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| Uncanny X-Men #1
Sep 1963
The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1
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X-Men:
The issue that started it all! We meet Professor Charles Xavier and the original X-Men:
Scott "Slim" Summers (Cyclops), Hank McCoy (the Beast), Bobby Drake (Iceman), and Warren Worthington III
(the Angel). A new student joins the Prof's school - Jean Grey (Marvel Girl). Their first mission is to
stop a new evil mutant named Magneto who's taken over the military base Cape Citadel. The X-Men work
together, and quickly drive Magento off. The base General describes their performance with one word:
Uncanny!
|
| Uncanny X-Men #2 Nov 1963 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
No One Can Stop the Vanisher: A new villain named the Vanisher steals defense plans from the Pentagon, and the X-Men must stop him! The Prof uses his mental powers on the Vanisher, confusing him long enough to be captured. |
| Uncanny X-Men #3 Jan 1964 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Beware of the Blob: The Prof sends the X-Men out looking a new mutant he detected - and they find the Blob (in the circus). They try to recruit him, but he turns on them, bring his circus buddies to come attack the mansion. The Blob only gets stopped after the Prof uses an "intensifier ray" to increase his mental powers, making the Blob forget all about the X-Men (this is 2 issues in a row where the Prof "confuses" the villain!). |
| Uncanny X-Men #4 Mar 1964 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants: Four new mutants are working for Magneto: Toad, Mastermind, the Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver. The Scarlet Witch (Wanda) is only helping Magneto because he saved her from humans who wanted to kill her. Quicksilver (Pietro) is her brother, and he's only helping Magneto out because his sister is. We learn much, much later that they are actually Magento's children! Anyway, Magneto steals a battleship, and they take over the "tiny republic of Santa Marco". The Professor and the X-Men drive down there, storm the capitol building and the Prof gets injured by a bomb left by Magneto. The "evil mutants" flee, but not before Quicksilver defuses the other (nuclear!) bomb that Magneto left behind. The Prof's mental powers have been deadened by the explosion that hit him. |
| Uncanny X-Men #5 May 1964 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Trapped: One X-Man: Returning to the mansion with the disabled Prof, the X-Men meet Jean Grey's parents for the first time. Later, the X-Men see a mutant winning a track and field meet until the crowd turns on him. The X-Men go to "rescue" him, but he turns out to be the Toad! The Evil Mutants ambush the X-Men, kidnapping the Angel, but leaving the Toad behind. The X-Men use the Toad to travel up to Magneto's latest hideout - Asteroid M. A big battle naturally ensues, the asteroid seems to break apart, and everyone escapes. Upon returning to the mansion, the X-Men learn that the Prof was only faking the loss of his powers to test his students. They passed this "final exam" of their schooling. |
| Uncanny X-Men #6 Jul 1964 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Sub-Mariner Joins the Evil Mutants: Magneto contacts Sub-Mariner (Namor, the King of Atlantis), hoping to enlist him. The X-Men follow them to Magneto's latest hideout (an island near the Bermuda Triangle) and have a big fight (Namor holds his own against everyone, eventually destroying Magento's giant magnet). The X-Men capture Quicksilver, but let him go, hoping to eventually persuade Wanda and him to join them. |
| Uncanny X-Men #7 Sep 1964 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Return of the Blob: The X-Men "graduate", and the Prof announces he's leaving for a while, putting Cyclops in charge. Charles shows Scott his secret project - Cerebro - used to detect mutant powers. The first mutant detected is the Blob, who's recoved from his forced memory loss (issue #3) as Magneto tries to recruit him. The X-Men attack, and are getting their butts kicked until they're (ironically) saved from Magneto's missile attack by the body of the Blob. The Evil Mutants get fed up with losing and take off. The Blob gets fed up with everyone trying to control him, and walks off to rejoin his circus. |
| Uncanny X-Men #8 Nov 1964 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Uncanny Threat of Unus, the Untouchable: One day in the city, the Beast saves a child from the roof of a building, but the scared humans still attack him. He gets fed up trying to protect the people who fear or hate him, so he leaves the X-Men! While wokring as a wrestler, he comes across Unus, a mutant with powers that allow him to never even be touched. After Unus whomps the remaining X-Men, the Beast decides to help out again, building a device that enhances Unus' power. The X-Men think the Beast is trying to betray them, until they realize that now Unus can no longer touch anything himself (even food). The Beast returns Unus to his original mutant power on the condition that he doesn't get "out of line" or ever try to contact Magneto (or they'll boost him permanently). After proving himself this way to the X-Men, the Beast rejoins them. Also, in this issue we learn for the first time that Scott and Jean harbor secret feelings of love for each other, but won't tell each other. |
| Uncanny X-Men #9 Jan 1965 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Enter, the Avengers: The X-Men go to Europe to help Professor Xavier in hi battle with Lucifer, the villain who cost Xavier the use of his legs years ago. Xavier confronts Lucifer in his underground lair, only to learn that he can't harm the arch-villain, or a nuclear bomb will go off. While looking for Xavier, the X-Men are waylaid by the Avengers (Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Giant-Man, and some little pixie). Just as the Avengers are really about to whomp on the X-Men, the Prof neutralizes Lucifer and contacts Thor, calling for a halt to their battle. The X-Men join the Prof underground, where they help him disarm the nuclear bomb, and then let Lucifer go (it wasn't until later that the X-Men (and the writers) got smarter and decided to start trying to detain all these villains they defeat). |
| Uncanny X-Men #10 Mar 1965 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Coming of Ka-Zar: The X-Men see a TV report of a loincloth-clad wild man in Antarctica, and go to investigate. The X-Men stumble across a hidden entrance to .... The Savage Land! Jean gets kidnapped by swamp warriors. Ka-Zar, Lord of the Jungle, shows up and helps the X-Men. They rescue Jean (and Angel, who got captured, too), and then Ka-Zar asks them all to leave his "jungle" and not to return. I don't think this "jungle" was officially called the Savage Land back at this time, but this is what we learn to call it later. Guess what? The X-Men do return!, and Ka-Zar is much friendlier (and speaks better English) in later issues. |
| Uncanny X-Men #11 May 1965 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Triumph of Magneto: The Evil Mutants and the X-Men are all in pursuit of a Stranger in town who can walk on air and walk through walls. Magneto "wins", and he and the Toad are taken away by the Stranger, who admits he is "from the stars" and is collecting specimens of mutants from different planets. The trio take off like rockets from the Earth into space and aren't seen again until issue #17. Meanwhile, they left Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch behind, who decide they're through with Magneto, but don't want to join the X-Men either. Also, when the Evil Mutants were first pursuing this Stranger, Mastermind tried some of his tricks on the Stranger, who responded by turning him into a stone (metal?) statue. At the end of the issue, he remains in this state in the care of the X-Men. |
| Uncanny X-Men #12 Jul 1965 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Origin of Professor X: As the mansion is being assualted by an unknown mutant, the Professor tells the X-Men some of his history. When the Professor was very young, his father was killed in an atomic blast in New Mexico. His father's colleague, Dr. Marko, somehow escaped, and after the funeral convinced the greiving widow Xavier to marry him. Marko soon brought his delinquent son, Cain, to live with them, and Charles used his budding mental powers to learn that both of them were basically evil. Years later, Charles and Cain were fighting together in the Korean War, and Cain discovered the Sacred Lost Temple of Cyttorak. He picks up a ruby, and receives the power of the Juggernaut! The cave they're in begins to collapse, and only Charles makes it out. It took the Juggernaut all these years to dig himself out of the cave-in. Now, he's back and he wants the Professor's life! |
| Uncanny X-Men #13 Sep 1965 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Where Walks the Juggenaut: The Juggernaut seriously kicks the X-Men's butts, only to be stopped by Charles' mental powers. However, first the X-Men had to remove his helmet, which was shiielding him from all mental attacks. Note: the Juggeranaut's power is that nothing can stop him, as opposed to Unus' power where no one can touch him, and as oppopsed to the Blob's power where no can hurt him. C'mon - these powers are basically the same! When do we get some original villains?!? |
| Uncanny X-Men #14 Nov 1965 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Among Us Stalk the Sentinels: Dr. Bolivar Trask begins to stir up anti-mutant hysteria, and has a publicized debate with the Prof (who takes the side of the mutants, but doesn't admit that he is one). During the debate, Trask releases his Sentinels, which are supposed to defend the world against mutants. The Sentinels are self-aware, though, and decide that they should be guardians off all humans, and proceed wreak havoc. They fly away with Trask as their captive, except for one Sentinel who stays around to fight the X-Men. Our favorite muties are getting whooped when the Sentinel suddenly crashes to the ground. The X-Men don't know what stopped that Sentinel, but all take off after the other Sentinels.... |
| Uncanny X-Men #15 Dec 1965 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Prisoners of the Mysterious Master Mold: The X-Men attack the Sentinel fortress, only to all be captured (except Xavier, who was only in the battle mentally). The Sentinels are run by the Master Mold, and during its mental probe of the Beast, Trask hears that the true purpose of the X-Men is to protect humanity from evil mutants. |
| Uncanny X-Men #16 Jan 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Supreme Sacrifice: While the X-Men are all prisoners, the Prof goes back to determine what suddenly stopped that Sentinel back in issue #14. He determines that a nearby decorative crystal blocked the Sentinel's transmission beam (from the fortress?), rendering it helpless. The Prof (and the Army) bring the crystal to the fortress, knocking out all the Sentinels inside. Meanwhile, Dr. Trask is being forced by Master Mold to create more Sentinels, but he rebels, destroying the equipment, himself, and Master Mold (?). |
| Uncanny X-Men #17 Feb 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
And None Shall Survive: All the X-Men have to head to the hospital after their battle with the Sentinels. One by one, they return to the mansion, only to be captured by someone waiting for them. Iceman is still in the hospital, so he is the only one not captured by the evil power, who we learn is Magneto! |
| Uncanny X-Men #18 Mar 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
If Iceman Should Fail: Iceman is contacted by the Professor to come save all the X-Men. He arrives at the mansion, and lays a trap for Magneto. The other X-Men escape, and Magneto is ready to blast them all until the Prof spring his surprise - he has summoned the Stranger (from whom Magneto escaped). Mageto takes off in his magno-car, with the Stranger in hot pursuit. |
