The Uncanny X-Men (1981)

Banshee, Jean, and Forge continue their mission in the Morlock Tunnels. Forge is having flashbacks about his service in Vietnam. All this, while trying to save Peter Nicholas and Callisto from Masque.

The story takes place in the Morlock tunnels with a large amount of the story based on Forge remembering his days in Vietnam.

The other half talks mainly about the morlock leader and his defeat at the hands of the X-Men.

A preteen Storm and Gambit agree to be partners in thievery in his home base of New Orleans. But before they can settle into a life of crime, they must face The Nanny and Orphan Maker who have been hot on their trail. Storm begins to recall her old life with the X-Men.

Not only do Storm and Gambit have to deal with the murderous Hounds, but now Nanny and the Orphan Maker decide to get involved as well. Can these world class thieves manage to escape this two-pronged attack?

In Madripoor (1941), a Russian is attacked by the Hand and is saved by Captain America. Then, both men are helped by a man named Logan. After the battle, Logan takes them to Seraph’s bar where he almost starts a fight with Baron von Strucker. The Russian, Ivan Petrovitch tells them that the Nazis and the Hand are planning an alliance and that they have kidnapped Natasha Romanoff.

Later, Logan, Captain America, and Ivan Petrovitch attack the Nazi limousine where Natasha is being held. Logan seemingly sacrifices his life to save Natasha. Ivan and Captain America take Natasha to the American consulate thinking they will be safer than going back to Seraph’s. However it was a setup and Captain America, Ivan, and Natasha are taken to the Hand. The Hand plan to make Natasha a master assassin, and must kill Captain America and Ivan as her test. They are all rescued again by Logan.

Notes:

• Ranked #97 in Wizard Magazine's list of "100 Best Single Issue Comics Since You Were Born".

Rogue has returned to the X-Men's base in the Australian outback after being spat out by the Siege Perilous. However, her return is met with bad news and a team in disarray. Rogue must battle the life-force of Carol Danvers after losing some of her Ms. Marvel abilities.

Rogue is thrown out from the Siege Perilous and lands in the Australian Outback at the X-Men‘s base. Rouge is confused as she has learned that Mystique has been murdered, she has lost her Ms. Marvel powers, and that the HQ is back in the hands of the Reavers.

Carol Danvers now has a body of her own again and while she fights the Reavers, Rogue absorbs Gateway’s powers to teleport herself and Danvers away. Carol ends up on Muir Isle and falls under the control of the Shadow King and is sent after Rogue.

Rogue has ended up in the Savage Land and soon attacked by a shadow king possessed Ms. Marvel. Rogue wins but doesn’t want to take Carol’s life a second time. Ms. Marvel almost kills Rogue but is saved by Magneto.

The X-Tinction Agenda begins as the nation of Genosha declares war on the X-Men. Alex Summers leads a team of Magistrates against the New Mutants and the X-Men and take a few hostage. Just when both teams thought they could settle down... First Strike!

Story continues in New Mutants #95.

Synopsis

Trish Tilby reports that the Genoshan government is calling out the world in its attack on the X-Men. Genosha plans to negate the X-Men threat and hopes the world will be sympathetic. At Xavier's, Banshee, Stevie Hunter, and Forge watch as Jean Grey and Storm duke it out in the Danger Room. They want to see how Storm's new teenaged body will handle fighting an adult. At first, Jean has the upper hand. Storm, however, has been sneaky and catches Jean off guard with an ice attack, coupled with a whirlwind. Stevie cancels the practice just in time; Storm's powers have been completely taxed and she falls to the ground. Jean catches her as Cable barges in with the New Mutants. An argument breaks out due to different leadership styles, but Storm steps in and mediates. The X-Men leave the New Mutants.

At Lila Cheney's, Fred Stanachek tries to get past Guido to see Dazzler. Guido says she's not there, even if Fred only wants to talk about the hit movie of Dazzler's. Guido lectures the guy on knowing when to let go and physically moves Fred's car. As Fred drives away, a bright flash manifests from the beach. Guido investigates to find Lila Cheney having returned. Her words are ominous: Professor Xavier is in danger.

