X-Men and the Micronauts #1

"First Encounter"
Published: January 1984
Writers: Chris Claremont and Bill Mantlo
Penciller: Jackson "Butch" Guice
Inker: Bob Wiacek
Cover: Jackson "Butch" Guice and Bob Wiacek

What's Going On?
In the Microverse, the Micronauts (Commander Ranin, Huntara, Acroyear, Bug, Fireflyte, Marionette, and their sentient spaceship, Bioship) are responding to reports of battle on the fringes of their dimension.

Apparently, an unknown force is decimating entire planets, and the threat is so dire that the Micronauts have teamed up with their hated enemy, Baron Karza.  The Micronauts head into battle against their unknown foe --- leaving Baron Karza and Bioship behind as reinforcements --- and are immediately overwhelmed by their foe; the enemy admits that his motivation is his own amusement and explodes an entire planet with the snap of his fingers, but he chooses to allow the Micronauts to survive.  Karza and Bioship escape...but to where?

Meanwhile, the X-Men are enjoying some downtime in the X-mansion.  Storm and Nightcrawler are hanging around the pool, Kitty and Illyana are studying, and the New Mutants are undergoing a Danger Room exam.  Suddenly, they find themselves under attack by the action figure-sized Baron Karza; Karza and Bioship tracked the source of their enemy's power to Professor Xavier, and have decreed that Xavier must die so the Microverse can live.  Baron Karza is able to defeat the New Mutants with relative ease, but he is outmatched and outnumbered when the X-Men join the fray.  In the skirmish, Kitty phases through Baron Karza, in an attempt to disrupt his armor.  For some reason, phasing managed to have the unintended side effect of switching their minds; Karza found himself in Kitty's body, and Kitty was trapped, unconscious, in his.  Karza (somehow controlling his own body, as well as Kitty's) convinces the X-Men to join him in saving the Microverse, as it seems that there is a connection between the enemy and Xavier.  They join Karza and Bioship, shrinking down for adventure in the Microverse dimension.

Sub-Plots, oh the Sub-Plots!
- Lockheed is aggressive toward Baron Karza, when he is trapped in Kitty's body.


Writing!
So.  Much.  Exposition.  In a normal X-Men issue, this plot would only take up half of an issue, max.  With another ensemble cast to juggle, though, it takes a while to get anywhere.  And where do we wind up?  The X-Men agree to team up.  The end.  Maybe the most exceptional writing moment is when it was decided that Kitty's mutant power would act like it never has before, for the sake of advancing the plot.  That part sure was goofy.

Art!
While "Butch" Guice does not do anything too spectacular here, it is solid work.  There are a lot of characters in this issue, and the Microverse is a crazy place to draw.  I don't think any of the characters look too flattering, but I will admit that the storytelling was pretty respectable, especially given how much exposition was needed in this issue.

One thing I was not too excited to see was yet another example of Psyche's powers being manifested by neon inks, which don't show up especially well on the page.  I would really like to see someone come up with a new way to show off her power.

Retrospectively Amusing:
- I love that there is supposed to be a mystery over who the unknown enemy is.  The energy trail of the enemy leads directly to Xavier, and it looks just like Xavier's astral projection did when he fought Amahl Farouk (back in Uncanny X-Men #117); the mystery only exists for readers who have not read that particular issue of Uncanny.  Here is the mystery villain in this issue:

Here: is the armor in Uncanny #117:

It's not just me, is it?  It's obvious.  Granted, it makes sense for this to be a mystery to the characters; neither the X-men nor Micronauts have ever witnessed Xavier in full battle armor on the astral plane.  Still, I would have liked it if the writers made a little more effort with this mystery.  I have a feeling that the eventual reveal will feel like it's taking forever to happen. 

- Cannonball recognizes Baron Karza as an action figure.  That was part of the pitch with the Micronaut toys; the diminutive action figures were supposed to be life-sized.

- I love that the New Mutants are not mentioned in the title.  This is really The X-Men (and New Mutants) and the Micronauts.

