Author: Robert Diehl (rfdiehl@yahoo.com)
Created:
Updated: Version 2.1, last modified June 6, 2001
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Issue: X-Men II:14 Date: Nov-92 Story: Fingers on the Trigger (22 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Archangel, Iceman, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit, Bishop Regular Characters: Dr. Moira MacTaggert Guest Stars: Val Cooper, Stevie Hunter; X-Factor: Havok, Polaris, Quicksilver, Multiple Man, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane; X-Force: Cannonball, Boomer, Shatterstar, Rictor; Cable and Professor; X-Force: Siryn, Warpath, Cannonball, Boomer, Rictor, Feral, Shatterstar, Sunspot Villains: Sinister, MLF including Zero; Apocalypse and Dark Riders Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Mark Pennington Letters: Lois Buhalis Colors: Marie Javins Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Note: this is part 3 of the X-Cutioners's Song crossover and occurs after X-Factor 84. Hank consults with Moira, but they can't fix the T-O virus in Xavier's head. X-Men Gold takes Quicksilver to find Scott and Jean, X- Men Blue takes X-Factor to find Cable, and Bishop stays to guard Xavier (barn door: horse). In Panama, Sinister exchanges Scott and Jean for genetic material from Stryfe. X-Force, fleeing after their confrontation with X-Factor, crashes their stolen SHIELD carrier in west Texas; Cerebro is now able to track them. Havok and Remy suspect they don't have anything to do with Stryfe's machinations, and Logan says the dream might now be dead. In Egypt, the Dark Riders arouse Apocalypse early, saying Scott and Jean were captured in his name. Cable (the real one) time travels back to his space station. Professor briefs him; he is surprised to see himself shooting Xavier. Jubilee takes some coffee to Bishop, out patrolling the grounds. An alarm sounds: Sinister is in the mansion, with Stevie and Val hostage. X-Factor and X-Men Blue land, but X-Force blasts Betsy, to show they're ready to fight if necessary. Note: continued in X-Force 16. Issue: X-Men II:15 Date: Dec-92 Story: the Camel's Back (22 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Archangel, Iceman, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue, Psylocke, Gambit, Bishop Regular Characters: Dr. Moira MacTaggert Guest Stars: X-Factor: Quicksilver, Havok, Polaris, Strong Guy; X-Force: Boomer, Cannonball, Shatterstar Villains: MLF: Reaper, Forearm, Dragoness, Thumbelina, Slag, Rusty Collins, Skids, Strobe; Stryfe, Zero; Dark Riders including Foxbat, Psynapse, Tusk, Gauntlet, Harddrive Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Mark Pennington Letters: Chris Eliopoulos Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Note: this is part 7 of the X-Cutioners's Song crossover and occurs after X-Factor 85. Reaper is about to do a double-header on Remy and Quicksilver, but Havok slags his scythe and Betsy his mind. Boomer fends off an attack by Forearm. Ororo, Rogue, and Polaris gang up on Dragoness, knocking her right out of her mechanical wings. Bobby ices Thumbelina and Slag before they run away. Cannonball chases down Rusty, and Skids breaks Boomer's jaw. Strobe blinds Rogue, but Polaris binds her in her own metallic costume. Ororo begins to question the MLF about Stryfe. In Newfoundland, Bishop, Logan, and Cable have teamed up. Unwilling to kill Dept. K guards, Cable bodyslides them to his space station Graymalkin. Strong Guy takes some spiked coffee to Piotr, who is taking out his frustrations on the grounds. Hank thinks he should spend less time on adventures and more in the lab. Nothing he tries on Xavier works, and Moira says it may be time to admit defeat. Stryfe toys with Scott and Jean, giving them baby food. Then he has Zero take him to Egypt, to confront Apocalypse. He easily defeats the Dark Riders, gets Apocalypse out of his regeneration chamber, and says he's going to kill him. Note: continued in X-Force 17. Issue: X-Men II:16 Date: Jan-93 Story: Conflicting Cathexes (23 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Archangel, Iceman, Storm, Wolverine, Psylocke, Bishop Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Cable, Havok, Polaris, Cannonball, Wolfsbane Villains: Dark Riders including Foxbat, Psynapse, Tusk, Gauntlet, Harddrive; Apocalypse; Stryfe, Zero Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Andy Kubert, Mark Pennington Letters: Chris Eliopoulos Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Note: this is part 9 of the X-Cutioners's Song crossover and occurs after X-Factor 86. Logan, Bishop, and Cable fight Dark Riders and automated defenses on Stryfe's moon base. Bishop and Cable realize they need a strategy, and