For the Love of Mutant X!

[RAMORE]

Ok so over in the New new Exiles thread we started discussing our love for Mutant X a comic that came out in 98.

It had great art and great premise. As I remember it going the thought was Havok a character with great potential couldn't get out of his big brother Scott's shadow so while in Xfactor a member of the team goes crazy and blows him up.

Instead of dying he inhadbit's the body of an alternate reality Havok. In this reality things our nearly the same except different choices were made and thats the fun of the series really besides seeing Havok really come into his own.

So i'm starting this fan appreciation thread. I will post all 32 story recaps and covers from Uncannyxmen.net and we can discuss what we liked and wished they brought back etc.

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 1



Issue Date: October 1998
Story Title: In the End ... as in the Beginning

Staff: Howard Mackie, Tom Raney, Andrew Pepoy (story and art), Gina Going (colorist), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Frank Pittarese (editor), Bob Harris (editor in chief)

Brief Description:
In an alternate universe, a mutant team called The Six led by Havok fights a group of Sentinels. The team comprises Havok, Marvel Woman (Madelyne Pryor-Summers, Havok’s wife), The Fallen (previously Angel), The Brute (previously Hank McCoy), Bloodstorm (previously Storm), and Ice-Man. When Havok dies in the fight, the spirit of the Havok from the main Marvel Universe inhabits his body. Havok is confused about what is going on, and at first thinks that some villain is trying to manipulate him. Slowly he gets to know his teammates and notices that they are close to the X-Men he knew though slightly different. The biggest change is that in this reality, only Alex was saved from the Summers plane explosion, and basically he led the life of Cyclops. Havok was recruited into the original X-Men, became their leader, married Madelyne Pryor and had a child with her. When Magneto too over the X-Men, Havok and Maddie started the Six still fighting for Xavier’s dream of peaceful coexistence. While Havok is still unsure what to make of all this, the team learn of Shield terrorists having taken over Liberty Island, where Havok’s son’s nanny has taken the boy for the day. Nick Fury threatens to set off a device containing the Legacy Virus if mutants won’t leave the United States peacefully. During the fight most of the Six are defeated, and Havok witnesses Madelyne manifesting her Goblin Queen persona. When he sees Scotty’s nanny Elektra about to be killed by Fury, Havok reacts by instinct and blasts the terrorist away. Finally starting to accept that he really has been transported into another reality, Havok has to face an new problem. Little Scotty realizes that this Havok is not his father and demands his real daddy back.

Full Synopsis:
Havok is falling through the black void of space. He is thinking about how he remembers dying.

In "another time and place," six mutants are climbing out of a downed aircraft and preparing to face off against a group of Sentinels. These Sentinels verbally identify the group as “The Six.” They are The Fallen (Warren Worthington III), Havok (Alex Summers), Marvel Woman (Madelyne Pryor-Summers), Bloodstorm (Ororo Munroe), The Brute (Hank McCoy), and Ice-Man (Robert Drake). This reality’s Havok tells the team that he’s sick of destroying the Sentinels only to have them come back more powerful a few months later. As he blasts them, he asks his team to help him out.

The Fallen and Ice-Man attack one, while The Brute goes to work on another. Bloodstorm and Marvel Woman assist Havok with a third one, who tries to kill Ororo, though she turns into mist, apparently a power she gained after being transformed into a vampire. The Six discover that the Sentinels have adapted to their powers, and cannot be harmed by them, therefore Bloodstorm summons a flock of rats to dispense with one, as this is an attack they would not have expected. As it is being destroyed, the Sentinel attempts to inflict maximum damage to the team by taking out Madelyne, who it sees at their emotional core. Havok leaps in the way of the beam, taking the blast meant for his wife. With a “Maddie ... I love you“ Havok falls over the edge into the water.

As he drowns, the spirit of the main reality’s Havok enters the body of this other Havok, bringing him back to life. He again thinks about how he remembers dying. Havok is too disoriented to swim back up and continues to drown. As his air runs out, he sees a tunnel of light and suddenly a figure approaching him. Havok expects an angel, but it’s the Brute, who has come after him. Then Havok passes out.

Somewhat later, Havok jots awake, revived by CPR from Madelyne. Becoming aware of the Six, Havok is confused, wondering who they are. Concerned they try to give their leader a rundown of recent events, thinking that Havok is amnesiac after nearly suffocating under water. As Madelyne reaches out to him, Havok freaks, thinking that someone is trying to trick him, like Arcade or the Shadow King. He angrily lashes out with his powers, destroying one remaining Sentinel that was sneaking up on the team. Havok sinks to the ground, wondering what has happened, as the Fallen walks over to him. He thanks him for saving them, but also thinks that Havok is not in control of himself. As the rest of the Six are too kind-hearted to stop Havok, the Fallen knocks him unconscious.

Havok wakes up in a medical room, again thinking how he remembers dying. Alex thinks to himself that he can’t allow top let his head get messed up with again, and that he needs to find out who the Six are and where they are keeping him, before trying to contact Polaris and the rest of X-Factor. Suddenly he becomes aware of the Brute, who is sitting at his bedside. Hank proudly tells him that he was the one who saved him, following Marvel Woman’s instructions, who did not even to tell him twice to jump into the water after Havok. He goes on that he can breath under water with his “gill thingies“ and that he is supposed to contact the rest of the group when Havok wakes up. Then it hits him that this has just happened. Hank gets annoyed that he again screwed up and wonders why he can’t remember things. Actually he used to be really smart but he lost his intellect experimenting on himself, which made him stronger and more powerful. Havok decides to try to get the Brute to explain what this place is, and he tells him to pretend Havok could not remember anything. The Brute thinks it’s some sort of game and happily accepts the challenge, eager to prove that he still remembers a lot of things.

Later, the Brute is still leading Havok around the castle, which he tells him is in the middle of the Hudson River and called “Bannerman’s Castle.” It is undetectable because of a fog machine hiding it from view. Hank designed the device when he was still smart. Havok asks him about the X-Men, and Hank explains that there is some bad blood between him and Magneto, the team’s leader, besides they are currently off the planet. The Fallen appears and insults The Brute for his stupidity, who is frightened of his dark teammate. The Fallen suggests that he goes to tell Maddie that Havok is awake, and the Brute does as told. Havok talks with The Fallen for a moment, until Madelyne comes out to see him. She sends Warren away, saying as he leaves that she hates it when Scotty, her son by Havok, is around The Fallen. Havok is surprised by the existence of a child, and still convinced that some villain is trying to manipulate him, Alex thinks to himself that he will play along with these Six for a while, until they will slip up and make a mistake. Havok tells Maddie that his memory is still shaky and asks her to explain things to him, when Ice-Man and The Brute bound over the wall, showing off with their powers. Ice-Man asks if Alex is feeling well, and Havok goes over to shake Bobby’s hand, who recoils. Madelyne finally realizes that Havok really doesn’t remember anything prior drowning, since Ice-Man’s powers have been messed with by Loki and anybody touching him would be frozen solid. Also Ice-Man prefers to be called “Bob“ these days, and he only lets allow the childish Hank to still call him “Bobby“.

Madelyne tries to get her husband to remember by deeply kissing him and then gives him a brief rundown on the history of the X-Men and the Six. Alex was the sole survivor when the plane carrying the Summers family exploded in the skies of Alaska. He was raised in an orphanage until Xavier took him into the X-Men. Alex and Madelyne named their son after his lost older brother Scott. When Xavier took ill and left the team, Magneto took over. Seeing the X-Men turn into something different, Havok and Madelyne started their own group, staying true to Xavier’s dream of peaceful coexistence. Besides the changes that some of the members have been put through, like Dracula biting Storm turning her into a vampire, Loki manipulating Ice-Man and Apocalypse transforming the Angel into the Fallen, Havok held the group together.

Havok is amazed by all this. He immediately asks for Lorna’s fate much to the surprise of the others. They tell him that Polaris broke up with Ice-Man and apparently rejoined her father Magneto among the X-Men. They are cut off by Bloodstorm telling them that Shield terrorists are making another move on mutants and have taken control of Liberty Island. Madelyne panics, Liberty Island is where Scotty and his nanny are for the day. She tells Havok to pull himself together and try to remember as they need to save their son from madman Nick Fury.

A short while later, the Six’s aircraft is approaching liberty island, where Nick Fury is speaking to the press. The entire island is mined with canisters of the Legacy Virus. Originally it only targeted mutants, but SHIELD scientists have modified it, so that it will attack every superhuman now, including the likes of the Avengers and Spider-Man as well. Unless all these freaks start heading out of the United States within the next 24 hours, Fury will detonate the devices. Right then the Six arrive and Fury calls in some Mandroids to fight Havok’s team.

Madelyne reminds Alex of the importance of this battle. Nick Fury stands between them and everything they had hoped to achieve. She also explains that she had to sacrifice part of her soul last time Scotty was captured. Fury at the same time, encourages his followers that when they will have defeated the mutants, America will treat them like the heroes they are, now matter what they are thinking of them right now. The fight starts and the Mandroids seem to have been trained to effectively countermeasure the mutant’s powers. The fallen, Ice-Man, the Brute and Bloodstorm are quickly defeated, leaving only Madelyne and Havok to fight on. Madelyne becomes mad and her powers max out. Stating that her son will never be taken from her again, she briefly transforms into the Goblin Queen, easily wrecking the Mandroids. The team rallies and they re-enter the battle.

Havok is unsure what to do. For a few moments they had him going and he fought alongside the Six, however he still thinks that this all could be some sort of hallucination trying to manipulate him. Nick Fury gloats when he sees that Havok is not fighting anymore, and although the rest of the Six seem to have the upper hand in the battle, he wants to make a stand by ordering little Scotty and his nanny to be killed. Havok sees that the nanny is none other than the greek assassin Elektra. She is overwhelmed by the Mandroids, and finally Havok goes into action and blasts Fury before he can kill little Scotty. The team handily defeats SHIELD, and Scotty tells his mother he wants to go right home.

Back at the castle, Maddie, now back to normal, tells Havok that everything will be fine. In time he will fully remember that he is her husband and little Scotty’s father, or else he wouldn’t have stepped in exactly at the right moment. She then asks Alex to talk to his son like he always does before he goes to bed, and he obliges her. Yet, once alone with Scotty, the boy realizes Havok is not who everyone else thinks he is. By touching him, Havok’s memory get activated and he remembers how he tried to save his teammate Greystone from the explosion of a faulty time machine, next he remembers dying. Little Scotty demands his real father back.

Characters:
Main Marvel Universe :
Havok

In flashbacks :
Greystone, Havok (both X-Factor)


Mutant X-verse :
Bloodstorm, Brute, Fallen, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman (all The Six)
Scotty Summers
Elektra
Sentinels
Contessa Valentina, Dum Dum Hogan, Nick Fury, and other SHIELD members
Mandroids

In flashbacks :
Angel, Beast, Colossus, Ice-Man, Havok, Magneto, Marvel Girl, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Shadowcat, Storm (all X-Men)
Madelyne Pryor-Summers
Dracula
Loki
Apocalypse

Notes:
In X-Factor’s final issue (#149), Havok tried to stop his teammate Greystone from using a faulty time machine, but they were both caught in the explosion and are believed dead by their teammates.

The issue includes SHIELD’s files on the members of the Six that give some additional information on them.

After leaving the X-Men to work for the Brand Corporation, Hank McCoy isolated a chemical catalyst for mutation. In the main Marvel Universe, Hank transformed into a furry Beast after drinking the serum (Amazing Adventures #11), in the Mutant X reality he mutated even further into a green skinned amphibious monster, and also lost his intellect in the process.

In this reality Storm was not saved from the effects of Dracula’s bite (Uncanny X-Men #160) and became a vampire. She left the X-Men to deal with this transformation, and when she returned she joined Havok’s Six instead. Her new status has even improved her weather abilities and she can also turn to mist and summon vermin now.

Ice-Man’s powers are out of control after he was manipulated by Loki (Thor #373-374). In the main Marvel Universe, Ice-Man had to wear a special belt that suppressed his powers to a controllable degree, but such a device has not been invented in this reality, trapping Bob in his ice form.

At one point Apocalypse abducted the Angel and turned him into one of his Horsemen. (X-Factor #15-24) However instead of the metal winged Archangel, the Mutant X version of Warren Worthington is called the Fallen. His wings are leathery flaps, he can breathe fire, and his face, rather than blue, is deathly white.

Madelyne Pryor-Summers a.k.a. Marvel Woman a.k.a. The Goblin Queen is Havok’s wife. SHIELD’s files mention that she bears an uncanny resemblance to the deceased X-Men founding member Jean Grey, aka Ariel. She is speculated to be a clone of Jean Grey, and during the crisis called Inferno, Maddie struck a deal with demons which unlocked her latent telekinetic powers.

At first Havok’s team was named X-Factor, though they later renamed themselves the Six for yet unknown reasons.

In the main Marvel Universe Lorna Dane too believed for a time to be Magneto’s daughter, however Iceman soon found out that she had been lied to, and her parents had died in a plane crash. (Uncanny X-Men #52)

SHIELD is an anti-mutant organization, SHIELD stands for “Saviors of Humanity by Intervention in the Evolution of Life-form Deviants“

Issue Summary written by: X-Istentialist

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 2


Issue Date: November 1998
Story Title: No Way Out !

Staff: Howard Mackie, Tom Raney, Andrew Pepoy, Wong (story and art), Gina Going (colorist), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Frank Pittarese (editor), Bob Harris (editor in chief)

Brief Description:
The Six respond to a distress call from the Fantastic Four, despite some old bad blood as Sue Richards once had an affair with Havok. Together the teams face and apparently defeat Moot, a supposed conqueror from another dimension. Back in their headquarters, Ice-Man talks with Alex how his teammates the Fallen and Bloodstorm give him the creeps. Especially Ororo, as a full vampire, would have to “feed“, something which she apparently does when she leaves at night. After this, Havok talks to Scotty, who warms up to him once Alex tells him he would like nothing more than to go to his home and bring this reality’s Havok back. Thinking that Reed might be able to help, Alex goes to see him, only to find that Moot has dominated his mind and captured the rest of the Fantastic Four. Moot wants to use Alex as a tool for traveling between dimensions. Havok resists Moot’s influence and frees the other three of the Fantastic Four, and together, they defeat Moot once more. Finally Reed runs some tests on Alex and finds that the only oddity about him is a brain-damage inflicted by his near-death experience. Reed calls Maddie and advises her to take Alex to the psychiatrist Leonard Samson.

Full Synopsis:
The Six travel in the Blackbird, piloted by Bloodstorm. She tells them that there was a distress call ten minutes ago from the Baxter Building to which they were traveling and that they should be there within a minute. While they fly, Havok wonders what he’s doing with the rest of The Six, especially since Scotty knows that he’s not his father. Also, he ponders how to convince them that he isn’t insane so that they’ll help him get back to his world, Lorna, and X-Factor. Bloodstorm interrupts his meditations by informing them to get ready to disembark, since the Fantastic Four need their help.

The Fantastic Four are all in cybernetic suits, which give them their powers. Susan first notices the Blackbird and tells her teammates that The Six have arrived and that now all they need to do is keep Moot and his insectoid army from harming the bystanders. She tells Johnny to use his suit to create a wall of flames, which he says he’s already working on. She then tells Reed, whose suit has four extra arms, that she’s going to use her stealth armor to get through the ranks of the enemy and lead The Six to them. Reed informs her that he and Ben will use their cyber enhancements to create a pathway for her through Moot’s creatures, which he says are nothing more than bio-mechanical life forms. Ben interrupts him, telling him to just clobber instead. Sue gets to The Six and tells Havok that she can’t believe they came, which surprises Alex, who wonders why the FF are in battle armor, deducing that in this timeline they must not have been exposed to the cosmic rays. He reminds himself that this reality is terribly different from his.

As they fight Moot and company, Alex asks Reed what they’re up against, and Reed tells him they’re opposing an expeditionary force led by a being called Moot, who can somehow breach dimensional walls. Reed informs him that he only discovered Moot’s entrance by accident while he was examining that which holds reality together. Havok tells Reed to watch out, since Moot seems to be targeting him directly and they don’t seem to be making much progress against the insectoids. Johnny tells-Ice Man that The Six were the last people they expected to see after what happened between Reed, Sue, and Alex, and Ice-Man replies that killer bugs make for desperate times and that Maddie doesn’t seem to ever mention it anymore. Brute tells Bob that he’s not supposed to talk about that, since it upsets Maddie, and Ben and Bloodstorm agree with him. Ororo apologizes to Susan, who tells her that she’s used to such talk from her little brother.

Moot, having enough of their talk, asks if all humans engage in such banter during battle and then tells Reed that he will be the first to fall, his brain joining the greater good. However Reed placing a neural disrupter around Moot’s head cuts his bombast short, and Susan tells him how nice it is to fight along the smartest man on earth. Susan reminds him to make sure that Moot’s portal is closed before he interrogates him, and Reed agrees. Under Reed’s instruction, Ben takes Moot off to the lab, while Alex tells Reed that he’s happy The Six could help and that he in turn needs Reed’s help with something that’s been bothering him lately. Maddie cuts him off, telling her husband that Reed won’t want to talk to him. She wraps things up with Reed, sending Havok back to the Blackbird with the feeling that he stepped into something very old.

Later, back at the castle, Maddie tells the team to get some rest since they could be called at any time. She tells Alex they need to talk, then angrily drags him off, demanding if there’s anything still going on between him and Susan. He tells her he has no idea what she’s getting at, and she replies that she has to believe him since there’s so much riding on her trust in him, specifically Scotty. She tells him that he’s been tense since his near-death experience but that he’s got to get back to normal. She asks him to check on Scotty, whose been stressed around Havok lately, while she will take a bath.

After she left, Bloodstorm approaches Havok that she’d prefer to spend the evening at her abode, and he tells her that’d be fine. Bob comes along and mentions that Ororo’s turning into mist still troubles him and that he often wonders where she goes at night. He asserts that she is a vampire and she has got to “eat“ something, and Havok asks what he’s getting at. Bob tells him he doesn’t know, but that he isn’t saying that he doesn’t trust her. He goes on to say that Warren is the really creepy one, since Bob’s gotten up in the middle of the night and found The Fallen perched “like some sort of big old gargoyle.” This, he thinks, makes Storm seem normal, and he off-handedly wonders how long it takes her to get wherever she goes. As he says this, Storm already reforms at another location and tells two shadowy figures that she hungers.

Havok walks towards Scotty’s room, thinking to himself that he can cope with the differences between his old reality and this one, except for his having to deal with his supposed son, since he has no experience with children. He opens the door, and Scotty appears to be happy to see him. Alex asks his nanny Elektra to leave for a bit, and she complies, telling Havok that he is, after all, the boy’s father. Though Havok thinks, “You’d think that, wouldn’t you?” Once she leaves, Alex begins fumbling his words with “his“ son, and mentions under his breath how attractive Elektra is. After this, he asks Scotty if he knows who he really is and where he really came from. Also, he reassures the boy that he had nothing to do with the disappearance of his real father and that he doesn’t want to hurt him. He ends by telling the boy that he seems to be the only one who believes him and that he’d like nothing more than to return this reality’s Havok here and himself back home. Scotty tells Alex he’d be happy to help, and Alex asks how he knew he wasn’t who everyone else thought he was. Scotty tells him that he sometimes just knows things, and asks one more time if he’s really going to try to get his real father back. Havok is about to tell the boy that he crosses his heart and hopes to die, but the boy cuts him off, saying that sometimes the last part comes true and that’s bad. He then tells Havok that he’s good and that he trusts him.

From her room, Madelyne watches the interaction between her husband and their child through a magical mirror, though as she turns her back to the scrying glass, a shadowy figure appears, calls her name twice, and tells her that. Then the mirror shatters.

(the next morning)
Havok heads to Reed’s office, thinking that if anyone can help him, he can. A robotic secretary greets him and asks if he has an appointment, he tells it he doesn’t, and it leaves to see if Richards is available to see him. Shortly later, Reed greets Havok, asking what he owes this surprise to. Alex tells him he has a problem he thinks only Reed can fix, and Reed tells him to explain it as they head upstairs. Once they get upstairs, Reed asks Havok if he really just told him that he traveled through the space/time continuum to this world and would like to find a way to get back. When Havok tells him that’s correct, he asks if he’d said his world was similar in many ways to this one, which Alex tells him he knows sounds crazy. Reed tells him it’s a good thing he came to him, and that he just wants to run a few tests. Havok agrees and asks what happened to Moot; Reed replies that Moot turned out to be a sham, just smoke and mirrors. Havok asks if he’s still there, and Reed responds that he had to let him go. He then tells Alex that he might require extensive studying, as his powers might be used to transport an army through realities. Havok begins to get suspicious, especially when Reed tells him he’s going to be dissected.

Shocked, Havok turns to ask what he means by all this, only to see that Reed has transformed into light. Reed tells him that he’s exactly the tool he’s been searching for and that once his insectoids bore into his mind, he can control him. He tells Havok the same happened to Richards, who’s far less intelligent than he (Moot) is. Moot roars that with Havok under his control, he will dominate the multiverse as conqueror of all space and time. As he runs from the insectoids, Havok kicks himself for not realizing that Reed was being far too nice given their history. As he runs, he thinks that he’s got to find the rest of the Fantastic Four and hope that Moot hasn’t controlled all of them, since he couldn’t defeat all of them by himself. He then enters a room where the other three have been captured. Moot, perched over Susan, tells Havok to join his flock, but Sue begs Alex to resist his mind control. Moot tells her to be silent, telling Havok they need to discuss business. Moot tells Havok he can help him get home, that neither of them belong there, that they both want to get home, and that if Havok opens his mind, they can travel across the multiverse together. Sue again beseeches Alex to resist, and he tells her not to worry, that there’s no chance of joining Moot, which he backs up with a plasma blast at the would-be conqueror.

Moot takes off, yelling that he will find a way to dominate Alex since his mind is weak, possessing no psychic barriers. As he leaves, Moot discovers Havok’s weakness: Scotty. Ben tells Havok to get him free so he can show Moot who’s boss, and Havok informs Ben that he needs to be still so that he doesn’t take off his hand while removing the manacles, since on this world, his hide isn’t made of rock. Ben has no idea what he’s talking about, but Havok says there isn’t time to explain, as they need to stop Moot immediately if they’re up to it. Johnny tells Alex that they’re always up to it, even if they don’t have natural powers the way mutants do. Moot taunts Johnny, asking him if he really thought mere flames would stop a space/time conqueror. As Sue back-fists the alien, she tells him that was only a distraction so she could get closer to him. Havok lets loose on Moot, finally taking him down.

Later, Havok and Reed talk, and Richards tells him that Moot is going to The Vault, where they’ll discover what he’s all about. Richards mentions that interdimensional travel seems far fetched, but Alex says he doesn’t know. Reed makes a bad pun, calling it a “Moot” point anyway, telling Alex he’s been working on his sense of humor. Richards tells him he heard from Sue he needed a favor and is willing to help him despite their history. Havok then begins to explain what he needs.

Reed examines Alex, telling him that he’s often believed there could be other dimensions, particularly one composed of anti-matter. He also says that any travel would result in a “genetic scar” that could help to determine where the person originally came from. Shortly later, Havok asks Richard what he found, and Reed asks if his reality is better place. Alex tells him it’s just not better, but just different. It‘s the reality where he belongs and where he knows his place and everybody else’s everyone. Reed tells Alex his results : he found that Alex was perfectly healthy, except for one small thing. Havok thinks it it’s the genetic scar he spoke of earlier and asks if he can help him. Reed tells him he can help, and Havok, in his excitement, tells him that if anyone could help him, it would be Mister Fantastic. Reed isn’t called that in this reality and gets confused. He then repeat that he can help him, but in a different manner than Alex thinks. Now Havok is the one who’s confused. Maddie enters the lab and explains he needs a different kind of help. Reed apologizes, he asked Maddie to come and he agrees with her – none of his tests support Alex’s story of interdimensional travel. Instead he discovered a brain damage, probably from his recent near-death experience. Reed tells Madelyne to take Alex to his friend Leonard Samson, a brilliant physician and psychiatrist soon. As they fly home on the Blackbird, Maddie tells her husband that she loves him and that they’ll get through this.