In Harry's Hideaway, Storm and Jean relate their personal struggles with their identities. Jean has had too many extensions of herself: the Phoenix and Madelyne Pryor. Storm has been reduced to a state of adolescence, but a kind in which she never progresses. Unbeknownst to the two, Genoshan Magistrates are spying on them. Back on mansion grounds, Storm bids Jean good-bye. From the shadows, Wolfsbane confronts Storm. Wolfsbane is bitter that the X-Men are safe and sound while her friend, Doug Ramsey, had to die. Storm explains that some decisions aren't always the best, like the X-Men being in hiding so as to strike at their foes at unawares. Wolfsbane storms off and Stevie asks if Storm plans on stepping aside as the X-Men leader.

Just then, Genoshan Magistrates attack with their prime directive being the hatch to the underground complex. Boom-Boom, Wolfsbane, Rictor, Storm, Warlock, and Stevie are all pursued above ground as the alarm in the bunker sounds. Storm and Stevie reach the hatch as one of the magistrates calls reinforcements. Pipeline ports the rest of the forces directly to the bunker hatch. Storm shoves Stevie through and into Cable's arms and then seals the hatch, locking everyone inside while trapping the aforementioned mutants up top. Cable gets angry and he and the rest head towards another exit so as to help against the attack. As Storm leaves the hatch, she notices a magistrate using a self-generated blast. She recognizes the power signature. She steals one of Boom-Boom's time bombs with her wind and directs it at the magistrate using the power blasts. The magistrate ends up being Havok, a former X-Man. Storm tries to lead the mutants, but Boom-Boom and Rictor get caught, shortly followed by Warlock. Wolfsbane and Storm are next. Pipeline teleports the mutants to Genosha. Cable and his group finally reach the surface but can only surmise that the kids have been teleported away.

Continued from X-Factor #60. A political war is waging both outside and inside of Genosha. Tensions mount, as Cameron Hodge continues his quest to subdue the X-Men. Meanwhile, Wolverine, Jubilee, and Psylocke join the fray in an attempt to free their comrades, an attempt that already seems too late because the Genegineer has already begun the process of turning a teammate into a Genoshan mutate.

Story continues in New Mutants #96.

Synopsis

A reporter announces that military ships have been positioned in the Indian Ocean as the United States calls for economic, as well as diplomatic, sanctions on Genosha. Genosha's president reaffirms her country's stance on the X-Men: they must be punished. In Genosha, Boom-Boom and Rictor have found each other and are currently fleeing from Chief Magistrate Tam and her forces. Tam aims to kill, but she is thwarted by a blind-side attack from Jubilee. Wolverine, Psylocke, and Jubilee attack the Magistrates while their down, but Tam proves to be a difficult opponent. Nearly killing Wolverine, Psylocke ends up putting a psi-blade through Tam's head. With the fight over (and Wolverine failing to recover quickly), Psylocke looks into the minds of the New Mutants to find out what has been happening. She senses the presence of the rest of the X-Men, as well as X-Factor, and she and Wolverine head to the Citadel to help in any way they can. Much to Jubilee's dismay, she's stuck with Boom-Boom and Rictor.

On television, the Genegineer debates the ethics of Genosha's abducting of the young mutants with Moira MacTaggart with Manoli Wetherell as moderator. Moira doesn't come off too well, seeing as how Wolfsbane, one of the captured, is her charge. The Genegineer crafts his way around every question, holding that Genosha has done no wrong. Once the broadcast is over, the Genegineer walks with Chief Magistrate Anderson and the two discuss policy and the effects of Cameron Hodge. While neither like the man, neither feels the need to let off the attack on the X-Men. Later, the Genegineer laments in his office the fact that his son has become a traitor. Storm finds him and, with a knife, threatens to kill him. Before any action can be taken, however, Hodge shows up. Hodge pins Storm to the wall and moves in for the kill. He is stopped by the Genegineer and the President of Genosha. Storm's mutagenic signature, they state, would best be served as a mutate serving the country. Hodge agrees and the Genegineer promises the mutate process will begin immediately on Storm.

