Starting Era #6: Fatal Attractions

It is time to move onto Era #6 from October 1991 through December 1993. I start this period still stationed Augusburg, Germany picking up my books at the Stars & Stripes bookstore on Quatermaster Kaserne. I am reassigned to Fort Irwin, California in September 1993 where I am lucky enough to find an independent comics vendor at the AAFES Post Exchange.

The biggest change in my life is in the birth our first daughter, Victoria, in October 1992. The pregnancy is difficult with Samantha in the Zentralklinkikum for weeks in an attempt to manage her toxemia. Victoria is premature, so she is also a long-term resident at the Augsburg hospital.  It is an extremely stressful time in our lives that we are thankful turned out for the best.  We were (and still are) extremely proud and happy parents!

I was still dealing with anger issues, but I started to focus a little more focused on my career. I was promoted to Specialist (E-4) back in September 1990. I eventually start cracking the books after Tori is born to prepare myself for advancement. I graduate from the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC) in April 1993, and I am picked up for Sergeant weeks before I leave Augsburg in September 1993.

Fort Irwin was a duty assignment unlike any I've ever had. I was posted to the National Training Center (NTC) as a member of the Opposing Forces (OPFOR). I earn the Honor Graduate of my OPFOR Academy class and spend the next year in the field almost as much as I am at home with Samantha or Tori in neighboring Barstow, California.

The X-Men titles undergo a major reshuffling. Jim Lee takes the helm of both the Uncanny X-Men (with Whilce Portacio) and the newest title X-Men (v2). They divide the large roster into two teams: the Gold Team lead by Storm (as told in Uncanny X-Men) and the Blue Team lead by Cyclops (as told in X-Men (v2)). Peter David takes the reins of X-Factor creating a team that works for the US Government under Dr. Valerie Cooper. I eventually drop the title later because it is becomes a little too silly for me. Rob Liefeld was already tapped to write X-Force stories.

It is a big start to a rollercoaster ride as the X-Men reach dizzying heights of popularity. Big event crossovers, cover gimmicks and market flooding become very predominate in this era. Chris Claremont walks away after pinning his last story in X-Men (v2) #1-3 saying that he will never return. He will be back within a decade but never reach the fame he did during his historic 30 year run.

X-Men: Mutant Genesis (1-7)
Uncanny X-Men: Coming of Bishop (281-287)
X-Force: Under the Gun (5-15)
X-Men: Brood Trouble in the Big Easy (8-11)
Uncanny X-Men #288-293 & X-Men #12-13
Cable: Blood & Metal Limited Series
X-Men Crossover Event: X-Cutioner's Song
X-Men Crossover Event: Fatal Attractions (Part 1)
X-Men: A Skinning of Souls (17-24)
X-Men Crossover Event: Fatal Attractions (Part 2)
X-Men Crossover Event: Fatal Attractions (Part 3)

X-Force: Assault on Graymalkin (19-25)

X-Men Crossover Event: Fatal Attractions (Part 4)

Gambit Limited Series

X_Men Crossover Event: Bloodties

Ending Alt 4935: Askani

Alt 4935:  C+

Let's recap. Rachel Summers emerges from the timestream 2,000 years in the future where she learns that Apocalypse has won and now ruthlessly rules North America. She forms a resistance movement called the Askani (for "outsider") and spends a few years preparing her followers to go back in time to grab and save baby Nathan shortly after he contracts the Techno Virus (back in X-Factor #68).

Apocalypse's forces led by the prelate Ch'Vayre attack the Askani cloister knowing that the baby has arrived. The Askani make a clone of the baby just in case Nathan dies, but in the historic assault, Ch'Vayre takes the clone thinking it is the real baby. Rachel retrieves Cyclops and Phoenix to protect and train baby Nathan as his foster parents Slym and Redd.

Apocalypse reveals his plans to use the baby to host his body when it is mature enough. Ch'Vayre has a crisis of faith since the young boy, Stryfe, has become cruel and destructive. This is not part of the "survival of the fittest" he grew up with, so Ch'Vayre joins Cyclops and Phoenix in bringing down Apocalypse.

Slym and Redd return to their own time, and Nathan continues to have adventures with his new friends and allies. The New Canaanites take over for Apocalypse and are also interested in destroying the Askani. Nathan becomes Cable, leader of Clan Chosen before his "first appearance" in New Mutants #86.

As I mentioned when we started Alt #4935, this is not my favorite alternative reality, but it does seem to tie up all the loose threads we've read in Era #5 and Era #6.