Gauntlet shoots Logan. Just then, the X-Men arrive. Stryfe looks on, enjoying his manipulation of his past. Then he takes Scott and Jean out to the lunar surface to finish things. In Westchester, Hank nurses Xavier. Betsy and Logan track Jean and Scott to a door, but when they open it, they realize it goes outside. Apocalypse goes off alone and runs into the Dark Riders, who prepare to kill him. Cannonball gets no answers from Cable, who knows how to fly Apocalypse's ship. Xavier wakes, screaming incoherently about all of them being ghosts in a machine, linked in love and hate and blood. Cable finds a facility surrounded by a force field that lets him and Havok through but knocks out Polaris and Cannonball. Stryfe is there, calling him "failed brother." Note: continued in X-Force 18. Issue: X-Men II:17 Date: Feb-93 Story: A Skinning of Souls Part 1: Waiting for the Ripening (23 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Nikolai, Alexandra and Illyana Rasputin; Father Alexi Garnoff, Darkstar (Laynia Petrovna), Col. Alexei Vazhin; X-Force: Cannonball, Warpath Villains: Kwannon Other Characters: Fyodr, Col.-Gen. Shatalov Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Mark Pennington Letters: Chris Eliopoulos Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Illyana is excited that Piotr is coming for a visit; a government agent observes. A thousand miles to the north, Garnoff and Darkstar investigate Neftelensk, whose inhabitants have been frozen in place over the past few days. Darkstar flies up to reconnoiter and finds her father, who yells at her and makes her look into the Darkforce, then another entity rips into her soul, and she falls unconscious. Garnoff, a telepath, loses contact with her, and when he reaches out, he is also attacked, his most hurtful memories relived. Fyodr, Vazhin, and Shatalov discuss the situation and agree to send Omega Red in. X-Men Blue arrives at Piotr's house; the government agent sees them and notifies Vazhin. In Westchester, Rogue is still half-blind (iss. 16), so Remy, as a lesson in trust and distrust, has her walk to the end of the diving board, catching her when she falls. Ororo brings Cannonball and Warpath to Xavier: they have just learned about the death of the Hellions (UXM 281-282), and they want to go to Brazil to tell Magma and Empath. Xavier can't violate his agreement with Val and lend them a Blackbird, but he suggests Firestar might arrange transportation (see New Warriors 31). In Tokyo, Kwannon fights off a band of attackers and prepares to find the X-Men. Logan goes outside to smoke, and finds Piotr contentedly digging out a root. He asks him why he stopped drawing after Mikhail's suicide, and he says, "Sometimes I wonder if leaving here to follow another man's dream, no matter how noble, was not the single worst choice of my life." Scott is having nightmares about Cable and Stryfe; he gets up and finds Betsy toweling off in the bathroom. Jubilee is amazed that Illyana used to be a teenager (until New Mutants 73). Omega Red is MIA, so Fyodr wants to send in Red Flag 133 (Illyana), but Vazhin says they should use the X-Men, instead. Issue: X-Men II:18 Date: Mar-93 Story: A Skinning of Souls Part 2: The Crops Mature (22 pages) Feature Characters: Cyclops, Iceman, Wolverine, Colossus, Psylocke, Jubilee Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Nikolai, Alexandra and Illyana Rasputin; Vazhin; Father Alexi Garnoff, Darkstar Villains: Omega Red (Vasyliev Arkady), the Soul Skinner; Matsu'o Tsurayaba; Kwannon, Nyoirin Other Characters: Gen. Sheltov, Gevhersky Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Mark Pennington, Dan Panosian Letters: Chris Eliopoulos Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: The Soul Skinner is peeling back layers of Omega Red's mind, who is still defiant and hits him with his coils, but this just gives him a more direct route to assault his weak psyche. Vazhin has got the X-Men to help; the government lost contact with a mutant under surveillance for 14 years, and Cerebro can't find him, either. Likewise Garnoff, Darkstar, and Omega Red. Piotr resents having his family reunion interrupted. They arrive in Neftelensk to find the inhabitants frozen in place; Betsy says their minds are blank. They are up against a formidable telepath. Bobby finds Darkstar, whom he once had a crush on (Champions 11), and Garnoff, likewise blank. In Moscow, the generals plan a desperate experiment on Illyana, over Matsu'o's objection that it may cost him Omega Red. In Japan, Kwannon kills Nyoirin's bodyguard to prove she is ready to regain her place. He sends her to kill her other self, Betsy. Omega Red catches Jubilee and says his mind is a shambles. Logan wants