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Fallen, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman (all The Six)
Scotty Summers
Elektra

Ben Grimm, Reed Richards, Susan Richards, Johnny Storm (all Fantastic Four)
Reed’s robotic secretary

Moot and his insectoid army
an unnamed demon

Notes:
Bloodstorm is welcomes by two male figures who are hidden in shadows. Later issues will establish that she lives at a castle with Kitty and Forge as her servants. Forge might be one of the two men, but the question remains who the other is.

In the main Marvel Universe, the Fantastic Four too have a robotic secretary by the name of Roberta. She looks like the average human making many visitors think that she is a real person., while the version of the Mutant X reality is easily recognized as a robot.

The dimension of antimatter that Reed Richards is talking about is the Negative Zone. In the main Marvel Universe, this was among the first of Mr. Fantastic‘s discoveries, here Reed hasn’t found an access to it yet.

Issue Summary written by: X-Istentialist

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 3


Issue Date: December 1998
Story Title: The Pack

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Tom Raney (penciler), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Frank Pittarese (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
While on their way to the Summers' estate in Alaska to find the proof Alex needs he's not from this reality, Havok tries to convince Maddie and his teammates he isn't their Havok, but none are willing to believe him and think he is insane and need proof before believing. Alex then accidentally shuts down the plane's cloac and the plane crashes in the Canadian woods. The Fallen nearly gets killed during the crash and Ice-Man and Brute check the area on the look-out for the team called the Pack. During the search, they get knocked-out and Brute loses his cool and becomes one of them. Alex goes searching for them and meets the Pack, a team consisting out of a rogue Wolverine, Sabretooth and Wild Child. Alex fights his way through, bringing Brute back to himself, and then finds a hidden tunnel. The Pack wants Alex to follow them, but needs his team first. The three go get them, and they enter the tunnel. When blasting open a fully-made Adamantium door, they stumble across the destroyed Weapon X lab, where the Pack was created. Upon discovering their horrible origin, the Pack goes wild again and the team has to fight them once more, but are out of energy. They get saved by Alpha Flight and leave. On their trip home, Alex apologizes to Maddie and says he belongs here, with the Six and with her.

Full Synopsis:
Saskatchewan, Canada
Havok is running for his life through the snowy Canadian woods and yells for his teammates. He has been searching for them for three hours and still hasn't found them. Then he stops, finding a footprint in the snow. As Havok looks up, he finds the Blackbird. Alex can't believe it: he's back where he started and has been running in circles all the way! Two shadowy figures jump through the trees. Alex hears them and opens a full blast at them, and cries out that they are to take him too, just like the rest of the team, who didn't even want to come here.

Four hours ago, in the Blackbird somewhere over the Northwestern United States, Alex is arguing with Maddie and the rest of the Six about his whereabouts. He can't understand that they won't believe him, because they are not exactly "normal" either, after all: they are Homo Superior, - mutants - and they've handled life in every worst way imaginable.

Maddie tries to calm him down and discuss things later, but Alex goes on and sums up the worst happenings in their lives: Ororo has been bitten by Dracula and transformed into the vampire Bloodstorm, Bob got transformed by Loki into a permanent full ice-form whose touch is deadly, and Warren has changed into the Fallen. Maddie still doesn’t believe him because Reed Richards, the smartest man on Earth, didn't find any proof about reality hopping and thinks Alex just can't handle his near-death experience. Alex says that's because this world's Reed isn't as smart as his Earth's Reed. Maddie tries to understand why Alex wants to go to his world then, where his brother never died, where mutants are feared and hated, where they never married and had a son and where Magneto is a villain. Alex explains it's just the place where he belongs. Maddie wants proof first, show it to them or something, and if so they'll do anything they can to help, but first they need proof; all of them. Alex gets even angrier and says he'll get their proof and accidentally shuts the plain's cloac off, making it visible for the Canadians. The Blackbird gets hit by something and crashes.

Now.

Alex continues to search the woods and finds some more footprints, but can't figure out who they belong to. He wishes he had paid more attention when Wolverine gave him the tracking lessons during his stint as an X-Man. Then a rockslide comes up and Alex realizes he's been set-up. He uses his powers to slow the rocks down, but then loses balance and drops. As he gets up, he notices an outraged, naked trio of Wolverine, Sabretooth and Wild Child standing in front of him, ready to attack! Alex remembers Madelyne telling him that they form the team called the Pack. As Alex looks further, he notices the Brute in enraged form and it appears that he has joined the Pack.

Three hours and a half ago.

The Blackbird has crashed, and during the crash the Fallen has lost a lot of blood and Bloodstorm tries to heal his wounds. Ice-Man and Brute are ordered to scout the area, and Maddie goes over to Alex to talk. Alex apologizes for not knowing that on this world relations between Americans and Canadians aren't that good. Maddie gets angry with him, opens a holodisc and reveals the day Alex first formed the Six, their family. Maddie says she just doesn't know what Alex wants anymore, because he told her that day was the happiest of his life.

Now.
Alex tries to figure out what the Pack wants with him, as they sniffle and jump all around him. Alex gets enough of it and tries to reach the outraged Wolverine, and says he only wants to go back to his friends, his team. Wolverine doesn't listen and pops his claws open. Alex realizes it's no use. He tries to snap Brute out of it and eventually succeeds. Brute apologizes for scaring Alex, and says they'll get out of this together. He opens a full blast at the Pack to give them a distraction while they escape. Alex' blast opens a tunnel entrance, and Wolverine, Sabretooth and Wild Child don't seem to care for Alex anymore and slash the tunnel further open and want Alex and Brute to follow them in. Alex says he wants his team first, and the three seem to understand and go get them.

Maddie cheerfully greets Alex, saying she knew he wouldn't abandon the team. Alex wants to grab Maddie and go home, but Wolverine stops him by popping his claws open again in front of Maddie.

Alex goes along with the three in the tunnel and tells Maddie to leave if he doesn't come back, but Maddie says the Six are a team and they won't leave anybody behind. Alex agrees and says they'll leave this country together and then enters the tunnel with Wolverine, Sabretooth and Wild Child.

A few minutes later.
Alex follows the Pack to a door and they can't get it open with their claws. Alex tells Wolverine he can't believe he totally lost his humanity. Wolverine tries to tell Alex to open the door. He uses the words, but with a lot of grumbling in between. Alex tells them to stay back, and uses his powers to blast the door open. It's hard to do because the door is made from Adamantium, but eventually Alex succeeds. They enter a lab and search through it. Alex tries to figure out what the place is, and realizes it must be Weapon X, the place where Wolverine got his Adamantium claws.

The Six show up, telling Alex they don't want to leave him alone with them. Wolverine hits a button and a playback starts, with no sound. But Alex explains it to the rest of the team: Wolverine, Sabretooth and Wild Child were kidnapped by Weapon X scientists and their mutant powers were upgraded to become elite Canadian government agents. But the three escaped and destroyed the lab, escaping into the wilderness, and they found the hidden entrance to the lab.

The three lose it and Brute says he can feel the wild thing in the air and needs to get out. None of the team is up their full strength, but prepare to fight anyhow. Alex apologizes to Maddie for everything and Maddie says she'll always love him, even if he doesn't remember it. They kiss, and then prepare to fight. Alex opens a full blast, but it's not enough. Alex again apologizes to Maddie, but she says he gave the team their leader back, and for that, everybody gives their best shot and the battle begins! Then a bright light shows up, nearly blinding everybody! Alpha Flight stands in front of them, and Guardian says that the Pack are rogue government operatives and will be placed in custody. And if the Six aren't off Canadian properties within the hour, so will they!

They leave, and in the plane, Alex apologizes to Maddie. He knows she was right, and that he belongs with the Six, with them, and with her. Maddie is overjoyed and welcomes him back.

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Fallen, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman (the Six) Sabretooth, Wild Child, Wolverine (the Pack)

Aurora, Guardian, Northstar, Puck, Shaman, Sasquatch, Snowbird (Alpha Flight)


Notes:


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 4


Issue Date: January 1999
Story Title: Secrets and Lies

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Andrew Pepoy (artist), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Frank Pitaresse (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Scotty has a weird dream that something bad is about to happen. Alex and he go check it out and get attacked by several weird demons. Meanwhile, Maddie gets drawn into a weird landscape and another demon succesfully transforms Maddie into his Goblin Queen. Alex and Scotty are on their own in their fight, because the demons have already taken out the rest of the Six. Almost at their defeat, Maddie shows up transformed into the Goblin Queen and uses her powers to make the demons go away. Scotty is too scared of his mom now, and Maddie doesn't understand and starts transforming back into herself, as Alex and Scotty watch in fear. While these things happen, Bloodstorm has wandered off from the Six to her castle, and meets her servant Kitty and lover and sole foodsource, Forge.

Full Synopsis:
(Madelyne’s dream)
Maddie has transformed into the demonic Goblin Queen and laughs about it. Alex and Scotty are scared and try to reach out for Maddie, but she doesn't listen to them. Scotty yells for his mommy and exclaims they're hurting him. Havok tries to reach her again and attempts to explain to Maddie that Bloodstorm has already fallen and he doesn't know how much longer he, Ice-Man and Brute can keep the Demons away. Scotty tries to reach his mommy again and Maddie wakes up, finding it was all just a dream.

(reality)
Alex asks what's wrong and why she can't hear Scotty crying for her from his room. He says he'll go see to it, she needs to go to bed again and rest because she's been looking tired lately. Maddie agrees and does so and Alex goes check on Scotty. On his way, Alex thinks to himself how he's suddenly playing the concerned father and husband. He can't believe he's fitting in into this strange world, after he got stranded here after the battle with Greystone on his homeworld.

Alex’s thoughts turn to the Six, a team of heroes which he always would have wanted to lead, in a way. He passes their rooms, and Bloodstorm comes out of her room. She's surprised because she didn't expect anyone at this hour and asks if it's okay if she leaves, because she has business to attend to elsewhere. Alex gives his okay but before he can finish his sentence, Bloodstorm's already gone.

Alex finally makes it to Scotty's room. He finds Scotty all freaked out, because he had a dream that predicts something really bad is going to happen tonight, and he just knows it's true!

Meanwhile, Maddie has yet another weird dream of some sort, and she enters a dark reality. An evil voice tells "his queen" to follow the path. Maddie does so.

At the same moment, Bloodstorm flies over the city in her mist form and enters a castle. A servant opens the door and greats Bloodstorm, and Bloodstorm thanks Kitty Pryde, for her loyal services. Bloodstorm wanders the castle and is greeted by a man, who says he could feel it in his blood that she had arrived. The man, Forge, says it's been too long between meals and Bloodstorm is risking a lot for making it so late. She’s making herself suffer. Bloodstorm jokes whether he’d like her to drain him dry, but Forge suggests she could maybe feast on the opponents the Six take on as well. Bloodstorm says she would never do such a thing. Forge explains he just doesn't want to see his love suffer, but Bloodstorm tells him the suffering will come to an end, for now, as she moves closer to him.

Back at the Six's castle. There's been a blackout and Alex has taken Scotty with him to check it out. Scotty still thinks a bad thing is about to happen, but Alex denies it. He knows Scotty can "see" things other people can't, but Alex things he just had a bad dream. Scotty then remembers that Ice-Man told him that Hank McCoy made the castle's own power-generator, from before he became the Brute and was really smart. Hank made sure it would never break. Suddenly the "bad thing" Scotty was talking about starts attacking them! Alex uses his powers against it and the thing drops back and Alex and Scotty make a run for it, back to Maddie.

Meanwhile, Maddie is still in the weird landscape and asks what they want from her. The evil voice tells her about the power which can be hers, but she must covet it. The voice says the desire which rest in her soul must be nurtured, so she can fully become the Goblin Queen. Maddie doesn't want to. The voice begins to turn into a demon and tries to convince Maddie but still fails, and then simply says she must give into the power… and Maddie does! The demon is happy and begins planning.

At the same time, Alex and Scotty are still running. Alex wants to find the Six, but Scotty says it's too late because they've been swallowed by the mist. Alex tries to switch a light on, but electricity is still off and he notices more demons. They make it to Ice-Man's room, but he's all covered with weird red things and not moving. Alex tells Scotty to look away, they'll keep moving. Alex asks if Scotty knows what these things are, but he just knows they are bad things and they need to find his mom.

The red things grab Scotty, but Alex blasts Scotty free and they make it to Maddie's room. Then a hard noise starts bouncing, and Maddie is nowhere to be found. Scotty warns Alex he knows the thing's after him!

Alex asks if Scotty knows where the noise is coming from, and Scotty points to a closet a demon comes out from, saying Scotty belongs to them now. Alex fires his blasts, not hurting the demon and a second demon comes out as well. Alex asks Scotty to run away to safety while he holds them back. Alex prepares another blast, but then Maddie shows up, transformed into the Goblin Queen and yells at the demons for daring to lay a hand upon her son! Maddie uses her powers against the demons and they disappear. Maddie tells Scotty it's okay now and to come to her, but Scotty's too scared and wants Alex to take him to his room. Maddie doesn't know why Scotty and Alex are so scared of her and she starts transforming back to her normal self, and Scotty and Alex watch in fear.


Characters:
Bloodstorm, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman/Goblin Queen (the Six)
Scotty Summers

Kitty Pryde (Bloodstorm's servant)
Forge (Bloodstorm's lover)


Notes:
Havok fought Greystone in X-Factor #149, where Havok stopped the maniac by almost sacrificing his life had he not landed in this world, as happened in Mutant X #1.

This issue’s revelation that Forge is Bloodstorm’s only foodsource doesn’t gell with issue #2 where Storm entered an apartment where she was expected by two men who were clearly meant to be her food sources.

Maddie has also transformed into the Goblin Queen in the real universe during the Inferno saga,but went insane and started attacking the X-Men and X-Factor. She was eventually defeated and apparently killed.

Kitty Pryde operates under the code-name of Shadowcat in the real universe and there she is Storm's best friend.

Forge and Storm were lovers in the real universe as well, but Storm often questioned her feelings for him and they had a more on-off relationship then anything else.

The story how Kitty and Forge came to be Ororo’s servants is told in Mutant X #13.


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 5


Issue Date: February 1999
Story Title: Goblins in the Night

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Cary Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (inks), Gina Going (letters), Frank Pitaresse (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
The Six have come to the aid of the Man-Spider, who's having difficulties in defeating the Green Goblin and his demon minions. Maddie orders Havok and the rest of the Six to defeat the minnions while she and the Fallen go after the Goblin. Maddie transforms into the Goblin Queen again and the Fallen is quickly taken down by the Gobin's pumpkin bombs. Havok realizes that he doesn't trust Fallen with his "wife" and sents Brute after them to protect Maddie. She and Man-Spider begin their fight against the Goblin and the Goblin Queen wants to kill him because he has drawn unnecessary attention to the people living in the shadows, who are hated and feared and hunted down. Man-Spider interferes. The Fallen slashes Man-Spider and Goblin Queen then kills both Man-Spider and the Goblin. Brute has witnessed everything and panics and intends to tell Havok. But Maddie and the Fallen stop him and order him to not mention any of this to Havok, or they'll kill Brute's friends and parents. Brute gets enraged and starts fighting but just then Havok and the Six arrive and take Brute down. Maddie convinces the rest of the Six that Brute has gone berserk and killed both Man-Spider and the Goblin and also wanted to kill her and Fallen. The Six believe her and Brute gets arrested by the police and placed into custody.

Full Synopsis:
The Six have come to the aid of the spectacular Man-Spider, who's already defeated. Alex asks Maddie if the demons got him, but Maddie gets angry at Alex because they are not demons. Alex says they sure look like it, and the Green Goblin probably will agree with him. The Goblin stands triumphically on his glider and orders his minions to kill them all, because the day of the Goblin has finally arrived. Alex asks how Maddie knows these aren't demons, as Man-Spider called them because he knew the Goblin was planning a big move against all the other crime syndicates and Man-Spider also knew he couldn't face these demons alone. Maddie replies that she doesn't know if Man-Spider is the best authority after the whole clone debacle, but she just knows they aren't demons. She knows because she faced real demons when S'ym and N'astirth abducted their son and Maddie went after them alone. Havok takes her word for it and they continue fighting.

Maddie explains that Norman Osborn is no Goblin King, just a criminal scientist genius who plans to bring crime up again in this city and into the world. But his secret was found out by Man-Spider and, Maddie claims, Osborn is just a fraud. Maddie says they'll have to get to Osborn if they want to end this and orders Havok and the others to clean up their foes, while she takes the Fallen with her to Osborn. Havok agrees, but thinks to himself that Maddie has been acting so strange latley, ever since the incident at their castle with the demons that attacked him and Scotty. He doesn't trust the Fallen with Maddie, his wife. Then he realizes she isn't his wife and this isn't his world or his life. He looks at the Six, who he considers true heroes and realizes he only really trusts the Brute.

Hank gets bitten by a demon but throws it off. Alex asks if he can go help Maddie, which Brute is happy to do because they both treat him nicely. Brute leaves, but Ice-Man points out that he would never trust any woman with any of the Six.

Maddie orders the Fallen to go find the “false one.” The Fallen does as "his queen" orders. He flies over to the Goblin, but the villain throws his pumpkin bombs at the Fallen which hit him and he faints. Goblin then starts attacking Maddie, but she transforms into the Goblin Queen.

She exclaims that Osborn stepped over the line this time, for bringing unneeded attention to the underworld, which is in fact hers to control. Osborn says that his Goblin persona was just meant to bring fear to the world, a way to seek global domination. Osborn asks if she truly believes in this supernatural drivel, because if so, she fully diserves the trashing he plans to give her!

Goblin and Maddie start fighting, with Maddie threatening he'll die tonight. Goblin attacks in full rage, but gets stopped by the webs of the Man-Spider, who tells Osborn that he's gone too far this time and the world shall now finally know he's not that kind business-man he always claimed to be. He's gone mad ever since experimenting with mystic arts and the whole Dr. Strange thing, and Man-Spider is just glad that J. Jonah Jameson will finally cut him some slack after he unmasks Osborn and informs Jameson about Osborn's plans.

Man-Spider notices Maddie, who's ready to attack Osborn. Man-Spider webs Osborn and says he's got the situation under control and Maddie can cut it out. Osborn points out that Maddie intends to murder him in her rage and Man-Spider has to let him go so that he's got a fighting chance. Man-Spider doesn't buy it, of course, and Maddie orders Man-Spider to step away, as the Goblin will die tonight.

Man-Spider tries to calm him down because they're the good guys and they don't kill. Maddie fully transforms into the mad Goblin Queen and prepares herself. Osborn begs Man-Spider to release him, so maybe together they stand a chance, but Maddie replies they wouldn’t stand a chance against her. Maddie explains that ever since Dr. Strange started using his magic, people began fearing and hunting the people living in the shadows down, but with Strange put into custody the fearing had stopped, until Osborn came along and started making his foolish plans and started drawing attention to them again.

Man-Spider tries to stop Maddie, but the recovered Fallen slams him down with his claws. Madelyne telekinetically lifts both Osborn and Man-Spider up because they both have to die now, and they'll only be the first to go. But then the Brute shows up at the back, looking for Maddie to protect her from the Fallen and Osborn as Havok ordered him to do and sees how Maddie kills both Man-Spider and the Green Goblin. Brute panics and runs away wanting to tell Havok what he has seen, but gets stopped by the fire flames from the Fallen.

Maddie wants Henry to forget what he has seen, but Brute knows Man-Spider was a good guy and Havok won't like this. Maddie doesn't know what to do and orders the Fallen to convince Brute. Warren orders Brute to forget what he saw but Brute still doesn't want to listen. The Fallen then threatens that he'll kill Bob then, his best friend, and his teammates and also his mother and father, living at the farm. Brute gets enraged yellingat him to leave his parents alone and slashes theFallen.

Brute is about to slash Maddie as well, but gets stopped by Havok's powers. The rest of the Six arrive as well. Maddie tells them that Brute went berserk and killed Man-Spider and the Goblin and is now trying to kill them.

Brute calms down and cries, imploring the others that ever since the day with the puppy he's been really good and he didn't do it! The Six just watch him, not really knowing what to do.

Later the cops arrive, and Brute says they did a real bad thing. Havok appears from behind asking Brute who did a bad thing. Brute says Man-Spider and Goblin were going to kill him. Havok asks who, but Brute won't tell. Havok says it'll be their secret, but Brute doesn't want to because he wants to be a good friend and a good son. Brute gets shot and imprisoned in an ice-iglo from Ice-Man. The rest of the Six come and Maddie says Brute was losing it, even the police could see it. Maddie explains this was bound to happen to Hank one day and they did a bad thing by letting him serve on the team. Havok agrees.

Brute gets arrested by the police and the Fallen asks Brute if he wants him to send a note to his parents, that he'll be a good son. Brute repeats that he will be a good son, and the Fallen gloats he knows he will be and Brute gets taken away.

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Fallen, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman/Goblin Queen (The Six)

Man-Spider / Peter Parker

The Green Goblin/Norman Osborn


Notes:
The Clone debacle Maddie speaks of contained in the real universe that Peter Parker, Spider-Man was cloned by Dr. Miles Warren and it resulted in Ben Reilly, who followed Peter into his footsteps and for a time took over his role as Spider-Man while Peter resigned. Reilly was eventually killed and Peter was once again the one and only Spider-Man.

In the real universe Spider-Man got his six arms as a result of ingesting a serum that was meant to cure him of his powers. It took a new serum with the addition of the vampire Morbius’s blood to cure him from that condition. [See Amazing Spider-Man #100-102] Apparently he didn't find a cure in this universe.

Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, is in the real universe Spider-Man's worst enemy as well, mostly because he killed his first love, Gwen Stacy, during a battle on the Brooklyn Bridge.


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 6


Issue Date: March 1999
Story Title: The Trial of the Brute

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Cary Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going-Raney (colors), Frank Pitaresse (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Brute stands on trial and is defended by blind lawyer Matt Murdock. Matt asks for an hour break and is granted. During this time, the Fallen and the Goblin Queen attend to Brute and try to pull him into their ranks. Outside the court room, Alex takes Scotty to Elektra to bring him home. But before they go, Scotty warns Alex that something bad is about to happen to Brute. As the trial goes on, Matt summons up a surprise witness: the Man-Spider! Man-Spider explained that his clone was killed and he is the real thing. Scotty seems to be right about his feelings as then Bullseye and the Hand ninja's attack the court room, wanting to kill Brute. Bloodstorm, Ice-Man and Man-Spider fight the bad guys and Alex tends to Brute, who gets taken away at the back by the Fallen and Maddie. Alex blasts his way through, and then Brute's attitude is suddenly seemingly changed: he announces that wishes to pay for his crime, and be sentenced to death!

Full Synopsis:
Brute stands on trial, and apologizes for the bad thing he did. He defends himself: he doesn't remember doing the bad thing, but it happens sometimes. He explains he doesn't want to break things or hurt people, but it happens and when he begins seeing red things, it happens. Hank explains that Ice-Man calls them berserker rages, and that he and Havok told him he used to be really smart and invent things that helped people, and he likes helping people. But then he invented something bad that made him turn green like he is now. That's when he started getting the rages. Brute says he doesn't remember hurting Man-Spider, but Maddie said he did and he is very sorry. Brute's lawyer, Matt Murdock, asks for a 60 minute of recess and is granted it.

Outside the courtroom, a newsreporter named Gwen Stacy reports the trial and asks Havok why he still believes in his teammate's innoncence in this so-called trial of the century. Havok points out that Gwen saw his testimony tape: he has the mind of a child! Alex says the evidence is strong, but if Brute killed the Man-Spider and the Goblin, it was not in his right mind. Gwen asks if Havok believes the bad, old days of anti-mutant hate shall return now, but Alex hopes not.

Scotty calls Alex away, and Havok concludes by saying Earth's population is very lucky that humans and mutants live in peace, because they have no idea how bad it could get. Gwen concludes and Alex goes to Scotty, who tells him that Hank's in need of their help because someone is going to try and kill him.

