power to infiltrate the palace of Madripoor's prince, hoping to free Tyger Tiger, Jessica Drew and Lindsay McCabe, captured by her uncle and taken to the palace. When her concentration falters for a moment and the guard she's possessed regains his senses, Karma is saved by the timely arrival of Wolverine and Archie Corrigan, having tracked the women's scents to the palace. Deeper inside, General Coy toys with Jessica and Lindsay before giving them an ultimatum: kill Tyger Tiger for him, and they can go free. Just then, Wolverine intervenes, and is attacked by Roughhouse and Bloodscream.

X-amining Wolverine #5

"Hunter's Moon!"
March 1989

In a Nutshell 
The gang war between Tyger Tiger and General Coy continues.

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Janice Chiang
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Crimelord: Tom DeFalco

Plot
In Madripoor, Bloodsport notes Karma's bleeding hand, and when he tastes her blood, he tells her they are now bound together, til death and perhaps beyond. Meanwhile, Patch and Archie Corrigan are flying into the Golden Triangle, en route to General Coy's opium fields. Remembering his encounter with Bloodsport, Archie struggles with the idea of executing Patch, ultimately deciding he can't do it. Just then, their plane is attacked by an old fighter plane, but together, Archie and Patch manage to destroy it. Back in Lowtown, Jessica Drew and Lindsay McCabe bring the unconscious Tyger Tiger to the office of Landau, Luckman and Lake for safe keeping. In the Golden Triangle, Battleaxe and Shotgun, two mercenaries working for Coy, are ordered by Hardcase, their commander, to investigate the plane crash, just as Patch appears out of the mud.

X-amining Wolverine #4

"Bloodsport"
February 1989

In a Nutshell 
Wolverine gets caught up in a Madripoorian crime war. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Grave Robber: Tom DeFalco

Plot
In Madripoor, Chancellor Ranjamaryam is chased through Lowtown  by two super-powered beings who ultimately kill him. Later, Wolverine arrives on the scene as Police Chief Tai pulls the body from the river. Noting that the chancellor was prepared to recommend that the Prince acknowledge Tyger Tiger as the new crime lord, they worry that a gang war may be upon them. Elsewhere, Roughhouse and Bloodscream, the two people who killed the chancellor, rough up pilot Archie Corrigan, telling him he works for their general now, not Tyger. Meanwhile, Wolverine investigates the chancellor's death, sneaking into his palace compound, where he notes a familiar scent. He follows it to a hotel in Hightown, where he finds former New Mutant Karma. She tells him she's working for her uncle, General Coy, for reasons of her own, and Wolverine tells her she needs to decide whose side she's on.

X-amining Wolverine #3

"The Black Blade"
January 1989

In a Nutshell 
Lindsay & Silver Samurai work to free Wolverine from the Black Blade. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot
As Lindsay and Silver Samurai watch, Wolverine, possessed by the Black Blade, escapes into a burning building with Jessica Drew, leading Silver Samurai to believe that Wolverine intends to sacrifice her. The pair goes to the Princess Bar, where O'Donnell is holding the captive Black Blade cultists. In order to learn where the sacrifice will take place, Lindsay tricks the captives into believing she's tortured and killed one of them. Together, the three head out to an old temple in the jungle outside the city. Leaving O'Donnell outside to deal with the authorities should they fail, Lindsay and Silver Samurai enter the temple.

X-amining Wolverine #2

"Possession is the Law"
December 1988

In a Nutshell
Wolverine fights Silver Samurai for the Black Blade. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Klaus Janson
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot
Wolverine, disguised as Patch, joins Lindsay McCabe at a hotel in Lowtown to meet Jessica Drew. As Lindsay remains at the bar, Wolverine searches the hotel, following a trail to a roomful of corpses and Silver Samurai, who is seeking the Black Blade himself. They fight, with Wolverine refusing to use his claws in order to keep his identity a secret, until they are interrupted by Jessica, who has been possessed by the Black Blade. She attacks both Wolverine and Silver Samurai as Lindsay helps evacuate the bar. Wolverine brings the hotel down, and Lindsay pulls Silver Samurai from the wreckage as Wolverine chases after Jessica.

X-amining Wolverine #1

"SwordQuest"
November 1988

In a Nutshell 
Wolverine battles pirates in search of the Muramasa Blade. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Al Williamson
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot
On the island of Telambang, a group of pirates led by Banapur Khan brutalize the surviving passengers and crew of a crashed jet liner. As Khan fights the captain, Wolverine sneaks onto the island and tracks down a brutally beaten man named Kojima. As he frees Kojima, Khan and the pirates discover him, and a fight breaks out, during which Wolverine kills all the pirates. As Khan tries to escape, he's shot by one of the flight attendants. Returning to Kojima, Wolverine is told by the dying man, who is Mariko Yashida's personal sectratary, that the pirates were hired by the Cult of the Black Blade, who are after the Muramasa Sword. When they learned Mariko was transferring the sword from America, the cult hired the pirates to learn the identities of the couriers. Though Kojima doesn't know who the couriers are, he tells Wolverine they are arriving in Madripoor tomorrow.