- Kitty Pryde's intangibility can now apparently trigger mind transfers?  That is hilariously convoluted, and I am 90% sure that never happens again after this series.

- It sure is a good thing that nobody in the Marvel Universe (except maybe Reed Richards or Hank Pym) gives two craps about the Microverse.  I am absolutely certain that I have never seen a character reference the Microverse planets that totally-not-Xavier destroys in this issue.  It's a big deal for Dark Phoenix to have caused the destruction of a planet of broccoli people, but this?  This is outside of Shi'ar space, so it's okay to slaughter innocents here.

Worth Noting:
- This is the second instance (the first is in Uncanny X-Men #106) of Xavier unconsciously creating a psychic construct that becomes an enemy. Let's see how many more instances pop up before the Onslaught storyline!

Paying Tribute to My Namesake:

Magik (Storm and Illyana Limited Series) #2

"Cold Iron Hot Blood!"
Published January 1984
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: John Buscema
Inker: Tom Palmer
Cover: Ron Frenz and Tom Palmer

What's Going On?
Illyana is trained by Cat to survive in a harsh, Savage Land-esque, portion of Limbo.  She spends nearly two years learning to survive in harsh terrain and how to fight with swords.  At the end of teh training, they sneak into Belasco's Citadel.  The idea is to get to Belasco's altar, where the barrier between dimensions is thin; Cat thinks she can use her phasing abilities to cross the dimensional barrier and get Illyana back to her home.  They almost succeed, but Belasco appears and pulls them back to Limbo at the last moment.  To punish Cat for killing his servant, Nightcrawler, as they infiltrated the citadel, Belasco transforms Cat, stripping her of her humanity and making her even more feline.  Illyana is drawn to Belasco and conjures the second Blood Stone, seemingly content with becoming his apprentice. 

Sub-Plots, oh the Sub-Plots!
- The fates of two more X-Men are revealed in this issue.  Colossus died at the hands of Belasco's demon lieutenant, S'ym, in an effort to save Cat's life.  Wolverine was also killed, as S'ym recalls feasting on his heart.  Nightcrawler was corrupted by Belasco and became his servant, until he was killed by Cat.  Granted, we knew about Colossus and Wolverine being dead from Uncanny X-Men #160, but we did not have any real details at that point.

- Storm tries to convince Cat to bring Illyana back to her sanctuary, but Cat refuses.  For reasons that are not entirely clear to me, Illyana states that Storm frightens her more than Cat does.

- Storm observed Cat and Illyana's attack on Belasco's citadel remotely, and watches Cat become enslaved by Belasco and Illyana willingly join his side.  Storm promises to destroy both Cat and Illyana.  Not Belasco, though, which strikes me as odd...

Writing!
Another issue in, and we've got ourselves even more exposition.  Granted, a few years have passed since last issue, but precious little has actually happened.  Illyana and Cat went to Belasco's citadel to try to escape this dimension; they failed and are enslaved by Belasco.  That brief synopsis makes this issue feel a lot more exciting that it actually is.  I'm not entirely sure what about this swords and sorcery tale is failing to impress me, but I'm bored.  Part of it is because Illyana's main character trait is being whiny.  Part of it is because I am not invested in any of the supporting cast, even Storm, Cat, and Nightcrawler; their survival means little, since we know the "real" X-Men survived in a comic published seventeen months earlier.  Perhaps the biggest reason is that Belasco is the big baddie of this title, and he has barely been developed in this title.  It does not help that he's hardly in this issue at all.

Art!
One of the challenges with this series is showing Illyana's changing age visually.  Buscema and Palmer certainly make an effort, but it has mixed results.  For every solidly done panel that shows an older Illyana with subtle signs of aging...

Lil' Illyana

Less lil' Illyana

...There is a page like this one, where the difference in age is less obvious and the colorist accidentally gave Illyana's unitard the color it had in her youth. 

You might think that they would have gone with something easier, like a different haircut or hairstyle, but no.

