Era #6, Part 10: A Skinning of Souls (Part 2)

Grade: C

This is the second part of the X-Men: A Skinning of Souls trade paperback. If you recall from Acts of Vengeance, Psylocke emerged from the Siege Perilous as an Asian ninja (Uncanny X-Men #256-258). This story tries to explain what really happened. Let me add a not-so-surprising spoiler: it doesn't really explain anything. It makes things a more confusing. We also learn more about the Legacy Virus in a subplot that involves Cyclops and Mr. Sinister (and the Dark Riders?). I am not sure that either thread really advanced the plot, and I found them somewhat lackluster.

[2-Stars] 20 - "Digging in the Dirt" This issue sets up the next set of stories. Illyana returns with the X-Men to the X-Mansion, but she has a persistent cough. Cyclops decides he needs a break and returns to Alaska. Psylocke is confronted with a new threat that challenges her position within the team.

[3-Stars] 21 - "The Puzzle Box" Psylocke and Revanche both believe that they are the original Psylocke and accuse the other of being an impostor. One is the original English superhero while the other is the Japanese assassin known as Kwannon. The X-Men send a small team to the crime lord Nyoirin's Japanese estate to see if they can uncover the truth.

[3-Stars] 22 - "The Mask Behind the Facade" Psylocke, Revanche, Beast and Gambit must protect themselves against Lord Nyoirin's protector, the Silver Samurai. Their search for answers leads to more questions. Meanwhile, Cyclops meets his grandparent's mysterious neighbor who reveals himself to be Mr. Sinister.

[3-Stars] 23 - "Leaning Towards Oneself" Cyclops and Mr. Sinister have a pretty in-depth talk that sheds some light on the Legacy Virus. Cyclops is then tested by the Dark Riders. Lord Nyorin reveals that Matsu'o is responsible for the transportation that merged Psylocke with Kwannon (which we already knew). The two confused women go to Matsu'o's private estate to get their revenge.

Era #6, Part 9: Fatal Attractions (Part 1)

Grade: B-

This small run is the beginning of the Fatal Attractions storyline. Professor X has been taking a much harder position on Magneto's followers who call themselves the Acolytes. It looked like they were destroyed in X-Men #3, but they return with many more followesrs. Xavier sees this misguided religious sect as creating a dangerous new threat to mutants in their attempt to protect mutant rights. The Fatal Attractions will result in two big shocking moments, but no spoilers!

[3-Stars] 298 - "For The Children!" Professor X sends the X-Men to the private school Our Mother of the Sacred Heart. One of the special needs children is also a mutant of substantial power. The young boy with Down Syndrome is being quietly watched by two members of the staff who also work for the Xavier: Tom Corsi and Sharon Friedlander. They called for the X-Men's help when a new team of Acolytes arrive to "recruit" the boy. This issue is actually pretty interesting in the sense that the Acolytes abandon such a powerful mutant because he has Down Syndrome. Their dogma of protecting mutants does not include those with special needs.

[3-Stars] 299 - "Nightlines" A new political figure is on the scene representing "normal humans" with his grass-roots movement Friends of Humanity. The firebrand Graydon Creed joins Professor X, Beast and Senator Kelly in a televised debate. Xavier and Kelly realize that they have more in common than they first believed. Unbeknownst to them, Creed is also the newest member of the Upstarts.

[3-Stars] 300 - "Legacies" Xavier tracks the Acolytes to an estate along the northern coastline of France. Forge designs a mini-cerebro unit that will penetrate the cloaking devise that surrounds the secret liar, but he will not join the X-Men in their attack. The Excalibur leader Nightcrawler does agree to help. The X-Men also receive assistance from a young Acolyte named Neophyte. The faithful follower of Magneto discovers that Fabian Cortez is using the Acolytes to further his own ends as a member of the Upstarts.

Era #6, Part 8: A Skinning of Souls (Part 1)

Grade: B

This is part one of two that make up the trade paperback A Skinning of Souls. This story takes place in Russia which I would normally really enjoy if I got to see more of the Russian heroes (Vanguard, Ursa Major, Darkstar). As it is, we only see a glimpse of Darkstar and Blind Faith (a Russian priest with psi powers). It is nice follow up to the X-Cutioner's Song weaving a sad tale of loss with a healthy dose of Soviet era paranoia.