X-amining Marvel Comics Presents #1-10

"The Good Guy" / "The Bad Guy" / "The Gals" / "The Ordeal" / "The Rescue" / "Things Get Bad" / "Things Get Worse" / "The Fight" / "The Confrontation" / "The Resolution"
Sept 1988 to Jan 1989

In a Nutshell 
Wolverine becomes embroiled in a power struggle for Madripoor's criminal empire. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: John Buscema
Inker: Klaus Janson
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski, Lois Buhalis (issue #7), Ken Lopez (issue #9), Michael Hessler (issue #10)
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Terry Kavanaugh & Michael Higgins
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Plot
Issue #1: In Madripoor, Wolverine visits the Princess Bar, looking for information. After fighting off a group of thugs threatening the owner, O'Donnell, he tells O'Donnell he was sent by Dave Chapel to find someone named the Tiger. Issue #2: The thugs chased off by Wolverine report to their boss, Roche, who tells them if they can defeat his newest enforcer, Razor Fist, they can live. Razor Fist easily kills them all, and is given the task of defeating the stranger interfering with Roche's business. Meanwhile, Wolverine tells O'Donnell that Chapel was tortured and left for dead when Wolverine found him. Suddenly, he sees a woman outside and recognizes her as Jessan Hoan. Issue #3: Wolverine confronts Jessan, but she escapes. Just then, Wolverine is confronted by Sapphire Styx, an energy vampire employed by Roche, who weakens him just as Razor Fist attacks, knocking him out.

X-amining New Mutants #54

"RatRace!"
August 1987

In a Nutshell
Karma and Chris Claremont leave. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artists: Sal Buscema & Terry Austin
Letterer: Tom OrzechowskiColorist: Glynis Oliver
Editor: Ann Nocenti
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter
Starring: The New Mutants
Creators: Chris Claremont & Bob McLeod

Plot
In the bowels of the Hellfire Club, Karma takes control of Tessa, and uses her to search for information on Karma's missing siblings, but she comes up empty. Upstairs, Dani and John Proudstar lay out the terms of the New Mutants and Hellions contest: both teams hunt down the person who sold the fake Selene statute, with the losing team apologizing and taking the rap for any trouble with their respective headmasters. In a nearby suite, Illyana arrives with the group's graduation uniforms, but Karma bows out of the hunt. Transforming into a wolf, Rahne tracks the scent off the statute to Central Park, where she realizes the culprits they're after is Viper and Silver Samurai. Back at the club, Karma and Magneto discuss her missing siblings. In Limbo, the New Mutants observe the Hellions via a scrying pool, learning they've tracked Viper and Silver Samurai to nearby Shooter's Island.

X-amining New Mutants #17

"Getaway!"
July 1984

In a Nutshell
Cannonball and Jetstream duel for the New Mutants' freedom. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artists: Sal Buscema,Tom Mandrake & Kim DeMulder
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Editor: Ann Nocenti
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot
As the White Queen leads the Hellions in an analysis of their confrontation with Xavier's students, the defeated New Mutants find themselves imprisoned along with Kitty in a room with a power inhibitor. Meanwhile, in Limbo, Dani, with the help of S'ym, tends to an exhausted Illyana. When she awakens, she casts a healing spell on herself, then teleports with Dani back to the Massachusetts Academy. When they arrive, they discover their teammates dressed like the Hellions and interacting with them as though they're all old friends. Dani and Illyana quickly realize they've arrived at the school a year after their initial encounter with the Hellions, and that the White Queen has succeeded in brainwashing their teammates. Illyana teleports them again, and they arrive a week after their fight with the Hellions. Certain she won't be able to do any better, Dani and Illyana steal into the New Mutants' room to rouse them. But before they can escape, they are confronted by the Hellions.

X-amining New Mutants #16

"Away Game!"
June 1984

In a Nutshell
The first appearance of the Hellions.

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Inkers: Mandrake & DeMulder
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Ken Feduniewicz
Editors: Jones & Nocenti 
Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot
When the Hellfire Club guards move in to capture the New Mutants, Amara triggers an earthquake which disrupts the power to the lower levels of the Massachusetts Academy. In the ensuing darkness, the New Mutants manage to sneak into a store room, where they plan their next move. Knocking out a pair of female guards, the team splits up. Sam and Amara blow the generator, shutting down power throughout the campus, then go in search of Doug. Meanwhile, Illyana and Dani, dressed as Hellfire Club guards, search for Kitty, not realizing they are being followed. In another part of the complex, Roberto and Rahne search as well, but they encounter a pair of the White Queen's students, Thunderbird and Roulette, who manage to knock out the two New Mutants.