Two additional notes. I decided to place Cable: Blood and Metal into Era #6. After reading it, I realized it adds more to the main plot than it does to the Alt 4935. I also added a cover of X-Men: Books of Askani. This is an encyclopedia style issue describing each of the main characters and groups. The write-ups do not really add to the overall story, but the artistic renditions are fantastic.

X-Men: Phoenix (D): John Francis Moore and Pascal Alixe give us just enough to prevent this limited series from disappearing into obscurity.

The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (A-): Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha created a much better story than I originally gave them credit for. I was particularly drawn to the tragic crisis of faith suffered by Ch'Vayre.

Askani'Son (C): Jeph Loeb joins Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha in this sequel that does not meet the quality or depth of its predecessor.

Alt 4935, Part 3: Askani'Son

Grade: C

The success of the 1994 limited series The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix led to a sequel in 1996, but Scott Lobdell and Gene Ha were unable to rekindle the magic.

With his "parents" Slym and Redd returned to their own time, Nate is left to travel a new world with his best friend, Tetherblood. Apocalypse has been defeated leaving a power vacuum filled by ruthless mutants called the New Canaanites. The despotic regime renews the search to find and destroy what is left of the Askani Sisterhood.

This follow-on story is not as deep as its predecessor, but it does explain the final pieces of the Askani lore (New Canaanites, Clan Chosen, etc). I am still not sure how the sentient being know as the "Professor" finds its way into Nate, but everything else (mostly) makes sense in a boring, expected way.

[3-Stars] 1 - "The Shadow Lengthens" Nate is an angry young man unable to show much restraint. He openly disrespects an Askani teacher, known as the Fossil, in front of a growing congregation looking for hope. Nate also draws the unwanted attention of the ambitious Straitor Umbridge who arrests the rebellious youth. While in New Canaanite custody, Nate's techno virus threatens to consume him again, but he receives assistance from a longtime Askani follower. Blaquesmith instructs Nate to find the last Askani cloister.

[3-Stars] 2 - "A Tiny Spark" Nate and Tetherblood continue to create problems for the New Canaanites, but Blaquesmith returns to sternly remind Nate that he needs to find the last Askani in Ebonshire. Straitor Umbridge covertly joins a pirate ship to find Ebonshire and lead a final assault on the hidden cloister. Stryfe also makes his way to find and destroy the Askani.

[3-Stars] 3 - "An Ember Glows..." Nate reaches Ebonshire but stop his quest when he finds a wreckage of a pirate ship. Its sole survivor is attacked by the dangerous Daegon. Straitor Umbridge continues her ruse as a pirate not revealing that she is a rising member of the New Canaanites. A young Askani novitiate Aliya assumes Nate is also a pirate but helps him and Umbridge taking them to the Askani's slightly insane leader, Madame Sanctity.

[3-Stars] 4 - "A Bright and Shining Light" Madame Sanctity proclaims Nate as the Askani'Son, but he is not interested in being a messiah. He wants to learn how to use his powers, and it is Blaquesmith who reveals that it is Aliya that will be his mentor. New Canaanites and Stryfe attack the last Askani cloister in this limited series ender that brings together the Clan Chosen.

Alt 4935, Part 2: Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix

Grade: A-

I've grown to really like this limited series. I was not originally a fan, but I could not put it down this time around. It is a good tale that finally explains what happened to Nathan after X-Factor #68. Cyclops and Phoenix are brought to the distant future by their daughter (from yet another alternate timeline) to raise and protect a child that they thought they lost.

It is a future in which Apocalypse rules. We see this world through the eyes of his most loyal acolyte, Ch'Vayre. The prelate watches with disappointment as the mutant caste descent into decadents, and he worries about his leader's obsession to use Stryfe to defy death. It is no longer "survival of the fittest".

Gene Ha's unique style brings a distinctive touch to a well-written story. I was particularly drawn to Ch'Vayre and his growing disillusionment of a society and a leader that grew cruel and complacent generations after their victory.

**SPOILER ALERT**
This story opens with the Cyclops and Phoenix on their honeymoon. The couple get married in X-Men (v2) #30 which we won't be reading until Era #7. We will also see the possible origins of the Legacy Virus. We will see a lot of this deadly mutant plague from Era #6 through Era #9.  

[4-Stars] 1 - "Wish You Were Here!" Rachel pulls the telepathic essences of Cyclops and Phoenix into the future placing them into bodies that roughly mimic their own. The genetic matching provides them with limited versions of their powers they will need to protect Nathan. Taking the names Slym and Redd, they learn that the Askani cloned their son in case the techno-virus claims his life. The reunion is short as Prelate Ch'Vayre leads Apocalypse's overwhelming forces in an assault against the peaceful Askani cloister. The attack is designed to finally destroy the last resistance against Apocalypse and to take Nathan.