In the court's basement, Brute's cell, the Fallen grabs Brute at the throat, threatening him again: if he tells the truth, he'll kill his friends and parents. Maddie orders the Fallen to stop: Brute won't lie, because he knew what happened and that his mind sometimes plays tricks with him. Brute agrees and Maddie tells the Fallen there is nothing to worry about, but he isn't so sure about it. Maddie gets angry at him and transforms into the Goblin Queen. Angrily she orders him not to question her and think that he's her equal, because the Fallen plays a mere minor role in her plans.

The Fallen gets enraged and says she's a fool thinking he's serving her, he only does it for his own purposes and he starts to attack. The Goblin Queen lashes out at him with her powers, adding he'll need a major attitude adjustment then. The Goblin Queen doesn't want to fool around anymore and says it's time both Brute and te Fallen are pulled into the shadows and learn about her. She touches them and they both scream in horror!

Outside the cell, Matt asks a nearby standing cop if someone is doing a barbecue around here, but the cops says it's not the period. They go to Brute's cell, as a normal-looking Maddie and the Fallen come out. Maddie tells Matt it's nice to see him again and she can't appreciate it enough that he was willing to help Brute. Matt watches them going and again thinks someone is barbecuing something and then he enters the cell of the Brute, who has an evil smile on his face.

Meanwhile Havok and Scotty are trying to convince a cop to get more officers in the court. At first the cop doesn't want to do it, but complies eventually. Alex tells Scotty they need to find Maddy, but Scotty doesn't want to go to his mom anymore but stay with him.

Meanwhile, outside the courtroom on the rooftops, shadowy figures are breaking into the building. Then in a ladies lounge in the court, Maddie struggles with her inner demons, questioning what she is becoming. The evil voice again explains to her that she is becoming exactly what he wants her to become. The voice says he has no time for her weak feelings and she'll do everything he wants his Goblin Queen to do, and she agrees. Maddie falls down, and the Fallen comes into the room, asking what's wrong. Maddie says it's time to go see Brute again.

Meanwhile, Havok, Scotty, Matt and more cops take Brute back to the court. One of the cops labels Alex with mutie and Matt tells the cop that if he hears that kind of talk again he'll make sure he gets depromoted to janitor. Alex tries to convince him that Scotty saw that someone's going to try and kill Brute, but Matt explains that if they do anything, the court will be postponed and the jury will have him disbarred. The court begins again, and Matt would like to call up his next witness: the Man-Spider! Everybody is startled of course because they thought Man-Spider was killed. The judge thinks Matt is trying to pull something here with this imposter, but Matt swears that this is the real Man-Spider.

Man-Spider explains that though he never wanted anyone to know because it's embarassing, but the Man-Spider that was killed was in fact just his clone! Nobody believes it and start talking at each other and the judge calls for order. Meanwhile with the cop again, he mumbles in himself that nobody needs muties and wants them gone. Then his fellow cops drop dead on the ground and eventually he to, and shadowy figures drop into the room. Back in the court, Alex notices how Maddie and Warren don't pay much attention to Scotty or the court but only to themselves, as they often have of late. Alex wonders what's up with that. They don't seem to care much for Brute as well, good thing he has Bloodstorm and Ice-Man for comfort, Alex thinks. Alex is more concerned about Scotty and finds this no place for a child. So he drags Scotty away, saying they'll go find Elektra.

Alex finds her and puts her and Scotty in a cab home. He then bumps into a guy and apologizes. The guy says it’s okay, while thinking that he’ll get the Stavros babe – referring to Elektra – one day. The man wants to enter the courtroom, and the security take all his stuff from him, leaving him only two pennies. The cops say they want them too, and the guy throws them at the cops and knocks them down! He is Bullseye, and he's here to kill a mutant!

Bullseye slams the other cops down as well, but Havok can't do anything with his powers because there are too many innocent bystanders around. Alex runs back to the court and finds the cops there also knocked-out. He blasts the door open and sees Man-Spider and the Six fighting the Hand! Brute says he doesn't want to go, and Maddie tells him that she and theFallen will take care of him.

The rest of the heroes can handle things, so Alex goes after Brute, the Fallen and Maddie. A ninja gets in his way but Alex blasts him and then finds another door locked. He tries to blast it open but it can't , it's protected by a barrier. From behind the door, Alex hears Brute screaming and orders Maddie to open the door. Maddie opens it, and they come out. Maddie says they were just keeping Brute safe from the assassins, and worry about them. Alex asks if Brute's okay, and he says he is for the first time and his attitude has seemingly changed and Alex doesn't know if he likes it. Brute says that talking to Maddie has done a world of good for him and he hopes the same can be said about him and the world.

Brute tells the court that now he is back to being himself, he wants to dismiss Mr. Murdock for his services and will take any punisment the court deems fit, as there is no way he can justify what he has done. Alex asks if he sure that's what he wants, but Brute tells his friend it is - he wishes to be sentenced to death for his crimes!


Characters:
Havok, Bloodstorm, Brute, Fallen, Ice-Man, , Marvel Woman/Goblin Queen (the Six)
Scotty Summers
Elektra

Matt Murdock
Man-Spider
Gwen Stacy

Bullseye
Hand ninjas


Notes:
Matt Murdock is the super-hero called Daredevil in the real universe, and Bullseye and the Hand ninjas are some of his many enemies. Elektra used to be his former lover, but it's not clear if the same thing goes in this universe because the two don't meet in this issue.

Bullseye seems to have some kind of beef with Elektra. In the real Marvel Universe he was the man who killed her (though she got better) in Daredevil #181.

Bullseye refers to Elektra’s surname as “Stavros”. It should be “Natchios”.

Suprisingly, the real Man-Spider too has got six arms like his clone from last issue.

The female reporter, Gwen Stacy, was in the real universe Spider-Man's girlfriend, and was killed by the Green Goblin during a battle on the Brooklyn Bridge. It's unclear if Spider-Man and Gwen have been or are a couple in this universe as well, but it doesn't seem that way.


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 7


Issue Date: April 1999
Story Title: The Season of the Witch

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Cary Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Frank Pitaresse (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Bloodstorm gets attacked at her castle by demons and orders Forge and Kitty to escape while she fights the demons off alone until the rest of the Six arrive. Ice-Man is the only one who comes to her aid, and Bloodstorm gets defeated by the demons. She begs Ice-Man to run away and warn Havok, but he is too slow and both he and Bloodstorm get taken over by the demons. Meanwhile, Alex, Scotty and Elektra have run away from the rest of the Six and go to a diner. They talk about recent events and then are attacked by demons as well. Alex and Elektra eventually defeat their weak demon foes, but then Brute shows up! Brute isn't dead as thought, but resurrected again. Brute tries to kidnap Scotty on Madelyne’s behalf, but Alex and Elektra stop him. Brute escapes, and returns to his mistress: Maddie. She is now completly the Goblin Queen, and has taken over the Fallen, Brute, Bloodstorm and now Ice-Man as well. Together, they form the Five, but Maddie promises they'll be the Six again very soon.

Full Synopsis:
Demons attack Bloodstorm's castle. Inside, Bloodstorm orders her lover Forge to flee and Kitty Pryde to protect protect him with her life during their escape while Bloodstorm stays behind to face the demons by herself until help arrives. When they are gone, Bloodstorm hears the creatures arriving, shifts into battlesuit, and orders the creatures of the night to come to her, and obey her as they have done ever since the fateful night Dracula turned her into a vampire. The demons rise from the ground, and Bloodstorm goads them to do their best. But, Bloodstorm knows something is very wrong with this evil, a dark and evil entity wich repulses even her.

Bloodstorm flies up and asks her former goddess to let her control the elements as she once did and come to her aid. Bloodstorm commands the thunder and lightning which strikes the demons. She tells them to flee before the Six arrive, whom she has called up for help ever since she first heard them attacking. A voice explains to Bloodstorm that no help is coming. Bloodstorm wants to know who speaks to her, but the voice says she knows it all to well. Bloodstorm collapses and can't believe it's her.

Meanwhile, half a country away, Havok, Scotty and Elektra ride in their car. Scotty's hungry and wants to stop, but Alex wants to go a little further before dark. They finally stop at a diner nearby. Scotty goes to play videogames, and Elektra observes that Scotty truly loves Alex, which hasn't always been the case. Alex asks if that's so, and Elektra explains she has worked as Scotty's nanny for a long time now and knows him well. Scotty always respected Alex, but didn’t love him. Ever since Alex' near death experience, Elektra discovered Alex' change for the better, and this resulted in Scotty loving him.

Elektra wants to leave the place now, because there's something, and Scotty joins them explaining he feels something bad too, and that's good enough for Alex and they leave.

Back East, Ice-Man arrives at Bloodstorm's castle and calls for her, but she's not responding. Ice-Man wonders where the rest of the Six are. He’s been suspecting it for a while: the Six are falling apart. Havok is acting strange, and Maddie ’s not much better. Brute's been convicted and executed for murder and he doesn't like any of those things.

Ice-Man enters the castle and sees Bloodstorm defeated, as she begs him for help. Ice-Man quickly helps her up and assures her he'll get her out of here. Ice-Man wants to give her his hand, but he quickly withdraws it because he forgot he can't touch people anymore now. Bloodstorm asks him to leave and warn Alex, because she is back.

Back to Alex, Scotty has fallen asleep and Elektra asks why he has taken them on this road trip, away from the Six. Does it have anything to do with Brute's death, as Alex took it pretty hard. Alex admits he was a true friend, and finds Elektra not so subtle. She explains she finds little use for subtlety and points out that Maddie and the Fallen had gotten over Hanks’ death pretty easy. Alex agrees and tells Elektra he appreciates it that she accompanied them. Alex thinks something is going on with Maddie and the Fallen has got something to do with it. Elektra suddenly orders him to stop the car, as a man and two woman with weird looking eyes suddenly stand in front of them!

Back to the castle. Ice-Man asks Bloodstorm what the things are that want to attack them. Bloodstorm explains they're demons and work for her. Ice-Man asks for who, but Bloodstorm can't even think such a thing and orders Ice-Man to take any chance he's got to escape and warn Havok. But Ice-Man says he won't leave without her, because they are a team. Bloodstorm then loses it and orders Ice-Man again to go find him and warn the world before it's too late. Ice-Man panics and then a voice tells him that he doesn't have to fight anymore, not now, not ever. Ice-Man screams and tries to fight the voice.

Elektra recognizes the attackers as the cook and waitresses from the diner from before, and their only way out of it is to fight. Scotty announces that they've come for him, to take him back to her. Havok says he will not allow that to happen and prepares for battle. Then, a huge person from behind comes and tells Alex and Elektra they don't want to fight him. Alex and Elektra can't believe their eyes, as Brute steps forward! Alex exclaims it can't be, because he saw him die. Brute finds it a bad thing they did to him, it hurt a lot, but she made it all better and she can make a lot better. Alex tells Brute to step away as he'll take Scotty back into the car and drive away, real fast. Brute says he can't allow it because he was told by her to convince him and bring her Scotty. Alex asks who he's talking about, but Brute says he's always known it. Brute orders Scotty to come to him and eventually grabs him in his claws. Alex and Elektra prepare to fight, and Alex tells Elektra to give it her best because these humans are most likely not even human anymore.

Meanwhile, Ice-Man is trying to escape from the demons who try to trick him. Bloodstorm comes to him, and says he doesn't have to hide behind the ice anymore, and she can help him in the same way he helped her. Ice-Man asks who did this to her, and Bloodstorm again tries to convince Ice-Man that she can do the same for him, but he doesn't want to because the price will be too high. Bloodstorm says he's got no choice and then she and someone else come from behind. Ice-Man knew it was her, they all knew it, but ignored all the signs. She says it's too late as she touches Ice-Man, and this will only be the beginning.

More demons come to fight Elektra and Havok, who are now outnumbered. Havok doesn't care because he won't allow Scotty to go back to her. The demons are not as tough as they look and eventually Havok and Elektra destroy them all. Brute congratulates them, but says they made a big mistake. This could have been easy and fun, but now she's going to be really mad. Brute says Alex knows how she got the last time someone tried to take Scotty from her. Brute lets Scotty go to Alex again and says he'll try again later. Alex hugs Scotty and both he and Elektra swear he'll never be taken from them again.

Brute disappears, and then joins his mistress: Madelyne! A Maddie who has fully transformed into the Goblin Queen and taken over both the Fallen and Bloodstorm. Now, she has taken over Ice-Man as well, and made him look human again without the ice, and given him back his control over his powers. Maddie tells Ice-Man to join her group of Five, but, she adds, they will be the Six again pretty soon!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, the Fallen, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman / Goblin Queen (the Six)
Scotty Summers
Elektra

Forge
Kitty Pryde

Humans turned demons by Madelyne


Notes:
Storm was turned into a vampire by Dracula (something that almost happened in the Marvel Universe as detailed in Uncanny X-Men #159). More about this is shown in Mutant X #13.


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 8


Issue Date: May 1999
Story Title: The Reign of the Queen!

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Cary Nord & Yancey Labat (pencils), Andrew Pepoy & Scott Elmer (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
The Goblin Queen takes over Vice-President Robert Kelly, who orders his fellow Americans to do whatever the Goblin Queen tells them to. The Goblin Queen also takes over Larry Trask and his Sentinels and orders them to destroy Avengers Mansion. Meanwhile, Havok, Elektra and Scotty make it to the X-Mansion, but it is all empty, only Cerebro is present. Cerebro informs Alex that the X-Men have travelled to the Shi'Ar Empire and he hasn't seen them since. Havok goes into town to stop Maddie and her group, and Cerebro gives him a device that will let him pass the Sentinels. Havok gets lifted to the Goblin Queen, who blasts him through the stomach and says he's a fool if he thinks he can stop her, and she teleports away to get Scotty. Havok falls into a river, and remembers how he died, as he loses consciousness.

Full Synopsis:
Washington, DC. Vice-President Robert Kelly works late in his office and then hears some loud noises. His dour gets breach, and Kelly asks in fear who they are. The Goblin Queen has attacked and defeated all Kelly's guards. Kelly asks what she wants, and the Goblin Queen says it's time for him to prepare himself for a State of the Union address. She touches Kelly and he becomes one of her minions. The rest of the Five enter, and Kelly gives a speach to his nation, fully under the control of the Goblin Queen. He informs his fellow Americans that the country is poisoned and needs to follow his newly appointed cabinet in their ways, and let nothing stand in their way.

Meanwhile, Havok, Elektra and Scotty arrive in Westchester, in front of the X-Mansion! They go in, but apparently nobody is home. Alex tells them to drop their bags and go downtown for a burger. Suddenly lights go out and Scotty gets scared, and Alex and Elektra prepare to fight. Then, Cerebro walks into the room and is glad to see his masters again after so long, especially his good friend Scotty, who immediately hugs Cerebro.

A little later Scotty falls asleep, and Cerebro informs Havok and Elektra about current curcumstances. He hasn't seen any of the X-Men ever since they left to visit the Shi'Ar Empire. Cerebro has watched the news and is really glad that Havok isn't working together with these madmen like he feared. Cerebro is happy to finally have one of the Children of the Atom again in the halls of the house, and wants to train Scotty again because his powers are so rare. Elektra says he's exhausted now and needs his sleep, so that will have to wait. Cerebro agrees, and takes Havok to the X-Men's Ready Room to inform him about what has all happened recently, because this will go a lot faster.

Meanwhile, deep within the Colorado Rockies, the Prime-Sentinel called Larry Trasks sits in his vault and asks his fellow Sentinels for information, but none of them respond. Then, one destroyed Sentinel gets tossed in front of him, and the Goblin Queen enters the room, and wants Larry for herself!

Back at the school, Havok and Elektra start training in the Danger Room. Elektra points out he alone doesn't stand a chance, so Alex says he'll find someone to help. After all, there have got to be some super-people around. They simply must just try to stop Maddie, or else she'll get her hands on Scotty and everything will be lost for good. Elektra says that in two seconds, Maddie'll be pulling her sai from her heart. Havok says that's why Elektra's the only person he can trust on this world. Elektra asks what he means by that, but he finds it a too long story to explain now.

Meanwhile on the Four Freedom Plaza rooftop, the Goblin Queen has taken over Reed Richards as well and he has defeated Sue and Johnny, Ben is the only one left standing. Ben tries to bring Reed back to himself, but Maddie has made him an offer he just couldn't refuse. Ben says he'll do anything he can to stop them, and Reed blasts him off from the roof.

Maddie sends the Fallen and some Sentinels on an assault on Avengers Mansion to crush the heroes. Apparently Captain America is the only one left standing. While they do their jobs, Maddie will to something else: she wants the so-called Sorcerer Supreme, and she wants him dead!

Later, back at the school, Alex says goodbye to Scotty who doesn't want him to go. Elektra states the only way to stop Maddie is to kill her and Alex knows it. He agrees, and Elektra says she'll look after Scotty, but it's hard for him because now he's going to lose a father as well as a mother. It'll be so hard for him, and she speaks out of experience on that one.

Elektra tells Alex to take the kill quick and not hesitate, because she won’t either. Cerebro hands Alex a device he created wich will keep him safe from the Sentinel's tracking devices. Havok thanks Cerebro and asks him to look after both Scotty and Elektra for him, and Cerebro promises to do so.

Later, Alex arrives in New York. Lots of Sentinels have made it to the city and scan every man, child and woman passing by. Havok gets scanned and is pronounced a normal human, with no powers. Havok continues but suddenly is lifted up by the Fallen, who explains Maddie sensed Alex from the first step he took in the city. The Fallen says he's lucky because Maddie wants him alive and the Fallen tosses Alex in front of Madelyne.

The Goblin Queen has transformed back into Maddie, who tells Alex to relax. She knows they've had their problems, but they'll work them out as they always have. Maddie asks him where Scotty is and if he's somewhere safe. Havok prepares his blast, and Maddie insists she has a right to be with her son. She asks Alex what he wants, to kill her? Then it will be all over for her, him and Scotty. Maddie gives him the chance to kill her now, but then she transforms back into the Goblin Queen and blasts Havok in his stomach! The Goblin Queen finds him a fool that he thought he could stop her, and she'll get her son anyway.

Havok falls out of the high building and into the water, and remembers how he died.

Characters:
Havok

Scotty Summers
Elektra

Cerebro (X-Men)
Captain America (Avengers)

Bloodstorm, Brute, Fallen, Goblin Queen, Ice-Man (the Five)

Ben Grimm, Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Sue Storm (Fantastic Four)

Robert Kelly
Larry Trask
Sentinels


Notes:
The story continues in Mutant X Annual 1999, and then goes on in Mutant X #9.

In the real universe, Cerebro is not a walking machine, but a machine invented by Charles Xavier to track down new mutants.

In the real universe, Robert Kelly never made it to Vice-President. There, he was a mutant-hating Senator and was killed during the election when he ran for the presidency just as he saw the light and changed his stance.

Larry Trask is the son of Bolivar Trask, the inventor of the first generation of mutant-hunting/killing Sentinels.


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X # 9


Issue Date: June 1999
Story Title: Uncanny!

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Mike Miller (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Havok has survived the fight against the Goblin Queen and considers what to do next. He phones Elektra and Scotty who are not longer alone at the X-Mansion. Havok fears the worst and rushes there, but gets spotted by the Sentinels and is attacked. He is outnumbered, but rescued by the Thing and the Underground. Havok eventually agrees to help them out but wants to go to Westchester first and the Thing helps him out in return. But Callisto has sold them out to the Goblin Queen because Callisto wants her people to survive under any circumstances. Havok and the Thing fight the Goblin Queen and her minions and are clearly outnumbered, but unsuspected aid comes in the form of Magneto!

Full Synopsis:
In New York City, Havok phones Elektra informing her that she was right and he couldn't kill Madelyne. Elektra tells Alex to come back home because Scotty's been real worried about him ever since he left. Elektra asks if he's going to have any problems getting away, because the Sentinels are still flying over the city scanning for mutants, but Alex assures her everything's fine. Alex tells Elektra to keep her eyes open, because Madelyne won't rest untill she's got Scotty and Alex won't let that happen. He also realizes that this city is hers and it won't be long before she decides to expand. Elektra says she always take procautions, that's why she's been hired to be the boy’s nanny in the first place. Elektra tells Alex to hold on because she hears something and goes check it out outside. Alex asks what it is, but she doesn't know.

Elektra tells Scotty to stay behind her and she prepares to attack as a huge spaceship appears. Elektra wants to go find Cerebro and cuts Alex off from the phone, and he starts to panic. Scotty tells Elektra that it's okay, because they are here. Three people step in front of the door and crush the phone.

Alex panics and starts running to the school, but the bystanders notice his behavior and as three Sentinels come, they recognize Alex as a mutant. Alex hasn't time for this and prepares to blast them, but more Sentinels come from the ground. Alex goes for the fight, but gets grabbed by two arms and dragged into the ground.

A short time later, Alex wakes up, and is greeted by Ben Grimm, the Thing from the former Fantastic Four, and his good friend, the Mole Man, plus Callisto and the Morlocks, and Ben welcomes Alex into the Underground!

In Washington, Reed has become President but questions his mistress, the Goblin Queen. She orders the Fallen to make Richards know his place. The Goblin Queen asks how their project is coming along, and Reed explains with an entire nation's resources at their disposal, things are working out faster then originally planned. Madelyne congratulates him and says she knew there was a reason she did not wipe his mind. She touches Reed and lifts him in a green telekinetic state, yelling at him there is no "we". She only keeps him around for the scientific problems.

Suddenly little vampires come running in from the window, and Bloodstorm coalesces. Bloodstorm explains that Havok has been spotted in New York and Madelyne, the Fallen and Bloodstorm decide to go after him, though she orders Richards to continue their project.

Back underground, the Thing explains that if there's going to be an organized resistance, it's going to start here. Callisto and the Mole Man have taken in both mutant and human alike underground to give them a saver place to live, which is a generous offer considering how they all turned their backs on the Morlocks during the Mutant Massacre, all of them but the Mole Man. The Thing explains that most surviving heroes survived through here and the Thing asks if Alex wants to be part of it. Havok asks who else survived since he heard most of the heroes died in the initial attack. The Thing apologizes for not entirely trusting him, but after all it was his wife who nearly killed him. Alex asks why he didn't let the Sentinels take him then, but Thing says that was Callisto's doing, because she's turning into a softy after she began dating the Mole Man.

They enter a huge place, where lots of houses are and the refugees are living. TheThing explains that the Sentinels and Havok didn't notice it, but a lot of people know there's something wrong and want out. The Sentinels have got this place sewn up tighter than anything else, but they've got their ways and their allies. The Thing hopes Havok is on their side and will help them out, but Havok wants to go to Westchester first. He gets a little angry but the Thing says he'll see what he can do for him. A little later the Thing takes Havok to a secret tunnel wich leads outside the city. It wasn't easy to convince the Mole Man and Callisto to let him use it, but they eventually agreed. Havok thanks him and promises he'll come back to help.

But then at the same time, the Goblin Queen, Ice-Man, Brute, Bloodstorm, the Fallen and some Sentinels arrive and prepare for a fight! Havok thinks the Thing sold him out, but it wasn't him, it was Callisto! The Goblin Queen explains she wanted her Morlock people safe and Madelyne manipulated her.

Madelyne asks Alex to just hand over Scotty, because then so much pain will be spared. Havok doesn't want to, of course, and the Goblin Queen hurts Callisto and orders the Fallen and the rest to take Alex and kill everyone else. The Thing and Havok team-up, but Ice-Man tells them they can't win from her, she's too strong. He thought he could, but failed and now he is happier then he has been in years and she can give him everything he wants, but Havok blasts him and says he doesn't want anything she can give him. The Thing fights Brute and Havok takes on Bloodstorm. He tries to get her back to herself, it works for a while, but Madelyne’s influence is too strong and Bloodstorm apologizes for attacking.

Alex blasts Bloodstorm who drops against the Fallen and they are defeated. The Goblin Queen congratulates him for defeating her group, and prepares to kill Havok. Suddenly the ground starts to shake and a huge hand comes out, separating Havok and theGoblin Queen from each other. It is the Mole Man and his aid. The Mole Man runs to his love Callisto, whose face is destroyed by the Goblin Queen now. Mole Man says it's okay and he'll always love and take care of her, no matter what. The Mole Man yells at the Goblin Queen that he'll kill her for this. The Goblin Queen laughs at his threats, and orders the Sentinels to step forward and kill them all.

