Era #9, Part 10: The Twelve

Grade: C

Finally, the secret of the Twelve! First mentioned back in March 1987 in the pages of X-Factor #14 (Era, #4, Part 08), the "fabled Twelve" are a "dozen mutant humans who will one day rise up and lead all of mutantkind in war against Homo sapiens in the twilight of Earth." There were several claims and partial lists of potential candidates, but it was not until Kitty found Destiny's diary (Era #9, Part 07) that we get a complete list:

• Magneto
• Polaris
• Storm
• Sunfire
• Iceman
• Cyclops
• Phoenix (Jean Grey)
• Cable
• Bishop
• Mikhail Rasputin
• Professor X
• Living Monolith.

That is an impressive list, but the story was still a pretty big let-down. We waited 12 years for this, and we get another attempt by Apocalypse to possess X-Man's body? Apparently, leading all of mutantkind in a war against humans means being a battery for a supervillain's extraterrestrial machine.

Apocalypse's allies didn't seem to add much value. I would even say that it distracted from what could've been solid reveal. Even after rereading it, I am still puzzled why Alan Davis wanted to add the Skrulls. They never really fit well in an X-Men centric story. It was an odd collection of established characters that took the positions of Apocalypse's Four Horsemen. I had a difficult time buying Ahab (Famine) and Deathbird (War) joining as subordinates to Apocalypse. Wolverine (Death) was brainwashed, but I didn't collect the Wolverine issues that delved more into how this happened and how he regained his own mind. That leaves Caliban (Pestilence) who was already Death in the past, so why did he change?

The Twelve was one of those X-Men mysteries that longtime fans like me really talked about all the time. Alan Davis gave us closure, but it was not all that satisfying. Maybe that is because I set my expectations too high, or maybe it is because the premise didn't take into account any of the dropped clues, fan conjectures, or original purpose of the Twelve.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #376 - "Filling in the Blanks" The hunt for the Twelve is on as the X-Men attempt to protect them from Apocalypse's Horsemen.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #96 - "The Gathering" The X-Men versus Death/Wolverine.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #377 - "The End of the World as We Know It" Apocalypse and his Horsemen complete their collection of the Twelve.

[3-Stars] X-Men #97 - "The End of the World as We Know It Part 2" Apocalypse reveals his plans to use the power of the Twelve to transfer his consciousness into Nate Gray merging their powers to become a godlike being. 

Era #9, Part 09: The Shattering (Part 2)

Grade: B

Alan Davis continues his run with even more shockers following Wolverine's death. A Skrull was posing as Wolverine since X-Men #90 (Era #9, Part 03). In hindsight, there were several clues, but I certainly didn't pick up on them at the time. So where is Wolverine? Somehow, he is transformed into the Apocalypse's newest horseman Death. Again, I didn't see that coming.

Alan is building to another big event, but the pieces that are beginning to fall into place are not encouraging. Wolverine is Death (cool), but how did the Skrulls become a strong Apocalypse ally? It was cringe-worthy seeing the Skrulls working with Deathbird and human lackeys dressed in ancient Egyptian garb to help Apocalypse gain mutant dominance on Earth.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #375 - "I Am Not Now, Nor Have I Ever Been..." Professor X calls the X-Men home with urgent news -- Wolverine is dead! Xavier then pits the team against each other to test their loyalties.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #95 - "Do Unto Others" The X-Men's search for Wolverine leads them to a Skrull base on Earth where they face off against Apocalypse's newest horseman of Death.

[3-Stars] X-Men Unlimited #25 - "In Remembrance" The X-Men share their fond memories of Wolverine. In the second story, Wolverine teaches a lesson to two cruel hunters who do not hunt for food but just to kill.

Era #9, Part 08: Astonishing X-Men

Grade: C+

The Shattering continues in this three-part limited series. Cyclops and Jean Grey do not have much time to figure out what to do after the X-Men disbanded X-Men #92. Nina and Mannites arrive desperately seeking help. They are being hunted by Apocalypse's newest Horseman of Death.

Cyclops and Jean quickly assemble a new team that includes Wolverine, Angle, Cable, and X-Man. The roster sounds cool, but I didn't think that it worked well. It felt forced.

Mannites are another X-Men storyline that just never really clicked for me. Nina is their "leader" and first appeared in Onslaught: Epilogue (Era #07, Part 30), and she plays a major role in the Hunt for Xavier (Era #08, Part 22). This series hints that the Mannites were developed in Bastion's laboratories (which makes sense), but their backstory, characterizations, and bizarre "evolution" seems slipshod. I am not even sure we learned why Death wanted them dead.

SPOILER: The series ends with a shocking moment. Wolverine is actually killed in his battle with Death. I was completely caught off-guard! It also represents one of the few times that a limited series actually has an impact.

[3-Stars] Astonishing X-Men #1 - "Call to Arms!" Cyclops and Jean Grey recruit a new X-Men team to protect Mannites from the mysterious Death.

[3-Stars] Astonishing X-Men #2 - "The Trouble with Mannites" X-Men search for a way to stop Death from killing the Mannites.

[3-Stars] Astonishing X-Men #3 - "In the Shadow of Death!" X-Men versus Death.

Era #9, Part 07: The Shattering (Part 1)

Grade: C

The X-Men are calling it quits (again). Professor X seems bent on pushing the X-Men to the breaking point. He makes it clear that the new team roster is up to the challenges that face them. It proves to be too much. Exhausted and angry, the X-Men go their separate ways.