[4-Stars] 2 - "Tenure" It is years after the Askani massacre. Rachel is in a coma from the attack. Slym and Redd escaped with baby Nathan and now live among the humans secretly teaching their son how to control his powers. They also join a human resistance led by the enigmatic and influential cyborg known as Prior Turrin. Ch'Vayre took the cloned baby, he names Stryfe, believing it was Nathan cured of the techno-virus. The trusted prelate now worries that Stryfe is growing up too fast and becoming too violent and sadistic. Apocalypse reveals that he is deliberating accelerating the young mutant's abilities. The immortal desperately needs a new host body that will be strong enough to hold his power without burning out.

[4-Stars] 3 - "Through The Years" Eight years have passed and both Nathan and Stryfe continue to learn how to use their powers each tough by their respective "parents". Prior Turrin leads the human resistance in mission within an Apocalypse lab where Slym and Redd find an early version of the Legacy Virus. Unfortunately, the raid is a trap set by Ch'Vayre leading to a dealy firefight. It is during this battle that Nathan and Stryfe meet for the first time.

[4-Stars] 4 - "Sacrifice" Nathan's techno-virus nearly consumes him, but he has help from an unexpected source. Rachel has been guiding her brother from her coma. Her final lesson teaches him how to use his power to maintain a balance within his body. Slym tells Nathan that he will be the Cable that binds mutants past and present to Xavier's Dream. Meanwhile, Ch'Vayre decides it is time to stop Apocalypse from claiming Stryfe as his new host. The prelate joins Slym and Redd in a final attack against the immortal dictator.

Alt 4935, Part 1: Phoenix

Grade: D

I may have already mentioned that Rachel Summers is not one of my favorite X-Men, so I picked this title for the sole purpose of learning more about the Askani timeline. John Francis Moore delivered just enough on that front with only one obvious continuity error, but he does not provide any real character development or deeper insight. The uninspired story is drawn by Pascal Alixe whose art I do not like.

The series ties things together from different bits and pieces revealed through the years. It explains the origin of Clan Askani, Blaquesmith and Ch'Vayre. The only obvious inconsistency involves Madame Sanctity. The story implies that she is from this timeline (a child they saved in the third issue) though all other references identify her as Tanya Trask from Earth-616.

[2-Stars] 1 - "Askani Rising Part One" Rachel has been a prisoner in the timestream as a result of earlier Excalibur story. She emerges 2,000 years in the future to find a world in which Apocalypse and his mutant prelates ruthlessly rule over humans. Diamanda Nero is his most trusted high counselor who takes great joy in eliminating any challenge to mutant dominance.

[2-Stars] 2 - "Askani Rising Part Two: Contagion" Rachel forms a new resistance movement called the Asakani (for "outsider"). They confront Diamanda Nero whose power continues to grow.

[2-Stars] 3 - "Askani Rising Conclusion: Sacrifice" Diamanda Nero wants to possess Phoenix Force to become more powerful than Apocalypse, so she sets up a confrontation with Rachel and the Askani.

Starting Alt 4935: Askani

Comic book stories are full of alternate timelines and "what if" scenarios. There are so many, that it can be challenging to keep up them straight. Marvel tracks their "multiverse" by designated each reality with its own numeric value. A better description can be found at Marvel Multiverse on Wiki and the Complete Marvel Multiverse List.  Two of the best known are:

• Earth-616 (Marvel Universe): the reality in which most Marvel comics exist.
• Earth-199999 (Marvel Cinematic Universe): the reality in which most of the Marvel comic movies exist 

Most of the divergent timelines are part of the normal reading, but there are some cases in which we will focus solely on an alternate reality:

• Earth-295 (Age of Apocalypse): I see at least two times in which we will delve into this dystopian future.
• Earth-928 (Marvel 2099): X-Men 2099 fits in this reality set in the future
• Earth-1610 (Ultimate Marvel): A completely revision of the Marvel universe which includes Ultimate X-Men
• Earth-4935 (Earth Askani): covering the origin of Cable

Our first foray into alternate timelines fits perfectly here before we start Era #6. Much of Earth Askani will be explored in Cable's solo title (which I will not be reading), but four limited series in the 1990s provide answers to some of the questions raised in Era #5:

• Where did the mysterious Cable come from before his first appearance in New Mutants #86?
• What happened to baby Nathan Summers after he was sent to the future in X-Factor #68?
• Why does Styfe look like Cable as revealed in New Mutants #100? 
• How do Domino, G.W. Bridge and Kane know Cable?

