Cable # - 1, Cable: Blood and Metal # 1-2, X-Cutioner's Song trade, Uncanny X-Men # 297, X-Men: Stryfe Strike Files
This crossover event is the first since the end of the Claremont/Simonson era and is the benchmark for the Lobdell/David/Nicieza peroid. The creative teams have finally settled down, establishing their own voice for their respective series, and have locked in until the end of the tenure.
I decided, for good measure, that I'd toss in Cable # -1. I figure it'll add context to the story. I also added in the "Cable: Blood and Metal" limited since it ties in nicely, plus the Stryfe Strike Files one-shot and Uncanny # 297 for a proper epilogue.
Years ago, Cable arrived in our era near Muir Island. He used his powers recklessly to save himself from a lynch mob and met up with Moria MacTaggert. The two became quick friends. Cable, as it turns out, was on a mission from the future. His goal is simple - to prevent the rise of Apocalypse and to create a peaceful future.
Present day, Cable has broken off his ties with X-Force to hunt down Stryfe and the MLF. As it turns out, the MLF is after certain artifacts bearing the symbol of Apocalypse for reasons unknown. Through a series of flashbacks, we learn that Cable learned that Stryfe came to this time peroid after him and has been planning on shaping his own future. Cable and his team at the time (Six Pack) were hunted down for years before Six Pack fell apart. Presently, Cable and his former ally/enemy Kane tracked down Stryfe, where Cable learned that underneath Stryfe's mask, he has Cable's face. Kane nearly dies helping Cable and Cable takes Kane back to the future with him to help him recover.
So, meanwhile, Professor X goes off to make a speech at a free World Unity concert in NYC. However, he is shot during his speech by a man looking just like Cable. The various X-Teams leap into action. At the same time, Cyclops and Jean are captured by Caliban and the Four Horsemen as the behest of who they think is Apocalypse, but is really Sinister. Sinister and Stryfe trades Scott and Jean for a canister with his the Summer genetic matrix within. Both are happy.
As Scott and Jean are treated like children by Stryfe, the X-Men and X-Factor hunt down X-Force for some answers. In short order, X-Force is captured and imprisoned in the Danger Room. At the same time, various X-Men go searching for Scott and Jean and eventually meet up with a barely alive Apocalypse (still recovering from the last battle). Both teams retreat and Sinister reveals to the X-Teams that it's Stryfe's who is behind the scenes, manipulating these events.
With Professor X dying the Techno-Organic Virus, Cable returns from the future and is confronted by Wolverine and Bishop. After a great battle, Cable convinces them to listen to him when he claims he didn't shoot Xavier. Wolverine believes him . . . for now. With these three trying to track down Stryfe, the X-Men, X-Factor, Cannonball, and Boom-Boom take down the MLF. As they do, Apocalypse and Stryfe battle it out, with Apocalypse heading the X-Mansion to offer his help. He cures Professor X.
Cyclops and Jean make their escape then and found themselves on the surface of the Moon. This shock causes Jean to unleash a psi-call for help, the call reaching Wolverine. A team consisting of the X-Men, X-Factor, Apocalypse, and Cannonball head to the Moon, confront the upserped Dark Riders, and it all comes to head. Stryfe, Cable, Havok, Cyclops, and Jean battle, trying to make sense of Stryfe once and for all. Cable eventually activates a self-destruct program and blows up while taking on Stryfe in a time vortex. They both vanish.
The X-Men return home. After spending an evening walking and rollerblading with Jubilee due to an after-effect of the T.O. virus, Professor X checks out a disc containing Stryfe's files. They hint that his legacy has been unleashed.
WHEW!
Okay, let's talk about this.
First of all, great story. Love the epic feel to it and I love the character arcs and the way that everyone moves across the chessboard. Apocalypse, Sinister, Stryfe, Cable, Wolverine, Bishop, Havok, Storm, Archangel, Cannonball, Polaris, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Professor X . . . all just basically steal their scenes. Great character moments. Havok and Storm taking command. Cannonball's struggle with the hostility between the X-Men, X-Factor and his own X-Force. Archangel's hatred for Apocalypse. The bad-assness (word?) of Bishop, Cable, and Wolverine. The tension between Cable and Cannonball. The hard struggle of Cyclops and Jean as they try to figure out what Stryfe's problem is.
And let's talk about Stryfe . . .
Stryfe, at his best, comes off as a character who is driven by very primal and dark scars. At his worst, he's a rabbling, loud-mouthed super-villian. The point the writers are trying to make but never come out and say is that Stryfe may be Nathan Christopher, who Scott gave away (about a year ago, Marvel Time). Branching off from that, that would make Cable a pale imitation, a half-man. Stryfe's whole point of this attack was wipe out all those that he thinks harmed and destroyed him: Professor X (for creating the dream); Cyclops and Jean, for giving him up; Apocalypse, for raising him wrong; and Mr. Sinister, for screwing him over in the first place.
Between a great, intricrite plot and great character archs, the story is fantastic. Well-coordinated; makes you think you're reading just one big comic with different artists. Very character-driven - never forgetting about the small characters.
The art is mostly good, with Greg Capullo and Andy Kubert being the best. Jae Lee does his work on X-Factor, but it doesn't mesh well with the rest of the artists. Brandon Petersen works on Uncanny and it's . . . okay.
A great story. One that felt long in coming. The creative teams have finally hit the ground running, now establishing themselves from Claremont.
However, as indicated, Stryfe's legacy isn't dead yet . . .
~W~
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