Kevin Van der Borght
Nov 8, 2007, 05:41 pm
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #49
September 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen49t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=7895)
Story Arc: The Tempest
Story Title: Part 4
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Brandon Peterson (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16197&highlight=peterson)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Artist: Brandon Peterson (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16197&highlight=peterson)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
First Appearance: Apocalypse
At the Xavier Institute, Professor X is keeping an eye, with the help of cameras, on the whereabouts of his students, who weren’t allowed to go with the elder X-Men to look for Mister Sinister. Suddenly, a voice from behind him tells Xavier what a dirty old man Charles is as he is spying on his underaged students. Startled by Sinister’s sudden appearance, Charles Xavier turns around and comes eye to eye with Mister Sinister, who explains to Charles that he was able to sneak into the mansion unnoticed because cameras aren’t able to register him. When Professor X speaks Sinister’s name out loud, Sinister isn’t that surprised that Charles knows his name as Sinister is also well informed about Charles by Lord Apocalypse. When Charles tries to telepathically attack Sinister, Sinister uses his hypnotic power to keep Charles motionless in his wheelchair, after which Sinister pushes the wheelchair to the top of the stairs. With a single push, Charles falls down the stairs.
Meanwhile in the X-Wing, Wolverine orders Cyclops to fly faster but Scott is already putting the aircraft to its limits. In the back, Storm realises the mistake they have made by sending all their heavy firepower away in search for Mister Sinister, leaving the mansion defenseless. Nightcrawler tries to comfort her by telling her that the professor can handle anything. Jean tries to contact Charles telepathically, but she doesn’t get any response, so she assumes that he has gone to bed as it already is late.
Back at the mansion, Mister Sinister wonders if Charles’ mutant soul is innocent enough for Lord Apocalypse to accept. If Sinister delivers ten innocent souls to Apocalypse, he’ll complete Sinister’s transformation into a horseman of Apocalypse. Just as Sinister is about to kill Charles, his hands, which hold two guns, get frozen by Iceman but Sinister is able to free his hands by firing his guns. At the same time, Sinister is able to hit Iceman twice in his iced-up chest. Two seconds later, when Rogue comes running into the room, Mister Sinister immediately fires at her but Rogue doesn’t get hurt because Shadowcat made her untangible, after which Kitty phases Rogue through the floor.
But Rogue’s escape gives Sinister only pleasure because he can now have fun hunting them. As Sinister walks through the rooms, Angel is able to surprise him and uses his wings to knock Sinister’s guns out of his hands. But then Angel makes the mistake of assuming that Sinister is defenseless without his guns. Before Angel knows it, Sinister uses his hypnotic power again and orders Angel to choke himself with his own hand.
Lost in thought, Sinister is caught by surprise again when he gets hit by a dozen arrows of light, shot by Dazzler, which hit him so hard that he is thrown outside through a window. But Dazzler isn’t done with him and climbs out of the trashed window, after which she goes to Sinister, who is still lying still on the ground. Just as Dazzler is about to hit Sinister with her power, which she channels through her index finger, Mister Sinister grabs her hand and twists her entire arm around her back. And like some hostage situations, he puts a knife at her throat.
In the broken window, Rogue appears with a gun in her hand and threatens to kill Sinister. Although Warren, who broke free from Sinister’s hypnotic hold on him after Dazzler shot Sinister, orders Rogue to put the gun down, but she doesn’t change her mind about killing him because Sinister killed Iceman. At that moment, Shadowcat appears and tells Rogue that Bobby is alive and that he probably only broke a rib or two. Still, Rogue is confident enough that she can make the shot because she was practising shooting cans off of fences before she even became a mutant. But Angel tells her that that doesn’t matter as they are X-Men and that X-Men don’t kill. When Angel reaches for Rogue’s arm, he accidentally touches a small uncovered part of her arm, after which Rogue takes over his power.
Although she has dropped the gun, an enraged Rogue goes after Sinister, after he thanks Rogue for doing his job by taking out Angel. But with Angel’s borrowed wings and speed, Rogue is able to surprise Sinister. After she grabs him, she flies him higher and higher. At one point, she stops to ask him to give her one good reason why she shouldn’t drop him. As the two are still aloft, Sinister tells her that he is certain that he can survive the fall but wonders if she’ll be able. Using his hypnotic power, Sinister orders Rogue to fall.
Luckily for her, Storm arrives just in time to distract her long enough for Rogue to snap out of Sinister’s control. To distract Rogue, Storm not only uses her own voice but also the sound of thunder and a display of lightning. When Storm tells Rogue to put Sinister down gently, Rogue asks Ororo why she is acting all soft. Rogue believes that Sinister is just as bad as the people, who killed Hank, and that the expression of ‘an eye for an eye’ is more than valid in Sinister’s case. Storm reminds her that that has never solved anything in the past and therefore Storm want to try something new, by not killing Sinister. When Sinister agrees with Storm and tells Rogue to let him go, Rogue knocks him out cold, after which the two women fly him back to the ground.
Three hours later, S.H.I.E.L.D. has arrived to take Sinister to a secret place. Nick Fury informs the X-Men that they have proof that Sinister killed the four mutants. Charles then asks Nick who Mister Sinister really is. Nick tells him that his full name is Nathaniel Essex and that he used to work as a bioengineer for an Oscorp subsidiary. Essex wanted to perform experiments involving hypnotic persuasion on humans. But when he didn’t get permission, Essex started testing on himself and eventually he went crazy. After he started to talk with the voices in his head, he got fired, after which he disappeared.
After Nick has left the school grounds, Ororo appologizes to Charles for not being at the school when Sinister attacked. But Charles feels that he is to blame because he decided that the younger X-Men couldn’t leave the school and that because of his decision, the younger ones have had to go through the entire ordeal. Charles also realises that he can’t keep his students at the school against their will and that he has to let them be part of the world, because they won’t be his students forever.
In a prison cell at the Triskelion of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mister Sinister is struggling to keep his mind together. Suddenly the voice of Lord Apocalypse speaks to him and tells Sinister that he has had enough of Sinister and that he is going to find him a new horseman. But when Sinister begs Apocalypse not to leave him and that he’ll do anything for him, Apocalypse orders him to choke himself.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Apocalypse
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mister Sinister (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43179)
Nick Fury (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7371)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #50
October 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen50t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=7896) http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen50wwcvt.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=10475)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Part 1
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Cover Colorist: Richard Isanove (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14956&highlight=isanove)
Cover Penciler: (Wizard World Chicago sketch variant) Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
Outside the Xavier Institute, Jean Grey is surprised to see Scott Summers, because she thought that Scott went to the fair on Coney Island with the other X-Men. Scott doesn’t even try to come up with a believable excuse and admits that he didn’t want to go on a mindless field trip without Jean. Jean doesn’t mind Scott being there but she explains to him that she needs once a month time to herself to keep her powers under control, for which she needs peace and quiet.
While they watch a gorgeous sunset, Jean wonders out loud if the sunset’s beautiful colour scheme is really caused by pollution. But Scott is unsure of the answer because for him all sunsets look like shades of red. Suddenly Jean tells Scott to take off his glasses but Scott doesn’t understand why. When Jean tells him to take them off to take them off, Scott reminds her that he can’t control his powers without the glasses. After Jean asks him how long it has been building up inside of him, Scott eventually opens his eyes without his glasses.
On Coney Island, Peter starts to get angry when he still hasn’t won a price with a game that he has been playing for thirty minutes. And because Peter doesn’t want to give up, the other X-Men decide to go their separate ways. Alison is the only person that remains behind with Peter. Eventually Peter gives up, after which the two check out the rest of the fair. When Peter refers to Alison as Dazzler, she gets angry because her name is Ali and not Dazzler. She reminds Peter that Dazzler was the name of the band in which she played, up until Charles Xavier broke them up. On his turn Peter tells Ali that she joined the X-Men on her own free will, but Alison is convinced that the professor tricked her brain and forced her to stay at the school.
Somewhere else at the fair, Ororo is enraged at the sight of a poster to a show, in which a mutant is featured, who is described on the poster as being half-human, half-animal. Storm is convinced that the girl is being exploited but Wolverine suggests that maybe the girl is exploiting the viewers to earn herself a little cash. But Wolverine understands where Ororo is coming from as he realises that it reminds Ororo of the way that humans treated Hank. But Ororo tells him that it isn’t only because of Hank. Ororo is also thinking of people like Nightcrawler and Angel, who couldn’t come along to the fair, because of the way they look. She also wonders how awful they must feel because of it.
At the same time at the Xavier Institute, Nightcrawler and Angel are using the Danger Room. In the scenario, that they have created, Nightcrawler, as the Dread Pirate Bluetail, is trying to kidnap Captain Eagle’s women. But to get to the women, Pirate Bluetail has to defeat Captain Eagle and his army of the undead. During the fight, Angel is worried that they will get in trouble for using the Danger Room unauthorized. But Nightcrawler assures him that the professor doesn’t even know what they are doing and that it will be their little secret. However, in the control room of the danger room, Charles Xavier has a grinn on his face while he overhears their conversation.
Back at the fair, Bobby and Kitty are waiting for Rogue to return from the restroom. Because Kitty is getting unpatient, Bobby asks her what her problem is with Rogue. When Kitty brings up Rogue’s past with Weapon X and Magneto, Bobby tells Kitty that it wasn’t Rogue’s fault and that Rogue has changed since then. But Kitty isn’t convinced of that as Rogue tried to kill Mister Sinister the other day. Because Bobby is sure that Kitty doesn’t like Rogue for other reasons than she mentioned, Bobby asks Kitty if she is jealous of him and Rogue being together. Kitty responds that she doesn’t consider the two together because Rogue can’t even touch him. Although Bobby states that he doesn’t need physical contact, Kitty notices that Bobby doesn’t sound convincing. She suspects that Bobby is scared to be in a real relationship. Before Kitty knows it, Bobby kisses her. At that moment Rogue appears and although Rogue tells Kitty to go intangible within three seconds, Rogue is still able to hit her. While Iceman checks on Kitty and finds her unconscious, he asks Rogue if she is insane. At the same time he confesses that he kissed Kitty first and not the other way around.
Suddenly, a stranger shows up and participates in the conversation. When Bobby looks up from Kitty, he comes eye to eye with Gambit. When Gambit charges one of his playing cards, Bobby ices himself up, to which Gambit reacts by throwing the card at Iceman. Iceman gets thrown back against one of the fair’s attractions. Unfortunately for Gambit, the other X-Men arrive quickly. Storm recognizes Remy LeBeau from the time she and Charles Xavier tried to recruit him. Gambit informs them that since then he found a better clan, who helped him improve himself on several levels. Powerwise, Gambit shows them his improvement by throwing one of his cards and destroying the horizontal axis of an attraction called the Wonder Wheel. Now that the wheel isn’t attached anymore, it starts to roll on its own. In a joint effort, Colossus, Storm and Dazzler stop the wheel and free its passengers.
Meanwhile Wolverine deals with Gambit. Gambit is the first to attack and tries to hit Wolverine on the head with his bo staff, but the staff breaks in half. On his turn, Wolverine uses his adamantium claws but Gambit is just in time to grab them and to hold them back. Because Wolverine is convinced that Gambit can’t win anymore, he tells Gambit to give up, but Gambit is already charging up Wolverine’s claws. Once Wolverine sees what Gambit did to his claws, Gambit warns him that Wolverine should better pull back if he doesn’t want to blow up half the fair. Wolverine doesn’t dare to call Gambit’s bluff and therefor he retracts his claws. But Gambit isn’t done yet and charges up one of the two broken pieces of his bo staff. He puts the piece into Wolverine’s mounth and lets it explode.
While the explosion occurs, Gambit jumps at Rogue to shield her from the explosion. After Rogue begs Gambit not to kill her, he explains to her that he isn’t a killer, but a thief who was sent to steal her.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #51
November 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen51t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=7920)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Part 2
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)with John Dell (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14255&highlight=dell)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Cover Colorist: Richard Isanove (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14956&highlight=isanove)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
First Appearance: Andrea Von Strucker, Andreas Von Strucker
In one of the dark rooms at Fenris International, Gambit is playing solitaire while he waits for Rogue to come out of the ether sedation, which he gave her an hour ago at the fair. When Rogue finally comes around, Gambit assures her that she will be fine and he suggests that the two could play some hearts. But when Rogue says that he is a pervert, Gambit tells her that they will have to play a little war instead.
An hour earlier at the fair on Coney Island, Storm and the rest of the X-Men find Wolverine, whose face has been partly blown off by Gambit. Wolverine tells them that Gambit took Rogue and that he is going after them, although Storm thinks that Wolverine isn’t up to it. When Iceman wants to join Wolverine, Colossus stops him, after which the two start to bicker. In the end, Storm intervenes and orders Colossus to bring the other X-Men back to the school, where they will have to get their orders from Charles himself. Just before Storm goes after Wolverine, she gives them a message for Charles. Charles has to scan for the mutant Remy LeBeau, if he can’t find Rogue.
Back at Fenris International, Gambit tells Rogue that he isn’t going to hurt her. When Rogue orders him to take off her handcuffs, Gambit informs her that he knows how her powers work. Moments later Gambit asks for Rogue’s forgiveness because he regrets how things went but he assures her that it was all for the best. While the conversation continues their two heads come closer and closer to eachother. Suddenly, Rogue calls him a moron, after which she shows him, by kissing him, that her powers don’t just work through her fingers. As Rogue takes over his powers, she also gets to see flashes of Remy’s past. Because Remy wants her out of his mind, he pushes her away. In the fight that follows, Rogue is able to hit Remy unconscious with her handcuffs, after which she shatters the handcuffs by charging and blowing them up. Just before Rogue blows up the door, she picks up Gambit’s cards. When she enters the corridor, she comes face to face with armored men.
Meanwhile the X-Men of Coney Island have arrived at the mansion, where the professor hasn’t had any luck in finding Rogue nor Gambit. When Cyclops asks the other X-Men if they didn’t see in which direction the two were heading, Dazzler tells him that Gambit made sure that the rest of the X-Men were occupied with rescueing the innocent people. From this information, Cyclops concludes that Gambit had some good intel about how the X-Men work and that that intel didn’t come cheap. On this note, the X-Men start guessing who Gambit’s employer is. Suddenly, Marvel Girl suggests that she and the professor could combine their powers to broaden their search for Rogue. Charles agrees to this and asks the other X-Men to leave the room so that the two can concentrate properly.
At Fenris International, the armed soldiers, who are also called the Wolfpack, order Rogue to drop the cards. But Rogue attacks them because she realizes that there must be a reason why they haven’t shot her yet. In the fight that follows, the soldiers trade their guns for tasers, which implicates that Rogue’s assumption was correct. With the help of Gambit’s powers and memories, Rogue is able to find her a way out. But when she destroys one of the windows, she finds herself cornered because the window is located on one of the upper levels of a skycraper. After Rogue turns around, she meets the presidents of Fenris International; Andrea and Andreas Von Strucker. Andreas reveals to Rogue that they were the ones that sent Gambit after her. Just as Rogue is taking her deck of cards, Andrea and Andreas join hands, fire at her and destroy Rogue’s cards. Rogue is surprised to find out that the Von Struckers are also mutants. Andreas explains that they believe that mutants can only become equal to humans through economic empowerment. But to achieve that, they sometimes have to use creative measures like corporate espionage, for which they use people like Gambit. After this revelation, the Von Struckers tell Rogue that they want her to become a spy as well and that they will help her blend in with the world of high finance. They are certain that Rogue could help them make sure that Fenris International stays ahead of their rivals. When Rogue asks them why she would help them after they kidnapped her, Andreas explains that the kidnapping was necessary to extract her from her past and to insert her quietly in her more profitable future. Surprised that they would assume that Rogue would throw away her old life for cash, Gambit informs Rogue that the Von Struckers can help Rogue to control her powers. At that point, Andreas makes her their proposition. In exchanges for an exclusive contract with Fenris, Rogue will gain control over her powers through Fenris’ patented bioengineering process.
Somewhere else in New York, Storm finally catches up with Wolverine. But Wolverine isn’t happy because he lost Rogue and Gambit’s scent after the wind lied down. After Storm summons the wind again, Wolverine tells Storm that she shouldn’t be there when he deals with Gambit. Storm can’t believe that Wolverine is going to kill him just because Gambit defeated him. But Wolverine explains that it has nothing to do with him but everything with Rogue and what Gambit might have done to her. Wolverine confesses that he considers Rogue as his kid sister because the two of them have been used and abused by the same monsters. Wolverine feels also guilty that he hasn’t reached out to Rogue, but Storm tells him that he has been there for the X-Men and that he has changed. Wolverine is surprised to hear these words coming from Ororo because he still considered her to be a kid. After Ororo tells him that she isn’t a kid anymore, the two kiss eachother.