to kill him, but Scott says he's under the Soul Skinner's control, and Betsy tries to put him down with her psi-blade, but he has no mind left. He releases his death spores, taking out Betsy and Bobby. Logan goes to attack again, and Garnoff telepathically stops Scott; the Soul Skinner makes him relive all his worst memories. But he gets hurt himself when he sees that Scott lost a child, like he did. Omega Red has meanwhile defeated Logan. Piotr and Vazhin retreat and find the city's children hiding together. Piotr reverts to human form and makes Vazhin remove his armor's helmet, to try to calm them. Vazhin realizes that Illyana will also be immune to the Soul Skinner. Armed men break into the Rasputins' home, kill the parents, and nab Illyana. Piotr is furious when he realizes Vazhin is talking about his sister. Vazhin says they will accelerate her age to force her power to manifest, but the process might kill her. Issue: X-Men II:19 Date: Apr-93 Story: A Skinning of Souls Part 3: Harvest of the Innocent (22 pages) Feature Characters: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Vazhin, Illyana Rasputin, Father Alexi Garnoff, Darkstar Villains: the Soul Skinner, Omega Red Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Pennington, Wiacek, Panosian, Williamson Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: The Soul Skinner has the X-Men down, and he revels in their worst memories. He can't see how Scott handled the loss of his baby, when he was devastated by the loss of his child Oskana, whose mind he had entered as she died, to ease her pain. He learned his wife was a government agent, set to watch him, and he shredded her mind. He sends Omega Red to stop Vazhin and Piotr, who are protecting the children and trying to find out how they are immune to the Soul Skinner. They see a government aircraft land, with Illyana in a box. Piotr punches out Vazhin and goes to rescue her; Vazhin says she is the only chance to save the city, and he hesitates. The Soul Skinner arrives and shows Piotr that his parents have been killed (last iss.). In Westchester, Rogue, still blind, takes Remy flying to act as her eyes. Hank sees them and remembers being young; Jean commiserates with him (and complains about her lack of code name). He's almost 30! Piotr bashes Vazhin for letting his parents be killed. The Soul Skinner says Piotr considered letting Illyana be used against him and tries to overwhelm him with guilt, but then gets overwhelmed with his own. Illyana pleads with the Soul Skinner not to hurt Piotr; he says he's tired of hurting others, and just needs to hurt her. He presses a button on the box, and she screams. The X-Men arrive but can't get her out. Piotr brings the local children together and tells Betsy to knife one of them. She does, collecting their innocence, and then sticks the Soul Skinner, who shuts his own mind off, to forget the pain. Vazhin finishes it, shooting him through the head. Omega Red has escaped, but Illyana is unharmed. Issue: X-Men II:20 Date: May-93 Story: Digging in the Dirt (23 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Illyana Rasputin Villains: Kwannon Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Mark Pennington, Bob Wiacek Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Xavier uses Cerebro to review the incident with the Soul Skinner, while Jubilee hangs out with him. He asks her if the murder of the Rasputins effected her, since her parents were killed, but she shrugs it off and rollerblades away. Xavier sees through her defenses, just as she sees through his (UXM 297). He goes to check on Piotr, who is nursing Illyana, still sick. Betsy goes to the hanger to see Scott, who is working on the Blackbird. He slips and falls on her; she licks and then kisses him. He backs off, saying this isn't going to happen, even if he is confused. Just then Jean walks in, Scott scampers guiltily away, Betsy gives Jean a look, and she runs off, full of doubts. Jubilee finds Logan, cutting trees on the grounds and brooding about life's unfairness. He smells something funny, but realizes it's just Betsy; Jean sees something out the window, scans telepathically, and finds nothing. She hears Remy and Hank working out, and she realizes they don't need to use the Danger Room to hone their skills, but to relax. Ororo finishes checking Rogue's eyes; she can see again. Jean pops in: a trio of lovelorn hearts. Scott looks at the picture of Jean that he broke (iss. 12) and packs to leave. He tells Xavier he's going to visit his grandparents in Alaska; he sees the picture and understands all. Ororo catches his arm on the way out and advises him not to isolate himself like she did with Forge; Jean overhears and lets him leave