That said, I thought the team did a respectable job overall, and they did good work with two of the more gruesome moments in the script.  I thought the desiccated Colossus corpse looked pretty creepy.  I also was surprised to see the evil Nightcrawler getting a sword through the chest in a Comics Code-approved issue.  I guess it was okay because he was a demon?

Retrospectively Amusing:
- Cat's master plan is to get to Belasco's citadel and try to use her phasing power to cross the dimensional barrier to return to Earth.  Let's ignore the fuzzy comic book science of that (and the fact that she never uses her powers like that again) for now.  Let's also ignore the fact that Cat could have tried this stunt many times since she arrived in Limbo, but has not; I'm okay with the explanation she gives for that.  What I find amusing is the fact that she spends two years training Illyana for this, and then explains the plan to her only when they reach Belasco's altar.

Mighty World of Marvel (Vol. 2) #8

"The Twisted World (Reprise)"
Published January 1984
Writer: Alan Moore
Penciller: Alan Davis
Inker: Alan Davis

What's Going On?
Captain Britain and his friends have managed to stay out of the superhero concentration camps, but the Captain and Saturnyne agree that their current situation mirrors that of Mad Jim Jaspers' reality, just before it went completely off the rails.  CapBrit does not have much faith in his supporting cast (especially Saturnyne), but he steels himself for battle anyway.

Sub-Plots, oh the Sub-Plots!
- It was unclear how much time had passed between Daredevils #11 and Mighty World of Marvel (Vol. 2) #7, but that (sort of) gets resolved in this issue.  Multiple characters note how difficult it has been to track time since Jim Jaspers came to power.  Jaspers' reality warping powers allowed him to alter reality to suit his fancy, and it is implied that very little time has passed, rather than the several months that a normal despot would have needed to gain absolute power in England.

- The last we saw of Jim Jaspers in this reality, he was changing things in relatively small ways (like changing white wine into red).  He is now basically living in a Salvador Dali painting now, with change constantly swirling around him.  He appears to have achieved the same level of power/madness as his alternate reality version.

- The Fury has predictably survived the beatdown it received in Daredevils #11, and has survived thus far in Jim Jaspers' new twisted reality.  I'm not 100% sure about this, but it looks like The Fury may have absorbed part of the living computer in the caves beneath Braddock Manor.

- Vixen tries to assassinate Jim Jaspers, but he is already too powerful for her to handle.  He transforms her into a fox.

Writing!
Alan Moore manages to fit a lot into these eight pages - the Fury returns, Jaspers neutralizes Vixen, and Captain Britain and pals talk about the need to stop Jaspers.  Any one of those plots could have easily taken eight pages in a regular comic, but Moore continues to keep things moving swiftly.  Last issue was a bit dull, but it set the stage well for this story, and it looks like we are going to have the big Jaspers battle at long last.

Art!
It has been a while since Alan Davis has had a chance to let loose with Jim Jaspers (Marvel Super Heroes #388), and he has grown quite a bit in the meantime --- his inks are much, much cleaner here.  One of the things I like about how he draws Jaspers is the fact that his hats change in every panel.  It's not really subtle, but I still like it.  I also like that plaid + polka dots = crazy.  

Retrospectively Amusing:
- So is Braddock Manor in ruins or not?  It was seen whole as recently as Daredevils #10, and Captain UK did not have any problem knocking on its door, so it seemed as though the hologram that made the manor appear ruined to passersby was no longer working.  However, this issue opens with STRIKE Beetles walking through the rubble of the mansion.  Maybe this is due to Jaspers warping reality?  I guess?

- Alison Double, one of the few STRIKE psychics that Slaymaster did not get around to killing, has developed a serious fever and requires medical attention.  I don't think we've seen her since a crowd scene in Daredevils #4, but I guess the implication is that she's been living in Braddock Manor with everybody, ever since Slaymaster was defeated.  She must be a pretty worthless psychic, because she was not included in the battle against the Fury and the Special Executive did not mention her as a possible threat.