Wolverine and Psylocke have changed into Magistrate clothes are are flying to the Citadel. As they chat, Psylocke is hit with agonizing pictures of Storm in pain. At that moment, Storm is going through the mutate process and her rapport with Psylocke has linked the two. Psylocke's personal carrier goes down, with Wolverine jumping after it. After crashing, an emergency transport shows up and Wolverine orders the help to take them straight to the Genegineer to fix up Psylocke. Not suspecting anything, the emergency responders fly straight to the Citadel. Once inside, Wolverine and Psylocke are directed to the Genegineer's office. Before they can get there, they are stopped by Havok. He's heard report that his lady, Tam, has been injured. The emergency responder states that Psylocke is Tam. The bluff is up and Wolverine confronts Havok. The two fight until Psylocke puts an end to it by putting a psi-blade into Havok's head. The two begin searching the Citadel when they are confronted by Hodge. As a battle breaks out, the Genegineer runs a customized program on Storm. In the battle, Wolverine and Psylocke both give Hodge all they've got; Psylocke even tries a psi-blade. Unfortunately, Hodge has a more effective psi-attack and the two are soon in his clutches. Just then, the Genegineer announces that the transmode process is complete: Storm is now a mutate.

Continued from X-Factor #61. The trial of the century begins, as Genosha tries to pass judgment on the X-Men and their contemporaries. Due to a courtroom disturbance, the X-Men are placed in the hands of Hodge. Yet, for having been so successful in capturing his prey, Hodge must now account for the variables that he did not plan for: the Genegineer, Havok, and the mutate Storm. Their combined forces could overthrow what Hodge had accomplished, but not without a fight, of course.

Story continues in New Mutants #97.

Synopsis

On the island nation of Genosha, the X-Men and their counterparts are on trial for crimes against the state. As the Chief Presiding Justice begins the trial Wolverine busts free and attempts to get at the Justice. He is successful in knocking the Magistrates out of commission, but he is not successful in getting past Storm, the one person in the room with powers intact (though she's a mindless Genoshan mutate slave). The Justice then orders the mutants to be put in the charge of Cameron Hodge.

In Hodge's custody, Cable and Gambit revolt in unison and Cable ends up with a Magistrate gun. He turns to fire upon Hodge but finds that Hodge has placed Psylocke between himself and Cable's gun. Cable and Gambit are reshackled and Hodge threatens to remove Cable's eye (which is glowing for one of the first times). Psylocke can't take the abuse anymore and offers herself to the mutate bonding process. Havok leads her away. Meanwhile, Hodge has place Archangel and Wolverine in a pit and forces them to fight one another through some neurological harness. The fight is brutal and the other mutants have no choice but to watch. After a few minutes, however, Hodge grows tired and leaves the fight to work his revenge on someone else.

In the Genegineer's office, Hodge finds that the doctor is gone. To find his whereabouts, Hodge interfaces with the Genegineer's CPU. Hodge finds a plot against him by the Genegineer. Putting his own plans into motion, he pretends to be the Genegineer and calls Wipeout to his office.

Outside, Jubilee has effectively blown Boom-Boom bio suit off. Before she can get to Rictor's, the three see the Genegineer and a mutate tunneling into a building. They follow. Inside, Psylocke breaks free and takes out the Magistrates escorting her. She steals a gun and begins crawling through the vents.

Back where the mutants are being held, Cyclops explains that Psylocke gave him a look and he hopes that her plan, whatever it was, has worked. Gambit has a spike in his leg and Cyclops tells him to do his thing. Gambit extracts the spike with his teeth, drops it to his feet, then uses the spike to release him from his shackles. He then frees everyone. Meanwhile, Havok, having been called to the Genegineer's office, finds Wipeout dead. Wolfsbane lies for Hodge and tells everyone that Havok killed Wipeout.