Colossus takes a personal life beating here. His brother commits suicide a few issues earlier. His parents are killed here, and his sister's life is threatened. It is clearly setting the groundwork for the huge shocker in the Fatal Attractions arc.

We also see some teasers for the second part of the trade paperback. Another purple haired ninja woman that looks eerily like the original Psylocke is in Japan working for the Yakuza.

[3-Stars] 17 - "A Skinning of Souls Part One: Waiting for the Ripening" The X-Men finally make their trip to Russia. It weighs heavy on Colossus's mind since the trip was originally set up to return his brother Mikhail (now dead) home. Darkstar and Blind Faith investigate the small town Neftelensk where the citizens are in suspended animation.

[3-Stars] 18 - "A Skinning of Souls Part Two: The Crops Mature" Omega Red is sent to Neftelensk to learn what happened to Darkstar and Blind Faith, but when Colonel Vazhin doesn't hear from the Russian powerhouse, he enlists the visiting X-Men to help him investigate. They quickly encounter a possessed Omega Red ready to deliver them to the Soul Skinner.

[3-Stars] 19 - "A Skinning of Souls Part Three: Harvest of the Innocent" Colonel Vazhin and the X-Men discover that the Soul Skinner is responsible for the town, Darkstar, Blind Faith and the Omega Red. The X-Men also learn that the Russian government has been watching Colossus's sister Illyana (you might remember her as Magik) as part of a mutant surveillance program. To help stop the Soul Skinner, the Russians plan to accelerate Illyana's body to force her mutant power to manifest. The soldiers killed her parents, kidnapped Illyana and take her to Neftelensk to start the process that may kill her. Colossus must save his sister, rescue the X-Men and stop the Soul Skinner.

Era #6, Part 7: X-Cutioner's Song

Grade: A-

It starts with an assassination attempt on Professor X setting in motion a grand plan that pits the X-Men against some of their biggest enemies. All the pieces that tie Cyclops, Jean Grey, Cable and Stryfe come together (well, mostly).  It is a bigger read than most of the previous crossover events, and keeping track of all the different sub-plots can be challenging. Despite the reach (perhaps because of the reach), I really enjoyed this storyline. It sets a tense, combative tone that carries the title through the rest of the era in decent attempt to reinvigorate the franchise after the Image X-odus.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #294 "Overture" - Cyclops and Phoenix enjoy a day at Harry's Tavern which is, of course, disrupted by a villainous attack. This time, it comes from an unexpected source, the previously dormant Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Meanwhile, Lila Cheney puts on a free concert at Central Park to promote peaceful coexistence between mutants and humans. It is an opportunity for Professor X to give a speech on the subject to a wider audience, but he is shot and critical injured by an assassin in the crowd. The shooter is none other than X-Force's mysterious leader -- Cable.

X-Factor #84 "Tough Love" - X-Force learn about the assassination attempt from their new ad-hoc base at the Camp Verde Apache Reservation. They realize that Cable is still alive, and they need to find him before the X-Men so that they can get answers. The X-Men start their search for Cable by looking for X-Force. A small team of X-Men stay at the mansion to try to save Professor X and protect him from further attack. The Horsemen of the Apocalypse deliver Cyclops and Jean Grey to their new master, Mr. Sinister.

[4-Stars] X-Men #14 "Fingers on the Trigger" - Professor X's condition is getting worse. The assassin's bullet infected Xavier with the techno-organic virus. Cable returns from the future to learn that he is a wanted man for the assassination attempt. The X-Men close in on X-Force only to discover that the young mutant strikeforce is ready for a confrontation. Mr. Sinister delivers Cyclops and Jean Grey to the Mutant Liberation Front (MLF) in exchange for some genetic material. Apocalypse's new team, the Dark Riders, wake him from his regenerative slumber to inform him of all the things be done in his name.

