Uncanny X-Periment # 29: "What Happened to Maddie?"

X-Factor # 13-15, Uncanny X-Men # 214, Uncanny X-Men Annual # 10, Uncanny X-Men # 215-219

Welcome to a good couple issues of X-Factor, but nothing exciting for the X-Men.

In the aftermath of the Mutant Massacre, Angel has his wings amputated. This sends him into a spiraling depression that eventually leads to his suicide. Meanwhile, Scott searches for Maddie and baby Nathan, only to find evidence that they didn't even exist in the first place! Wha --?! Little does he know that over in the pages of X-Men, it's revealed that Maddie was shot by the Mardaurs, and was in a coma in San Fransico.

Scott also fights Master Mold, who makes some comments about "the 12" Mutants. Those who are strong. I've seen the end of this sub-plot. It turns out kinda blah, but it's interesting in its inception.

The X-Men, in the meantime, load up the injured Morlocks and the injured teammates (Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Shadowcat) and ship 'em off to Muir Island. Rogue and Psylocke accompany, along with newcomers Dazzler and Longshot (Longshot having joined during a really stupid story involving - groan - the X-Babies). These four train on Muir, which is interesting, as Banshee is the one training him (which is something he'll be doing later in his life). Calisto is her usual self.

Havok goes crazy, then, and joins the X-Men. Polaris is taken over by Malice. Storm fights perhaps the lamest villians ever in probably the lamest story ever. The Juggernaut puts in an appearance and is apparently so dumb, he can't tell is someone is either unconscious or dead. Magneto is a member of the Hellfire Club in the wake of the events with the Morlocks.

I'm not going to lie to you here. Despite some shining moments involving Maddie, the Morlocks, and just some general scenes here and there, the X-Men stories are awful. They're lame, cliched, boring and the characterization . . . ugh. It's just bad. They're bad! Awful!

The X-Factor stories are better, but not by much. I don't care about Rusty, Skids, and Boom-Boom. The Warren, Scott, and Jean stuff keeps it going though. Nicely done.

There are some decent scenes with the X-Men. It's nice to see some new members, but what about the old ones? The reason that Colossus and Nightcrawler are in state of non-movement, non-speaking roles (Colossus is quadropalegic and Nightcrawler is in a coma) is because I think that Claremont didn't know what else to do with them. They hadn't had any decent character development since the 180s.

Thankfully, though, I know that things will be picking up shortly.

~W~