Characters:
Andrea Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44524)
Andreas Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44525)
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #52
December 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen52t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8078)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Part 3
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Cover Colorist: Richard Isanove (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14956&highlight=isanove)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)& John Barber
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
At Fenris International, Rogue confronts Andrea and Andreas Von Strucker and asks them why she should trust them. The Von Struckers start to explain their goals by comparing themselves and their company to Fenris, the Norse wolf who brought about the twilight of the Norse gods. Just like Fenris, the Von Struckers want to end humanity’s financial dominance over mutantkind. And even though Gambit tells Rogue that the Von Struckers are legit, she questions their offer. They promised to help her control her powers by a bioengineering process, in exchange for her to become a spy for their company. But because Rogue can’t believe that they have an instant cure to her problem, Andreas informs her that they have proof to hold up their end of the bargain.
Elsewhere in New York, Wolverine and Storm are kissing. Suddenly Wolverine pushes her away and tells her that they can’t be a couple, after which he brings up the age aspect. When Storm reminds him of his relationship with Jean, he tells her that Jean and he are old souls, who got their share of demons. Surprised by his words, Storm reminds him that she watched Hank get murdered. For Logan, this is another reason why Ororo should not need more misery in her life; that and the fact that Logan doesn’t even know if he is married or not. When Ororo tells him that he can’t deny the feelings they have for eachother, Wolverine suddenly tells her to shut up. Wolverine has picked up Gambit’s scent again and goes after him alone.
At Fenris International, Rogue is astonished that the Von Struckers gave her a costume to wear as their end of the bargain. After Andrea tells her to be patient, Andreas instructs Gambit to attack her. Although Rogue is able to evade his first attack, Gambit is able to corner her against a wall. Gambit tells her to steal his powers, but she refuses because she doesn’t want to go inside his head again. At that moment, Gambit confesses that he has a bunch of new thoughts in his head since Rogue kissed him. Enraged by his words, Rogue slaps him hard in the face with her bare hand. It is only after a few moments that Rogue realises that she didn’t steal Gambit’s powers.
At that point, the Von Struckers continue their explanation about the suit. The suit is made of a material that dampens mutant abilities as a small electrical current is passed through its fibers. If Rogue signs up with them, the material will be crafted in her vascular network and will be powered by her own biochemical energy. From that point on, Rogue will be able to mentally regulate her powers. While Rogue is astound by their explanation, Gambit confirms that he is living proof of what they told her.
But Rogue is troubled by the fact that Gambit is robbing people for Fenris. But Gambit tells her that he only steals from corporations, which he considers as being monsters. But Rogue is confused with his explanation of corporations, because she thought that Fenris International was also a corporation. The Von Struckers explain that they are the next stage in corporate evolution because they are a company that is run by mutants for mutants. They always funnel the profits, which they gain through people like Gambit, back into the mutant community. But the Von Struckers admit that they can’t do it alone.
Back in the hangar of the Xavier Institute, Iceman is becoming restless as he has to wait to go after Rogue. Shadowcat informs him that they can all go after her together once the professor and Jean have pinpointed her location. But then Iceman starts to argue with her about what she supposedly did to him back at the fair. When Shadowcat tries to explain who really was at fault, Dazzler tells her not to get upset. But then Dazzler states that Kitty might still become Iceman’s girlfriend, only as Iceman’s second choice and if they should find Rogue dead. At that moment Kitty gets furious and phases her hand in Dazzler’s head. In the end Cyclops breaks the two up.
Meanwhile, the Von Struckers want to know if Rogue has reached a decision. Rogue informs them that she has to pass because Rogue considers her powers as a reminder of all the awful things she has done in the past. She hopes that her curse may be lifted one day but only after she has earned it. To complement things, Rogue also states that she has a problem with the stealing part of the agreement. But unfortunately for Rogue, the Von Struckers tell her that she has to join them, because to them she already signed the agreement the moment she put on the special suit. When Gambit interferes in the conversation, the Von Struckers threaten to either reveal his secrets or to even kill him. When Gambit states that both he and Rogue will leave, the Von Struckers hit him hard with their power.
At the Xavier Institute, the professor and Marvel Girl have joined forces and have entered the astral plane, to which Jean has never been. Marvel Girl is puzzled about the way they look on the astral plane. Charles explains that their minds often provide them with forms that comfort. And often the subconsciousness choses the form of a time, when the person was at his most confident. After this explanation, the two start their search and they rather quickly discover four faint mutant lifeforms within the Empire State Building. When Charles senses that one of the mutants is badly injured, he tells Marvel Girl to warn the X-Men.
In the Empire State Building, the Von Struckers threaten to atomize Rogue if she doesn’t undergo the operation. They also inform her that she can’t hurt them, because the suit suppresses her powers to them until she agrees to join them. Suddenly, Rogue is hit by one of Gambit’s cards, which compromises Rogue’s suit. Now that Rogue is able to use her powers again, she attacks the Von Struckers and steals their power. Together Rogue and Gambit head for the exit by taking the elevator, but at the same time Andreas orders the Wolfpack to intercept them and to take them out. Once Rogue and Gambit arrive on the ground level, they have to defeat the Wolfpack, in which they succeed. But Gambit’s troubles aren’t over yet because Wolverine has just arrived.
Characters:
Andrea Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44524)
Andreas Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44525)
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #53
January 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen53t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8373)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Conclusion
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)& John Barber
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
Quit: Rogue (X-Men)
To get to the Empire State Building and to Rogue, the X-Men are using the X-Wing. When Cyclops asks Marvel Girl if she is certain of the coordinates, she recapulates what she and the professor discovered. Cyclops notices that Marvel Girl suddenly refers to Professor Xavier as Charles and asks her about it telepathically, but Jean tells him that this isn’t the time. To the other X-Men she continues that the professor believes that the two unknown mutants, that they registered, are called Von Strucker. Angel, who knows the Von Struckers and their company, is surprised to find out that they are mutants. When Colossus tries to figure out how everything and everybody fits into the big picture, Iceman gets angry because he only cares about what happens to Rogue.
On the ground floor of the Empire State Building, Wolverine attacks Gambit, but surprisingly enough Wolverine doesn’t use his claws. He hits Gambit on the forehead with his own head. After this, Wolverine kicks Gambit very hard. Even though Rogue begs Wolverine to stop and tries to explain the situation, Wolverine doesn’t hear her.
In the office of the Von Struckers, Andreas is trying to get a status report on the situation downstairs but nobody of the Wolfpack answers. When Andrea tries to convince him to write Gambit and Rogue off as bad investments, Andreas grabs Andrea by the throat and tells her that it is no longer business but personal. Andreas wants revenge because Rogue touched him, which he considers a privilege only reserved for Andrea. When an angered Andreas uses their power to destroy their desk, the X-Men are just in time to arrive for Dazzler to notice the explosion.
Because of the explosion, Cyclops wants Angel to check out the situation to make sure that there aren’t any hostages. When Iceman utters his desire to attack immediately, Cyclops explains the consequences of such an action. But then Iceman turns to Nightcrawler and orders him to teleport them both in the office. After Iceman threatens to freeze Nightcrawler’s ears off, Nightcrawler does what he is ordered. Almost immediately after they arrive, Nightcrawler and Iceman get hit hard by the Von Struckers, but Iceman doesn’t give up and attacks them with his mutant power.
On the ground floor, Wolverine keeps on battering Gambit, until Gambit is able to swing his body around and is able to break Wolverine’s knee. After Wolverine puts his knee back in place, he goes again after Gambit but Wolverine is stopped by an armed Rogue.
Meanwhile outside, Angel is flying towards the Empire State Building, carrying Colossus. At the right moment, Angel lets go of Colossus. Just before hitting the windows of the office, Colossus changes into his steel form. In a matter of seconds, Colossus grabs Andrea and Andreas and separates them. Eventually, the Von Struckers tell the X-Men where they can find Rogue. And because the X-Men realise that there is no point in taking the Von Struckers to the police, because their lawyers will get them out of prison within fifteen minutes, they let them go.
Below, Rogue explains to Wolverine that Gambit isn’t the enemy and that Gambit even helped her defeat the Wolfpack. When Wolverine reminds her of what Gambit did on Coney Island, Gambit explains that he wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t sure that everybody would have left the place unharmed. On her turn, Rogue reminds Wolverine that all three of them have done bad things in the past. When Wolverine tells Rogue that she can’t believe anything Gambit has told her, Rogue lashes out at him and tells him that he can spare the lectures. Rogue has heard the stories of what Wolverine has done and she is convinced that he hasn’t changed. As proof of her conviction, she refers to the beaten-up Gambit. At that point Storm enters the building and asks what is going on. Wolverine tells her that Rogue is right about the fact that he doesn’t belong with the X-Men. After Wolverine tells Ororo that he isn’t her boyfriend and that he doesn’t like her, he leaves the building. Just before Storm goes after Wolverine, she informs Rogue that Rogue is an ungrateful brat, who has no right to be self-righteous with anyone. In the end, Ororo reveals to Rogue that Wolverine considers her as a sister, which surprises Rogue.
After Storm’s departure, Rogue tells Gambit to leave as well before the other X-Men arrive, but Gambit asks her to come with him. And although Gambit knows that their first encounter didn’t go well, he knows that nobody will be able to understand what the two of them have gone through. When Rogue tells him that she wants to be alone, he proposes for them to be alone together When Gambit continues, he reminds her that she knows who he really is and that his heart is in the right place. During the conversation, Rogue reveals to him that her real name is Marian. In the end Gambit kisses Rogue again, although he knows what will happen.
At that moment, the other X-Men arrive and witness the shared kiss, even Iceman. When Scott informs her that they have come to take her home, she informs the X-Men that she is going to leave the Institute and that she wants to try something different. Just before Rogue and Gambit leave, she asks the X-Men to give her a little space.
Characters:
Andrea Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44524)
Andreas Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44525)
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #54
February 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen54t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8107)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Chapter One
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger) with Scott Koblish (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15022)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Artist: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Longshot, Mojo Adams, Major Domo
On the island of Krakoa, the mutant called Longshot is being hunted down. Although the hunter is able to corner Longshot, Longshot tells him that he doesn’t want to hurt him. When the hunter aims to kill Longshot, Longshot takes some razor blades out of his pocket and throws them at the hunter, who was told that Longshot would be unarmed. Longshot is able to injure the hunter lightly in the face with his first attempt, but when he is ready to throw again, the hunter is faster and hits Longshot with his gun. As Longshot sits on his knees, the hunter takes a big knife and asks Longshot if he has any last words. When Longshot tells the hunter that he is sorry, the hunter wrongfully assumes that Longshot is talking about Longshot killing a man called Lord Scheele. But instead Longshot is sorry for what is about to happen to the hunter. Seconds later , the man is struck by lightning. As Longshot stands over the hunter’s body, he asks for someone to help the man.
At that point, a man called Mojo Adams takes over and states that Longshot has survived yet another hunter in Mojo’s live web program called ‘Hunt for Justice’.
In New York, at the Xavier Institute Scott, Jean and Kitty have just watched the entire program and wonder if the show is for real. When Jean suggests that it may be a publicity stunt, Kitty informs them of a man called Kraven the Hunter, who was real and hunted people down on live television. Seeing the possible seriousness of the matter, Scott asks Jean to inform the Professor, but Jean is already ahead of him and warned the Profesoor ten seconds ago.
Not much later, Professor X and his X-Men have an assembly. Professor Xavier informs them that the recordings of the program are authentic and that they are recorded on Krakoa, an island nation off of the coast of Genosha. Angel is able to tell the other X-Men that Genosha lies south of Madagascar and that the government there has outlawed all mutants. Professor X confirms Angel’s statement but he also states that some mutants remained in hiding. One of those who stayed was Arthur Centino. After being found guilty of the assasination of a Genoshan politician called Lord Joseph Scheele, Arthur was sent to the island of Krakoa. When Mojo Adams came up with the idea of publicly exterminating convicted mutants, the Genoshan government saw it as an acceptable way of discouraging possible mutant uprisings. From day one, three months ago, ‘Hunt for Justice’ has been on the number one spot in the ratings. When Cyclops asks why the American government has not done anything to stop this, Charles explains to him that the United States has little ethical ground to condemn other countries, considering that it was not that long ago, that they themselves ordered to destroy innocent mutants.
At that point, Colossus asks the professor when they are going to attack, but Charles tells him that they can’t interfere with another sovereign nation’s justice system. But Charles wants to do a fact-finding mission with some of the more passable human X-Men. The professor chooses Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Colossus, Shadowcat and Iceman to go on this mission, but Iceman doesn’t want to bust out someone who was found guilty. But Charles makes it clear that they are not going to Krakoa, because it is too dangerous there, but instead they will go to Genosha to find evidence that Longshot was framed. When Colossus hears Charles’ plan, he gets furious with him, because Longshot could be long dead before they find the evidence they need. After Colossus wants to know if Xavier has lost his mind, Xavier tells him to stand down, but Colossus does not give up. After Colossus states that he wished that he was still with the Red Mafiya, because they looked after their own, Xavier orders Colossus to stay home as well. Jean even tries to convince the professor that they could use Peter’s muscle, but as the professor is leaving the room, he tells her not to question his decisions.
On Krakoa, a film crew tries to locate Longshot, after the cameraman lost track of him. Before the two even know it, Longshot jumps out of a tree and takes the two out. Using the camera, Longshot sends a message out to Mojo that he is coming after him. At Mojo’s house, Mojo’s assistant Major Domo suggests to delete this scene, but Mojo does not want that because it shows exactly how psychotic Longshot really is. When Major Domo raises his concern that their international viewers might be getting tired of watching Longshot, Mojo does not share his concern and believes that they can go on with Longshot. It is only after Major Domo reminds Mojo of their responsibility towards Lord Scheele’s friends and family, that Mojo agrees to call in a big gun.
Upon their arrival at the airport of New York, Cyclops feels uncomfortable with their covert work, because people might recognize them from the covers of the magazines, on which they have been featured. But Jean reassures him that the people around them will only see them as some N.Y.U. students, who are going on a school trip. But Cyclops is still not thrilled about the trip, especially because he is used to pilot an aircraft. When Jean points out that flying couch has its advantages as well, Scott can not follow, after which Jean explains telephatically that these planes have private lavatories, which the X-Wing does not have.
When Kitty makes a comment about Scott and Jean’s behaviour, all Bobby does is grunt, which annoys the hell out of her. She tells him that she knows that he blames her for the fact that Rogue left with Gambit, but she also informs him that grunting at her will not bring Rogue back. The only thing Kitty asks of him, is that he treats her like a human being. But again, Bobby only grunts at her request.
Back at the mansion, the other X-Men are trying out a new program that Angel worked on, but Colossus is not in the mood as he is too concerned about what is happening on Krakoa. Although Nightcrawler is also concerned, he has faith that Scott’s team will exonerate Longshot. When Colossus asks Nightcrawler what he would do if it were Storm on Krakoa, Nightcrawler has to admit that he had not thought about it like that. At that point, Dazzler shows up at the door and asks them what they are going to do about it. When Nightcrawler brings up the problem how to get to Krakoa, Dazzler reminds them of the X-Wing and suggests to hot-wire it. After Nightcrawler thinks about it, Angel utters his disbelief that they are actually thinking of doing this. In the end Dazzler leaves the decision with Colossus, who starts to grin.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Shadowcat
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #55
March 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen55t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8277)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Chapter Two
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)& Frank D’Armata (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=26015&highlight=d%27armata)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Loretta Krol
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Cover Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Spiral, Arcade
Using the X-Wing, Angel, Dazzler, Nightcrawler and Colossus are heading for Krakoa, but their trip to the island is a bit rough, because Angel has never flown the real X-Wing before, only a simulation of it. When Dazzler complains about Angel’s flying skills, Angel reminds the others that he did not want to be there, because he is afraid of getting expelled for stealing the X-Wing. Nightcrawler reminds him that they did not have a choice, seeing that Longshot is about to get slaughtered. Colossus even suggests that Professor Xavier might have planted the idea of their rescue mission in their minds. When Angel asks why the Professor would have done that, instead of just telling them directly, Colossus assumes that the Professor needs to be able to deny the fact, if the four of them should get caught. But Dazzler believes that they will not be that lucky, because if they are caught, they will probably be the next to get hunted down in Mojo’s show. Using Dazzler’s statement, Angel repeats that they should have waited for the findings of the other X-Men’s investigation.
On Krakoa, Mojo Adams presents Arcade, who will be the next hunter in ‘Hunt for Justice’, to his viewers. Mojo informs them that Arcade comes from California, where he built a video-game empire, after he designed ‘Muderworld’. When Mojo continues Arcade’s biography and how he eventually ended up in Mojo’s program, Arcade starts to lose his patience. Eventually, he puts a gun to Mojo’s head. Although Mojo’s assistant Major Domo wants to intervene, Mojo orders him to keep filming. As Major Domo obeys, Arcade reveals why he wants to participate in Mojo’s program. Arcade seeks justice for the death of his sister, who was killed when Magneto blew up the Brooklyn Bridge. Because Magneto was taken to the Triskelion, Arcade did not get his revenge. Now, Arcade wants to have it by hunting down mutants on Krakoa.