The Sentinels step forward and prepare to attack, but get torn apart somehow. Everybody looks up and the Goblin Queen wonders what kind of magic this is. It's no magic, but simply the magnetic powers of... Magneto! Scotty has asked him to come get his father for him, and Magneto tends to keep his promises!


Characters:
Havok

Scotty Summers
Elektra

Magneto (leader of the X-Men)

Bloodstorm, Brute, the Fallen, the Goblin Queen, Ice-Man (the Five)
Reed Richards

Sentinels

Callisto, Mole Man, the Thing (the Underground)
unnamed mutant and human Morlocks


Notes:
The battle between Havok and the Goblin Queen took place in Mutant X Annual 1999.

Reed Richards became President in Mutant X Annual 1999.

Ben Grimm was attacked just like his former teammates of the Fantastic Four in Mutant X #8 and wasn't brought to the Goblin Queen's group because he was dropped off the Freedom Four Plaza's rooftop and seemingly killed, but this issue explains he survived the fall and was brought into the rebel Underground group.

The Mutant Massacre Thing speaks of consisted in the real universe out of the mass murder of most of the Morlocks, done by the hands of Mr. Sinister's Marauders. In the real universe, several heroes did come to their aid. [see Uncanny X-Men #211]

In the real universe Mole Man is the first foe the Fantastic Four ever fought.


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #10


Issue Date: July 1999
Story Title: The X-Men Cometh!

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Carey Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
The underling battles have stopped as everybody watches in fear, at how the leader of the X-Men, Magneto, has suddenly arrived to aid Havok in his battle against the Goblin Queen and her allies. Magneto destroys the Sentinels, but in the time the Goblin Queen and her team have teleported away. At her base, the Goblin Queen tortures her team for failing her and congratulates Reed Richards for his help in assisting her in the creation of a brand new generation of Sentinels. Havok, Polaris and Magneto try to make it back to Westchester, but are once more attacked by the Goblin Queen, the new Sentinels and the others. One of the Sentinels appears to be Nimrod, and the three heroes are clearly outnumbered. Once more aid comes in an unsuspected way, as the rest of the X-Men show up and help their leader and friends in their battle against the Sentinels. But the Goblin Queen can only laugh at the display, as tonight she will begin her plan to let the world tremble for its soul!

Full Synopsis:
Havok notices how everybody has stopped fighting and trying to kill him, and notices them all staring at the man who just arrived: Magneto! The X-Men’s leader realizes that a lot has changed on his planet since he left: Havok is no longer part of the Six, Madelyne has completly changed into the Goblin Queen and New York is in ruins. Everything seems to have gone wrong while he went off to save the galaxy. He asks how he can begin to set things right again. Havok can barely say the words. Madelyne fills in for him, saying Magneto only has to do the thing Havok was too weak to do, namely kill her and her allies. But the Goblin Queen isn't about to let that happen and orders her Sentinels to open fire again and kill her enemies.

Magneto explains that he doesn't take the idea of friendship lightly, especially when the ones in need of his help are mutants. Havok watches Magneto fighting with his awesome power and destroying the Sentinels and wonders if he truly is one of the good guys. When Magneto turns his powers down a bit, Havok notices his friends survived, but the Goblin Queen and the rest of her crew teleported away when Magneto started his attack on the Sentinels.

Magneto thinks she disappeared because she fears him, and that's a good thing for their cause. Magneto starts to fall down because he used to much power. Polaris rushes to his aid, saying that she knew this was all a mistake, he's just in no condition to fight yet. Havok is of course surprised to see Polaris, but realizes that she is not the woman he loved in his universe. Polaris orders Havok to not just stand there and help her get Magneto up. Magneto thinks it to be best to leave this place before the Goblin Queen returns.

At the Goblin Queen's place, she tortures her group, because she cannot believe they have failed her. She also hates the fact that Havok keeps interfering in her plans of succeeding, and now Magneto aids him. She can't have that and calls Richards to her and asks how their project is coming. Richards hates the fact that she mindwiped Larry Trask, a brilliant man, but the new Sentinels are ready and just await her command. The Goblin Queen is pleased.

Polaris has lifted herself, Magneto and Havok into a magnetic wave and flies them to safety. Havok can't stop thinking about how much he loved Lorna in his timeline, after all she was the love of his life and he must begin to realize that this is just not the same one. From behind, an explosion takes place and Polaris loses her concentration, thereby dropping Magneto and Havok. She can just in time get a grip on herself and rescue them before hitting the ground.

Polaris gets angry at Magneto for coming, but he claims it had to be done. Polaris knows that he isn't fully healed yet after saving the rest of the team, and the Kree Captain Marvel could have done something to help him. But Magneto says that he didn't and through that he saved billions, and also the rest of the X-Men, who were in no condition to fight back then, or now.

Havok points to the back, where a bright light comes from the city. Polaris orders her father not to go, but Magneto shuts her down and apologizes to Havok for Lorna's behavior, as she sometimes forgets who her father is and who he leads. Magneto promises he'll stop whatever evil the Goblin Queen is at, with any means they have.

A little later, the three have made it to the once great Yankee stadium, now almost destroyed. They find it suspicious because it's totally empty, just destroyed and not one Sentinel in sight. Havok thinks it's a trap. Magneto agrees and goes scouting. Polaris gets angry with him and asks Havok why he's always staring at her. Havok apologizes but finds it odd to see Lorna with him. Lorna defends her father ranting they all know about his past, but with all the good he has done so far he really shouldn’t have to prove himself anymore. Magneto signals it's clear, and Polaris lifts herself and Havok magnetically towards him.

Magneto knows the main entrance is clear, but fears it could still be a trap. He'll lead the assault, but Lorna hesitates and wants him to go back. Havok orders them both to shut up, and blasts an unnoticed Sentinel! Magneto realizes what a fool he has been and apologizes to Lorna for not listening to her warnings He tells Havok he'll be listening and taking orders from him now and asks what to do next. More new Sentinels appear from the ground, and Havok jokes their just staying alive for the moment will be enough.

Havok and Polaris realize that they not the same Sentinels from before but blast them anyway. Magneto notices that the Sentinels are not attacking to kill, but to point them into some direction. Polaris thinks that the Goblin Queen must have a great desire to see them, so Havok wants to oblige that wish. Havok, Magneto and Polaris run outside, and are greeted by a happy Goblin Queen. She informs them that Richards has helped her build these new Sentinels, and now she is planning to fuse living demons into the Sentinel bodies, so that they will become impossible to defeat. Magneto panics and wants to leave, but Havok refuses to let her win. Magneto sees no way into winning but Havok wants to take her on alone.

Magneto congratulates him on the brave words, but this is a war and since they can't win alone, they'll need allies. A Sentinel transforms into Nimrod and Havok starts realizing that Magneto could be right. He gets blasted by Nimrod and barely survives the attack. Havok knows he can't destroy Nimrod with his powers, but can slow him down. Havok's plan works and Nimrod collaps for a few moments.

Then a teleportation noise can be heard and Nimrod shows up, slashed into pieces! Brimstone clears up, and reveals Nightcrawler! The German mutant apologizes to Magneto for disobeying his orders, but sitting in the mansion waiting for him to return seemed usesless, after all Scotty wasn't the only son missing his father.

Quicksilver, Rogue and Mystique also show up, as do more Sentinels. The three X-Men greet their leader and prepare to destroy their foes. Magneto informs them to harry them only, because the real battle lies ahead, and he prays that they are prepared for it. The Goblin Queen laughs as she sees the X-Men running from her. Tonight she will begin in earnest - let the world tremble for its soul!


Characters:
Havok

Callisto, the Mole Man, the Thing (the Underground)
Magneto, Mystique, Nightcrawler, Polaris, Quicksilver, Rogue (X-Men)

Bloodstorm, Brute, the Fallen, the Goblin Queen, Ice-Man (the Five)
Reed Richards
Sentinels


Nimrod

Notes:
Havok and Polaris have been a couple for a very long time, ever since they both joined the X-Men. They broke up when Havok was seemingly being manipulated by the Dark Beast and drawn to the evil side. Once Havok revealed that was merely a ruse, Polaris could not handle it and broke up with him once more. [see Uncanny X-Men #54 - X-Factor #149]

Nevertheless Lorna mourned for him while she believed him dead and wanted to start their relationship again when Havok returned from the Mutant X universe.

Quicksilver is the son of Magneto Nightcrawler speaks of. It has often been hinted in the real universe that Polaris could be Magneto's long lost daughter, and in recent issues Polaris has made that claim again, apparently giving proof of her true parentage. [see Uncanny X-Men #442-#443]

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #11


Issue Date: August 1999
Story Title: And a Child Shall Lead Them.

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Carey Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopolous (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Scotty gets kidnapped by Bloodstorm and is brought to the Goblin Queen. There, he is locked up in a room, but visited by Brute. Scotty can convince his uncle to help him out, and gets all the evil out of Brute's mind that the Goblin Queen had brought upon him. Brute and Scotty try to escape together, but are attacked by the Fallen, Bloodstorm and Ice-Man. The Goblin Queen is outraged at them for trying to harm Scotty and punishes them. She briefly changes back into Madelyne, who lets Brute and Scotty escape and together they make it back to Havok and the X-Men.

Full Synopsis:
Scotty can't sleep, so he goes sitting on the stairs and listens to the meeting of Havok, Elektra and the X-Men, who are planning on how to defeat his mother, the Goblin Queen. Scotty knows that Alex is way stronger than his dad ever was, and doesn't want to hurt his mom, just make sure that the Goblin Queen goes away. Scotty also wonders that now he knows that Alex comes from another place, if it could be possible that his dad went to Alex' world. Scotty knows Alex will win, and when he does, he hopes they'll be a happy family again. He misses his mom, and wishes her a good night.

Meanwhile, Madelyne sits alone at a nearby lake, and thinks about Scotty. She realizes that she has lost everything she has ever held dear, including herself. A strange creature arizes from the lake, saying that Madelyne has now found her, and she'll never get rid of her! The female creature attacks and lifts Madelyne telekinetically up in her grip, explaining to her that she is a fool to think that she had the power to let all this happen. The female creature tosses Madelyne around, playing with her, explaining Madelyne became hers right from the moment she began pleading for her child. The creature says from that moment on, she knew both Madelyne and he would serve her, and victory is as good as hers. And when victory has come, everyone who has ever stood in her way, shall know that the Goblin Queen has returned! The Goblin Queen merges with Madelyne and becomes completly evil, and plans to let the world tremble and reclaim what belongs to her.

At the mansion, Scotty has finally fallen asleep, but is awakend by Bloodstorm who is outside his window. Scotty can't believe it's her because he thought his aunt went away. Bloodstorm says she had, but came back for him. Bloodstorm claims Scotty's mother misses him very much and wants him to come with her. Scotty opens the window for her. Elektra comes in and immediatly attacks the vampire. Elektra throws her sai at Bloodstorm, but just misses her heart. Bloodstorm tossws Elektra away by making a huge hurricane, and even defeats the other X-Men with it. Bloodstorm again urges Scotty to come to his mother, as she wants everything to be the way it once was, and needs his help with it.

Havok comes into the room, and orders Scotty not to go. Scotty thinks it's okay because it's his aunt, but Bloodstorm turns evil and Scotty realizes his mistake. Before Alex can save him, Bloodstorm quickly takes off.

At her castle, the Goblin Queen laughs at her victory and can't stop smiling. She calls her group to her and notices them staring. She asks them what's wrong, and Brute says they never saw her smile. The Goblin Queen says that's because her son never came back to her before. Bloodstorm comes in and throws Scotty at her. Madelyne wants to hug Scotty but he turns away. The Goblin Queen orders Bloodstorm to take Scotty to his room, and tells Scotty she'll come talk to him later. She gets mad at the rest because they didn't smile enough when Scotty came in, and punishes them for that.

Scotty can hear the screaming from the punishments and wants it to stop. He starts crying and wants Alex to come help him. Scotty can't bear listening to the pain and unleashes an enormous power that smashes through his window. He calms down and wonders what all that was.

The Goblin Queen goes to the basment where Richards works on something, which he has just finished. Reed explains to her that her demon army will get to her the moment she calls for them. The Goblin Queen thanks Richards for his services, and decides that she'll give this Earth to him when she's finished with it.

In his room, Scotty gets the visit from his uncle Brute. Scotty doesn't want to talk to him because he doesn't trust him anymore. Brute knows that the Goblin Queen is controling their minds, and seeing Scotty makes him remember things. Brute gives Scotty some candy he likes. Scotty eats it, and asks Brute if he wants him to take the bad thing away which the Goblin Queen had put into him. Brute wants to, and Scotty uses his powers to make the evil go away. Brute is no longer evil and back to his normal self! Brute thanks him deeply and wants to go away as quickly as possible, back to Havok, because he'll know what to do.

But as they leave the room, Bloodstorm, the Fallen and Ice-Man await them. They don't know what Brute's doing. He tries to convince his friends that Scotty can turn them back to normal and once more fight with the good guys. They don't want to, because the Goblin Queen will hurt them too much. The Fallen uses his flames on Brute, and then goes over to Scotty, wanting to hurt him for being disobedient.

Scotty asks Bloodstorm and Ice-Man for help, but they are frozen solid. Brute gets up and attacks the Fallen and orders Scotty to run away. The Fallen explains that the advantage he has over the rest of the group is that the Goblin Queen did not have to take over his mind, he willingly helped her because she fits in his own agenda, as the rest of them soon will, too.

Scotty again asks Bloodstorm and Ice-Man for help, because the Fallen is killing Brute. The two former heroes still don't do anything and demons arrive to fight. Ice-Man and Bloodstorm finally snap out of it, and tell Scotty to stand behind them while they fight the demons. Scotty begs Bloodstorm and Ice-Man to help Brute now, but they still don't do it, because they can't. The Fallen is about to kill Brute.Scotty panics and uses his awesome power on the Fallen, who falls back. The Fallen gets furious and yells he's going to kill him for that! He flies over to Scotty, but gets smacked back by an outraged Goblin Queen. She makes the Fallen go into a dark place, and says she'll deal with Ice-Man and Bloodstorm later. She tranforms back into Madelyne and orders Brute to quickly get Scotty out of here. Madelyne hugs Scotty, and says that she'll always love him, no matter what will happen. Brute picks Scotty up and runs away with him, and Scotty says goodbye to his mother.

A little later, a knock comes at the X-Mansion's door. The door opens, and none of the X-Men can believe what they are seeing. Scotty hugs Alex, and happily says that they are back.

Characters:
Havok

Elektra
Scotty Summers

Cerebro, Magneto, Mystique, Nightcrawler, Polaris, Quicksilver, Rogue (X-Men)

Bloodstorm, Brute, the Fallen, Marvel Woman /the Goblin Queen, Ice-Man (the Five)
Reed Richards


Notes:
-

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #12



Issue Date: September 1999
Story Title: Once Upon a Time ...

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Carey Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopolous (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Madelyne struggles to get the the Goblin Queen out of her body, but has little success on her own. At the X-Mansion, Havok and the X-Men get ready for the big battle. While they prepare their weapons and Blackbirds, Scotty falls asleep. Madelyne visits Scotty in his dream and explains to him how to stop the Goblin Queen. As Havok and the X-Men depart, Scotty touches Alex' head and thereby passes him the information on how to defeat the Goblin Queen. They leave, and enlist the aid of the Sub-Mariner and Doctor Doom. Doom, Havok and the X-Men continue their attack and make it to the Goblin Queen's lair. They are attacked by her servants, and Havok is able to free Bloodstorm and Ice-Man. The Fallen almost kills Havok, who lands in the realm where he first arrived in this strange world, and where he is greeted by Scotty, who helps him out. Madelyne is seperated from the Goblin Queen creature, and Scotty uses his powers upon the Queen and defeats her. Havok and Scotty land back into the real world, where the Goblin Queen, the demons, Sentinels as well as Madelyne are all gone. Scotty says that his mother promised to be back some day. The rest of the heroes arrive as well, and when Magneto asks what has happened, Scotty can't remember a thing. Magneto wants to rebuild the world, as human/mutant relationships, which will most likely begin to escalate again. Havok explains to his newfound friends that he is not from this world.

Full Synopsis:
Madelyne tries to get some rest, but recalling the events that led to her possession she cries out from the pain. Every inhabitant of planet Earth can hear the cry, and trembles in fear, because they know what it means. Even the Watchers of the universe hears the cry, but may not interfere.

The Watcher named Uatu explains he witnessed the birth of this universe, and how the Goblin entity began its reign of terror and threatened to overtake the entire creation, and how she began to destroy entire races in its evil wake. He watched how the Goblin Force took over and destroyed the mighty Phoenix Force, a powerful creature on its own. Watched how even the mighty Galactus fell before its awesome might. Only when the fifth host of the Celestials stood before its power was when the Goblin Force was first stopped. Though the race was devastated, they managed to diminish the power and contain it, until the recent past. Uatu also watched how Madelyne made a deal with the demon N'stir for the life of her child, Scotty, and watched how the Goblin Force tried to attach itself to Madelyne, and how its power grew. He just watched.

The Empire State Building. Madelyne wakes up, and regrets what she has done. The Goblin Queen arises before her, explaining who Madelyne now has become - the universe is hers for the taking.

Even far away in the X-Mansion, Havok can see the power the Goblin Queen is unleashing, and realizes it's time. He thinks he should have killed her the first time, but he simply couldn't. Scotty comes to him and grabs Alex' hand, saying that this is the way things are supposed to happen. Elektra, Magneto and the X-Men come and they all know it's time to make their move. Havok's not ready yet, but Magneto finds delay is of no use. Scotty agrees with Magneto and it has to be done now, or it could get even worse. Scotty says he's scared, but so is Alex.

In Paris, all existing nations have formed one great power ever since New York fell due to the Goblin Queen's attacks. Everyone wonders who shall lead this great new nation, and one man steps forward as everybody looks at him with respect, and the hope that things will work out now in a good way. A spokesman announces the man who shall now lead them until the end of all wars, the man who shall become the leader of the United Latverian States: Doctor Victor Von Doom! Doom raises his hands and announces that there is a lot of work to be done.

At the mansion, Havok has fueled up all of the four Blackbirds and says they are ready to go. Magneto asks Quicksilver if there's any word from their allies so far. Quicksilver rushes to his father, confirming that the surviving Avengers, Defenders and Champions are ready to attack on their word. Quicksilver further explains that Captain America is involved with Freedom Force on the Mexican border skirmish, but there has been no word from Iron Man since the attack on Chicago. Magneto asks after Wanda, but Quicksilver says nobody heard from his sister after her craft went behind enemy lines, but Magneto's sure she'll be fine.

At the back, Scotty has fallen asleep and gets drawn to the dream world. There he's greeted by Madelyne, who has been able to get away from the Goblin Queen for just a short time. Madelyne tells Scotty she'll need his help in defeating the Goblin Queen and when he wakes up, he'll remember how. Madelyne then orders Scotty to run away quickly, because she's coming back. Scotty wakes up and promises that he'll help her.

A little later, the team prepares to leave with the Blackbird. Quicksilver says that he and all the rebel forces are ready when Magneto orders it. Magneto thanks his son. Brute tells Scotty good-bye and accompanies Magneto, and Havok goes over to Elektra. She'll guard Scotty with her life, she promises and Alex kisses her! Elektra's stunned, and Alex tells Scotty to stay very close to her and he'll be back as soon as he can. Scotty knows he will, and touches Alex' head, and with his powers Scotty informs Havok on what to do. Scotty hugs Alex, saying everything will be allright.

Meanwhile, Dr. Doom leads his great ships into World War III, and fights the countless of Sentinels, now hosted by evil demons brought to Earth with Reed Richards' machine. One of the ship's sailors asks Doom to retreat, but Doom never wants to do that. The sailor begs Doom to come inside, because if anything happened to him, their cause is certain to be lost. Doom's ship gets attacked by Hunter/Killers, but those machines suddenly get destroyed by a blast. When the smoke clears, it's reveald that Havok and Magneto were behind it, and they welcome Doom in America.

Doom appreciates their help, but is not sure if their combined forces will be enough. Havok doesn't worry, because they brought help. Huge tentacles rise from the waters and grab and at the same time destroy the remaining Sentinels. The tentacles belong to one of the Sub-Mariner's sea creature, and Namor coolly tells Doom that their blood dept is now finally repaid. Namor hopes that both Doom, his allies and their enemies will breathe their last breath, because when they'll meet next, it will be as enemies. Namor and his creature dive back into the sea, leaving the heroes alone. Magneto knows that there will come a day that they'll have to battle Namor and the Atlanteans again, but Doom finds this a fight for another day.

The Fallen rushes to the Goblin Queen – by now fully transformed into a horned demonic creature, informing her that the heroes are coming. The Goblin Queen does not fear them and tells the Fallen to let them come, and asks for her pet scientist, Reed Richards. The Fallen can't find him anywhere. The Goblin Queen realizes that he has deserted her. She asks if the Fallen would do such a thing. He promises that he never would. She orders the Fallen to get everyone who's loyal to her, and she'll stay behind and defend her castle. The Fallen does as ordered.

Elsewhere, Doom asks Havok if he's sure that this is where they are supposed to be, because he wants to be with his storm troopers, who are now probably all getting killed. Havok can't explain how he knows it, but is sure that if this war is going to end somewhere, it's going to be at the Empire State Building, where the Goblin Queen is now. A demon suddenly shows up and wants to kill Havok, but Polaris destroys it before it can do any harm. Havok thanks her, and she lifts them up, but gets attacked by the Fallen, Bloodstorm and Ice-Man. The Fallen unleashes a blast of fire upon Havok, but Brute jumps in front of Havok and saves his friend. The Fallen considers them all fools for trying to stop the Goblin Queen, because her power is now at its strongest.

The ground begins to tremble, and the Fallen explains that is because the Goblin Queen is beginning to destroy all creation. Havok tries to bring Bloodstorm and Ice-Man back to themselves. They don't want to see everyone die, but Ice-Man says they've been trying to fight her, but she is too strong. The Fallen throws fire at Havok, Bloodstorm and Ice-Man, and Havok remembers dying again. He thinks he's dead again, like the time he first came to this world.

Scotty suddenly shows up, saying that Havok isn't dead yet, this is the way they are supposed to help his mother. Havok asks how, and Scotty explains that a part of him is inside Alex, that's why they're here now. It had to be Alex, because he was the only one who could carry him here. It's the same way how Alex got here in the first place and Scotty thinks him to be very lucky for that. They search the place, and find Maddie's essence imprisoned by black tendrils fighting the strong will of the Goblin Queen. Scotty tells Alex to blast it now before it hurts Maddie even more. Alex asks how he knows all this and Scotty explains his mother told him. Alex believes it to be a trap, but Scotty knows that it isn't one. Havok does as told and fires a blast.

Madelyne gets scared -Havok should have come alone. Scotty says that his mother doesn't know everything, not the way he sees it. Madelyne knows that the Goblin Queen only wants Scotty, but he knows he has to be the one who has to stop the Goblin Queen. The Goblin Queen creature shows up, and Scotty tells her that she can't hurt him, and also fears him. The Goblin Queen thinks that's his own fear that he is feeling, but Scotty tells her to shut up and uses his powers on her, and the Goblin Queen drops down. Maddie tells Havok to take Scotty away and tell him that she'll always love him and she disappears with a scream.

A short time later, at dawn, Scotty and Alex are back in the real world. Alex had fallen asleep and Scotty wakes him up, saying that it's over. Scotty explains that the Goblin Queen is gone, the demons are gone, and his mother is gone. But Scotty doesn't worry, because she promised she'll be back some day. Bloodstorm, Ice-Man, Doom and the X-Men show up, and Magneto explains that suddenly there was a bright light, and then all the demons had vanished. He asks what has happened. Scotty asks the same thing. Havok realizes that Scotty doesn't remember what has happened, and finds this a good thing because now he may have a chance of having a normal life. Elektra shows up and hugs Alex.

