Era #7, Part 5: X-Men (v2) #31-35

Grade: C

We get a few more answers in this run, but we also get some issues that just feel out of place. We start with the conclusion of Psylocke story line that started during the Acts of Vengeance (Era #5, Part 05: Psylocke) and continued with more clues in the last era (Era #6, Part 10: A Skinning of Souls (Part 2)). An adequate end to a very long and dangling thread, but that is about as good as it gets here. Sabretooth spins a yarn about his first run in with Gambit (yawn), and we have a really bizarre story focusing on Cyclops and Phoenix (and S.H.I.E.L.D.).  There is a feeling that the creative team needs some inspiration which is unfortunate because I really like Andy Kubert's art.

[3-Stars] 31 - "Soul Possessions Part One: The Butterfly and the Hawk" Ravaged with the Legacy Virus, Revanche leaves the X-Mansion to confront Matsu'o Tsurayaba for answers on what really happened to the English X-Man Betsy Braddock when she emerged from the Siege Perilous and the Japanese assassin known as Kwannon. She also asks him for one last favor. Revanche secretly leaves her eyes with Psylocke. It is a reminder that she had Betsy's body since those eyes were an unholy gift of Mojo and Spiral (way back in New Mutants Annual #2).

[3-Stars] 32 - "Soul Possessions Part Two: The Leopards and the Cats" Spiral approaches Psylocke with answers (after a obligatory battle, of course), and thanks to Beast's help, Psylocke recovers some images from Revanche's bionic eyes. It is nearly enough information for her to figure it all out, so she travels to Japan to get the final puzzles pieces with Matsu'o Tsurayaba.

[2-Stars] 33 - "The Hearts of Thieves" Sabretooth tells Rogue a story of his first meeting with Gambit. The two were in Paris after the same jewel. The Cajun mutant was 17 and needed to grab it as part of a traditional ritual for acceptance into the Thieve's Guild. He fell in love with the mark, or did he use her to get what he wanted? Sabretooth plays with Rogues emotions as he tells a story of love and betrayal.

[3-Stars] 34 - "Life and Consequences" Sabretooth gives the X-Men information on Mister Sinister's hideout potentially leading the heroes into a trap. It is a hidden scientific complex under the same Nebraska orphanage where Cyclops was raised. They learn that Sinister has a cloning facility to bring back and dead Marauders, and he is using Threnody to find mutants with a the Legacy Virus.

[2-Stars] 35 - "Sunset Grace" Cyclops and Phoenix are back from their unusual honeymoon (detailed in Alt 4935, Part 2: Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix). While they were gone for 12 years, it was only 2 hours in this reality. In that short amount of time, a new threat has emerged from the paradise island of St. Bart. A mutant named Sunset Grace has opened a dimensional rift, and S.H.I.E.L.D. has arrived to try close it before it engulfs the planet. Sunset Grace has asked to see Cyclops and Phoenix to share her tragic story and her connection to their mentor, Professor X.

Era #7, Part 4: Uncanny X-Men #311-315 & X-Men Unlimited #4-5

Grade: B

This run is getting a higher grade because it begins answering some questions. The Phalanx storyline has been been brewing behind the scenes for some time (as far back as Uncanny X-Men #291), so it is good to see it make a move. The same holds true for Emma Frost who has been in a comma since Uncanny X-Men #281. In fact, it was great to see that she expanded the use of Iceman's power opening story opportunities on that front while revealing some deeper humanity from the ice queen herself. We also see some answers on the whole Graydon/Nighcrawler/Rogue/Mystique/Sabretooth family tree thing (I didn't say they were all good answers), and we witness some closure on the relationship between Professor X and Lilandra.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #311 - "Putting The Cat Out" Beast attempts to repair the Shi'ar power core after discovering that it was misaligned during Magneto's last attack. It is much more unstable than he anticipated. The power to the entire mansion shuts off. With most of the X-Men out, it is up to Bishop and Jubilee to find and recapture Sabretooth while Beast attempts to prevent the power core from causing more damage.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #312 - "Romp" Storm flies to Manhattan to meet her long-time friend Yukio. The carefree thief and ronin quickly explains that a new threat is looking for the X-Men. They are the Phalanx, and the followed Yukio to New York and now that Storm has arrived, they attack. Gambit arrives in time to offer some assistance against an unstoppable new enemy.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #313 - "Hands Across the Water" Storm, Gambit, and Yukio continue to battle the Phalanx drawing the new techno-organic enemy away the city. Inside the Phalanx, we see that it is an assimilation of many different people into a single hive-like mind. Some distinct personalities include Stephen Lang, Cameron Hodge and Doug Ramsey. We also learn that the power surge two issues ago put Iceman into a coma next to Emma Frost.

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #314 - "Early Frost" Emma Frost finally wakes to find herself in Iceman's body, and she wants answers. She quickly learns how to use his powers and escapes the mansion to find the Hellions. The X-Men pursue her in an attempt to explain the tragic truth. For more on how Emma ended up in a coma and the fate of the Hellions check out Era 6, Part 02: The Coming of Bishop.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #315 - "Peers" This issue focusing solely on Colossus and Acolytes. Neophyte has been captured and the Acolytes prepare their vengeance on what they perceived as his traitorous assistance to the X-Men (way back in Era 6, Part 09: Fatal Attractions (Part 1)). Colossus convinces them to have a trial with him as Neophyte's Defender and Amelia Voght as prosecutor.

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #4 - "Theories of Relativity" Mystique is on the loose and gunning for Graydon Creed. Graydon hired his father, Sabretooth, to kill his mother, Mystique (all found in the Sabretooth limited series which I do not own). Forge suggests that Rogue and Nightcrawler be the ones to bring her in. It is a bit of an odd tale, but we finally learn that Mystique really is Nightcrawler's mother, but she will not be winning any mother-of-the-year awards after also admitting that she tried to throw him off the cliff (and abandoning Graydon because he was not a mutant).

