Uncanny X-Periment Special: Top 50 Stories - Part Five!

Getting down to it!   I'll have the Top Ten list up on New Years Eve, for your reading pleasure.  In meantime, here's # 20 - 11!  Also, I did ape some of my previous  reviews/overviews for some of these because, well, I'm a father of two and it's the holidays and I work a lot.

20) The Brood Saga

(Uncanny X-Men # 162-167)

Summary:

The X-Men are ambushed by the alien Broods, who proceed to plant their eggs into the X-Men’s bodies.  Wolverine manages to escape and his healing factor kills the egg.  He goes and frees the rest of the X-Men, as well as Binary and Lilandria.  They escape, but are pursued by the Brood.   When Storm finds out about her egg, she flips and escapes in a shuttle.   She nearly kills herself as the transformation takes place, but is saved by an Acanti space whale.  She merges with the Acanti and rejoins the X-Men in an assault against the Brood and their Queen.   The X-Men come away victorious (and with Lockheed!) . . . but soon realize that Professor X has an egg implanted in him as well.  The X-Men arrive home, fight the New Mutants, and then are forced to kill the transformed Professor X.  Professor X ends up alive thanks to Shi’ar cloning.

Why It’s # 20:

I’m not the biggest fan of X-Men space opera (even though there’s a lot of them on this list – I’m not saying they’re not good, I’m just not always a fan).   This one is pretty solid and it has great underlying themes: mortality, morality, violation, invasion, infection, and survival.  It’s fairly dark and grim, but it produces some of the best X-Men moments of all time.  Wolverine’s exercising of the egg is so well done.   Storm explosive reaction to her finding out and then her horrific (and brief) transformation is excellent.   The moment when Peter and Kitty discuss the possibility of death is touching.   The action is exciting and the locales are exotic and alien.   It feels like an alien world, and in turn, it’s actually pretty scary.

Bottom Line:

Great themes, excellent characterization, fantastic action, and an alien world.   Heads and shoulders above most other X-Men space operas.

19) Duel
(Uncanny X-Men # 201)

Summary:

After the birth of his son, Nathan Christopher, Scott is feeling torn between his duties as a husband and father and his loyalty to the X-Men.  Storm is powerless, Professor X is in space, and Magneto is running the school.  Scott feels like he has to stay and lead the them.   Madelyne disagrees, of course.  Storm proposes that she and Scott duel for command of the X-Men.  They fight, Scott loses, and Storm retains command.

Why It’s # 19:

Aside from the gorgeous art and well-paced script, this an issue of tiny moments and one big one.   The X-Men playing baseball is a fun scene.  The introduction of Nathan is heartfelt.  Rachel’s scene with Jean’s crystal orb is touching.  But obviously, the emotional core of the story is Scott’s decision.  It’s a big moment for Scott and there’s a great line from Maddie where she accuses him of being so hollow that life without the X-Men would have meaning.   It cuts deep and the silence after it is so realistic.  You feel like you’re really in a fight with these two characters – each side has valid reasons for what they want and need.   The duel itself is great, and it’s cool to see Scott get taken down a few pegs.  You can just feel his humiliation and shock at being defeated.

Bottom Line:

It’s an emotional and realistic roller coaster story that ends not quite where the characters thought it would.

18) X-Cutioner’s Song

(Cable: Blood and Metal # 1-2,Uncanny X-Men #294, X-Factor #84, X-Men (vol. 2) #14,X-Force #16, Uncanny X-Men #295, X-Factor #85, X-Men (vol. 2) #15, X-Force #17, Uncanny X-Men #296, X-Factor #86, X-Men (vol. 2) #16, X-Force #18, Uncanny X-Men #297, Stryfe's Strike File # 1)

Summary:

The mysterious and deadly Stryfe is out to seek revenge on all those that he believes wronged him: he captures Scott and Jean; he frames Cable for an attack on Professor X; and he tries to kill Apocalypse.  The X-Men and X-Factor attack X-Force and drag them, hoping to get some answers out of them about Cable.  Bishop and Wolverine hunt down Cable and after discovering that he didn’t attack the Professor, they go searching for Stryfe, Scott, and Jean.   Eventually, X-Factor and the X-Men find the Mutant Liberation Front and defeat them.   Apocalypse arrives shortly afterwards, recovering from his battle with Stryfe.  He promises to help cure Professor X of the techno-organic virus.   The gang then head up to the moon to save Scott and Jean, and we’re lead into a huge battle with Stryfe’s forces and the Dark Riders.  Eventually, finally confronting Cable, Havok, Cyclops, and Jean Grey, Stryfe ruptures time and space.  Cable and Stryfe are dragged into a time vortex and seemingly perishing, leaving Scott to wonder if Stryfe was in fact Nathan Christopher, his time-lost son.