Colossus takes Marrow to Boston where are abducted by Mikhail Rasputin. Mikhail is Colossus's brother, but he was also the cruel "god" of the Morlocks during their time in a different dimension. I will say again how much I don't like any of the Mikhail stories that I've read, but at least here, we learn more about Marrow and her path to leading the hate-filled terrorist group Gene Nation. We also get another attempt to explain why

Nightcrawler, Kitty Pryde, and Rogue take a more relaxed vacation that is interrupted by Mystique. She is being hunted down for crimes against the Japanese government that she didn't commit. Sunfire joins them in uncovering the truth. While at one of Mystique's many safe houses, Kitty finds a Destiny's Diary (something that will become more significant later).

This isn't a bad run, but it isn't especially exciting either. Alan Davis continues to write for both titles, so you have to read both to get the entire story.

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #372 - "Dream's End (Part 1): Rude Awakening" The team has not had an opportunity to unwind before Professor X has them running through a new, more grueling training regimen that pushes them over the edge.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #92 - "Dream's End (Part 2): Pressure Points" The X-Men have had enough of Professor X's secretive attitude and his relentless, unnecessary training. They decide that it is time to take a break and go their separate ways.

[2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #373 - "Beauty & The Beast (Part 1): Broken Mirrors" Colossus takes Marrow to Boston to relax, but trouble is not far behind when Mikhail Rasputin finds them at an art gallery.

[2-Stars] Uncanny X-Men #374 - "Beauty & the Beast (Part 2): You Can't Go Home Again" Colossus and Marrow must find a way to stop Mikhail from trying to bring a pale copy of Illyana back from the dead.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #93 - "Hidden Lives (Part 1): Open Wounds" Rogue, Kitty Pryde and Rogue go into the city to unwind after the X-Men disbanded. They run into Mystique who is being hunted by an unknown assailant.

[3-Stars] X-Men (v2) #94 - "Hidden Lives (Part 2): Pandora's Box" Sunfire agrees to help Rogue, Kitty, and Nightcrawler find out who is trying to frame Mystique of espionage.

Era #9, Part 06: Generation X #53-58

Grade: B-

Jay Faerber picks up a little steam in this run. The stories are still more on the typical comic style, but they are fun reads. Generation X face a new threat in Madripoor, and they final confront the fate of Emma Frost's first team, the Hellions.

Generation X also learn how Emplate, M, and Penance are related. We first learn about Empate and Penance five years ago in Generation X #1, so it was good to finally delve into their origins. I am not thrilled with the answers, but they are answers.

[3-Stars] Generation X #53 - "Land of the Rising Sons Part 1" Generation X joins the mercenary Paladin on a trip to Madripoor. They are on a mission for Adrienne Frost to retrieve a sword from a mob boss, but they must first get past a new threat called the Rising Sons (Dragonwing, Spoilsport, the Sign, Jet-Black, Nightwind, and Tough Love).

[3-Stars] Generation X #54 - "Land of the Rising Sons Part 2" Generation X and Paladin versus the Rising Sons.

[3-Stars] Generation X #55 - "Sins of the Past Part One: In Another Man's Shoes" Generation X wakes up as the Hellions on the fateful day that Emma Frost's original students die at the hands of Trevor Fitzroy and his Sentinels (back in Era #6, Part 2). They decide to change the outcome.

[3-Stars] Generation X #56 - "Sins of the Past Part Two: Heal Thyself" Generation X relive Hellion's final day, but M finds that they are stuck inside an elaborate illusion.

[3-Stars] Generation X #57 - "A Night to Remember" Emplate crashes the Massachusetts Academy formal dance. In their attempt to stop him, Generation X discover the family secret that binds him with M, and Penance.

[3-Stars] Generation X #58 - "Something Wicked" Generation X search the woods for a runaway Penance while learning more about Emplate, M, and Penance.

Era #9, Part 05: Generation X #46-52

Grade: C

Jay Faerber takes the pen from Larry Hama, and the stories go from outlandish to mundane. This run really focuses on the "school" side of being teenaged mutant heroes. Emma Frost runs into some financial difficulties and calls her older sister, Adrienne, for help, and they open the school up to include normal (and rich) students.

[3-Stars] Generation X #46 - "The Quality of Mercy" It is back to school for Generation X with new uniforms and a surprise state inspection.

[3-Stars] Generation X #47 - "She Got Game" Forge installs a new Danger Room for the students, but Gaia's unpredictable powers transforms the alien technology into a new threat called Paradox.

[3-Stars] Generation X #48 - "Foxes & Scorpions" Emma Frost reluctantly turns to her sister Adrienne for financial support to keep the school operational. Husk returns from Kentucky, M and Jubilee tussle in the Danger Room, and Maggott arrives to enroll at the school.

[3-Stars] Generation X #49 - "Trophies" Maggott is being stalked by a trophy hunter named Slaughter. Adrienne Frost learns the true purpose of the school and agrees to provide her financial support as the new headmistress.

[3-Stars] Generation X #50 - "War of the Mutants Part 1: Divided We Fall" Adrienne opens the Massachusetts Academy for all students making it more difficult for Generation X to be themselves. Nate Grey (X-Man) arrives wanting to know more about Emma's past relationship with the Dark Beast (as seen in Generation X #-1 Flashback).

[3-Stars] X-Man #50 - "War of the Mutants Part 2: New Blood" X-Man and Generation X versus Dark Beast.

[2-Stars] Generation X #51 - "The Rescuers" Adrienne sends Generation X on a mission to find and rescue Banshee from a wealthy gentleman with ties to the criminal underworld and a grandson, Tristan, who is also a student at the Massachusetts Academy.

[3-Stars] Generation X #52 - "Secret Identities" Tristan knows Generation X's secret and agrees to keep quiet if Paige will go out on a date with him. Artie and Leech have fun with their new imagine inducers.