[4-Stars] X-Force #16 "Jacklightening" - X-Force versus a team of X-Men and X-Factor! Another team of X-Men hunt down the Horsemen of the Apocalypse to find Cyclops and Jean Grey (both of whom are held captive by Stryfe). Mr. Sinister shows up at the Mansion easily defending himself against Bishop and other defenses. He isn't there to fight but to reveal the identify of the real assassin.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #295 "Familiar Refrain" - Pulled out of his regeneration chamber before he is healed, Apocalypse is still very weak. He goes to one of his safes-houses where he finds a team of X-Men who just finished their battle with the Horsemen. Apocalypse is able to fend off the X-Men attack and escape using a teleportation device inside his safe-house. He is more determined now to find out who set him up. X-Force is imprisoned until the X-Men and X-Factor can determine what to do with them, but Storm and Havok ask Cannonball if he will help them find Cable. Cannonball reluctantly agrees. Wolverine and Bishop go to Canada's black ops organization, Department K, to see if they can find more information on possible Cable safe-house locations. They find Cable already there.

X-Factor #85 "Snikts and Bones" - Bishop and Wolverine immediately attack Cable to bring him in for questioning. Wolverine ends the conflict saying that he doesn't actually believe it was Cable who tried to assassinate Professor X. The three form an uneasy truce to focus their attention on getting answers as to what really happened. Cannonball leads a team of X-Men and X-Factor to a MLF base in Arkansas. It is a big battle but no Stryfe. Stryfe is somewhere else tormenting Cyclops and Jean Grey.

[4-Stars] X-Men #15 "The Camel's Back" - X-Men, X-Factor and Cannnonball versus the MLF in a battle that ends with critical injuries and fatalities. Cable teleports Bishop and Wolverine to his hidden space station, Graymalkin, to use his system to locate Stryfe. Every effort to stop or at least slow down the techno-organic virus from spreading through Professor X has failed. Xavier has hours to live. Stryfe leaves his captives to confront Apocalypse and the Dark Riders.

[4-Stars] X-Force #17 "Sleeping with the Enemy" - Stryfe versus Apocalypse in a battle that both seemed to have known was coming. Bishop, Wolverine, and Cable begin putting some of the pieces together but not enough to get the full picture. The X-Men and X-Factor try to deal with the growing number of injured teammates, and Cyclops and Jean Grey escape from their cell.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #296 "Crescendo" - Bishop, Wolverine, and Cable begin their complete scan of the planet for Stryfe, Cyclops and Jean Grey. Apocalypse arrives on the X-Men's doorstep injured and offering a momentary truce. He has the cure to save Professor X from the techno-organic virus, and in exchange, he wants their help in taking down Stryfe. Cyclops and Jean Grey must pass the Dark Riders in their bid to escape.

X-Factor #86 "One of These Days" - There is no indication that Stryfe, Cyclops or Jean Grey are on Earth, Bishop, Wolverine, and Cable turn their attention to the Moon. Cyclops and Jean Grey discover that they are on the Moon when they finally escape only to find themselves in the vacuum of space. Styfe uses his immense telekentic abilities to save them and return them to their cell. Apocalypse joins the X-Men on their journey to the moon after he saves Professor X. His cure nearly kills Xavier but completely eliminates the deadly techno-organic virus from his body.

[4-Stars] X-Men #16 "Conflicting Catheoes" - Cable, Cannonball, the X-Men and X-Factor are reunited on the Moon but must face the Dark Riders before they can look for their missing teammates. Stryfe has taken Cyclops and Jean Grey to a different location preparing for the final showdown. Professor X regains consciousness with a nightmare vision. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Cable and Stryfe are all connected.

[4-Stars] X-Force #18 "Ghosts in the Machine" - Stryfe erects a barrier around himself and his captives, Cyclops and Jean Grey. This shield only allows his familial genetics to pass, so only Cable and Havok can enter for the final showdown. Cannonball and the rest of the X-Men and X-Factor can only watch from the outside as Cable and Stryfe battle one last time.
NOTE: In the final pages, it is revealed that the Stryfe did not provide the genetic material he promised to Mr. Sinister. The canister appears empty, but we later learn that by opening it, Mr. Sinister unwittingly unleashed the Legacy Virus.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #297 "Up and Around" - The X-Men begin to put the pieces back in this epilogue to the X-Cutioner's Song. Archangel and Beast rebuild Harry's Hideaway in the dead of the night reminiscing about the early days. Gambit offers to be Rogues "eyes" until she regains her sight. Professor X has temporary use of his legs. Jubilee takes the opportunity to spend time with him teaching him how to roller blade.