These four titles do not fit seamlessly making Earth Askani my least favorite of the alternative timelines. Still, I wanted to know more about Cable, and in that regard, these stories provided me with a good enough foundation to be conversant.

• X-Men: Phoenix (1999 Limited Series)
• Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix (1994 Limited Series)
• Askani'Son (1996 Limited Series)
• Cable: Blood & Metal (1992 Limited Series)

Ending Era #5: X-Tinction

Era #5: B-

Era #3 and Era #4 introduced and then hooked me, but I started collecting the X-Men titles in Era #5. I've reread 96 issues over the last six months (which delayed due to a short hiatus). Chris Claremont continues to provide solid stories, but a wave of new talent begins to change the direction of each title. We will talk briefly about some of those big names -- Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld ,Whilce Portacio and even Marc Silvestri -- later. Notable first appearances in this Era include Jubilee, Gambit, Cable, Shatterstar, Domino, Feral, Deadpool, Matsu'o Tsurayaba, Stryfe, MLF, and a completely different Psylocke. 

New Mutants #77-100 (B): Things pick up from the last era starting with students returning to Asgard and ending with soldiers preparing for war. 

Louise Simonson & Bret Blevins (B): It may seem odd, but the New Mutants in Asgard makes for some pretty fun tales.  

Louise Simonson & Rob Liefeld (B): Enter Cable, a new headmaster with a different interpretation of Xavier's Dream.

Rob Liefeld & Fabian Nicieza (A-): Without Louise's sensible approach, Rob and Fabian completely reshape the team both in roster and mission. They create what I can only categorize as a "guilty pleasure".

Uncanny X-Men #244-280 (B): Another great run by Chris Claremont.

Chris Claremont & Marc Silvestri (B): It is the final 12 issues of Marc Silvestri's historic run.

Chris Claremont & Jim Lee (B+): This run is one of the primary reasons Jim Lee has such a huge fan base.

X-Factor #41-70 (C): It might start slow, but X-Factor ends exceptionally well!

Louise Simonson & Paul Smith (F+): I do not like Paul Smith's art. It reminds me more of a throwback to earlier Marvel comics during the current age of distinctive styles are sought by more readers.

Louise Simonson & Terry Shoemaker (D): I am also not a big fan of Terry Shoemaker's adequate art or the stories he seems to take.

Louise Simonson & Jon Bogdanove (B): A continued collaboration (remember X-Terminators?). 

Jim Lee & Whilce Portacio (A+): Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio!  'Nuff Said.

X-Force #1-4 (B+):  Rob Liefeld & Fabian Nicieza continue their journey into everything bad about comics of this period: big guns, over-the-top violence, and inauthentic dialog. It caters to the fanboy, and I loved every minute of it. 

Era #5, Part 14: Muir Island Saga

Grade: B-

It is the final showdown with the Shadow King. The powerful telepath has been the major villain of Era #5 consolidating his power base on Muir Island. This chapter brings the X-Men and X-Factor together in order to reshape both for the next era.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #278 - "The Battle of Muir Isle" The X-Men have returned to Earth and decide that they need to go to Muir Island. Moria MacTaggert has not been acting normal for awhile, and it is time to investigate. They find that many of their allies (Rogue, Siryn, Guido, Maddrox, Amanda Sefton) are under the same dark influence.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #279 - "Bad to the Bone" Professor X is back on Earth looking for the X-Men. He finds Stevie Hunter on the run from Colossus who is under the control the Shadow King. The X-Men have also come under the influence of the Shadow King on Muir Island.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #69 - "Clash Reunion" The entire world is beginning to feel the dark touch of the Shadow King catching the attention of Val Cooper and S.H.I.E.L.D. Professor X recruits his original students, X-Factor, to help him infiltrate Muir Island.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #280 - "One Step Back -- Two Steps Forward" Professor X's schizophrenic  and extremely powerful son, Legion, becomes Shadow King's new host. The X-Men regroup and join X-Factor in a final assault against the telepathically strengthened villain.

[3-Stars] X-Factor #70 - "Ends and Odds" Professor X is back in a wheelchair after his battle with the Shadow King. He may have also lost his son who's mind is no longer reachable. The members of X-Factor decide to return to the X-Men fold while Val Cooper takes the name to create a new team of mutants to work for the government to replace Freedom Force.