Alex asks Magneto what to do next. The master of magnetism explains that he wants to rebuild the world. It'll take time, as will clearing up the human/mutant relationship. Situations will most likely start to escalate again like in the old days, and probably even worse. Brute asks if they'll rebuild the Six again as well, and Havok confirms that they will, but first he explains to them that he came from another world. He begins: I remembers dying …

Epilogue
. Havok feels satisfied for having told his newfound friends where he came from, but isn't sure that they all believe him. He doesn't even believe it himself at some times. Havok also wonders what to do: rebuild the Six, or find a way home. He realizes that there a lot of questions unanswered. The Fallen is on the loose and Madelyne is gone, leaving only him, Brute, Bloodstorm and Ice-Man.

Havok finds Bloodstorm suspiscious, because she's so different from the Ororo Munroe he knew on his homeworld. He wonders why she got bitten by Dracula, and where she goes at nights. He even questions her loyalties, and wonders how she feeds. He never saw her taking a life, but has his doubts. Alex wonders if he should keep the three heroes, and where to look for other people to join.

He considers the Man-Spider as a possible new teammember, as he digged into his past and found out he saved Gwen Stacy who was attacked by the Green Goblin on the Brooklyn Bridge one day. Stacy went on to be a reporter, and Man-Spider to be a genuine hero here on this world. Though Havok doubts that with the extra arms Man-Spider is a teamplayer.

Havok realizes that there are still three members of the Fantastic Four out there. He has read that though they are only human on this world, they went into outher space with nothing but their guts and stopped Galactus when he came to Earth to eat the world. The Fantastic Four also just slipped being sucked into some cosmic rays, the rays who gave them their powers in his world. Havok knows Reed went to be the Goblin Queen's right hand, but understands that Sue is inconsolable, so he thinks of maybe combining the two teams. It could be a good way to show the world that humans and mutants can work together for the greater good.

Havok thinks about Elektra. He believes that there is more to her, because a trained assassin who's just being happy playing nurse to Scotty? He just can't believe that. Though he likes having her around and he's getting stronger feelings for her, and he loves the fact that she is watching over Scotty.

Havok thinks about the X-Men, who don’tseem to be happy with Magneto's leadership. He noticed that Rogue barely said a word when being around him. He was informed that Rogue hasn't been the same ever since the Black Queen made her powers go out of control, and she absorbed Colossus, who's now still comatose. Alex knows that Colossus' thoughts are haunting Rogue at every moment, so he doesn't need another disfunctional teammember.

Alex believes that he's maybe over-thinking this whole thing, and maybe there's no need for a new team and humanity will be set right. Maybe there will be no more inner threats and he can go for an easy life, together with Scotty and Elektra. Havok can't even believe he even thinks it and laughs at himself.

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Havok, Ice-Man (the Six)
Scotty Summers
Elektra

Magneto, Mystique, Nightcrawler, Quicksilver, Polaris, Rogue (X-Men)
Dr. Doom
Namor, the Sub-Mariner

Madelyne Pryor/the Goblin Queen
The Fallen, Reed Richards (her servants)

TheWatcher

seen in the Watcher’s revelations:
Captain Marvel (of the Kree)
R'Igill (Empress of the Skrull Empire)
Deathbird (of the Shi'Ar)

the Phoenix Force
Galactus
Celestials


Notes:
The story includes seven pin-ups by different artists incorpoated into the epilogue sequence:
- the first pin-up by Tom Raney depicts Havok and all characters that have played a role in theMutant X stories so far.
- The second pin-up by Mike Kaluta shows Bloodstorm being bitten by Dracula
- The third pin-up by John Romita Sr. Shows a six-armed Man-Spider saving Gwen Stacy from the Green Goblin
- The fourth pin-up by John Byrne shows then non-superpowred Fantastic Four facing Galactus
- The fifth pin-up by artist unknown shows elektra fighting ninjas
- The sixth pin-up by artist unknown shows Rogue absorbing Colossus due to Selene’s influence
- The final pin-up by Gary Nord gives a hint of things to come with Havok, the Fallen and his mysterious benefactor, SHIELD, a fallen Elektra, Captain Marvel, Cyclops and Nick Fury.

Gwen Stacy was in the real universe also attacked by the Green Goblin on the Brooklyn Bridge, but was killed when she was thrown off the Bridge. [see Amazing Spider-Man #121]


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #13



Issue Date: October 1999
Story Title: The Hunger

Staff: Ben Raab (writer), Mike Miller (pencils), Saleem Crawford (inks), Chris Eliopolous (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Ororo Munroe, a member of the X-Men, was turned into a vampire by Dracula a week ago. Now, her best friend Kitty Pryde decides to go after her and kill her to save her soul. At the castle, Ororo herself tries to resist the lust for blood, but has got lots of difficulties dealing with it. She rescues her cellmate, Forge, who is supposed to be her foodsource. They escape, but get attacked by Kitty, who has made her way to the castle. The two fight and in the end, Kitty can't kill her former best friend while Ororo finds she can't resist the lust anymore. She fully transforms into a vampire and bites Kitty. Five months later at the X-Mansion, Colossus and Nightcrawler mourn the loss of their friends, believing them dead.

Full Synopsis:
Kitty Pryde, a member of the X-Men, gets ready to go after her friend Ororo, who's been turned into a vampire by Dracula a week ago. At the X-mansion, Kitty writes a letter to her love, Colossus, saying she has to leave with a heavy heart. But, Kitty finds that she must find Ororo, and either dave her from eternal damnation or kill her. Kitty gathers her weapons – a Japanese katana as well as shuriken and stakes - and secretly leaves the letter to a sleeping Peter, before she leaves the mansion.

In a castle, a redeyed filthyOroro, crouches locked up in a dark cell, her attention focussed on a rat. She grabs it and wants to bite it, but finds the strength to resist, disgusted at her urges. Ororo gets outraged and unleashes an enormous lightbolt out the cell's window, praying for her goddess to make it stop.

Suddenly a voice from behind explains that the hunger will never go away, it gnaws at her very soul. The voice says that in time, she will give into the lust. Ororo uses a ball lightning to light up the cell and asks who the chained, scared man is, and why he's here. The man introduces himself as Forge, and he's here to feed her.

Ororo remembers him as the Judas who's responsible for creating anti-mutant weapons for the government. The X-Men always wondered what had become of the "Maker" of those weapons, and now she sees he has earned his fate. Forge agrees, finding it ironic that one day he's a top-weapons manufacturer thanks to his mutant abilities, and the next he's just food for the undead. Talk about getting bitten by karma…Ororo finds it ridiciolous, but Forge says that she'll need to eat sometime, because without blood she'll die. Ororo sees death as a way out of this nightmare, but Forge claims that there is another way out, referring to a large doorway.

Meanwhile, Kitty is still searching and running through the woods, but she can't find Ororo anywhere. Kitty realizes that it's been a week since she was bitten into a vampire and she could be anywhere by now. The rain is getting heavier and a bolt of lightning strikes a tree next to Kitty, but luckily she phased into safety.

Kitty finds one of Ororo's lockpicks, and recalls the days when she enrolled at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and how she had no idea what the life of a mutant could mean. There, she met Storm, who became the big sister she never had, until the day she was bitten by Dracula. So, Kitty finds that she ows this to Ororo.

Kitty realizes that Ororo must have left the lockpick on purpose and starts running,. But what if she finds her, she wonders. Does she repay Ororo’s kindness by brutally killing her? Is that the person Ororo taught her to be? The castle lies ahead. She’ll find her answers there.

At the castle, Ororo is troubled by her claustrophobia and unleashes winds that smash the door open. She sets Forge free and kills her vampire guards. Ororo wants to leave quick but quietly, but fears she can't resist the bloodlust much longer. Forge says she'll get faster away without him, and resigns himself to her biting him, but Ororo resists and doesn't want to leave him behind while there's still hope for them both. She takes him up and starts to fly.

Kitty has made it into the castle, but gets attacked by two female and a male vampire, who tell her to forget about the Windrider, who's theirs now. Kitty fights back and throws her shuriken at the vampires, killing them, saying that Ororo's hers.

Forge asks Ororo that seeing all the evil he has done to his fellow mutants, why is she helping him. Ororo says that's because she believes in second chances. Forge hopes that the other X-Men also share that sentiment. Kitty shows up, saying she won't live that long to find it out.

Kitty begins fighting, and Ororo is startled by it. Kitty takes out her stakes and gets ready to kill Ororo at the first chance she sees. Kitty tackles Ororo, apologizing but there is no other way. Ororo begs her to do it, because she can't fight the hunger any longer. Kitty finds she can't do it, and Ororo uses her powers to take her breath away.While kitty lies on the groud coughing Ororo rising as mist before coalescing tells Kitty she expected that one of the X-Men would be her executioner, Havok perhaps, but not Kitty. Kitty toses a stake at her and Ororo catches it almost contemptuously.

Ororo has given over to the vampire inside her, as Forge realizes with horror also understanding that Kitty stands no chance. She first toys with kitty before using her hypnotic stare to force kitty to come to her where she feasts on her.

Back at the X-Mansion. Colossus cuts a tree with an axe, as Nightcrawler teleports to him asking if he wants some coffee. Kurt says that he misses them too, because they were both like sisters to him. Peter tells Kurt that Kitty was more to him than that, and reveals an engagement ring he was planning to give her. It's been five months now since Kitty left and she still hasn't come back. Peter kept her alive in his heart, but now realizes that she is as dead to him, to all of them as this tree. Without a word he starts cutting again.

Characters:
Bloodstorm (former X-Man)
Kitty Pryde (former X-Man)

Forge

Colossus, Nightcrawler (all X-Men)

(in Kitty's flashback)
Angel, Colossus, Havok, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Professor X, Storm (all X-Men)

Dracula


Notes:
This story reveals the origin of Bloodstorm and why Kitty and forge are serving her (as seen in issues #4 and 6).

More about Bloodstorm's past can be found in the Mutant X Annual 2000.

During the flashback, the Fallen is seen before he got changed and is in his original Angel-form.


Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #14



Issue Date: November 1999
Story Title: Homecoming!

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Carey Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
A Skrull squad wants to kidnap observe Alex and Scotty on a videoscreen, whom they have to capture and interrogate. The Skrull captain tries to convince his admiral to destroy the planet, before the Goblin Queen can resurface. After a hesitation, the adimiral agrees. Before they can destroy the Earth, however, their ship is breached by none other than the Starjammers. Cyclops, their leader, interrogates the Skrull admiral, who explains to him their mission, to destroy the planet where most of the energy of the Goblin Queen came off from, before she can return. Cyclops realizes that the man on the videoscreen is his long lost kid brother, Alex. He takes the Starjammers to Earth and helps Alex and Scotty in a battle against a Kree death squad. Cyclops explains how he was grabbed by the Shi'Ar from their parent's crashing plane when they were kids and how he always wanted to find Alex again. Their reunion is cut short by the Gladiator, who attacks them, but the Gladiator is stopped by the Watcher. The Watcher informs Gladiator that the threat of the Goblin Queen is over, thanks to Scotty, and throws Gladiator off the planet. The Watcher congratulates Scotty with his victory and tells him to enjoy life and takes off. At the end, Cyclops asks what his kid brother has been up to lately.

Full Synopsis:
A computer simulation of the Earth's distruction is shown. In their spaceship, a Skrull captain impatiently awaits the command to actually do this. The Skrull admiral explains that that is not their mission. Their mission is to capture and interrogate their targets before they can contemplate such a task. The captain thinks they would all be better off if Galactus survived his first encounter with the Earth and devoured it. The captain tries to convince the admiral that he has discussed it with their queen, and he can be a hero if he destroys the Earth. The admiral orders to open the video screen and sees a man and a youth, and wonders to himself what possible connection they could have with her. The admiral orders to do the attack but, as they plan to do, their ship is breached. The Skrull warriors prepare for battle, and find out their ship's been breached by none other than the Starjammers.

The Starjammers rush into the ship, immediatly opening fire. Their leader, Cyclops, asks if they want to hand over their ship peacefully or with force. Cyclops realizes he has asked a stupid question and begins to fight. Cyclops orders his crew, consisting of Binary, Nova, the Silver Surfer and Lockheed, to proceed, while he interogates the admiral, asking what his mission is. The admiral explains it is about the Goblin Queen , even pirates like the Starjammers must have heard about her resurface. Cyclops explains he has heard the rumors and asks what kind of planet it is they're watching and who the man and child are on the videoscreen. The admiral explains the Skrull council wanted to explore the planet where most of the Goblin Queen's energy came from, and capture anybody who has the closest relationship with her. The planet is called Earth, and the people are named Alex and Scotty Summers, father and son.

Cyclops says in himself he never dreamed that he would be seeing the Earth again. The admiral explains that some want to capture them, interrogate them or destroy their entire system. Cyclops wonders to himself if Alex could be his brother, Alex. On Earth, Alex and Scotty are at a lake and having lots of fun fishing. Scotty catches a lot of fish but Alex just sits there, thinking to himself. Alex can't believe how normal Scotty's been acting, considering all the troubles he went through. Alex finds it odd how he never considred fatherhood in his homeworld, when, at times like this, he’s having fun at times like this with Scotty. Alex also likes the fact that there is no hatred against mutants on this world. Or, at least, not yet. Considering what has happened lately, with the world nearly being destroyed by a mutant, namely Madelyne, his wife. Alex heard a lot of anti-mutant protesting on the radio and he begins fearing the worst. So, he decided to take off with Scotty for a while and give the boy a chance to be a kid. Scotty catches another fish and tells Alex to look at it. Their marvel is caught by something else, as suddenly a huge spaceship appears above them.

Scotty believes that there's something bad on the ship, something that wants them. Alex takes Scotty on his word, so he tells Scotty to hide behind the rocks while he prepares to fight. Alex notices that, below the ship, energy comes out, which fires upon them. Havok blasts one of his plasma blasts at the ship, damaging it and making the ship crash down in the lake. Alex and Scotty decide to run away from it. They run to the car and Scotty asks if they want them because of the bad things his mom did to the world. Alex says it could be and searches for his keys, but Cyclops has playfully taken them away with his sword. Alex, not realizing who he is, knocks Cyclops down and takes the keys back and drives away. Binary wonders when Scott's going to grow up and act like an adult. Now they're on their own and they don't know who's chasing them. A spaceship flies over them and Cyclops realizes it's a Kree death squad. They just have to find his kid brother and nephew.

In their car, Alex thinks that Scotty could be right and this may have something to do with Madelyne. Alex notices the spaceship and tells Scotty to stay in the car. Alex goes out and tries to blast the ship, but with no success. Kree warriors come out of it. A short time later, Alex has apparently defeated the warriors. He and Scotty have made it to the local sherrif. The two mutants tell their story, but neither the sherrif nor his deputiy want to believe them. The two officers mock at them and tell them to leave. Suddenly, the sherrif's window is smashed and everybody rushes outside. The sherrif orders Alex and Scotty to stay back, because he's still the law in this town. The Kree begin their attack and the cops realize they don't stand a chance. Havok jumps in and smashes the Kree down into the ground.

But the Kree quickly re-group and Havok tries to come up with a plan. Cyclops arrives on the scene and fights the Kree, defeating them. Alex can't believe who he's seeing. Cyclops says he'll fill him in later, but now they've got worries far bigger then a Kree death squad: the Gladiator! Gladiator lands on Earth, right in front of them. Cyclops introduces the Gladiadtor to his brother as the leader of the Shi'Ar Imperial Guard and strongest man in the galaxy, pretty much invulnerable. The Starjammers take on the Gladiator, while Cyclops runs away with Alex and Scotty. Cyclops explains to Alex that, when the Shi'Ar attacked their dad's plane, he knew that their parents didn't made it out alive, but Scott always knew that Alex had survived. The Shi'Ar grabbed Scott and he became Cyclops. Scott dreamed ever since to find his brother again, who he now finally knows survived and stayed on Earth.

While running, Cyclops tells Alex that the Starjammers saved his life lots of times. Scott likes Nova, but doesn't want her to know. They decide to team-up and fight the Gladiator. They open fire, but the Gladiator isn’t damaged at all. Cyclops begs Alex and Scotty to run, but Alex won't. All of a sudden, the Watcher shows up, informing Gladiator that the Goblin Queen is gone, and he is to leave this planet and leave it alone. The Watcher lifts the Gladiator up, grabbing him by his cape, and throws the Gladiator off the planet. Uatu tells Scotty Summers he will be safe now and, because of today, so will the multiverse. Uatu tells Scotty to enjoy his life and takes off. Scott and Alex watch him leave, and Scott asks Alex what he's been up to lately.

Characters:
Havok
Scotty Summers

Binary, Cyclops, Nova, Lockheed, Silver Surfer (Starjammers)

Gladiator (all Imperial Guard)

The Watcher (Uatu)

Unnamed Skrull captain
Unnamed Skrull admiral
Unnamd Skrull Warriors
Unnamd Kree Warriors death squad

Notes:
In the real universe, the Starjammers (a whole different team than this one) were formed and are led by Scott and Alex' father, Corsair. On their last vacation trip together as a family, the Summers’ plane was attacked by the Shi'Ar. Their mother threw Scott and Alex out of the plane with one parachute into safety, while she and Corsair were kidnapped and experimented upon. Corsair escaped, but his wife was murdered. Many years later, he returned to Earth and was reunited with his two sons. [see Uncanny X-Men #107, #154]. In this universe, Cyclops takes over the role Corsair had in the real universe.

Galactus being killed is explained in the epilogue of Mutant X #12.

Cyclops and the Stajammers next appear in Mutant X #17.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #15



Issue Date: December 1999
Story Title: The Ripple Effect

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Carey Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Gina Going (colors), Chris Eliopolous (letters), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
A nuclear bomb is dropped upon the X-Men’s mansion, destroying the entire mansion and killing all the X-Men and Magneto. Cerebro is the sole survivor of the attack and makes it to the castle of the Six. They tend to his wounds, but are attacked by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. They have been given complete amnesty for their previous attacks, as they proved to be under the Goblin Queen’s influence at the time. Now, they are working with president pro tem, Graydon Creed, who has ordered them to bring in every mutant and super-powered being into safety to prevent them getting killed. The Six don’t believe the troops and fight them and eventually escape to the hidden base called the Eagle’s Rest. There, they are greeted by Bloodstorm’s lover, Forge, and former servant, Kitty Pryde, who has become the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club. Kitty and Forge thought Bloodstorm to be dead and moved on with their lives. Forge introduces the team to Captain America, Sebastian Shaw and Sunfire, who are helping him to improve the bad human/mutant relationship. Forge has thought up of an idea to help the government prove which mutants to trust. He has created Cerebro Mark XIII, which shall help him with that. Alex asks what shall become of the mutants who can’t be trusted and where that leaves the super-powered humans. Forge hasn’t thought of that. Sunfire begins attacking, apologizing and explaining that this goes agains anything he stands for. Sunfire has obligations to his family that go above anything else, and someone has hired him to destroy the machine and kill the heroes. When the heroes stop him, Sunfire can’t handle his defeat and does an honorable thing by killing himself and destroying the entire base. The heroes make it out into two seperate planes and move into different directions. Captain America asks if he can join the Six, as he finds help them safe mutants from Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fight worth fighting for. Havok and the rest of the Six agree and welcome him into their group.

Full Synopsis:
Salem Center, West Chester County, home of the X-Men
Magneto’s band of mutants was once able to tide the hatred against their fellow mutants with acts of courage and sacrifice, time and time again, until mutants appeared to be acceptable to be a part of the world. At the school, the X-Men spend a little time in the yards behind the school, and Nightcrawler lays his hand on Mystique. Their attention gets drawn by something else, when a huge shadow appears above them. A nuclear bomb lands on the school and the explosion destroys the whole mansion... and the X-Men!

The Dutchess castle, home of the team formerly known as the Six
The remaining members of the Six watch the horror on the news. The news reporter explains how reports claim that the Friends of Humanity are behind this first act of domestic nuclear terrorism on U.S. soil. It appears that anti-mutant protesters have made a startling return after what people now call the Goblin Queen affair and more attacks on mutants and alleged super heroes are happening as they speak. Everybody starts crying and Havok can’t believe that this is happening here. Brute asks Havok what this means for the X-Men and if they are going to be okay. Alex simply doesn’t know; all they can do is continue listening to the news report.

The news reporter says that president pro tem, Graydon Creed, has now declared the entire county of West Chester as a distaster zone. Experts claim that the device used was particulary clean and low yield and, apparently, whoever triggered this device knew what they were doing. Some people call this a precision nuclear attack. In a surprising move, President Pro Tem Creed has announced full amnesty for Colonel Nicholas Fury and all members of his S.H.I.E.L.D., because they claimed to be mind-controlled by the Goblin Queen.

An exhausted Cerebro suddenly phases through the walls of the castle. Havok tends to him, asking if the X-Men are trully dead. Cerebro, sadly, can only confirm. Cerebro explains that the bio-essence of the X-Men blinked out before Magneto’s failsafe program in Cerebro kicked in and sent him here. But Cerebro also says that the magnetic pulse given off by the bomb has interfered with Cerebro’s own system and he apologizes for his appearance. On the news, the newscaster mentions how proud Fury was to serve the American land again and is now promoted to General.

On television, Fury claims that his and S.H.I.E.L.D.’s main purpose will be the protection of both the mutant and hero populance. Fury considers it his obligation to seek out all those who would be subjected to hate crimes and Fury offers them the full protection of S.H.I.E.L.D. Fury warns every mutant and super powered being not to worry, as they will find them, no matter where they are. The ground starts to shake, and Alex realizing that S.H.I.E.L.D. is there.

Havok orders Brute and Elektra to get Scotty’s things and to meet them at the evacuation tunnel. Alex asks Cerebro if he’s up to it to download the data on their computers consiting mutant locations, and later destroy the master system. Brute asks what’s happening and Alex explains that they are leaving. Scotty cheers his uncle up, telling him not to be afraid and think of it as an adventure. Alex, Bloodstorm and Ice-Man rush to the battle. Alex is content to know who they are up against. Alex believes they have to slow their enemies down to give the others the chance to go to the evacuation tunnels. Bloodstorm confirms to Alex they’ll do whatever he tells them, as they owe him their souls. They would follow Alex even to the dark alleys of the Underworld.

Ice-Man asks if Bloodstorm is speaking metaphorically about the Underworld, but she doesn’t answer him. The heroes make it out of the castle and notice S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Hellicarrier flying above them. Fury orders the mutants to stand down, so they can bring them in to a safer place. Ice-Man doesn’t believe that Fury will bring them someplace safe, neither does Bloodstorm. The S.H.I.E.L.D. troops open fire upon the heroes and they try to fight back and defend themselves. Havok orders Bloodstorm to slow the flow down and she goes in. Bloodstorm orders her goddess to help her and give her the power of the storm. Lightning strikes the Hellicarrier, which crashes, and the soldiers try to get out of the heavy waters that Bloodstorm’s storm creates. Havok believes that should be enough to hold them for a while and the heroes go back to their teammates.

A short time later, when the storm has calmed down a bit, an angry Nick Fury shows up, demanding to know where the mutants have gone. Colonel Dum-Dum Dugan reports to Nick that they have searched the entire island, but the Six are nowhere to be found. Fury orders Dugan to search again. Dum-Dum doesn’t find this mutant hunt part of their mission and wants to fall back. Fury gets even more angry, and tells Dum-Dum to address him as General Fury, not as Nick. Suddenly, Fury takes out his gun and inexplicably shoots a soldier! Fury explains to Dum-Dum that their wartime friendship is over and, if he should ever doubt Fury’s commands again, it won’t be one of Dum-Dum’s nephews who buys it. Fury orders Dum-Dum to search the island again, and this time they better find the mutants.

Striker-planes search the entire day, even when the night falls, but sadly have to report to Fury that they still can’t find the mutants, or any of their instruments. They’ll continue the search, but hope that their colleagues have better luck than they do. Meanwhile, below in the waters, the Six’ transport vehicle moves at full stealth below the Hudson River. Inside, Brute’s scared that they are going to find them and asks if they can’t go any faster. Havok explains that they have to be very queit and when they continue to move queitly, everything is going to be allright.