| Uncanny X-Men #19 Apr 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Lo! Now Shall Apear the Mimic: The Prof grants the team a short vacation, during which they run into the Mimic. We is able to mimic the powers of anyone near him (athletic, mental, or mutant powers!), but only while he's in their vicinity. He tracks Jean Grey back to the mansion, where he confronts the X-Men with all of their powers! Acting as a team, they're able to defeat him temporarily, but then he grabs Jean and runs off to his hideout (in a mine). The X-Men follow, and the Mimic uses their powers to reach a device of his father's buried in the mine that is supposed to make the powers he absorbs permanent. Instead, the device removes all of his powers. The Prof erases his memory, and everyone goes home happy. |
| Uncanny X-Men #20 May 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
I, Lucifer: Guess who's back? Lucifer (last seen in issue #9) has recruited the Blob and Unus to work to help him get his revenge on the Professor. The X-Men make quick work of the Blob and Unus, who end up on top of a subway train, heading out of town. When the Prof realizes who's behind those two, he tells Jean Grey the story of how he first met Lucifer in Tibet. Lucifer (who is from another planet) had taken control (mentally) of an entire city, and Charles helped some rebels overthrow him. But, as Lucifer fled, he triggered a trap which fell on Charles and paralyzed him. The other X-Men return to the mansion, and then quickly take off to Lucifer's new hideout in the southwestern U.S. |
| Uncanny X-Men #21 Jun 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
From Whence Came Dominus: While the X-Men sneak into Lucifer's hideout, some of Lucifer's robots capture the Prof. Lucifer describes his alien race's plan to conquer the Earth with a machine called Dominus that they've used on countless other planets. When the X-Men destroy the robots which are used to operate Dominus, Lucifer's plans are ruined and he is called back to his home planet. |
| Uncanny X-Men #22 Jul 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
Divided We Fall: Count Nefaria and some other minor villains (all from other Marvel comics) launch a plan to hold Washington, D.C, for ransom. He captures all the X-Men (by using image-doubles of themselves to lure them out), and claims he will get the X-Men to help him with his plan. |
| Uncanny X-Men #23 Aug 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
To Save a City: Nefaria somehow encases the Capitol in a bubble, and will remove all the oxygen if the X-Men don't help him. Of course, the X-Men agree to help "to save a city", but plan on double-crossing him when the get the chance. They never get the chance, 'cause the Prof walks into Nefaria's control room and destroys the bubble controls, freeing the city. Oh yeah, you read that right - the Prof did indeed walk right in, with the help of new battery-powered, lightweight, flexible braces. How long does he use these things? |
| Uncanny X-Men #24 Sep 1966 The Essential Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Plague of the Locust: Jean Grey's parents make Jean enroll in a real college (since the X-Men did actually graduate, back in issue #7), so she's "leaving" the X-Men (no one has left for an entire issue so far!). At Metro College (in NYC, naturally), she sees the crazy ex-professor Dr. August Hooper, who turns out to be a new, misguided villain known as the Locust. He's growing enormous insects and releasing them on farms, planning to make a fortune on selling a pesticide made especially for them. Naturally, the X-Men get involved, and Jean Grey helps out, too. During one battle, the X-Men interfere with the Locust's control of his insects and they turn on him. The X-Men save his life, and he repents his evil ways. |
| Uncanny X-Men #25 Oct 1966 |
The Power and the Pendant: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #26 Nov 1966 |
Holocaust: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #27 Dec 1966 |
Re-enter: the Mimic: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #28 Jan 1967 |
The Wail of the Banshee: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #29 Feb 1967 |
When Titans Clash: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #30 Mar 1967 |
The Warlock Wakes: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #31 Apr 1967 |
We Must Destroy the Cobalt Man: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #32 May 1967 |
Beware the Juggernaur, My Son: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #33 Jun 1967 |
Into the Crimson Cosmos: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #34 Jul 1967 |
War in a World of Darkness: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #35 Aug 1967 |
Along Came a Spider: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #36 Sep 1967 |
Mekano Lives: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #37 Oct 1967 |
We, the Jury: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #38 Nov 1967 |
The Sinister Shadow of Doomsday: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #39 Dec 1967 |
The Fateful Finale: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #40 Jan 1968 |
The Mark of the Monster: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #41 Feb 1968 |
Now Strikes the Sub-Human: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #42 Mar 1968 |
If I Should Die: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #43 Apr 1968 |
The Torch is Passed: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #44 May 1968 |
Red Raven, Red Raven: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #45 Jun 1968 |
When Mutants Clash: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #46 Jul 1968 |
The End of the X-Men: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #47 Aug 1968 |
The Warlock Wears Three Faces: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #48 Sep 1968 |
Beware Computo, Commander of the Robot Hive: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #49 Oct 1968 |
Who Dares Defy the Demi-Men: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #50 Nov 1968 |
City of Mutants: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #51 Dec 1968 |
The Devil Had a Daughter: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #52 Jan 1969 |
The Twilight of the Mutants: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #53 Feb 1969 |
The Rage of Blastaar: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #54 Mar 1969 |
Wanted: Dead or Alive - Cyclops: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #55 Apr 1969 |
The Living Pharoah: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #56 May 1969 |
What is the Power? 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #57 Jun 1969 |
The Sentinels Live: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #58 Jul 1969 |
Mission: Murder: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #59 Aug 1969 |
Do or Die, Baby: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #60 Sep 1969 |
In the Shadow of the Sauron: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #61 Oct 1969 |
Monsters also Weep: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #62 Nov 1969 |
Strangers in a Savage Land: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #63 Dec 1969 |
War in the World Below: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #64 Jan 1970 |
The Coming of Sunfire: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #65 Feb 1970 |
Before I'd Be Slave: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #66 Mar 1970 |
The Mutants and the Master: 1 |
| Uncanny X-Men #67-93 Apr 1970 - Apr 1975 |
Reprints: during this period of time, Marvel reprinted earlier stories of the Uncanny X-Men. |
| Amazing Adventures #11 Mar 1970 Mutations |
The Beast: The Beast recounts the story of how he came to permanently look like his nickname. Hank McCoy left the X-Men and began work at the Brand Corporation during research on mutations. One night, he overheard a jealous co-worker (Dr. Carl Maddicks) planning to steal his work. He used his mutant serum on himself, became the fuzzy blue creation he all know and love, and foiled the plan. However, he didn't get to the antitote in time, and became permanently stuck as the blue Beast! One sidenote - it looks like Hank's love interest in this issue (Linda Donaldson) was also working for the "Masters" who put Dr. Maddicks up to stealing Hank's work. Linda even "killed" Maddicks after he failed (he shows up, and gets killed again, in X-Factor #2-3). |
| Amazing Adventures #11 Mar 1971 Mutations |
Birth of the Beast: Herein lies the story of where Hank's mutation came from (his Dad saved a nuclear plant from meltdown, but was exposed to excessive radiation in the process), how Hank's mutant abilities began to show up (he was a football star), and how Hank later joined the X-Men (they rescued him from the Conquistador, who wanted to use Hank's mutant abilities in his quest for power. |
| Giant-Size X-Men #1 1975 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Second Genesis: The original X-Men are missing! Professor X gathers a new team of mutants (Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Banshee, Storm, Colossus, Thunderbird, and Sunfire) to help Cyclops find the original X-Men (Angel, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Havok, and Polaris). Cyclops "lost" them while they where searching for a powerful new mutant that Cerebro detected on the island of Krakoa. The new X-Men team flies in the Blackbird to the island, where they find that the island itself is the powerful new mutant, and it's feeding on the mutant energies of the X-Men (it used Cyclops as bait to bring more X-Men). Naturally, a big battle unsues (joined telepathically by Prof. X; why doesn't he do that more often?). Eventually, Lorna Dane (Polaris) lifts the island right out of the ocean, and sends it hurtling into space. This issue also contains the extra segments Call Him...Cyclops, I, the Iceman, and The Female of the Species, where we get some background on Cyclops, Iceman, and Marvel Girl. |
| Uncanny X-Men #94 Aug 1975 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Doomsmith Scenario: Sunfire leaves the new X-Men, and all of the old X-Men except Cyclops (Angel, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Havok, and Polaris) also quit the team. Count Nefaria and his Ani-Men take over Valhalla (the mountain that houses NORAD) and have activated the Doomsmith system (auto-launch of the nukes). The new X-Men respond to the help request (phoned in by The Beast from the Avengers). They fly to Valhalla in the Blackbird, only to be shot down right above the mountain. |
| Uncanny X-Men #95 Oct 1975 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Warhunt: Nightcrawler BAMFs inside the mountain (hey, I thought he needed to be able to see where he was teleporting!) and let's the rest of the team in. The X-Men defeat the Ani-Men in battle, destroying the Doomsmith circuitry. Nefaria takes off in his plane and John Proudstar (Thunderbird) jumps on the plane just as it takes off. While airborne, he destroys the plane's controls. The plane plummets and crashes, killing both Nefaria and Thunderbird! |
| Uncanny X-Men #96 Dec 1975 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Night of the Demon: While Scott (Cyclops) is grieving over the death of Thunderbird, he lets off a few optic blasts in rage. One of them blasts open a seal on the tomb of Kierrok the Shatterer of Souls (a N'Garai demon). Meanwhile, Moira MacTaggert shows up at the Mansion as the new "housekeeper" (I still haven't figured out why Charles really invited her there). That evening, Scott comes flying through the wall of the Mansion, in the middle of a fight with Keirrok. The team begins fighting a futile battle against the demon. Eventually, the Prof sends Storm off to look for Kierrok's tomb. She finds it (crawling with minor N'Garai demons), and destroys it. Kierrok disappears when his tomb is destroyed, but is it really dead? (A N'Garai demon returns in issue #143.) Also in this issue, we get a glimpse of Dr. Lang and his mad Project Armageddon. |
