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.