Alt 928, Part 8: X-Nation (1)

Grade: C-

It is the beginning of the end of Marvel 2099. John Francis Moore and Ron Lim already started transitioning the X-Men from ragtag band of mutants roaming the desert to the protectors of a mutant haven, but the change comes a little too late to save the title from its looming doom.

The Marvel 2099 imprint launches two new titles: X-Nation 2099 and Fantastic Four 2099.  Shakti leaves the X-Men to mentor a new generation of mutants in X-Nation 2099. One of these young mutants (Clarion, December, Metalsmith, Nostromo, Twilight, Uproar, Willow, and Wulff) is a potential mutant "messiah".

I've been a little worried about how John Francis Moore and Ron Lim have been dealing with a team book. We started seeing the team come back together in the City of Dead. Unfortunately, X-Nation 2099 is much more confusing and disorienting -- especially with Humberto Ramos's artwork. It is hard to keep up so many characters in these frantic issues with so much going on. It is a daring attempt to think outside the panels in what appears to be a manga influenced style, but neither Samantha nor I could keep up.

[3-Stars] X-Men 2099 #30 - "Prophecies of Doom" It is election time in Halo City, and Morphine Somers learns that he has been voted out of office. Shakti leaves her comatose father's side for a walkabout that leads to Doom! The former president in hiding reveals the real reason for Halo City. Doom's calculations indicate that a powerful mutant has been born to this new generation, and he hopes will migrate to his haven. Young mutants Clarion and Nostromo are the first to arrive, but they find themselves in trouble with a gang called the Wild Boys.

[3-Stars] X-Men 2099 #31 - "Book of Revelation" Tim Fitzgerald, Meanstreak and La Lunática go on a mission Mexico City to save a mysterious mutant in captive of Quetzalcoatl Corporation. The mega-corp's CEO, Javier Belize, is using Book's photographic memory and mutant power to analyze mass amounts of data to get rich. Victor Ten Eagles reaches Halo City with a an arm missing and a warning. Somebody is killing the former members of the Lawless.

NOTE: While Clarion, Nostromo & Wulff first appeared in X-Men 2099 #30, most of X-Nation (December, Twilight, Uproar, and Willow) first appear in the 2099 A.D. Genesis one-shot which I do not own. Metalsmith makes his first appearance in X-Nation 2099 #2.

[3-Stars] X-Nation 2099 #1 - "Sixth or Seventh Genesis" Morphine Somers leads a young mutant to the newly formed team X-Nation. One of these teenagers may be the next mutant "messiah". The are mentored by Shakti Haddad and protected by the Sisterhood of the Howling Commandments at the Xavier Shelter for Indigent Children. Morphine introduces Wulff who was until recently a member of the Wild Boys. The other members of the gang aren't ready to let him go leading to X-Nation's first conflict. A second problem is brewing as another threat named Avian learns that one of his runaways, Willow, has also joined X-Nation.

[2-Stars] X-Nation 2099 #2 - "Kicking and Screaming" Sister Nicholas of the Sisterhood of the Howling Commandments punishes X-Nation with community service for missing curfew, and Shakti takes the opportunity to talk to the kids. Avian orders his goon and wacky robots (fun for kids, deadly for enemies) to retrieve Willow.

[2-Stars] X-Nation 2099 #3 - "Vertigo" Halo City's lawyer stops he Sisterhood of the Howling Commandments from launching a violent rescue attempt to retrieve Willow from Avian, so X-Nation secretly set off on their own. Shakti receives a powerful telepathic message from a new threat -- Exodus!

[2-Stars] X-Nation 2099 #4 - "A Turning Point in the Life of X-Nation as Atlantis Draws: First Blood!" The Sister of the Howling Commandments are attacked by Attuma's Atlantean warriors; the X-Nation kids must save themselves from Avian; and Shakti battles Exodus.

Alt 928, Part 7: City of the Dead

Grade: A-

The X-Men 2099 are now protectors of a mutant haven called Halo City. This new city in the desert was originally created by President Doom before his ouster, but the X-Men and Morphine Somers are committed to save it from a new threat. The Graverobber has the mutant ability to bring back the dead. He has a team of deceased mutants many of whom who bear striking resemblances to some of the modern X-Men such as Arcadian (Gambit?), Catscratch (Feral?), Ember (Sunfire?), and the Russian (Colossus?). The Undead also includes a former member of the X-Men 2099 --Serpentina.

It is a fun story that puts the team in a precarious situation. They either protect the city or hand over Shakti's murderous father to another villain bent on revenge. There is plenty of action and mystery in what I believe is the last really good tale of the series.

Samantha was still disappointed that the series continues to tell the tales of individual members rather than a solid tale of the entire team.