Worth Noting:
- The STRIKE Beetles mention the capture of a Lady Farnsworth.  That is the civilian identity of Spitfire, a member of the Invaders, a World War II superhero team.

New Mutants (Vol. 1) #11

"Magma"
Published January 1984
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: Sal Buscema
Inker: Tom Mandrake
Cover Artist: Walter Simonson and Tom Mandrake


What's Going On?
As Amara and Dani continue their battle against Selene, it becomes clear that they are outmatched.   Amara's control over her powers is inconsistent at best, and Dani does not have the firepower (or really, much of any power) to overcome Selene.  In a panic, Amara uses her lava powers to burn a way out of Selene's murder cave and up to the surface.  There, the New Mutants find her and join the fray.

Sub-Plots, oh the Sub-Plots!
- Roberto is reunited with his mother, who was feared dead after the events of New Mutants #8.  He finds her in jail, about to be murdered by the same Hellfire Club thug that sabotaged their boat in #8.

After beating her attacker, they join the Nova Roma underground and lead to attack on Senator Gallio's home.  It is interesting to note that Castro explicitly states that he is not acting under the orders of Emmanuel DaCosta, and yet that does not make Roberto or his mother any happier.


- After having their suspicions roused last issue, Sam and Roberto decide that they've backed the wrong power in town.  The more they see of Senator Gallio, the less they like him; that's perfect timing, as it turns out, because the Senator plans to murder them soon.  When Roberto and his mother arrive with anti-Gallio troops, Sam and Rahne join the fight.  Gallio is killed in battle by Amara's father, and Gallio's followers are subdued.


Writing!
After five issues, the New Mutants' Brazilian adventure comes to a close.  That's one issue enjoying Carnivale (and a bad Mr. T impersonator), one avoiding aboriginals, and three in Nova Roma.  That's a lot of time for Claremont to spend on what amounts to a pretty ridiculous story.  It's to his credit that it is not godawful, but this is a pretty bizarre thematic detour for a book that was supposed to be about kids learning to control their mutants powers and not getting involved in dangerous missions. 

Art!
The Buscema/Mandrake pairing is getting more consistent, so that's nice.  It's not the most striking artwork, but it gets the job done.  Amara's Magma form still looks pretty cool.  After an issue or two of trying to find a consistent visual style for Selene, they have settled on what can be recognized as her "classic" look (minus the panty/bustier uniform she will later sport).

Retrospectively Amusing:
- Sunspot ends the fight by throwing Selene in a pit of molten lava and then knocks huge boulders down, sealing the pit.

When Cannonball calls him out for murder, Sunspot shrugs it off by saying A) she deserved it and B) she is probably too powerful to kill that way, so it's not like he really killed her.  Probably.  I'm surprised no one had a problem with Roberto stabbing her in the heart earlier in the issue.

- How many powers does Selene have?  She is an energy vampire, can manipulate inanimate materials, has undefined psychic powers that include a degree of mind control, can "touch souls" (whatever that means), and appears to have super strength. Oh, and she has some sort of energy manipulation abilities that she offers to teach Dani (magic, presumably?), which also seem to tie into her vampirism/long life.

Worth Noting:
- Selene exhibits her ability to manipulate inanimate materials and her vampirism for the first time.

- Amara joins the New Mutants at the end of this issue.

- Continuing the theme of the female New Mutants falling easily in battle, Wolfsbane gets knocked out by a dude with a vase.  Granted, she defeats one attacker beforehand, so it's not too egregious, but you would think a werewolf would be a bit tougher. 

- The New Mutants' contribution to Assistant Editor's Month is this "Letter Page" contest.  It doesn't have anything to do with the characters or title, so it just seems weird.

Uncanny X-Men #177

"Sanction"
Published January 1984
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciller: John Romita Jr.
Inker: John Romita Sr.
Cover: John Romita Jr.