Chief Magistrate Anderson instructs her soldiers to be on the lookout, but the warning comes too late. Hodge has learned of the Genegineer's plans to get rid of Hodge and Anderson right in the middle of the plan. Hodge attacks and Psylocke busts out the vent cover and peppers Hodge with bullets. Anderson hands mutate Storm up to Psylocke and Psylocke threatens to leave. Anderson convinces her otherwise, as Storm, she says, holds the key to restoring the X-Men's powers.

In the other room, Jean Grey steps between Archangel and Wolverine and stops the fight. Just then, Anderson barges in and orders mutate Storm to "get" Cyclops. She pulls Cyclops towards herself and touches his head. His eyes begin to burn and he realizes that he's getting his powers back. Not only that, but Storm has resurfaced from her mutate state and into her former, adult body. Hodge then barges in. Cyclops gives him a plasma blast, to which Hodge threatens with his own turn.

Following the X-Tinction Agenda the X-Men, X-Factor and the New Mutants contemplate their next moves against the various threats facing them from around the globe.

The halls of Xavier's Institute are becoming very crowded. This very special issue, featuring the talents of an army of the industry's best, answers the question "what happens when there too many mutants?" Plus, Lila Cheney arrives with dire news about Professor X!

Synopsis

With three X-Teams in the shell of the X-Mansion, things are getting pretty tight. In a leadership meeting, Cable questions the abilities of Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm. With more threats than ever against mutants, Cable feels the teams should be more proactive against their enemies. This sparks a controversy, but Storm begins to wonder if the next generation of mutants wouldn't be better off with a more militaristic view of their enemies. As Cable leaves, he comes across Boom-Boom trying to get into the only bathroom. Iceman is occupying it and has been doing so for a while. Cable threatens Iceman and Iceman graciously allows Boom-Boom into the bathroom. Unfortunately, he's frozen everything. Boom-Boom chases Iceman around the mansion until they run into Psylocke in women's quarters. Iceman gets kicked out, but not before Boom-Boom places a small time bomb down his shirt. Psylocke then turns her attention to Jean who has just come in for a shower. The two chat about Psylocke getting in touch with her twin brother, Captain Brittain.

Elsewhere, Banshee takes a holographic call from Moira and notes her more outlandish style and mannerisms. Beast walks in on the two to tell Banshee he's needed in the Danger Room. Once Banshee leaves, Beast and Forge work on a potential fix for Wolfsbane's mutate bonding. The two know it will take some time. In the Danger Room, Cannonball tries to take on Archangel. Cannonball is a bit brash and Archangel bests him.

Outside, Gambit tries to convince Storm to leave with him. She commits to staying, as the X-Men are her family. Gambit tells her that she needs to start acting as if that were a fact. Later, in the Danger Room, Wolverine and Gambit face off while Jubilee watches from the Control Room. She fears that Wolverine is pushing himself too much. Her fears are realized when Wolverine allows himself to be sidetracked by a projection of Lady Deathstrike. Gambit takes advantage of the distraction and beats Wolverine.

Refreshed, Jean Grey attempts to use Cerebro to find Rogue, Dazzler, and Longshot. Once on the Astral Plane, she is attacked by the Shadow King. His powers have increased while the Cerebro defenses have stagnated over the years. He attempts to co-opt Jean into his Dark Queen but she is saved by Psylocke, who uses her knife to sever Jean's attachment to the Astral Plane. Due to the psi-blade, Jean can't remember that it was the Shadow King who attacked her and, Psylocke unaware of who the Shadow King is, no one is able to know that he is yet another threat to the mutants.

Outside, Cyclops and Jean see that the X-Men have all donned matching uniforms. They can't help but feel a sense of loss as they leave to their own base of operations, Ship. As they leave, Guido and Lila Cheney cruise past. Lila tells the X-Men that Professor Xavier is in serious trouble. They all teleport away before Cyclops and Jean can get to them to find out what's going on.

Zaladane has erected six towers in the Savage Land and is now in sync with earth's magnetic field. With her magnetic powers she has scrambled all communication within the Savage Land, and the effects of her mad quest for power are already felt far away!

It's an epic battle is being waged in the Savage Land and the future of mankind may rest in the hands of...Magneto?! Meanwhile, the X-Men have arrived on the far side of the universe only to have blundered into the trap of an old and dangerous adversary.

