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.