without a goodbye. Then she locates Betsy, in the Danger Room; they ignore the computer's warning of a duplicate Betsy. Jean bluntly asks Betsy if she's having an affair with Scott. She says no, but she wants to, and Jean accuses her of manipulating his mind. Betsy stabs her with her psi-blade, letting her know all, but knocking him out. Kwannon enters; Betsy thinks she's a hologram that Jean set up, but then she generates a katana blade and attacks, beheading Betsy psychically. The X-Men arrive at the ready; Kwannon removes her facemask and claims to be the real Betsy Braddock. Issue: X-Men II:21 Date: Jun-93 Story: The Puzzle Box (22 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Wolverine, Rogue, Psylocke, Jubilee, Gambit Regular Characters: Guest Stars: the Silver Samurai (Kenuichio Harada) Villains: Kwannon (Revanche, henceforth), Mesmero, the Dark Riders: Psynapse, Tusk, Foxbat, Gauntlet, Barrage; Shinobi Shaw, Nyoirin, Matsu'o Tsurayaba Other Characters: Philip and Deborah Summers, Ashikaru Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Brandon Peterson Inks: Dan Panosian Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Logan has claws around Betsy's throat, demanding to know who she is. The X-Men suspect that Kwannon is right, that she is a traitor and an agent of Nyoirin. Xavier says they have identical minds, on the surface, and a deeper probe might harm them. Kwannon volunteers for it, but Betsy refuses. They almost come to blows, but Xavier stops them, then Logan takes him aside for a word: both are different from Betsy before the Siege Perilous (UXM 251), and they need to go to Japan to get answers. Scott arrives in Anchorage, to the grandparents and home he barely remembers from childhood. He hasn't seen them since Madelyne and the baby died (X-Factor 13); he wants to tell them the truth about all that (see the Inferno crossover). In Seattle (making this a Pacific Rim issue), the Dark Riders find Mesmero unworthy of survival and throw him out the window. He mesmerizes Psynapse, making him mind control the rest of the team, but it doesn't work on Gauntlet, who shoots Mesmero. That's the last straw for Psynapse, who has been ill lately, so Gauntlet shoots him, too. Shinobi, drunk, calls for Nyoirin, to make a deal: he'll get the crime bosses to reinstate Clan Yashida under Nyoirin's control, if he uses Kwannon to kill the X-Men. Remy, Hank, and two Betsys infiltrate Nyoirin's estate, fighting ninjas and picking locks. In the private study, they find a portrait of Betsy's Japanese form, titled "Kwannon in Repose." Matsu'o confronts Shinobi, saying the Gamesmaster is allowing him to try to kill Psylocke. Shinobi acquiesces. Remy confronts Betsy, but the Silver Samurai interrupts, stabs Hank, and announces he will kill them all, for the good of the Clan Yashida. Issue: X-Men II:22 Date: Jul-93 Story: The Mask behind the Facade (23 pages) Feature Characters: Cyclops, Beast, Psylocke, Revanche, Gambit Regular Characters: Guest Stars: the Silver Samurai Villains: Shinobi Shaw, Matsu'o Tsurayaba, Tatsu'o, Nyoirin, Gamesmaster, Mike Milbury (Mr. Sinister) Other Characters: Philip and Deborah Summers Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Mark Pennington Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Remy offers to retreat; the Samurai insists he wants the women; Remy throws cards; the Samurai throws his sword and hits the portrait of Kwannon. Betsy and Kwannon use both their blades and take the Samurai down. Remy finds a scroll behind the portrait: Nyoirin's diary. Shinobi is late to the crime lord summit; Tatsuo throws him down for his insolence, and he apologizes. Scott explains to his grandparents that he sent Nathan Christopher into the future, and that he may have become Stryfe (see X-Factor 86), and that he needs to talk to someone about it. A neighbor knocks on the door: Mike Milbury. Kwannon can read Japanese, which Betsy says proves she's not her. Kwannon, desperate for answers, stabs Betsy with her psychic katana, but she resists the mind-link. They learn that Kwannon went out for a routine murder, disappeared, and wound up in Hong Kong (UXM 256). She found Betsy unconscious, newly emerged from the Siege Perilous, and touches her. Their minds fused together; Kwannon's body ran into Matsu'o, while Nyoirin recovered Betsy's. Kwannon (in Betsy's body) insists she is real and Betsy is a plant. Gamesmaster visits Shinobi and Matsu'o and reasserts his authority over all their games. Betsy attacks Kwannon, but Remy stops her. Nyoirin enters, saying they are both Betsy and Kwannon. Scott goes to help Milbury with a fallen tree; he reveals himself to be Sinister and asks Scott to ally with him, on pain of death. Issue: X-Men II:23 Date: Aug-93 Story: Leaning towards Oneself (23 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Beast, Wolverine, Rogue, Psylocke, Revanche, Jubilee, Gambit Regular Characters: Guest Stars: the Silver Samurai Villains: Mr. Sinister, Dark Riders: Tusk, Foxbat, Gauntlet, Barrage, Harddrive; Nyoirin, Shinobi Shaw, Matsu'o Tsurayaba Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Mark Pennington Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Scott blasts Sinister and the trees behind him, but he just recorporates, which is how he survived before (X-Factor 39). He takes Scott for a stroll, saying he may have unwittingly unleashed a plague that kills only mutants (X- Force 18), while trying to get Stryfe's DNA (iss. 14). He shows him Gordon's grave, and says now he wants to protect Scott and his brothers (see iss. 39). The Dark Riders show up and want to test them. Kwannon holds Nyoirin hostage, while Betsy keeps the Samurai at bay. Nyoirin says he just wanted his assassin and love, Kwannon, returned to him. He puts the X-Men onto Matsu'o and Shinobi. Logan tells Xavier Magneto is alive; Brainchild said so in Antarctica. They are both worried. Scott and Sinister fight side-by-side; Sinister tells the Dark Riders Scott is not to be killed, but maybe roughed up a little. He disappears. Hank and Remy interrupt Shinobi in the hot tub and interrogate him about the Upstarts; he claims they're just a little club of rich brats. Betsy and Kwannon go to Matsu'o, who attacks them from behind but still gets clobbered. He claims to have merged them, and Betsy uses her psychic knife on him. The Dark Riders knock off Scott's glasses and instantly regret it. They give them back and say he passed his test: he is ready for the apocalypse of the High Lord ascension. He blames them for making him send his baby into the future to start that struggle, and they say they knew all along. They leave him in the woods. Issue: X-Men II:24 Date: Sep-93 Story: Digging Deeper between Hope and Sorrow (22 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Wolverine, Banshee, Rogue, Psylocke, Revanche, Jubilee, Gambit Regular Characters: Dr. Moira MacTaggert Guest Stars: Kitty Pryde Villains: Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils, Inks: Andy Kubert & co. Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Paul Becton Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Note: this occurs after UXM 303. Remy takes Rogue to Poppa Gumbo's Cajun Cookout in Greenwich Village. They discuss Illyana's death, her eyes tear up, and she spits out the inedible gumbo. They still don't know each other very well. Sean drives up to the mansion; Moira greets him, having decided she needs him (cf. iss. 4). Hank is baffled by Illyana's disease and uncharacteristically humbled. He sees the virus is contagious. Jean goes to the airport to pick up Scott, unsure of their relationship, until he kisses her, apologizes, and says, "I'm never leaving you again." Betsy and Kwannon duel on the boat dock, trying to prove which is which. Logan tells them to accept their situation: four minds in two bodies. Jubilee cries into Illyana's Bamf doll, but when Kitty sees her, she throws it away. Kitty gives it back to her and lets her alone. Remy takes Rogue in a hansom cab ride, which she thinks is romantic, and says he wants to kiss her, which she pushes away (same old same old). He says love is more than physical, takes the tears from her eyes, and stops her when she tries to tell him her real name. Scott reports on his encounter with Sinister, whom Xavier knows little about and doesn't trust. Scott believes his son became Stryfe, and he released the Legacy Virus. Jubilee cries on Logan's shoulder; Betsy and Kwannon spar verbally; Scott and Jean go to bed; the long shadow of Magneto hangs above them all. Issue: X-Men II Annual 2 Date: 1993 Story 1: A Bluer Slice of Heaven (45 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Beast, Banshee, Jubilee, Revanche, Gambit, Rogue, Jean Grey, Cyclops, Psylocke Regular Characters: Dr. Moira MacTaggert Guest Stars: Brian Braddock (as a memory) Villains: Jonathan Chambers, Dr. Josef Kleinbaumm, Dr. Nancy Alter; Avalanche (Dominic Petros), the Commando (Frank Bohannon, formerly the Crimson Commando); the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants: Blob (Fred J. Dukes), Pyro (St. John Allerdyce), Phantazia (Eileen Harshaw), Toad (Mortimer Toynbee); Henry Peter Gyrich, Cleary Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Aron Wiesenfeld Inks: Al Milgrom, Bob Wiacek, Keith Williams Letters: Steve Dutro Colors: Mike Thomas, Dana Moreshead Managing Editor: Lisa Patrick Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Chambers