| Uncanny X-Men #97 Feb 1976 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
My Brother, My Enemy: As Xavier heads off on a vacation (the recover from the psychic messages he's been getting from an alien (Lilandra, whom we later meet)), Havoc and Polaris are brainwashed by Erik the Red into trying to kill Xavier. A big battle ensues at Kennedy Airport - Cyclops and Havoc fight each other (even though I believe that their powers can't harm each other), and Storm whomps Polaris. Seeing Wolverine and Banshee show up, Eric the Red decides the better part of valour is discretion - he retreats, carrying off Havoc and Polaris. In the final frame, we see Dr. Lang watching the X-Men on a monitor, and another person watching Dr. Lang watch the X-Men! |
| Uncanny X-Men #98 Apr 1976 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Sentinels Have Returned: While enjoying Christmas in New York City, the X-Men are attacked by Dr. Steven Lang's Sentinels, and Jean Grey, Banshee, and Wolverine are captured. While on a fishing trip with Dr. Peter Corbeau, the Prof is attacked by a Sentinel and captured, too. Eventually, Dr. Corbeau shows up at the Mansion, and he deduces that the X-Men are "not on the Earth". The captured X-Men excape, breaking through the walls - only to find themselves floating in space! |
| Uncanny X-Men #99 Jun 1976 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Deathstar, Rising: The Sentinels retrieve the nearly-dead X-Men floating in space. Meanwhile, Dr. Corbeau discovers that the Sentinels are being built on SHIELD's orbital platform, so the earthbound team gets themselves installed as the crew on a Starcore shuttle and launched into space. Approaching the orbital platform, the shuttle is taken out by the Sentinels, and the shuttle rams into the platform. The X-Men are reunited, and proceed to whomp the Sentinels (Lang even comments that "the Trask notes...were incomplete, the Sentinels [are] second-rate"). Just as Cyclops and Marvel Girl are about to capture Lang, they are surprised by someone, and captured. The other X-Men are then confronted by the Prof and all the original X-Men (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel, and Iceman), who want to kill the new X-Men. Also in this issue, we get our first glimpse (?) of Black Tom, Banshee's evil cousin. |
| Uncanny X-Men #100 Aug 1976 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Greater Love Hath No X-Man: The two generations of the X-Men battle it out for a while, before Wolverine realizes that Jean Grey "ain't Jean Grey!" Those "original X-Men" were nothing more than advanced robots: X-Sentinels. After making short work of these upstarts, the real X-Men attack Lang, and he actually dies (mostly his fault, though). The orbital platform is falling apart after all this fighting, and the X-Men head back to the shuttle (which rammed into the platform last issue). Realizing that they can't survive re-entry into Earth's atmosphere in a damaged shuttle, especially with the current solar flare activity, Jean Grey seals the hull telepathically, and pilots them back to earth. However, the solar radiation is breaking through Jean's shield.... |
| Uncanny X-Men #101 Oct 1976 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Like a Phoenix From The Ashes: Jean Grey appears to die from solar radiation as she pilots the shuttle back to Earth. However, after they crash into Jamaica Bay (next to Kennedy Airport), Jean Grey rises like a Phoenix from the waters! She immediately collapses, though, and spends the next several issues in the hospital recupperating. Scott and the Prof stay with her, but the other X-Men decide to take a vacation at Banshee's ancestral castle in Ireland. Upon arriving, they discover that Banshee's evil cousin Black Tom and the Prof's step-brother Juggernaut have set a trap for them! |
| Uncanny X-Men #102 Dec 1976 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Who Will Stop the Juggernaut? Storm is fairly freaked out by being trapped in the castle dungeons, so it's up to Banshee, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Colossus to fight Black Tom and Juggernaut (without any success!). Storm flashes back to her childhood, and how her parents died in Cairo in 1956, then how she was trained by Achmed El Gibar to be a thief, and finally how she came to the Serengati where she became the Storm Goddess until the Prof found her (back in Giant Size X-Men #1). |
| Uncanny X-Men #103 Feb 1977 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Fall of the Tower: Nightcrawler's unconscious body is removed from the battle scene of the previous issue by Leprechauns, who notice an interesting aspect of Nightcrawler's mutant power - he's invisible in the shadows! Eamon O'Donnell, the seneschal of Cassidy Keep, tells Nightcrawler how Black Tom has kidnapped most of the Leprechauns, and hopes to kill his cousin, Sean Cassidy (Banshee). Black Tom is actualyl taking his orders from "a tall man in red armor and a horned helmet" (we later find out that this is Eric the Red). Nightcrawler and the Little People eventually free the other X-Men, and a big battle ensues. Black Tom and the Juggernaut end up falling of a castle tower into the storm-tossed Atlantic (don't worry - they're not really dead!). We end the issue seeing that the "horned" guy is actually taking his orders from someone else (whom we learn in issue #107 is D'Ken, the mad Shi'ar Emperor). |
| Uncanny X-Men #104 Apr 1977 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Gentleman's Name is Magneto: As the X-Men leave Cassidy Keep for Moira's Muir Island, they're attacked by Magneto! Meanwhile, Scott and Moira, at Charles' urging, fly to Muir Island in the Blackbird, finding Jamie Madrox unconscious. Jamie wakes to tell about Havoc, Polaris, and Eric the Red sneaking in and restoring Magneto from the baby into which he'd been turned some time ago. Scott runs off and joins the other X-Men against Magneto. While Magneto is down for a few moments, Scott orders a "retreat" to New York to protect the Prof. On a side note, the battle on Muir Island released a couple of Moira's subjects: the Dragonfly Lady (last seen as one of Nefario's Ani-Men) and something ominous called Mutant X (he shows up later in issue #125). |
| Uncanny X-Men #105 Jun 1977 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Phoenix Unleashed: Returning to Westchester, the X-Men find Eric the Red and Firelord (Galactus' former herald) waiting for them. Firelord was duped into helping Eric, by thinking that the X-Men were trying to kill Eric. Meanwhile, Lilandra's ship is blown up by photon torpedos just after Lilandra teleports to Jean Grey's NYC apartment, where Jean, her parents, the Prof, and Jean's roommate Misty are having coffee. Firelord busts in, demanding Lilandra and the Prof. Jean gets pissed at the interruption and the destruction, transforms to Phoenix, and starts whomping Firelord. Eric the Red (who's real name is Shakari and was banished to Earth by Lilandra) grabs Lilandra and jumps through a stargate he constructed on a rooftop. Phoenix powers-up the stargate again with her raw power, and all the X-Men jump through, hoping to find Lilandra and help stop her brother. |
| Uncanny X-Men #106 Aug 1977 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Dark Shroud of the Past: A filler issue. While the X-Men have gone off who-knows-where, Xavier has a flashback to a time (between issues 96 and 97). The new X-Men got attacked by the old (original) X-Men in the Danger Room, but it all turned out to be a figment of the Prof's mind (tormented by the telepathic projections from Lilandra). |
| Uncanny X-Men #107 Oct 1977 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Where No X-Man Has Gone Before: Continuing where issue #105 left off, the X-Men travel through the stargate, to arrive on an ancient world, and begin to fight Gladiator and the Imperial Guard for Lilandra. D'Ken summons the Soul-Drinker to eat Lilandra's soul, but Nightcrawler bamfs her to safety. The Starjammers show up out of nowhere, and join the fight helping the X-Men. (Jean mindprobes Corsair, leader of the Starjammers, and is shocked at what she discovers. As we learn next issue, Corsair is the father of Cyclops, and also of Havoc.) It all seems futile though as the Deathstars align, and the power up the M'Kraan Crystal. |
| Uncanny X-Men #108 Dec 1977 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Armageddon Now: The M'Kraan Crystal is tearing apart the sky in front of the X-Men (and apparently also the entire universe). The X-Men are confronted by Jahf, the first "guardian of this gate to eternity". He punches Wolverine into orbit (literally), starts to fight all the X-Men, and is defeated by Banshee. Only to be replaced by Modt, the significantly larger second guardian. One of the Starjammers throws D'Ken against the Crystal, and in a flash, everyone gets transported inside the Crystal. Everyone is subjected to their own worst fears, and Scott lets loose his optic blasts, blasting through Jean, and then the sphere at the center of the Crystal. It's starting to crack, so Jean transforms into the Phoenix and enters the sphere, which turns out to be a neutron galaxy. It's breaking free of its confines (a "geodesic latticework of anti-energy"), but Phoenix (drawing strength from Storm and Corsair) rebuilds the lattice, containing the power of the M'Kraan Crystal once again. Everyone transports home, including Lilandra who says D'Ken has been driven insane, and she's going to hide out on Earth until the Empire settles down again. |
| Uncanny X-Men #109 Feb 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Home are the Heroes: Everyone returns to the Westchester mansion, and life returns to "normal". While out tracking deer one day, Wolverine (Weapon X) gets attacked by James MacDonald Hudson (Weapon Alpha). Apparently, the Canadian government wants Wolverine back working for them. The other X-Men get involved, and Weapon Alpha eventually disappears (literally), thinking he'll bring Alpha Flight back to finish the job. |
| Uncanny X-Men #110 Apr 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
The 'X'-Sanction: A deranged guy named Warhawk breaks into the mansion and overrides the Danger Room's controls to beat the crap out of the X-Men in there. Nightcrawler bamfs out (with Wolverine) and the rest of the X-Men eventually break out on their own. Confronted by all of them, Warhawk gives up. The readers learn that he was working for someone else, but we don't know who.... |
| Uncanny X-Men #111 Jun 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Mindgames: Beast is looking for the X-Men is Texas, and finds them performing in a circus! Beast is eventually captured by the circus hands, adn brought before Mesmero, who is the one who's enslaved the X-Men. Well, except for Wolverine, who breaks free of his chains, and starts to free the minds of the other X-Men. They go to confront Mesmero in his circus wagon, only to find Magneto has taken care of Mesmero, and is waiting to take care of them, too! |
| Uncanny X-Men #112 Aug 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Magneto Triumphant: Magneto takes the wagon (with all aboard) up into orbit, and brings it down in his underground Antarctic lair. Magneto imprisons the X-Men under the care of a robotic Nanny. He says he's doing this because Charles and "my treacherous creation, Alpha" (?) turned him into a baby (Defenders #16). [Apparently, Magneto was restored to adulthood by Erik the Red between then and now.] |
| Uncanny X-Men #113 Sep 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Showdown: Storm uses her lockpick to set herself (and then the others) free. The ensuing fight with Magneto causes the subterranean complex to crack open, and molten lava begins to pour in. Magneto gets free in a magnetic bubble. Jean and Beast get free, protected by the Phoenix's power. However, they don't last long exposed to the brutal antarctic conditions. |