The Starjammers led by a mysterious Warlord force their way on the royal Behemoth flagship in order to turn back the Shi'ar Throne to Lilandra!

The X-Men (with the exception of Cyclops and Jean Grey) and the Starjammers fight against Deathbird and the Imperial Guard. Meanwhile in the Savage Land: Rogue, Magneto, Ka-zar, Nick Fury and the Shield Agents fight to stop Zaladane from obtaining the magentic power of the Earth's polar field.

The X-Men fight the Starjammers, who are Warskrulls in disguise. Inside their ship, Gambit helps the X-Men, while Lila Cheney and Deathbird locate the Warskrulls' matrix!

It's X-Man vs. X-Man as the fate of the universe will decided by the outcome of a battle that will pit friend against friend. Meanwhile back on Earth, the Shadow King makes his move and you won't believe who his pawn is. NOTE: This marks the last issue for the team of Jim Lee and Scott Williams on Uncanny X-Men as they move on to launch X-Men #1 with Chris Claremont.

The Shadow King and Dr. Lian Shen watch various forms of hate taking place across the world. The Shadow King vows that he will destroy Xavier and the X-Men once and for all.

Muir Island has been the site for some odd happenings of late. Now we know why. The Shadow King has taken control of the mutants and they brutally attack each other for sport. The negative emotions flowing from the island begins to hold sway on the world and mass swings of emotion have people acting upon all their hate and prejudice. Professor Xavier returns to his destroyed mansion and finds that things aren't safe their, either. An old charge has returned and looks bent on taking the Professor out for good. Story continues in Uncanny X-Men #279.

Synopsis

The Shadow King and Dr. Lian Shen revel in the negative feelings that people around the Earth are feeling. The Shadow King finds it too easy to push humans over the edge. Once the world boils over in the negativity that he pours out, he will collect all the feelings of ill will and power himself as no other. Lian doesn't quite share her master's optimism, as Xavier and his X-Men have always seemed to thwart the best laid plans. The Shadow King is confident that this time he'll be able to subvert Xaver's dream with his own.

In England at the Weird Happenings Organization, an alarm sounds sending troops to the hanger that houses the Excalibur plane. Apparently someone has gotten through undetected. The hangar has been gassed, but it appears the only people taken out by it were the guards themselves. Inside the hangar, a man laments the discomfort the guards must endure on his behalf. He also laments that he can't get any good psi-reads from outside because of a seemingly world-wide disturbance on the Astral Plane. Just then, however, a truck bursts through and gunfire wracks the suit that protects the intruder. Knowing that none of the bullets could have pierced the stranger, the troops are wary. As they approach, the man realizes that their proximity allows him to enter one's mind and call off the other troops. He then boards the Blackbird. The Blackbird accepts him. The man flies away from the military base under the cover of a very mysterious fog.

On Muir Island, an arena has been set up to pit the mutants against each other. Moira's idea is to use the arena as her version of the Danger Room. People are watching in the gallery as Guido and Rogue tear into each other like animals. With no holds barred, the two pummel each other into the walls. Guido has the upper at first, but Rogue soon lets it all out and smacks Guido into a wall. She doesn't understand why she feels okay with hurting a friends like she does, but the others simply tell her it's good practice. Once in the showers, Rogue debates with herself the morals of her actions. She hates the idea of beating the crap out of her friends. Out of the shower, the Shadow King appears and convinces Rogue of the greatness of letting one's darker side out. Rogue embraces the thought.

On the Blackbird, Professor Xavier takes off the suit and inspects his chest. The bullets may not have pierced him, but they did leaves some fantastic welts. Outside, Storm finds satisfaction in her foggy diversion. She instructs Xavier to follow her to the other X-Men. The Blackbird lands on Scotland, just shy of Muir Island, and Wolverine patches up the Professor. The X-Men are all there. Despite the beating Xavier has taken, he still wants to participate in finding out what's going on with Muir Island. The team flies over to Muir and Forge hops out on a glider and accesses a back door to the Muir Island security systems. The rest of the X-Men make their way down to the island as the Professor flies off the New York to somehow contact X-Factor.

