Era #8 Extra: Flashback

Marvel Comics gave their Silver Age fans a little nostalgic gift throughout July 1997. Every title took the month off from their normal stories to give readers an untold flashback tale with art that often paid homage to the classic Marvel house style of Jack Kirby. Each Flashback issue was given a number of minus one "-1" and featured Stan Lee as the narrator.

It was a fun distraction, and the creators were able to plant Easter Eggs and even a few clues to their current runs. I missed Excalibur somehow, but I picked up the rest of the X-Books.

Cable (Minus One) - "The Devil's Herald" It is Cable's first trip to our time. He arrives on Muir Island where he meets Dr. Moira MacTaggert and her young ward Rahne Sinclair. The mysterious man from the future learns to speak English, and he quickly discovers the intolerance of being a mutant thanks to Reverend Craig.

Generation X (Minus One) - "The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship!" Young Emma Frost begins to use her new mutant powers of telepathy at the infamous Hellfire Club. She strolls the gala floor stealing insider information from legendary members such as Harry Leland. She eventually runs into Dark Beast recently from the Age of Apocalypse without his memory. He takes her to his underground lair in deep in the tunnels (future home of the Morlocks), but NYC Detective Sean Cassidy races to save her.

Uncanny X-Men (Minus One) - "The Boy Who Saw Tomorrow!" Rachel Summers returns to our time as the Mother Askani. She is in pursuit of a rogue member named Sanctity who is the lost daughter of the Bolivar Trask. She hopes to stop him and her brother, Larry Trask, from creating Master Mold. The first Sentinel is nearly complete in their lab, but she manages to secretly implant a file labeled "The Twelve".

Wolverine (Minus One) - "A Whiff of Sartre's Madeleine!" The Hudsons (future Vindicator and Guardian of  Alpha Flight) send their friend to the US for answers about his adamantium implants. His arrival draws the attention of Victor Creed (Sabretooth), Hydra, SHIELD, and the Black Widow.

X-Factor (Minus One) - "A Summers Tale" Stub

X-Force (Minus One) - "Brothers Proudstar" John Proudstar (the original Thunderbird) returns home from a tour with the Marines and reunites with his family to include his little brother, James (Warpath). His mother is diagnosed with cancer, but a local journalist, Michael Whitecloud, is investigating the reservation's oncology center. The brothers join their friend in looking for more information about the center's true purpose.

X-Man (Minus One) - "Breeding Ground" The Age of Apocalypse Sinister awakens his proudest achievement -- Nate Grey. The dark geneticist teaches the young mutant some valuable lesson before returning powerful mutant weapon back into the development chamber.

X-Men (v2)  (Minus One) - "I Had a Dream" Professor X attempts one last time to talk Magneto out of committing any crime on behalf of mutants. Amelia Voght transports Professor to the concentrate camp Magneto was held as a child. Magneto arrives with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch (neither are yet aware of their relationship to Magneto). It is their final conversation before the Cape Citadel event in X-Men #1 (1963).

Era #8, Part 08: Trial of Gambit (Part 1)

Grade: B

There are two separate stories that are very (very) loosely tied together for this run. The Uncanny X-Men find themselves back in space to save the Shi'ar from the Phalanx. It is oddly condensed for an intergalactic empire version of the Phalanx Covenant.

"Games of Deceit & Death" is an interesting take on the hunt for the Legacy Virus cure. Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu, joins the X-Men in an investigation into a Hong Kong's criminal connection to Fu Manchu's mythical "elixir vitae". This legendary potion may be able to cure the deadly mutant disease, and that promise catches the attention of the notorious Kingpin. This is a glimpse into the darker side of using personal tragedy for financial gain.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #341 - "When Strikes a Gladiator!" Beast, Bishop, Cannonball, Gambit, Joseph, and Rogue enjoy a quiet evening Christmas shopping in New York City. Gladiator arrives unannounced to teleport the X-Men to space leaving Cannonball to face the powerful praetor of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard alone.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #342 Beast, Bishop, Gambit, Joseph, Rogue, and Trish Tilby are transported to a starship speeding for the Shi'ar Empire where they discover that they may be too late. Everybody aboard a huge space station has been massacred, and there is only one survivor -- Deathbird.

[4-Stars] X-Men #62 - "Games of Deceit & Death" (Part 1) The X-Men are introduced to Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung-Fu. His evil father's mysterious Elixir Vitae may be able to cure to the Legacy Virus. They travel to Hong Kong where they find Sebastian Shaw already ahead of them.

[4-Stars] X-Men #63 - "Games of Deceit & Death" (Part 2) The X-Men and Shang-Chi versus Sebastian Shaw's cyber-ninjas, but there is a bigger criminal mastermind pulling the strings.

[4-Stars] X-Men #64 - "Games of Deceit & Death" (Part 3) The X-Men, Shang-Chi, Sebastian Shaw, and the Kingpin all vying for the Elixir Vitae and its promise as a possible cure to the Legacy Virus.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #343 - "Where No X-Man Has Gone Before!" Deathbird reveals that Phalanx are responsible for the massacre at the space station, but the X-Men must deal with a more immediate threat before they can save the Shi'ar Empire from invasion. The Phalanx have infiltrated their ship.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #344 - "Casualties of War" Deathbird and the X-Men versus the Phalanx to save the Shi'ar Empire.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #345 - "Moving On" The X-Men celebrate their victory and prepare for their trip back home. On Earth, a new mutant named Maggott makes his first appearance, and he is looking for Joseph.