After Arcade leaves the room, Mojo feels kind of sad, because he realises that Arcade is going to succeed in killing Longshot, who has been Mojo’s best player so far. Major Domo tries to comfort his boss by stating that there will be others, but Mojo is not so sure about that, because most of the Genoshan mutants have been exiled or are in hiding. At that point, Major Domo suggests for them to go worldwide.
Upon their arrival on Genosha, Scott, Jean, Kitty and Bobby notice how the entire country is hung on ‘Hunt for Justice’, which makes Scott sick. When Bobby compares this situation to when Lee Harvey Oswald got killed in the United States, Kitty reminds him that they don’t know if Longshot did kill Lord Scheele. As the two continue their heated discussion, Jean intervenes telepathically because she does not want them to blow their cover. As they leave the airport, a woman with long, white hair follows them.
Meanwhile on Krakoa, the other X-Men arrive as well, although their flight did not go as smoothly. When Kurt suggests to Warren to scout the area, Warren prefers to stay with the plane, because he has a bad feeling about the island. After Colossus tells the others that he does not want to force Angel, the three X-Men start their search for Longshot.
Back at Mojo’s place, Mojo and Major Domo watch how Longshot stands at the end of a cliff. Scared that Longshot might want to commit suicide and to rob them of their finale, Mojo decides to give Arcade Longshot’s coordinates. Suddenly, the cameras stop transmitting. Major Domo thinks that there must have been an accident at the main relay station. Immediately, Mojo contacts Arcade and asks him what is going on. Arcade believes that Longshot has decided to attack there where he knows it will hurt Mojo the most, namely his viewer ratings. When Mojo suggests to bring in help, Arcade tells him not to bother, because he has already arrived at the relay station.
Arcade, however, is surprised when he does not find Longshot there, but the X-Men. When Arcade opens fire, the bullets ricochet off of Colossus’ body. When Colossus grabs Arcade, Arcade uses a sound device, which emits a deafening sound, which forces Colossus to lose his hold of Arcade. Unfortunately for Arcade, Dazzler used the deafening sound to power up. Although Dazzler hits him hard, Arcade does not give up and shoots some of Spider-Man’s webbing to glue Dazzler’s hands to her mounth. But Arcade does not get the chance to catch his breath, because Nightcrawler attacks him by teleporting in front of Arcade and punching him in the face. After Nightcrawler’s second, successful attack, Arcade is able to figure out where Nightcrawler will show up for his next attack. As Nightcrawler appears again, Arcade stabs Nightcrawler with a knife.
At that point, Longshot appears, after which Arcade grabs Nightcrawler and uses him as a hostage. As Longshot jumps of a tree, Arcade fires multiple times but misses. When Longshot lands on his feet, he asks Arcade not to fire the gun, but Arcade does it anyway, after which the gun backfires.
While Colossus ties Arcade to a tree, Nightcrawler asks Longshot how he knew that the gun would backfire. Longshot explains that he can alter the probabilities of a certain situation to work out in his favor. When Longshot states that he is just a very lucky person, Colossus wants to know why Longshot is still on Krakoa, if he is supposed to be so lucky. Longshot states that he was just waiting for something to fall out of the sky.
On Genosha, the other X-Men have arrived at the spot, where Lord Scheele was supposedly killed. Although Jean tries, she is not picking up any psychic residu of a struggle. When Bobby reminds his teammates that Longshot was found with the murder weapon in his hands, Scott states that he believes that this is not the spot, where Lord Scheele was murdered. When Scott studied the crime-scene photos, he noticed that there was not enough blood at the crime-scene itself. Still, he wants Kitty to go underground in search of foreign objects.
As they wait for Kitty to return, Jean wonders who would have a motive to kill Lord Scheele, besides all the mutants on Genosha. Scott reveals to her that Scheele only became a martyr with humans after he was murdered. In fact, before his death, Scheele was one of the few politicians, who was opposed to the relocation of Genosha’s mutants. Therefor, Scott believes that Scheele might have been killed because of his point of view.
Suddenly, Jean becomes aware of a presence but before she knows it, she is knocked out with a police stick by the woman from the airport. As the woman takes off her coat, the X-Men see that the woman has six arms, holding six different kind of weapons in her hands.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Arcade (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44742)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Shadowcat
Spiral (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1418681#post1418681)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #56
April 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen56t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8412)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Chapter Three
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Omar Otieku
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Cover Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Cover Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Associate Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
After the mysterious, white-haired woman knocked Jean unconscious with her police stick, she keeps Scott and Bobby at bay by threatening to kill Jean. When Cyclops asks her how she knows their names, she reminds them that the X-Men are celebrities in the mutant community. She also reveals that she was about to fly to Brooklyn to join her sister, who defected to the States years ago. It was at the airport that she noticed the X-Men and she knew that they had come to destroy what little she had accomplished for Genosha. When Scott and Bobby accuse her of having framed a fellow mutant, the six-armed woman tells them that they have no idea. At that moment, Kitty resurfaces again, after she phased through the topsoil in search of evidence earlier on, and makes Jean untangible, disappearing again underground. At that point, Cyclops and Iceman prepare themselves to attack the woman.
On Krakoa, Mojo is still without a show, after Colossus, Dazzler and Nightcrawler destroyed a main relay station on Krakoa. His assistant Major Domo informs him that they are repeating the Blink episode, which is unacceptable for Mojo. To top Mojo’s problem, Mojo’s staff refuses to go into the field to start repairing things, after they heard that there are other mutants there. But Mojo doesn’t care about that and wants to be back on screen with his show within the hour. If Major Domo fails him, Mojo will reveal Major Domo’s adress, so that Longshot could go after Domo’s family, if Longshot should be able to get off of Krakoa.
Elsewhere on Krakoa, Longshot thanks the three X-Men for risking their lives to save him. But Nightcrawler believes that they are the ones, who should thank him for taking out the hunter Arcade. After they get to know eachothers names and after Longshot and Colossus talk about Longshot’s booths, Dazzler wants to head back to Angel, because it will be a long walk now that Nightcrawler is too badly injured to teleport them.
Back at the beach and the X-Wing, Angel is worried about getting kicked out of the school. Suddenly, he hears a sound coming from the trees, where some mysterious men are sneaking up on him.
Back on Genosha, the six-armed woman asks Iceman and Cyclops not to do anything stupid. Ignoring her warning, the two X-Men take on an attack formation. When Cyclops uses his optic blast, the woman is able to redirect it and hits Iceman, who apparantly got the formation wrong. While Cyclops is distracted for a moment, the woman throws a ninja star and destroys Cyclops’ glasses. As she heads for Cyclops, she is grabbed by Iceman, who was able to grab her by extending his arm and hand. But when the woman hits Iceman’s hand with her police stick, Iceman lets go of her, after which she runs towards him. Suddenly she stops, still a short distance from Iceman, and warns him not to do that again. Just at that moment, Kitty, who ran out of breath, resurfaces again just in front of the woman. This time, she knocks Kitty unconscious and threatens to kill her. But behind her, Jean shows up, talking with a strange voice and demonstrating the Phoenix.
As they walk back to the X-Wing, Longshot can’t decide if he will fly off to the States with the X-Men.There is still an underground mutant resistance on Genosha with people, for whom he cares a lot. And although Nightcrawler invites him to continue fighting for mutant rights as a member of the X-Men, Longshot is still not sure about leaving his country, even if that country hates him. Suddenly, a device flies up and explodes, but Longshot is able to rescue Dazzler, just as Colsossus is able to protect Nightcrawler. Colossus asks Longshot if he is okay because he took the brunt of the blast, but Longshot reassures them that he has survived worse than that. At that point, Nightcrawler brings up Longshot’s powers again and how he does not understand them. Considering that his power is to be lucky, Longshot was not lucky enough and ended up on Krakoa. Longshot does not understand his powers either, but he knows that things usually turn out okay for him. Just before they continue their trip to the X-Wing, Colossus decides to take point.
On Genosha, Jean attacks the woman by letting her believe that she is burning. During the fight, the blinded Cyclops does not even recognize Jean’s voice. After Jean uses her power to smack the woman unconscious against a tree, she herself is in shock by the force she used to do this. After the fight, Iceman checks on Kitty, who is just coming around. Although Kitty calls herself a tool, Bobby tells her that she was awesome. Meanwhile, Jean is concerned about Scott’s vision, but he is certain that his eyes will heal again after some rest and a new pair of glasses. When Jean suggests to go into his head to patch her vision into his, Scott is very fast to say no. After he tells her that he has trained himself to get by without sight, he rapidly changes the subject back to the woman and wonders who she is. Jean tells him not to worry, because the Professor has been tutoring her in the art of interrogation.
On their way to the X-Wing, Dazzler brings up Colossus’ preferences, regarding men or women, to Kurt, but Kurt finds it absurd as he believes that Colossus is as normal as Dazzler and he. A little later they arrive at the beach, where Angel has gone missing. At first, Dazzler is not worried about him, but then Longshot finds a little screen and when he turns it on, Mojo’s head appears. After Mojo states that he has no beef with the X-Men, he tells them to return Longshot, otherwise his viewers will have to settle with Angel. As the picture sooms out, Longshot and the X-Men see Angel hanging on a wall, pinned down by his wings.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Arcade (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44742)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Shadowcat
Spiral (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1418681#post1418681)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #57
May 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen57t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8607)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Conclusion
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Jacob Chabot
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Cover Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Cover Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Associate Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Lord Joseph Scheele
After Mojo told Nightcrawler, Colossus and Dazzler that he wants to trade the captured Angel for Longshot, the three X-Men try to decide what to do. When Dazzler suggests that they do as they are told, Longshot agrees because he believes that they have no other choice. Because Colossus does not agree, he wants to storm Mojo’s compound instead. After Longshot tells him that Angel will be killed before they can reach him, Colossus tries to find a solution to get into Mojo’s compound quickly. Colossus asks the badly injured Nightcrawler if he is strong enough to teleport them to wherever Angel is held. Although Nightcrawler thinks that he is, he points out that they have not much chance to survive a blind teleportation. But to Longshot, these odds sound just perfect.
On Genosha, Jean is about to enter the six-armed woman’s mind. Against the woman’s advice, Jean wants to find out the truth about the assassination on Lord Scheele. But first and foremost, Jean wants to find out the woman’s name, but luckily Jean will not have to bother as Spiral decides to reveal it to her.
At Mojo’s compound, Mojo is certain that Angel’s friends have abandoned their fellow teammate. Although Angel begs Mojo not to kill him, Mojo states that he has to pay for their sins. At that same moment, Nightcrawler teleports in, but due to his injuries he was only able to teleport himself, Longshot and Dazzler into Mojo’s compound. But even teleporting three people proves to be too much for him, as he loses consciousness upon their arrival. Immediately after their arrival, Mojo’s guards open fire. Although Longshot is able to defeat the guards on his own, Mojo is able to grab him by the neck.
Meanwhile on Genosha, Jean has entered Spiral’s mind. As she watches how Longshot became Spiral’s first boyfriend, Spiral explains that this happened during the time just before Genosha outlawed mutants. After a while, Longshot started to neglect Spiral. On one night, when Longshot stood Spiral up, Spiral met Lord Scheele. Although Scheele stated that he wanted to see the Genosha’s mutant subcultur, before parliamant decided whether or not to eliminate mutants, Spiral believes that he was just curious to see how mutants lived. It did not take long for Spiral and Scheele to fall in love. But because of the climate in Genosha regarding mutants, Spiral and Scheele were cautious every time they met. Although they tried not to get caught, one person did.
On Krakoa, Mojo still holds Longshot by the neck. Suddenly, Dazzler uses her powers to blind him, which causes Mojo to lose hold of Longshot. After Mojo gets used to Dazzler’s light show, he tells her that she does not scare him. But then one of the light explosions hits one of the studio’s spots, after which it falls on Mojo’s head, causeing Mojo to fall to the ground. At that point, Major Domo intervenes and orders them to stop, otherwise he will use the knife in his hand to kill Angel. Major Domo tells Dazzler that she should not have interfered, because he believes that Mojo did them a favor. Major Domo also believes that all humans, whether they admit it or not, despise mutants. Major Domo states that Mojo gave humans the oppurtunity to live out their darkest fantasies on those mutants, who deserve to die. But then Longshot interrupts Major Domo. As Longshot puts one foot on Mojo’s neck, he threatens to kill Mojo.When Major Domo tells Longshot that he is bluffing, Longshot reminds him that he is a killer. In the end, Major Domo drops his weapon, after which Longshot hits him in the face. At that point, Colossus storms through the wall. Dazzler explains to him that Longshot saved the day with his acting skills.
Meanwhile back in Spiral’s mind, Jean witnesses how Spiral and Lord Scheele got caught by an enraged Longshot. When Spiral tried to explain that Scheele was not like other humans, Longshot lost it completely and used a knife to stab Scheele. In the end, Spiral was able to knock a vase on Longshot’s head, after which Longshot lost consciousness.
At that point, Jean leaves Spiral’s mind and tells the others what she found out. But Scott still does not understand why Spiral dragged them from her place to there, instead of calling the police. Spiral asks him what he thinks the police would have done, if they found a member of Parliamant in her apartment. When Spiral continues, she informs them that she could not kill Longshot herself, but she wanted to make sure that justice was served. After the entire ordeal, she rushed to the airport, where she wanted to take a plane to join her sister in the United States.
When Kitty asks Spiral why she attacked them, Spiral explains that she just wanted for them to return home, so that Scheele’s indiscretions were not made public. Spiral did not want to subject his family to any more suffering. When Jean points out that they do not want to drag anyone’s name through the mud, but that Longshot’s sentence could be commuted to manslaughter, Spiral tells her that that does not make a difference in Genosha. Furthermore, Spiral believes that Longshot deserves whatever Genosha does to him, remembering Longshot’s eyes when he killed Scheele.
On Krakoa, the four X-Men say their goodbyes to Longshot. Although Colossus tries to convince Longshot to join the X-Men, Longshot refuses because he believes that he does not belong with the X-Men. While Longshot uses one of Mojo’s boats to sail away, Nightcrawler is certain that they will be in so much trouble when they go back home. Dazzler, however, is convinced that the professor will give them trophies for freeing an innocent man from death row.
Once back at the school, Charles is very angry with the four because they violated numerous international laws and to top that, they have loosed a murderer upon the world. When Peter suggests that Spiral’s memories could be false, Jean tells him that Longshot used the four of them. To make things worse, Longshot is out of Cerebro’s range and although Nick Fury believes that Longshot is hiding in the Savage Land, it could take S.H.I.E.L.D. months to find him. At that point, Charles informs the four that they are suspended on active duty for the rest of the semester and that the mastermind behind this little operation will be expelled. When Charles asks who was the mastermind, nobody reacts at first but then, just as Dazzler wants to confess, Warren beats her to it and takes the fall for her. Surprised to hear Warren’s confession, Charles states that he is disappointed in him, but he also tells Warren that he will not be expelled, because Charles believes that Warren has already suffered more than his accomplices. But Warren is not out of the woods yet as he still has a painful rehabilitation ahead of him during the next three months. Together with his other punishment, Warren will be grounded literally and figuratively for the foreseeable future.
After they leave the professor’s office, Alison wants to know why Warren took the fall for her. He explains to her that it was obvious that Charles has been looking for a reason to get rid of her, and that he would have gotten it if she had confessed. Besides, Warren believes that Alison needs the school a lot more than he does. At that point, Dazzler kisses him and the two become a couple. As Alison and Warren leave Colossus and Nightcrawler behind, Nightcrawler points out to Colossus that they are running out of available young women.
Back in Charles’ office, Scott apologizes for failing in both the Fenris- and the Genosha situations. But Charles points out that the X-Men are students first and that they learn from every mission. And Charles does not consider the Genosha-thing as a complete failure, because the accomplished two things. Scott’s team was able to safely relocate Spiral to the States and Warren’s team took out Mojo’s network. But then, Jean points out that she feels uncomfortable that Mojo was not exactly wrong when he stated that Longshot was a lying murderer. For the exact same reason, Charles is troubled that reality television does not only show them how bad mutants and humans can be, but that it shows them exactly as they are.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Joseph Scheele
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Shadowcat
Spiral (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1418681#post1418681)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #58
June 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen58t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8608)
Story Title: A Hard Lesson
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Steve Dillon (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43785)
Colorist: Paul Mounts (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43786)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: James Taveras
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher:Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Syndicate
Charles Xavier is at his bank after he noticed that all of his assets were frozen. The bank clerk is able to tell him that Charles' account is under investigation. When the clerk informs him that Sebastian Shaw's estate claims that an unauthorised transfer of funds took place, Charles realises that the Hellfire Club is behind this. Charles attempts to get a small portion of his checking account, but even that the clerk can not give him. Charles knows that he could easily force the clerk in giving his own savings to him, but he decides to leave.