What's Going On?
Mystique is focused on taking down the X-Men, to the point of training herself and her team at Arcade's Murderworld so they can better anticipate their foes.  That training pays off an unspecified amount of time later, as they ambush Colossus and seriously injure him.

Sub-Plots, oh the Sub-Plots!
- Nightcrawler asks Amanda Sefton about his early childhood, as a way to determine what connection he might have with Mystique.  Amanda does not have much information to offer, so Nightcrawler decides to ask his foster mother, Margali, about it the next day.

- Mystique makes some oblique references to Destiny, regarding her relationship to Nighcrawler.  Nothing definite is said, but she could not bring herself to "kill" Murderworld's Nightcrawler robot; she was able to kill Rogue without hesitation.  Clearly, he is important to Mystique.

- Kitty is still upset over Storm's punk rock makeover.

- Lilandra and the Starjammers finally leave to battle for the throne of the Shi'ar empire.  Lilandra and Xavier still pledge their love to each other.

- Kitty mentions Doug Ramsey to Colossus; this is the first time Peter has had anything approaching a rival for her affections.

Writing!
This is another fun issue from Claremont.  It's always interesting seeing hypothetical situations that would kill our heroes, so it was pretty cool seeing what Claremont saw as legitimate mortal threats to the team in this issue's Murderworld scene.  I don't know how plausible the kills are --- Colossus, Rogue and Wolverine all "died" under what I consider unlikely circumstances, and Storm's "death" required a very unique piece of equipment --- but it is still interesting to see some of the team's weaknesses.  It was also interesting to see Colossus given a legitimate physical threat for the first time in this series.

Art!
John Romita Jr. is inked by his father, the legendary John Romita Sr. in this issue, and it's an interesting look.  I think Romita Sr. has an appealing old-school style to his inks --- his work on Colossus's face is very reminiscent of his work on Amazing Spider-Man, circa 1975 --- but I'm not a huge fan of how he smooths out Romita Jr.'s lines.

Peter...Parker?

Romita Jr. is at his best with brutal action scenes (although he does very good character work), and his father's more polished approach reduces some of JR Jr.'s impact.  That doesn't stop the pair from creating one of the all-time best Colossus panels, though.

Retrospectively Amusing:
- In Murderworld, Mystique kills Wolverine by slashing his throat.  I actually laughed out loud when I saw that.  Before Paul Cornell's run on Wolverine, I think it had been 20 years since Wolverine would have been stopped by something as minor as a fatal neck wound.

- Apparently, the skulls on Mystique's outfit can transform into weapons.  I don't know if this is ever used in another X-Men comic.

- I've read a few articles about Chris Claremont's alleged plan for the Mystique/Nightcrawler mystery, and while I have no doubt that Claremont considered it --- you can read more about it here, but the gist is that Mystique is the father and Destiny is the mother of Nightcrawler --- I am confident that it was not always his plan.  Not in this issue, at least.  Why not?  1) When they argue, it seems more like an employer/employee fight than a quarrel between lovers 2) Destiny is about as ancient as Aunt May, and is too old to have birthed Kurt 3) Destiny refers to Kurt as "Nightcrawler" instead of his given name, despite Mystique knowing his name back in the "Days of Future Past" storyline 4) Mystique states that the X-Men have her child --- singular --- and is referring to Rogue.

- Havok does not get a line in the farewell to Corsair.  It's not like he has been in a lot of issues lately, but Havok has not had any dialogue since Uncanny X-Men #163.

- Stevie Hunter alert!  She acts as a sounding board for Kitty's whining about Storm.  This is her first appearance in the X-titles since New Mutants #4.

Worth Noting:
- According to the Murderworld scene, Mystique can imitate Wolverine's sharp claws.  That means that she can imitate more than a person's basic appearance.  How far that can go, we don't know...yet.

- This issue has the first mention of Doug Ramsey, although it will be another month or two before he makes his first appearance.

- This issue's contribution to Assistant Editor Month is a one-page gag about the Official Marvel Handbook.  It's not very funny, but at least it's only one page instead of an entire issue, right?