Alt 928, Part 4: X-Men 2099 #10-13

Grade: C

The X-Men 2099 fall apart in this run. Xi'an formed the team, but thanks to his recent battle with Master Zhao, his personality reverts to his former, self when he was the leader of the outlaw gang called the Lawless. The rest of the X-Men find themselves in a holding pattern waiting.

The series is loosing its steam with run-of-the-mill stories. We get a glimpse into Xi'an's former life and there is some tension when Junkpile returns, but the team dynamics that mark X-Men books (even in the first nine issues of this title) has evaporated.

[3-Stars] 10 - "Roadwork" Xi'an has been changed by his encounter with Master Zhao. While the rest of the X-Men have reverted to their normal selves after their recent battle with Master Zhao and the Chosen, Xi'an has reverted to his outlaw personality. He is leaving the X-Men to find the Driver. Fitzgerald decides he better go with him, and the two run into La Lunatica while at a roadhouse. The rest of the team try to save the Master Zhao and the Chosen from further deterioration. Blookhawk departs for the Savage Land (that story continues in Doom 2099).

[3-Stars] 11 - "Crossed Signals" Fitzgerald agrees to help La Lunática run from the Theatre of Pain, and he convinces Xi'an to allow her to join them on their quest to find the Driver. The X-Men continue to deal with Xi'an's departure. Victor Ten Eagles leaves in disgust that Shakti is helping the Chosen after their massacre of innocent people issues earlier. Frostbite also leaves knowing that her time is up since her power will not allow her to be cryogentical saved until a cure is found. She runs into the Driver.

[3-Stars] 12 - "Hit and Run" La Lunática reveals to Fitzgerald that she has also asked Junkpile for help in running the Theatre of Pain. Fitzgerald is still understandably angry that Junkpile killed Serpentina (X-Men 2099 #4). Xi'an talks to a person from his past as an outlaw, but Broken Haiku has information that will lead Xi'an to the Driver. She gives him the location but also informs the Driver that he is about to have company. Metalhead (now with Freakshow) gets closer to Rosa.

[3-Stars] 13 - "Dead End" Xi'an, Fitzgerald, Junkpile and La Lunática find the Driver, but thanks to Broken Haiku, he is prepared for them. Brimstone Love also arrives. He has been tracking La Lunática, but he soon finds someone better and more willing to take her place in the Theatre of Pain.

Alt 928, Part 3: X-Men 2099, Vol. 1 (2)

Grade: B

There was only one X-Men 2099 trade paperback -- X-Men 2099, Vol. 1. It collected X-Men 2099 issues #1-9 along with the first two parts of the Fall of the Hammer (Spider-Man 2099 #16 and Ravage 2099 #15). This is the final part to what was a good read with the exception of of the Fall of the Hammer.

The X-Men start searching for answers about mutants from the past. That journey leads them to two new teams: Freakshow and the Chosen. Freakshow are a groups of "failed" genetic experiments (Breakdown, Contagion, Dominic, Psyclone, Tantrum) lead by Mama Hurricane. The Chosen are genetic recreations of the the original X-Men lead by Master Zhao, one of the great X-Men leaders of the past. The Chose includes Frostbite (Iceman), Monster (Beast), One-Eyed Jack (Cyclops), Psycho-K (Marvel Girl), Wingspan (Angel).

[3-Stars] 6 - "Freakshow" Tim, Meanstreak, Krystalin and Bloodhawk return to the the X-Men in time for a new time for a new mission. Krystalin is sent on a solo job while the rest of the X-Men head to Arizona to find Mama Hurricane. Hurricane was a member of the Mutant Underground Support Engine (MUSE) during the Great Purge. She might have information on where all those escaped mutants might be. The X-Men must pass her protectors, the Freakshow!

[3-Stars] 7 - "Hurricane Force" It is the X-Men versus Freakshow in battle that leaves Metalhead damaged and deformed. Xi'an learns as a member of MUSE Mama Hurricane lead mutants to the Driver who would take them the rest of the way to Avalon. Meanwhile, Krystalin meets Victor Ten Eagles. He is her contact, and he has a surprise to show her.

