Uncanny X-Men # 192-193, New Mutants # 26 – 29, Uncanny X-Men # 194-198
It's an interesting time for the X-Men . . . though aren't they all?
This time, we get a closer look at the X-Men, looking at the team in a more personal light. Storm leaves on a personal quest to Africa. In her absence, Nightcrawler leads the team, though he suffers from crippling doubts.
The X-Men tackle with Magus (Warlock's Dad). It's a blah kinda story. After that, though, things pick up when Thunderbird's brother, Warpath, seeks the X-Men out for revenge. After nearly killing them, Xavier allows Warpath to seek his vengance one on him. Warpath nearly does, but then learns that Thunderbird found honor in his time with the X-Men.
We jump right over to "The New Mutants," where Xavier comes face-to-face with his son, David Haller. Between the eerie style of the art and a story that sprials deep into the Multiple Personality suffering mind of young David, it's remarkable creepy. Xavier attempts to help his son, but ulimately fails in doing so, and only instead halts a internal psi-war between the various personalities.
In the meantime, Xavier contacts Magneto as he senses the Beyonder approaching the Earth. What's Magneto been up to? Hooking up with Lee Forrester, Scott's ex-girlfriend. That's right. A human. Perhaps his time on Battleworld shook some faith in humanity into him (let's also consider that his grand-daughter is a human). Magneto, having learned that violence solves very little (check out Uncanny 150), starts hanging around the X-Men.
The X-Men content with Nimrod and the Juggernaut in a fairly entertaining story. The Morlocks, who have captured kid super-heroes the Power Pack, take the stage for a fairly boring and dumb-downed issue. Rachel reveals her past to the X-Men (again) when the team goes searching for some looking to plant a bomb at Columbia State, to kill a Mutie. And Kitty and Peter come to terms with their relationship and it's falling apart while fighting Arcade. Wrap it up with Storm coming to terms with her powers being gone and you've got quite a good tale here.
Overall, the personal stories matter more here than the action ones. Nightcrawler and Colossus get some long overdo character development. Magneto, Storm, Kitty, and Rachel all get their moments in the sun. Storm's Africa adventure is quite good, allowing her to break away from the angsty woman we've been seeing (and way too much) and really grow into a new, much more stable character, filled with confidence and strength.
Xavier gets some great development as well. He becomes a Professor at Columbia, only to get the shit beaten out of him and almost gets blown up. His meeting with David is good and akward. His trusting of Magneto is interesting, though I wish there had been more time for him to deal with it.
~W~
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