Era #5, Part 11: Crossroads

Grade: C

The X-Men are back as a team, and their first mission takes them back into the Shi'ar Empire. Jim Lee's art help make decent (but not particularly original) story worth a read.

[3-Stars] 273 - "Too Many Mutants" The mutants regroup in the aftermath of the X-Tinction Agenda. Rather than join X-Factor (the original X-Men), Storm decides to form a new team wearing modified versions of the old uniforms. New members Forge, Gambit and Jubilee agree to join past members Wolverine & Psylocke.

[3-Stars] 274 - "Crossroads" Rogue and Magneto join Nick Fury and his SHIELD deep into the Savage Lands to deal with Zaladane as she threatens the global magnetic field. Meanwhile, Lila Cheney teleports the new X-Men to the Shi'ar Empire to save Professor Xavier, but they find themselves in the clutches of Deathbird.

[3-Stars] 275 - "The Path Not Taken" The X-Men join Professor X and the Starjammers in an epic battle against Deathbird for the Shi'ar Empire throne. Meanwhile, Magneto, Rogue and Nick Fury confront Zaladane and the Savage Land Mutates. 

[3-Stars] 276 - "Double Death" The X-Men discover that things are not exactly as they appear in the Shi'ar Empire with an insidious plot to control the throne. Wolverine learns the truth and kills the Skrull masquerading Professor X forcing the team to work with Deathbird.

[3-Stars] 277 - "Free Charley" The X-Men and Deathbird versus the War Skrulls for the Shi'ar Empire.

Era #5, Part 10: X-Tinction Agenda

Grade: A-

By this point, the X-Men crossovers have been bringing the titles closer together to tell a single story. The X-Tinction Agenda brings together the entire cast of the Uncanny X-Men, the New Mutants and X-Factor against the a nation under the deadly influence of one of their deadliest foes. I found the art of Jon Bogdanove and Guang Yap distracting, but that could be because I wanted to see more from Rob Liefeld and Jim Lee.

The story itself continues the Genoshian showdown that started way back in Uncanny X-Men #235-238. The small island nation uses genetically modified mutants called "mutates" to drive an idyllic society of prosperity and human equality. The X-Men disrupted that social order. A subplot since that first encounter had the Genoshian Magistrates searching for a missing mutate on US soil often pitting them against the mutant heroes. The stakes are raised when the Magistrates take the fight to the X-Men in a first strike incursion that leads to a war that will change both sides.

[4-Stars] Part 1: Uncanny X-Men #270 Banshee, Forge, Storm (still in a child's body), Gambit and the New Mutants enjoy a relaxing day when they are attacked by Genoshian Magistrates strikeforce.

[4-Stars] Part 2: New Mutants #95 With most of the New Mutants and Storm captured, transported to Genosha, and stripped of their powers, the survivors call X-Factor for help. Warlock is killed by the true mastermind of the assault, the psychotically obsessed Cameron Hodge. Warlock was easily one of the most likable and innocent heroes in the X-Men. I was never one of his biggest fans, but it was a sad moment to see self-friend sacrifice himself.

[4-Stars] Part 3: X-Factor #60 X-Factor leads the remaining X-Men and New Mutants into Genosha, but they are ambushed by Magistrates under the command of.....Alex Summers? Havok is last X-Man to emerge Siege Perilous (in Uncanny X-Men #251), but he has been brainwashed to serve as a loyal mutant soldier of Genosha.

[4-Stars] Part 4: Uncanny X-Men #271 Wolverine, Psylocke and Jubilee arrive on Genosha and begin their rescue attempt.  Meanwhile, Storm is transformed into a mutate.

[4-Stars] Part 5: New Mutants #96 Members of all three mutant teams are divided. The New Mutants that have escaped stay on the run while their teammates join the X-Men and X-Factor in a two pronged attack. Cameron Hodge forces the Genengineer to transform Wolfsbane into a mutate.

[4-Stars] Part 6: X-Factor #61 Things look bleak for the mutant heroes as they continue to fall to the Genoshian Magistrates led by villainous Cameron Hodge each losing their power.

[4-Stars] Part 7: Uncanny X-Men #272 The tide begins to shift as the Genoshians start to turn on Cameron Hodge for his destruction of their island nation. Chief Magistrate Tam Anderson aligns her forces to help the mutants, Alex Summers regains his memories and Gengineer's subversive plans to stop the interloping villain are slowly revealed. The first secret weapon is a hidden trigger within the mutate Storm that turns her back into a normal mutant (and her adult body, finally) as well as gives her the ability to to return the powers to her teammates.

[4-Stars] Part 8: New Mutants #97 It is a brutal war as the mutants and Magistrates try to stop the unstoppable Cameron Hodge. The Gengineer's second secret weapon is triggered when mutate Wolfsbane transforms into her wolf form. She is bigger, stronger and more than a little angry at Cameron Hodge for the death of Warlock. She can retain her own mind so long as she doesn't return to her human (mutate) form.

[4-Stars] Part 9: X-Factor #62 X-Men, X-Factor and the New Mutants in a final showdown with Cameron Hodge. In the end, both Wolfsbane and Havok decide to stay in Genosha to help rebuild.

Era #5 Extra: Acts of Vengeance

Marvel's success with the escalating crossover stories in the X-Men led to a company wide crossover called the Acts of Vengeance. Loki brings Marvel's super-villains together in an effort to defeat their respective enemies by swapping foes. Fans get to see new match-ups between long-established characters and rogues outside their normal gallery.

The mutant titles are not part of the central storyline appearing more of an afterthought, but there are some unexpected battles and lasting consequences.

X-Factor  (Loki versus Apocalypse)
Acts of Vengeance takes place while X-Factor is across the universe. Ironically, they are battling the Celestials, a foe normally associated with the cosmic adventures of the Fantastic Four. It is not part of arc, but there is a back-up story in which Loki tries to recruit Apocalypse into the plot.

• X-Factor #50b - "Meanwhile, On Earth..." 

New Mutants  (versus the Vulture, Nitro and the Tinkerer)

Most of the New Mutants are also away during the Acts of Vengeance battling established foes associated with another notable hero -- the Might Thor. Most of the team is saving Asgard from Hela and her army of possessed Valkyrie, but this battle isn't part of the arc either. Instead, the first two issues provide a build up to the showcase match-up that ties into crossover (ever so tangentially). With reluctant help from the Tinkerer, the Vulture attempts to free Nitro from custody to prove that he is indeed worthy enough to be one of the super-villains. Rusty and Skids are the only ones who can stop him.

• New Mutants #84 - "The Sword's Edge" 
• New Mutants #85 - "The Killing Stroke" 
• New Mutants #86 - "Bang! You're Dead!" 

Uncanny X-Men  (versus the Hand and the Mandarin)
This is a great read that gives us a glimpse of what the Acts of Vengeance could've done across the company.  It is not part of the core arc, but does pit some of the X-Men against the Hand in the service of the Mandarin. It weaves perfectly into running storyline giving us some insight into Jubilee and Wolverine. More importantly, it changes Psylocke forever.

• Uncanny X-Men #256 - "The Key That Breaks the Locke" 
• Uncanny X-Men #257 - "I am Lady Mandarin" 
• Uncanny X-Men #258 - "Broken Chains" 

Era #5, Part 09: Cable & the New Mutants

Grade: B-

Rob Liefeld is a controversial figure. His depiction of the human anatomy is exaggerated at best, and he relies heavily on big guns and high-tech weapons. I can see why people dislike him as one of the poster fanboy artists of the 90s. He isn't my favorite penciler, but his style is distinctive. More importantly, he completely reinvigorates the New Mutants. And that is the reason Rob Liefeld gets high marks from me.