Era #8, Part 07: X-Men Unlimited #13-16

Grade: C+

X-Men Unlimited had so much potential, and on occasion, I see some relevant and interesting stories. In most cases, however, I read average tales that neither advanced the mythos or provided a deeper insight into the characters. It is X-Men commercialism at its most obvious.

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #13
"Fugitive From Space" Cyclops, Jean Grey, Rogue, Bishop, and Beast join the Lilandra, Deathbird, and the Shi'ar armada in finding Binary and the Silver Surfer. In doing so, they find a legendary threat ready to destroy the galaxy.

"Junction" It is Halloween, and Gomurr the Ancient shows Juggernaut the human damage his rampages causes the innocent people around him.

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #14 - "Innocence Lost" Beast, Gambit, Joseph, and Storm take the Leech, Artie, and Franklin to the McCoy's farm for some time to unwind after the events of Onslaught. Franklin has other intentions, however, and sets in motion a plan to get revenge on Joseph. Franklin sees the Joseph as part of Onslaught responsible for killing his parents (Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four). Mutant phobic neighbors arrive to complicate things.

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #15 - "Second Contact" Chris Bradley's life has gotten worse since X-Men Unlimited #8 (see Era #7, Part 17). It has been difficult living as a mutant with the Legacy Virus, but when his home is torched, Chris finally runs away. He is disappointed with Iceman and the X-Men who he felt abandoned him, but he finds a new friend in the international mutant spy Maverick.

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #16 - "Primal" Banshee and Emma Frost search for highly qualified human students to recruit into the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. They find two exceptional candidates, but they quickly learn that both have their own secrets. One is a mutant and the other is one of Bastion's Prime Sentinels.

Era #8, Part 06: Truth of Death

Grade: C+

Nostalgia is a powerful thing. I remember being excited when I heard that there was going to be a reunion of the New Mutants. As is often the case with extreme anticipation, the actual result didn't meet the hype that I built up in my head.

The New Mutants get together for a weekend together away from the current lives, but they come face-to-face with their younger selves. Ben Raab starts strong with each character attempting to reconcile their young dreams and aspirations with the realities of unexpected tragedies and difficult life decisions. Unfortunately, that solid lead-in quickly fades when Magik learns that her older brother Mikhail influenced her decision to attempt time-travel at the risk of a paradox. He has a plan to save her from her fatal fate as a victim of the Legacy Virus.

It isn't that this is a bad story, but I really hoped for more. I am not a big fan of Bernard Chang's art, and Mikhail is another character that I don’t find interesting.

SPOILER: This is still a worthwhile read. We get to see the New Mutants back together -- both past and present. We also learn HOW Illyana contracted the Legacy Virus in the first place (while confirming that Mikhail really is a selfish jerk).

[3-Stars] New Mutants: Truth or Death #1 - "Truth or Death" In the past (probably just before New Mutants #29 (1985)), the New Mutants decide to play a game of Truth or Dare that sends them to the future. They arrive in the present as Cannonball, Sunspot (both now with X-Force), Dani Moonstar, Wolfsbane, Douglock (both with Excalibur), Dani Moonstar, and Karma have the X-Mansion to themselves for a small class reunion.
- Signed by Bernard Chang!

[3-Stars] New Mutants: Truth or Death #2 - "Family Matters" Illyana learns that the Legacy Virus took her life. Her oldest brother Mikhail (whom she thought was dead) appears and explains that he may be able to save her from that fate. The present-day New Mutants do not trust Mikhail because of his past crimes (such as the death of the Morlocks back in Era 6, Part 05), but the younger New Mutants are willing to do anything to save their friend. The result is the inevitable battle between two hero groups -- New Mutants versus New Mutants.

[3-Stars] New Mutants: Truth or Death #3 - "Letting Go" The New Mutants watch as Mikhail begins a risky procedure to save Illyana from the Legacy Virus. It is a process that introduces the Legacy Virus into his younger sister in hopes that her body will develop an immunity. Spoiler alert: it does not.

Era #8, Part 05: Beast Limited Series

Grade: F

Karma lost her younger brother and sister during a mysterious explosion of her apartment during the Mutant Massacre back in New Mutants #46 (Era #4, Part 04). Leong and Nga Coy Manh have been forgotten characters for a decade, so I am glad that there is an attempt to address their disappearance. With that much time to plan, they couldn’t come up with a better story than this?

The twins recently resurfaced in X-Force #62 (Era #8, Part 04) where they were again kidnapped -- from their kidnappers. Viper contracts Spiral to take the twins and transform them into weapons that can be used against Karma. With so many enemies that Viper has to deal with, she chooses a special, high-cost plan against ... Karma?

Why is this series even called Beast? While he plays an important role in this series, it isn't a solo adventure. It focuses on Karma with Cannonball and Beast rounding out the team.