Why It’s # 18:

If you look at the whole Cable/Stryfe story as a trilogy, then part one would be the X-Factor storyline “Endgame.”  Part three would be the aforementioned “Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix.”  This would be part two and it’s far superior that the other two.  There’s a lot of scheming and plotting, a lot questions and ambiguity, and manipulations galore.  The X-teams are left trying to figure everything out and are doing so very slowly.  There are some great shocking moments, such as when Cable/Stryfe shoots Professor X.   The fight in particular are amazing : X-Men/X-Factor vs X-Force in particular, and most of all, Apocalypse vs Stryfe.  The central characters to this story (Cable, Stryfe, Cyclops, and Jean) are all well-defined and have very fitting roles to play.   A lot of the other characters get strong moments too.

Bottom Line:

Stryfe’s crazy.  Break out of the popcorn.

17) X-Tinction Agenda

Uncanny X-Men # 270, New Mutants # 95, X-Factor # 60, Uncanny X-Men # 271, New Mutants # 96, X-Factor # 61, Uncanny X-Men # 272, New Mutants # 97, X-Factor # 62)

 

Summary:

Storm and several members of the New Mutants are captured by Genoshan Magistrates and taken back to Genosha for the X-Men’s crimes commited against  the country.  X-Factor and the remaining X-Men and New Mutants launch an attack, but are ambushed by an amnesic Havok and his Magistrates.  They capture the Mutants.  Shortly thereafter, Jubilee, Psylocke, and Wolverine arrive.  Jubilee is tasked with keeping the recently freed Rictor and Boom-Boom save while the others try and rescue their teammates.  Havok captures them too.  Warlock is killed, Wolfsbane and Storm become mindless slaves, and the X-Men are forced into some heinous acts – including a deathmatch between Wolverine and Archangel.  Eventually Havok snaps out of it and Storm breaks free from her programming.  She gives the X-Men their powers back and they attack Cameron Hodge.  A battle ensues and ends with Havok and Cyclops blasting him apart.  His head survives and is found by Wolfsbane, who rips it apart.

Why It’s # 17:

This is an epic Mutant vs human story.  The villains are a perfect representation of the worst of humanity.  The character scenes are great.  The action is amazing (the art could be better when not from Jim Lee).  There’s lost of revenge in this story and great moments of loss.   The whole bonding/enslavement/Mutate stuff is creepy.  The Warren/Logan fight and the subsequent Jean/Logan brief hook-up are both raw and emotional.  The Havok/Cyclops team-up in the end was pretty great. Overall, a solid read.

Bottom Line:

Don’t go to Genosha in 1991.  Especially if you’re a Mutant.

16) . . . And None Shall Survive!/If Iceman Should Fail -- !

(Uncanny X-Men # 17 - 18)

Summary:

Magneto has escaped from the Stranger’s prison planet and attacks the X-Men (except Iceman).  He throws them into an gondola and sends them floating into space.  He then greets Warren’s parents, hypnotizes them and makes them go to sleep so he can harvest their DNA to create an army of Mutant zombies.  Iceman, meanwhile, is contacted by Professor X and, though weak, attacks Magneto and buys the X-Men and the Worthingtons time.  Eventually, the whole team arrives and Magneto is last seen fleeing the Stranger.

Why It’s # 16:

Okay, looking past the Silver Age silliness, I see this as a milestone for the X-Men.   Iceman, the X-Men’s biggest loser and class clown (as well as youngest) takes on Magneto and actually has him on the ropes.  There’s something to be said for your weakest student being able to take on your greatest enemy.  It shows that X-Men have grown up and come far from the gaggle of teen that first appeared in X-Men # 1.

Bottom Line:

Silver Age goofiness, sure, but it’s also Iceman’s coming of age.  Sorta.