At that moment, the lights go out and an armed Siamese twin enters the bank to rob it. When one of the clients wonders if they are mutants, Syndicate tells him that they are and explains that their heart emits an electromagnetic pulse with each heart beat. Thanks to their mutation, Syndicate was able to fry the bank's security system. But unknown to them, Charles has already contacted the police telepathically.
With the situation at hand, the bank clerk asks the clients to stay calm and tries to reinsure them about their money by stating that the bank is insured for this type of situation. When he informs Syndicate that they intend to cooperate, Syndicate tells him to shut up and hits him with one of their guns. At that point, Charles decides to intervene and orders them telepathically to lay down their arms. When the two brothers hear the voice, they figure out that there is a telepath amongst the clients, but because they are immune to telepathy, they don’t obey Charles’ order. Looking for the telepath, Syndicate assumes without any proof that the telepath is the boy with glasses. Even when Charles admits that he is the mutant, the twin still does not believe it. After they kick Charles and his wheelchair against the floor, one of them starts to doubt their guess because Charles looks kind of familiar to him. But the other twin has lost intrest in the matter and concentrates back on the robbery. Using his nose, one of the brothers is able to guess more or less the amount of money there is in the different parts of the bank.
Suddenly, a policeman outside informs Syndicate that they have surrounded the bank. Syndicate realises that the telepath must have contacted the police. When the twin threatens to blow the head of the boy, Charles intervenes by telepathically forcing the boy to say that the police will storm in the moment Syndicate uses their guns. Through the boy, Charles suggests that it might be better if Syndicate would take some hostages as leverage. At that point, Charles contacts Jean and asks her the X-Men’s status on a situation in New Jersey. After she tells him that they have not contained it yet, Charles decides to take care of Syndicate on his own.
Meanwhile, Syndicate orders the boy to notify the police of their demand. They threaten to kill a hostage every fifteen minutes until their demand is fulfilled. Afterwards, Syndicate orders the people in the bank to go to the bank’s vault, but once inside, the bank’s security guard gets a heart attack. Luckily one of the other clients was a lifeguard twenty years ago and learned CPR. When the woman informs Charles that she can not remember her training, Charles uses his power to find her knowledge in her long-term memory and gives her access to it again. After the woman starts to give CPR to the guard, the other clients realise that Charles is indeed the telepath. Meanwhile, Charles tells the others that his plans on getting them out, because he is convinced that Syndicate will go through with their threat if their demand is not met.
From that point, Charles starts to work on his plan. He asks the bank clerk to find as many dye packs, which are used to make money unvaluable in case of a theft, as he possibly can. From a young woman called Sarah, Charles learns that she studied Tae Kwan Do for the last six years. Unfortunately, Sarah is not very good at it because she does not believe in herself. Charles informs her that he can remove the mental block so that she can access her skills fully to disarm Syndicate. When Mr. Thomas objects to Charles’ decision to use the young girl, Charles informs him that today’s youth is far better prepared to face the dangers than they give them credit for. Charles tells Mr. Thomas that he wants him to help carry the security guard, who is just revived by Mr. Thomas’ wife.
Moments later in the bank itself, one of the twins is worried now that they have been discovered, but his brother reminds him that they are doing this for Alice. At that point, Charles appears and shows them a bag with money, which he wants to use to buy his freedom. When Syndicate refuses it, Charles insists on them having it and throws it at them. Upon contact with Syndicate, the dye in the money bag explodes and blinds the Siamese twin. Using the oppurtunity, Charles orders most of the clients to head for the exit, carrying the ill guard. Just as Syndicate is able to see again, Sarah knocks one of their weapons out of their hands and is just in time to duck away when Syndicate opens fire with the second one. At that point, one of the other clients, Kevin, uses a fire disinguisher to knock the twin unconsciously. Now that Syndicate is defeated, Charles sends both Sarah and Kevin away because he wants to finish the situation.
But just after the two have left the bank, Syndicate is already back on their feet and grabs Charles by the throat. When they ask Charles to give them a reason why they should not kill him, Charles informs Matthew and Luke that he has the leverage now. Suprised to hear Charles say their names, Syndicate finally realises that Charles was indeed the telepath and put him back in his wheelchair. Charles reveals that he knows about their ill sister and that they needed to rob the bank to pay for her operation. After Charles threatens to kill their sister if they don’t do exactly as he wants, the twin thinks that he is bluffing. It is only after Charles tells them that he knows that their sister has cancer and that she lies at Central Bronx Hospital, that they start to fear him.
A little later, Syndicate comes out of the bank with their hands up and tells the police that they surrender. But then one of the brothers changes his mind and starts to rip off their shirt, so that their heart is revealed. With this act, the police considers Syndicate as a threat and opens fire on them. With several hits, Syndicate is dead.
Confused about what happened, Syndicate asks the professor what the policemen were shooting at. Charles explains that he made everybody believe that they killed Syndicate, so that the people would get the closure they required. When Syndicate asks Charles why he helped them, Charles informs them that they need to redeem themselves and that they can do that best by helping his cause. Charles wants them to complete a mission for him, one in which he can not implicate the X-Men. He tells them that the Hellfire Club has stolen his money and that he wants it back. Charles wants Syndicate to use their skills to get it back, but he also warns them that they can not kill a single person, because otherwise he will not pay for their sister’s operation. As they leave the crime scene, Charles informs them that he will bring them to one of his safehouses, where they have to lay low and await further instructions.
Characters:
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=42323)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Shadowcat
Syndicate
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) # 59
July 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen59t.jpg ( http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8694)
Story Arc: Shock and Awe
Story Title: Part one of two
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Jacob Chabot
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher:Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Deathstrike
Many years ago in El Paso, Texas, Ororo Munroe was chased by another biker, called Yuri. Yuri wanted Ororo’s bike, a Mugmoni. But Ororo did not understand why she should give it to Yuri, since Ororo stole it in the first place. When Yuri reminded her that it was she who taught Ororo how to hotwire a bike, Ororo stated that she believed that it was time that she earned herself a living. Up until that moment, Ororo gave Yuri ninety percent of her profit to pay for her ‘education’. But Yuri gave her the choice to either keep on paying the ninety percent or to go back from where Ororo came from. But Ororo told Yuri that if she would return to Marrakech, that she would end up dead just as her family did. At that point, Ororo begged Yuri to let her stay in El Paso, because the climate there reminded her of home. When Yuri made it clear that El Paso was not big enough for the two, Ororo was not impressed by Yuri’s threat. With the help of a steel chain, Yuri tried to hit Ororo, but she managed to evade the attack. Surprised by Yuri’s attack, Ororo asked her what she was doing, after which Yuri explained that she had to protect her reputation. If she did not deal with Ororo then, other carjackers might think that they could take a piece of Yuri’s action.
As the chase continued, Ororo reminded Yuri how bad Yuri was at riding slick roads. It was only after Ororo summoned heavy rains, that Yuri understood what Ororo meant with her warning. Although Ororo begged Yuri to pull over, Yuri continued her chase. Yuri tried to catch up sideways with Ororo, but she did not notice the approaching truck. Before Yuri could do anything, she smacked against the truck’s front.
Back at the present day, Ororo has arrived in a small place in Alberta, Canada. Just before she wants to enter a bar, she notices a Mugmoni and remembers what happened many years. At that same moment the driver of the bike leaves the bar and asks her if she wants to go for a spin, but Ororo declines the offer. Just as Ororo informs the man that she is looking for a friend and gives a description of Logan, someone inside the bar starts to scream.
Inside the bar, Logan has lifted a man in the air, after he smelled the blood of a sixteen-year-old boy on him. But the man is surprised to hear that it was a kid, because he thought it was a sasquatch. When Logan asks who the man’s accomplice is, another man aims his rifle at Logan. At that moment, Ororo enters the bar and warns the man that Logan will only get angry if he tries to shoot him. After the man with the rifle turns towards Ororo, Logan acts quickly and throws the first man away, after which he uses his claws to cut off the barrel of the rifle. From that point on, the other clients of the bar start to attack Logan. But although Logan is the one, who is being attacked, Ororo asks Logan not to kill them. After Logan asks Ororo if she has a better idea, she tells him that she would drop some hail on them but unfortunately there is not much weather inside the bar for her to play with. After Logan throws one of the men through the widow, Ororo is able to end the battle quickly by blowing the other men unconsciously against the wall. Logan notices that Ororo has been practicing her powers.
As Ororo hears police sirens approaching, Logan informs her that he called them fifteen minutes earlier. Once outside Logan tells Ororo to fly off and to let him deal with the police. While she raps a piece of cloth around her hand, Ororo states that Logan’s confrontation with the police will not end well. But Logan figures that he has no other choice as his ride has already left and that Ororo’s wind can not carry him. After Ororo punches in the window of a truck, the two leave the place.
A little later, someone watches the approaching truck. When Deathstrike asks Dr. Cornelius for permission to attack Logan and Ororo, he refuses and tells her to wait until they arrive, but Deathstrike pretends that their communication channel is breaking down.
Meanwhile in the truck, Ororo wants to know if this was Logan’s reason to leave the X-Men; to go from town to town fighting criminals. But Logan tells her that he was not looking for trouble, after which he shows her the wedding ring, which S.H.I.E.L.D. handed over to Charles after they got it from the captured Weapon X-soldiers. Logan assumes that he has a wife somewhere and wants to unravel a piece of his past. When Ororo tells him that she wants to help him find his wife, he tells her that it is too dangerous as there are probably some Weapon X-soldiers left, who are waiting for him at the end of his search. After Ororo looks at Logan, she asks him if he really wants her away because it is too dangerous or if he is afraid that his wife might find out about their shared kiss.
But before Logan can answer, he suddenly tells Ororo, who is behind the wheel, to stop the truck. After she looks again in front of her, she too sees a woman standing in the middle of the road. Just as they are about to collide, the woman’s fingers grow longer and cuts the truck in two. As Logan steps out, Deathstrike states that it has been a long time, but Logan replies that he has never met her. But then Deathstrike points at Ororo, who barely recognizes Yuri.
Characters:
Cornelius
Deathstrike
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #60
August 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen60t.jpg ( http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8858)
Story Arc: Shock and Awe
Story Title: Part two of two
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor) & Frank D’Armata (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=26015&highlight=d%27armata)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Jared Osborn
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher:Dan Buckley
Not so long ago in El Paso, Texas, the wheelchair-bound Yuriko Oyama received a visit from Doctor Cornelius at the hospital, where Yuri had stayed ever since her bike accident. At first, she did not want to speak to yet another doctor, but when she discovered that he knew Ororo as well, she became interested. Doctor Cornelius told Yuri that Storm used her powers to kill the sole person who supported his research to use mutants as instruments of national security. After the death of Colonel Wraith, Doctor Cornelius was arrested and sent to jail. Doctor Cornelius wanted to take revenge and asked Yuri to help him. With the knowledge he gathered from his experiments on mutants, Cornelius believed that he not only could give Yuri’s ability to walk again back, but to do much more.
But Yuri became suspicious of Cornelius’ plan. She wanted to know why he would go through all of this trouble, when he could easily shoot Ororo. At that point, Cornelius showed her a picture of Ororo and Logan together and explained that it would not be easy to get past Ororo’s attack dog, Logan. Cornelius misled Yuri by telling her that Wolverine was once called Weapon X and that he became a psychopath, whose programming wore off and who had been let loose on the world ever since. Cornelius explained his intention to make of Yuri Wolverine’s equal or even his superior. The only catch was that to become that, she had to undergo an untested surgery, which might kill her. But because Yuri had nothing to lose anymore, he wondered if she would give him his shot at justice.
Back to the present day somewhere in Alberta, Canada, Ororo is astonished to see Yuri still alive, after she heard rumors of her death. But Yuri confirms that Yuri is dead and that there is only Deathstrike now. Deathstrike tells them that she was sent to kill Ororo, after Ororo killed Colonel Wraith. the two X-Men try to make her understand that she was misinformed, but Ororo realises that Deathstrike is not there because of Wraith but because of her.
Just before Wolverine attacks Deathstrike, he tells Ororo to let him handle this. During the fight, Wolverine is able to cut her in the belly but to their surprise Deathstrike heals even faster than Wolverine. When Ororo asks her who gave her these abilities, she only states that she received some DNA of James. When Logan hears his real name, he asked her how she knew it. Again Deathstrike doesn’t answer the question but tells him that she knows much more of him, even about his weaknesses. Suddenly, Deathstrike stabs Wolverine with one of her prolonged fingers. She explains to Ororo that the xiphoid-bone is Wolverine’s only fragile bone. The xiphoid was not yet hardened when they bonded the adamantium to his skeleton. If the fragile xiphoid is broken just right, it could cause Wolverine’s entire nervous system to shut down, resulting eventually in his death. Surprised by Deathstrike’s biological knowledge, Ororo asks her about it. Finally, Deathstrike reveals that she learned it from Doctor Cornelius, the same one who changed Ororo’s ex-boyfriend in a furry, blue freak.
When Deathstrike reminds Ororo that Hank is dead, Ororo gets angry and summons a lightning bolt, which hits a tree. Believing that Ororo was trying to hit her, Deathstrike is surprised when Ororo reveals that she hit the tree intentionally. As Deathstrike looks at the falling tree, she lets go of Wolverine, who manages to dodge the tree just in time. After Ororo checks on Logan, he tells her that Deathstrike is not defeated yet. At that same moment, a Stormchaser-helicopter approaches. After the pilot assures Cornelius that the helicopter is designed to withstand lightning bolts, another member of his crew gives him the news that Deathstrike is unconscious. After Cornelius orders his men to prepare themselves to attack, he tells them that they are only trying to buy Deathstrike the time she needs to come around. He also informs them that their main target is Wolverine and not Storm, although he made Deathstrike believe Storm to be the primary target.
As the helicopter flies over Storm and Wolverine, Cornelius’ men open fire. Only seconds after Wolverine ordered Storm to create a whiteout, so that they would become invisible, Storm summons a wind, so strong that it can even lift Wolverine to the helicopter. Wolverine is able to enter the aircraft by ripping open its belly. As the soldiers inside try to hit Wolverine, some of the bullets end up destroying the tail rotor of the Stormchaser.
After the helicopter crashes and explodes, Deathstrike resurfaces and grabs Ororo by the throat with her flexible, prolonged fingers. After Deathstrike threatens to cut off both of Ororo’s and Logan’s heads, Ororo apologizes for what happened in the past, although she realises that Deathstrike will not accept her apology. At that point Ororo’s eyes start to colour white, which surprises Deathstrike because if Ororo uses a lightning bolt on Deathstrike, it will also fry Ororo. But risking her own life, Ororo does it anyway, after which her heart stops beating. Meanwhile, it turns out that Wolverine has survived both the crash and the explosion. Because Logan doesn’t know CPR, he punches Ororo’s chest once with his fist, after which she barely comes around. After he tells her that she is going to be fine but that she has to rest, he lies her down gently after which he goes to Deathstrike with one claw drawn.
Some time later, Ororo wakes up. Nightcrawler tells her that she is back at the Institute and that she has Logan to thank for. After Kurt teleports out, Ororo asks Logan about Yuri, but he tells her that that is a long story and that he came by to say goodbye to her. He explains to her that he is leaving the Institute again to search for his wife but this time alone, because he doesn’t want to put Ororo in any more danger, especially because he does not know how many Weapon X-people are still out there. After Ororo reminds him that Weapon X came after her, she tells him that he saved her and that she needs him. Logan reminds her that he still has a wife somewhere. But Ororo is convinced that Logan is not the same person as he was to that woman and therefor she considers his wife no longer as his wife. In the end she suggests for both of them to stop living in their pasts and to live for the present and the future.
Characters:
Cornelius
Deathstrike
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #37-48 (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41452) | Ultimate X-Men (2001) #49-60 | Ultimate X-Men (2001) #61-65 (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1409277#post1409277)
September 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen49t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=7895)
Story Arc: The Tempest
Story Title: Part 4
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Brandon Peterson (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16197&highlight=peterson)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Artist: Brandon Peterson (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16197&highlight=peterson)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
First Appearance: Apocalypse
At the Xavier Institute, Professor X is keeping an eye, with the help of cameras, on the whereabouts of his students, who weren’t allowed to go with the elder X-Men to look for Mister Sinister. Suddenly, a voice from behind him tells Xavier what a dirty old man Charles is as he is spying on his underaged students. Startled by Sinister’s sudden appearance, Charles Xavier turns around and comes eye to eye with Mister Sinister, who explains to Charles that he was able to sneak into the mansion unnoticed because cameras aren’t able to register him. When Professor X speaks Sinister’s name out loud, Sinister isn’t that surprised that Charles knows his name as Sinister is also well informed about Charles by Lord Apocalypse. When Charles tries to telepathically attack Sinister, Sinister uses his hypnotic power to keep Charles motionless in his wheelchair, after which Sinister pushes the wheelchair to the top of the stairs. With a single push, Charles falls down the stairs.
