Era #8, Part 19: Uncanny X-Men #356-359 & X-Men (v2) #76-79

Grade: C

Steve Seagle and Joe Harris stay on a little longer as the scribes for Uncanny X-Men and X-Men (v2) respectively, but this runs ends their experiment with a new line-up of unknown mutants. There is nothing especially noteworthy here with the possible exception of the Shadow King's elaborate (and well executed) trap in Psi-War (X-Men (v2) #77-78). Ironically, my least favorite story here is with the original X-Men. It wasn't a bad read, but I am ready to move on.

[2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #356 - "Reunion" Cyclops and Jean Grey invite Beast, Iceman, and Angel to their home in Anchorage. The original X-Men reminisce and discuss if it is time to reassess Professor X's dream and replace it with their own. The visit is interrupted by a group of Inuit protesters and a shaman warning that the "Crow God" is coming.

[2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #357 - "The Sky Is Falling" The original X-Men join the local sheriff to protect their small hamlet outside Anchorage from a swarm of angry crows.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #76 - "A Boykie and His Dinges" Maggott reveals his origins.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #77 - "Stormfront" Storm leads the X-Men to her home in Kenya to answer a distress call from her adoptive mother, Ainet. They find the entire village under the thrall of a powerful god by the name of Ananasi.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #78 - "Stormfront Part 2" Ananasi reveals himself to be the Shadow King, and he lured the X-Men into an intricate trap that will give him access to every mind on planet.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #358 - "Lost in Space" Bishop realizes that Deathbird has been keeping him in her care against his will (and away from the X-Men), but he reluctantly agrees to work with her when their spacecraft crashed on a planet raided by the savage Chnitt. They are joined by a local warrior named Karel who is searching for a deadly weapon to liberate the planet from the invaders.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #359 - "Power Play" Rogue agrees to a medical procedure that will remove her mutant powers. Unbeknownst to her, Dr. Agee has been funded by the US Government through Senator Brickman and Special Agent Peter Henry Gyrich both of whom are secretly overseeing the session. Mystique infiltrates the viewing as Senator Brickman's wife ready to expose the truth behind this miracle "cure".

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #79 - "Little Morlock Lost" Callisto is leaving Marrow in the X-Men's care, but Marrow doesn't take the news well. She runs away, and in her anger, she terrorizes a few innocent people. Callisto and the X-Men search for her before she does any real damage, and to let her know that she has a home.

[2-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #21 - "Devil's Haircut" Strong Guy returns to Earth and recruits Beast, Wolfsbane, and Jamie Madrox (Multiple Man) to help him stop an alien invasion. They find an inter-dimensional vortex growing over a country club in Vermont which is hosting both a wedding and a Halloween costume party. Disgruntled video-clerk Melvin J. Weals opened the demonic gateway with the powerful Hell Toupee.