| Uncanny X-Men #114 Oct 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 (This was the first issue to use the title "Uncanny X-Men" on the cover.) |
Desolation (The Day the X-Men Died): Jean and Beast get picked up by a helicopter (alerted by the Phoenix's power), but they are convinced that the other X-Men must have dies in Magneto's complex. When they return to Westchester, Jean breaks the news to the Prof that "the X-Men are dead". However, we know the truth! The other X-Men tunneled out of the complex, and end up in the Savage Land (apparently, Scott's been there before). The X-Men recuperate at a local village, believing that Jean and Beast are dead (but it looks like Banshee and Colossus actually get laid, too!). While resting by a stream, Storm gets attacked by Sauron! |
| Uncanny X-Men #115 Nov 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Visions of Death: A battle ensues, and Sauron eventually changes back to his natural form - Karl Lykos. Just them, Ka-Zar, Lord of the Savage Land shows up. Ka-Zar and Lykos actually came looking for the X-Men's help (well, why did Lykos/Sauron absorb Storms power?). Recently in the Savage Land, Lykos observed Zaladane perform a ritual on Kirk Marston (a nobody?), turning him into Garokk the Petrified Man. Garokk and Zaladane began to take over the Savage Land (by first ousting the vampire-race of Sheenars, who had transported one of their cities right into the Savage Land). Lykos and Ka-Zar ask for the X-Men's help in defeating Garokk and Zaladane, but Scott refuses, claiming that it's more important for the X-Men to go protect the Prof from Magneto than to save all the people of the Savage Land (lame!). But, as the X-Men are leaving the Savage Land, it begins to snow - inside the Savage Land! |
| Uncanny X-Men #116 Dec 1978 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
To Save the Savage Land: The X-Men decide to stay "to save the Savage Land". They approach the "Citadel of the Sun God" and are attacked by warriors on pteranosaurs. Cyclops, Colossus, Banshee, and Ka-Zar get captured. Storm, Wolverine, and Nightcrawler sneak into the citadel (Wolverine actually kills a guard!). They free the other X-Men, and Cyclops engages Garokk one-on-one. The citadel begins to crumble (hey, this is the second citadel in Antarctica that the X-Men have destroyed while they're still inside!), and everyone makes it out, except for Garook, whom Storm acually tries to save. With Garokk gone, the X-Men resume their journey home, taking a small boat out to sea, but they are quickly overtaken by a tremondous storm! [Garokk returns in issue #149.] |
| Uncanny X-Men #117 Jan 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
Psi-War: The X-Men are rescued at sea by the Jinguichi Maru, a Japanese boat heading back home. Meanwhile, back in NY, the Prof reminisces about his younger days: getting engaged to Moira MacTaggert in grad school, loosing her after he got drafted (and injured), meeting a young pickpocket in Cairo (Storm), and then engaging the leader of the Thieves' Quarter, Amahl Farouk, in a psi-war. After Cairo, the Prof mentions he fought the alien Lucifer in Tibet, where he lost the use of his legs (issue #20). After this stroll down memory lane, the Prof agress to go with Lilandra back to her Empire (he still thinks the X-Men are dead). |
| Uncanny X-Men #118 Feb 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
The Submergence of Japan: The X-Men arrive in Agarashima, Japan, aboard the Jinguichi Maru, only to find the city on fire! They set out to find Sunfire (last seen quitting the new X-Men team in #94), hoping to get some help to get home. They arrive at Sunfire's (Shiro Yoshida's) and find Misty Knight there (Jean Grey's roommate - I've never found out what her real story is). Wolverine meets Mariko (Shiro's cousin) for the first time, and we almost find Wolverine's real name (I take it that this was a secret at one point). An earthquake hits, the Mandroids show up, the X-Men shoo them away. Then, a hologram delivers a message from Moses Magnum, Master of the Magnum Force, saying that he will sink Japan tomorrow if he's not declared its ruler. |
| Uncanny X-Men #119 Mar 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 1 |
'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Mr. Osama (?) briefs the X-Men: his grandniece/detective Colleen Wing and her partner Misty Knight discovered Magnum's hideout in the Kuril volcanoes. Sunfire and the X-Men attack, and eventually Banshee stops Magnum, destroying the entire island chain, and almost himself in the process. Sean gets out of the hospital and is surprised by an X-Men Christmas Party waiting for him back at Shiro's. Meanwhile, Jean Grey arrives in Scotland (after spending 6 weeks in the Greek Isles) and is greeted by Moira, Alex, Lorna, and Jamie. |
| Uncanny X-Men #120 Apr 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Wanted: Wolverine! Dead or Alive: The X-Men fly back from Japan, but are waylaid by Hudson (last seen in issue #109) and the rest of Alpha Flight. Forced to land their plane in Calgary, the X-Men split up after their first tangle with Alpha Flight. Wolverine and Nightcrawler are captured. |
| Uncanny X-Men #121 May 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Shoot-out at the Stampede: Big showdown between the X-Men and Alpha Flight. The X-Men actually get their butts kicked, until Wolverine agrees to give himself up if the rest of the X-Men can go free. Everyone agrees, although the X-Men are significantly disturbed. However, on the plane ride back home, Wolverine shows up, somehow having escaped from Alpha Flight! |
| Uncanny X-Men #122 Jun 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Cry for the Children: Back at the mansion for the first time since issue #110, things are feeling lonely for the team without Xavier or Jean around (and remember, these guys don't know that Charles and Jean think they're dead!). Colossus is feeling like a big failure, so Wolverine tries to "cheer" him up. Wolverine sabotages the Danger Room controls, and then puts himself in harm's way in the Danger Room so Colossus has to "save" him. This does make Colossus feel a little better about himself. Meanwhile, Storm decides to go visit the original home of her family (in Harlem?), and gets attacked by the druggies living there now. Elsewhere, Scott and Colleen Wing begin to flirt. And across the Atlantic, Jean meets Jason Wyngarde for the first time. In the prologue, we see Black Tom and the Juggernaut (last seen in issue #103) meeting with Miss Locke (the "finest and most expensive assassin in the world") and Arcade. |
| Uncanny X-Men #123 Jul 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Listen - stop me if you've heard it - but this one will kill you: All of the X-Men are easily captured by Arcade and transported to his custom-built Murder World. They're all separated and put through different (deadly) tests. Wolverine and Cyclops start to team up when they're attacked by Colossus, who's been brainwashed into thinking he's the Proletarian, Worker's Hero of the Soviet Union. |
| Uncanny X-Men #124 Aug 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
He Only Laughs When I Hurt: Arcade reminisces about how he came to be the twisted murderer he is while the X-Men are alternately fighting to break free or fighting against the Proletarian. The X-Men break Colossus free of his brainwashing while Nightcrawler destroys Arcade's control booth. Arcade admits the X-Men have beaten him (for now), and lets them go. |
| Uncanny X-Men Annual #3 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
A Fire in the Sky: Akron the Imperion kidnaps Storm, and the other X-Men follow after her. Akron's planet was previously saved from destruction by a machine from the Avengers. However, the power in the machine has failed, and the world will die if the power is not restored. Akron's plan is to use Storm to recharge the machine, and once she understands she agrees to the plan, despite the risk to her own life. All the X-Men end up helping, the world is saved, and the X-Men are returned home. |
| Uncanny X-Men #125 Sep 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
There's Something Awful on Muir Island: On Muir Island, Jean begins to get control of Phoenix's powers, but is also beginning to be attacked mentally by Jason Wyngarde's halucinations. Also, Moira notices the Mutant X is no longer in his holding cell (we saw this back in issue #104). Meanwhile, back at the Mansion, the Beast drops by to check out the place and finds the X-Men (he thought they were dead, and they thought he was dead, way back in issue #114). The reunion is interrupted by a call from Polaris/Lorna on Muir Island - then the call is interrupted by a scream from Lorna, and the line goes dead. |
| Uncanny X-Men #126 Oct 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
How Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth: The X-Men make it to Muir Island in under an hour and scout out the place. The find Moira, Havoc, Polaris, Jamie, and Jean (although Jean is halucinating and calls Scott "Jason"), and get an update (mostly blowing by the fact that the X-Men were supposed to be dead). Jean was the first attacked by Mutant X, but she easily drove him off. Jamie heard Jean's scream and sent a bunch of his "duplicates" out to see what was going on. One of his duplicates discovered Lorna getting attacked by Mutant X, and when he helped Lorna, he got killed. (Mutant X uses the bodies of those he kills, but his bodies don't last long, so he has to keep killing.) Moira is the last to give an update, brief and to the point: Mutant X is her son! Everyone sets out on the trail, and Wolverine is the first to find him, although now he's calling himself Proteus. He attacks Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Storm in a most unusual way: he warps reality! |
| Uncanny X-Men #127 Nov 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
The Quality of Hatred: Proteus stops his attack when Moira starts shooting at him (she probably would have gotten him, too, if Cyclops hadn't stopped her). Moira figures out that Proteus is going after his father (and Moira's estranged husband), Joe MacTaggert. She warns him and leaves, and then Proteus kills him and then grabs Moira. The X-Men show up, and the battle begins! |
| Uncanny X-Men #128 Dec 1979 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
The Action of the Tiger: This is actually a very cool issue! (Despite the title having nothing do with the story that I can see.) Proteus and the X-Men duke it out in the middle of Edinburgh, with reality always twisting to whims of Proteus. Eventually, Proteus is destroyed by Colossus' metal armor (metal was deadly to him). [Is Proteus really gone for good?] |
| Uncanny X-Men #129 Jan 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
God Spare the Child: The X-Men leave Muir Island, but Banshee remains behind (with his love, Moira) because he still can't use his sonic scream. Arriving back at the mansion, they find the Prof returned from his time away with Lilandra. Things quickly get back to "normal", and then Cerebro detects two new mutants, one in NYC, and the other near Chicago. We also learn that the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club has a tap on Cerebro, and plans on recruiting these two new mutants also. The Prof, Wolverine, Storm, and Colossus go to Chicago to meet the 13 1/2 year old Kitty Pride, who doesn't yet know she's a mutant. Emma Frost (the White Queen) was there just before the X-Men, trying to recruit Kitty. While the X-Men are talking to Kitty in a mall, they're attacked by soldiers of the Hellfire Club, and they're all captured! Kitty escapes, thanks to her new-found power - the ability to pass through walls! |
