Era #7, Part 7: Child's Play

Grade: B-

This run starts with the Child's Play crossover event that pits X-Force and the New Warriors against the Upstarts -- probably the only Upstart story I enjoy. I am a sucker for the old New Mutants and Hellions characters, so it was fun to see them back together.

There is another highlight worth mentioning. Issues #35 and #36 provides a good story that reminds us of the team's original mission -- a paramilitary strikeforce protecting mutant interests.

[3-Stars] X-Force #32 - "Child's Play First Move: With a Roll of the Dice" The Upstarts begin a new competition targeting the remaining New Mutants and Hellions. This "Younghunt" opens with Fenris capturing Magma at a Nova Roma refugee camp. Siena Blaze makes a play for the vacationing Cannonball and Boomer, while Shinobi Shaw convinces Justice (of the New Warriors) to bring in Firestar as a willing participant. Fitzroy is the last to join the game by attacking X-Force to get at Rictor and Warpath.

New Warriors #45 - "Child's Play Second Move: Sleeping with the Enemy" Graydon Creed sends Tribunal mercenaries to grab Firestar as part of the Younghunt. Siena Blaze goes after Empath, Karma, and Moonstar in Madripoor. Shinobi reveals a plan to betray the Gamesmaster. More importantly, Speedball gets a new costume.

[3-Stars] X-Force #33 - "Child's Play Third Move: Rules Were Made to be Broken" X-Force's battle against Fitzroy leads them to Shinobi Shaw's apartment. They learn where the captive New Mutants and Hellions. Paige secretly follows. The New Warriors find their way to the Gamesmaster's lair through a confrontation with Upstart member Graydon Creed. Karma frees here former teammates revealing that she has been playing possum to infiltrate and disrupt the Upstart's deadly game.

New Warriors #46 - "Child's Play Fourth Move" X-Force and New Warriors team up to stop the Gamesmaster and free their friends, but it may be Paige Guthrie that saves the day.

[3-Stars] X-Force #34 - "Guns and Poses" Moonstar reveals herself (yes, she is former New Mutant Mirage), and Magma leaves Empath to find herself after learning the truth of about Nova Roma (a city created by Selena to appear as if it were an ancient Roman city). Shatterstar, Domino, and Cable join Rictor as he returns Guadalajara to visit his family that he has avoided for so long because of their illegal gun running business.

[4-Stars] X-Force #35 - "Beg Tomorrow" X-Force investigates a U.S. government project making significant advancements in artificial intelligence. It is being applied to Sentinel technology at Camp Hayden to create Nimrod!

[4-Stars] X-Force #36 - "Genocidal Tendencies" X-Force versus Nimrod.

[2-Stars] X-Force #37 - "The Young and the Restless" The Externals approach Cannonball at his Kentucky home. They need help from newest "High Lord" after two of their immortal number fall to the Legacy Virus. Saul recounts his first meeting with En Sabah Nur outside a Celestial spacecraft (maybe Ship from X-Factor?). Gideon becomes an External after his death to scurvy as a member of Columbus's crew to the New World. Absolom was hanged as an outlaw in the American West.

Era #7, Part 6: The Douglock Chronicles

Grade: C

With "The Douglock Chronicles" splashed across the top of the page, I knew I needed to get this three part Excalibur story. I was deeply effected by Doug's death in New Mutants #60 (back in Era #4, Part 11: Fall of the Mutants (New Mutants)), so seeing him back was very exciting. Unfortunately, it was in the pages of a title I found too odd to follow. My opinion hasn't changed after reading this.

There is a second memorable result of this three part tale. Professor X returns to Muir Island to help Moria with her Legacy Virus research. She is stressed and growing increasingly despondent as more mutants fall to the fatal disease. He tries to lend both a hand in her investigation and provide support, but she also reveals a deeper problem. She is the first human to be infected.

Excalibur #78 - "Part One: Fire in the Wild" Britanic leads Meggan and Shadowcat to a forest. He doesn't know why, but they wait for something to happen. In the forest, Zero summons a techno-organic version of the deceased New Mutant Doug Ramsey. Despite being a part of the collective intelligence called the Phalanx, "Douglock" seems to retain own consciousness. The two puzzle over the nature of "life" when they are are attacked by Styfe's droids attempting to destroy Zero. Excalibur arrive to protect a family caught in the crossfire. Professor Xavior arrives on Muir Island to help Moira continue her research on the Legacy Virus.

Excalibur #79 - "Part Two: Twisted Logic" Zero manages to save Douglock, Britanic, Meggan, Shadowcat, and a camping family by teleporting them to a safe destination -- an old Stryfe base filled with inert droids. Excalibur attempts to come to grips with the return of Douglock, and Zero reveals that the secrets of the Legacy Virus is inaccessibly buried within his memory. Stryfe's droids awaken.

Excalibur #80 - "Part Three: Out of Time" Excalibur, Douglock, and Zero battle their way through Stryfe's droids to save themselves and an innocent family caught in the crossfire. Zero learns that with his independent thought from his former master comes the knowledge that he may have the secret to the Legacy Virus. Douglock attempts to help Zero retrieve the information, but the data is buried deep and protected with self-destruct mechanisms.