Rob Liefeld joins Louise Simonson in slowly reshaping the the team. Dani Moonstar quits to stay in Asgard. Rusty and Skids become entangled with terrorists. A new leader surfaces turning the students into soldiers.

I start collecting the New Mutants with issue #86 returning me to the fold. They may not be the best stories, but they are ones I find myself rereading regularly.

[3-Stars] 86 - "Bang! You're Dead!" The New Mutants enjoy their victory in Asgard as a new threat emerges on Earth while Rusty and Skids attempt to stop the Vulture, Tinkerer and Nitro in this Acts of Vengeance crossover. Want more? How about the first appearance of Stryfe!

[3-Stars] 87 - "A Show of Power" The Mutant Liberation Front (MLF) continue their terrorist attacks with message to free Rusty and Skids from Freedom Force's Federal custody of Freedom Force. They may have a new ally in the mysterious soldier named Cable (in his first appearance).

[3-Stars] 88 - "The Great Escape" Cable escapes Freedom Force.

[3-Stars] 89 - "The Gift" Cable and the New Mutants versus Freedom Force.

[3-Stars] 90 - "To Hunt the Hunter" Cable and the New Mutants make the secured basement of the X-Mansion ruins their new HQ, but Rictor is having a difficult time adjusting. He has an unpleasant past with Cable of which their new mentor seems unaware. Rictor is further uncomfortable with their new training regiment after succumbing to his first run in the Danger Room. He decides to prove himself by going into the Morlock Tunnels where Caliban is hunting Sabretooh.

[3-Stars] 91 - "Prey for the Living" Cable and the New Mutants go into the Morlock Tunnels to search for Rictor. They find him in the middle of a deadly battle between Caliban and Sabretooth.

[1-Star] 92 - "When the Carnival Comes to Town" It is a bad fill-in story that takes place when the team is in Kentucky visiting Sam's family. A trip to the Carnival turns into a dangerous adventure when they discover that the carnies are Skrull slave traders.

[4-Stars] 93 - "Madripoor" Cable and the New Mutants track the MLF to Madripoor. This issue guest stars both Sunfire and Wolveirne.

[4-Stars] 94 - "Lethal Weapons" Cable versus Wolverine! The New Mutants versus the MLF. Sunfire at his surliest. It all comes together as the kids, their mentor and their allies attempt to thwart Stryfe's plot to poison Madripoor through the water supply.

Era #5, Part 08: Uncanny X-Men #265-269

Grade: B

I forgot how much I enjoy Jim Lee's art. He made his debut a few issues back, but he becomes the regular penciler with Uncanny X-Men #267, and he adds his distinctive touch to Chris Claremont's stories.  In this run, we have an arc featuring a Storm that reveals how she became so young and introduces another soon to be fan favorite character, Gambit. Jim Lee proves he is the right artist for the job with a solid Wolverine/Captain America/Black Widow tale, and after a year of waiting, we finally learn Rogue's fate.  

[3-Stars] 265 - "Storm" Young Storm is robbing from the rich returning the stolen property she finds back to their original owners.  She must keep a low profile to avoid drawing the attention of both Nanny and the Shadow King.

[3-Stars] 266 - "Gambit: Out of the Frying Pan" The Shadow King sets a trap to finally capture Storm, but she receives help from a mysterious Cajun thief in an issue that boasts the first appearance of Gambit. 

[3-Stars] 267 - "Nanny: Into the Fire" Storm and Gambit are on the run from the Shadow King and his "hounds" while Nanny and Orphan Maker make their move.

[4-Stars] 268 - "Madripoor Knights" This is a really fun issue weaving together two related stories in Madripoor. The first is a 1941 flashback in which Wolverine helps Captain America and Ivan Petrovich save a very young Natasha Romanov from the sinister Nazi villain, Baron Strucker. The second story also has Wolverine helping Black Widow. This time, Psylocke and Jubilee join the duo in an attempt to stop the Hand and an alliance between Matsuo Tsurayaba and Fenris (Andrea & Andreas Strucker).

[3-Stars] 269 - "Rogue Redux" Rogue is back! She was sucked in with Nimrod/Master Mold back in Uncanny X-Men #247, but unlike the other X-Men, she retained her memories. She is also split from a very angry Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel). Appearing at the Australian base, Rogue barely escapes the Reavers with the forced help of Gateway and finds peace and solitude in the Savage Land, but her solitude is violently ended when a disintegrating Ms. Marvel attacks. There is only enough life force for one of them to exist, so it is a fight to the bitter end. 

Era #5, Part 07: X-Factor #51-59

Grade: D

Nearly all super comics have an element of soap opera drama. It is much stronger in this run that focus on the team's personal relationships. Ship lands on the X-Factor property changing the Manhattan skyline, but despite some local grumblings about the imposing presence, their popularity as superhero celebrities remains unusually high for mutants. Iceman finds a new girlfriend, Opal Tanaka, and Archangel becomes closer to Police Officer Charlotte Jones. It is not all good news. Beast and Trish Tilby slowly drift apart, and Jean Grey pulls away after Scott proposes to her.

The romantic undertone is coupled with a slow pace and uninteresting villains. Louise brings back Locust (from the 1966 X-Men #24) and introduces Crimson and the Ravens (and their incessant use of "four and twenty blackbirds" to identify themselves which makes absolutely no sense). Sabretooth and Caliban each make a conspicuous and awkward appearance that doesn't seem to really fit, but I am glad to see a glimpse of the Right hinting at the next big storyline. 

[2-Stars] 51 - "Home!" X-Factor returns to Earth, and Ship surprises them with a landing that ensures everybody in the NYC will notice. Meanwhile, Sabretooth is on the prowl hunting defenseless Morlocks. Caliban can no longer contain his rage and prepares to get his revenge on the savage Marauder. This issues marks the first appearance of Charlotte Jones.

[2-Stars] 52 - "Celebrity!" Sabretooth finds a more suitable target in Archangel; Iceman meets and falls for Opal (in her first appearance) who is hiding one of the frightened Morlock; and a double date (Cyclops / Marvel Girl and Beast / Trish Tilby) at an expensive restaurant is interrupted by Locust and his giant cockroaches (I am not even kidding). 

[2-Stars] 53 - "Ghosts" Caliban takes on both Sabretooth and the injured Archangel. Scott proposes to Jean.

[2-Stars] 54 - "Crimson" Iceman and Beast are on a double date with Opal and Trish when they run into an amnesiac Colossus who is content to be a struggling artist and not a superhero. Unfortunately, the psychic vampire known as Crimson finds the mutants a better meal than society's invisibles. 

[2-Stars] 55 - "Desperately Seeking Vera" Beast's old girlfriend, Vera Cantor, is a pawn in Mesmero's plot to...? All I can do is sigh deeply for this fill-in story that doesn't make too much sense when the actual puppet-master is revealed. 

[2-Stars] 56 - "Ravens" Crimson is part of a larger coven called the Ravens (which numbers 24 because that is what the nursery song says). They now have a taste for mutants, and Crimson has her sights set on the most troubled one in the news, Archangel who has become unhinged after his battle with Sabretooth and Caliban. 

[3-Stars] 57 - "Reflections" X-Factor's search for the delusional Archangel is slowed by an unprovoked attack by the mutant hating terrorists, the Right. Forge and Banshee lend a hand and discover that Warren's behavior is likely a result of a poison he received during his battle with Sabretooth.

[2-Stars] 58 - "Nevermore" The Ravens have Archangel and prepare to add him to the coven after he killed one of their number (which must be 24). They abduct Charlotte Jones to use as his first victim in this final chapter of the Crimson/Raven arc.

[2-Stars] 59 - "Yesterday's News" Archangel gets closer to Charlotte Jones, Iceman spends time with Opal and Scott & Jean agree to forget the marriage proposal (for now). Trish Tilby's coverage of Archangel's recent and very public problem created a rift with Beast that they may not be repairable.