| Uncanny X-Men #130 Feb 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Dazzler: Meanwhile, Cyclops, Phoenix, and Nightcrawler are investigating the new mutant in NYC. They track the signals down to a nightclub. While scouting around inside, Jean is psycically attacked yet again by Jason Wyngarde. In this dream/illusion, she marries Jason, and he dubs her the Black Queen. She "wakes" to find herself actually kissing Jason in the club (much to Scott's chagrin!). They don't get a chance to talk about it though, 'cause as suddenly as their new mutant shows up (a singer named Dazzler), they're all attacked by soldiers like those that captured the X-Men in Chicago last issue. With Dazzler's help (not too mention the Phoenix's), they easily beat these goons. Meanwhile, back in Chicago, Kitty sneaks into where the other X-Men are being held, and Storm gives her a phone number to call. She dials up the X-Men in NY, and the team gets on their to help their comrades. |
| Uncanny X-Men #131 Mar 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Run For Your Life: The X-Men catch up with Kitty in Chicago as she's being hounded by more goons (easily beaten). Phoenix probes their minds and learns where the other X-Men are. The team busts into Emma Frost's building, a big fight ensues (natch), and everyone gets out. Except for Emma Frost - she tangled with Phoenix, and the fight brought the building down around them. Phoenix walks out unscathed, and the White Queen is presumed dead [she returns in issue #151]. Dazzler is offered a place with the team (she now knows the real names, too), but she refuses. Kitty is returned to her parents, and Phoenix has to manipulate their memories to keep them calm. [Kitty returns in issue #138.] Scott and Ororo begin to worry about Phoenix's use of her power. |
| Uncanny X-Men #132 Apr 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
And Hellfire is Their Name: The X-Men go to visit their old friend Angel, down in New Mexico. Scott and Jean finally talk about all the things that have been happening. The rest for a week, and then head back to NYC to take on the Hellfire Club (except for the Prof, who stays behind). Wolverine and Nightcrawler try sneaking in through the sewers, while Peter, Ororo, Jean, and Scott try to masquerade as guests at the Club. Jason Wyngarde shows up, and whisks Jean away. For some reason, this time time Scott is able to see through the facade and recognizes that "Jason" is actually Mastermind. [I haven't seen Mastermind since issue #11, when the Stranger turned him into a statue and the X-Men were looking after him. What happened to him between then and now?] The X-Men attack the Inner Circle: Sebastian Shaw (the leader, with the power to absorb kinetic energy), Wyngarde/Mastermind (with the power of illusion), Harry Leland (with the power to increase mass), and Donald Pierce (a human/cyborg). The X-Men get their butts kicked and get captured (except for Wolverine, who ends up back in the sewers). |
| Uncanny X-Men #133 May 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Wolverine - Alone: Wolverine starts to work his back up from the sewers to the upper floors where the X-Men are being held prisoner. But, upstairs Scott decides to contact Jean through the psychic link they share. Somehow, Wyngarde/Mastermind is waiting for Scott there - they have a sword duel, and Jason "kills" Scott! |
| Uncanny X-Men #134 Jun 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Too Late, The Heroes: OK, Scott isn't really dead - Jason only killed Scott's astral form. That sets Jean off, though, and she turns on the Inner Circle just as Wolverine fights his way into the room. This time, the X-Men kick some butt! Jean gets to take care of Mastermind, though, and she does him a nasty turn. Jean gives him all the power at her command, and it seems to drive him quite insane. As the X-Men are leaving the Hellfire Club, Jean blows up their skycraft and announces that she is no longer the woman they knew - she is Phoenix! |
| Uncanny X-Men #135 Jul 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Dark Phoenix: The Jean Grey we've all known and loved is no more - Dark Phoenix has taken over! She proceeds to beat the crap out of the X-Men, and takes off to the stars. After creating a star-gate to travel to a distant galaxy, Dark Phoenix is "hungry", so she replenishes herself by feeding on a sun. Unfortunately, the sun should choose was in a system that was home to the peaceful D'Bari, andthe death of the sun caused the death of their entire race. This action didn't go unnoticed - Shi'ar Imperial Cruiser was nearby, and decided to attack the Phoenix entity. Phoenix utterly destroyed the cruiser, but not before they notifed Lilandra, the Shi'ar Empress. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the Beast responds to an Avengers' call and finds the X-Men where Phoenix left them. He helps them back to the mansion, where Scott senses that Phoenix is coming back to Earth - "and she's hungry!" |
| Uncanny X-Men #136 Aug 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Child of Light and Darkness: The X-Men prepare for the return of the Dark Phoenix by training and making a psychic-dampening device for her. It doesn't do any good, though - when the engage the Phoenix in battle she overpowers them and their device. She is beginning to show her human-side again while talking to Scott. But, that's when the Prof and Angel show up, and the Prof engages Phoenix psychically and actually beats her (although he claims that Jean was helping him). The Prof claims that he has contained the Phoenix-entity inside Jean's mind, but as the X-Men begin to rejoice, they all suddenly disappear! |
| Uncanny X-Men #137 Sep 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
The Fate of the Phoenix: The X-Men find that they've been transported to the flagship of the Shi'ar starfleet. Lilandra has declared that Phoenix is too dangerous to live, so Jean/Phoenix must be put to death. The Prof challenges Lilandra to a Duel of Honor (kind of strange, since neither the Prof nor Lilandra end up doing the fighting!). So, the X-Men and the Imperial Guard are transporting to some ancient ruins on the surface of the Moon where they are to battle for the live of Jean! (Interestingly, Jean chooses her original Marvel Girl costume.) The X-Men put up a valiant fight, but eventually are completely trounced. Jean and Scott make their final stand - but the Phoenix rises again! The other X-Men attack Phoenix, trying to wear her down. Jean eventually flees into one of the ruins, where Scott confronts her. She has changed again, from the Phoenix into the Dark Phoenix, but while Jean is in control for a few moments, she tells Scott that she should be destroyed because she will never be able to control the power of Phoenix. Jean mentally activates an ancient weapon hidden in the ruins, and utterly destroys herself! |
| Uncanny X-Men #138 Oct 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Elegy: During Jean Grey's funeral service, Scott reminisces about her, and about the X-Men's past. In fact, this issue provides a great overview of all of the X-Men issues before this (from #1 right up through #137). At the end of the issue, Scott leaves the X-Men (he doesn't return to the X-Men until issue #150), and Kitty Pride shows up at the mansion (although everyone else is still at the funeral). |
| Uncanny X-Men #139 Nov 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
...Something Wicked This Way Comes: Wolverine decides he'd better go back to Canada to straighten things out with the governemt and Alpa Flight (see issue #121). Nightcrawler decides to tag along, and the two head up to Hudson Bay, Canada, where they end up helping (part of) Alpha Flight take on the Wendigo. The Wendigo is Bigfoot-like ferocious beast who was once a man. Wolverine actually tangled with the Wendigo a long time ago, so this mission instantly becomes personal for him. The issues closes with the Wendigo attacking Nightcrawler (who's all alone). Also in this issue, Angel begins to train with the X-Men again (he's way out of shape), and Kitty begins to take dance lessons from Stevie Hunter (although Storm doesn't trust Stevie). |
| Uncanny X-Men #140 Dec 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Rage After beating up Nightcrawler, the Wendigo makes his move on Wolverine and the Alpha Flight members. Eventually, they subdue him, and Shaman turns him back into the man he was (Georges Baptiste). |
| Uncanny X-Men Annual #4 1980 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Nightcrawler's Inferno: The X-Men thrown Nightcrawler a surprise birthday party, but one of the gifts is a trap that leaves Kurt almost dead. Charles calls in Dr. Strange, who's involvement gets him and all the X-Men transported to the Hell of Dante's Inferno, courtesy of Margali, a sorceress. After travelling throught the nine levels of Hell (actually, a facsimile), they find that Margali was Kurt's foster mother, and she holds him responsible for the death of her biological son (Stefan). He wasn't actually responsible, and his foster-sister Jimaine (also a sorceress) shows up to protect Kurt from their mother, who wants to kill Kurt. Margali uses Dr. Strange's amulet to learn the truth from Kurt, and then lets everyone go. We also learn why Kurt's foster-sister knew he was innocent - she's been mascarading as his girlfriend Amanda Sefton for months! [Dr. Strange's power comes from his amulet, the Eye of Agamotto. One of the powers he uses is called the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. Juggernaut received his power in the Temple of Cyttorak. The common source of these powers is revealed in Dr. Strange II #44.] |
| Uncanny X-Men #141 Jan 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Days of Future Past: Pay attention - things get get weird for a couple issues! This issue opens in NYC in the year 2013. Most of the X-Men are dead, and mutants are routinely exterminated by Sentinels. Kate (Kitty) Pryde-Rasputin is one of the few survivors, but like all mutants, she wears a collar which inhibits her powers, and she has to stay in a mutant concentration camp. But, there is a Resistance movement! Wolverine is still free, and helping those inside the camp - Storm, Colossus (Kate's husband), Magneto, Franklin Richards (the son of Reed Richards, from the Fantastic Four), and his wife Rachel Summers. Their plan is quite a longshot - using equipment smuggled in by Wolverine to disable their collars, Rachel is going to send Kate's mind back in time 33 years, into the mind of young Kitty Pryde in 1980. (Ironically, in this same future, Rachel in turn is later sent back to our present by Kate (see Uncanny X-Men #184). Her purpose is to stop the assignation of Senator Kelly, the Prof, and Moira in Washington, D.C. The transfer works, but the X-Men aren't ready to believe that Kate from 2013 is inside the Kitty they know and love. Still, they give her the benefit of the doubt and go to the scene of the "crime". Once there, Kate's story is proven true as the New Botherhood of Evil Mutants shows up to kill Kelly. This new Brotherhood is run by Mystique (Raven Darkholme, a shape-changer) and it is made up of Destiny, Pyro, Avalanche, and the Blob (the only original member of the Brotherhood). |
| Uncanny X-Men #142 Feb 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Mind out of Time: The X-Men duke it out with the new Brotherhood. Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Storm eventually beat the Blob, Avalanche, Pyro, and Mystique. When Kurt finally sees Mystique in her natural form, he asks why they look alike. She responds, "Ask your mother, Margali Szardos. Who would know better than she?" (Szardos is Kurt's foster family. We learn much later in X-Men Unlimited #4 that Mystique is actually Kurt's mother.) Meanwhile, Destiny had left the fight in search of Kelly, but Kate shows up just in time to foil the assassination attempt. Immediately thereafter, Kate's mind leaves Kitty's body, and Kitty returns back to normal. Of course, the X-Men do not truly know if Kate's plan really succeeded or if mutantkind is still doomed in the future! |