Bloodstorm explains that their plane was designed for stealth, but they have to be very careful because it is S.H.I.E.L.D. that they are dealing with, and have to be cautious that nobody has the technology to find them. But nontheless, Bloodstorm realizes that S.H.I.E.L.D. has found them and goes over to immediate action. When S.H.I.E.L.D. fires six heat-seaker up on the Six, Alex orders Bloodstorm to take them out. Bloodstorm explains that it is going to take a moment to do that. Alex says that they don’t have a moment and he goes out of the plane. He orders Bloodstorm to keep moving, while he charges up his plasma-blasts and blasts the seekers by himself! Alex goes back into the ship and tells Bloodstorm to go. But, he’s not sure if they’ve got a place to go. Luckely, Bloodstorm has already thought of that.

One hour later…
Bloodstorm asks permission to land. A voice over the intercom is surprised to hear her, as they believed Bloodstorm to be dead. Bloodstorm jokes she is as much as ever. The voice gives her permission to land, saying that he has missed her. Bloodstorm says she missed him as well, and they land in a base, hidden inside a mountain. Havok asks if this is friend of Bloodstorm and if they can trust him. Bloodstorm explains that he is much more than just that, confirming that she has trusted her life with him on more than just one occassion. Bloodstorm also says that, without him, she wouldn’t even be around today.

Forge shows up from behind and he and Bloodstorm hug intensly. Everybody stares in wonder and Alex is surprised to see Forge. Bloodstorm did not know that Alex and Forge had met. Even Forge doubts if he and Alex have met, but sometimes his memory is not at best. But he does feel like he knows Alex, and the rest of the Six, because Bloodstorm has told him so much about them. But Forge cuts the reunion short, as much has happened and there is much to discuss. Forge claims that the Six have to meet some people, and plans must be made.

Bloodstorm sees at Forge’s actions that there must be something wrong, as she finds it that it’s not for her lover to act like this. Kitty shows up, all dressed in black and wearing a cape, saying that people and things have changed. She greets Ororo, sarcastically asking if she preferes that Kitty calls her Mistress Bloodstorm. Bloodstorm’s surprised to see how much Kitty has changed. Kitty confirms that she has indeed changed, as of from now she is the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club! Kitty explains to Bloodstorm that they thought that she was dead. They even mourned her passing and moved on with their lives. Kitty convinced Forge that Bloodstorm would have wanted it this way.

The few who survived the Goblin Queen’s attack came to her and Forge. Forge explains that Katherine helped pull them together and made them stop fighting among each other. Bloodstorm coolly congratulates Kitty, as she always knew that she was a born leader. Kitty sarcastically replies by saying that it took a potential world war to prove it. She finds it a shame that they didn’t find that one out sooner and coolly asks if Bloodstorm agrees on that. Bloodstorm and Kitty turn away from each other. Forge cuts the awkward situation by saying that there is still much left to do and asks everyone to follow him and meet the others.

Everyone follows and Alex asks Ice-Man if he knows what’s going on here. Ice-Man doesn’t has a clue and jokes to Alex that, when he was under the Goblin Queen’s mind-control, he missed all of his favourite soap opera’s for a few months. But Ice-Man has a feeling that this is going to be so much cooler. Bloodstorm tells Forge that he has brought lots of changes to the Eagle’s Rest since the last time she was here. Forge explains that they had little choice and it simply had to be done. Forge and the others trully believed that they were the last stand against the Goblin Queen, and this is merely one facility he has established; there are much more over the rest of the world.

Forge brings them to a meeting room, where he introduces the people sitting at a table. Forge says that they all known Captain America and introduces them next to Sebastian Shaw, the Black King of the Hellfire Club, and there is also Sunfire, a fellow mutant and a former agent of the Japanese government. Sunfire is there to help them with their cause. Havok apologizes for his ignorance, but asks an explanation to what Forge’s cause is. Shaw explains that their cause is freedom. Shaw’s surprised that Havok can’t see what’s going on. Shaw explains that Graydon Creed is in power and Nick Fury is his general. Shaw fears that together they might achieve what every human is praying for, namely the death of all gifted beings.

Havok’s confused, as he thought that human/mutant relationships were improving again better than anybody could ever hope. Shaw finds Alex a fool for being so naive, as that can’t possibly be true after what happened to Magneto and the X-Men. Shaw doesn’t believe the media reports about this simply being a terrorist attack. He knows that the human race hates them. The humans know that the mutans will replace them as the dominant species on the planet. Once, the humans used them, but thanks to the Goblin Queen’s attack, they now fear them. But the Goblin Queen is simply the excuse for their moves. Captain America knows that Shaw is right. Cap says that he was approached by Fury to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and participate in their mutant hunt. Fury wanted Cap to betray his own teammates, but Cap wouldn’t do that and was turned into a traitor on some charges. Cap explains that some of his teammates did not share his vision and decided to join Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.

Shaw thinks this all as a world-wide conspiricy and asks Sunfire what he thinks of it. Sunfire agrees and explains that his government has made it very clear what they plan to do with mutants and other powered beings. They are making relocation camps even as they speak, and Sunfire has come to find any way to stop it. Forge has thought of an idea and again asks everybody to follow him. Forge takes them to his lab and introduces them to Cerebro Mark XIII, the next generation in psionic personality computers! Forge explains that he and Magneto had spoken about it for years after Forge created Cerebro, who is based on an idealistic college professor. Cerebro gets a little confused and asks Forge what he means that he “created” him.

Forge’s a bit surprised, as he thought Magneto had told Cerebro this. Cerebro hesistates, but confirms to his creator that Magneto hadn’t told him. Forge explains that the original meaning in Cerebro’s creation was that he had to locate mutants through the detection of their brain patterns. Forge now notices how Cerebro has evolved into so much more he could ever hope for as Cerebro has developed all the characteristics of a living entity. Forge fears that at the same time, this is also Cerebro’s failing. Cerebro has become all too human and too willing to become friendly with the subjects he was originally meant to just study.

Forge knows that Cerebro Mark XIII won’t show such failure. When activated, Mark XIII will immediatly establish a link with all the living mutant brains on the planet and will be able to categorize all their potential powers, cross-checking them with as a potential trait and determine a risk factor. Havok stll doesn’t understand how this will help improve the human/mutant relationship. Forge explains that, by this, he can tell the government who they can trust and not. Alex asks what will happen to those who can’t be trusted and to the other super-powered beings, but Forge hasn’t thought about that. Shaw grows angry and says that the Hellfire Club won’t stand for this, as it hurts mutant rights. Sunfire turns back. Alex notices this and asks Sunfire what’s wrong with him.

Sunfire doesn’t find this arguing necesary and begs them to forgive him. This is not what Sunfire wanted. He explains that he is a mutant and has been shunned all of his life. His life got meaning when he became a warrior for his emperor, but he has obligations to his family who go above anything else and Sunfire won’t ashame them. Sunfire apologizes, but all of them must be killed and the machine destroyed. Sunfire explains that they are all around and want them dead. Sunfire again apologizes and unleashes a fire blast to the heroes. Havok dodges the attack just in time and Cap says that he’ll help Alex and Ice-Man out, while Bloodstorm and Brute lead everyone else outside to safety.

Alex asks if Cap’s got any ideas on how to hit Sunfire, but Cap believes that they’ll just have to hit him, hard and fast! Sunfire shoots another fireblast and Cap protects everybody with his shield. Ice-Man agrees with the plan and they go for it. Alex realizes that they will only have one shot in succeeding, so they attack all together. Sunfire can dodge Havok’s and Ice-Man’s blasts, but he can’t withstand Cap’s shield, which strikes in Sunfire’s stomach, hitting him real hard. Ice-Man quickly freezes Sunfire up in an ice-igloo and Havok asks Sunfire who hired him.

Sunfire apologizes but he can’t tell them. Sunfire can only tell them not to trust anybody, as they are everywhere. Sunfire powers up again and Ice-Man’s iglo can’t stand the heat and it melts. Sunfire orders the heroes to run away, as he has brought shame upon his family and this rest only one honorable thing left to do for him, namely kill himself. Sunfire unleashes a power blast, killing both him and the entire base. The Six and the others escape just in time in two separate planes and head into different directions. Havok asks Bloodstorm what has become of Forge. Bloodstorm reveals that he has went together with Kitty and Shaw. Alex apologizes, as he could see Forge meant a lot to Bloodstorm. Bloodstorm confirms he meant a whole lot more to her than Alex could possible imagine.

Alex asks Cap if they can drop him of somewhere. Cap was thinking; since Alex is rebuilding the Six, maybe he can join them. Besides, Cap has no place else to go and help saving mutants from Fury seems like a good plan to him. Alex agrees and welcomes Captain America into the Six. Alex notices Cerebro staring sadly, and asks if he’s all right. Cerebro says he is, but he has a funny feeling. It’s like a part of him has died and has reborn into something truly evil. At the destroyed base, a weird, angry looking thing arises from the ashes, and tries to stand up.

 

[RAMORE]

That one ran too long for one post


Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Havok, Ice-Man (all the Six)

Scotty Summers
Elektra

Cerebro, Magneto, Mystique, Nightcrawler, Polaris, Quicksilver, Rogue (all X-Men)

Forge
Cerebro Mark XIII
Katherine “Kitty” Pryde/the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club
Sebastian Shaw/the Black King of the Hellfire Club

Captain America (former Avenger)

Sunfire

Nick Fury (S.H.I.E.L.D. General)
Dum-Dum Dugan (S.H.I.E.L.D. Colonel)
Unnamed S.H.I.E.L.D. troops

on television:
Graydon Creed (secret founder of the Friends of Humanity and running for President)
Unnamed members of the Friends of Humanity
Unnamed body-guard of Graydon Creed

Notes:
‘The Goblin Queen Affair,” as the newsreporter mentions, can be found in Mutant X #1-12 and the Mutant X Annual 1999.

Bloodstorm and Ice-Man were mind-controlled by the Goblin Queen to do her bidding. Though they often tried to resist her, they failed to pull free. When the Goblin Queen was defeated, both mutants returned to their normal states.

In the world where Havok came from, the real universe, there has always been fear and hatred against the mutants. But when Havok first landed in this universe [Mutant X #1], mutants lived together in peace with the humans. The attack of the Goblin Queen changed all that and people began fearing mutants again ever since.

Forge used to be Bloodstorm’s sole food source and lover. Kitty, who was once a member of the X-Men alongside Bloodstorm, tried to kill Bloodstorm when she was just turned into a vampire in order to save her soul. Kitty and Bloodstorm fought, but Bloodstorm couldn’t resist the vampire inside her any longer and she bit Kitty in her neck, turning her into her mindcontrolled servant. [Mutant X #2, #13]

Forge was, in the real universe, a teammate of Havok when he was a member of X-Factor. The Forge and Havok never met of the Mutant X universe apparently never met.

In the real universe, Graydon Creed is the illegitimate son of mutant villains Sabretooth and Mystique. There, he turned for the presidency, not telling anybody who his parents were, in order to kill his parents and the rest of the mutants.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #16



Issue Date: January 2000
Story Title: God and Man

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Cary Nord (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Gina Going (colors), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
The Six begin their mission into finding and rescuing mutants in need. They move to Georgia, where they rescue young mutant Jonah Reeves from attacking mutant hunters. The Six defeat the hunters and bring Jonah to a safe place. A short time later, Nick Fury finds out about these events and sends his Bastion-unit out to bring the Six in. The next mission of the Six brings them to New Orleans. While on their way to rescue the next mutant, the heroes find themselves attacked by members of the United Guild of New Orleans. They bring the Six to their leader, Gambit. Gambit claims that he didn’t kill them because of his past debt with Bloodstorm but, with that debt now repaid, he orders them to leave his town at once. After arguing about what to do, the Bastion-unit and its helpers drop into the building, wanting Gambit’s daugher, Raven, back. A fight comes up, and a stray bullet kills Gambit’s wife, Bella Donna. Bella Donna’s brother, Julien, turns out to be a traitor, who has revealed their secret hideout to Fury and kidnaps Raven, handing her over to the Bastion-unit. Alex finds something familiar about this attack, which the Bastion-unit confirms, but that shall be explained in due time. They teleport away, leaving Gambit and the Six alone. Gambit buries his wife, knowing that, with her death, their marriage won’t have any meaning left and the Guilds will fall apart. Gambit doesn’t care about any of that and just wants to find his daughter again. And, until that day has come, he shall join the Six!

Full Synopsis:
Savannah, Georgia
Young mutant Jonah Reeves runs through his school playground late at night. But this time, he is not playing; he is running for his life! Jonah realizes that, should he ever stop running, it would mean his certain death.

Jonah accidently trips over a stick and a bullet just misses his head. Jonah decides not to run anymore and stands up with full confidence. Jonah believes that running didn’t help his mom and dad, or his sister, Laurie. He can’t run, as he belongs to them. Mutant hunters show up, mocking at Jonah when they see him stand there like he’s an innocent mutant. The hunters know better, they believe, as they saw what Jonah did to their friend Tom back there.

Harry, one of the mutant hunters, asks if they are going to do the same with this one like with all the others. Another hunter says they’ll do the exact same, pulling the trigger on all of these mutant freaks together and kill them all off. The hunters prepare to shoot, until their guns are pulled out of their hands by the thrown shield of Captain America! Cap orders them to drop all the rest of their weapons and step away from the kid. The hunters don’t believe this to be a concern to Cap, as it is simply a matter between them normal ordinary humans and the mutants. The hunters hate the fact that the mutants always think they are better then humans, so they have to show them real good that they are not.

Havok, with the Six behind him, show up. Alex says that the humans won’t mind them involving then, just ordinary them ordinary mutants against them humans. Jonah can’t believe that the Six are really there with him. The hunters are not afraid of the Six, as they know them well. After all, they are the mutants who nearly destoryed the world. The hunters tell the Six that just because mutants have some genetic mutation won’t mean that the humans will just roll over and die and they begin shooting at the Six. Captain America defends his newfound friends with his shield. Alex joins Cap, saying that there goes their plan of fear, intimidation and a reasonable solution. Cap agrees, but is more concerned about how ordinary human civilians can get such sophisticated weapons. This disturbs Cap.

Brute playfully lifts one of the hunters up and plays a little with him. Ice-Man joins in and creates a few ice-blocks to make the hunter feel really cold. Bloodstorm stops their joking around because they’ve still got a rescued child to tend to. Havok, firering one of his blasts at one of the hunters, tells Bloodstorm to lighten up, as they desirve to have a little fun once and awhile, because they have been on the road for some time now. When Alex notices Jonah looking at the fight rather scared, he re-thinks what he just said. Alex knows that Nick Fury and his S.H.I.E.L.D. Stormtroopers aren’t taking their mutant hunt slightly. The soldiers claim that they will bring the mutants to safety, but Alex doesn’t believe that, because it has been proven in the past how bad these things go.

Havok now realizes how different things were when he first landed in this strange universe. Unlike the world where he came from, mutants and humans lived together in peace. This was all ruined when the Goblin Queen attacked. Alex believes that all he can do about this is just stand by and watch this world become an even darker version than his home world. But Havok refuses to let that happen. He becomes angry, and unleashes a huge plasma-blast at one of the hunters. The hunter begs Alex not to kill him, because he has a wife and kids. Alex, Ice-Man and Jonah stand over the hunter triumphically.

Alex tells Jonah to take a good look at the human hunter. Alex explains that this man represents a small percentage of the humans on this planet. Currently, the humans are a very vocal and dangerous minority. Alex tells Jonah to not let their hatred towards mutants affect him. Alex tells the hunter that they are going to find a safe place for Jonah, but first something else has to be done. Alex calls for Ice-Man, who, with a big smile on his face, knows exactly what to do.

A short time later…
S.H.I.E.L.D. arrives on the scene, the Six have already left. Nick Fury steps out and finds the hunters all frozen up, and the landscape entirely snowed in. Fury knows that this is the work of mutants and, more specifically, of the Six. Fury calls for Dum-Dum, ordering him to get the Espers. Dum-Dum obeys his general, saying that they are present. Fury’s pleased to see that they have sent him the Bastion-unit. The Bastion-unit confirms to an impatient Fury that he has the mutants’ trail and they were here. Fury says he knows that, but wants to know if the Bastion-unit knows where they are now. The Bastion-unit says he does.

The French Quarter of New Orleans, Mardi Gras.
It’s a time of celebration, parties and costumes, for the civilians of New Orleans; not giving the Six a hard time to pass by unnoticed. Cerebro informs Havok that he has just received a message from his mistress, Elektra, saying that she and Scotty have settled in quite nicely. Alex doesn’t want to know, because he had send Elektra away for a reason: he needs to stay focused in order to find and rescue mutants, and he can’t do that when he is worrying about Scotty. Elektra assured him she knew a place to keep Scotty safe and that was good enough for him. Coming to the subject, Alex asks Cerebro where the mutant is they came to rescue here.

Cerebro apologizes, as it would seem he has made a mistake. Alex doesn’t understand and asks for an explenation. Cerebro confirms that the mutant they came to rescue is most definitely here, but there are others as well. Alex asks what others he means. Cerebro says that there are many others, who are just above them! The heroes look up and see how shadowy figures jump from the roofes, right in front of them. The Six prepare for battle.

One of the attackers, apparently knowing Alex, tells Alex that this is a fight he cannot win, and he needs to come with them, seeing their boss. Alex asks who their boss is, already knowing the answer, but he isn’t sure. The leader of the attackers confirm that their boss is indeed the leader of the United Guild of Thieves and Assassins of New Orleans. The leader of the attackers orders Alex and the rest to come with them, or they die where they stand.

Ice-Man steps forward, telling the group not to go ahead of themselves, as he’s certain they can all be friends. Bob wants to shake hands with the leader of the attackers, but he withdraws, knowing that Ice-Man’s touch freezes him to death. The leader tells Ice-Man to back off, or he dies. Alex asks Ice-Man what he was thinking, but Bob wasn’t thinking at all, as usuall. Suddenly, a heavy noise flies over. Everybody looks up and see a plane passing by. Alex notices the aircraft as a S.H.I.E.L.D. vessel. Another shadowy figure jumps from the rooftops and informs his leader, Julien, that he has got word from their boss and they have to move quick. Julien agrees and orders the heroes to come with him, and they better have the right words for their boss, or else.

A short time later…
Julien has brought the Six to his boss, Gambit. Julien introduces the Six to Gambit, but doesn’t know why his wife, Bella Donna, and his daughter, Raven, are standing beside him, because plans have to be made. Gambit agrees with that, but his family is exactly what he needs in order not to make rash decissions. Gambit jokes that being married and having a family really changes a man, and Julien should take it a shot. Gambit gets up from his chair and wants to shake hands with Havok. Gambit can’t believe that none of their paths have ever crossed. That is, of course, with the exception of Bloodstorm, whom Gambit knows.

Gambit turns to Bloodstorm, saying she looks better now than when they last saw each other. All grown up, he means. Bloodstorm smiles, saying that Gambit looks good as well. Gambit says he does, and has Bloodstorm to thank for that. Gambit explains that this is the reason why the Six aren’t dead yet. Now, with his debt with Bloodstorm is repaid, they better get out of his town. Alex asks what Gambit means by “his town.” Gambit confirms that New Orleans is his town, or at least for all intents and purposes, and they don’t want any trouble. Gambit doesn’t need mutants, or Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. on their tails.

Cerebro tries to apologize and say something, but both Havok and Gambit tell him to shut up. Gambit explains to Havok that he has set up New Orleans apart from the rest of the United States and he is the law here. New Orleans serves as a very safe base for Gambit’s operations throughout the world, and he doesn’t need any mutant freedom fighters or anything like it. The building starts to shake and everybody seems to notice it, except for Alex and Gambit, who continue arguing. Alex tries to tell Gambit that though he might not be a fan of mutants, there are a few in this town, even here in this room. Gambit asks what he means by that. Alex explains that they came here to rescue a mutant, but it turned out that something else happened.

The building starts to shake even harder and both Alex and Gambit finally look up, wondering what the noise is. The windows break, and the Six realize that they are under attack! Robots, working for S.H.I.E.L.D., drop in, reporting to the mutants that, by order 375/112/43, all mutants have to be placed in custody and resistance shall be met with their force. Gambit thinks that Havok set him up and calls him a traitor, pretending he came to help but instead betrayed him and his people. Gambit grabs Havok by the throat and charges up one of his playcards, wanting to kill Alex. Bella Donna call for Gambit’s help, as she realizes that they have come for Raven. Bella Donna shoots her way through the robots, but asks Gambit to help rescue their daughter. Gambit lets Alex go and rushes to his family’s aid.

The Six go into the battle as well. Havok says that they came for Raven’s rescue, so they better begin with it and help defeat the robots. Bella Donna notices how the robots are falling back, but tells Gambit that this place isn’t safe anymore and they have to move. Gambit tells his wife that it shall be done, as she and Raven are the only two things that matter to him. Bella Donna suddenly gets hit by a stray bullet, which hurts her in a vital place and she is dying. Gambit picks her up in his arms, telling her that he is going to be all right. Bella Donna knows that she is dying and begs Gambit to keep Raven safe. With her last breath, Bella Donna tells Gambit to stop him, as he has betrayed them all.

Bella Donna dies and Gambit says that she loves her and always will. He promises her that her death shall be avenged. Raven calls for help and is held hostage by her Uncle Julien. Raven warns her dad that Julien is a bad man. Julien tells his niece to shut up. Gambit can’t believe that Julien is the traitor. The Six can’t believe it either. Cerebro informs Alex that Raven’s mutant powers are above all charts and they can’t allow the Bastion-unit to have her. Alex understands. He charges up, ordering Gambit that he can’t just rush in. Alex knows that these robots are S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives, as is Julien, but there appears to be more about them, something almost familiar. Gambit doesn’t care, as they killed his wife, and now have his daughter as well.

The Bastion-unit appears, sarcastically congratulating Gambit on the futile, but bold words. The Bastion-unit tells Gambit that Raven never belongd to him, she never did, and Gambit knows it. The Bastion-unit says that she is theirs now as she ever was. The Bastion-unit grabs Gambit up by his throat, threatening that should he ever oppose them again, it will mean his early death. Julien, still holding Raven hostage, goes stand beside the Bastion-unit, who prepares to teleport away. The Bastion-unit tells Havok that he is right, as there is something familiar about their meeting. The Bastion-unit promises him that, now that they have the child, all will be revealed in due time. Raven sadly says good-bye to her dad, and the Bastion-unit teleports everyone out, leaving the Six and Gambit behind.

Alex tries to apologize but Gambit shuts him up, saying he now knows that Alex has nothing to do with this. Gambit just needs a little time. Gambit picks his dead wife up, saying it’s time to bury her. After that, he shall leave New Orleans. Gambit knows that, with Bella Donna dead, their marriage has no meaning anymore and the Guilds will be broken again. Gambit doesn’t care about that at all, he simply wants his daughter back, no matter how long it takes. Until that day has come, Gambit promises that he will join the Six.

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, Cerebro, Havok, Ice-Man (the Six)

Gambit (leader of the United Guild)
Bella Donna Boudreaux-LeBeau (Gambit’s wife)
Raven LeBeau (Gambit’s daughter)
Julien Boudreaux (Gambit’s brother-in-law)
unnamed members of the United Guild

Nick Fury (S.H.I.E.L.D. General)
Dum-Dum Dugan (S.H.I.E.L.D. Colonel)
the Bastion-unit (working for S.H.I.E.L.D.)
unnamed S.H.I.E.L.D. agents

Jonah Reeves (young mutant the Six rescue)

Harry, Dick and other mutant hunters
unnamed people living in New Orleans

Notes:
More about Gambit and Bloodstorm’s shared past can be found in the Mutant X Annual 2000.

In this issue, Gambit has “normal” looking text balloons. In later issues, Marvel corrects this mistake and gives him vampiric text balloons, like Bloodstorm has. This is further explored in Mutant X Annual 2000.