Meanwhile in the X-Wing, Wolverine orders Cyclops to fly faster but Scott is already putting the aircraft to its limits. In the back, Storm realises the mistake they have made by sending all their heavy firepower away in search for Mister Sinister, leaving the mansion defenseless. Nightcrawler tries to comfort her by telling her that the professor can handle anything. Jean tries to contact Charles telepathically, but she doesn’t get any response, so she assumes that he has gone to bed as it already is late.
Back at the mansion, Mister Sinister wonders if Charles’ mutant soul is innocent enough for Lord Apocalypse to accept. If Sinister delivers ten innocent souls to Apocalypse, he’ll complete Sinister’s transformation into a horseman of Apocalypse. Just as Sinister is about to kill Charles, his hands, which hold two guns, get frozen by Iceman but Sinister is able to free his hands by firing his guns. At the same time, Sinister is able to hit Iceman twice in his iced-up chest. Two seconds later, when Rogue comes running into the room, Mister Sinister immediately fires at her but Rogue doesn’t get hurt because Shadowcat made her untangible, after which Kitty phases Rogue through the floor.
But Rogue’s escape gives Sinister only pleasure because he can now have fun hunting them. As Sinister walks through the rooms, Angel is able to surprise him and uses his wings to knock Sinister’s guns out of his hands. But then Angel makes the mistake of assuming that Sinister is defenseless without his guns. Before Angel knows it, Sinister uses his hypnotic power again and orders Angel to choke himself with his own hand.
Lost in thought, Sinister is caught by surprise again when he gets hit by a dozen arrows of light, shot by Dazzler, which hit him so hard that he is thrown outside through a window. But Dazzler isn’t done with him and climbs out of the trashed window, after which she goes to Sinister, who is still lying still on the ground. Just as Dazzler is about to hit Sinister with her power, which she channels through her index finger, Mister Sinister grabs her hand and twists her entire arm around her back. And like some hostage situations, he puts a knife at her throat.
In the broken window, Rogue appears with a gun in her hand and threatens to kill Sinister. Although Warren, who broke free from Sinister’s hypnotic hold on him after Dazzler shot Sinister, orders Rogue to put the gun down, but she doesn’t change her mind about killing him because Sinister killed Iceman. At that moment, Shadowcat appears and tells Rogue that Bobby is alive and that he probably only broke a rib or two. Still, Rogue is confident enough that she can make the shot because she was practising shooting cans off of fences before she even became a mutant. But Angel tells her that that doesn’t matter as they are X-Men and that X-Men don’t kill. When Angel reaches for Rogue’s arm, he accidentally touches a small uncovered part of her arm, after which Rogue takes over his power.
Although she has dropped the gun, an enraged Rogue goes after Sinister, after he thanks Rogue for doing his job by taking out Angel. But with Angel’s borrowed wings and speed, Rogue is able to surprise Sinister. After she grabs him, she flies him higher and higher. At one point, she stops to ask him to give her one good reason why she shouldn’t drop him. As the two are still aloft, Sinister tells her that he is certain that he can survive the fall but wonders if she’ll be able. Using his hypnotic power, Sinister orders Rogue to fall.
Luckily for her, Storm arrives just in time to distract her long enough for Rogue to snap out of Sinister’s control. To distract Rogue, Storm not only uses her own voice but also the sound of thunder and a display of lightning. When Storm tells Rogue to put Sinister down gently, Rogue asks Ororo why she is acting all soft. Rogue believes that Sinister is just as bad as the people, who killed Hank, and that the expression of ‘an eye for an eye’ is more than valid in Sinister’s case. Storm reminds her that that has never solved anything in the past and therefore Storm want to try something new, by not killing Sinister. When Sinister agrees with Storm and tells Rogue to let him go, Rogue knocks him out cold, after which the two women fly him back to the ground.
Three hours later, S.H.I.E.L.D. has arrived to take Sinister to a secret place. Nick Fury informs the X-Men that they have proof that Sinister killed the four mutants. Charles then asks Nick who Mister Sinister really is. Nick tells him that his full name is Nathaniel Essex and that he used to work as a bioengineer for an Oscorp subsidiary. Essex wanted to perform experiments involving hypnotic persuasion on humans. But when he didn’t get permission, Essex started testing on himself and eventually he went crazy. After he started to talk with the voices in his head, he got fired, after which he disappeared.
After Nick has left the school grounds, Ororo appologizes to Charles for not being at the school when Sinister attacked. But Charles feels that he is to blame because he decided that the younger X-Men couldn’t leave the school and that because of his decision, the younger ones have had to go through the entire ordeal. Charles also realises that he can’t keep his students at the school against their will and that he has to let them be part of the world, because they won’t be his students forever.
In a prison cell at the Triskelion of S.H.I.E.L.D., Mister Sinister is struggling to keep his mind together. Suddenly the voice of Lord Apocalypse speaks to him and tells Sinister that he has had enough of Sinister and that he is going to find him a new horseman. But when Sinister begs Apocalypse not to leave him and that he’ll do anything for him, Apocalypse orders him to choke himself.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Apocalypse
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mister Sinister (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43179)
Nick Fury (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7371)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #50
October 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen50t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=7896) http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen50wwcvt.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=10475)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Part 1
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Cover Colorist: Richard Isanove (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14956&highlight=isanove)
Cover Penciler: (Wizard World Chicago sketch variant) Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
Outside the Xavier Institute, Jean Grey is surprised to see Scott Summers, because she thought that Scott went to the fair on Coney Island with the other X-Men. Scott doesn’t even try to come up with a believable excuse and admits that he didn’t want to go on a mindless field trip without Jean. Jean doesn’t mind Scott being there but she explains to him that she needs once a month time to herself to keep her powers under control, for which she needs peace and quiet.
While they watch a gorgeous sunset, Jean wonders out loud if the sunset’s beautiful colour scheme is really caused by pollution. But Scott is unsure of the answer because for him all sunsets look like shades of red. Suddenly Jean tells Scott to take off his glasses but Scott doesn’t understand why. When Jean tells him to take them off to take them off, Scott reminds her that he can’t control his powers without the glasses. After Jean asks him how long it has been building up inside of him, Scott eventually opens his eyes without his glasses.
On Coney Island, Peter starts to get angry when he still hasn’t won a price with a game that he has been playing for thirty minutes. And because Peter doesn’t want to give up, the other X-Men decide to go their separate ways. Alison is the only person that remains behind with Peter. Eventually Peter gives up, after which the two check out the rest of the fair. When Peter refers to Alison as Dazzler, she gets angry because her name is Ali and not Dazzler. She reminds Peter that Dazzler was the name of the band in which she played, up until Charles Xavier broke them up. On his turn Peter tells Ali that she joined the X-Men on her own free will, but Alison is convinced that the professor tricked her brain and forced her to stay at the school.
Somewhere else at the fair, Ororo is enraged at the sight of a poster to a show, in which a mutant is featured, who is described on the poster as being half-human, half-animal. Storm is convinced that the girl is being exploited but Wolverine suggests that maybe the girl is exploiting the viewers to earn herself a little cash. But Wolverine understands where Ororo is coming from as he realises that it reminds Ororo of the way that humans treated Hank. But Ororo tells him that it isn’t only because of Hank. Ororo is also thinking of people like Nightcrawler and Angel, who couldn’t come along to the fair, because of the way they look. She also wonders how awful they must feel because of it.
At the same time at the Xavier Institute, Nightcrawler and Angel are using the Danger Room. In the scenario, that they have created, Nightcrawler, as the Dread Pirate Bluetail, is trying to kidnap Captain Eagle’s women. But to get to the women, Pirate Bluetail has to defeat Captain Eagle and his army of the undead. During the fight, Angel is worried that they will get in trouble for using the Danger Room unauthorized. But Nightcrawler assures him that the professor doesn’t even know what they are doing and that it will be their little secret. However, in the control room of the danger room, Charles Xavier has a grinn on his face while he overhears their conversation.
Back at the fair, Bobby and Kitty are waiting for Rogue to return from the restroom. Because Kitty is getting unpatient, Bobby asks her what her problem is with Rogue. When Kitty brings up Rogue’s past with Weapon X and Magneto, Bobby tells Kitty that it wasn’t Rogue’s fault and that Rogue has changed since then. But Kitty isn’t convinced of that as Rogue tried to kill Mister Sinister the other day. Because Bobby is sure that Kitty doesn’t like Rogue for other reasons than she mentioned, Bobby asks Kitty if she is jealous of him and Rogue being together. Kitty responds that she doesn’t consider the two together because Rogue can’t even touch him. Although Bobby states that he doesn’t need physical contact, Kitty notices that Bobby doesn’t sound convincing. She suspects that Bobby is scared to be in a real relationship. Before Kitty knows it, Bobby kisses her. At that moment Rogue appears and although Rogue tells Kitty to go intangible within three seconds, Rogue is still able to hit her. While Iceman checks on Kitty and finds her unconscious, he asks Rogue if she is insane. At the same time he confesses that he kissed Kitty first and not the other way around.
Suddenly, a stranger shows up and participates in the conversation. When Bobby looks up from Kitty, he comes eye to eye with Gambit. When Gambit charges one of his playing cards, Bobby ices himself up, to which Gambit reacts by throwing the card at Iceman. Iceman gets thrown back against one of the fair’s attractions. Unfortunately for Gambit, the other X-Men arrive quickly. Storm recognizes Remy LeBeau from the time she and Charles Xavier tried to recruit him. Gambit informs them that since then he found a better clan, who helped him improve himself on several levels. Powerwise, Gambit shows them his improvement by throwing one of his cards and destroying the horizontal axis of an attraction called the Wonder Wheel. Now that the wheel isn’t attached anymore, it starts to roll on its own. In a joint effort, Colossus, Storm and Dazzler stop the wheel and free its passengers.
Meanwhile Wolverine deals with Gambit. Gambit is the first to attack and tries to hit Wolverine on the head with his bo staff, but the staff breaks in half. On his turn, Wolverine uses his adamantium claws but Gambit is just in time to grab them and to hold them back. Because Wolverine is convinced that Gambit can’t win anymore, he tells Gambit to give up, but Gambit is already charging up Wolverine’s claws. Once Wolverine sees what Gambit did to his claws, Gambit warns him that Wolverine should better pull back if he doesn’t want to blow up half the fair. Wolverine doesn’t dare to call Gambit’s bluff and therefor he retracts his claws. But Gambit isn’t done yet and charges up one of the two broken pieces of his bo staff. He puts the piece into Wolverine’s mounth and lets it explode.
While the explosion occurs, Gambit jumps at Rogue to shield her from the explosion. After Rogue begs Gambit not to kill her, he explains to her that he isn’t a killer, but a thief who was sent to steal her.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #51
November 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen51t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=7920)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Part 2
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)with John Dell (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14255&highlight=dell)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Cover Colorist: Richard Isanove (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14956&highlight=isanove)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
First Appearance: Andrea Von Strucker, Andreas Von Strucker
In one of the dark rooms at Fenris International, Gambit is playing solitaire while he waits for Rogue to come out of the ether sedation, which he gave her an hour ago at the fair. When Rogue finally comes around, Gambit assures her that she will be fine and he suggests that the two could play some hearts. But when Rogue says that he is a pervert, Gambit tells her that they will have to play a little war instead.
An hour earlier at the fair on Coney Island, Storm and the rest of the X-Men find Wolverine, whose face has been partly blown off by Gambit. Wolverine tells them that Gambit took Rogue and that he is going after them, although Storm thinks that Wolverine isn’t up to it. When Iceman wants to join Wolverine, Colossus stops him, after which the two start to bicker. In the end, Storm intervenes and orders Colossus to bring the other X-Men back to the school, where they will have to get their orders from Charles himself. Just before Storm goes after Wolverine, she gives them a message for Charles. Charles has to scan for the mutant Remy LeBeau, if he can’t find Rogue.
Back at Fenris International, Gambit tells Rogue that he isn’t going to hurt her. When Rogue orders him to take off her handcuffs, Gambit informs her that he knows how her powers work. Moments later Gambit asks for Rogue’s forgiveness because he regrets how things went but he assures her that it was all for the best. While the conversation continues their two heads come closer and closer to eachother. Suddenly, Rogue calls him a moron, after which she shows him, by kissing him, that her powers don’t just work through her fingers. As Rogue takes over his powers, she also gets to see flashes of Remy’s past. Because Remy wants her out of his mind, he pushes her away. In the fight that follows, Rogue is able to hit Remy unconscious with her handcuffs, after which she shatters the handcuffs by charging and blowing them up. Just before Rogue blows up the door, she picks up Gambit’s cards. When she enters the corridor, she comes face to face with armored men.
Meanwhile the X-Men of Coney Island have arrived at the mansion, where the professor hasn’t had any luck in finding Rogue nor Gambit. When Cyclops asks the other X-Men if they didn’t see in which direction the two were heading, Dazzler tells him that Gambit made sure that the rest of the X-Men were occupied with rescueing the innocent people. From this information, Cyclops concludes that Gambit had some good intel about how the X-Men work and that that intel didn’t come cheap. On this note, the X-Men start guessing who Gambit’s employer is. Suddenly, Marvel Girl suggests that she and the professor could combine their powers to broaden their search for Rogue. Charles agrees to this and asks the other X-Men to leave the room so that the two can concentrate properly.
At Fenris International, the armed soldiers, who are also called the Wolfpack, order Rogue to drop the cards. But Rogue attacks them because she realizes that there must be a reason why they haven’t shot her yet. In the fight that follows, the soldiers trade their guns for tasers, which implicates that Rogue’s assumption was correct. With the help of Gambit’s powers and memories, Rogue is able to find her a way out. But when she destroys one of the windows, she finds herself cornered because the window is located on one of the upper levels of a skycraper. After Rogue turns around, she meets the presidents of Fenris International; Andrea and Andreas Von Strucker. Andreas reveals to Rogue that they were the ones that sent Gambit after her. Just as Rogue is taking her deck of cards, Andrea and Andreas join hands, fire at her and destroy Rogue’s cards. Rogue is surprised to find out that the Von Struckers are also mutants. Andreas explains that they believe that mutants can only become equal to humans through economic empowerment. But to achieve that, they sometimes have to use creative measures like corporate espionage, for which they use people like Gambit. After this revelation, the Von Struckers tell Rogue that they want her to become a spy as well and that they will help her blend in with the world of high finance. They are certain that Rogue could help them make sure that Fenris International stays ahead of their rivals. When Rogue asks them why she would help them after they kidnapped her, Andreas explains that the kidnapping was necessary to extract her from her past and to insert her quietly in her more profitable future. Surprised that they would assume that Rogue would throw away her old life for cash, Gambit informs Rogue that the Von Struckers can help Rogue to control her powers. At that point, Andreas makes her their proposition. In exchanges for an exclusive contract with Fenris, Rogue will gain control over her powers through Fenris’ patented bioengineering process.
Somewhere else in New York, Storm finally catches up with Wolverine. But Wolverine isn’t happy because he lost Rogue and Gambit’s scent after the wind lied down. After Storm summons the wind again, Wolverine tells Storm that she shouldn’t be there when he deals with Gambit. Storm can’t believe that Wolverine is going to kill him just because Gambit defeated him. But Wolverine explains that it has nothing to do with him but everything with Rogue and what Gambit might have done to her. Wolverine confesses that he considers Rogue as his kid sister because the two of them have been used and abused by the same monsters. Wolverine feels also guilty that he hasn’t reached out to Rogue, but Storm tells him that he has been there for the X-Men and that he has changed. Wolverine is surprised to hear these words coming from Ororo because he still considered her to be a kid. After Ororo tells him that she isn’t a kid anymore, the two kiss eachother.
Characters:
Andrea Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44524)
Andreas Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44525)
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #52
December 2004
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen52t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8078)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Part 3
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Cover Colorist: Richard Isanove (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14956&highlight=isanove)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)& John Barber
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
At Fenris International, Rogue confronts Andrea and Andreas Von Strucker and asks them why she should trust them. The Von Struckers start to explain their goals by comparing themselves and their company to Fenris, the Norse wolf who brought about the twilight of the Norse gods. Just like Fenris, the Von Struckers want to end humanity’s financial dominance over mutantkind. And even though Gambit tells Rogue that the Von Struckers are legit, she questions their offer. They promised to help her control her powers by a bioengineering process, in exchange for her to become a spy for their company. But because Rogue can’t believe that they have an instant cure to her problem, Andreas informs her that they have proof to hold up their end of the bargain.