wants to make his private Florida Key into Empyrean, a haven for mutants with the Legacy Virus. The Brotherhood attacks his guards, including Commando. Chambers arrives and stops it: he wants to ally with the Brotherhood. In Westchester, Xavier, Moira, and Hank discuss the Virus, noting the recent death of Aminedi (UXM Ann. 15), and nearly despairing of a cure. Kwannon, Remy, Rogue, and Jubilee work out in the Danger Room. Kwannon, claiming to be Betsy, explains she took the name Revanche (French for "revenge"), but only takes out Jubilee before Rogue tags her. In the control room, Betsy is mortified that she tried to seduce Scott (iss. 20) and wants Jean to scan her mind to make sure she isn't being controlled. Jean sees her as a child, chasing her brother and then slicing him with a Japanese sword. She and Betsy both scream and realize she isn't just Betsy anymore, but fused with Kwannon's soul, and no one is sure if she can survive like that. Avalanche apologizes for abandoning Blob and Pyro (X-Factor Ann. 6, 1991); they explain they worked as their captor's bodyguards until Toad bartered their freedom. Blob back talks Chambers, who uses his power to make him feel the agony of the Virus. Gyrich and Cleary are in a boat offshore, investigating for Project: Wideawake; Commando is wearing a wire, and he and Avalanche are double agents. They have identified two experts in genetics on the island but don't know why they're there. Xavier sends the X-Men to investigate Chambers, who is a celebrity writer on the topic of mutants and the son of a mutant, Timothy, who couldn't control his powers, aged prematurely, and died in a car crash. Alter is in the Mutant Underground and alerted Xavier when the Brotherhood arrived. They send Remy, Betsy, and Kwannon to sneak in through the ductwork, then land at the front door and are heartily welcomed. Gyrich is furious that no one detected the Blackbird approaching. Cleary suggests they wait for the X-Men and the Brotherhood to take each other out. Chambers sweet-talks the X-Men in the parlor while Remy, Betsy, and Kwannon battle the Brotherhood in the sub-basements. The rest of the team arrives, and the battle is short. Scott tells Pyro that two of his colleagues are working for the government, then everyone's power goes haywire: Chambers refuses to allow mutants to fight each other, so he drained them all. Pyro reveals that he has the Virus; Hank realizes that Chambers is an energy vampire, and although his power- draining comforts, it may kill his patients. Kwannon says the X-Men have no right to judge and shows she also has the Virus. Gyrich's men arrive, disguised as DEA; Scott tells him there's nothing illegal going on; Chambers threatens to reveal all on TV; Gyrich leaves. Kwannon chooses not to stay but to keep fighting till the end and leaves with the X-Men. Story 2: Beast Foot Forward (10 pages) Feature Characters: Beast Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Trish Tilby Villains: Malvin Umbridge Other Characters: Dr. Cahill Credits: Writer: Scott Lobdell Pencils: Ian Churchill Inks: Kevin Conrad Letters: David Sharpe Colors: George Roussos Managing Editor: Lisa Patrick Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Hank has been thrown down an elevator shaft. He calculates that grabbing the cable would hurt, so he bounces against the walls to slow himself, then starts to climb back up. The elevator rises; he finds rent-a-cops inside, so he ties the cable to keep them out of harm's way. Trish is at the top, in the office of Dr. Cahill, who has been attacked by Umbridge, a huge mutant seeking revenge. The hospital had budget cuts; Cahill cut back on Umbridge's dialysis, and his mutation developed. Hank returns and tries to convince him to surrender while battling him; Trish rifles through Cahill's papers, finding misappropriation of funds. Hank, Umbridge, and Cahill crash out the window; Hank grabs them and holds on by his feet. He is able to pull them back in; Umbridge resumes normal human form, which he can keep for only an hour; cops arrive and try to arrest Hank; Cahill has reconsidered since his brush with death and gives himself up. Issue: X-Men II:25 Date: Oct-93 Story: Dreams Fade (38 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Archangel, Iceman, Storm, Wolverine, Banshee, Rogue, Psylocke, Revanche, Jubilee, Gambit, Bishop Regular Characters: Dr. Moira MacTaggert Guest Stars: Nick Fury, Forge, Quicksilver, Colossus; the Fantastic Four's Reed Richards, Ben Grimm; Sunfire; Excalibur's Nightcrawler, Capt. Britain Villains: Magneto and his Acolytes: Sven and Harlan Kleinstock, Javitz, Katu, Joanna Cargill, Milan, Scanner, Fabian Cortez, Exodus, Carmella Unuscione, Amelia Voght, Rusty