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.

via Character Level Wiki

• Nemesis: Wendigo
• Introduced:

via Wikipedia

• Heather Hudson, wife of James as well as his eventual replacement as Vindicator and leader of Alpha Flight

via Marvel Database

• 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.

via Wikipedia

• 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):

via Wikipedia

• Mystique

via Marvel Database

• Destiny

via Marvel Database

• Pyro

via Marvel Database

• 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.

via Marvel Database

• On the final page, we meet Henry Peter Gyrich who will lead the President's anti-mutant operation.

Off My Duff: Broomball Playoffs

It turned out to be a pretty quiet weekend at our house. Our Girl woke up on Saturday morning vomiting. So any plans for adventures out on the town were postponed. We made good use of the quiet time, as described here.


Image via Municipal Ice Complex

We had our broomball playoffs on Friday evening. Unfortunately, our postseason only lasted one game. Even more unfortunately for me, I spent most of the game watching from the bench. Still nursing my wounds from the previous week, I didn't appreciate how limited my movements would be until I got out on the ice. Quickly realizing that I wasn't doing anyone any favors out there, I benched myself. Mock, good, loyal friend that he is, let me take a quick turn in goal just so I'd have a chance to play. It was fun for a bit, but I let a goal in, ending that experiment.

The team played great, achieving a 2-2 draw in regulation, doubling our goal total for the year. We lost on penalty shots, though Mock bravely made 5 saves in the shootout before a lucky one got through. I'm hoping the strong effort was despite my absence, not helped by it.

Regardless, I'm definitely in for the spring season, evidently beginning in January. There's talk of team jerseys. Hopefully, I'll be fully healed by then. I think a modest investment in protective gear is in order. I shall continue to advocate for practices and chalk talks when/if we can find the time. I have some ideas about how we might streamline our positional play.


Image via Merchant Circle

The highlight of the evening for me was our post-game gathering at The O.N.E. Pepper Grill in Burlington. One of the most common questions people ask me when my Japan experience comes up is if there's anything I miss about the culture. Even 13 years later, there are a few things. I miss the astonishing politeness, particularly in customer service. I miss the public transit system a lot. But perhaps what I miss most of all is the bars. Japanese bars are built for conversation: round or square tables, unobtrusive music and drinking rituals which encourage interaction. Few American establishments compare favorably in my experience. But The O.N.E. Pepper Grill was really nice. I could actually hear everyone in our group, even those furthest from me. I was impressed - one to remember.