Thoughts

Another fill-in? Just when things were getting really interesting in the last issue with so many dangling story ideas regarding the likes of Phoenix and Wolverine?

That said, while this is clearly a standalone issue – it is still one that fits quite well into the continuity. There’s a scene that pretty much crystalises the fact that Wolverine has fallen for Phoenix, while Nightcrawler’s developing ability to teleport with passengers gets shown.

After the riches of Cockrum and Byrne in the last few issues – the art here is a bit underwhelming. Everything seems a bit static, with the frame capturing characters in poses that don’t seem either credible or exciting.

Story-wise, though, it works well as a one-shot and the defeat of the enemy is nicely inventive. Plus, of course, Xavier tells his pupils at the end that he was just working for greater evil forces out there. Which is just a tiny hint as to what’s coming.

Fun Panel

For one issue only, Phoenix acquires a curious Telepathic Vomit ability. Can’t imagine why it never came back.

Any Googling

The main villain in this story seems a relatively lame character called “Warhawk”. I wondered whether he was just a character created for this story – but he’s got quite a backstory. A Vietnam Vet, he was experimented on with a variation of the Super Serum that gave Luke Cage his powers. Becoming a CIA agent and then an increasingly erratic killer. There’s really none of that here, though.

None More Claremont

The “X-men Play Baseball” is a trope linked to the team, but Claremont only has it happen three times in the Claremont Run. Which is surprisingly because its an event that plays really well with his strengths. Firstly, it portrays the characters interacting while on downtime – last issue demonstrated how good he is at that. Alongside when he has different powers interact creatively with the action, normally in a slugfest. Still its nice to see it.

Mutant Mailbag Mayhem

As ever the honesty of the Mail page is just heartening. We’re told why this issue is another fill-in, in an almost apologetic tone. I genuinely appreciate that they treat the readers in this way.