Collins, Skids Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Matt Ryan Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Note: this is part 4 of the Fatal Attractions crossover. The President of the U.S. notifies the president of Russia that the UN has initiated the Magneto Protocols, alpha and beta, while Fury and Forge wonder if it will work. Switches flip; satellites in orbit around the earth create an electromagnetic web. Magneto, watching from Avalon, realizes they have skewed the planet's E-M field to disrupt his power and prevent him returning. He blasts, and lights go off in a wave around the world. Hank and Sean get the Shi'ar generator back on-line, and they may be the only ones on earth with electricity. Many thousands have died, and Xavier announces it is now a fight for survival. He has a plan, and he uses a Shi'ar exoskeleton to walk so he can lead the strike team: Logan, Remy, Jean, Quicksilver, and Rogue. Scott realizes he doesn't think they'll survive, and he is to lead the remaining X-Men. Remy check with Rogue to see whose side she'll be on (see UXM 269); she says the right side. Xavier uses Shi'ar technology to teleport to Avalon; Piotr is on sentry duty and hides their presence. They find Rusty and Skids first, who have chosen to join Magneto. Xavier, pressed for time, puts them to sleep. He has Quicksilver race ahead and put a disk into a terminal, then uses the base's computer to teleport all the Acolytes into an escape pod and jettison them. Magneto bursts in; Logan tries to attack and Rogue to talk, but he pushes them both back. Jean and Xavier attack his mental defenses, and when Remy tosses a card in his face, they break through. Over Jean's objections, they make him relive the tragedies in his life. Quicksilver confronts him, and he decides to kill him; Xavier realizes his weakness is seeing all his children betray him. Logan slices Magneto; he pulls the adamantium from his bones, leaving him a bloody pulp that Jean has to hold together telekinetically. Xavier, fed up, takes away Magneto's mind. Piotr arrives, having called Bishop to send a Blackbird. He stays on the ruins of Avalon to nurse Magneto. Issue: X-Men II:26 Date: Nov-93 Story: Blood Ties Part 2: Civil Disobedience (22 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Archangel, Iceman, Storm, Rogue, Psylocke, Gambit, Bishop Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Quicksilver, Luna, Trish Tilby, Colossus; SHIELD including Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan, Philip Moreau, Jennifer Ransome, Renee Majcomb; Avengers West Coast: Hawkeye, Spider-Woman, Scarlet Witch, U.S. Agent; Avengers: Capt. America, Hercules, Vision, Black Widow, Sersi, Black Knight, War Machine, Crystal Villains: Fabian Cortez, Genoshan humans and mutates including the Unforgiven, Magneto, Exodus, Henry Peter Gyrich Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Matt Ryan Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Note: this occurs after Avengers 368. Trish reports Cortez's declaration of war against humanity and seems to ignore the baby in his arms: Luna. Ororo and Scott try to calm Quicksilver; Remy points out that Cortez doesn't know Magneto is a turnip. Piotr considers broadcasting from Avalon and showing the world, but Exodus doesn't want that. Piotr went to Avalon to be constructive rather than destructive, but now he has second thoughts. The Avengers fight past SHIELD agents; Crystal, Scarlet Witch, Black Knight, and Cap get to a quinjet and start toward Genosha; Sersi tags along. Xavier has arranged to be ambushed, so he and Hank can get away from their escort and meet with Majcomb, a geneticist who now heads an integrated battalion that wants to stop the civil war atrocities. Their convoy heads toward Hammer Bay, and U.S. Agent sneaks aboard, hanging by the undercarriage of a truck. The X-Men arrive in Genosha and are immediately attacked by mutates calling themselves the Unforgiven and claiming to be following Magneto. Quicksilver pummels one and lets drop that Magneto is a rutabaga; Cortez is there and is glad. The Avengers arrive in the rich neighborhood of Havershaw Heights and stop a human- mutate fight. Crystal raises a hand; a flash; all the humans have been incinerated. Exodus has arrived. Note: continued in Avengers West Coast 101. Issue: X-Men II:27 Date: Dec-93 Story: A Song of Mourning: a Cry of Joy (23 pages) Feature Characters: Beast, Iceman, Rogue, Psylocke, Revanche Regular Characters: Guest Stars: Villains: Infectia (Josephine), Sinister (alias Dr. Nathan Milbury) Other Characters: Threnody Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Richard Bennett Inks: Bob Wiacek, Scott Hanna Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Threnody