Era #6, Part 6: Cable - Blood and Metal

Grade: B

I am finally getting to this title! I said I would do it Era #5 as part of the Origin of Cable section, but I later realized that the origin of Cable was really the Askani alternate reality. After reading both of these issues as part of Alt 4935, I realized that this arc was only tangentially part of that Askani alternate reality. The driving storyline should be read right before the X-Cutioner's Song, and since the X-Cutioner's Song is next on the docket, it is finally time to take a look at Cable's first limited series.

This two part tale tells two interwoven stories. The first is a recounting of a past Six Pack mission where we learn much more about the origin of the rift between Cable and his former teammates. The second pits one of Cable against Kane, one of his younger proteges from the Wild Pack (who change their name to the Six Pack here) as they uncover the truth behind Stryfe.

[3-Stars] 1 - "Blood and Metal (Part 1)" Stryfe's Mutant Liberation Front (MLF) are raiding museums around the world for artifacts that appear associated with Apocalypse throughout history. Cable makes several attempts to stop them. Commander Bridge recruits Kane to help bring Cable in. We learn more about the members of Wild Pack in flashback sequences to earlier missions.

[3-Stars] 2 - "Blood and Metal (Part 2)" Now that Kane realizes that Stryfe and Cable may not actually be the same person, he reluctantly agrees to help Cable track Stryfe and the MLF down. They believe that the next artifact in danger is with the Japanese crime family, Clan Yashida. They work with Silver Samurai to set a trap. Flashback sequences reveal the Six Pack's final mission and how it permanently damaged two members of the team, Kane and Hammer, and create a grudge between the mercenaries and their leader.

Era #6 Extra: Image X-odus

Clockwise from top left: Eric Larsen, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane,
Marc Silvestri, Jim Valentino, Jim Lee and Whice Portacio  

It is impossible to talk about the era and not at least mention the Image X-odus. I am not going to do the whole issue justice with a detailed report. You can see a pretty good account here.

Many of the popular creators were frustrated with Marvel, and it finally came to a head in 1992. Sales were up, yet the writers and artists who were creating these new characters -- characters that were being heavily marketed -- were not seeing any of those increased profits. They continued to receive a standard page rate and some minor royalties. Eight of them decided to leave Marvel and create their own company:  Chris Claremont (Uncanny X-Men), Erik Larsen (The Amazing Spider-Man), Todd McFarlane (Spider-Man), Jim Lee (Uncanny X-Men, X-Men), Rob Liefeld (New Mutants, X-Force), Marc Silvestri (Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine), Whilce Portacio (X-Factor, Uncanny X-Men) and Jim Valentino (Guardians of the Galaxy). The "X-odus" hit the top-selling X-Men franchise especially hard. Marvel stocks by $3.25.

Six of the eight formed Image Comics. Claremont did not join, and Portacio later withdrew to be with his sick sister. The basic premise behind Image was that each creator formed his or her own studio and retained all intellectual rights to their own property. Creators or Image did not interfere in the creative or financial business of an associated studio.

Image had a rocky start since none of the creators were managers. Deadlines were frequently missed, and stories presented great artwork over poorly developed plots. Market speculation and some standout titles (such as McFarlane's Spawn and Larsen's The Savage Dragon) kept the company afloat as they found their place in industry. With assistance from Malibu and an evolving business strategy that began to include stories beyond the typical super-hero genre, Image has since produced such well known titles as Astro City, Chew, Saga and The Walking Dead.

I was a huge fan of the following creators in the Image X-odus. It took awhile for the titles to return to the excitement and enjoyment I had with each of them. It really was a sad period for me.

Chris Claremont (B): It is hard to understate how much Chris Claremont's work influenced me growing up. After leaving Marvel, Claremont worked on different projects for different companies eventually returned to work on the X-Men.