15) Riot at Xaviers

(New X-Men # 134 - 138)

Summary:

When Kid Omega – Quinten Quire – begins to buck under Xavier’s lessons, he quickly begins protesting and launches and all-out riot on Open Day.   The cost of stopping him is high – Esme, one of the Cuckoos, is killed.   Kid Omega himself evolves to a higher plain.  In end, Xavier decides to retire and Jean discovers Scott and Emma’s telepathic affair.

Why It’s # 15:

Before Grant Morrison took over the title in 2001, it was easy to forget that the mansion was actually a school.  It was the addition of a real teenaged student body that helped cement this reality and is one of the finer points of Morrison’s run.  To be honest, my summary kinda sucks.   The arc reminded me of high school – with the popular kids, the rebellious kids, and “special class.”   The whole event feels like a disaster, and it carries a very tragic weight to it.  Frank Quietly beautifully illustrates a great, character motivated story that feels exactly how it should: funny, upsetting, tragic, and tense.

Bottom Line:

A realistic take on the students of Xavier’s school that challenges Xavier’s dreams and ideas in a new, deeper way.

14) Mutant Massacre

(Uncanny X-Men # 210, X-Factor # 9, Uncanny X-Men # 211, X-Factor # 10, New Mutants # 46, Thor # 373, Power Pack # 27, Uncanny X-Men # 212, Thor # 374, X-Factor # 11, Uncanny X-Men # 213)

Summary:

Assassins called the Marauders head into the Morlock to tunnels and almost completely wipe out the Mutant society. This brings the X-Men into the conflict, as they try and help their Morlock allies. They save a few and bring them back to the mansion themselves, but they take some heavy hits themselves.   As Callisto and the others take the survivors they were able to find back to the mansion, Storm dispatches Wolverine to find the killers and to bring one back for interrogation. The New Mutants deal with these victims at the mansion. Meanwhile, X-Factor (at the other end of the Morlock tunnels) try and do the same thing the X-Men did: save as many as possible. They also confront the Marauders, but fair much better against them - except for Angel, who has his wings pinned down, then crushed by the Marauders.  Thor luckily manages to rescue him.  

 

Storm and Callisto struggle with what's happened, Wolverine hunts down Sabretooth (who is part of the Marauders) and then eventually meets up with (of all people) the kids from Power Pack, who were friends with some of the Morlocks. Wolverine and Sabretooth battle it out, allowing newcomer Psylocke (who appeared out of nowhere) to probe Sabretooth's mind. Angel, on the other hand, must have his wings amputated. Thor, in the hopes of restoring some honor to the fallen Morlocks, unleashes a massive fire that burns their bodies away all Valkrye-style.
Why It’s # 14:

This is a dark story that cuts deep.   The Morlocks are pretty much helpless as the Marauders attack them – and there is zero mercy. 

It's an interesting story, prespective-wise. Despite being centered around the same events, the crossover is split down the middle. Thor and X-Factor on one of the event and the X-Men and the New Mutants on the other side. Besides the X-Men catching the occassional random optic blast or both teams caught in opposite sides of a colapse, neither team interacts with each other. Power Pack is the only group that makes contact on both sides. Walter and Lousie Simonson and Chris Claremont did some incredible coordination, making the stories parallel each other while not exactly requiring you to read it all.
It also shows us the massive differences between the X-Men and X-Factor. In particular, Storm's more aggressive and cut-throat leadership makes for an interesting comparison to Cyclops' by-the-book style. The X-Men themselves is composed of a mixed blend, with Magneto, Storm, Rogue, and Wolverine being fairly dark characters; and Colossus and Shadowcat, who are both so overcome by the attack on the Morlocks that they contemplate killing. X-Factor, on the other hand, is comprised of the classic X-Men, each one fairly clean despite tensions and internal struggles.

Bottom Line:

One of the darkest, but most memorable and interesting X-Men crossover yet with decent story-telling and compelling plot.

13) Mutant Genesis

(X-Men [1991] # 1-3)

Summary:

A group of Mutants are on the run and are eventually chased into orbit, where they wish to seek sanctuary in Asteroid M with Magneto. They do so and Magneto allows both the Mutants and their human pursuers entry into his base. However, the humans strike out against the renegades, and Magneto’s hatred of humanity is restored. 