Era #5, Part 06: Uncanny X-Men #259-264

Grade: C

The X-Men are returning from the Siege Perilous, but rebuilding the team is proving to be much more difficult. This run tracks Wolverine, Jubilee and Psylocke's travel from Hong Kong to Mandripoor. It also follows Banshee and Forge as they search for the missing X-Men. The tension with Genosha builds as does the suspicion that something is not right on Muir Island.

Perhaps the biggest news is that this marks the departure of Marc Silvestri, one of the longest running pencilers on the Uncanny X-Men (second only to the legendary John Byrne). Marc's style and talent certainly make him one of my favorites.

[3-Stars] 259 - "Dream a Little Dream" Colossus reappears in Soho in time to save Phillip Moreau and Jennifer Ransome from Genoshan Magistrates. Lila Cheney's majordomo, Guido, finds Dazzler on the property's beach. Neither Peter nor Allison are able to remember anything. Meanwhile, Forge and Banshee start their quest to find the X-Men.

[3-Stars] 260 - "Star 90" Eric Beale's career was build and destroyed by Dazzler (chronicled in the graphic novel Dazzler: The Movie). Now that she is back, he has every intention of paying her back.

[2-Stars] 261 - "Harriers Hunt" Wolverine, Jubilee and Psylocke run into Hardcase and the Harriers in Marc Silvestri's final issue as the regular penciler.

[3-Stars] 262 - "Scary Monsters" Banshee and Forge reach the Xavier Mansion (still in ruins from Inferno) in their search for the X-Men and missing Callisto. They find a bizarre group of Morlocks hunting X-Factor's Marvel Girl.

[3-Stars] 263 - "The Lower Depths" Forge recalls his time in Vietnam leading up to the death of his comrades while he mounts a rescue mission to save Marvel Girl, Banshee and Callisto from Masque's twisted Morlocks.

[3-Stars] 264 - "Hot Pursuit" The Genoshan Magistrates continue their illegal incursion into the United States as they hunt for Phillip Moreau and Jennifer Ransome. Officer Charlotte Jones, who makes her first appearance in X-Factor, reluctantly joins Beast, Marvel Girl, Forge and Banshee in a battle on the streets of New York City.

Era #5, Part 05: Psylocke

Grade: A+

This short run brings us two big firsts.  Jim Lee debuted with the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men #248, but his sophomore appearance gives us a glimpse into the style that will make him a comic superstar. In this Acts of Vengeance story, Jim Lee transforms Psylocke into a completely different (and much more popular) character that we know today.

Psylocke is back from her trip into the Siege Perilous with no memory and in the clutches of the Hand. The new leader of the infamous ninja order, Matsu'o Tsurayaba, sets in motion a plan to change the mutant sister of Britain's most iconic superhero into an Asian assassin for the long-time Iron Man villain, the Mandarin.

[4-Stars] 256 - "The Key That Breaks the Locke" With the secret, undetected influence of Mojo and Spiral, Matsu'o Tsurayaba and the Hand use sensory deprivation and psionic conditioning to mold an amnesiac Psylocke into Lady Mandarin, a deadly servant for the notorious crime lord, Mandarin.

[4-Stars] 257 - "I am Lady Mandarin" Wolverine and Jubilee reach Hong Kong looking for a place to recover and hide from the Reavers. They draw the attention of the criminal underworld and its new enforcer, Lady Mandarin. 

[4-Stars] 258 - "Broken Chains" Wolverine and Jubilee versus the Mandarin, the Hand and Psylocke!

Era #5, Part 04: New Mutants #77-85

Grade: B

The New Mutants are back in Asgard. We haven't covered the Asgardian Wars yet, but it is not a spoiler to reveal that this is a respectable sequel to that original, memorable adventure  (well, for most of them anyway). This time, the team becomes embroiled in a war in which Hela uses the Valkyrie (especially Dani Moonstar) to lead an attack on Odin while he is deep in his Odin Sleep. It is a fun eight part story that leads into the Acts of Vengeance.

[3-Stars] 77 - "Strange!" Dani's headache from Inferno becomes a raging fever with a mystical fire that engulfs both her and her horse, Brightwind. The New Mutants must seek the help of the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Doctor Strange! 

[3-Stars] 78 - "Let's Make a Deal!" The mystic fire that consumes Mirage and Brightwind turns them into a destructive force that the New Mutants (and a hidden Dr. Strange) must try to contain. Unfortunately, the conflagration draws the attention of Freedom Force. 

[3-Stars] 79 - "Asgard" Dr. Strange transports the New Mutants to Asgard in order to confront the source of Mirage's curse. Hela has possessed all the Valkyrie to build and lead a dark army against Odin. Boom Boom is having a difficult time adjusting to a new dimension, but the rest of the team is comforted when they run into an old friend and alley Eitri. The master forger is leading the dwarves in a doomed sneak attack against Valhalla. 

[3-Stars] 80 - "Curse of the Valkyries" Hela sends the captured New Mutants and dwarves to Hel where they find the wolf prince, Hrimhari. Hela also creates a magical barrier that divides Valhalla from Asgard splitting the heroes into two teams. 

[3-Stars] 81 - "Faith" It is a fill-in issue that focuses on Magma and her relationship with the Olympian gods. She meets the vain, boastful Avenger Hercules but refuses to acknowledge him as the true son of Zeus. Both learn a valuable lesson about faith in a touching story of mortality and acceptance.

[3-Stars] 82 - "The Road to Hel..." Half of the heroes are Hela's prisoners watching Eitri forced to forge a magical sword that the Mistress of the Darkness plans to use to kill Odin. The other half search for the legendary sorcerer, Tiwaz, in the land of the dangerous Frost Giants. 

[3-Stars] 83 - "The Quick and the Dead" Hela sees her plan move closer to fruition as Eitri finishes forging her magical sword, but new allies, such as the powerful sorcerer Tiwaz and the brave Balder, join a growing army ready to defend Asgard from the impending attack.

[3-Stars] 84 - "The Sword's Edge" The New Mutants and their allies remain divided but both teams focus their efforts on saving Dani and stopping Hela. The Warriors Three, Karnilla's stoned-turned subjects and Queen Ula's flying trolls strengthen the numbers guarding Asgard as Hela launches her attack. 

[3-Stars] 85 - "The Killing Stroke" It is an epic battle between the dark army led by the cursed Valkyrie and the unlikely alliance guarding Asgard. Hela unleashes a possessed Mirage with Eitri's enchanted sword. The New Mutants race to stop their longtime teammate from killing Odin while he is deep in his Odin Sleep.

Era #5, Part 03: Uncanny X-Men #251-255

Grade: A-

The X-Men are dead -- long live he X-Men! The slow dissolution of the team that started during the last run is complete. Those that are left disappear through the Siege Perilous to escape the Reavers who've returned stronger and ready for revenge.  With the X-Men gone, Donald Pierce and his cyborgs turn their attention to Muir Island forcing a new team to emerge. It is one of my favorite runs memorable for its casualties, the return of Storm and the rebuilding of the new X-Men.

[4-Stars] 251 - "Fever Dream" The Reavers are back under the leadership of Donald Pierce and Lady Deathstrike. They take back their old base while the X-Men are out. Psylocke sees the trap when they reappear, and she convinces her teammates to escape through the Siege Perilous. Wolverine returns to find himself alone against a savage band built to destroy their most hated foe. They are brutal and without mercy.

[4-Stars] 252 - "Where's Wolverine?" Wolverine finds an unlikely rescuer in the Californian hideaway, Jubilee. She hides him from the Reavers giving his overtaxed healing factor a chance to work. It may be too little, too late as the final surviving X-Men begins hallucinating.