| Uncanny X-Men #143 Mar 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Demon: Back in issue #96, the X-Men sealed a cairn through which N'Garai demons were passing into our dimension. In this issue, Kitty is home alone for Christmas/Chanukah (she's Jewish), and a N'Garai demon attacks the mansion. (Is this supposed to be Kierrok from issue #96?) After a pretty wild battle, Kitty manages to destroy the demon - as well as the Danger Room, the Blackbird, and most of the mansion. |
| Uncanny X-Men #144 Apr 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 2 |
Even in Death: This issue brings us up-to-date with what Cyclops has been up to since he left the X-Men in issue #138. He's signed on to work on the Arcadia fishing boat, captained by the very attractive Lee Forrester. There's a pretty strange plot revolving around Lee's father (he dies), D'Spayre (the demon of despair), and the empathic Man-Thing (formerly a man named Ted Sallis). Other than that, we see that Scott and Lee are attracted to each other, despite Scott's best intentions. |
| Uncanny X-Men #145 May 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Kidnapped: This feels like a bit of a re-hash of issues #123 and #124. Several of the X-Men's friends and family are captured by Miss Locke and placed in Murderworld. Miss Locke will only free the hostages if the X-Men free Arcade from the clutches of Dr. Doom. Charles recruits Havoc, Polaris, Iceman, and Banshee to help out on this one. One team heads to Dr. Doom's castle in the Adirondacks, where they are quickly captured. |
| Uncanny X-Men #146 Jun 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
X-Men vs. Murderworld: The other team tracks down the location of Murderworld (beneath a dump in "North Beach"), but they are also captured. Each of the X-Men (whether in Dr. Doom's castle or in Murderworld) is placed in a dangerous situation where they must use their wits and skill to escape. The team in Murderworld are the first to escape, and they head north to help out the other team. |
| Uncanny X-Men #147 Jul 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Rogue Storm: Dr. Doom has imprisoned Storm in an organic chrome shell. Her claustrophobia is driving her crazy, brewing up a real storm of epic proportions, centered around the castle. By the time the other X-Men free themselves, and then release Storm, she's become a power similiar to the Phoenix. However, Colossus talks her out of her fury, and Storm disperses the storm and returns to normal. Storm gets Dr. Doom to release Arcade, not knowing that the other X-Men team has already freed the hostages. |
| Uncanny X-Men #148 Aug 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Cry, Mutant: This issue (and actually the couple previous) catch us up on Scott (aka, Cyclops). He and Lee are shipwrecked in the Bermuda Triangle, but they come upon a strange island (looks like something out of H.P. Lovecraft), which turns out to be a new headquarters for Magneto (last seen in issue #113). For some reason, Scott's optic blasts don't work on this island. Anyway, the rest of the issue is kind of scattered: Banshee is introduced to the daughter he didn't know he had (Theresa Rourke), Angel leaves 'cause he thinks Wolverine is a psycho, and Storm, Kitty, Stevie Hunter, Dazzler, and Spider Woman meet Caliban when he tries to kidnap Kitty (he just wanted another mutant for a friend!). |
| Uncanny X-Men #149 Sep 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
And the Dead Shall Bury the Living: Charles can sense that Magento is up to something, so he sends the X-Men down to Antarctica to scout out Magneto's last known location. The only thing they find, though, is that Garokk is still alive (see issue #116), having been saved by Magneto and placed in charge of guarding Magneto's old headquarters. The X-Men defeat Garokk and he tumbles into a deep pit. This is how we thought Garokk died last time, so I doubt he's really dead this time either. |
| Uncanny X-Men #150 Oct 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
I, Magneto: This is fairly important, special double-sized issue. Magento's power seems tremendous, and he offers the world a choice: turn over control of your countries (and all nuclear weapons) to me, and he will run the world, fairly and without prejudice. The Russians sent the Leningrad submarine to attack Magneto's island, and he sinks the sub, killing all aboard. He then attacks the city of Varykino, flooded it with lava, but letting all the residents escape. Meanwhile, the X-Men are out on a rescue mission, looking for Scott and Lee after their shipwreck. They happen to fly the Blackbird too close to Magneto's island, and he zaps it down (without even knowing that the X-Men were inside). The X-Men swim to Magneto's island (where none of their powers work), while the Prof, Moira, Peter Corbeau, and Carol Danvers (the former Ms. Marvel) wait in a boat. The X-Men proceed to destroy Magento's equipment, while Storm contemplates killing Mags in his sleep. She resists, but he awakes and blows her away! Magneto also grabs Charles (in his metal chair) from the boat, and pulls him to the island. Magneto then captures ALL the X-Men, with only Storm still free. She recovers from Magneto's attack, and breaks one more computer, the one that stopped everyone's mutant powers from working (except for Magneto's). All the X-Men attack, and are actually doing quite well against Magneto, until he realize that Kitty is off destroying more computer equipment. He finds her and attacks with all his might, and he thinks he kills her. When he stops, he is despondent over slaying a child, and realizes he has "become much like those I have always hated and despised." He leaves, and Kitty recovers in Storm's arms. |
| Uncanny X-Men Annual #5 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Ou, la la -- Badoon: The Fantastic Four respond to a fight in NYC involving a Shi'ar named D'Syndri. She's fighting invisible Badoon warriors, who kill D'Syndri and kidnap Reed, Johnny, and Ben. Sue Richards goes to the X-Men, and because of hints from the dying Shi'ar's lips, they all head off to Akron's homeworld (last seen in Annual #3). When they get there, they find the Badoon have taken over the planet (and kidnapped Akron). The Fantastic Four and the X-Men eventually save the day, destroying the Badoon base and freeing the planet. Storm and Akron have a touching moment where they admit their love for each other, but neither will leave their respective duties to stay with the other. |
| Uncanny X-Men #151 Nov 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
X-Men Minus One: Kitty's parents (for no reason) pull her out of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and transfer her to the Massachusetts Academy. In the past, that Academy was run by Emma Frost, the White Queen, but she's been presumed dead after her fight with the Phoenix in issue #131. Well, no surprises here - Emma Frost is still alive, and this was set up as a trap for the X-Men. Ms. Frost uses a "persona exchange gun" to switch bodies with Storm, and then she, the Hellfire Club, and several Sentinels (last seen in issue #100) attack the X-Men at their mansion. The issue ends with the X-Men in New York captured, but Storm (in Emma Frost's body) escaping. |
| Uncanny X-Men #152 Dec 1981 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
The Hellfire Gambit: Storm escapes with Kitty, who at first doesn't believe that it's Storm in Emma's body. Through various actions and expressions, Kitty does come to believe Storm, and together they head back to the mansion to help the other X-Men (who aren't doing too well). It looks like Harry Leland has killed Wolverine - but it turns out that Amanda's (Kurt's girlfriend) used a spell to fool Leland into thinking Wolvering was dead [this is the first time I've seen an example of her powers]. Kitty phases through the mansion and through the "inhibitor collars" on all the X-Men, setting them free. Natch, a big fight ensues, and the X-Men win. However, after Storm gets her body back, she plans on killing Emma Frost, but Wolverine talks her out it: "There's so much beauty in you, 'Roro. It'd be a shame to spoil it for the likes of her." After Storm lets her go, Emma agrees to have Kitty transferred back to Xavier's School. Oh, Sebastian Shaw is seriously injured in the battle. |
| Uncanny X-Men #153 Jan 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Kitty's Fairy Tale: This starts out looking like a silly, filler issue, but ends up being a nice little tale. Kitty tells Illyana Rasputin (Peter's sister, one of those kidnapped by Miss Locke back in issue #145 and subsequently rescued) a bedtime story. I won't say much about the story, but it's a fun, strange charicature of recent events in the X-Men's lives. A couple examples (to tempt you into reading this) - the Blackbird is portrayed as a real dragon named Lockheed, and Wolverine is portrayed as an ugly and fierce (but lovable) "Fiend". |
| Uncanny X-Men #154 Feb 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Reunion: Most of the X-Men are on Magneto's Lovecraft-esque island in the Bermuda Triangle (which Magneto abandoned back in issue #150). However, Scott and Ororo are hanging out back at the mansion when Corsair crashes a spaceship into their lake. Scott learns that Corsair is his father (we knew back in issue #108), but the reunion is interrupted by an attack of Sidrian Hunters. Cyclops, Storm, and Corsair take off in the Blackbird, fighting with the Sidri in the skies over NYC. Finally, Corsair kills all of the Sidri, despite Cyclop's and Storm's protests ("X-Men don't kill"). Corsair tells them why the Sidri were after him (which I'll explain next issue). |
| Uncanny X-Men #155 Mar 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
First Blood: All of the X-Men are transported to a Shi'ar dreadnough floating above Earth. Empress Lilandra has been kidnapped, and the trail led to the Starjammers (that's why Corsair was being pursued) and to Earth. If the X-Men can't find who has kidnapped Lilandra, Lord Samedar will destroy Earth! The Prof buys the Earth one day, and all of the X-Men and Starjammers are returned to the Earth (except for Kitty and Nightcrawler, kept behind as prisoners) to find Lilandra. In NYC, the X-Men are attacked by Brood warriors and by Lilandra's sister Deathbird, who has kidnapped Lilandra in order to claim the Shi'ar throne. There are some pretty intense battle scenes, and eventually Deathbird kidnaps the Prof and takes off in her ship. Colossus is severely wounded, and the X-Men think he's dead! |
| Uncanny X-Men #156 Apr 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Pursuit: The Starjammers beam everyone up to their ship, where the revive Colossus. However, on the Shi'ar ship Kitty and Kurt and show footage from the battle that makes them think Colossus is really dead! Xavier is reunited with Lilandra (who had also been kidnapped by Deathbird), but when he first wakes his psychic sense of Lilandra is one of a "fiend from the Abyss". [Did he sense a Brood queen growing inside her???] Meanwhile, Corsair tells his story to the X-Men, including how his wife Anne (Cyclop's and Havoc's mother) was killed by D'Ken, the former Shi'ar Emperor. The Starjammers' ship is swallowed by an Acanti star-whale, and all aboard battle the Brood who are waiting for them in the Acanti. Our heroes find Xavier and Lilandra, and they all bust out of the Acanti. However, Storm realizes that the Acanti is a living creature, somehow under the control of the Brood, and she's worried that their escape may have mortally harmed it. |
| Uncanny X-Men #157 May 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Hide 'n Seek: Xavier tries to contact Kurt and Kitty telepathically, but while he's doing it he notices an "anomaly" within himself. When he tries to examine this alien feeling he goes into a catatonic shock, and does not recover until the end of issue #161. [Also, we learn in issue #166 that the anomaly inside Xavier was a Brood queen growing!] Anyway, there are several small fights until Lilandra manages to contact her fleet saying that she's OK and that Admiral Lord Samedar is a traitor. |
| Uncanny X-Men #158 Jun 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