is a homeless woman in Los Angeles, crying about the dying. Energies explode from her, killing two policemen, and she stumbles by the General Hospital. Hank, Bobby, and Rogue are inside visiting Infectia, who is, ironically, dying of the Legacy Virus. Hank, whom she once tried to kill (X-Factor 31), can't help. Dr. Milbury, equally frustrated, notes the parallels between this disease and AIDS. He says Infectia had come to L.A. to find Gordon Lefferts (X-Force 18), a mutant bioresearcher. Infectia tells Hank his address and asks to be taken outside once more before she dies. A nurse comes in and says there is no Dr. Milbury. In Westchester, Kwannon jogs, and Betsy ambushes her, saying it's a test, now that she has the Legacy Virus. Hank, Rogue, and Bobby go to Lefferts' lab in a bad part of town. They find homeless people including Threnody, who babbles about taking the pain of a bubble man in the hospital and then runs away. While Hank investigates the lab, Rogue goes after her, but Sinister is with her, promising to help her control her ability to feed on the breakdown of mutant powers. Rogue knocks his head half off his shoulders. Just then Threnody's energies explode again, and Hank and Bobby come running. Hank confronts Sinister, who says he just wants to stop this unexpected disease. He can help Threnody while using her as a bloodhound to find Legacy Virus victims. Rogue and Bobby are shocked when Hank agrees and lets Threnody go with him. Sinister says, "Admitting it and despising the choice are the first steps toward changing the indecision which has ruled Xavier's roost of late." Hank, Rogue, and Bobby go back to the hospital. Hank takes Infectia outside, to prevent the last flare of her powers from infecting anyone else, and they watch her last sunrise. Issue: X-Men II:28 Date: Jan-94 Story: Devil in the House (22 pages) Feature Characters: Prof. X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Banshee, Rogue, Psylocke, Revanche, Jubilee, Gambit; Wolverine (in a dream) Regular Characters: Dr. Moira MacTaggert Guest Stars: Villains: Sabretooth Other Characters: Credits: Writer: Fabian Nicieza Pencils: Andy Kubert Inks: Matt Ryan Letters: Bill Oakley Colors: Joe Rosas Editor: Bob Harras Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco Synopsis: Sabretooth chases Jubilee through the grounds. She finds Logan dead, uselessly shoots fireworks, and then wakes up: it was a nightmare. Jean goes to comfort her, then telepathically calls Scott, Ororo, and Hank to talk, even though it's 2 am. They go to Harry's Hideaway. Jean doesn't like having Sabretooth in the house (X-Men Unlimited 3); Ororo says it's just like Rogue and Logan; Hank says Sabretooth's problems aren't controlling his powers but his mind. Scott has misgivings but trusts Xavier, even though Jean doesn't any more. Xavier is doing tests on Kwannon, but all he can do is give her a balm that Hank developed. Moira calls Xavier: when Betsy went to give Sabretooth his psychic fix, he attacked and kissed her, saying her own psyche is too unraveled to help him, so only Jean would do. Then he went on a furniture- smashing rampage. Moira says maybe raw meat would help, since feeding calms carnivores. Rogue delivers it, and Remy accompanies her. Sabretooth says Remy can't be trusted, threatens to tell Rogue about Paris (see iss. 33), and does tell her to ask Mystique about her brother (Sabretooth begat Graydon Creed on Mystique). Jean takes Scott to confront Xavier; they think he's been acting out of character (see the Onslaught crossover for later developments). She says he didn't see Sabretooth in the Morlock tunnels (X-Factor 10). Xavier says, "I would rather my mistakes come from trying too hard, rather than not trying at all." Scott is more worried about Jean, who is criticizing Xavier for being too harsh on Magneto and too lenient on Sabretooth. She says she's frightened, especially since their engagement. Scott realizes she's really upset about Logan; she says he made her see another side of herself, one that she's not sure she likes. Moira says Sabretooth needs a fix; Jean goes, to settle things with him. He says he's just like Logan, asks if he makes her blood boil, and rushes the force field. Jean shuts it off and walks into the cell. He tries to attack; she throws him around the room with a thought, saying he's not in her or Logan's league. Sabretooth says he needs the "glow"; Jean makes him ask for it, then denies him: Time for him to deal with his own problems. Next morning, Jubilee insists on feeding Sabretooth, to get over her fear. He is sitting quietly and tells her to let Jean know she's got guts.
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