[4-Stars] 253 - "Storm Warnings" A young girl is found in the center of a massive storm in Cairo, IL. FBI Agent Reisz begins investigating her when the hospital staff notice that she isn't a normal runaway, but he may be developing an unhealthy obsession in her capture. Storm is back as child and already on the run from a mysterious villain.

[4-Stars] 254 - "All-New, All-Different -- Here We Go Again" The Reavers target Muir Island in their hunt for Wolverine. Polaris, Amanda Sefton, Brigadier Alysande Stuart join Banshee and Sunder in defending the injured Morlocks within the facility.

[4-Stars] 255 - "Crash and Burn" Forge recruits a reluctant Freedom Force to look for the X-Men on Muir Island. They arrive in the middle of the battle against the Reavers. It is a conflict with deadly consequences for Freedom Force.

Era #5, Part 02: Uncanny X-Men #244-250

Grade: B

The X-Men begin falling apart after the events of Inferno. There is a short bit of fun as both the women and men let off some steam, but things quickly deteriorate setting the stage for a very memorable era. 

[3-Stars] 244 - "Ladies' Night" How do the X-Women cope with the stress of being isolated in the Australian outback?  Shopping!  Gateway transports Rogue, Storm, Dazzler and Psylocke to the Hollywood Mall where the ladies let off steam and deal with a minor nuisance called M-Squad (a Ghostbuster knock-off comprised of scientists that briefly appeared in Inferno). A young mutant mall-rat (the first appearance of Jubilee) secretly returns with them to the X-Men's hidden base half a world away.

[3-Stars] 245 - "Men!" The men deal with the recent tension with beer. They head to a local bar only to find themselves in the middle of an alien invasion. There are plenty of Easter Eggs and humor for the science-fictions aficionados.

[4-Stars] 246 - "The Days of Other Lights" Wolverine is the first to leave the team when he feels obligated to go on a personal mission. Psylocke spends time in the Big Apple with Carol Danvers in Rogue's body. Their respite is interrupted when Nimrod comes into contact with Master Mold merging the two mutant hunting machines into a new and immediate threat.

[4-Stars] 247 - "The Light That Failed" The X-Men join the battle against Master Mold now joined with the super sentinel from the future, Nimrod. Senator Kelly and his new wife are caught in the crossfire. It is a big battle that sees the first X-Man disappear into the Siege Perilous.

[3-Stars] 248 - "The Cradle Will Fall" Nanny and the Orphan Maker want to save the X-Men and (somehow) turn Havok, Dazzler and Psylocke into armored allies with childish minds. It is a weak story with some significant ramifications. Longshot continues to suffer from an identify crises after Inferno and decides to leave the X-Men, and the team lose another during the battle.

[3-Stars] 249 - "The Dane Curse" Polaris regains control of her body from Malice and calls the X-Men for help at the southern tip of Argentina. They are too late to help her discovering instead that the Savage Land Mutates under Zaladane got to her first.

[3-Stars] 250 - "The Shattered Star" The remaining X-Men join Ka'zar and Shanna against Zaladane and the Savage Land Mutates.

Era #5, Part 01: Judgement War

Grade: D

Walt Simonson's departure is sadly noticeable. Louise starts the run with a cute but odd story about trolls and gold. She then takes an unexpected left turn when the team is whisked away to a faraway planet where they must help warring factions repel the Celestials. X-Factor does not fit well in cosmic stories, and the Judgement War proves it.

There are some revelations buried in this otherwise forgettable period. I will lay out some spoilers. Baby Nathan develops the ability to create a telekinetic field to protect himself; Ship learns that it is a product of the Celestials; and we see the conclusion of the Jean/Maddie/Phoenix mind sharing thing. That is about it, so let's get to it.

[3-Stars] 41 - "Golden Boy!" X-Factor receives a call from London. They are no longer mutant hunters, but a mother calls them to find her mutant son who was kidnapped by trolls!

[3-Stars] 42 - "All That Glitters..." X-Factor versus the Troll Associates to save a young mutant with the power to change things into gold.

Note: Judgement War is a seven part story contained in issues 43-46 and 48-50.

[2-Stars] 43 - "Kidnapped!" Ship is controlled by an external entity taking X-Factor across the universe to a planet decimated by a war between the perfect "Chosen" and the deformed "Rejects".

[2-Stars] 44 - "Another World!" X-Factor is divided between the distant planet's warring factions. Beast travels with the Rejects while unconscious Jean is taken as a Reject prisoner.  Archangel is captured by the Chosen, and amnesiac Iceman is convinced that he is a "Dueler" (second class citizens of the Chosen). Cyclops finds himself with the Beginagins, a group of Chosen and Rejects working together. Meanwhile, the Celestials continue their silent watch over the planet.

[2-Stars] 45 - "Arena!" Archangel proves his worth in the Arena.  Iceman defends the honor of the Duelers by besting Archangel's captor, Lord Rask, setting the stage for a fight between the two X-Factor teammates. 

[2-Stars] 46 - "Exchange" Beast finds Jean placing him at odds with the Rejects. Lord Rask learns that the heir to the Chosen has been committing a crime of harboring a baby, Nathan. He uses that information to his advantage. 

[2-Stars] 47 - "Guardian" I am not usually a fan of fill-in stories, but I like this one. Archangel recalls an adventure in which he helps a young mutant boy overcome a manipulative father figure who runs a group of mutant street urchins. It is a dark story with themes more reminiscent of Cloak & Dagger, but it works with the brooding Archangel.

[2-Stars] 48 - "Common Ground!" Things heat up as the Chosen prepare for the much anticipated battle between Archangel and Iceman. The Rejects and the Beginagains meet as they prepare their assault on the city. They believe it is their last chance to save the world from the Celestials whose numbers slowly grow.

[2-Stars] 49 - "Power Struggle" Archangel versus Iceman! The entertainment is cut short when the Rejects and the Beginagains reach the Arena.

[2-Stars] 50a - "Judgement Day" Are the Chosen, Rejects and Beginagains ready to stand together to protect themselves against the Celestials' judgement?

50b - "Meanwhile, On Earth..." Loki attempts to recruit Apocalypse into the Acts of Vengeance turns into a battle between the two powerful villains. 

Starting Era #5: X-Tinction

The second part of the Uncanny X-Reading will take me from May 1989 to November 1991. At this point, I am now reading X-Men titles nearly exclusively, and I finally start my collection in January 1990 when I get to my first duty assignment in Augsburg, Germany as a soldier in the US Army. I pick up books at the local Stars & Stripes outside Quartermaster Kaserne. 

This marks the beginning of my life as an independent adult. I start the era with a growing confidence of a 19 year old learning a military trade at Fort Devens, Massachusetts where I meet and start dating Samantha. We marry on October 26, 1990 and have a great time at local beer festivals and exploring Europe trips at places Berchtesgarden and Barcelona (and several day trips back to Nuernberg).

I will be reading the following issues over the next few months: New Mutants #77-199, Uncanny X-Men #244-280, X-Factor #41-70, X-Force #1-4. Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix Limited Series), Asakani'Son (Limited Series), and Cable: Blood & Metal (Limited Series). The reading will be chronicled in about 15 posts.

X-Factor: Judgement War (41-50)
Uncanny X-Men (244-250)
Uncanny X-Men (251-255)
New Mutants (77-86)
Uncanny X-Men: Psylocke (256-258)
Uncanny X-Men (259-264)
X-Factor (51-59)
Uncanny X-Men (265-269)
Origin of Cable (Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix, Askani'Son & Cable)
Cable & the New Mutants (86-94)
X-Men Crossover Event: X-Tinction Agenda
Uncanny X-Men: Crossroads (273-277)
X-Factor (63-68)
A Force to be Reckoned With (New Mutants 98-100 & X-Force 1-4)

X-Men Crossover Event: Muir Island Saga

Ending Era #4: X-Factor

Era #4: B

I may've started reading the X-Men in third era, but this was this era that hooked me for life. Over the last five months, I've reread 142 classic issues that make up this memorable period of X-Men history, and I still found the stories fun to read. Chris Claremont continues his run as the Father of the X-Men while Louise Simonson is the cool Aunt. We see the historic first appearances of Apocalypse, Mr. Sinister, Marauders, Genosha, Cameron Hodge, and Archangel. We also witness the rebirth of the original X-Men (as X-Factor), the massacre in the Morlock tunnels, the true origin of Madelyne Pryor and the conclusion of the Illyana's troubles as Limbo's ruler.