The Life that Late I Led: The Starjammers are working out with Carol Danvers, who lost her mutant powers to Rogue but is still in extraordinary shape, thanks to her modified genes. The X-Men see a TV interview interview with Senator Kelly that leads them to believe the government will soon start investigating mutants. Moira tells everyone that Charles worked with the government when he first created the X-Men [where did that come from???], and that the government has records of all of them! Carol, Ororo, and Logan sneak into the Pentagon under false papers and erase the records. However, while they're there they run into Mystique (hiding under her Raven Darkholme persona) and Rogue, and several battles unsue. I never did find out what those two were doing in the Pentagon... |
| Uncanny X-Men #159 Jul 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Night Screams: In a rather unusual story, the X-Men run into Dracula in NYC! Storm gets bitten, but Kitty convinces her to fight the evil inside her, and Storm turns on Dracula. The vampire respects Storm's noble spirit and lets her go. |
| Uncanny X-Men #160 Aug 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Chutes and Ladders: Back on Magneto's island in the Bermuda triangle: while the X-Men are working out, someone lures Illyana Rasputin away from the group. The X-Men go to find her, only to find themselves transported to the realm of Belasco (a sorcerer, chief disciple of the Dark Ones). In this realm, the X-Men run into other versions of themselves - Nightcrawler is evil and works for Belasco, Storm is a witch, and Colossus and Wolverine are dead. Kitty and Illyana are being held by Belasco and his demon S'ym, while the "real" X-Men work to free everybody. After their first fight with Belasco, he flees and the X-Men are about to follow, until they're stopped by Storm! Actually, it's an older version of Storm who tells how she and the other X-Men came down here to find Illyana, but Colossus and Wolverine got killed, Nightcrawler got corrupted, and Storm learned to be a witch. She uses what she's learned to help the "real" X-Men escape. However, as they're leaving, Belasco grabs Illyana and when the X-Men finally pull her through to the real world, she's seven years older! She doesn't seem any worse for spending half of her childhood in Belasco's realm, but she does carry his bloodstone medallion, which has 3 of its 5 stones in place. [I've never read what actually happened to her in there, but it's in the Magik series and more details are brought out in various New Mutants issues.] |
| Uncanny X-Men #161 Sep 1982 The Essential X-Men Vol. 3 |
Gold Rush: While the X-Men watch over Xavier's catatonic body, we get to see one of Xavier's flashbacks. Charles was travelling through Israel in the early 1960's, between his trip to Egypt (see issue #117) and his trip to Tibet (see issue #20). While there he met Magnus (Magneto) and Gabrielle Haller. After Charles revives Gabby from her catatonic state (induced at Dachau in WWII), she is captured by Germans (the Hydra Bruderschaft, led by Baron Strucker) who've been waiting to wrest the secret location of the Nazi gold from her (she learned it while she was a play-thing for the Nazis). Charles and Magnus follow them and foil the German's plan. Charles gets the girl, but Magnus gets all the gold! [At some point not covered by this flashback, Charles and Gabrielle have a son named Legion.] For some unexplained reason, the Professor awakens after this flashback. All of the X-Men (except for the Prof) head up to Lilandra's ship for a farewell party, but Deathbird shows up again and captures everybody (she's really quite good at that). |
| Uncanny X-Men #162 Oct 1982 The Brood Saga, Part 1
|
Beyond the Farthest Star: This issue opens with Wolverine wandering around an alien landscape. Through his running commentary we learn that he's on the Brood homeworld and he's escaped from captivity. He and all the X-Men have been infected with a Brood embryo, but the others have all been hypnotized to think they're on the Shi'ar homeworld (instead of the "sleazoid" homeworld) and that everything is OK. While he's on the run, Wolverine is overcome by the egg "hatching" (it really just takes over the host's body, transforming it into a Brood). His mutant healing power allows him to defeat the egg (although his skin partially changed), and now he decides to rescue the other prisoners (or kill them if there's no stopping their transformations). |
| Uncanny X-Men #163 Nov 1982 The Brood Saga, Part 1 |
Rescue Mission: Back at sleazoid-central, Carol Danvers is being "tested" by the Brood. She shows the same remarkable abilities that we saw back in issue #158. The tests push Carol too far, and we see the results next issue. Anyway, Wolverine frees her, and together they free the others. Storm, Nightcrawler, and Kitty head up into space to try to take control of Lilandra's spaceship. Kitty has to kill a sleazoid, but she feels sorry about it. Back on the planet, Wolverine tries to kill the Brood Queen despite Scott's protestations, but they're all transported up to Lilandra's ship (which is in the hands of the other X-Men). Wolverine is still the only one who knows that everyone else is carrying Brood eggs, but he can't bring himself to tell them. |
| Uncanny X-Men #164 Dec 1982 The Brood Saga, Part 1 |
Binary Star: The good guys fight the sleazoids in a big space battle. Storm calls on some lightning to disable the Brood ships, but accidently destroys some of them. She's upset since she knows the ships are living creatures (these look like "sharks" not the "whales" we've seen before). During the battle, Carol completes the transformation initiated by the Brood's tests. However, she doesn't transform into a Brood (I don't think she ever got an egg), instead she transforms into a new superbeing, calling herself Binary. Meanwhile, Storm's losing touch with her elemental powers. I don't know if this from her egg-infestation, from being in space, or from something else. (This plot actually continues for quite some time.) Storm turns her senses inward, detects the egg growing inside her, and takes off in a small spaceship. Wolverine finally has to tell everyone that they have eggs growing inside them. They're all freaked, but Binary is especially pissed and flies off - punching a hole in the hull! The X-Men start to get sucked out of the spaceship.... |
| Uncanny X-Men #165 Jan 1983 |
Transfigurations: 2 The X-Men, of course, don't get sucked out. Storm starts to transform, but is able to hold off the transformation long enough to destroy the ship she left in. The X-Men agree to go back to the Broodworld and kill the Queen (which, for some, is a major step). Kitty and Peter talk about doing "it," but Peter won't because he's too honorable for that sort of thing. Storm returns in the form of a hologram. An Acanti star-whale arrives and swallows the yacht. Back on Earth, Charles receives a letter from Reed Richards about Xian Coy Manh (Karma). Even though he is majorly depressed about the "loss" of the X-Men, Moira convinces him to admit her into the school (this thread is picked up in the New Mutants series). |
| Uncanny X-Men #166 Feb 1983 |
Live Free or Die: 2 Storm merges with the infant Acanti. She wants the X-Men to recover the "Soul of the Prophet Singer" a mystical device that will help free the enslaved Acanti. The X-Men decide it's better to die fighting for something than against. To make a long story short, the X-Men get the Soul, and in return, the Prophet Singer cures them all of the infection in the nick of time. The Broodworld explodes thanks to Binary, and the Starjammers arrive to ferry the X-Men home. Cyclops proves he can add 2 and 2, and realizes that the Professor is infected as well. [Shouldn't Lilandra also be infected???] Kitty meets Lockheed the dragon for the first time , but he is left behind on Broodworld. [Did she name Lockheed after the dragon in her fairy tale?] |
| Uncanny X-Men #167 Mar 1983 |
The Goldilocks Syndrome: 2 The X-Men come home and find the New Mutants (Xian, Sam, Dani, Rahne, and Roberto). They fight, and then they all fight the Professor, who transforms into a Brood Queen. They manage to save him by cloning a body for him, and transferring his mind into the cloned body. Lastly, Kitty is demoted into the New Mutants. |
| Uncanny X-Men #168 Apr 1983 From the Ashes |
Professor Xavier is a Jerk: The Prof tries some physical therapy to learn to use his legs in his cloned body, but the psychosomatic pain is unbearable and inhibits his mental powers. Kitty tries to convince the Prof to let her stay in the X-Men. Ororo learns she's losing more of her elemental powers. Scott goes to visit Lee Forrster in Florida. Also, Kitty runs into Lockhead the dragon underneath the mansion [how did he get there from the Brood homeword?!?] and together they defeat a couple of Sidri hunters (lurking down there since issue #154). Finally, Scott travels to Alaska with his dad to meet his grandparents. The pilot who meets them in Anchorage is named Madelyne Pryor, and she looks and sounds exactly like Jean Grey! |
| Uncanny X-Men #169 May 1983 From the Ashes |
Catacombs: Warren Worthington's girlfriend (Candy Sothern) calls the X-Men because she thinks something bad has happened to Warren (Angel). While on the phone with the Prof, she's attacked by Sunder. The Prof sends Nightcrawler over to their place, where he Angel being carried down into the subway. He can't follow, 'cause someone (Sunder?) throws Candy out the window and Kurt has to save her. Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Kitty head down into the subway, where the find the hideout of the Morlocks. Kitty gets infected by Plague, and gets separated from the group. The others find where Angel is being kept prisoner by Callisto, the leader of the Morlocks. A fight ensues, but the X-Men are overwhelmed by the Morlocks. Meanwhile, Caliban (remember him from issue #148?) finds Kitty, and tries to take care of the infection Plague gave her. Also in this issue, we see that Emma Frost (the White Queen of the Hellfire Club) has been struck down by some psychic attack. Sebastian Shaw has finally recovered from his wounds back in issue #152, though. |
| Uncanny X-Men #170 Jun 1983 From the Ashes |
Dancin' in the Dark: Up in Reindeer Falls, Alaska, Scott and Maddy have been becoming an item. Scott feels guilty for enjoying himself, so he shows Maddy a picture of Jean. She's a little freaked out, but they continue their romance. Scott even shows her his mutant power! Back beneath NYC, the X-Men break free and fight again, but this time Storm gets infected by Plague. Still, she challenges Callisto to a duel for leadership of the Morlocks. Storm wins after she stabs Callisto in the heart - she'll survive, but no one can believe that Storm would so "casually" try to kill someone! Kitty and Storm are cured of the infections. Also in this issue, we see that Mystique has a nightmare involving Jason Wyngarde and Jean Grey (in their 18th Century personas), and wakes to find that her protege Rogue has fled. |
| Uncanny X-Men #171 Jul 1983 From the Ashes |
Rogue: Up in Alaska, Maddy has a nightmare and tells Scott her secret - on September 1, 1980, she was landing a 747 in San Francisco when the plane crashed, killing everyone on board - except for her! Scott realizes (but keeps to himself) that 9/1/1980 is the day that Jean died on the moon! Back at the mansion, Rogue shows up and asks for the X-Men's help - she can't control her own mutant power (the ability to absorb other mutant powers), and her mind is being torn apart with the persona she stole from Carol Danvers. Guess who picks this moment to also show up at the mansion? Yeah, Carol Danvers. Of course, the two go at it for a few minutes, but the X-Men calm everyone down. The X-Men don't really want to help Rogue, but the Prof reminds them that they must help all mutants. Carol/Binary realizes that she's not really an X-Men, so she takes off. |
| Uncanny X-Men #172 Aug 1983 From the Ashes |