To avoid an international incident, Nick Fury and Val Cooper get in touch with the recently reorganized X-Men. The X-Men have formed two teams: the Gold Team (Storm, Iceman, Archangel, Jean Grey, and Colossus) and the Blue Team (Cyclops, Wolverine, Pyslocke, Beast, Rogue, Gambit, and Jubilee), with Forge, Professor X, Moira, and Banshee hanging around the mansion. 
The Blue Team goes out and intercepts Magneto as he raises the nuclear sub he sank years ago, seeking the nukes for defensive reasons only. This confrontation leads to a radical series of events that eventually end up on the civil war torn Genosha. The X-Men Blue Team face off with the renegades (called the Acolytes). The X-Men are eventually defeated and taken back to Asteroid M.
Magneto eventually discovers that his powers are acting wonky and realizes it something was done to him Moira when he was de-aged.  He captures Moira and Professor X and then has Moira use the process used on him against the X-Men and he's able to get them onto his side. The X-Men Gold Team mount a rescue and fight their companions, only to find out that as soon as they use their powers, the effect is gone. Moira eventually reveals this to Magneto, but not before Cortez betrays them. High-jacking a plasma cannon weapon that was almost ready to destroy Asteroid M, Cortez blasts the orbital base. The X-Men take off as Magneto and a few remaining Acolytes stay aboard and start to burn up in the atmosphere.

Why It’s # 13:

The art is beautiful.  Jim Lee knocks the visuals out of the park.   The opening moment when Magneto confronts the renegades and their human pursuers is amazing.   The action scenes are full of energy.  This might be Jim Lee at his best.  Plus the redesigns introduced here set the tone for the next ten years of X-Men  comics.  When I think of Cyclops, I still picture him in that classic outfit.

Story-wise, this uses everything that Claremont has created for Mangeto. There’s references to nearly all of his major Magneto moments – from his restoration to his threat against the world to his friendship with Xavier and his taking in and falling out with Xavier’s school.  It’s a great exit for Claremont and the introduction of a new era for the X-Men.

Bottom Line:

Gorgeous artwork and a strong story makes for a good swansong to Claremont's original run.

12) The Proteus Saga

(Uncanny X-Men # 125 - 128)

Summary:

The X-Men learn of trouble on Muir Island and head there asap.   They arrive and investigate several oddities until finally coming up against the power of Proteus, a Mutant with the power to alter reality.   He possess a few bodies, killing them each time, until he takes control of his own fathers body.  The X-Men are taken down one-by-one until Proteus reaches his mother, Moira.  Havok and Cyclops lay down fire, but he shrugs it off.  Colossus then steps up, as Proteus is vulnerable to metal.  He throws the decaying body against the wall, leaving only an energy form.  Colossus punches it, killing Proteus.

Why It’s # 12:

It’s the tragic story of a very powerful Mutant who has no control over his own powers and no real desire to.  The X-Men just can’t stop this guy without killing him and it’s made all the more tragic that Colossus, their most gentle of teammates, is the one that has to do it.   There are also some nice reunions scenes between various members of the X-Men.  The power of Proteus is also shown to be very, very creepy and weird. 

Bottom Line:

The X-Men fail to help a powerful Mutant, the son of one of their closets allies.

11) Among Us Stalk . . . The Sentinels!/Prisoners of the Mysterious Master Mold/The Supreme Sacriface

(Uncanny X-Men # 14-16)

Summary:

Professor X learns of the growing paranoia about Mutants and decides to engage in a televised debate with Boliver Trask.  Trask reveals his Sentinels, which take both him and Xavier captive.  He finds out that the Sentinels have decided that the only way to truly protect humanity is to rule it.  The X-Men find out and go to the Sentinels base and are attacked and eventually captured.  Eventually Xavier figures out the frequency the Sentinels are operating on and is able to disrupt them.  Trask, meanwhile, decides he was wrong and destroys Master Mold – and himself along with it.

Why It’s # 11:

There are a lot of Sentinel stories, but there’s something monumental about this first one that really just stands out to me.  You have the origin of the Sentinels and things immediately  go off the rails.  Mankinds greatest protectors quickly become their greatest enemy and it takes both a human giving up his life and a Mutant leader to defeat them.  It just adds some gravitas to the story.  Plus, there’s some great, classic artwork from Jack Kirby and Jay Gavin.  This is a classic.

Bottom Line:

The first appearance of the Sentinels might just be one of the best.