[4-Stars] 26 - "Broken Halo" President Doom has been ousted by the mega-corps, and Herod is gunning to eliminate Doom's Black Cabinet. Morphine Somers is Doom's former Minster of Humanity and should be on the run, but he has a different idea. He stays with the X-Men 2099 at the newly opened Halo City. His old friend, an Infonet reporter named Gunnar Heywood, also enters the new haven for mutants looking for a story. Morphine introduces the Gunnar to Halo City's protectors -- the X-Men 2099! Sham and La Lunática are now members while Xi'an Chi Xan has chosen atone for his crimes as a member of the Theatre of Pain by being a healer. The city's new protectorate faces a new threat. Members of the Undead are searching for Shakti's father.

[4-Stars] 27 - "Angel of the Mourning" The Undead has taken their first victim. A revived Serpentina killed Tim allowing her new master, the Graverobber, to resurrect the X-Man. Gunnar Heywood is not so lucky. He is killed by the Undead after they find him eavesdropping. The Undead return with Tim among their ranks still looking for Shakti's father. The Graverobber has a score to settle with the old criminal of the Red Market.

[4-Stars] 28 - "Funeral Party" The Undead return to kill (re-kill?) the legendary long-dead musical band called the Disinterred. The Undead promise to do the same to everyone in Halo City until they have Shakti's father. La Lunática finds Gunnar Heywood still alive, and the two discover that the Undead plan to destroy the city's power plant using Tim's power absorption power.

[4-Stars] 29 - "Undead Zone" Tim and the Undead bring down Halo City's power supply plunging the newly formed X-Nation into darkness. The X-Men arrive to help La Lunática battle the Undead, but they are not enough. Morphine Somers has another plan. He brings Shakti's father to the Graverobber to negotiate despite the X-Men's objections. It is the climatic conclusion with a special appearance of Doom!

Alt 928 Extra: Brothers Hildebrandt

Marvel 2099 produced two additional X-Men 2099 books: X-Men 2099 Special and X-Men 2099 Oasis. Both of them fit right about here in the overarching storyline. What really distinguishes them both is the fantastic work of the Brothers Hildebrandt.

X-Men 2099 Special feels like an annual with three standalone stories that can be missed if weren't for the beautiful Hildebrandt cover. Samantha was even less impressed.

• "Tin Man" - Shakti finds herself in a prospering desert town with a dark secret. 
• "Sylvester & Sally Stay at Home" - Halloween Jack provides some ghoulish entertainment in an obvious node to the classic Cat in the Hat book. This one was my favorite of the three.
• "Frog Prince" - Another Shakti solo tale that her to Colonel Phineas Lynch Amusements. It is a circus featuring a deformed mutant.

Tim and Greg Hildebrandt draw the entire issue of X-Men 2099 Oasis. The story is not especially originally, but the art had me lingering on each page. Bloodhawk, Shakti, Tim, and La Lunática find a hidden oasis in the desert that seems too good to be true. They idyllic commune stresses self-sufficiency and tolerance within their high tech walls. Shakti learns that it was built and led by an old flame she thought died years ago. It is a straight-forward plot, but I liked the glimpse into Shakti's past. I might have also mentioned the outstanding artwork.

Alt 928, Part 6: One Nation Under Doom

Grade: B

This is one of those crossover events in name only. Dr. Doom becomes president of the United States in a storyline that pits him against the mega-corporations. The X-Men 2099 title is largely left alone. The tie-in comes from Doom's desire to put an end to the red-market (traders of pain and other decadent perversions). His Minister of Humanity, Morphine Somers, resurrects Junkpile to deal the Theatre of Pain which is exactly where the X-Men are headed anyway. What a coincidence!

The real impact of this story (other than finally dealing with the Theatre of Pain) is Halo City. One of Doom's final acts as president is to reveal that he had secretly created a haven for mutants. The X-Men accept positions as the city's protectorates.

Samantha liked the fact that the X-Men finally get back together. It is much better to follow a single strong story than a series of unconnected stories that made the title feel more like an anthology than a team book.

[3-Stars] 22 - "Gauntlet of Pain!" Xi'an Chi Xan is about to confirm his place in the Theatre of Pain, but he decides that it is too much of a cult. He chooses to walk out, but Brimstone Love has other plans. The leader of the dark cabal tests Xi'an taking his new recruit through a tough mental journey forcing Xi'an to face his own tortured past.

[3-Stars] 23 - "Junkpile: Agent of Shield" President Doom and Morphine Somers bring back Junkpile and make him an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. with full autonomy to enforce Doom's law. His first assignment is to shut down the Theatre of Pain. Tim, Shakti and La Lunática infiltrate the Theatre of Pain to save (or at least deal with) Xi'an Chi Xan. They enter the Floodgate Bio Resource Processing Center where two other mutants, Quiver and Sham, attempt their own escape.