[3-Stars] 8 - "Ghost Winds" The X-Men and Freakshow go their separate ways. Metalhead stays with Freakshow while the rest of the X-Men start their search for Avalon and the Driver. Krystalin and Victor Ten Eagles's investigation leads them to a warped version of the original X-Men who call themselves the Chosen.

[3-Stars] 9 - "Brand X" The X-Men reach Krystalin after they receive a disturbing message from her. They find her under the sway of the Chosen's leader, Master Zhao. Zhao was the powerful leader of the last generation of X-Men. When they died (by his paranoid hand), he created a new team to resemble the original X-Men, but their genetic makeup made them unstable. He wants the Xi'an's X-Men to join him as his new followers, and if they don't, he will force them.

Alt 928, Part 2: Fall of the Hammer

Grade: F+

A mysterious floating city called Valhalla arrives with beings who claim to be the Norse gods of old. The heroes of 2099 need to get to bottom of what is really going on to prevent further damage to the environment and learn what truth behind the sudden appearance.

This first 2099 crossover event was very confusing. The numbering sequence implied that The Fall of the Hammer was a self-contained arc told in five parts, but that didn't seem to be the case since much of the leading backstory was in earlier issues of the various 2099 titles. Without any indication that I needed any other comics, I only bought those with The Fall of the Hammer logo. As a result, I had a hard time understanding what was going on.

Normally, a crossover across titles will read like a single story told from the perspective of the lead characters. That did not happen here. The reading order was jumbled and unfocused which only added to my confusion. Only some of the X-Men were part of the story and then for only the first three part.

Part 1: Spider-Man 2099 #16 - "The Hammer Strikes" Valhalla hovers over the city with boastful "gods" terrorizing the people. Spider-Man 2099 confronts Heimdall and Thor convinced they are not the same champions from the Heroic Age.

Part 2: Ravage 2099 #15 - "Horns of Dilemma" Ravage 2099 meets members of X-Men 2099 in their search for Meanstreak's friend Boone whom they believe is a captive in Valhalla. Ravage decides to join them in their attempt to sneak onboard so he can learn more about the floating city that is destroying the environment. He soon discovers that the new Hela may be an old friend.

Part 3: X-Men 2099 #5 - "Lightningstrike" The X-Men 2099 learn the fate of Boone and the truth behind the new Norse "gods".

Part 4: Doom 2099 #14 - "The Anvil or The Hammer" Doom 2099 works with Spider-Man, Punisher and Ravage to battle the new Norse "gods" while keeping the Valhalla afloat.

Part 5: Punisher 2099 #13 - "All for One" Alchemax is one of the world's biggest corporation, and they plan to use the Norse "gods" to usher in a new era of heroes that they control. Their plan is unraveling as Valhalla threatens to crash and their "heroes" slip further into insanity. Punisher 2099 continues to work with Doom, Spider-Man and Ravage to keep the floating city afloat and put an end to Alcehmax's plans.

Alt 928, Part 1: X-Men 2099, Vol. 1 (1)

Grade: A-

It is a great series start for the X-Men of 2099. Xi'an Chi Xan (Desert Ghost) has assembled a new team of mutants with the help of Shakti Haddad (Cerebra). Timothy Fitzgerald is the last to join the roster that includes Junkpile, Krystalin, Meanstreak, Metalhead, and Serpentina. Bloodhawk doesn't consider himself a member but provides assistance regularly.

[4-Stars] "The Gathering" Drifter Timothy Fitzgerald arrives at rave style party at the Nuevo Sol Arcology at the request of charismatic mutant leader Xi'an Chi Xan. Two other members of Xi'an's X-Men attempt to save a mutant imprisoned by the Synge Casino as an eco-terrorist.

[4-Stars] "Synge City Blues" The assassination attempt on Xi'an leaves the mutant leader near death just as Synge Casino enforcers attack the Nuevo Sol Arcology. They arrive in force to arrest Xi'an for the murder of the casino's owner, Noah Synge. Some of the X-Men race to Las Vegas for answers only to find themselves in a battle with special enforcers calling themselves the Rat Pack.

[4-Stars] "Viva Las Vegas" Desdemona learns that her brother, Lytton, killed their father, Noah Synge. The X-Men discover that one of their own, Junkpile, betrayed them and set up the assassination attempt on Xi'an's life. It is a climatic showdown with Junkpile and the Rat Pack that will result in the death of one of their own.