New Mutants #35-76 (C+):   This run is not as good as the earlier stories, but there are still some gems.
Chris Claremont & Jackson "Butch" Guice (B-): Nine issues of solid story telling and artwork.
Louise Simonson & Bret Blevins (C+): I am not particularly taken with Bret's cartoon style, and I once read that Louise was directed to write to a younger audience.  Despite the minor disappointments, there is plenty to like in this sixteen issue run.

Uncanny X-Men #199-243 (B+): Read this run!
Chris Claremont & John Romita, Jr (B): John Romita Jr. is one of my favorite artists with a distinctive style.  He finishes his long run (which started with #175) with these final ten issues.
Chris Claremont & Marc Silvestri: (B+):  Marc Silvestri is another one of my favorites. He takes the reins continuing a tradition of excellence for this twenty issue run.

X-Factor #1-40 (B): It is a slow start with a great premise that finally gets going with the Simonsons.
Bob Layton & Jackson "Butch" Guice (C): Butch Guice provides his dependable art to scripts that fall a little short during this short four issue start.
Louise Simonson & Walt Simonson (B+): It is one of the most well-known husband and wife teams that puts some excitement and vigor into the title with a twenty-four issues that reshape the team.

X-Terminators (C+): The X-Factor wards get their own four part limited series that ties into Inferno told by Louise Simonson & Jon Bogdanove.

Era #4, Part 20: After Inferno

Grade: C-

OK, so technically, the Excalibur issues are part of Inferno, but since it doesn't really directly feed into either of the primary storylines, I think it fits here comfortably. There were a few other Inferno "tie-in" issues within the Marvel Universe that I didn't collect (or, more precisely, didn't care to collect), but I kept this goofier set from my the Excalibur collection that I eventually threw out.

The remaining issues in this run close out both Inferno and Era #4. Baby Nathan is back with his father (and Jean), and Magneto reverts back to form leaving the students without a headmaster.

Excalibur #6 - "Goblin Night" Rachel made a promise to always protect Nathan, so when she receives a psychic distress call from her little brother, she immediately races to New York City to save him. Her teammates follows as best they can only to find themselves in the grip of Inferno.

Excalibur #7 - "Goblin Morn!" Excalibur is caught up in the raging Inferno as Meggan becomes the Goblin Princess and Rachel is betrothed to Crotus.

[3-Stars] New Mutants #74 - "The Right Stuff" The New Mutants return the X-Terminators to their home, but Ship's reaction to Gosamyr's presence forces the team to make a final decision about her fate.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #40 - "Dust to Dust" Leech and Artie return to school with Taki while X-Factor sets out to find Jean's niece and nephew still under the influence of Nanny and the Orphan-Maker.

[3-Stars] New Mutants #75 - "King of the Hill" Magneto battles Sebastian Shaw for leadership of the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle. As Selena, Emma Frost and the New Mutants watch the two "Kings" fight on the ruins of the Xavier's School of Gifted Youngsters (destroyed during Inferno), they learn Magneto's original plans and direction for his former students.

[2-Stars] New Mutants #76 - "Splash!" With no school and no headmaster, the New Mutants look for temporary refuge with their new friends, the X-Terminators. Unfortunately, a leviathan has pulled Ship into the ocean after being accidentally summoned when the X-Factor wards who find and blow the Horn of Proteus. Namor, the Sub-Mariner guest stars in an issue that finally joins the two young teams.

Era #4, Part 19: Inferno

Grade: A

This took much longer than expected. I should've had something out 4 weeks ago, but once I fall behind, I tend to really fall behind. I am back on track -- I hope.

I should've also broken this particular run into two parts since there really are separate stories loosely connected through the machinations of the demon N'Astirh. Both the X-Factor wards (X-Terminators) and the New Mutants unwittingly unleash Limbo's demons upon a Manhattan already plagued by dark magic. Meanwhile, the X-Men race to Big Apple to confront the Marauders once and for all, but they soon learn that their biggest threat comes from within their own team and from the original X-Men -- X-Factor.

The seeds of Inferno were started way back in the Fall of the Mutants with a slow build up to a tale that addresses several different dangling storylines. We see the resolution of Illyana's longstanding battle for Limbo, and we finally learn more about Madelyne Pryor and her connection to Mr Sinister and his Marauders. We see the X-Men and X-Factor meet after so many close encounters , and the two sets of teenagers join forces for the first time. Sure, the events that unfolded in Inferno will be reinterpreted, twisted and muddled over the next several decades, but that simply goes to show the impact it had on the X-Men continuity.

[3-Stars] X-Terminators #3 - "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" The teenagers' search for their younger friends is complicated by attacking object brought to life by dark magic. Taki is forced to create a computer to process magical spells quicker allowing N'Astirh to open and maintain a portal to Limbo using innocent babies.

[4-Stars] New Mutants #71 - "Limbo" Magik teleports the team to Limbo but is unable to open a portal to Earth forcing the New Mutants to battle S'ym and his horde of transmode infected demons. They learn more about N'Astirh except his ultimate plan -- until it is too late.

[3-Stars] X-Terminators #4 - "Finale!" Demons rain down on Manhattan along with New Mutants. The two teams join forces to undo the damage they've done. X-Terminators attempt to save their young teammates and destroy Taki's computer that is keeping the portal to Limbo open.

[4-Stars] New Mutants #72 - "Demon Reign" N'Astirh and S'ym fight over Illyana as the Darkchilde. The rest of the team joins forces with the X-Terminators to undo the damage they've done. They take to the skies to rescue the innocent babies that make up the dimensional portal to Limbo.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #240 - "Inferno, Part the First: Strike the Match" The X-Men track the Marauders to the Morlock tunnels below demon plagued New York City. Maddie becomes Goblin Queen as she joins N'Astirh on a trip to Mr. Sinister's orphanage to find her son, Nathan Christopher.

[4-Stars] X-Factor #36 - "Transformations!" X-Factor is in New York City doing what they can to save people from the possessed objects and demons. Scott and Jean renew their search for baby Nathan, and Warren returns after dealing with Candy's death.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #241 - "Inferno, Part the Second: Fan the Flame" The X-Men begin to act more like the demons inhabiting New York City as they continue their battle against the Marauders. Maddie learns that she Mr. Sinister's clone of Jean Grey.

[4-Stars] X-Factor #37 - "A Matter of Honor" X-Factor versus the N'Astirh in an effort to save Nathan Christopher.

[4-Stars] New Mutants #73 - "The Gift" Magik's battle with S'ym sends the New Mutants back to Limbo. Colossus guest stars in this final chapter in Illyana's saga.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #242 - "Inferno, Part the Third: Burn!" Maddie convinces the darker X-Men that X-Factor is the enemy forcing the two teams to battle. Meanwhile, she strengthens her sway over Havok revealing that she is behind Inferno.

[4-Stars] X-Factor #38 - "Duet!" Jean versus the Goblin Queen as the X-Men and X-Factor finally learn the details of the connected and twisted past.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #243 - "Inferno, Part the Fourth: Ashes" The X-Men and X-Factor battle Mr. Sinister on the pyschic plane where Jean and and Maddie vie for dominance. The confrontation leads both teams back to the abandoned Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.