The twins are transformed by Spiral into grown adults with some odd (and kind of creepy) powers. It is made even more disturbing when Viper makes sexual innuendos with the adult Leong who was a pre-adolescent boy just a few hours earlier.

[2 Stars] Beast #1 - "Bad Karma" Viper arrives to meet Spiral and set in motion a plan to take revenge against Karma. Karma possesses Beast to force answers out of the Hellfire Club regarding the whereabouts of her brother and sister.

[1 Star] Beast #2 - "Body Shopping" Beast, Cannonball, and Karma are transported to Spiral's Body Shoppe where they find the twins grown up, transformed by their unusual mutant powers, and under Viper's control.

[1 Star] Beast #3 - "Closing Shop" Beast, Cannonball, and Karma versus Viper, Spiral, and the twins.

Era #8, Part 04: X-Force #59 - 66

Grade: D+

If every title goes through ups and downs, then this set is decidedly near the bottom for me. Jeph Loeb ends his tenure with one of the most bizarre origin stories that I've ever read (and I've read some extremely weird ones). I think I understand the Shatterstar reveal told in X-Force #59-61, but I doubt I could explain it to anybody.

There is a fill-in issue that reintroduces Karma's twins Nga & Leong Coy Manh who have been missing since New Mutants #46 (Era #4, Part 04). This sets up the Beast limited series.

John Francis Moore takes the helm here. I liked his work with X-Men 2099, and while he doesn't do a bad job with X-Force, it is clear that he is a comic book fan who is going to write standard comic book stories.

[2 Stars] X-Force #59 - "Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?" This issue begins an arc explaining Shatterstar's origin. It starts strong as Cable looks for clues on how Shatterstar can be both an arena warrior from another dimension (Mojoverse) and a teenager named Benjamin Russell in a coma at the Weisman Institute as hinted throughout Loeb's run. Rictor returns to the team in time to help X-Force battle Gog and Magog.

[2 Stars] X-Force #60 - "I Know You Are But What Am I" Cable and Shatterstar are captured leaving X-Force to find a way to Mojoworld. They reach out to Dr. Strange (really?). Other guests include Longshot and Dazzler which makes a little more sense.

[2 Stars] X-Force #61 - "Ask Me No Questions and I'll Tell You No More Lies" X-Force versus Mojo. Shatterstar dies but his soul enters the comatose body of Benjamin Russell. I think. Seriously, this one was confusing for me, and I am not sure I want to think too deeply about it.

[1 Stars] X-Force #62 - "Human Nature" X-Force investigates some reports of suspicious activity from Shinobi Shaw. They discover that he is developing a machine to turn mutants into humans, and he is using Karma's long-lost twins Nga &  Leong Coy Manh as guinea pigs. Shaw's body guards are two new characters (that we will never see again) named Mindmeld and Clear-cut. During the battle, Spiral arrives and takes the twins setting up the storyline in the upcoming Beast limited series.

[3 Stars] X-Force #63 - "Wish You Were Here" Dr. Doom disappeared with Marvel's heroes during Onslaught, so X-Force and Nathaniel Richards go to Latveria to secure Doom's technology stored in Castle Doom. They find agents of SHIELD lead by G.W. Bridge already in the castle with the same goal in mind.

[3 Stars] X-Force #64 - "The Haunting of Castle Doom" A scuffle with SHIELD sends G.W. Bridge and his agents, Nathaniel Richards, X-Force, and Castle Doom back to World War II. They are out of sync, so they appear as ghosts unable to directly interact with the people. Instead, they watch Baron von Strucker and his Nazi soldiers prepare a machine that will harness the power of the cosmos.

[3 Stars] X-Force #65 - "Lower East Side Story" Risque is back and on a secret mission. She needs to get close to Warpath, so she invites him to go dancing with her. Once at the club, however, the two find the Blob and Mimic waiting for them.

[3 Stars] X-Force #66 - "Tragic Kingdom" Risque delivers a drugged Warpath to the mysterious Sledge in order to pay her debt. She immediately goes into hiding choosing a public place -- Florida's Wackyworld. It is not enough. X-Force easily finds her with Caliban's mutant-hunting ability, and they have no qualms about exposure. They are hellbent on finding Warpath!

Era #8, Part 03: X-Men (v2) #60-61

Grade: D

This short run concludes a storyline that started back in X-Men Unlimited #7 (Era #7, Part 12). Storm learns then that Candra also has ties to Cario's criminal world where she plans to use her influence to recruit two young mutant street thieves Karima and Jamil.

I have yet to like any of the Candra based stories, and this one is no exception. The only bright spot is that Candra dies (and hasn't returned).

[2 Stars] X-Men (v2) #60 - "Night" Storm reveals to Cyclops that during her youth as a thief in Cairo, she stole a valuable gem that possessed the soul of the X-Ternal known as Candra. The immortal mutant wants her "heart" back and holds the young street urchin Karima as a hostage to ensure Ororo delivers.

[2 Stars] X-Men (v2) #61 - "Bolt" Storm versus Candra as both learn that there is much more Karima's mutant power.