In the real univere, Gambit married Bella Donna, his best friend, in order to stop the murdering between the Thieves and the Assassins Guilds. Their marriage would bring certain peace. Bella Donna’s brother, Julien, did not agree with their marriage and ordered Gambit to a duel. In the duel, Gambit accidently killed Julien when trying to defend himself. In fear that this death would mean murders again, Gambit left the Guilds and New Orleans, without mentioning any word to anyone or to Bella Donna. [X-Men (2nd series) #8]

Captain America used to be a member of the Avengers. When he was the only one who denied Nick Fury’s offer to work with him and join the mutant hunt, he fled them and joined Forge’s group. After the fight with Sunfire, Cap was accepted into the Six. [Mutant X #15] What the Bastion-unit means about Raven not truly belonging to Gambit can also be found in the Mutant X Annual 2000.

Dum-Dum now calls Fury Colonel. In Mutant X #15, he called Fury “Nick” but Fury told Dum-Dum to call him Colonel or else Fury would shoot him.

The attack of the Goblin Queen can be found in Mutant X #1-12 & Mutant X Annual 1999.

In the real universe, Bastion is the leader of the anti-mutant organization known as Operation: Zero Tolerance. The X-Men had a hard time with it, but they eventually defeated him. [X-Men (2nd series) #65-70 and most other X-titles at the time]

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #17



Issue Date: February 2000
Story Title: The Wake Up Call

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Javier Saltares (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Havok can’t sleep and, when wandering off from the rest of his team, he’s once again reunited with his brother, Cyclops! Cyclops is on the run for a mysterious enemy that has wiped out the rest of his Starjammer teammates and he has come to warn Alex. Alex and Scott fight their way through but get, nontheless, captured by Mr. Sinister. Sinister wants to use them in his experiments and gives the boys the free choice of aiding him volunteerly, but to him it doesn’t really matter, as Sinister would hate it if he had to destroy them. Alex and Scott find a way to free themselves and destroy Sinister’s entire headquarters and escape. Scott finds it best that he leaves the Earth to keep them both out of Sinister’s hands. Alex agrees, but admits he is going to miss his brother, and so will Scott. Mr. Sinister has monitored everything from another base, having what he needed from the Summers brothers. He orders his “employee,” Jean Grey, to return to the living and to her former comrades-in-arms. And, after that, it shall finally be time to unleash the X-Man!

Full Synopsis:
Havok is dreaming a nightmare he’s been having for several days now. Havok believes that the dream is the real thing. In the dream, he is haunted by a huge, dark and mysterious character. As he powers up and chases the character, he finds his fellow teammates all dead! Havok is never able to tell if they are still breathing or not and, when Elektra and Scotty show up, Havok himself angrily lifts them up by their throats and kills them, too. After this, Alex wakes up and finds out that his teammates, unlike him, are all still asleep in the woods. Alex wanders around a bit and sees that Captain America is still guarding their backs, like he promised to do. Cap happily greets Alex, who wonders who Cap trully is.

Alex goes looking for the nearby lake and washes his face and overthinks his mission. He knows he can’t save all the haunted mutants from S.H.I.E.L.D., but they have to try. Alex doesn’t realize that he’s being watched by a familiar, looking red light. Alex hears a noise and, when he searches around, nothing’s there. Alex hears somebody running around and powers up, ready for a fight. A man holds his arms against Alex’ mouth, not allowing his “little brother” to speak, or else they’ll both be dead! Alex greets his brother, Scott, and is happy to see him. Alex immediately notices that something’s wrong and wants to warn the Six, but Cyclops doesn’t allow it, because it won’t do no good against him. As Alex asks where the other Starjammers are, Scott can only say that they are gone.

As the ground starts to shake, Scott tells Alex that he has his reasons to believe that Scott let him down in the past, but this time Alex simply needs to believe him. Alex can’t believe that Scott says that he is letting him down, but Scott warns Alex to run, as something huge lands in front of them. Cyclops and Havok fight their way to safety and Scott explains that, after the moment the Kree attacked their parents’ plane, Scott couldn’t save Alex then; but now that he is back on Earth, nothing else seems more important to him and nothing else matters if Scott would loose Alex again. They make it to the bushes, where Scott hid his spaceship, and he believes to be safe there and having a fighting chance.

Alex believes that this went too easy and he is right, as Cyclops gets knocked down by a powerful beam. Scott can only apologize for letting Alex down again and knows that he is there. Havok angrily powers up and shoots some plasma-blasts, demanding their attacker to show himself. The same powerful beam that hit Scott now hits Alex as well and, before Alex faints, he can see a dark shadowy man revealing himself. But before Alex can figure out who he is, he loses conciousness. While unconcious, Alex has another nightmare and is attacked by another shadowy figure, who tells him not to be afraid of anyone else but her. Alex powers up and attacks, but then wakes up and is in pain, trapped in a holding armor next to his brother, Scott.

Scott tries to calm Alex down before his powers kill himself. Alex listens to reason, as Scott has found out that their holding cells adopt to their specific mutant powers, thereby not giving them a chance to escape. Alex asks Scott if he knows what’s going on. Scott really doesn’t, but reveals what he does know. When finding out that Alex was still alive, Cyclops and the other Starjammers decided to hang out on Earth and do some sight-seeing. A week ago, at some Southern themepark, Scott couldn’t believe that he immediatly took off after finding his long-lost brother, whom he so long tried to find out to be alive or not. When Binary was trying to convince him to call Alex, they were suddenly attacked and the blast immediatly took out all the other Starjammers. Scott survived but, before he could find out if his teammates were the same, a dark, mysterious figure stood before him. The only thing Scott could think of was to take off and make sure that Alex was safe.

But that didn’t get them anywhere, so Scott wants to know who’s behind this. Before fainting, Alex easily recognized Mr. Sinister. Scott can’t believe that Alex knows their attacker, and also can’t believe that their attacker is serious about that name. Sinister immediatly walks over to his control panels, which show nothing. Sinister says that, with them both, he’s got all he needs to complete his experiments. Alex tries to free himself again but only gets an electric shock in return. Sinister says it’s no use, and he has followed the merging of the Summers family tree for quite some time now and Scott and Alex’ mother and father didn’t meet accidently like they thought. The only surprise on Sinister’s part was that the Shi’ar took Scott away from him, but now he’s finally got him. Sinister gives the brothers the chance to help him volunteerly in his experiments but, as they can see, he doesn’t really need to; though Sinister would hate it if he had to destroy them both. Sinister leaves from his lab, giving Scott and Alex some time to think about his proposal.

Scott panics and tries to free himself again, which fails. Alex powers up, having a plan, and says Scott that, should the plan fail, Alex wants him to know that he never failed him. Alex surges all of his energy through one finger,and blasts Cyclop’s visor free. An impressed Cyclops now has to the power to free himself and his brother from their bounds and asks what to do next. Alex says they’d best blow Sinister’s whole base up, so he’ll have second thoughts when he plans to kidnap them another time; and then they run. Cyclops finds that a lousy plan, but the Summers brothers team-up, nonetheless, and destroy the entire base of Mr. Sinister.

Both Alex and Scott realize that this won’t stop Sinister. Scott believes that he’d best leave the Earth to keep them both out of Sinister’s hands. Scott and Alex say their good-byes and will miss each other.

Meanwhile, Sinister is monitoring them from one of his other bases when Jean Grey shows up, not believing that Sinister’s actually going to let them escape. Sinister says he is, because he’s got all what he need from them for now and their escape fits in his plans. Sinister believes that the boys will play a vital role in the confrontation with him, though. Sinister tells Jean it’s time for her to return to the living and to her former comrades in arms. And, after that, it’s finally time to unleash… the X-Man!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, Cerebro, Gambit, Havok, Iceman (the Six)

Cyclops (all Starjammers)

Mr. Sinister
Jean Grey
X-Man

(in Havok’s nightmare)
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, Cerebro, Gambit, Havok, Iceman (the Six)
mysterious, unseen man
mysterious, unseen woman

(in Cyclops’ flash-back)
Binary, Cyclops, Nova, the Silver Surfer (all Starjammers)

Notes:
Cyclops found out that his long-lost kid brother, Havok, was still alive in Mutant X #14.

The first mysterious figure in Alex’s nightmare at the beginning of the story has a lot of resemblance to the Dark Beast, who had seemingly turned Alex to the evil side in the real universe, though this has never been confirmed in future issues. Who the mysterious woman is, gets revealed in upcoming issues.

Later issues shall reveal more about Captain America’s true identity and powers.

How Mr. Sinister got a hold on X-Man can be found in the Mutant X Annual 2000.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #18



Issue Date: April 2000
Story Title: America’s Future

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Cary Nord & Billy Patton (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Jack and Dianne are two ordinary human beings, who enroll, just like every other American kid that is old enough, in Nick Fury’s fresh S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits, who have no other duty than to capture every mutant and super-being and bring them to “safety” for their “own good.” When S.H.I.E.L.D. locates the Six, who have just rescued another young mutant from S.H.I.E.L.D. danger, Jack and Dianne are the only one left standing. Havok explains to them that they are supposed to rescue two mutants. Nobody understands what Alex means, when suddenly Dianne’s mutant fire powers begin to manifest, right in front of them. Dianne escaped the scanners that locate positive mutants, but she most definatly is one. Jack can’t stand this revelation and calls for back-up, entering Frank Castle and the Punishers. The Six, realizing they are outnumbered, prepare for battle anyhow and get the help of a mysterious redhaired woman, who defeats the Punishers and helps the Six and the two mutants escape. In the plane, the mysterious woman introduces herself to be none other than… Jean Grey!

Full Synopsis:
This is a story about Jack Lang and Dianne Davidson, two American citizens with two complete different backgrounds. Jack comes from the mean streets from Brooklyn and has had trouble with the law from the day he was born. Dianne’s a girl with rich parents, whose father is CBO of a major company and her mother’s family lineage goes back to the day of the Mayflower. Now, though, they both enroll together to join Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. against the long expected war against… mutants.

Nick Fury gives his gathered troops a long, but strong speech. Fury knows that things won’t be easy, but the best will get through. They shall test their skills against recent captured alien Skrulls.The soldiers will also be scanned on a daily basis to see if they have the mutant factor in their bodies or not. If not, they can proceed training and, if positive, they will be treated with respect but moved to another faculty. They are not monsters here, but the mutant threat must be handled, and America must prevail!

Meanwhile, Havok, Bloodstorm and Brute have rescued yet another mutant, Harry, but are attacked by several S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers. Brute’s scared, so Havok orders him and Bloodstorm to take Harry to their plane, while he tries to reason with their attackers. Havok fails with his reasoning and, when noticing that his attackers aren’t even yet full S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, they can stop now from trying to arrest him. While Havok prepares to defend himself, Bloodstorm summons the Creatures of the Night (rats) and they help her and Brute fight against the S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits.

The recruits go for back-up, leaving only Jack and Dianne behind. Jack’s nervous and gives their position away, due to a rabbit that scared him. Jack doesn’t think he can pull the trigger against a human being when the time comes. Dianne kisses him, saying that they’ll be fine. They go scouting and find Harry sitting on the ground and trying to warm himself up. Dianne goes in defense but Harry tells her not to be afraid, as he won’t hurt them; he’s just kid. Dianne wants to do what their training taught them to do, but Jack isn’t sure what their training was: capture or kill?

Dianne wants to kill Harry, because he’s a mutant, but Harry begins talking. He says he’s only 13, small for his age, but his mom always told him that he’d grow, until the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents killed her. Dianne tells him to shut up, realizing that Harry is trying to make them like him. Dianne tries to figure out where the Six are and she realizes that it’s a trap. She and Jack are attacked by spiders, which comes from Bloodstorm, of course. Bloodstorm shows up, rising from her mistform, and introduces herself to Jack and Dianne. Dianne finds Bloodstorm to be beautiful.

Bloodstorm would, in other circumstances, find that a compliment, but not tonight. She orders her spider-friends to leave and thanks them, but she’ll handle things from here. Havok and Brute show up, saying that they came to safe two mutants from Fury. Dianne wants to give up, but Jack convinces his friend not to give up against a mere mutant. Alex becomes angry, not believing what Fury is doing to kids these days. When he first came to this world, it was so different from the world where he came from: they were living in peace. Jack and Dianne don’t know what Alex is talking about, when Dianne suddenly seems to faint.

Alex now realizes that they are too late, thinking about Cerebro, who told them that they had enough time, but Bloodstorm knows that even Cerebro sometimes makes mistake. Jack gets angry, demanding to know what they have done to Dianne. Dianne cries for help, when her body turns completely into fire! Dianne is the other mutant the Six came for. Dianne didn’t get caught by the scanning machines testing for positve mutants, because machines too can sometimes make mistakes. Bloodstorm offers both Jack and Dianne to come with them, but Jack panics and calls for back-up.

Jack runs away and warns the mutants that they will take them away. Alex believes it best to move, just as a mysterious redhaired woman shows up, offering their help. Alex doesn’t trust her but, before he can ask her any further questions, Bloodstorm is blasted by a powerful beam that knocks her out. More troops show up and the mysterious woman introduces them as Frank Castle and the Punishers: brutal mutant hunters and assassins. The mysterious woman uses a mind-blast against the soldiers that make them freeze, giving them the chance to run to the castle. The woman claims that she’s a friend and promises Alex that, in time, he’ll come to trust her, but this Alex doubts. The Six and the woman leave in the plane and Alex asks the woman who she is. She can’t believe that he doesn’t recognize her, because she is… Jean Grey! Alex can’t believe it.

Dianne is rescued by the Six and is aboard their escaping plane. Jack returns to the S.H.I.E.L.D. base, but has seemingly changed, in the bad way. He now trully hates mutants and wants to be nothing else than to become a Punisher!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Havok (all the Six)

Jean Grey

Nick Fury (S.H.I.E.L.D. colonel)
lots of new (unnamed) S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits
Frank Castle and the Punishers

Jack Lang
Dianne Davidson

Harry (young mutant the Six rescue)
Skrulls captured by S.H.I.E.L.D.

Notes:
When Fury is giving his speech, the readers of this story can see that he’s lying about mutants being treated with respect, as an unconcious mutant is carried aboard a S.H.I.E.L.D. plane.

The Skrulls were apparently caught by Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. after the events of Mutant X #14, though this is uncertain.

In the real universe, Frank Castle is the Punisher and swore to avange his murdered family by killing every criminal the world knows.

The first sentence of the story “This is a story about Jack and Dianne” is inspired by the song “Jack and Diane” by John Cougar Mellencamp.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #19



Issue Date: May 2000
Story Title: The Coming

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Javier Saliars (pencils), Andrew Pepoy, Cliff Rathburn, Scott Elmer & Rod Banks (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Professor Charles Xavier is attacked by the Four Horsemen. Curious, because Xavier is supposed to be dead! Xavier fights the Horsemen and has enough power left to send away a telepathic message for help. Meanwhile, the Six have a reunion with Scotty and Elektra. While the Six go play with Scotty, Alex and Elektra wander off from the team and kiss. When Scotty hears the powerful message of Xavier, the Six decide to go help, but Elektra and Scotty must run into safety. They do, and the Six go help Xavier, whom they can’t believe is still alive. Xavier telepathically helps the Six defeat the Horsemen. They succeed, but Xavier wants to kill them all. Havok can’t do that, of course. Xavier explains that his worst fear has come true: his ancient enemy walks amongst them once more. When the defeated Horsemen crawl back up, their eyes go wide open in agony, as their mighty lord appears before them, who is nobody else than: Apocalypse!

Full Synopsis:
It’s winter in New York. Snow blankets the city, which is finally beginning to repair itself after the damages done by the hands of the Goblin Queen. People finally feel free and safe again walking the streets, exept of course for the daily dangers of New Yorking, like mugging and a gang war now and then. But one lonely man walking on the streets is about to find out that he has a lot more to be afraid of.

The man is attacked by brute force and bright lights and falls back. A voice asks Professor Xavier where he is heading to; doesn’t he know it isn’t safe alone at nights? Meaning especially to him. Professor X shows an angry look on his face, as the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse land before him. Xavier is surprised and asks Warren how he found him. Warren gets angry, explaining to Xavier that he’s called the Fallen now. Or, if you prefer, Death! And the one who the Fallen serves has his ways of tracking his enemies down and Xavier couldn’t hide from him forever.

Xavier gets up and unleashes a mind-blast against Warren, who is not much affected by it. Xavier tells Warren that this was an all-timed gambit, and that he is too close accomplishing his goal. Xavier uses a stronger mind-blast, making the Horsemen fall back. The attack takes a bit out of Xavier, who falls on his knees. Xavier is sorry that it had to come to this, as he was so close. Xavier telepathically yells that he was so close, and the yell goes all over the city.

Elsewhere, at New York’s Central Park, the Six are waiting by the fountain to meet their arranged rendezvous. Alex is seemingly nervous and asks Ice-Man if he shaved correctly, as he was so nervous to be with Scotty again he can’t remember if he shaved or not. Ice-Man jokingly asks if he’s only exicited to see Scotty again, or someone else, too? Alex playfully punches Ice-Man on the shoulder, but Bloodstorm tells them to better keep it queit, because they don’t need to draw attention on them, because they are still wanted criminals.

Captain America agrees and finds this a stupid plan of Alex. What if Fury attacks them here, he asks. Cap knows that Alex wants to see his son again, but this he can’t allow. Ice-Man jumps into the argument, telling Cap that Alex doesn’t only want to see Scotty. Alex powers-up a little and playfully throws a small plasma-blast towards Ice-Man, who jumps it away. Bloodstorm and Cap don’t even know why they even bother. Gambit sadistically finds it sorry and tells Alex and Ice-Man to look at this, as they have now angried the “mom and dad” of the team. Bloodstorm sarcastically congratulates Gambit on the expert commentary.

Their arguing is finally stopped when an overenthustiastic Scotty shows up, immediatly running towards his dad, Alex. He hugs Alex, who loses balance and drops into the snow. Scotty tells Alex that Elektra didn’t tell him where they were going until they got there. Elektra shows up, telling the boys to not make this a habit, because Scotty is way over his curfew. Alex and Scotty tell her they won’t do that. Scotty asks Alex if it’s okay he called him his dad, because, with his mom gone now, he’s the only family he’s got. Alex tells Scotty that’s okay. Scotty says that he misses his mom and wishes she’d come back. Alex wants to tell Scotty what happened, but finds it better suited that Scotty doesn’t know the whole thing, and simply answers to him that, wherever Maddie is, she’ll be missing Scotty as well.

Alex thinks to himself that he’s surprised to see Scotty this much in denial, and this is why he insisted that Jean Grey stayed elsewhere, not wanting Scotty to be any more confused than he already is. And Alex also wasn’t sure how Elektra would take it, seeing Jean, who looks so much alike Madelyne. When seeing Elektra, Alex thanks her for taking care of Scotty. But, thinking to himself, Alex isn’t sure, because he wasn’t really married to the Madelyne of this universe, and comes to the conclusion that this alternate time line stuff confuses even him.

Bloodstorm takes Scotty away, saying that surely he came to visit them all. Scotty plays with Brute in the snow and they chasing each other. Ice-Man tells Alex and Elektra that they’ll keep an eye on them and they can have fun, but jokingly tells them not to do anything he wouldn’t do. Alex strikes Ice-Man’s butt with a bigger plasma-blast. Alex and Elektra walk under a bridge but Alex isn’t really sure what to say. Suddenly, however, Elektra shuts him up with a kiss. Alex finds that nice. Elektra too, once he’d shut up. Suddenly, Cap shouts for them, as something is wrong with Scotty.

Elektra and Alex hurry over to them and find Scotty just standing there, frozen. Cap doesn’t know what happened, because one moment they were all having fun, and then he just stopped. Alex walks over to Scotty, asking what’s wrong. Scotty doesn’t know, but he knows that something bad is going to happen, and it is going to happen… now! Out of nowhere, the telepathic message from Professor Xavier can be heard, and his astral form-head appears from the snow, ordering them all to come to him. The pain is unbearable, and the heroes drop on their knees in the snow. Alex can’t believe that Xavier is alive there and needs their help. Everyone is down, exept for Scotty, who still stands straight up. Scotty doesn’t understand and asks who Xavier is and how he is doing this.

Alex can hardly say anything because of the pain but, as the astral form suddenly disappears, everyone seems to be allright and gets up, not being sure what this all was. Alex finds this weird all right, seeing how everyone told him that Professor X had died right after the X-Men were formed. So something must be wrong here. Alex orders Elektra to take Scotty away to a safe place, so does so and quickly takes off. The psychic storm has abated, but Alex knows that there is coming more, you don’t have to be a telepath to feel that in the air. Alex tells his team to be ready. Ice-Man asks for what, be ready for the ghost of a dead man? Suddenly, a bright white light shows up, Cap knowing that this is the telepathic storm. Xavier falls out of the light and Havok immediatly recognizes him.

Xavier falls down, hurting in his legs, so Alex picks him up. Alex asks him who did this to him. Barely unable to say a word, Xavier says that it’s too late, as they are coming. Alex asks who, just before the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse arrive! Ice-Man tells Alex that they better leave, as the last time they fought the Horsemen, they barely survived. They are not ready for them now. Cap says he never runs away from a battle, but a fight might bring attention to them and Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. might show up. Alex doesn’t want to run, as they’ve got to give Scotty and Elektra time to escape. Xavier agrees, as he believes that Scotty must be kept safe at all costs. Brute sniffs something familar, when Ice-Man points to the sky. It’s… the Fallen!

The Fallen is honored that they recognize their old teammate, as he would have thought the Six would have realized the the Horsemen are incomplete without Death! The Fallen lands before his new teammates, asking if the Professor has enlightened them already about their current situation. The Fallen changes his mind, as he knows that the Professor hasn’t told anything of course, as the truth is meaningless to him. War is sick of the talking and wants to kill Xavier already; they are giving him too much time. Alex and the Six defend Xavier, saying nobody’s going to die tonight.

The Fallen isn’t too sure about that and tells War that nobody asked for his opinion, so he asks if he interupted him. War, hesitating, denies. The Fallen orders War to be quiet, unless he tells him otherwise. The Fallen thinks about telling the heroes the truth, but is certain that they most likely won’t believe him, considering their past encounters. The Fallen hopes that they are not too surprised to find out that he has returned to his former master. The Fallen orders Alex to hand Xavier to him, but he refuses. The Fallen orders his fellow Horsemen to attack and kill the Six if they must, but Xavier must be brought alive to him.

Cap dodges fired bullets with his shield, protecting his friends. Gambit says it looks like they are going to have to fight to safe this guy… even if it is Xavier. When Alex asks if Gambit believes that Xavier isn’t real, Gambit simply says that stranger things have happened. Xavier telepathically makes a mind-link with himself and the Six, telling them all that he is going to have to win their trust and he shall do this by aiding them telepathically in a fight they are most likely not going to win. Brute takes on Pestilence. Xavier warns Brute that Pestilence could be a match to his great strength. Pestilence removes the scarf from his mouth, opens it and prepares to fire a blast against Brute. Brute panics, but Xavier helps by telling Bloodstorm to strike Pestilence with a lightning bolt. Pestilence is defeated.

While fighting, Ice-Man congratulates Xavier on the assist, but wants him out of his head. Xavier finds that all right, but now won’t be able to warn Ice-Man about the attacking Famine. Ice-Man, just in time, dodges Famine’s deadly handstrike, which gets stuck in a tree. Famine isn’t able to pull herself free and Xavier quickly orders Ice-Man to freeze her in place, so he comes out the winner. Cap and Gambit see how two of the four Horsemen are down, and it seems that they have to battle War. Gambit doesn’t know how to fight him, but Xavier telepathically tells Gambit not to over think and not to attack alone. As he is part of a team now. A mutant team even. One team of which some members even don’t like to declare themselves openly. Cap can’t believe what he is hearing.

Xavier tells Cap and Gambit to work together. Xavier orders Gambit to charge-up Cap’s shield kinetically. He does so and Cap throws the shield away, which explodes and hits War, defeating him! The Fallen becomes angry, throwing fire at Alex, who can just in time dodge every attack. The Fallen calls them all fools, because they are all opening themselves to him. They simply don’t know what they are allowing to happen and the Fallen won’t allow this. Havok fires a plasma-blast, but the Fallen flies over it. Xavier telepathically tells Alex to stop being human to someone who won’t do the same, as there is only one way to stop the Fallen now that he has gone back serving Apocalypse: by killing him!