[4-Stars] X-Factor #39 - "Ashes to Ashes" X-Factor and X-Men in a final showdown with Mr. Sinister.

Era #4, Part 18: Igniting Inferno

Grade: C

New York City begins to feel the effects of the weakening wall with Limbo. A stifling heatwave strikes the Big Apple and inanimate objects begin attacking people. Inferno has been building in both the New Mutants and the Uncanny X-Men since the Fall of the Mutants. This collection puts the final pieces together.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #33 - "For All the World to See"  The kids go cloths shopping to prepare for boarding school. Despite the weirdness gripping NYC, a bigger story grabs the news, however.  The Alliance of Evil is back and violently protesting the Mutant Registration Act. They quickly draw the attention of both X-Factor and Freedom Force. Beast is back to help, and he is back to his old self -- blue, furry, and smart.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #34 - "Death!" Dark Angel's search for Candy Southern leads him to a trap set by Cameron Hodge and the Right. Demons join the battle as part of a Hodge's deal with the N'Astirh. Hodge provided the demon the location of an special orphanage with 13 mutant babies in exchange for immortality and power.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #35 - "Go to the Orphan Maker!" Scott and Jean's search for his son leads them to a special orphanage in Nebraska where Scott grew up. They arrive as a new threat has also infiltrated the secret laboratory housing mutant babies. She uses a band of "saved" children she calls The Lost Boys (and Girls) lead by the Orphan Maker to help her in her misguided quest to rescue even more mutant children. Demons arrive to make a bad situation worse.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #239 - "Vanities" Mr. Sinister laments the death of his enemy, the X-Men. As he examines each one, we learn a little more about the team before the Inferno starts. Storm and Wolverine learn that Jean Grey is still alive while Maddie gets much closer to her brother-in-law, Havok.  

[3-Stars] X-Terminators #1 - "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" Rusty turns himself in to the US Navy for going AWOL. Artie and Leech arrive at St Simon's to begin their education. They meet another lonely, orphaned boy, Taki, who learns that he is also a mutant. Rictor, Boom Boom and Skids are enrolled at a nearby prep school, the Phillips Academy. N'Astirh begins his search for 13 mutants babies. One of the demons, Crotus, kidnaps Artie and Leech mistakenly assuming they are infants (big eyes, small and bald). Taki is unable to stop the abduction, but he decides to do something when the adults don't believe him. He finds Rictor, Boom Boom and Skids and the four of them bust Rusty out of federal prison. 

[3-Stars] X-Terminators #2 - "Speed Demon!" Finding new uniforms and calling themselves the X-Terminators, the kids head towards New York City to find X-Factor. Crotus is close behind after he mistakenly assumes that Taki's computer skills to spell check actually means to check magical spells. Meanwhile, N'Astirh's other demons are much more successful in collecting mutant babies for their master.

Era #4, Part 17: X-Factor #27-32

Grade: C

The mutants of X-Factor are now considered by many to be heroes after their exploits saving the city during the Fall of the Mutants. With fame (and a large alien spacecraft) comes a new set of threats.

There are a few notable things that come out of this run. We learn that Apocalypse's ship is a sentient being who becomes part of the team (and part of the X-Men mythos). It looks like we finally get to the end of the year long subplot in which Beast lost his intellect and became "dumb" (let me stress "finally" -- man did that drag). Cyclops starts looking for his lost son, and the kids learn that they will be sent to a boarding school. We don't see much of "Dark Angel", but that will soon be remedied.

[2-Stars] 27 - "Gifts" The sudden fame includes a lot of Christmas gifts from grateful citizens for the X-Factor wards. They choose to donate them to the other children in much more need. Meanwhile, Jean visits her parents letting them know she is alive.

[3-Stars] 28 - "Countdown" X-Factor's new headquarters comes alive causing damage to the surrounding community and threatening X-Factor and the children. The ship is sentient and friendly, but it reveals that it's previous master, Apocalypse, still controls it with malicious instructions -- and ticking bomb ready to explode.

[3-Stars] 29 - "Fame!" X-Factor holds a press conference to calm fears about Ship and the danger it poses. A new villain has her eyes set on the Ship. Infectia can make ordinary people into mutants for a short period of time, and she sends three of these powerful "Anti-Bodies" to take Ship by force.

[3-Stars] 30 - "Kiss of Death!" Scott and Jean go to Dallas to learn what they can about Scott's missing son from Freedom Force. Infectia takes the opportunity to target Iceman in a new plot to take Ship. Beast and the kids try their best to foil her plans.

[3-Stars] 31 - "Kiss Off!" Infectia is nothing if not persistent. She doubles her efforts to kiss Iceman in order to make him one of her "Anti-Bodies".

[1-Star] 32 - "The Carbon Copy Avengers" Xartan aliens mimic the Avengers and determine that their biggest threat to world domination is X-Factor. I am not sure anybody has seen the Xartans since Journey Into Mystery #90 (March 1963), and I kinda wish I didn't see them here. This story is as silly as it sounds, and if wasn't for the story continuation, I would've thought this was just a fill-in issue. We learn that Beast is in a coma (as opposed to being dead) as a result of their battle with Infectia.

Era #4, Part 16: New Mutants #67-70

Grade: C

The New Mutants again disobey Magneto and leave on another adventure. This time, they travel into space to save Lila from a ruthless, emotionless merchant named Spyder. They also meet another one of Spyder's runaway acquisitions, Gosamyr, who is more than she first appears.

It isn't a bad story, but many of the elements are way to similar to previous issues. Spyder's use of bottled scents that he distills from other people to feel emotions was in interesting twist, but I still lament on the "deaging" of the New Mutants. This continues that downward spiral.

[3-Stars] 67 - "Promise" Cannonball promises not use his powers in order to get permission to attend Lila's concert. That promise prevents him from saving his girlfriend when Spyder's "accountants" crash the concert to reclaim Lila, property of the sinister space trader. 

[3-Stars] 68 - "Illusion!" The mysterious Gosamyr provides the New Mutants with a way to follow Spyder and save Lila. She only asks that they save her family from his clutches as well. The journey becomes a little more treacherous as the kids' emotions slowly turn them against each other.  

[3-Stars] 69 - "Bad Company" The New Mutants versus Spyder! 

[3-Stars] 70 - "Self-Fulfilling Prophesy" The New Mutants have their work cut out for them as they try to save Lila, Gosamyr's family and themselves from Spyder. Things get worse as Inferno approaches. Illyana has been permanently transformed into the Darkchylde and Limbo is almost to her. Meanwhile, Magneto and the Hellfire Club witness a demonic possession of item in New York City.

Era #4, Part 15: Uncanny X-Men #235-238

Grade: A-

Chris Claremont introduces us to the island nation of Genosha. Found along Africa's Eastern coast between Madagascar and Seychelles, Genosha is an advanced society of technological wonder that was built and maintained using mutant slaves called mutates. Any citizen found to be a "genejoke" is given a number, fitted in a permanent skin-suit and sent to the Genegineer to be genetically modified as a passive and obedient drone. The entire system is ruthlessly protected by a police force known as the Magistrates.

I really like the stories in which we see different ways society tries to deal with people who are different. Genosha serves as an allegory (to an extreme measure) of South Africa's Apartheid system. It also becomes a focal point for other great stories, but no need for spoilers now.

[4-Stars] 235 - "Welcome to Genosha" A baby born to mutant slaves was smuggled into Australia from Genosha. Jenny Ransome is a mutant Genoshan in Australia working as a nurse. The Magistrates have been dispatched to retrieve both of them. The Press Gang, an elite Magistrate team made up of cooperative and free mutants, lead the operation, but when they incidentally grab Maddie as part of their trap, they draw the attention of the X-Men.