Near Moira's lab, Banshee sneaks into her private residence. He's been concerned about her behavior for some time now and he hopes to find some answers. Just outside, Psyocke psi-links with the team to tell them that the island's population seems to be congregated at an arena. Storm sees the arena and the brutality shown there and asks Forge for further information. He's hacked into Moira's information and explains that Moira is gauging everyone's powers in the most brutal way imaginable. Also, he notes that there is serious power activity in a lower level, calling to mind a very powerful being. Storm is then confronted by Legion. He seems at odds with himself but ultimately uses his pyrokinetic power to torch Storm. Psylocke, unable to sever her link in time, is mentally bound to feeling the same pain as Storm. She passes out. From Moira's room, Banshee sees Storm careen to the ground. He leaps out to try and save her but gets blind sided by a sonic force bolt. He lands in the water and slowly pulls himself out. He sees his attacker and pins her to the ground and threatens to exact revenge until he sees that it's his daughter. She plays coy but ultimately knocks Banshee out with a rock. Inside the lab, Gambit gets overrun by Madroxes. Elsewhere, Wolverine runs into Rogue and the two begin a brutal battle. Jubilee hopes to stop the fight between the friends by using her fireworks, but Amanda Sefton steps in with her demon pets to get Jubilee.

In New York, the Professor surveys the condition of his school. He knows he can rebuild and he commits to doing so. Just then, a car comes crashing down towards him with a rider on top. The driver purposely crashes and gets thrown from the car. The Professor is bothered that the interference on the Astral Plane prevented him from sensing the approach of the people car. He runs to the driver and finds that it is Stevie Hunter. Just then, the Shadow King makes himself known to Xavier. He informs the Professor that he looks forward to destroying him, especially since the X-Men (as shown in an astral projection) have already been subdued. But first, the Shadow King means to have Stevie ripped limb from limb right in front of Xavier by Colossus, the newest of the Shadow King's inductees.

Under the mental control of the Shadow King, Colossus chases Xavier and Stevie Hunter through the ruins of the Xavier Institute.

Continued from Uncanny X-Men #278. Mind games abound, as Professor Xavier eludes his former student. Colossus isn't himself; the Shadow King has possessed him. As the Professor struggles to survive, the X-Men on Muir Island are devolving under the Shadow King's influence. A hunt for each other begins, but Forge has an idea on how to get everyone's minds back. Story continues in X-Factor #69.

Synopsis

Colossus emerges from the wreckage of a destroyed car while the Shadow King explains to Professor Xavier and Stevie Hunter that he has claimed Colossus as his own. Colossus then proceeds to attack. The Professor succeeds in inducing a temporary paralysis, but this effort weakens himself against the Shadow King; he attacks and Colossus is released. Stevie helps the Professor up and they run to the underground hatch to the mansion. They just barely get the hatch closed and locked before Colossus simply rips the hatch off. The prey continues to flee with the hunter following close behind. Professor Xavier engages the Danger Room and sets up the scene of when he first me the Shadow King. As Colossus enters the room, he sees the Professor sitting at a table. The Shadow King expresses his pleasure at being able to end Xavier's life where their relationship began. Unfortunately for him, the Professor is a hologram and Colossus is pummeled unawares. The Professor wants to keep Colossus engaged while avoiding hurting him too much. This compromise isn't enough and Colossus breaks in to the Danger Room control room and attacks Stevie. The Professor, with no other alternative, dives deep into the mind of Colossus to break the old thoughts of being Peter Nicholas, as well as breaking the hold of the Shadow King. Colossus passes out on the floor in his flesh form.

In Washington, D.C., the body of Inspector Reisz lurches forward. The Shadow King is having a hard time maintaining his bodily vessel. Dr. Lian Shen explains that this body deteriorates faster when the Shadow King divides his time between hosts. Even his powers are not enough to keep the Reisz body going on forever. He laments the fact, as he's enjoyed close associations with prominent people in Washington, like that of Valerie Cooper. He agree, however, that a new body is necessary.