[3-Stars] 24 - "Twitch and Writhe" A gamma bomb is detonated (Hulk 2099) with the resulting earthquake and aftershocks felt at the Theatre of Pain's Floodgate Bio Resources Processing Center. Quiver and Sham effect their escape in the chaos while Tim and La Lunática face off against the Theatre's deadly Norn Sisters. Meanstreak and Krystalin convince Bloodhawk to join them in an attempt to reach and help the X-Men save Xi'an Chi Xan. They may be too late as Shakti watches in horror as Xi'an prepares to unleash the Mindfire Machine (powered by a comatose Master Zhao) against thousands of people in his grand bid to join the Theatre of Pain.

[3-Stars] 25 - "Final Curtain" The X-Men are reunited as they take on Theatre of Pain to save their former leader, Xi'an Chi Xan.

Alt 928, Part 5: X-Men 2099 #14-21

Grade: C-

Xi'an Chi Xan formed the X-Men only to leave them 13 issues later. The team decides to stay together despite his departure, but that seems to be in name only. This post is really a collection of several different story threads about the X-Men (and former X-Men) that weave through each of the issues. It isn't team book, and the stories are actually a bit prosaic. I get a kick out of Halloween Jack's antics, but it isn't enough to recommend the issues in this post. Samantha thought the stories were a little confusing without the team atmosphere that she liked in earlier issues.

[2-Stars] 14 - "All the Glitters" Fitzgerald and La Lunática return to Zhao's ranch with the news that Xi'an Chi Xan left the X-Men to join the Theatre of Pain. Fitzgerald will lead the team, and they will take down the Theatre. Freakshow is holding up in Keewazi Nation where Mama Hurricane is good friends with Dr. Louise Wingfoot. Rosa's prenatal examine reveals that her baby is a boy. She also learns that the baby's father is coming to take their child. He is a ruthless corporate gun for hire called Glitterspike with a violent streak.

[2-Stars] 15 - "Shadows And Light" Glitterspike kidnaps Rosa to take care of her and their child. She manages to escape and finds shelter in a cave. Metalhead, Dr. Wingfoot and Mama Hurricane track Rosa down in the cave just as she finds a strange alien spacecraft and a monster Dr. Wingfoot calls the Shadow Dancer. Their investigation is cut short when the angry Glitterspike reaches the cave.

[3-Stars] 16 - "Scary Monsters" Loki is still in Las Vegas drawing the unwanted attention of the Synge Casino's enforcers -- the Rat Pack. He captured and presented to Desdemona who tortures him in revenge. The painful process interacts with his nanotechnology changing him into Halloween Jack, and he needs the X-Men help.

[3-Stars] 17 - "Strange Daze" Meanstreak and Halloween Jack return to Las Vegas to take over Desdemona Synge's casino. Krystalin travels to Oakland to attend the funeral of her father. Her brother, Zak, now leads the city's street protectors, the Panthers (trained in Wakandan tradition) and tries to convince her to stand by his side. She declines during a dinner that ends in his abduction by the Free Radicals.

[2-Stars] 18 - "Free Radical Chic" With help from some of locals, Krystalin finds the Free Radicals. She is unable to take them on, but they offer her an opportunity to free her brother. They will let him go if she finds a way to release their imprisoned leader, Billy the Kid, from Panther custody. Meanwhile, Xi'an and the Theatre of Pain steal the remains of Master Zhao and the Chosen (still cryogenically stored). In Las Vegas, Halloween Jack and Meanstreak get much closer to taking over the the city as they prepare the volatile and untested Virtual Unreality machine. Desdemona Synge prepares to take the offensive.

[2-Stars] 19 - "Co-Dependent Behavior" Shakti, Fitzgerald and La Lunática get out of their new home just in time before it explodes thanks to a bomb planted by Xi'an and the Theatre of Pain. In Vegas, Desdemona Synge releases her new weapon against Halloween Jack and Meanstreak. She has used her brother chemical addiction to turn him into a monstrous hulk that she can control. Krystalin finds Billy the Kid and must now get him out of the Panther's facilities.

[2-Stars] 20 - "Rust Never Sleeps" Bloodhawk is back from the Savage Lands only to find that a large robot attacking a truck stop is leaking radiation that is destroying the environment. He teams up with a young woman who feels responsible in stopping it. Her name is Jade, and her father was the one who reassembled the metal soldier of the past. He thought it was deactivated when he buried it, but it is now awake with a damaged nuclear engine. Krystalin frees Billy the Kid returning him to the Free Radicals. She learns, however, that they have a much bigger plan that will put the state into a state of anarchy.

NOTE: At the end of X-Men 2099 #20, Doom publicly announces on all broadcasts that he is the new President of the United States. One Nation Under Doom is a 2099 crossover event that touches the X-Men in the next post.

[3-Stars] 21 - "Unreality Bites" Halloween Jack decides proceed with his plan to activate the Virtual Unreality machine. Meanstreak has some reservations, but he goes along with the plan. Lytton Synge is back under his own control, and he wants revenge on Halloween Jack. Krystallin races to Las Vegas after getting a distrubing message from Meanstreak only to arrive in time to see the twisted success of Virtual Unreality, and the arrival of President Doom.