X-Men/Alpha Flight # 1-2, Uncanny X-Men # 199, The New Mutants Annual # 1, X-Men Annual # 9, Uncanny X-Men # 200, The New Mutants # 35, Uncanny X-Men # 201
Since about Uncanny # 181ish, Claremont has been moving characters into certain positions, almost as though they were on a chessboard. Val Cooper, Mystique, Magneto, Cyclops, Maddie, Storm, the X-Men, the New Mutants . . . each one has been moving along with their subplot and story, ultimately culminating with this batch of books here.
The X-Men and Alpha Flight are whisked into a elaborate ploy created by the "god of evil," Loki. It is during this adventure that Madylen is revealed to be pregnant. This shocks Rachel, and throws into an emotional state. When the story is complete, Cyclops finds out that Xavier is dying. It's never really explained why, but apparently, he is.
In the meantime, Magneto and Kitty visit the Holocaust Memorial, where Mystique and the Brotherhood ambush them. Magneto, seeing the look of shock and disgust on his fellow Holocaust survivors as he launchs himself into action, surrenders. It turns out that Mystique and her team are looking to become government run and they take Magneto into custody to be judged by a United Nations court.
The X-Men and the New Mutants jaunt over to Asgard again. This time, Loki has given Storm the powers of Thor. A confrontation follows and the two teams arrive in Paris, just in time for Magneto's big trial.
As expected, the trial is awash with both pro- and anti- Mutant right protesters. With the New Mutants back on Muir Island, the X-Men are framed for numerous terrorist attacks. These attacks, as we discover, were really the act of Baron VonStrucker's children, the twins known as Fernis. Fernis attacks Magneto and Xavier. Magneto saves the day, but Xavier is dying. As he lay there, on the brink of death, Xavier asks Magneto to take over teaching the New Mutants and to work with the X-Men. Magneto protests, but has no real choice. Luckily, Lilandria and Corsair show up and whisk Xavier away to heal him . . . but can't return him, as the Starjammer has been super-damaged.
AND SO . . . the X-Men and Magneto return home. The New Mutants have trouble with Magneto, until he exacts revenge on some Frat boys for nearly raping Dani. I really like that scene.
Moreover, Cyclops and Storm duel for leadership of the X-Men. Storm gets the position. Cyclops decides to head home with his family - as his son was born while he was in Paris. Cyclops, apparently, didn't call once while he was over there.
This is some great stuff. Despite my general disdain of magic and the X-Men mixing, the Asgardian stories were filled with a lot of grand adventure and fun enough for even ME to enjoy. The trial of Magneto was great too, presenting both sides of the case. Is Magneto a super-villain or a terrorist? Or is he a crusader, fighting only out of self-defense? These questions are never really answered, which is a good thing. It allows the reader to anwer it his or her self.
Character arcs are as good as you'd expect from Claremont. The art, though, isn't. I'm not a fan of John Romita Jr.'s art during this peroid. It's too . . . I don't know . . . shaky.
We get a nice feel for Scott's life right now. Some fantastic lines from Maddie regarding the state of the marriage as she accuses him of putting his duty to the X-Men before her. Some great ones from Magneto as well, concerning what he's done in the past.
A very great story, with fine characterization, and an excellent set-up for the future.
~W~
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