[3-Stars] "The Darkroom" Bloodhawk, Meanstreak, Krystalin and Timothy Fitzgerald are captured by a new threat called the Theatre of Pain. Controller Thirteen uses the mutant powers of La Lunatica to extract painful memories that can be sold, and the X-Men have proven to be especially marketable.

Starting Alt 928: Marvel 2099

Marvel 2099 (Alternate Marvel Universe 928) started in 1992 with four titles: Doom 2099, Punisher 2099, Spider-Man 2099, and Ravage 2099. That line was expanded to include 2099 Unlimited, Fantastic Four 2099, Ghost Rider 2099, Hulk 2099, X-Men 2099, and eventually X-Nation 2099. We will be reading the last two titles which will take us to 1996.

How did the X-Men fare in 2099? Criminal-turned-mutant hero Xi'an Chi Xan assembled a new team of mutants in the desert of the American Southwest. The ragtag group's adventure leads them to the mutant city-state of Halo City and the search of a mutant savior in X-Nation.

• X-Men 2099 (1-4) 
• Fall of the Hammer
• X-Men 2099 (6-9)
• X-Men 2099 (10-13)
• X-Men 2099 (14-21)
• X-Men 2099: One Nation Under Doom (22-25)
• X-Men 2099: X-Nation (1)
• X-Men 2099: X-Nation (2)
• X-Men 2099: X-Nation (3)

Samantha really liked this series when it first came out asking to keep the series from my infrequent purges. I am glad she did. When I told her I was going to read them all again, she thought it would be a great idea to join me for this summer's portion of the Uncanny X-Reading project. I thought so too! You will see her thumbs up or thumbs down included with each post.

Ending Era #6: Fatal Attractions

Era #6: B-

A lot is going on with my life, but I remained loyal to the X-Men despite the departure of some of the creators I really liked. The number of X-Men titles exploded in Era #6 making in a chore to to keep up. Over the last three months I tried to group the 86 issues in a readable order which proved to be no easy task. Crossovers continued to dominate requiring me to spend more money than I had available. In hindsight, many of the stories were unoriginal, but out of the seemingly normal comic fare (and in some cases bad plots such as the Upstarts) came the Acolytes, Omega Red, Bishop and the X-Cutioner's Song. In the end, Fatal Attractions threatened to change everything with impacts that will continue to haunt the X-Men well into Era #7.

Cable: Blood & Metal (B): It is Cable's first limited series from Fabian Nicieza and John Romita, Jr.

Gambit (D): Gambit also gets his first limited series. Rogue joins the Cajun thief in adventure presented by Howard Mackie and Lee Weeks.

Uncanny X-Men #281-307 (B-): As with most of the core titles, Uncanny X-Men suffered from an unsteady ride throughout the era thanks in large part to the Image X-odus.
Whilce Portacio (B): Whilce receives a lot of help from Jim Lee and John Byrne.
Scott Lobdell & Brandon Peterson (B): I really liked Brandon Peterson's artwork and was disappointed to see him move on after a short 6 issue run.
Scott Lobdell & John Romita, Jr. (C+): This is a mix of really good stories and some not so good stories in the 5 issue span.

X-Force #5-25 (C+): The end-in-your-face approach looses both its appeal and its lead creator leaving the students turned soldiers with some run of the mill tales.
Rob Liefeld & Fabian Nicieza (B): An interesting story for this 4 issue collaborative conclusion.
Fabian Nicieza & Mark Pacella (C+): This is the transition from Rob Liefeld to Fabian Nicieza. This short run simply closes (awkwardly) open stories.
Fabian Nicieza & Greg Capullo (C+): It is really just more of the same for 11 issues.

X-Men (v2) #1-26 (B): It is my favorite title of the era, particularly with Jim Lee at the helm.
Jim Lee (A-): Wow! Sure there is a less than fantastic story buried in here, but this 11 issue run is great none-the-less.
Fabian Nicieza & Andy Kubert (B): The momentum (and solid art) carries the title along for an enjoyable 12 issue run.

X-Men Unlimited #1-2 (C+): It is the beginning of a X-Men anthology series that will continue through Era #11.