Elsewhere in New York, Wolverine and Storm are kissing. Suddenly Wolverine pushes her away and tells her that they can’t be a couple, after which he brings up the age aspect. When Storm reminds him of his relationship with Jean, he tells her that Jean and he are old souls, who got their share of demons. Surprised by his words, Storm reminds him that she watched Hank get murdered. For Logan, this is another reason why Ororo should not need more misery in her life; that and the fact that Logan doesn’t even know if he is married or not. When Ororo tells him that he can’t deny the feelings they have for eachother, Wolverine suddenly tells her to shut up. Wolverine has picked up Gambit’s scent again and goes after him alone.
At Fenris International, Rogue is astonished that the Von Struckers gave her a costume to wear as their end of the bargain. After Andrea tells her to be patient, Andreas instructs Gambit to attack her. Although Rogue is able to evade his first attack, Gambit is able to corner her against a wall. Gambit tells her to steal his powers, but she refuses because she doesn’t want to go inside his head again. At that moment, Gambit confesses that he has a bunch of new thoughts in his head since Rogue kissed him. Enraged by his words, Rogue slaps him hard in the face with her bare hand. It is only after a few moments that Rogue realises that she didn’t steal Gambit’s powers.
At that point, the Von Struckers continue their explanation about the suit. The suit is made of a material that dampens mutant abilities as a small electrical current is passed through its fibers. If Rogue signs up with them, the material will be crafted in her vascular network and will be powered by her own biochemical energy. From that point on, Rogue will be able to mentally regulate her powers. While Rogue is astound by their explanation, Gambit confirms that he is living proof of what they told her.
But Rogue is troubled by the fact that Gambit is robbing people for Fenris. But Gambit tells her that he only steals from corporations, which he considers as being monsters. But Rogue is confused with his explanation of corporations, because she thought that Fenris International was also a corporation. The Von Struckers explain that they are the next stage in corporate evolution because they are a company that is run by mutants for mutants. They always funnel the profits, which they gain through people like Gambit, back into the mutant community. But the Von Struckers admit that they can’t do it alone.
Back in the hangar of the Xavier Institute, Iceman is becoming restless as he has to wait to go after Rogue. Shadowcat informs him that they can all go after her together once the professor and Jean have pinpointed her location. But then Iceman starts to argue with her about what she supposedly did to him back at the fair. When Shadowcat tries to explain who really was at fault, Dazzler tells her not to get upset. But then Dazzler states that Kitty might still become Iceman’s girlfriend, only as Iceman’s second choice and if they should find Rogue dead. At that moment Kitty gets furious and phases her hand in Dazzler’s head. In the end Cyclops breaks the two up.
Meanwhile, the Von Struckers want to know if Rogue has reached a decision. Rogue informs them that she has to pass because Rogue considers her powers as a reminder of all the awful things she has done in the past. She hopes that her curse may be lifted one day but only after she has earned it. To complement things, Rogue also states that she has a problem with the stealing part of the agreement. But unfortunately for Rogue, the Von Struckers tell her that she has to join them, because to them she already signed the agreement the moment she put on the special suit. When Gambit interferes in the conversation, the Von Struckers threaten to either reveal his secrets or to even kill him. When Gambit states that both he and Rogue will leave, the Von Struckers hit him hard with their power.
At the Xavier Institute, the professor and Marvel Girl have joined forces and have entered the astral plane, to which Jean has never been. Marvel Girl is puzzled about the way they look on the astral plane. Charles explains that their minds often provide them with forms that comfort. And often the subconsciousness choses the form of a time, when the person was at his most confident. After this explanation, the two start their search and they rather quickly discover four faint mutant lifeforms within the Empire State Building. When Charles senses that one of the mutants is badly injured, he tells Marvel Girl to warn the X-Men.
In the Empire State Building, the Von Struckers threaten to atomize Rogue if she doesn’t undergo the operation. They also inform her that she can’t hurt them, because the suit suppresses her powers to them until she agrees to join them. Suddenly, Rogue is hit by one of Gambit’s cards, which compromises Rogue’s suit. Now that Rogue is able to use her powers again, she attacks the Von Struckers and steals their power. Together Rogue and Gambit head for the exit by taking the elevator, but at the same time Andreas orders the Wolfpack to intercept them and to take them out. Once Rogue and Gambit arrive on the ground level, they have to defeat the Wolfpack, in which they succeed. But Gambit’s troubles aren’t over yet because Wolverine has just arrived.
Characters:
Andrea Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44524)
Andreas Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44525)
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men #53
January 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen53t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8373)
Story Arc: Cry Wolf
Story Title: Conclusion
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Inker: Danny Miki (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13115&highlight=miki)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Penciler: Andy Kubert (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15033&highlight=kubert)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)& John Barber
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor-In-Chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Special thanks to: C.B. Cebulski (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=13408&highlight=cebulski)
Quit: Rogue (X-Men)
To get to the Empire State Building and to Rogue, the X-Men are using the X-Wing. When Cyclops asks Marvel Girl if she is certain of the coordinates, she recapulates what she and the professor discovered. Cyclops notices that Marvel Girl suddenly refers to Professor Xavier as Charles and asks her about it telepathically, but Jean tells him that this isn’t the time. To the other X-Men she continues that the professor believes that the two unknown mutants, that they registered, are called Von Strucker. Angel, who knows the Von Struckers and their company, is surprised to find out that they are mutants. When Colossus tries to figure out how everything and everybody fits into the big picture, Iceman gets angry because he only cares about what happens to Rogue.
On the ground floor of the Empire State Building, Wolverine attacks Gambit, but surprisingly enough Wolverine doesn’t use his claws. He hits Gambit on the forehead with his own head. After this, Wolverine kicks Gambit very hard. Even though Rogue begs Wolverine to stop and tries to explain the situation, Wolverine doesn’t hear her.
In the office of the Von Struckers, Andreas is trying to get a status report on the situation downstairs but nobody of the Wolfpack answers. When Andrea tries to convince him to write Gambit and Rogue off as bad investments, Andreas grabs Andrea by the throat and tells her that it is no longer business but personal. Andreas wants revenge because Rogue touched him, which he considers a privilege only reserved for Andrea. When an angered Andreas uses their power to destroy their desk, the X-Men are just in time to arrive for Dazzler to notice the explosion.
Because of the explosion, Cyclops wants Angel to check out the situation to make sure that there aren’t any hostages. When Iceman utters his desire to attack immediately, Cyclops explains the consequences of such an action. But then Iceman turns to Nightcrawler and orders him to teleport them both in the office. After Iceman threatens to freeze Nightcrawler’s ears off, Nightcrawler does what he is ordered. Almost immediately after they arrive, Nightcrawler and Iceman get hit hard by the Von Struckers, but Iceman doesn’t give up and attacks them with his mutant power.
On the ground floor, Wolverine keeps on battering Gambit, until Gambit is able to swing his body around and is able to break Wolverine’s knee. After Wolverine puts his knee back in place, he goes again after Gambit but Wolverine is stopped by an armed Rogue.
Meanwhile outside, Angel is flying towards the Empire State Building, carrying Colossus. At the right moment, Angel lets go of Colossus. Just before hitting the windows of the office, Colossus changes into his steel form. In a matter of seconds, Colossus grabs Andrea and Andreas and separates them. Eventually, the Von Struckers tell the X-Men where they can find Rogue. And because the X-Men realise that there is no point in taking the Von Struckers to the police, because their lawyers will get them out of prison within fifteen minutes, they let them go.
Below, Rogue explains to Wolverine that Gambit isn’t the enemy and that Gambit even helped her defeat the Wolfpack. When Wolverine reminds her of what Gambit did on Coney Island, Gambit explains that he wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t sure that everybody would have left the place unharmed. On her turn, Rogue reminds Wolverine that all three of them have done bad things in the past. When Wolverine tells Rogue that she can’t believe anything Gambit has told her, Rogue lashes out at him and tells him that he can spare the lectures. Rogue has heard the stories of what Wolverine has done and she is convinced that he hasn’t changed. As proof of her conviction, she refers to the beaten-up Gambit. At that point Storm enters the building and asks what is going on. Wolverine tells her that Rogue is right about the fact that he doesn’t belong with the X-Men. After Wolverine tells Ororo that he isn’t her boyfriend and that he doesn’t like her, he leaves the building. Just before Storm goes after Wolverine, she informs Rogue that Rogue is an ungrateful brat, who has no right to be self-righteous with anyone. In the end, Ororo reveals to Rogue that Wolverine considers her as a sister, which surprises Rogue.
After Storm’s departure, Rogue tells Gambit to leave as well before the other X-Men arrive, but Gambit asks her to come with him. And although Gambit knows that their first encounter didn’t go well, he knows that nobody will be able to understand what the two of them have gone through. When Rogue tells him that she wants to be alone, he proposes for them to be alone together When Gambit continues, he reminds her that she knows who he really is and that his heart is in the right place. During the conversation, Rogue reveals to him that her real name is Marian. In the end Gambit kisses Rogue again, although he knows what will happen.
At that moment, the other X-Men arrive and witness the shared kiss, even Iceman. When Scott informs her that they have come to take her home, she informs the X-Men that she is going to leave the Institute and that she wants to try something different. Just before Rogue and Gambit leave, she asks the X-Men to give her a little space.
Characters:
Andrea Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44524)
Andreas Von Strucker (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44525)
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Gambit (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7373)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Rogue (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7456)
Shadowcat
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #54
February 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/ultxmen54t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8107)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Chapter One
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger) with Scott Koblish (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=15022)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Cover Artist: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Assistant Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Longshot, Mojo Adams, Major Domo
On the island of Krakoa, the mutant called Longshot is being hunted down. Although the hunter is able to corner Longshot, Longshot tells him that he doesn’t want to hurt him. When the hunter aims to kill Longshot, Longshot takes some razor blades out of his pocket and throws them at the hunter, who was told that Longshot would be unarmed. Longshot is able to injure the hunter lightly in the face with his first attempt, but when he is ready to throw again, the hunter is faster and hits Longshot with his gun. As Longshot sits on his knees, the hunter takes a big knife and asks Longshot if he has any last words. When Longshot tells the hunter that he is sorry, the hunter wrongfully assumes that Longshot is talking about Longshot killing a man called Lord Scheele. But instead Longshot is sorry for what is about to happen to the hunter. Seconds later , the man is struck by lightning. As Longshot stands over the hunter’s body, he asks for someone to help the man.
At that point, a man called Mojo Adams takes over and states that Longshot has survived yet another hunter in Mojo’s live web program called ‘Hunt for Justice’.
In New York, at the Xavier Institute Scott, Jean and Kitty have just watched the entire program and wonder if the show is for real. When Jean suggests that it may be a publicity stunt, Kitty informs them of a man called Kraven the Hunter, who was real and hunted people down on live television. Seeing the possible seriousness of the matter, Scott asks Jean to inform the Professor, but Jean is already ahead of him and warned the Profesoor ten seconds ago.
Not much later, Professor X and his X-Men have an assembly. Professor Xavier informs them that the recordings of the program are authentic and that they are recorded on Krakoa, an island nation off of the coast of Genosha. Angel is able to tell the other X-Men that Genosha lies south of Madagascar and that the government there has outlawed all mutants. Professor X confirms Angel’s statement but he also states that some mutants remained in hiding. One of those who stayed was Arthur Centino. After being found guilty of the assasination of a Genoshan politician called Lord Joseph Scheele, Arthur was sent to the island of Krakoa. When Mojo Adams came up with the idea of publicly exterminating convicted mutants, the Genoshan government saw it as an acceptable way of discouraging possible mutant uprisings. From day one, three months ago, ‘Hunt for Justice’ has been on the number one spot in the ratings. When Cyclops asks why the American government has not done anything to stop this, Charles explains to him that the United States has little ethical ground to condemn other countries, considering that it was not that long ago, that they themselves ordered to destroy innocent mutants.
At that point, Colossus asks the professor when they are going to attack, but Charles tells him that they can’t interfere with another sovereign nation’s justice system. But Charles wants to do a fact-finding mission with some of the more passable human X-Men. The professor chooses Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Colossus, Shadowcat and Iceman to go on this mission, but Iceman doesn’t want to bust out someone who was found guilty. But Charles makes it clear that they are not going to Krakoa, because it is too dangerous there, but instead they will go to Genosha to find evidence that Longshot was framed. When Colossus hears Charles’ plan, he gets furious with him, because Longshot could be long dead before they find the evidence they need. After Colossus wants to know if Xavier has lost his mind, Xavier tells him to stand down, but Colossus does not give up. After Colossus states that he wished that he was still with the Red Mafiya, because they looked after their own, Xavier orders Colossus to stay home as well. Jean even tries to convince the professor that they could use Peter’s muscle, but as the professor is leaving the room, he tells her not to question his decisions.
On Krakoa, a film crew tries to locate Longshot, after the cameraman lost track of him. Before the two even know it, Longshot jumps out of a tree and takes the two out. Using the camera, Longshot sends a message out to Mojo that he is coming after him. At Mojo’s house, Mojo’s assistant Major Domo suggests to delete this scene, but Mojo does not want that because it shows exactly how psychotic Longshot really is. When Major Domo raises his concern that their international viewers might be getting tired of watching Longshot, Mojo does not share his concern and believes that they can go on with Longshot. It is only after Major Domo reminds Mojo of their responsibility towards Lord Scheele’s friends and family, that Mojo agrees to call in a big gun.
Upon their arrival at the airport of New York, Cyclops feels uncomfortable with their covert work, because people might recognize them from the covers of the magazines, on which they have been featured. But Jean reassures him that the people around them will only see them as some N.Y.U. students, who are going on a school trip. But Cyclops is still not thrilled about the trip, especially because he is used to pilot an aircraft. When Jean points out that flying couch has its advantages as well, Scott can not follow, after which Jean explains telephatically that these planes have private lavatories, which the X-Wing does not have.
When Kitty makes a comment about Scott and Jean’s behaviour, all Bobby does is grunt, which annoys the hell out of her. She tells him that she knows that he blames her for the fact that Rogue left with Gambit, but she also informs him that grunting at her will not bring Rogue back. The only thing Kitty asks of him, is that he treats her like a human being. But again, Bobby only grunts at her request.
Back at the mansion, the other X-Men are trying out a new program that Angel worked on, but Colossus is not in the mood as he is too concerned about what is happening on Krakoa. Although Nightcrawler is also concerned, he has faith that Scott’s team will exonerate Longshot. When Colossus asks Nightcrawler what he would do if it were Storm on Krakoa, Nightcrawler has to admit that he had not thought about it like that. At that point, Dazzler shows up at the door and asks them what they are going to do about it. When Nightcrawler brings up the problem how to get to Krakoa, Dazzler reminds them of the X-Wing and suggests to hot-wire it. After Nightcrawler thinks about it, Angel utters his disbelief that they are actually thinking of doing this. In the end Dazzler leaves the decision with Colossus, who starts to grin.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Shadowcat
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #55
March 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen55t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8277)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Chapter Two
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)& Frank D’Armata (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=26015&highlight=d%27armata)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Loretta Krol
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Cover Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Spiral, Arcade
Using the X-Wing, Angel, Dazzler, Nightcrawler and Colossus are heading for Krakoa, but their trip to the island is a bit rough, because Angel has never flown the real X-Wing before, only a simulation of it. When Dazzler complains about Angel’s flying skills, Angel reminds the others that he did not want to be there, because he is afraid of getting expelled for stealing the X-Wing. Nightcrawler reminds him that they did not have a choice, seeing that Longshot is about to get slaughtered. Colossus even suggests that Professor Xavier might have planted the idea of their rescue mission in their minds. When Angel asks why the Professor would have done that, instead of just telling them directly, Colossus assumes that the Professor needs to be able to deny the fact, if the four of them should get caught. But Dazzler believes that they will not be that lucky, because if they are caught, they will probably be the next to get hunted down in Mojo’s show. Using Dazzler’s statement, Angel repeats that they should have waited for the findings of the other X-Men’s investigation.
On Krakoa, Mojo Adams presents Arcade, who will be the next hunter in ‘Hunt for Justice’, to his viewers. Mojo informs them that Arcade comes from California, where he built a video-game empire, after he designed ‘Muderworld’. When Mojo continues Arcade’s biography and how he eventually ended up in Mojo’s program, Arcade starts to lose his patience. Eventually, he puts a gun to Mojo’s head. Although Mojo’s assistant Major Domo wants to intervene, Mojo orders him to keep filming. As Major Domo obeys, Arcade reveals why he wants to participate in Mojo’s program. Arcade seeks justice for the death of his sister, who was killed when Magneto blew up the Brooklyn Bridge. Because Magneto was taken to the Triskelion, Arcade did not get his revenge. Now, Arcade wants to have it by hunting down mutants on Krakoa.