[4-Stars] 236 - "Busting Loose" Wolverine, Rogue and Maddie are "guests" of Genosha learning what happens to mutants found on the small island nation. Meanwhile, their teammates continue to battle the Magistrates in Australia eventually discovering Genosha's dark secret.

[4-Stars] 237 - "Who's Human?" The Genegineer's son, David Moreau, is having a hard time accepting that because his fiance, Jenny Ransome, is a mutant, she will become a slave. Drunk, he picks a fight with some Magistrates landing himself on a slave train bound for a mutate camp. It is up to the fugitive (and powerless) Wolverine and Rogue to rescue him.

[4-Stars] 238 - "Gonna Be A Revolution" The arc comes to a close with the X-Men leaving their mark in Genosha.  They take the fight to the Magistrates in order to find their missing teammates. Wolverine and Rogue help David Moreau understand the depth of Genosha's mutate program, and Genegineer tries to understand how his lab is destroyed by Maddie when his team attempts to turn her into a mutate. I was a little disappointed with the ending to an otherwise phenomenal story.

Era #4, Part 14: Day of Wrath

Grade: C

The Brood are back, and they are looking for revenge. Captured in X-Men vs. The Brood - Day of Wrath, this run deals with a Brood plan to use mutants to host their invading forces. I am not a huge fan of the Brood in large part to their close similarity with Alien. The Brood giving themselves individual supervillain names was unexpected (and silly) since they are all part of a hive mind, but the story ended stronger than I expected.

The arc also advances a subplot with Maddie. She catches a news report in which she learns that her husband, Cyclops, is alive and with none other than his former lover (and supposedly dead) Jean Grey! The demon S'ym arrives when she is most vulnerable setting in motion a plan that will eventually culminate in Inferno.

[3-Stars] 232 - "Earthfall" The Brood begin their infection with a small group of campers in New Mexico. The sole survivor of that initial encounter flees carrying the egg of a Brood Queen. The X-Men find him in Denver infecting mutants to form a super-powered army.

[3-Stars] 233 - "Down of Blood" The X-Men battle the mutant Brood over Denver.

[3-Stars] 234 - "Glory Day" The X-Men and Brood battle reaches the Red Rock Amphitheater where Reverend William Connover prepares to speak. He is drawn into the battle helping the infected Wolverine. I really like how this issue shows a minister taking a stand against mutant discrimination since it seemed that in past stories, religious figures (such as William Stryker) viewed mutants as an abomination without seeing the inconsistency of their beliefs. Reverend Connover, however, makes it clear even before the fight or meeting his first mutant that he will not allow intolerant language from his staff and that he views mutants as God's children like every other human. Refreshing.

Era #4, Part 13: Uncanny X-Men #228-231

My Grade: C+

The X-Men are dead to the world, and they need a place to hide from friends, family and enemies in order to keep their secret. This run slows the pace a little after the Fall of the Mutants providing some nice fill-in stories and giving us more specifics about their "death".  

[3-Stars] 228 - "Deadly Games" It is a Dazzler solo story in which she recalls an earlier adventure.  She and Wolverine help out an old friend, bounty hunter O.Z. Chase, from being framed for a crime committed by a Russian mutant drug dealer.

[4-Stars] 229 - "Down Under" The X-Men's first mission after their "death" is stop the Reavers, a band of cybernetic criminals robbing people across globe. This issue introduces the mysterious Gateway and a new base of operations -- in the Australian Outback. Roma makes an appearance long enough to give them the magical portal called the Siege Perilous that allows those who pass through it a new beginning. She also explains that their gift part of their gift, they are no longer visible to any electronic device.  

[2-Stars] 230 - "T'Was the Night..." The X-Men deliver much of the Reaver loot back to their original owners in this Christmas story.

[3-Stars] 231 - "Dressed for Dinner" Gateway sends Colossus to Limbo to see his sister, Magik. She believes she conjured a magical facsimile of her brother from the other side to help her rescue the New Mutants from the Baba Yaga. It is a touching story that again foreshadows Inferno.

Era #4, Part 12: New Mutants #62-66

My Grade: C

Fall of the Mutants exacts a heavy toll on the New Mutants. Doug Ramsey (aka Cypher) and X-Men are dead. It is an overwhelming lose, so it is no surprise that Illyana deals with her pain by looking for revenge for her brother's sacrifice.

[3-Stars] 62 - "To Build a Fire" Magma may be a Hellion, but she finally gets her own solo story. It feels like a fill-in story (which I normally don't like), but this one well worth the read. Empath joins her in a trip to her home, Nova Roma, buried deep in the Amazon. Their plane crashes leaving the two to find through the jungle alone while learning more about each other.

[1-Star] 63 - "Redemption" This is another fill-in issue, and it is disappointing. Magik takes time away from her studying to tell Kitty Pryde a story of when she was alone fighting imitation X-Men. The issue provides no additional character or story insight.

[3-Stars] 64 - "Instant Replay!" After two fill-in issues, the story resumes with the students bringing Doug's body back to the school. Magneto and Doug's parents take the news hard, but it is Wolfsbane and Warlock have a the most difficult time accepting the permanence of his loss. Warlock's demonstration of love is a little too creepy making this story very uncomfortable and awkward.

[3-Stars] 65 - "Demons!" Illyana wants justice. Colossus and the X-Men sacrificed their lives in the Fall of the Mutants, and she blames Forge. The magic was too powerful for her to intervene earlier, but she is now able to teleport to Dallas, and her teammates follow along to keep her out of trouble. When they get there, however, they must first face Freedom Force.

[3-Stars] 66 - "Sorcerer's Duel!" It is a showdown between Illyana and Forge! The entire battle foreshadows Inferno.

Era #4, Part 11: Fall of the Mutants (New Mutants)

My Grade: C

Louise Simonson takes over the title from Chris Claremont, and she is given a new direction from the editors. I once read an interview in which she explained that she was told to make the New Mutants "younger". I am not a fan of the results.

Her first arc introduces Bird Boy (AKA Bird Brain). It is a very lighthearted story -- at least until the end. The students have mutant powers and some experience as superheroes making them feel invincible. There is a hard lesson that they need to learn.

[2-Stars] 55 - "Flying Wild!" Lila Cheney is throwing a party, and she invites the New Mutants. Sam's insecurity gets him into trouble when intergalactic criminals attempt to use him to pressure Lila to steal something for them. They provide Sam with drugs to boost his confidence and the results aren't pretty.

[2-Stars] 56 - "Scavenger Hunt!" Cannonball's misadventure in the last issue resulted in the accidental release of a creature the government found floating in the North Atlantic. The Hellions take the opportunity to challenge the New Mutants again. It is a not-so-friendly competition to see who can capture "Bird-Boy" first. 

[2-Stars] 57 - "Birds of a Feather" Now that they have Bird-Boy, they must figure out what to do with him. Meanwhile, Magma leaves the New Mutants to join the Hellions.

[2-Stars] 58 - "A Bird in the Hand" Doug finally learns how to communicate with the Bird-Boy and learns that he needs to get back to his friends before the "time of testing". The New Mutants interrupt studying for their finals to find Bird-Boy's home. 

[3-Stars] 59 - "Fang and Claw!" Sunspot and Warlock return to the school but miss their teammates who already reached the hidden North Atlantic island called Paradise, the home of the a mad (and more than little unstable) Ani-Mator and his human/animal creations, the Ani-Mates. It is the New Mutants meet The Island of Doctor Moreau.

[3-Stars] 60 - "Suspended Ani-Mation" The New Mutants try to help the Ani-Mates rebel against the Ani-Mator, but things go from bad to worse when Cameron Hodge and the Right arrive to check up on their investment. It is a three way battle that ends badly for everybody -- especially the New Mutants. Doug Ramsey, Cypher, is killed while trying to protect Wolfsbane.