Jim Lee (B+): Jim Lee create Wildstorm Productions which produced WildC.A.T.s, Stormwatch, Deathblow and Gen¹³. He briefly returned to Marvel for the Heroes Reborn reboot and eventually sold Wildstorm to DC where he continued to work.

Rob Liefeld (B): Rob Liefeld remained one of the industries most controversial figures. His Extreme Studios's biggest title was Youngblood which never saw the success seen by other Image series. He would later acknowledge a poor script and other production woes. Liefeld resigned from Image mere minutes before being fired for some of his management decisions that impacted the other studios (particularly Marc Silvestri's Top Cow which temporarily left Image until Rob was gone). Rob was hired for the Heroes Reborn reboot, but Marvel released him after a very short run. Rob's second venture, Awesome Comics, ran into legal problems when one of his title characters, Agent America, was found to resemble Captain America a little too closely. Liefeld would eventually work for Marvel on characters most associated with him: Cable and Deadpool.

Marc Silvestri (B): Marc Silvestri left the Uncanny X-Men to work on Wolverine before the Image X-odus. His Top Cow Productions found success with titles like Darkness and Witchblade. Silvestri would return to the X-Men franchise to work on a few issues but continues to expand Top Cow into film, TV and video games.

Whilce Portacio (B+): One of my favorite artist in this list is Whilce Portacio. While he never created his own studio, he did work on image titles after a short hiatus (notably Wetworks) as well as Marvel's Heroes Reborn reboot. He remained busy until he fell into a diabetic coma in 2000. His recovery was long, and he finally returned to drawing in 2006 for Image, Marvel and DC.

Era #6, Part 5: The Coming of Bishop (Part 2)

Grade: C+

Slow! After a short period of action and excitement that started this era, the core titles lose their traction. The impact of Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio's departure is felt as both titles loose momentum. There is certainly a more distinctive "soap-opera" feel that makes this run less appealing despite the anti-climatical end of the Morlocks.

[3-Stars] 288 - "Time and Place" Bishop continues to struggle with being an X-Man in the modern era. He is tested when he finds the final (and most vicious) of the criminals from the future.

[3-Stars] 289 - "Knots" Storm, Forge and X-Men continue to struggle with Mystique's presence in the X-Mansion. Iceman introduces Opal to his parents, but the meeting is interrupted by Hiro and the Cyberai (last seen in X-Factor #64).

[3-Stars] 290 - "Frayed" Hiro joins Bobby to protect Opal from the Cyberai. Forge leaves the X-Men to help and support Mystique. Storm is too late to stop him. 

[3-Stars] 291 - "Underbelly" The Morlocks attack Callisto as revenge for turning "pretty" and leaving them. She manages to escape with the help of the Healer and reaches the X-Men. Storm leads the Gold Team into the tunnels to investigate. Meanwhile, Colossus's brother, Mikhail, has been showing signs of being unbalanced. He finds a kindred spirit in a vengeful Callisto who is returned to her former, less attractive appearance. 

[3-Stars] 292 - "The Morlocks Take Manhattan" The X-Men Gold Team tries to contain the Morlocks as the underground mutant society escapes into New York City's Time Square through a large hole accidentally created by Storm. Mikhail and Callisto reveal their newly formed alliance to Iceman, the only X-Man left guarding them.

[3-Stars] 293 - "The Last Morlock Story" The X-Men follow the Morlocks back into their tunnels only to learn that Mikhail is their new leader. Colossus's deranged brother reveals that he is the new Morlock leader with a plan for their salvation.

[3-Stars] 12 - "Broken Mirrors" Dr. Ryking is dead (by Maverick in the back-story found in X-Men #10 & #11), but we learn that there is more to the story. Dr. Ryking was a colleague of Professor X's father on a top secret genetic research project. Dr. Ryking also had a mutant child, Carter, that he hid away in a private hospital. When Carter learns of his father's death, he escapes and crashes the funeral attended by Professor X (Carter's boyhood friend). Carter wants answers.

[3-Stars] 13 - "Hazardous Territory" Carter Ryking takes Professor X to the top secret facility from which their fathers conducted their top secret research. The X-Men follow, but not before everybody learns that their might be a connection between that top secret research and Wolverine's own mysterious past.