After Arcade leaves the room, Mojo feels kind of sad, because he realises that Arcade is going to succeed in killing Longshot, who has been Mojo’s best player so far. Major Domo tries to comfort his boss by stating that there will be others, but Mojo is not so sure about that, because most of the Genoshan mutants have been exiled or are in hiding. At that point, Major Domo suggests for them to go worldwide.
Upon their arrival on Genosha, Scott, Jean, Kitty and Bobby notice how the entire country is hung on ‘Hunt for Justice’, which makes Scott sick. When Bobby compares this situation to when Lee Harvey Oswald got killed in the United States, Kitty reminds him that they don’t know if Longshot did kill Lord Scheele. As the two continue their heated discussion, Jean intervenes telepathically because she does not want them to blow their cover. As they leave the airport, a woman with long, white hair follows them.
Meanwhile on Krakoa, the other X-Men arrive as well, although their flight did not go as smoothly. When Kurt suggests to Warren to scout the area, Warren prefers to stay with the plane, because he has a bad feeling about the island. After Colossus tells the others that he does not want to force Angel, the three X-Men start their search for Longshot.
Back at Mojo’s place, Mojo and Major Domo watch how Longshot stands at the end of a cliff. Scared that Longshot might want to commit suicide and to rob them of their finale, Mojo decides to give Arcade Longshot’s coordinates. Suddenly, the cameras stop transmitting. Major Domo thinks that there must have been an accident at the main relay station. Immediately, Mojo contacts Arcade and asks him what is going on. Arcade believes that Longshot has decided to attack there where he knows it will hurt Mojo the most, namely his viewer ratings. When Mojo suggests to bring in help, Arcade tells him not to bother, because he has already arrived at the relay station.
Arcade, however, is surprised when he does not find Longshot there, but the X-Men. When Arcade opens fire, the bullets ricochet off of Colossus’ body. When Colossus grabs Arcade, Arcade uses a sound device, which emits a deafening sound, which forces Colossus to lose his hold of Arcade. Unfortunately for Arcade, Dazzler used the deafening sound to power up. Although Dazzler hits him hard, Arcade does not give up and shoots some of Spider-Man’s webbing to glue Dazzler’s hands to her mounth. But Arcade does not get the chance to catch his breath, because Nightcrawler attacks him by teleporting in front of Arcade and punching him in the face. After Nightcrawler’s second, successful attack, Arcade is able to figure out where Nightcrawler will show up for his next attack. As Nightcrawler appears again, Arcade stabs Nightcrawler with a knife.
At that point, Longshot appears, after which Arcade grabs Nightcrawler and uses him as a hostage. As Longshot jumps of a tree, Arcade fires multiple times but misses. When Longshot lands on his feet, he asks Arcade not to fire the gun, but Arcade does it anyway, after which the gun backfires.
While Colossus ties Arcade to a tree, Nightcrawler asks Longshot how he knew that the gun would backfire. Longshot explains that he can alter the probabilities of a certain situation to work out in his favor. When Longshot states that he is just a very lucky person, Colossus wants to know why Longshot is still on Krakoa, if he is supposed to be so lucky. Longshot states that he was just waiting for something to fall out of the sky.
On Genosha, the other X-Men have arrived at the spot, where Lord Scheele was supposedly killed. Although Jean tries, she is not picking up any psychic residu of a struggle. When Bobby reminds his teammates that Longshot was found with the murder weapon in his hands, Scott states that he believes that this is not the spot, where Lord Scheele was murdered. When Scott studied the crime-scene photos, he noticed that there was not enough blood at the crime-scene itself. Still, he wants Kitty to go underground in search of foreign objects.
As they wait for Kitty to return, Jean wonders who would have a motive to kill Lord Scheele, besides all the mutants on Genosha. Scott reveals to her that Scheele only became a martyr with humans after he was murdered. In fact, before his death, Scheele was one of the few politicians, who was opposed to the relocation of Genosha’s mutants. Therefor, Scott believes that Scheele might have been killed because of his point of view.
Suddenly, Jean becomes aware of a presence but before she knows it, she is knocked out with a police stick by the woman from the airport. As the woman takes off her coat, the X-Men see that the woman has six arms, holding six different kind of weapons in her hands.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Arcade (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44742)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Shadowcat
Spiral (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1418681#post1418681)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #56
April 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen56t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8412)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Chapter Three
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Omar Otieku
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Cover Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Cover Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Associate Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
After the mysterious, white-haired woman knocked Jean unconscious with her police stick, she keeps Scott and Bobby at bay by threatening to kill Jean. When Cyclops asks her how she knows their names, she reminds them that the X-Men are celebrities in the mutant community. She also reveals that she was about to fly to Brooklyn to join her sister, who defected to the States years ago. It was at the airport that she noticed the X-Men and she knew that they had come to destroy what little she had accomplished for Genosha. When Scott and Bobby accuse her of having framed a fellow mutant, the six-armed woman tells them that they have no idea. At that moment, Kitty resurfaces again, after she phased through the topsoil in search of evidence earlier on, and makes Jean untangible, disappearing again underground. At that point, Cyclops and Iceman prepare themselves to attack the woman.
On Krakoa, Mojo is still without a show, after Colossus, Dazzler and Nightcrawler destroyed a main relay station on Krakoa. His assistant Major Domo informs him that they are repeating the Blink episode, which is unacceptable for Mojo. To top Mojo’s problem, Mojo’s staff refuses to go into the field to start repairing things, after they heard that there are other mutants there. But Mojo doesn’t care about that and wants to be back on screen with his show within the hour. If Major Domo fails him, Mojo will reveal Major Domo’s adress, so that Longshot could go after Domo’s family, if Longshot should be able to get off of Krakoa.
Elsewhere on Krakoa, Longshot thanks the three X-Men for risking their lives to save him. But Nightcrawler believes that they are the ones, who should thank him for taking out the hunter Arcade. After they get to know eachothers names and after Longshot and Colossus talk about Longshot’s booths, Dazzler wants to head back to Angel, because it will be a long walk now that Nightcrawler is too badly injured to teleport them.
Back at the beach and the X-Wing, Angel is worried about getting kicked out of the school. Suddenly, he hears a sound coming from the trees, where some mysterious men are sneaking up on him.
Back on Genosha, the six-armed woman asks Iceman and Cyclops not to do anything stupid. Ignoring her warning, the two X-Men take on an attack formation. When Cyclops uses his optic blast, the woman is able to redirect it and hits Iceman, who apparantly got the formation wrong. While Cyclops is distracted for a moment, the woman throws a ninja star and destroys Cyclops’ glasses. As she heads for Cyclops, she is grabbed by Iceman, who was able to grab her by extending his arm and hand. But when the woman hits Iceman’s hand with her police stick, Iceman lets go of her, after which she runs towards him. Suddenly she stops, still a short distance from Iceman, and warns him not to do that again. Just at that moment, Kitty, who ran out of breath, resurfaces again just in front of the woman. This time, she knocks Kitty unconscious and threatens to kill her. But behind her, Jean shows up, talking with a strange voice and demonstrating the Phoenix.
As they walk back to the X-Wing, Longshot can’t decide if he will fly off to the States with the X-Men.There is still an underground mutant resistance on Genosha with people, for whom he cares a lot. And although Nightcrawler invites him to continue fighting for mutant rights as a member of the X-Men, Longshot is still not sure about leaving his country, even if that country hates him. Suddenly, a device flies up and explodes, but Longshot is able to rescue Dazzler, just as Colsossus is able to protect Nightcrawler. Colossus asks Longshot if he is okay because he took the brunt of the blast, but Longshot reassures them that he has survived worse than that. At that point, Nightcrawler brings up Longshot’s powers again and how he does not understand them. Considering that his power is to be lucky, Longshot was not lucky enough and ended up on Krakoa. Longshot does not understand his powers either, but he knows that things usually turn out okay for him. Just before they continue their trip to the X-Wing, Colossus decides to take point.
On Genosha, Jean attacks the woman by letting her believe that she is burning. During the fight, the blinded Cyclops does not even recognize Jean’s voice. After Jean uses her power to smack the woman unconscious against a tree, she herself is in shock by the force she used to do this. After the fight, Iceman checks on Kitty, who is just coming around. Although Kitty calls herself a tool, Bobby tells her that she was awesome. Meanwhile, Jean is concerned about Scott’s vision, but he is certain that his eyes will heal again after some rest and a new pair of glasses. When Jean suggests to go into his head to patch her vision into his, Scott is very fast to say no. After he tells her that he has trained himself to get by without sight, he rapidly changes the subject back to the woman and wonders who she is. Jean tells him not to worry, because the Professor has been tutoring her in the art of interrogation.
On their way to the X-Wing, Dazzler brings up Colossus’ preferences, regarding men or women, to Kurt, but Kurt finds it absurd as he believes that Colossus is as normal as Dazzler and he. A little later they arrive at the beach, where Angel has gone missing. At first, Dazzler is not worried about him, but then Longshot finds a little screen and when he turns it on, Mojo’s head appears. After Mojo states that he has no beef with the X-Men, he tells them to return Longshot, otherwise his viewers will have to settle with Angel. As the picture sooms out, Longshot and the X-Men see Angel hanging on a wall, pinned down by his wings.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Arcade (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=44742)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Shadowcat
Spiral (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1418681#post1418681)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #57
May 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen57t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8607)
Story Arc: The Most Dangerous Game
Story Title: Conclusion
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Jacob Chabot
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Cover Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Cover Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Associate Editor: Nick Lowe (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=21867&highlight=lowe)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher: Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Lord Joseph Scheele
After Mojo told Nightcrawler, Colossus and Dazzler that he wants to trade the captured Angel for Longshot, the three X-Men try to decide what to do. When Dazzler suggests that they do as they are told, Longshot agrees because he believes that they have no other choice. Because Colossus does not agree, he wants to storm Mojo’s compound instead. After Longshot tells him that Angel will be killed before they can reach him, Colossus tries to find a solution to get into Mojo’s compound quickly. Colossus asks the badly injured Nightcrawler if he is strong enough to teleport them to wherever Angel is held. Although Nightcrawler thinks that he is, he points out that they have not much chance to survive a blind teleportation. But to Longshot, these odds sound just perfect.
On Genosha, Jean is about to enter the six-armed woman’s mind. Against the woman’s advice, Jean wants to find out the truth about the assassination on Lord Scheele. But first and foremost, Jean wants to find out the woman’s name, but luckily Jean will not have to bother as Spiral decides to reveal it to her.
At Mojo’s compound, Mojo is certain that Angel’s friends have abandoned their fellow teammate. Although Angel begs Mojo not to kill him, Mojo states that he has to pay for their sins. At that same moment, Nightcrawler teleports in, but due to his injuries he was only able to teleport himself, Longshot and Dazzler into Mojo’s compound. But even teleporting three people proves to be too much for him, as he loses consciousness upon their arrival. Immediately after their arrival, Mojo’s guards open fire. Although Longshot is able to defeat the guards on his own, Mojo is able to grab him by the neck.
Meanwhile on Genosha, Jean has entered Spiral’s mind. As she watches how Longshot became Spiral’s first boyfriend, Spiral explains that this happened during the time just before Genosha outlawed mutants. After a while, Longshot started to neglect Spiral. On one night, when Longshot stood Spiral up, Spiral met Lord Scheele. Although Scheele stated that he wanted to see the Genosha’s mutant subcultur, before parliamant decided whether or not to eliminate mutants, Spiral believes that he was just curious to see how mutants lived. It did not take long for Spiral and Scheele to fall in love. But because of the climate in Genosha regarding mutants, Spiral and Scheele were cautious every time they met. Although they tried not to get caught, one person did.
On Krakoa, Mojo still holds Longshot by the neck. Suddenly, Dazzler uses her powers to blind him, which causes Mojo to lose hold of Longshot. After Mojo gets used to Dazzler’s light show, he tells her that she does not scare him. But then one of the light explosions hits one of the studio’s spots, after which it falls on Mojo’s head, causeing Mojo to fall to the ground. At that point, Major Domo intervenes and orders them to stop, otherwise he will use the knife in his hand to kill Angel. Major Domo tells Dazzler that she should not have interfered, because he believes that Mojo did them a favor. Major Domo also believes that all humans, whether they admit it or not, despise mutants. Major Domo states that Mojo gave humans the oppurtunity to live out their darkest fantasies on those mutants, who deserve to die. But then Longshot interrupts Major Domo. As Longshot puts one foot on Mojo’s neck, he threatens to kill Mojo.When Major Domo tells Longshot that he is bluffing, Longshot reminds him that he is a killer. In the end, Major Domo drops his weapon, after which Longshot hits him in the face. At that point, Colossus storms through the wall. Dazzler explains to him that Longshot saved the day with his acting skills.
Meanwhile back in Spiral’s mind, Jean witnesses how Spiral and Lord Scheele got caught by an enraged Longshot. When Spiral tried to explain that Scheele was not like other humans, Longshot lost it completely and used a knife to stab Scheele. In the end, Spiral was able to knock a vase on Longshot’s head, after which Longshot lost consciousness.
At that point, Jean leaves Spiral’s mind and tells the others what she found out. But Scott still does not understand why Spiral dragged them from her place to there, instead of calling the police. Spiral asks him what he thinks the police would have done, if they found a member of Parliamant in her apartment. When Spiral continues, she informs them that she could not kill Longshot herself, but she wanted to make sure that justice was served. After the entire ordeal, she rushed to the airport, where she wanted to take a plane to join her sister in the United States.
When Kitty asks Spiral why she attacked them, Spiral explains that she just wanted for them to return home, so that Scheele’s indiscretions were not made public. Spiral did not want to subject his family to any more suffering. When Jean points out that they do not want to drag anyone’s name through the mud, but that Longshot’s sentence could be commuted to manslaughter, Spiral tells her that that does not make a difference in Genosha. Furthermore, Spiral believes that Longshot deserves whatever Genosha does to him, remembering Longshot’s eyes when he killed Scheele.
On Krakoa, the four X-Men say their goodbyes to Longshot. Although Colossus tries to convince Longshot to join the X-Men, Longshot refuses because he believes that he does not belong with the X-Men. While Longshot uses one of Mojo’s boats to sail away, Nightcrawler is certain that they will be in so much trouble when they go back home. Dazzler, however, is convinced that the professor will give them trophies for freeing an innocent man from death row.
Once back at the school, Charles is very angry with the four because they violated numerous international laws and to top that, they have loosed a murderer upon the world. When Peter suggests that Spiral’s memories could be false, Jean tells him that Longshot used the four of them. To make things worse, Longshot is out of Cerebro’s range and although Nick Fury believes that Longshot is hiding in the Savage Land, it could take S.H.I.E.L.D. months to find him. At that point, Charles informs the four that they are suspended on active duty for the rest of the semester and that the mastermind behind this little operation will be expelled. When Charles asks who was the mastermind, nobody reacts at first but then, just as Dazzler wants to confess, Warren beats her to it and takes the fall for her. Surprised to hear Warren’s confession, Charles states that he is disappointed in him, but he also tells Warren that he will not be expelled, because Charles believes that Warren has already suffered more than his accomplices. But Warren is not out of the woods yet as he still has a painful rehabilitation ahead of him during the next three months. Together with his other punishment, Warren will be grounded literally and figuratively for the foreseeable future.
After they leave the professor’s office, Alison wants to know why Warren took the fall for her. He explains to her that it was obvious that Charles has been looking for a reason to get rid of her, and that he would have gotten it if she had confessed. Besides, Warren believes that Alison needs the school a lot more than he does. At that point, Dazzler kisses him and the two become a couple. As Alison and Warren leave Colossus and Nightcrawler behind, Nightcrawler points out to Colossus that they are running out of available young women.
Back in Charles’ office, Scott apologizes for failing in both the Fenris- and the Genosha situations. But Charles points out that the X-Men are students first and that they learn from every mission. And Charles does not consider the Genosha-thing as a complete failure, because the accomplished two things. Scott’s team was able to safely relocate Spiral to the States and Warren’s team took out Mojo’s network. But then, Jean points out that she feels uncomfortable that Mojo was not exactly wrong when he stated that Longshot was a lying murderer. For the exact same reason, Charles is troubled that reality television does not only show them how bad mutants and humans can be, but that it shows them exactly as they are.
Characters:
Angel (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41665)
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43181)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Joseph Scheele
Longshot
Major Domo
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Mojo Adams
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Shadowcat
Spiral (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1418681#post1418681)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #58
June 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen58t.jpg (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8608)
Story Title: A Hard Lesson
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Steve Dillon (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43785)
Colorist: Paul Mounts (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=43786)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: James Taveras
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher:Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Syndicate
Charles Xavier is at his bank after he noticed that all of his assets were frozen. The bank clerk is able to tell him that Charles' account is under investigation. When the clerk informs him that Sebastian Shaw's estate claims that an unauthorised transfer of funds took place, Charles realises that the Hellfire Club is behind this. Charles attempts to get a small portion of his checking account, but even that the clerk can not give him. Charles knows that he could easily force the clerk in giving his own savings to him, but he decides to leave.