X-amining New Mutants #15

"Scaredy Cat!"
May 1984

In a Nutshell
The New Mutants take a bus to rescue Kitty from the White Queen. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Finisher: Tom Mandrake
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Editor: Louise Jones
Top Cat: Jim Shooter
Presentor: Stan Lee

Plot
Worried that no one has heard from Kitty since she left for the Massachusetts Academy with Doug Ramsey, Illyana casts a spell and travels via her astral form to the school. In the secret complex beneath the school, she discovers that Kitty is a captive of the White Queen. She overhears White Queen's intention to turn Kitty and Doug to the side of the Hellfire Club before she's detected and forced back into her body. The backlash from the White Queen's attack causes Illyana to lose control of her psychic familiars, sending demons flooding out into the school. The New Mutants manage to fight off the demons, who disappear when attacked, then confront Illyana. She admits to being a sorceress and tells them about Kitty's situation. With Professor X and the X-Men missing, the kids reach out to the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, but both teams are similarly unavailable.

X-amining New Mutants #14

"Do You Believe in -- Magik?"
April 1984

In a Nutshell
Illyana and the New Mutants battle S'ym. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Finisher: Tom Mandrake
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Editor: Louise Jones
Boss: Jim Shooter
Presentor: Stan Lee

Plot
Illyana watches as the New Mutants are released from class early to play in the snow. The group sees Professor X watching morosely from the window, and Amara tells them he's sad about Lilandra's departure. They decide to throw him a surprise party to cheer him up, and ask Illyana to help. They leave for dance class, not knowing they're being watched by a shadowy figure. After class, Stevie takes the New Mutants and Illyana to the mall to get party supplies. Meanwhile, at the mansion, Belasco's servant S'ym attacks Professor X. When the New Mutants arrive back at the mansion, it appears surprisingly quiet from outside. Because Professor X can't read Illyana's mind, they send her inside to see if the coast is clear before setting up the party. When she enters, S'ym appears, saying he's come to return her to Belasco. Illyana manages to teleport the New Mutants inside the school just as he knocks her out.

X-amining Magik #1-4

"Little Girl Lost/Cold Iron Hot Blood/ Soulquest/Darkchild"
December 1983-Mach 1984

In a Nutshell
A look at the seven years Illyana spent in Limbo.

Writer: Chris Claremont
Pencilers: John Buscema, Ron Frenz (issue #3), Sal Buscema (issue #4)
Finisher: Tom Palmer
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein, Ken Feduniewicz (issue #4)
Editor: Louise Jones
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot
Issue #1: At the mansion, Illyana watches the sun rise and thinks back over her time in Limbo. After successfully preventing the X-Men from rescuing her, Belasco fashions a piece of her soul into a Bloodstone, thus bonding her to him forever. However, older versions of Storm and Kitty Pryde, called Cat, stranded there from an alternate timeline in which Illyana escaped Limbo but the X-Men remained behind, rescue Illyana and take her to Storm's protected garden. There, Storm decides to take Illyana as her apprentice, teaching her sorcery in order to one day free her from Belasco's influence and send her home. They begin training as Illyana grows older, but she has difficultly overcoming the corruption of Belasco, tainting her attempts to transform her power into life with darkness. One night, Cat steals into the garden and promises Illyana she can return her to Earth. Together, the two run off.

X-amining New Mutants #13

"School Daysze"
March 1984

In a Nutshell
Magma settles in at Xavier's school as Doug Ramsey makes his first appearance. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Finisher: Tom Mandrake
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Editor: Louise Jones
Principal: Jim Shooter
Presentor: Stan Lee

Plot
The New Mutants introduce Amara to Professor X, who welcomes her to the school and shows her to her room, which has been designed to resemble her room back in Nova Roma. That evening, the New Mutants hold a welcome barbeque for Amara, but when Sam, trying to show off, accidentally spills soda on Amara's dress she runs off, triggering an earthquake as she goes. Roberto prevents a fire from breaking out and Rahne and Dani follow Amara into the woods, but decide to respect her privacy. Meanwhile, at Project: Wideawake headquarters, Sebastian Shaw and Henry Gyrich are showing Val Cooper a Sentinel test when the machine goes wild, a victim of someone taking control of the computer system, forcing Gyrich to destroy the Sentinel. Back in New York, Kitty and her friend Doug Ramsey realize their connection to the government system they hacked has been severed, but Doug doesn't think they'll be discovered.

X-amining New Mutants #12

"Sunstroke"
February 1984

In a Nutshell
Amara loses control in Rio De Janeiro, convincing her she needs to join the New Mutants. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Finisher: Tom Mandrake
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Colorist: George Roussos
Editor: Louise Jones
Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot
In Rio De Janiero, Emmanuel DaCosta arrives to his office to find Roberto waiting for him. Roberto tells his father to forget about the Maderia, that Nova Roma is off limits, or else he and the other New Mutants will do everything in their power to stop him. His father tells him that if he leaves, it will be as though he has no son, to which Roberto replies that he's now half an orphan. Enraged, Emmanuel calls Sebastian Shaw and tells him he accepts his invitation to join the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club. Meanwhile, Dani and Amara are enjoying the beach at Ipanema, with Amara reflecting on her father's decision to send her to Xavier's school to gain control of her power, when the girls are accosted by a group of men. When one of them kisses Amara, she triggers a volcano on the beach.