A hunt for sport has begun on Muir Island. Wolverine, Jubilee, and Gambit travel together but the Shadow King's negative influence is too much for Jubilee and Gambit and the two spar a bit with Gambit winning. Wolverine intervenes and Jubilee runs away to join Rogue's hunting party. Gambit isn't satisfied and tries to engage Wolverine by tossing a few cards his way. Wolverine refuses to give in to the Shadow King's influence and storms away. Not far away, he is waylaid by Forge. Wolverine's bloodlust gets the better of himself and he tries to skewer Forge. Forge is too quick, however, and places a neuralsynaptic buffer to keep the Shadow King out. The buffer knocks Wolverine out for a bit. In the meantime, Rogue finds Forge and threatens to take him out. Before she can act, Forge whips out a large gun with buffer capabilities and shoots Rogue right out of the sky.

In Salem Center, the Professor, Colossus, and Stevie stumble into town. It's not too long before they witness a frenzied crowd chasing a small black boy. Not knowing their motivations, the Professor steps in front of the child to protect him. The Shadow King manifests himself and explains that his dream will supplant Xavier's. Xavier sees a vision of Wolverine lying helpless while the Shadow King explains that his students are falling and there is nothing that can be done to stop it. The Shadow King leaves and the Professor states that it is time to get his first students involved; it's time to call X-Factor.

Xavier enters Muir Island and discovers both the X-Factor and the free X-Men are being held in a telekinetic force by Legion!

Continued from X-Factor #69. The original X-Men unite with the new for the final showdown with the sinister Shadow King. This is one battle not everyone will be walking away from. Epilogue can be read in X-Factor #70, which starts a new era for the X-Teams.

Synopsis

Legion, having been possessed by the Shadow King, had just blown up half of Muir Island. Professor Charles Xavier and a few S.H.I.E.L.D. agents walk through the rubble to discover the fate of Xavier's students. They find Legion standing among the various X-Teams; everybody is being held in a sort of stasis. The Shadow King (through Legion) explains to Xavier that Jean Grey was able to get a teke-shield up just in time. This is no bother - he's still going to kill everyone and rule the Earth. One of the accompanying agents gets jumpy and shoots a plasma cannon at the Shadow King. He simply fires back and kills each of the agents. From the helicarrier, Colonel Vashkin, having just heard his men die, orders that a nuclear strike be readied.

Back on the ground, Legion plays with Xavier. This surprises Xavier. It was thought that Legion was possessed and was acting under the Shadow King's influence; it seems, however, that Legion actually likes parts of what the Shadow King has to offer. Legion then prepares to kill Xavier until Storm appears from a forgotten battle and blasts Legion with a lightning bolt. Legion quickly departs to recuperate, his hold upon the others released.

Legion burrows down to the nexus that holds the physical and astral planes together, a feat accomplished by filtering through Polaris. She tells him to give in, as the body of Legion is dying. Refusing to relent, the Shadow King orders those still under his control to attack Xaver's group and to show no mercy.

The teams with Xavier decide to split up. Xavier plans to enter the Astral Plane and battle the Shadow King himself. He needs one group to go find and destroy the nexus while the other group is to stay and protect his defenseless body. Jean Grey, despite her shaky abilities as a telepath, acts as Xavier's anchor to this reality. Upon entering Astral Plane, Xavier mentally suits up for a battle, and just in time, too. The Shadow King is there and he is huge, the power he's been siphoning from earthly inhabitants has done him well. Xavier proves to be a long shot in this fight, as the Shadow King seems far too powerful. The injuries the Shadow King inflicts on the Astral Plane appears to be harsh enough that Xavier's mind can't separate the two and his physical body takes on the wounds inflicted in his mind. Of note, the bones in his legs begin to crush.

The field group consists of Wolverine, Forge, Banshee, Iceman, and Rogue. As they proceed, Gambit appears and takes Wolverine on. Siryn is heard and Banshee goes after her. Madrox then shows up and Iceman immediately builds a wall to prevent any attack. The wall, it seems, traps Wolverine, too. It's not bother, as Wolverine quickly bests Gambit and moves on.

