
Thoughts
Issue number 193 is an odd place to pick for a special. It says a lot about how much the relaunched X-men title was seen as its own success that one hundred issues after it restarted it gets a special.
It’s a great issue too. Thunderbird returns – or rather his younger brother does – out for revenge for his brother that died 99 issues ago. It makes sense that a warped sense of macho honour is driving on the younger brother, given that this was what killed the first Thunderbird – but it is a little shame that there isn’t more to the character. This feels like the start of a story for the character – but as the Hellions aren’t ever going to get their own title – we’re unlikely to see it anytime soon.

But another fun aspect of this issue is that it returns us to a story those early issues did so well – the X-men besieging an enemy base. It has all the hallmarks of Claremont’s skill in this mini-genre, it’s inventive and all the little plot strands as the attack goes on keep things gripping.
The special is also meant to the change the status quo of the X-men, they’re now outlaws due to attacking an army base. We’ve sort of been here before and it doesn’t really work – falling foul of the fact that if a few important heroes just talked to each other after the end of the issue this could be resolved really quickly. But there’s a bigger picture here, the extent to which Mutant heroes are outsiders – outlaws even – is going to be pushed heavily going forward. It needs a set-up here, in an anniversary issues. And lets just assume that they just won’t all talk to each other because … reasons.
Fun Panel
Of course there’s going to be a great Wolverine issues for the celebratory issue of the comic that made him famous!

Any Googling
There’s a pleasing amount of Hellions appearing in this issue. As someone who would have loved them to have launched a Hellions title during this era, I’m enjoying seeing a few of these characters again. And taking on the X-men too.
And then… Firestar appears. Firestar from the cartoon! Not only that but she drops in as if it is in the middle of some larger story. I wasn’t aware there was one, so thought I’d look online for more info.

To my surprise I discovered that there was indeed a limited series around this time. Designed to bring the character into the Marvel comics universe. Looked interesting, so decided to check it out.

Very happy I did! But this is a surprisingly full mini-series. Or at least given that its chock full of Hellions Action, definitely something in my wheelhouse. It’s an especially odd seriesin its treatment of the events in this X-men issue (which was, Google tells me, her first ever appearance in Marvel comics continuity). They don’t follow on from it – or they aren’t a story set before it. The events of this X-men issue take place about halfway through the miniseries. After her discovery of mutant powers and joining Emma Frost’s Academy, but before the last two issues which see her defeating the White Queen.

I enjoyed this discovery a lot – indeed if I had known and read this title before embarking on this project I probably would have included these issues in the running narrative. It’s got a nice tone and some fun art. And the political machinations of the Hellfire club, and Firestar discovering this world and rejecting it, all makes for a great story.
It does rather gloss over Empath’s decidedly icky power set being abused in the way he does it. Sure, Firestar ultimately defeats it but I am surprised this isn’t more of a comeuppance for the character. The last few issues have demonstrated that Claremont does have a sharply honed idea of consent – but this doesn’t carry over to DeFalco’s script.
But back on the plus side, I do enjoy Mary Wilshire’s colourful art and, of course, MOAR HELLIONS!!

None More Claremont
Helloooooooo Charley!






