X-Factor # 92. X-Force # 25, Uncanny X-Men # 303, X-Men # 24, Uncanny X-Men # 304, X-Men Unlimited # 2, X-Force # 26, Uncanny X-Men # 305-306, X-Men # 25, Wolverine # 75, Excalibur # 71, X-Men # -1
Just a quick note: I tossed in these extras issues to give the overall story a little emotion and energy. You'll see what I mean when I start writting about it.
For years, "Fatal Attractions" has been among my favorite X-Men stories. This reading has only made me appreciate it more. It's not your traditional storyline, as the actual titles that are involved don't all link up until Uncanny X-Men # 304.
The story kicks off with the Acolytes attacking a hospital at Cortez's command. When one of the Acolytes are captured, X-Factor finds out their next target: the military base of Camp Hayden. When we find that Senator Kelly and a new breed of Sentinals are there, it turns out that Camp Hayden is the home of an government operation called Project: Wideawake. This is revealed to X-Factor just before the Acolytes show up, but the bulk of the conflict is focused on Cortez and Quicksilver, as Cortez seeks to bring the son of Magneto over to his side, therefore solidifying his control of the Acolytes. He fails, of course, and the Acolytes take off.
On their way to Camp Hayden, X-Factor basically "bumped into" a character by the name of Exodus. Exodus appears then in X-Force, the team having just been reunited with Cable. Exodus takes the New Mutants of the team up to an orbital space station called Avalon - being comprised of parts of Cable's old Graymalkin station and Shi'ar technology. Aboard Avalon, the gang comes face to face with Magneto, who offers them haven from the trouble down on Earth. They reject the offer and Cable and the rest show up, rescuing them. Cable then goes after his little computer buddy, the Professor. He retrieves his files, but is attacked by Magneto, barely leaving Avalon with his life.
Back at the mansion, Illyana passes away. This sends ripples through the X-Men and their various related teams. It's at her funeral that Magneto shows up and gives the X-Men the same offer he gave X-Force - haven. Colossus, disillusioned with Xavier's dream, heads off with Magneto. Professor X and Magneto have a huge battle, then and Xavier forces Magneto to drag Avalon away from the planet (not too far, but it was sitting right above Westchester).
As the international community reacts to Magneto's return, the X-Men prepare themselves for another confrontation. Also, Cable recovers from his battle with Magneto.
Professor X, Quicksilver, and a small team of X-Men head up to Avalon. This is after Magneto unleashes a world-wide Electro-Magnetic Pulse in response to magnetic grid set up to keep him off Earth. The battle with Magneto is high-octane and emotional, with Xavier and Jean using Magneto's darkest memories against him in concert with attacks by various X-Men. This climaxes with Wolverine going against Magneto mono-e-mono. Magneto, fed up with Wolverine, tears the Adamantium off his bones. Xavier then, attacks Magneto unlike any other before - by going into his mind and shutting it down. Not killing him, but leaving him in a vegetative state. Colossus again remains by Magneto's side.
Trouble with the Blackbird occurs on the way, but the X-Men pull through. Wolverine barely does, his healing factor all screwed up and his Adamantium gone. After some time back on Earth, Wolverine starts to recover and we find out that he has had bone claws the whole time.
Professor X, Jean Grey, and Cyclops then head over to Muir Island. Excalibur, at this point, has been reduced to Nightcrawler, Phoenix, and Shadowcat. With Kitty's help, they get Colossus to Muir Island in the hopes of healing his head wound which has kept him in metal form. As they do so, Rachel fights Cable, who has come to settle some scores with the Acolytes. She stops him, then the team goes against some in-coming Acolytes. In the end, Colossus has still decided to follow Magneto, as he believes that he has the best intentions for Mutantkind.
We then take a look back at a meeting Xavier and Amelia Vought have with Magneto, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch a little while before Camp Citadel. It's at this meeting, they both offer the other one more chance at walking their own "right path" and of course, they both reject it, setting their courses into their futures . . .
At the heart of the story, we have a character study of both Professor X and Magneto. At many, many times, it's claimed that Magneto and Professor X have the same goals, just different dreams. It's clear that this is so, and the two actually begin to mirror each other, with Xavier walking (er, metaphorically speaking) a darker path. Magneto threatens the world at a funeral. Xavier comandeers his powers. Magneto issues a EMP against the world. Xavier uses his own memories against him. Magneto rips out Wolverine's Adamantium. Xavier wipes out Mangeto's mind. The two become twisted mirrors of each other. It's only through trying to save Wolverine and Colossus that Xavier tries to seek redemption for all this.
But where the Xavier and Magneto start to look like the other, the Acolytes and the X-Men take a firm stand opposed to each other. There's an interesting parallel to be drawn here. This all starts off with the Acolytes attacking a hospital and wiping out the sick and dying. It all ends with the X-Men and Excalibur helping the wounded Colossus.
Despite being mainly concentrated on Xavier and Magneto, various other characters get some great moments. Quicksilver, Cable, Cannonball, Jubilee, Shadowcat, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Rogue, Wolverine, and (of course) Colossus all shine brillantly above all the others. Each one gives the conflict at hand a different and unique voice, and brings to the story their own flavor.
The writing is top-notch, as Lobdell, Nicieza, and Larry Hama craft a remarkable story here. It's character driven, taking the time to get into characters head with an appreciation of detail and history. The art is good too, though shaky in some points. John Romita Jr.'s work comes off pretty bad here, as does Ken Lashley - both artists who I know are better than they appear in this story. Joe Quesada, Greg Capullo, Joe Bennet, the Kubert bros, and Carlos Pacheco all deliever. Andy Kubert is actually the best of the bunch, which is a bit of surprise for me because I'm not his biggest fan. But between the sketchy feel of the tension-building X-Men # 24 and the dynamic action and character-driven X-Men # 25, he really rises up to the occassion.
The Professor X/Magneto conflict has been around since the very beginning, from the clash of their ideals to the frayed friendship. This is perhaps the best example of their conflict.
~W~
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