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #5 - " Hard Promises" A Shi'ar invitation to a royal function is late, and Professor X's presence is needed without delay. Professor X is the concubine and lover of the Shi'ar Majestrix Lilandra Neramani. He is joined in this immediate summons by Forge, Storm, and Jubilee to the Kree home world of Hala. The current military governor is Deathbird, and she has not been able to completely quell a resistance movement. The X-Men become embroiled in a conflict that may spell the end of Hala -- and Professor X's relationship with Lilandra.

Era #7, Part 3: The Wedding of Cyclops & Phoenix

Grade: D

Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey (Marvel Girl, Phoenix) have been an item in one fashion or another since their first appearance in X-Men #1 (1963). It took 30 years, but they finally get married. It couldn't be more boring. Adding Sabretooth to the mix as a killer house guest (I couldn't resist the pun) didn't really contribute to a better story -- yet.

This run feels like a place holder until something better comes along. Even Samantha found the issues uninteresting giving it a rare thumbs down. Both of us couldn't wait to get through them.

[2-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #3 "The Whispers Scream" The telepath known as Birdy died in the recent Sabretooth Limited Series. She was the only one able to keep Sabretooth's murderous urges under control, and Maverick is out to stopping the killing spree. He eventually reaches out to the X-Men for help in this globe-trotting adventure.

[2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #308 "Mixed Blessings" Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey take a walk down memory lane on Thanksgiving morning watching the X-Men enjoy some down time. Jean asks Scott to marry her. Spoiler alert: he accepts.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #27 "A Song of Mourning, A Cry of Joy" Infectia (from way back in Era #4, Part 17: X-Factor #27-32) is near death from the Legacy Virus. Beast, Iceman, and Rogue arrive to offer their assistance, but they are side-tracked by the sudden appearance of Mr. Sinister and a distressed mutant named Threnody. This issue ends with a tender moment in which Beast takes Infectia to the roof to watch the sunrise as she dies.

[2-Stars] X-Men (v2) #28 "Devil in the House" Sabretooth is a "guest" in the X-Men mansion, but he is unable to control his blood lust. He taunts Professor Xavier and scares Jubilee, but what he really needs is a telepathic "glow" that Jean Grey may provide. In the lab, the team confirms that Revanche has the Legacy Virus.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #309 "...When the Tigers Come at Night!" Professor Xavier remembers his past relationship with Amelia Voght. Before she became a member of the Acolytes, Amelia was a nurse who helped Charles learn to deal with the loss of his legs. They became involved, and she was there when he started his search for the X-Men. She revealed her personal views that mutants should hide for their own safety after Xavier learned that she was a mutant too.

[2-Stars] X-Men (v2) #29 "Return to Hellfire!" Archangel and Psylocke are both members of the Hellfire Club and accept an invitation to a gala being hosted by Shinobi Shaw to see what he is up to. They discover it is a bizarre recruitment attempt to form a partnership to rule the notorious secret society.

[2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #310 "...Show Me the Way to Go Home..." The X-Men males set up a bachelor party for Scott, but he is late. Cable arrives to talk to his father after learning the truth about their relationship (see Era #7, Part 2: Fathers & Son), but a new threat sneaks into the mansion setting off alarms. Cable and Cyclops must stop the X-Cutioner (who is perhaps one of the lamest X-Men super-villains). 

[2-Stars] X-Men (v2) #30 "The Ties That Bind" Scott Summers and Jean Grey get married.

Era #7, Part 2: Fathers and Sons

Grade: C

I originally collected Cable, but I found the stories confusing, uninteresting and not really integrated with the X-Men mythos. I was already prepared to drop the title when Steve Skroce joined the creative team. I did not like his art work, so it was an easy decision to remove Cable from my pull list. I kept a few issues when I purged series from my collection.

This arc attempts to explain the relationship between Cable, Stryfe, Tyler, the Askani, Jean Grey and Cyclops. It was published about four months before the the limited series that explores this subject better and with a little more in detail (read all about it in Alt 4935, Part 2: Adventures of Cyclops & Phoenix). These issues do clarify a few key points: Stryfe is a clone of Cable (rather than the other way around), and Tolliver's identity (a reoccuring behind-the-scenes villain to Cable and X-Force).

Unfortunately, this three part story is muddled. That may be because I am inadvertently comparing it to The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix, but I just couldn't understand some of the character motivations (except for the ever-present comic stand-by of "revenge").

Cable #6 - "Fathers and Sons Act One: Sunset Breaks" Zero confronts Tolliver and learns that the mysterious arms dealer is none-other than Cable's son from the future Tyler who wants revenge on his father. Cable visits the grave of his mother, Madelyne Pryor-Summers when Domino arrives at his invitation. The two are prepared to finally track down Tolliver, but they are interrupted by Mr. Sinister. A member of the Askani arrives from the future to protect Jean and Cyclops.

Cable #7 - "Fathers and Sons Act 2: Illuminated Knights" Tyler captured the Askani and uses his mutant power to interrogate her. He finally learns that Stryfe is the clone of Cable (and not the other way around). Meanwhile, Stryfe is in possession of Cable's body and infiltrates X-Force's headquarters while Domino explains the truth of Cable and Stryfe to the Jean and Cyclops.

Cable #8 - "Fathers and Sons Part 3: Dayspring" Stryfe does not appreciate being used by Tyler, so he takes his revenge against Cable's son and then directs his destructive attention towards the Askani prisoner. Zero explains the relationship between Cable and Stryfe to Jean and Cyclops before he teleports them to Tyler's base. They join Domino in a battle to save Cable from Styfe's continued influence.