At that moment, the lights go out and an armed Siamese twin enters the bank to rob it. When one of the clients wonders if they are mutants, Syndicate tells him that they are and explains that their heart emits an electromagnetic pulse with each heart beat. Thanks to their mutation, Syndicate was able to fry the bank's security system. But unknown to them, Charles has already contacted the police telepathically.
With the situation at hand, the bank clerk asks the clients to stay calm and tries to reinsure them about their money by stating that the bank is insured for this type of situation. When he informs Syndicate that they intend to cooperate, Syndicate tells him to shut up and hits him with one of their guns. At that point, Charles decides to intervene and orders them telepathically to lay down their arms. When the two brothers hear the voice, they figure out that there is a telepath amongst the clients, but because they are immune to telepathy, they don’t obey Charles’ order. Looking for the telepath, Syndicate assumes without any proof that the telepath is the boy with glasses. Even when Charles admits that he is the mutant, the twin still does not believe it. After they kick Charles and his wheelchair against the floor, one of them starts to doubt their guess because Charles looks kind of familiar to him. But the other twin has lost intrest in the matter and concentrates back on the robbery. Using his nose, one of the brothers is able to guess more or less the amount of money there is in the different parts of the bank.
Suddenly, a policeman outside informs Syndicate that they have surrounded the bank. Syndicate realises that the telepath must have contacted the police. When the twin threatens to blow the head of the boy, Charles intervenes by telepathically forcing the boy to say that the police will storm in the moment Syndicate uses their guns. Through the boy, Charles suggests that it might be better if Syndicate would take some hostages as leverage. At that point, Charles contacts Jean and asks her the X-Men’s status on a situation in New Jersey. After she tells him that they have not contained it yet, Charles decides to take care of Syndicate on his own.
Meanwhile, Syndicate orders the boy to notify the police of their demand. They threaten to kill a hostage every fifteen minutes until their demand is fulfilled. Afterwards, Syndicate orders the people in the bank to go to the bank’s vault, but once inside, the bank’s security guard gets a heart attack. Luckily one of the other clients was a lifeguard twenty years ago and learned CPR. When the woman informs Charles that she can not remember her training, Charles uses his power to find her knowledge in her long-term memory and gives her access to it again. After the woman starts to give CPR to the guard, the other clients realise that Charles is indeed the telepath. Meanwhile, Charles tells the others that his plans on getting them out, because he is convinced that Syndicate will go through with their threat if their demand is not met.
From that point, Charles starts to work on his plan. He asks the bank clerk to find as many dye packs, which are used to make money unvaluable in case of a theft, as he possibly can. From a young woman called Sarah, Charles learns that she studied Tae Kwan Do for the last six years. Unfortunately, Sarah is not very good at it because she does not believe in herself. Charles informs her that he can remove the mental block so that she can access her skills fully to disarm Syndicate. When Mr. Thomas objects to Charles’ decision to use the young girl, Charles informs him that today’s youth is far better prepared to face the dangers than they give them credit for. Charles tells Mr. Thomas that he wants him to help carry the security guard, who is just revived by Mr. Thomas’ wife.
Moments later in the bank itself, one of the twins is worried now that they have been discovered, but his brother reminds him that they are doing this for Alice. At that point, Charles appears and shows them a bag with money, which he wants to use to buy his freedom. When Syndicate refuses it, Charles insists on them having it and throws it at them. Upon contact with Syndicate, the dye in the money bag explodes and blinds the Siamese twin. Using the oppurtunity, Charles orders most of the clients to head for the exit, carrying the ill guard. Just as Syndicate is able to see again, Sarah knocks one of their weapons out of their hands and is just in time to duck away when Syndicate opens fire with the second one. At that point, one of the other clients, Kevin, uses a fire disinguisher to knock the twin unconsciously. Now that Syndicate is defeated, Charles sends both Sarah and Kevin away because he wants to finish the situation.
But just after the two have left the bank, Syndicate is already back on their feet and grabs Charles by the throat. When they ask Charles to give them a reason why they should not kill him, Charles informs Matthew and Luke that he has the leverage now. Suprised to hear Charles say their names, Syndicate finally realises that Charles was indeed the telepath and put him back in his wheelchair. Charles reveals that he knows about their ill sister and that they needed to rob the bank to pay for her operation. After Charles threatens to kill their sister if they don’t do exactly as he wants, the twin thinks that he is bluffing. It is only after Charles tells them that he knows that their sister has cancer and that she lies at Central Bronx Hospital, that they start to fear him.
A little later, Syndicate comes out of the bank with their hands up and tells the police that they surrender. But then one of the brothers changes his mind and starts to rip off their shirt, so that their heart is revealed. With this act, the police considers Syndicate as a threat and opens fire on them. With several hits, Syndicate is dead.
Confused about what happened, Syndicate asks the professor what the policemen were shooting at. Charles explains that he made everybody believe that they killed Syndicate, so that the people would get the closure they required. When Syndicate asks Charles why he helped them, Charles informs them that they need to redeem themselves and that they can do that best by helping his cause. Charles wants them to complete a mission for him, one in which he can not implicate the X-Men. He tells them that the Hellfire Club has stolen his money and that he wants it back. Charles wants Syndicate to use their skills to get it back, but he also warns them that they can not kill a single person, because otherwise he will not pay for their sister’s operation. As they leave the crime scene, Charles informs them that he will bring them to one of his safehouses, where they have to lay low and await further instructions.
Characters:
Colossus (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7365)
Cyclops (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7367)
Dazzler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=42323)
Iceman (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7378)
Marvel-Girl (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7416)
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Professor X (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7423)
Shadowcat
Syndicate
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) # 59
July 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen59t.jpg ( http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8694)
Story Arc: Shock and Awe
Story Title: Part one of two
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Jacob Chabot
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher:Dan Buckley
First Appearance: Deathstrike
Many years ago in El Paso, Texas, Ororo Munroe was chased by another biker, called Yuri. Yuri wanted Ororo’s bike, a Mugmoni. But Ororo did not understand why she should give it to Yuri, since Ororo stole it in the first place. When Yuri reminded her that it was she who taught Ororo how to hotwire a bike, Ororo stated that she believed that it was time that she earned herself a living. Up until that moment, Ororo gave Yuri ninety percent of her profit to pay for her ‘education’. But Yuri gave her the choice to either keep on paying the ninety percent or to go back from where Ororo came from. But Ororo told Yuri that if she would return to Marrakech, that she would end up dead just as her family did. At that point, Ororo begged Yuri to let her stay in El Paso, because the climate there reminded her of home. When Yuri made it clear that El Paso was not big enough for the two, Ororo was not impressed by Yuri’s threat. With the help of a steel chain, Yuri tried to hit Ororo, but she managed to evade the attack. Surprised by Yuri’s attack, Ororo asked her what she was doing, after which Yuri explained that she had to protect her reputation. If she did not deal with Ororo then, other carjackers might think that they could take a piece of Yuri’s action.
As the chase continued, Ororo reminded Yuri how bad Yuri was at riding slick roads. It was only after Ororo summoned heavy rains, that Yuri understood what Ororo meant with her warning. Although Ororo begged Yuri to pull over, Yuri continued her chase. Yuri tried to catch up sideways with Ororo, but she did not notice the approaching truck. Before Yuri could do anything, she smacked against the truck’s front.
Back at the present day, Ororo has arrived in a small place in Alberta, Canada. Just before she wants to enter a bar, she notices a Mugmoni and remembers what happened many years. At that same moment the driver of the bike leaves the bar and asks her if she wants to go for a spin, but Ororo declines the offer. Just as Ororo informs the man that she is looking for a friend and gives a description of Logan, someone inside the bar starts to scream.
Inside the bar, Logan has lifted a man in the air, after he smelled the blood of a sixteen-year-old boy on him. But the man is surprised to hear that it was a kid, because he thought it was a sasquatch. When Logan asks who the man’s accomplice is, another man aims his rifle at Logan. At that moment, Ororo enters the bar and warns the man that Logan will only get angry if he tries to shoot him. After the man with the rifle turns towards Ororo, Logan acts quickly and throws the first man away, after which he uses his claws to cut off the barrel of the rifle. From that point on, the other clients of the bar start to attack Logan. But although Logan is the one, who is being attacked, Ororo asks Logan not to kill them. After Logan asks Ororo if she has a better idea, she tells him that she would drop some hail on them but unfortunately there is not much weather inside the bar for her to play with. After Logan throws one of the men through the widow, Ororo is able to end the battle quickly by blowing the other men unconsciously against the wall. Logan notices that Ororo has been practicing her powers.
As Ororo hears police sirens approaching, Logan informs her that he called them fifteen minutes earlier. Once outside Logan tells Ororo to fly off and to let him deal with the police. While she raps a piece of cloth around her hand, Ororo states that Logan’s confrontation with the police will not end well. But Logan figures that he has no other choice as his ride has already left and that Ororo’s wind can not carry him. After Ororo punches in the window of a truck, the two leave the place.
A little later, someone watches the approaching truck. When Deathstrike asks Dr. Cornelius for permission to attack Logan and Ororo, he refuses and tells her to wait until they arrive, but Deathstrike pretends that their communication channel is breaking down.
Meanwhile in the truck, Ororo wants to know if this was Logan’s reason to leave the X-Men; to go from town to town fighting criminals. But Logan tells her that he was not looking for trouble, after which he shows her the wedding ring, which S.H.I.E.L.D. handed over to Charles after they got it from the captured Weapon X-soldiers. Logan assumes that he has a wife somewhere and wants to unravel a piece of his past. When Ororo tells him that she wants to help him find his wife, he tells her that it is too dangerous as there are probably some Weapon X-soldiers left, who are waiting for him at the end of his search. After Ororo looks at Logan, she asks him if he really wants her away because it is too dangerous or if he is afraid that his wife might find out about their shared kiss.
But before Logan can answer, he suddenly tells Ororo, who is behind the wheel, to stop the truck. After she looks again in front of her, she too sees a woman standing in the middle of the road. Just as they are about to collide, the woman’s fingers grow longer and cuts the truck in two. As Logan steps out, Deathstrike states that it has been a long time, but Logan replies that he has never met her. But then Deathstrike points at Ororo, who barely recognizes Yuri.
Characters:
Cornelius
Deathstrike
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
<hr>
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #60
August 2005
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/covers/marvel/ultxmen60t.jpg ( http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/4images/details.php?image_id=8858)
Story Arc: Shock and Awe
Story Title: Part two of two
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18152&highlight=Vaughan)
Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=18173&highlight=grawbadger)
Colorist: Justin Ponsor (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33499&highlight=ponsor) & Frank D’Armata (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=26015&highlight=d%27armata)
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14348&highlight=eliopoulos)
Production: Jared Osborn
Cover Penciler: Stuart Immonen (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=14952&highlight=stuart+immonen)
Assistant Editor: John Barber (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=33593) & Nicole Wiley (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=24403)
Editor: Ralph Macchio (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=16649&highlight=macchio)
Editor in chief: Joe Quesada (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=12902&highlight=quesada)
Publisher:Dan Buckley
Not so long ago in El Paso, Texas, the wheelchair-bound Yuriko Oyama received a visit from Doctor Cornelius at the hospital, where Yuri had stayed ever since her bike accident. At first, she did not want to speak to yet another doctor, but when she discovered that he knew Ororo as well, she became interested. Doctor Cornelius told Yuri that Storm used her powers to kill the sole person who supported his research to use mutants as instruments of national security. After the death of Colonel Wraith, Doctor Cornelius was arrested and sent to jail. Doctor Cornelius wanted to take revenge and asked Yuri to help him. With the knowledge he gathered from his experiments on mutants, Cornelius believed that he not only could give Yuri’s ability to walk again back, but to do much more.
But Yuri became suspicious of Cornelius’ plan. She wanted to know why he would go through all of this trouble, when he could easily shoot Ororo. At that point, Cornelius showed her a picture of Ororo and Logan together and explained that it would not be easy to get past Ororo’s attack dog, Logan. Cornelius misled Yuri by telling her that Wolverine was once called Weapon X and that he became a psychopath, whose programming wore off and who had been let loose on the world ever since. Cornelius explained his intention to make of Yuri Wolverine’s equal or even his superior. The only catch was that to become that, she had to undergo an untested surgery, which might kill her. But because Yuri had nothing to lose anymore, he wondered if she would give him his shot at justice.
Back to the present day somewhere in Alberta, Canada, Ororo is astonished to see Yuri still alive, after she heard rumors of her death. But Yuri confirms that Yuri is dead and that there is only Deathstrike now. Deathstrike tells them that she was sent to kill Ororo, after Ororo killed Colonel Wraith. the two X-Men try to make her understand that she was misinformed, but Ororo realises that Deathstrike is not there because of Wraith but because of her.
Just before Wolverine attacks Deathstrike, he tells Ororo to let him handle this. During the fight, Wolverine is able to cut her in the belly but to their surprise Deathstrike heals even faster than Wolverine. When Ororo asks her who gave her these abilities, she only states that she received some DNA of James. When Logan hears his real name, he asked her how she knew it. Again Deathstrike doesn’t answer the question but tells him that she knows much more of him, even about his weaknesses. Suddenly, Deathstrike stabs Wolverine with one of her prolonged fingers. She explains to Ororo that the xiphoid-bone is Wolverine’s only fragile bone. The xiphoid was not yet hardened when they bonded the adamantium to his skeleton. If the fragile xiphoid is broken just right, it could cause Wolverine’s entire nervous system to shut down, resulting eventually in his death. Surprised by Deathstrike’s biological knowledge, Ororo asks her about it. Finally, Deathstrike reveals that she learned it from Doctor Cornelius, the same one who changed Ororo’s ex-boyfriend in a furry, blue freak.
When Deathstrike reminds Ororo that Hank is dead, Ororo gets angry and summons a lightning bolt, which hits a tree. Believing that Ororo was trying to hit her, Deathstrike is surprised when Ororo reveals that she hit the tree intentionally. As Deathstrike looks at the falling tree, she lets go of Wolverine, who manages to dodge the tree just in time. After Ororo checks on Logan, he tells her that Deathstrike is not defeated yet. At that same moment, a Stormchaser-helicopter approaches. After the pilot assures Cornelius that the helicopter is designed to withstand lightning bolts, another member of his crew gives him the news that Deathstrike is unconscious. After Cornelius orders his men to prepare themselves to attack, he tells them that they are only trying to buy Deathstrike the time she needs to come around. He also informs them that their main target is Wolverine and not Storm, although he made Deathstrike believe Storm to be the primary target.
As the helicopter flies over Storm and Wolverine, Cornelius’ men open fire. Only seconds after Wolverine ordered Storm to create a whiteout, so that they would become invisible, Storm summons a wind, so strong that it can even lift Wolverine to the helicopter. Wolverine is able to enter the aircraft by ripping open its belly. As the soldiers inside try to hit Wolverine, some of the bullets end up destroying the tail rotor of the Stormchaser.
After the helicopter crashes and explodes, Deathstrike resurfaces and grabs Ororo by the throat with her flexible, prolonged fingers. After Deathstrike threatens to cut off both of Ororo’s and Logan’s heads, Ororo apologizes for what happened in the past, although she realises that Deathstrike will not accept her apology. At that point Ororo’s eyes start to colour white, which surprises Deathstrike because if Ororo uses a lightning bolt on Deathstrike, it will also fry Ororo. But risking her own life, Ororo does it anyway, after which her heart stops beating. Meanwhile, it turns out that Wolverine has survived both the crash and the explosion. Because Logan doesn’t know CPR, he punches Ororo’s chest once with his fist, after which she barely comes around. After he tells her that she is going to be fine but that she has to rest, he lies her down gently after which he goes to Deathstrike with one claw drawn.
Some time later, Ororo wakes up. Nightcrawler tells her that she is back at the Institute and that she has Logan to thank for. After Kurt teleports out, Ororo asks Logan about Yuri, but he tells her that that is a long story and that he came by to say goodbye to her. He explains to her that he is leaving the Institute again to search for his wife but this time alone, because he doesn’t want to put Ororo in any more danger, especially because he does not know how many Weapon X-people are still out there. After Ororo reminds him that Weapon X came after her, she tells him that he saved her and that she needs him. Logan reminds her that he still has a wife somewhere. But Ororo is convinced that Logan is not the same person as he was to that woman and therefor she considers his wife no longer as his wife. In the end she suggests for both of them to stop living in their pasts and to live for the present and the future.
Characters:
Cornelius
Deathstrike
Nightcrawler (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7419)
Storm (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7519)
Wolverine (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=7324)
Ultimate X-Men (2001) #37-48 (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=41452) | Ultimate X-Men (2001) #49-60 | Ultimate X-Men (2001) #61-65 (http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?p=1409277#post1409277)