Scarlet in Glory: The X-Men all head to Tokyo, where Wolverine's been for a while. He's getting married to Mariko, the daughter of the late Yashida Shingen. There are some confusing events that happen in Japan, and I'll try to sum them up quickly. Mariko's father had tied in their Clan Yashida tightly with the criminal underground and Mariko wants to break those bonds. There's a power-play for the Clan by Silver Samurai (Keniuchio Harada, Mariko's half-brother) and Viper (who poisons all the X-Men, except Storm). Someone named Yukio (a former lover of Logan's?) helps Storm defeat the Silver Samurai and Viper, but Storm's powers get out of control (again) and she blows up a warehouse. In the resulting fireball, Storm and Yukio see the shape of the Phoenix! |
| Uncanny X-Men #173 Sep 1983 From the Ashes |
To Have and Have Not: Logan and Rogue team up, battle some more bad guys. Rogue gets hurt, and Logan makes her absorb some of his mutant healing power. Separately, Storm and Yukio have some adventures, and Storm likes Yukio's free-spirit and attitude. So much, in fact, that Storm cuts her hair into a mohawk! The issue ends at Logan and Mariko's wedding ceremony, where Mariko tells Logan "he's not worthy" and leaves him at the altar! The last panels show Logan crying, and someone else smiling (it's Jason Wyngarde!). |
| Uncanny X-Men #174 Oct 1983 From the Ashes |
Romances: Logan confronts Mariko about why he's "not worthy". She refuses to enlighten our hero, who leaves behind the Clan's Honor Sword which he had been given. Meanwhile, at the X-Men's mansion, Kitty and Colossus start making out in Storm's attic-apartment, but Storm comes home (interrupting something that could have gone much farther!).Scott takes Maddy up in space on his father's spaceship (get your own 'ship, you bum!). Corsair is leaving soon, and wants Scott to come with him. Carol Danvers (Binary) does decide to go with the Starjammers, since there's nothing left for her on Earth. Scott decides to stay on Earth, and when they get home, he proposes to Maddy! However, he ruins things by point-blank asking Maddy if she's Phoenix. She punches him, takes off, and then "returns" as Phoenix, knocking him out with a fire/energy attack. [The tension here is somewhat ruined by quick shots of Jason Wyngarde hanging around everywhere.] |
| Uncanny X-Men #175 Nov 1983 From the Ashes |
Phoenix: Back at the mansion, the X-Men see the "Phoenix" in the sky, and then see Scott plummeting toward the ground. The X-Men rescue Scott, and bring him inside the mansion, only to find out that Phoenix is hiding in Scott. Phoenix takes off, but Scott is knocked out. When he recovers and starts walking around, the other X-Men still perceive him as Phoenix. Scott figures out that Mastermind (Jason Wyngarde), must be behind this, and eventually convinces the other X-Men, too. [Mastermind wants vengeance for what Phoenix did to him in issue #134.] The X-Men beat up Mastermind, and then Maddy Pryor shows up. [Where did she come from? If Mastermind was really Phoenix, why was Maddy nearby at all?] Anyway, after everything's over, Scott and Maddy get married! |
| Uncanny X-Men #176 Dec 1983 From the Ashes |
Decisions: This is a bit of a filler issue. Scott and Maddy are flying off to the honeymoon, when their plane makes an emergency landing in the middle of the ocean. They're attacked by a giant squid (octopus?), but Scott blasts it away. In Tokyo, Wolverine confronts Mariko, still wanting to get married (Mastermind was the one who made her call off the wedding). While under his influence, Mariko made some agreements with the Japanese underworld, and she won't marry Logan until she can't fix it. Elsewhere, we see Caliban, Callisto, and Masque talking about Kitty, especially the fact that she promised Caliban that she'd stay with him forever (in issue #169). Also, we see a meeting in Washington involving Henry Peter Gyrich, Dr. Valerie Cooper, and others. They propose that the government must use mutants in order to keep track of (and control) other mutants. [Forward in issue #199, Freedom Force is formed for this purpose. However, I think X-Factor eventually fulfills this role, even though they start out in X-Factor #1 as an independent group of "mutant-hunters".] |
| Uncanny X-Men #177 Jan 1984 |
Sanction: 2 Mystique fights robot X-Men in Murderworld as a training session. The Starjammers leave to return Lil to her throne. And the rest of the X-Men (Colossus, Kitty, and Kurt, plus Amanda) go out for a night at the Met. The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants attack and Colossus is turned into a statue (after being super-heated by Pyro, then chilled by liquid nitrogen tankers). |
| Uncanny X-Men #178 Feb 1984 |
Hell Hath No Fury: 2 Everything continues, and Nightcrawler and Amanda have to fight off the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Kitty breaks into the Baxter Building to find a gizmo of Reed Richards that should fix Peter. Wolverine and Storm arrive to help Kurt, but it was all a trap so Mystique could 'rescue' Rogue. Rogue convinces Mystique that she's there under her own free will, and Mystique trades the Prof's life for letting the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants go. Kitty found the gizmo and was about to air-walk down, when she was surprised by ... something. Kitty is found dead at the foot of the Baxter Building. |
| Uncanny X-Men #179 Mar 1984 |
What Happened to Kitty? 2 Wolverine says the body isn't Kitty. She smells different. Storm can add as well, and realizes Masque is behind it. A scanning wave from outer space assaults the Prof (similar events are happening all over the Marvel Universe). Kitty is about to be married to Caliban. She resists, but Callisto reminds her about a certain promise she didn't keep. We meet Leech for the first time, and Kitty realizes that (she shouldn't make stupid promises? Nah!) she should keep her word. The X-Men show up to rescue Kitty, but Kitty says she'll stay. Rogue manages to save Colossus by absorbing his power, so he turns to flesh, and the Morlock healers fixes him up. (It's really painful for Rogue, but hey, who said hero was an easy job?) Kitty agrees to go back with Caliban, but he releases her from her promise, since he knows she'll be miserable down there. (What a nice guy!) |
| Uncanny X-Men #180 Apr 1984 |
Whose Life is it, Anyway? 2 Storm checks with the Prof to see if her recent behavior is the result of a insanity. He says it's not. Kitty and Doug Ramsey (yea!) tilt a video game in a local mall. It seems that Doug was recently accepted into the Emma Frost's Mass. Academy. Peter is really jealous because Doug's a brain, Kitty's a brain, and Peter isn't. He's thinking of breaking up with her. Storm roughs up some muggers while visiting NYC. The Prof reveals that Doug is a mutant with "the gift of languages." He wasn't recruited into either the X-Men or New Mutants because he has a "quiet" power. Kitty and Storm have a heart to heart. Emma bwah-hah-hahs when she meets Kitty, and the X-Men leave for the Secret Wars. |
| >Uncanny X-Men #181 May 1984 |
Tokyo Story: 2 The X-Men get back from the Secret Wars, but arrive in Japan, not NYC with the rest of the heroes. The small dragon that Lockheed shacked up with grew to enormous size on Earth, and the X-Men (with the help of the Japanese military and Sunfire) convince it to leave. The Prof learns he's not a combat leader, and Wolverine adopts a child whose mother was killed in the chaos (he foists the kid on Mariko). Lastly, Senator Robert Kelly introduces the Mutant Affairs Control Act. |
| Uncanny X-Men #182 Jun 1984 |
Madness: 2 Rogue flew home ahead of the X-Men to check on Kitty. [The New Mutants rescued her, btw.] She hears a phone message from Col. Michael Rossi, a former lover of Carol Danvers. The exhaustion of flying halfway around the world catches up with her, and Carol's mind starts to take over. Thanks to Carol's spy knowledge, she is able to rescue Rossi from SHIELD, where he was framed by a Hellfire Club plant. She has a painful confrontation with Rossi, and almost snaps. Nick Fury orders SHIELD to catch Rogue and Rossi, and deadly force is authorized. |
| Uncanny X-Men #183 Jul 1984 |
He'll Never Make Me Cry: 2 Peter breaks up with Kitty, officially because he fell in love with an alien healer on the Secret Wars Battleworld. The healer died, but Peter is still carrying a torch for her. This, natch, tears up Kitty pretty badly. Wolverine is offended by this and, with Nightcrawler in tow, takes Peter out to a bar to "reason" with him. Juggernaut happened to be at the same bar, and Wolverine provokes a fight between Peter and Jugs. Wolverine keeps Nightcrawler out of it. Jugs wins, and when he wakes up, Peter demands to know why Wolverine let him down. Wolverine points out that Kitty almost sacrificed her life for Peter, and he dumped her. Selene, a villain from New Mutants, shows up in NYC. Kitty heads off for the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine mini-series. Sometime after the end of the issue, Wolverine leaves after her. |
| Uncanny X-Men #184 Aug 1984 |
The Past ... of Future Days: 2 We see Forge's place in Dallas. It's techno-heaven. He gives a power neutralizer to Val Cooper and Raven Darkholme (Mystique) . Rachel Summers makes her first appearance (in the "present"), and can't understand why Storm (who she sees on TV) is punk. "She never looked like that." Selene hunts Rachel down. Fortunately, the X-Men arrive and save her. Now Rachel is really confused, because the Professor never walked in her history. [Rachel came back from one possible future, the Days of Future Past from issues #141-142. It's obvious that this is an alternate future.] |
| New Mutants #18 Aug 1984 The Demon Bear Saga |
Death-Hunt: Rachel arrives at the mansion, where she has a flashback to her (alternate) future - the Prof and and all the other students get killed by the army! We also get our first view of Warlock - he's being pursued by his father (Magus) who wants to kill him. While the rest of the New Mutants are sleeping, Dani leaves the mansion and faces the Demon Bear that "killed" her parents. From Dani's point of view, she kills the Bear. However, when her teammates show up, it's Dani that they find dying in the snow... |
| New Mutants #19 Sep 1984 The Demon Bear Saga |
Siege: Dani is rushed to the hospital. Rahne transforms into her werewolf form, to take advantage of the psychic link she share with Dani when Rahne is in that state. Rahne breaks the connection w |
I've been a big fan of the X-Men for years, even though I only read the Graphic Novels (GNs) or Trade Paperbacks (TPBs). I don't think most fans read their comics this way, but I find the best way to get into a story is to read the entire story at once, without waiting months and months for it to wrap up. I don't "collect" comics for their monetary value - I just enjoy the stories. Also, the TPBs are usually cheaper than buying the regular issues, and I don't have to flip through the advertisements!
The drawback to this approach is that I often go for a year or more without reading any X-Men stories! So, I'd usually find myself trying to remember certain things that I'd read years ago. I'd end up a little confused, and have to go back and skim through some of the earlier stories looking for a particular item.
There already are some great on-line resources (see my comics page), but they never put everything I wanted in a single place. Now, I don't expect this document to be the single-point of reference for anyone else either, but I know that it will be a valuable reference when it comes to refreshing my mind, and I hope that it will help others out, too!
Oh, in case you didn't notice, this document concentrates on the Uncanny X-Men issues. The only non-UXM issues listed here are ones which I've read in TPBs, and the occasional single issue I've picked up. Despite this "limitation", I think I've covered all of the major plots that have occured in over 30 years of an Uncanny History!
With that in mind, read on, but realize that there are significant spoilers ahead if these issues are new to you!