Back on the Astral Plane, Xavier is getting worked. Those protecting his body see only one way to ensure a victory and that is to enter the Astral Plane as well. As they do so, Legion stumbles onto the body of Xavier. Inside the Astral Plane, the Shadow King is about to devour Xavier. Cyclops gives the demon a worthy blast.

Banshee is hot on the trail of Siryn when he gets blasted by Moira, his girlfriend. She, in turn, gets blasted by Forge's neurosynaptic buffer gun. Once injected with the scrambler, Moira sees Banshee and immediately breaks down. Just down the hall, Guido attempts to bumrush the distracted trio when Rogue intervenes and knocks him around. Wolverine then corners Jubilee and knocks her out, despite her pleas not to fight him. Iceman takes on Siryn, but takes it easy on her because she is Banshee's daughter. Just then, however, Psylocke drives a psi-blade into his brain. A brief tussle ensues, but Forge is finally able to force Psylocke's blade into Polaris, effectually severing the Shadow King's nexus. He disappears from the Astral Plane. Legion, who had been close to physically killing Xavier, lapses into a coma at the Shadow King's departure.

Once back in the physical world, Xavier explains that he'd given the Shadow King one last chance before slipping into the void. It had been refused. Xavier must also admit that the use of his legs is once again gone. The others regroup and begin to deal with the aftermath of being influenced by such evil.

After the deaths of Beef and Jetstream, the X-Men duke it out with Trevor Fitzroy.

The Reavers are attacked by Sentinels sent by Trevor Fitzroy.

The X-Men are at the Hellfire Club to make an alliance with the Hellions. There, an assassin attempted to killed Emma Frost.

Elsewhere, Fitzroy tries to take Shinobi Shaw's place as the Hellfire Club's King with killing the Reavers.

Back at the Hellfire Club, the X-Men and the Hellions have a small due to Emma Frost's way with the assassin. Suddenly, Fiztroy shows up and kills several Hellions, his true goal being Emma Frost.

Donald Pierce fights off the attacking Sentinels long enough for Gateway to teleport him to who sent the Sentinels. Pierce is brought to the Hellfire Club where he is destroyed by the Sentinels. The X-Men and the Hellions battle the advanced Sentinels. The battle with the Sentinels has caused Emma to go into a comma and Jean Grey is seemingly killed.

The X-Men have returned to the mansion with the body of Jean Grey. But is Jean really dead? Professor X has the answer...

The X-Men take Jean to the Mansion. Professor X explains that Jean is not dead, because he would have sensed it. Professor X believes that Jean transferred her mind into Emma Frost's body.

Trevor Fitzroy brings Shinobi Shaw Donald Pierce's head and takes Shaw's place as King. Fitzroy uses the life energy of the captured Hellions to open a portal. The X-Men arrive and battle Fitzroy. Bishop, Malcolm, and Randall come through the open portal donned in X-Men clothing.

Note: Bishop's first appearance.

While Gamesmaster and Selene watch their machinations unfold from afar, the X-Men try to discover the truth about the mutant called Bishop.

Bishop arrives in the present day to battle Fitzroy. He manages to defeat him, but soon discovers that he is now trapped in the current time period because Fitzroy destroys his means of time travel. Meanwhile, Professor Charles Xavier and Forge are in the X Jet with Jean Grey as they return her mind back to her body, after she was inside the consciousness of Emma Frost. Bishop encounters the X-Men, but he believes that theu are fakes and takes the whole gold team on. During this time Trevor Fitzroy escapes and blows up the are where Bishop and the X-Men were at. The X-Men and Bishop both manage to esxape.

The X-Men have been transported to a mysterious, war-torn land. Separated, they must now regroup and escape...if they can!

The gold team is teleported to another dimension where Colossus' brother Mikhail, believed to be dead, has escaped to. Archangel enters a trance and kills a bunch of rebels and is ordained leader of the dimension's established power.

Meanwhile back on Earth 616 Bishop, Malcolm, and Randall are picking off escaped criminals from their time-line left and right.