Monday, December 21, 2020

Marvel Immersion Project: Uncanny X-Men #139-142

This is my last week with the X-Men for a while.  Next up is Wolverine's excellent original solo run (a re-read for me), then an extended visit with Thor.

Without a doubt, Claremont's X-Men tenure was fantastic.  I still can't say I have the same emotional investment with his characters as I do with Spidey's best but I can certainly appreciate why it's obligatory reading.  I'll be circling around back to these characters in time.


My Recent Reads

Uncanny X-Men #139
Originally Published November 10, 1980
Writers: Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Artist: John Byrne
  • Kitty Pryde joins the X-Men.  Ororo gives her the code name Sprite.  Naturally, Kitty makes a soda joke.
  • Wolverine goes to Canada to officially resign from Alpha Flight and brings Nightcrawler along for the trip.  Naturally, they and their Alpha Flight friends get caught up in an unexpected adventure.
  • Nemesis: Wendigo
  • Introduced:
    • Heather Hudson, wife of James as well as his eventual replacement as Vindicator and leader of Alpha Flight
    • Stevie Hunter, Kitty's dance teacher

Uncanny X-Men #140
December 10, 1980
Claremont and Byrne/Byrne
  • Wendigo is defeated.
  • Alpha Flight is disbanded by the Canadian government.
  • Meanwhile, at issue's end, the Blob escapes from prison, announcing he is a member of the New Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Uncanny X-Men #141
January 1, 1981
Claremont and Byrne/Byrne
  • The story opens in a dystopian future, 2013 as it turns out.
  • The Sentinels rule the Earth, cracking down hard on mutants and those with mutant-like qualities.  Most of the X-Men, Avengers, etc. are dead.
  • Kate Pryde, previously Kitty, has survived and is our protagonist.  Wolverine is still around, too, as are Colossus, Storm, Franklin Richards (son of Reed and Susan) and his telekinetic girlfriend Rachel (later identified as Rachel Summers, daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Grey.  Umm... how?).  These six represent the core of the resistance.
Franklin Richards via Marvel Database

Rachel Summers via Marvel Database

  • They devise a plan for Kate to switch places with her 1980 self in order to prevent this horrible future from unflolding.
  • Back in 1980, while Charles and Moira are testifying before the US Senate in defense of mutant rights, the Capitol Building is attacked by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.  The Brotherhood's roster (besides Blob, whom we met last issue):
    • Mystique
    • Destiny
    • Pyro
    • Avalanche

Uncanny X-Men #142
February 1, 1981
Claremont and Byrne/Byrne
  • The X-Men triumph.  They prevent the assassination of Senator Kelly, thus preventing the future hellscape anticipated in the previous issue.
  • On the final page, we meet Henry Peter Gyrich who will lead the President's anti-mutant operation.

9 comments:

  1. some of my favorite issues...
    until we get to Geonosha

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    Replies
    1. I am so happy with what I'm reading right now. Again, it's a re-read and now, having a better understanding of the history, I appreciate it all the more.

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    2. This time period is probably quintessential X-Men, not that I know much about what's been going on in the last five to ten years, but this is the era that everything goes back to, really. The sentinels and Days of Future Past changed everything.
      I'm a little surprised no one has tried to tackle Geonosha, though. Great arc.

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  2. Replies
    1. Definitely a great character and she establishes herself quickly.

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  3. Wonderful post it helps me keep up, somewhat.
    cheers

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