[3-Stars] 61 - "Our Way!" The New Mutants sadly return home with Doug's body to face Magneto. They learn that the X-Men are also dead.

Era #4, Part 10: Fall of the Mutants (X-Men)

My Grade: A

Like X-Factor, the X-Men are significantly changed by the Fall of the Mutants. This starts small with a realization by Storm that she needs her powers back to deal with increasing threats facing the X-Men. This means that she must finally confront her former lover, Forge, who developed the weapon that removed her powers. Her journey leads to deadly confrontation with demonic forces and the death of the X-Men.

[3-Stars] 220 - "Unfinished Business" Storm goes to Dallas to find Forge but discovers his corporate headquarters abandoned.  Naze, the Cheyenne shaman who mentored Forge in the mystic arts, arrives and convinces the X-Man that the only way to find the missing Maker is to go on a visionquest.

[4-Stars] 221 - "Death by Drowning" Remember when Rogue was a villain who battled Dazzler? Dazzler does, and the two finally have it out. Wolverine is in charge of the team while Storm is on her visionquest and sends them to San Francisco to protect Maddie from the Marauders (yep, that would be Cyclop's missing wife). We got drama, a big battle and the first appearance of Mr. Sinister!

[4-Stars] 222 - "Heartbreak" The X-Men battle the Marauders while Storm battles Eye Killer demons in her visionquest.

[3-Stars] 223 - "Omens and Portents" Naze falls ill leaving Storm to finish her visionquest alone. Destiny of Freedom Force has a prognostic vision that the X-Men will die in Dallas!

[3-Stars] 224 - "The Dark Before the Dawn" Storm finds Forge while being attacked by a hoard of demons, but has she been been fooled about the real goal of her mission? Rogue shares Destiny's vision with the team, and they determine that they must go to Storm. That means going to Dallas.

[4-Stars] 225 - "False Dawn" Colossus is back! Roma, Guardian of the Omniverse, visits the Russian mutant while he recovery in Scotland from his earlier injuries that makes it difficult for him to transform from his organic steel form. She leaves him a sign that he must go back to the X-Men who are now at Forge's Dallas headquarters. They have a difficult time entering the abandoned building armed with an automated defense system, but things get worse when Freedom Force arrives with a warrant for their arrest in an attempt to save them from fate of Destiny's vision.

[5-Stars] 226 - "Go Tell the Spartans" X-Men versus Freedom Force until reality is upended by strong magic. The two teams call a truce so that they can save innocent civilians from dinosaurs, barbarians and other out-of-time dangers. Their efforts are captured on film by reporter, Neal Conan (who is actually a real journalist for NPR and friend of Chris Claremont). Storm and Forge spend a year in a beautiful prison dimension built just for them knowing that they must return and face the Adversary.

[4-Stars] 227 - "The Belly of the Beast" The X-Men realize that to end the devastation and return Dallas to normal reality, they must find Forge within in his headquarters now filled with demons and the horrors of the Vietnam War. They eventually make it through the Adversary's defenses and confront the immortal Trickster, but in the end, the only way to save the world is to carry out Destiny's vision.

Nightcrawler and Shadowcat are the only X-Men left. They later join Rachel (who disappeared way back in issue #209) and Captain Britain in forming a new team in the UK called Excalibur.  I originally tried to collect Excalibur but eventually dropped it and sold most of the comics because the heavy involvement in the Omniverse which I found silly. I learned to stay away from Roma and Omniverse (mainly because they confuse me), but the Fall of the Mutants kept it to a tolerable minimum.

Era #4, Part 09: Fall of the Mutants (X-Factor)

My Grade: B

The X-Men's second big "event" is the The Fall of the Mutants. It isn't really a crossover but rather three independent stories each with very lasting consequences. The X-Factor portion is the only one that includes external tie-in issues from other Marvel titles such as Power Pack, Daredevil, Captain America and Fantastic Four.

At the end of X-Factor #17, Bobby makes an announcement to the world that people should know mutants by their deeds. It becomes the theme of this run in which X-Factor is challenged from within and without. The series continues to get great marks from me as the tension doesn't let up and marks the end of their "mutant hunters" guise.

Cameron Hodge springs his trap.  He orchestrated Cyclop's psychological descent in the last run through carefully placed remarks and the use of holograms that Scott took for hallucinations. Cameron was also responsible for the court order that removed Angel's wings as well as the legally assuming control of all the X-Factor assets and money being name primary beneficiary in Warren's will. The final revelation came when the team learned that Cameron created and leads the real mutant hunting organization called the Right. I really like the Right as a militant anti-mutant force, the "smiley face" armor is just too goofy.

Meanwhile, Apocalypse recruits four mutants to become his "Horsemen" and tests X-Factor to determine if they are worthy. The encounter leaves a deep, lasting mark on the team and New York City.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #18 - "The Enemy Within!" Cameron's steady manipulation of Cyclop's perception results in an all out battle between Cyclops and Marvel Girl!

[4-Stars] X-Factor #19 - "All Together Now!" Apocalypse releases three of his Horsemen upon X-Factor. The fight draws unwanted attention as Iceman's uncontrolled power (thanks to Loki) creates a huge block of ice in Central Park and leaves Beast very sick. It is later learned that Pestilences infected him with a disease that slowly decreases his intelligence each time he uses his increased strength.

[2-Stars] X-Factor #20 - "Children's Crusade" The X-Factor's Wards decide to help out in some small way by cleaning up Central Park.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #21 - "For Every Action..." X-Factor and Cameron Hodge attend the reading of Warren's will when they are attacked by soldiers of the Right posing as villainous mutants.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #22 - "If I Should Die..." A second squad of The Right storm X-Factor Headquarters in an effort to kidnap the Wards while X-Factor is still out.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #23 - "You Say You Want Some Evolution?" X-Factor versus Cameron Hodge and the Right.

[5-Stars] X-Factor #24 - "Masks" Apocalypse transports X-Factor to his hidden ship floating above New York City. He reveals his fourth Horseman -- Warren Worthington III is back as Death!

[5-Stars] X-Factor #25 - "Judgement Day!" Apocalypse sends his Horesemen to wreak havok on New York City. X-Factor does their best to stop assault but damage the Ship's stabilization in the process creating more mayhem and the large vessel spins out of control.

Power Pack #35 - "Life or Death" The Power kids are grounded but the war waging over New York City brings them out to help where they can. Their attempt to find their mother stuck in the subway brings them face to face with Pestilence. They also meet X-Factor and play a critical role in limiting the destruction of the Ship's crash landing.

Daredevil #252 - "Ground Zero" Apocalypse's Ship spinning out of control has caused panic in the New York City streets below. With the power out, buildings toppling, explosions booming (thanks to War) and people become ill (from Pestilence), people fear that the city has been hit by a nuclear bomb. Street criminal Ammo rallies a small army to seize control in the chaos, and it is up to Daredevil, Black Widow and the NYPD to quell the violence.

Captain America #339 - "America is Scorched!" Apocalypse sends his Horsemen Famine to the American heartland to destroy farms, crops and cattle. The Captain, Demolition Man, Falcon and Nomad intercept her devastating path of decay during their flight back from Las Vegas. I am confused as to why the government sends the new Captain America and Nomad to the Kansas rather than New York City.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #26 - "Casualties" NYPD is sent to arrest X-Factor but instead work with the mutants to save people from the wreckage, fires and confusion of their recent clash against Apocalypse.

Fantastic Four #312 - "The Turning Point!" X-Factor's Ticker-Tape parade through New York City celebrating their victory over Apocalypse and their assistance afterwards is interrupted by an attack. Kristoff Vernard, believing he is Dr. Doom, sends Latverian storm-troopers to take the real Dr. Doom who is under the protection of the Black Panther and the Fantastic Four. Dr. Doom seizes the opportunity to force his defenders and X-Factor to help him regain his throne.