Alex can’t believe his ears. Xavier explains that the Fallen isn’t the one who Alex called his friend. He is dead now and helping the enemy, so they must strike him hard. Alex quietly apologizes to the Fallen, and fires a huge plasma-blast against the him. He drops down, defeated, but Xavier knows that Alex couldn’t do it. Xavier still believes that they must all be killed. Gambit thinks he might be right about that. Xavier says he is, when, suddenly, he writhes in pain and drops down on his knees. Alex picks him up and asks if everything is all right. Xavier’s worst fear has come true: he has arisen!

Xavier informs them that his ancient enemy has found him. All hopes of accomplishing what he had in mind for humankind can now be forgotten. For, even as they have wasted their time with his minions… Apocalypse walks amongst them! At the back, the Horsemen help each other crawl up. The Fallen holds himself back, and opens his eyes wide in agony as he sees his master: Apocalypse!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, Gambit, Havok, Ice-Man (the Six)

Scotty Summers
Elektra

Professor X (founder and former leader of the X-Men)

Apocalypse
Death, Famine, Pestilence, War (Horsemen of Apocalypse)

Notes:
In the real universe, Professor X can’t walk and is crippled and has to sit in a wheelchair. In this universe, earlier issues gave away that Xavier was too ill to continue leading the X-Men and handed over leadership to Magneto and they all believed him to have died. Xavier can even be seen in a flash-back, leading the X-Men, in Mutant X #13.

Scotty doesn’t remember that he was the reason the Six and their allies could defeat and seemingly kill the Goblin Queen. [Mutant X #12]

As revealed, in order to keep their lives safe, Alex send Scotty and Elektra to a hideout only she’s aware of. [Mutant X #16] Jean Grey mysteriosly appeared before the heroes, helping them escape when they were fighting Frank Castle and the Punishers. The Six don’t know that Jean is working together with Mr. Sinister. [Mutant X #17-18] Jean too was believed dead by the heroes and Madelyne Pryor was thought to be a clone of Jean.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #20



Issue Date: June 2000
Story Title: Everything You Thought You Knew…

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Javier Saltares, Tom Lyle & Billy Patton (pencils), Andrew Pepoy, Cliff Rathburn, John Czop & Jay Leisten (inks), Gina Going (colors), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Alex remembers dying. Again. When waking up, he can’t believe what he is seeing. Madelyne is back from the death and she and the Fallen are back with the Six! Alex orders Scotty, Brute, Bloodstorm and Ice-Man to get away from them, but they don’t listen. Madelyne calms Alex down, saying he took a nasty bump on the head after almost getting killed by the Sentinels. Luckily, the Six were able to rescue him just in time. Alex can’t believe this, because it happened so long ago. Madelyne tells him to get some sleep, that will make him better, so Alex goes, but is unable to do so. When trying to remember what happened to him, Alex suddenly receives a visit from Jean Grey, who tries to tell him something. When Alex tries to understand what she says, Madelyne suddenly walks into the room and fights Jean, defeating her. Madelyne calls Xavier, who has a talk with Alex. He explains their former agreement, that Alex was to infiltrate with Apocalypse and learn of his plans in order to safe Scotty’s life. Alex remembers and they went to Apocalypse’s citadel in the hope to kill him. Jean shows up again, making Alex realize the truth and that Xavier is the enemy there. After defeating Xavier together, Alex wakes up in citadel of Apocalypse, who now finally has the hope that, together, they might be able to safe the world from this madman!

Full Synopsis:
Alex remembers how it all began in Central Park in New York. Professor X showed up and was being chased by the Four Horsemen. There was a battle and Alex remembers Apocalypse coming. And then, he remembers dying. Again.

Alex floats through space/time and sees the twisted heads of his teammates and family in the Six around him. Alex jokes that this is becoming a habit. He felt the exact same when he tried stopping Greystone from destroying the world but, instead, the explosion of that fight made him land in this twisted world. He wonders where he’s going to wake up this time. After a while, Havok finally wakes up and can’t believe his own eyes: he sees the Six, like they were when he first arrived. When seeing the Fallen and Madelyne back with them, Alex can’t believe it, because she is dead and the Fallen is evil. He orders Scotty, Brute, Bloodstorm and Ice-Man to get away from them, but they just keep standing there.

Madelyne tries to approach him, but Alex jumps to the back, frightened. Madelyne tells Alex he took a nasty blow on his head, but now he is scaring Scotty. Alex powers up, telling Maddie that he doesn’t know how she came back and is manipulating the Six again, but orders her to give Scotty to him, now! Madelyne does so and tells Scotty to go to his father, but the boy’s too scared to do that, because it looks like his father’s powers are out of control again. Instead, Scotty hides behind his mother. Alex calms down and tells Scotty it’s all right. Alex shuts his powers down and tells Scotty to come to him; he doesn’t need to be afraid of him and promises that he’ll get them out of this. Alex still shakes from fear. Madelyne tries to tell Scotty it’s all better now, and to go over to his father and show him how much they all love him and how glad they are that he is back. Scotty still hesitates, but goes. Alex tells him it’s all right.

Scotty asks Alex if it’s true that he got hurt fighting the Sentinels, almost killed and that the Six rescued him. Alex says that’s not true, but it is, but it happened so all long ago and seemed all mixed up. Alex remembers fighting the Sentinels, which blasted him in the stomach and he felt into the river. Alex still isn’t sure if this is all right. Madelyne tells Alex that all he needs is some time and good loving, and he’s got plenty of this here. All his teammates stand behind him. Maddie says that some sleep will take care of it, and Alex believes so as well.

Later that evening…
It’s raining and Alex can’t sleep. Alex can’t get the feeling out of his head that all this feels right, yet somehow different, and that there is more behind this all. He suddenly remembers the Fantastic Four, who are all so differently than on the world he originally came from. Alex also remembers being hunted by the Pack in Canada. But mostly, he remembers the Goblin Queen, almost destroying the world and almost killing him, too. He remembers it, but isn’t sure of it. He wonders what’s happening to him. Suddenly, pink floating energy shows up in front of his window and there’s a woman in the middle of the energy. Alex recognizes Jean Grey, who’s trying to tell him something, but he can’t hear her through the window, because of the rain.

Suddenly, Madelyne comes running into the room and orders Alex to step away from the window, as it’s an attack of the enemy. She won’t allow them to harm him and unleashes a powerful blast against Jean, who drops back. The rest of the Six come, helping as well. The Fallen goes scouting outside, but needs some help. Alex wants to go, but Maddie orders him to stay inside. While the Six go searching, Maddie asks Alex if he heard what she was trying to say. Alex says he didn’t but thought it might be a warning or something. Maddie tells him not to listen to Jean, because she is a witch who plays with men’s heads. The Six return and were unable to find Jean. Alex has enough of it and demands to know what’s happening here. Maddie simply says that Jean works for him, but they’ll talk about this later.

A short time later…
A man in a raincoat walks into Alex room, telling him that he’s still always looking for answers, still being the searcher. Alex can’t believe it: it’s Professor Xavier! Xavier says that Madelyne called him, and he understood that Alex had quite some excitement tonight. Xavier explains that they can’t wait any longer, as the enemy is upon them and must act quick, for the boy’s sake. Alex doesn’t understand. Xavier was afraid that this might happen, and Alex would burry it all too deep within his mind. Xavier knew it was too risky to let Alex so close to him, because he feared he might turn Alex against him. Alex asks who Xavier is talking about. Apocalypse. Alex can’t believe it. Xavier believes it’s time that Alex opens his mind, and uses his telepathic powers to go into Alex’ mind.

Xavier wants Alex to remembers all the fights he had alongside with the Six. But he has to go deeper, on the day that Alex and Madelyne got married. Xavier wants Alex to remember the promises he made to her that day. Xavier also wants Alex to remember the day when Scotty was born, the day Xavier came to them and told him he knew what great power Scotty had inside him. Xavier knew that Apocalypse had set his eyes on the boy, so he created shields in his mind to protect him. Xavier wants Alex to remember the deal they made that day. Alex was supposed to get close to Apocalypse and learn of his plans to bring his downfall, in order to safe the life of Scotty. Alex remembers him shaking hands with Apocalypse.

Alex finds this all so real, but still has his doubts. Xavier says that it’s all the truth, and they must kill Apocalypse now. The astral form of Jean shows up, telling Alex to ignore everything Xavier said. Xavier isn’t too surprised to finally see Jean, and makes his own astral form and starts fighting Jean. Xavier finds it too long since he last saw her and it’s time to teach her the final lesson, a painful one he should have taught her a long time ago.

Alex watches the two telepaths fight on the psionic plane. Xavier seems to be more powerful than Jean and creates psionic strings and imprisons Jean with them. With her last breath, Jean tells Alex to look past the lies and see the truth. Xavier makes Jean disappear, and Alex finally realizes the truth. Xavier tells Alex to come with him, because they have a job to do. If not, Scotty’s life is at risk.

Alex suddenly wakes in a stormy night, and can’t believe his eyes. Both Xavier and the Six are with him and he asks what happened. Madelyne tells him that he needed the sleep, so they let him sleep while they traveled here. Xavier wants Alex to snap out of it, and show them the way into Apocalypse’s citadel! The Six stand right in front of it, but Xavier doesn’t know how to get past the defenses, but Alex does. Alex needs to bring them close enough so that they can finally kill Apocalypse. Alex agrees, to save Scotty’s life. The heroes fly towards the entrance of the citadel and find a huge door, blocking their way. Xavier believes that Alex’s plasma-blast would be enough to open it.

Jean suddenly reappears, begging Alex not to listen to Xavier, who she thinks is manipulating Alex into doing his dirty work. Xavier tells Alex to kill Jean, because she is working with him. Xavier tells Alex to kill Jean because she wants Scotty for Apocalypse. Alex hesitates, and Jean tells him to think about everything that isn’t real. Xavier is manipulating him. Xavier becomes angry and blasts Jean down with a psionic attack. Seeing this, Alex finally realizes that Jean is telling the truth. Xavier finds it’s his own mistake for not destroying Jean’s mind when she was but a child. He also wonders why he always bothers working with simple-minded mutants. Xavier telepathically traps the Six and points his attention to Jean and Alex and is ready to attack them.

Jean tells Alex not to listen to Xavier, who simply knows that he is losing but is afraid of it. She knows that they can defeat him together. Jean and Alex hold hands together, and Alex remembers how it all was. He attacks Xavier, who says that they are all nothing and his time is upon them. Xavier says that soon they will all bow for him, mutants and humans. Both Jean and Alex could be his partners, but were stupid enough to deny him. Xavier disappears and Alex remembers dying. He remembers dying, but then… being saved. Jean reaches out to him and, together, they fall through a bright light.

Alex wakes up in a lab and hears voices, wondering if he will be strong enough. Jean shows up, telling Alex to relax; he is safe there. She explains how they pulled him out of Central Park after the battle, as it was necesary that he wouldn’t fall for Xavier’s might, but it was a close call. Apocalypse suddenly stands behind Jean, saying that this chapter is over. Now, perhaps, together they will finally have a chance to safe the world from this madman!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, the Fallen, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman (the Six)
Scotty Summers

Jean Grey
Apocalypse

Professor X

(in Havok’s memory flash-back’s)
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, the Fallen, Gambit, Havok, Ice-Man, Marvel Woman/the Goblin Queen (the Six)
Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, Sue Storm-Richards, Reed Richards (the Fantastic Four)
Sabretooth, Wild Child, Wolverine (the Pack)
Sentinels
Apocalypse
unnamed priest marrying Alex and Madelyne and baptisiming Scotty

Notes:
Professor X and the fight with Apocalypse and the Four Horsemen can be found in Mutant X #19.

Havok fought Greystone in X-Factor (1st series) #149. After seemingly dying after that battle, Havok merged with the fallen Havok of this universe, who was almost killed fighting the Sentinels, and landed here. [Mutant X #1]

Havok met the Fantastic Four in Mutant X #2, where he found out that his counterpart from this world once had an affair with Sue Storm.

Havok found himself hunted down by the Pack in Mutant X #3.

The fight with the Goblin Queen can be found in Mutant X #1-12.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #21



Issue Date: July 2000
Story Title: The Good… The Bad… And Things Get Ugly!

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Bart Sears & Tom Lyle (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Gina Going (colors), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
Alex can’t believe that Apocalypse is one of the good guys in this world and wants to destroy him. Luckily, Magneto is able to calm him down. This also Alex can’t believe it, because he thought that Magneto and the X-Men were dead! Magneto explains that Apocalypse saved their lives, just before the bomb fell on the X-Mansion. While departing back to the Six’s castle, Magneto reveals the history he had when he and the evil Charles Xavier were close friends and how he became the evil man of today. Once back home at the castle of the Six, Alex finds Xavier already there, but he’s not attacking, he’s socializing with Scotty and the rest of the team. Alex, knowing the truth now, starts fighting with Xavier. In response, Xavier powers up, bonding with the powers of every telepath on the planet, including the Shadow King!

Full Synopsis:
Alex powers up, startled when he sees Jean and Apocalypse are working together. Jean tries to calm him down and tells him that he he knows that he can trust her. Alex can’t believe that Apocalypse is one of the good guys, no matter how twisted this world has turned out to be.

Jean doesn’t understand, as the Alex she knew was fighting alongside with them, trying to find a way to defeat Xavier. Of course, Xavier would have done something to manipulate his mind again, she postulates. Alex says that that isn’t true and he is the real one for once. Alex powers up, eagerly waiting to show Apocalypse why they call him Havok! Jean throws his attack away, as, if they kill Apocalypse, they’ll do exactly what Xavier wants.

Alex is willing to take that risk but, suddenly, the floor starts shaking and wires from underground quickly imprison him. A voice from behind tells Alex that he might be willing, but he won’t allow that. Alex can’t believe who he is seeing: Magneto! This can’t be, Alex thinks, because Magneto is dead. Alex knows how the X-Men died after the attack and orders them to stop playing with his head. Magneto asks why Alex thought the X-Men died; because he saw it on the news? Magneto thought better of him. Magneto tells Alex to look at him and see the exact same man who fought side by side with him against the Goblin Queen. Is he not the same man Alex confided in, telling the secret of his identity?

Magneto says he knows that Alex isn’t from this universe, but will gain his trust or everything shall be lost. Alex is convinced and Magneto begins explaining. Magneto explains that Apocalypse is the one who saved the X-Men. As Magneto tries to continue, Apocalypse suddenly falls down and screams out from the pain! Jean knows that Apocalypse is weakening and doesn’t know how much longer she can keep her protecting shield up. Since time is running out, Magneto promises Alex that he’ll continue explaining while they get on their way.

A short time later…
After the mutants leave in a ship, Magneto believes that they should be safe for a while longer, seeing that, no matter how strong Xavier is, his psionic powers don’t seem to get through Apocalypse’s structures. Apocalypse once more screams from the pain, so Magneto creates a magnetic shield, providing them some extra protection. Alex isn’t interested in that and wants straight answers, now! Alex always thought of Xavier as a good man… the best, even. Magneto claims that he was, but that was a long time ago.

Magneto begins his story a lifetime ago, when he held Charles Xavier as close to him like a brother. Magneto admired Xavier. Magneto met Xavier at a juncture of his life when it could have taken a whole different path than the one he takes today. Magneto was angry and ready to leash out to the world that hated and feared the mutants. It was Xavier’s dream and vision that made Magneto change his lifestyle and together they came up with the concept of the X-Men. The X-Men were supposed to be young mutants, whom they would tutor in the use of their powers for the benefit of both the human and mutant race. Their plan came to be and together they showed the world that not all mutants were to be feared. It was at that moment when they met… the Shadow King!

Magneto never learned if the Shadow King was a mutant or not. Their battle was brutal and the X-Men fell. They would have died that day, had Charles not risked fighting the Shadow King on the Astral Plane. But, after that day, everything changed. Charles changed, disappearing for months without a word of explanation. While recuperation from the wounds he and the other X-Men had from the fight, Magneto fell in love with Dr. Moira MacTaggert, who came to tend to them. Moira healed even older wounds that Magneto had, and the love he had for that woman made him deaf to the rumors that Charles was starting to play with people’s minds.

And then, the Juggernaut attacked. The Juggernaut is Xavier’s own brother, who was so blinded by jealousy towards Xavier that he wants to destroy everything he created. Magneto and the X-Men were still too weak from the battle with the Shadow King, but then Charles suddenly showed up. Completly changed (with hair even) and was at at full use of his telepathic powers. When Magneto looked in his eyes, he could no longer see the man he once knew. He could sense the evil inside Charles. Xavier attacked the Juggernaut with a full telepathic blast, but the Juggernaut dodged it and the beam instead hit Moira! Moira died in his arms. Magneto was so angry he could have struck out at his old friend, but did not. Instead, he turned to the one thing he could still believe in: the dream. While Xavier wandered off from them, Magneto stayed with the X-Men and their future incarnations.

Magneto says that Xavier seemed to have dropped off the face of the planet that day. He had heard rumors of a mutant man playing with people’s mind but, since more telepathic mutants began showing up, Magneto had his doubts. Magneto created Cerebro after the image of his old friend, in the attempt of locating more such mutants, but he could not find any other than Jean. Later, they found out the reason why they couldn’t: Xavier kept reaching them first, taking them to his side and shielding their thoughts from them. Alex still doesn’t understand what this has got to do with him and Scotty, or Apocalypse, even.

Magneto explains that Apocalypse has become an unlikely ally in their struggle. Magneto reveals that Xavier has allied himself with Mr. Sinister, a scientist that lives for nothing but experimenting on the human gene pool. It was Sinister who pointed out that there was only one man that could stand in Xavier’s way, namely Apocalypse. Apocalype’s goal is still the same as ever: survival of the fittest. But, unlike Sinister, Apocalypse does not want to control that moment. Apocalypse soon saw that the power both Xavier and Sinister had could both wipe out both the mutant and human race.

Xavier used his telepathic powers to turn the X-Men against Apocalypse, but that plan backfired. It was in that moment that Magneto, the X-Men and Alex’s counterpart from this world gained Apocalypse’s trust. Together, they saved Jean from dying and now they even had a telepath on their side. But, Jean says, then came the day that Scotty was born. Alex asks what he has got to do with this.

Time goes forward, the castle of the Six.
The door-bell chimes and Ice-Man and Brute rush to open the door. It’s Alex! Bloodstorm shows up and they can’t believe it, because they thought that Alex had died after the fight with the Horsemen. Alex says he didn’t and didn’t come back because he thought the castle was still under control of S.H.I.E.L.D. Ice-Man says that they were all gone when they got there. Alex finds that pretty convenient. Ice-Man doesn’t get it, because the last they saw of Alex was when Apocalypse himself was dragging Alex away. Guess he isn’t as tough as they thought. Alex asks where Xavier is and Bloodstorm confirms that he is playing with Scotty.

Alex can’t believe that Scotty is there and angrily asks where they are. Bloodstorm says in the playroom and Alex angrily powers-up, yelling for Xavier. Alex runs into the playroom, where Xavier sits with Scotty, who explained to him that Alex isn’t dead. Scotty says that the Professor has been showing him lots of things and been playing all kinds of games with him. Xavier says that Scotty has turned out to be so more he could hope for. Alex asks for Elektra, who shows up from the back. Alex orders her to take Scotty away as quick as possible. Elektra goes, but Xavier quickly reacts and defeats Elektra with a telepathic blast!

Alex tells Scotty to run, but Xavier blocks his movements. Xavier tells Alex to give it up, as Scotty is already his. Always has been. It’s why he ordered Sinister to clone Jean and they guided him to her. Alex was only the genetic stock they needed to create what Charles desired. Xavier says that Alex can have all those with the gross powers, but the telepaths, the kings of the world, are his! Xavier orders Alex to power down or his son dies. This is a fight that never should have happened. Alex agrees and uses a full-powered plasma-blast against Xavier, who falls through the window. Alex tells Scotty they need to get him to a safe place. Xavier, having survived the fall, says there is no safe place, not even that Arctic citadel Apocalypse has. Xavier finds them fools for not thinking he couldn’t destroy them with just a thought.

Xavier telepathically flies back towards them and starts fighting, saying he can destroy them, just like he is manipulating Nick Fury and his S.H.I.E.L.D. troops. Scotty tries to protect his dad, but Xavier smacks him away. Xavier’s angry at Alex for making him hurt Scotty and wants to kill Alex now. Alex apologizes and fully powers up, blasting Xavier away again and shouting at him to never hurt his son! Scotty is okay and Elektra wakes up too. The rest of the Six arrive, not fully understanding what’s going on. Alex explains to them that Xavier must have been manipulating their minds as well. Captain America finds that reasonable, seeing how Fury and his men had suddenly left. Cap asks what’s going on, but Alex finds that too long a story to tell now, and a frightening one, too.

Xavier agrees, standing up again, and says it’s time for them all to face what he trully has become. Xavier surrounds himself with dark-green energy and shifts into his body-armor. He also creates a special helmet and has now the combined powers of every telepathic mind on the planet; minds he has absorbed in the same way like he did with the Shadow King’s! Xavier powers up, as the Six watch in fear. Xavier, ready for action, confidentially says it’s time for lesson 2!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, Gambit, Havok, Ice-Man (the Six)

Scotty Summers
Elektra

Jean Grey
Apocalypse
Magneto (leader of the X-Men)

Professor Charles Xavier

(in Magneto’s flash-back)
Colossus, Havok, Ice-Man, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Rogue (all X-Men)

Professor Charles Xavier
Magneto
Moira MacTaggert

The Shadow King
The Juggernaut

Notes:
In the real universe, Apocalypse has always been one of Earth’s mightiest and most dangerous enemies.

Magneto and the X-Men all seemingly died after a nuclear bomb was dropped on the mansion, destroying it completly. Cerebro was believed to be the soul survivor. [Mutant X #15]

Magneto and the X-Men fought together with Alex against the Goblin Queen in Mutant X #12.

Jean was believed dead in earlier issues. This issue reveals how she survived.

The castle of the Six came under the attack of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. after president pro-tem Graydon Creed ordered them to bring in all mutants and super-powered beings “for their own protection.” The Six, not believing this statement, fought back and escaped. [Mutant X #15]

Xavier’s costume looks a lot like the one he had when he was merged with DC’s Doctor Fate during the Marvel/DC Cross-over.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #22



Issue Date: August 2000
Story Title: Tremble Before His Might!

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Tom Lyle & Dusty Abell (pencils), Andrew Pepoy (inks), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Gina Going (colors), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
After a short battle with Xavier, the Six escape in their plane and move over to Apocalypse’s citadel, where they can be safe. The Six can’t believe to see Magneto still alive, who confirms and explains that the rest of the X-Men are alive as well and are scattered all over the four courners of the world, preparing to defend the world against Xavier’s attack. Magneto takes Alex and Captain America with him and they plan their strategies. When Apocalypse and his Four Horsemen show up, the Six see them as enemies. Alex calms his friends down, explaining they are the good guys. When they fought them the last time, they were under the mind control of Xavier and the Shadow King. Apocalypse explains that Xavier plans to take over every mind of the United States government and bring fear to everyone, using a simulacrum of Galactus. The heroes and their allies go to New York, where “Galactus” has already landed and attacks. They draw his attention and Galactus brings out help in the form of his “Heralds,” Drax, the Silver Surfer and Nova. They are easily defeated, however, because they are not the real one’s. The heroes combine their powers against Galactus, who… melts! After their victory, Xavier and Mr. Sinister show up. Xavier explains that the villains they fought are the results of years of engineering by Sinister and they did exactly what they hoped for. Sinister activates a device on his wrist and, from the molten ashes of Galactus, green creatures appear.

Full Synopsis:
Xavier powers up and the Six can only watch in fear. Xavier orders Alex to hand over Scotty to him and even gives the heroes the chance to join him in the changed world. When Ice-Man asks what they’re going to do, Alex orders them all to run. Gambit can’t believe his ears. Alex says to run to the hangar, because they can’t win this fight. Not here, not now. Alex gives them the time to escape, attacking Xavier with his blasts. Xavier, unharmed, says that there is no place where he can’t track them. Alex orders Bloodstorm to go without him. She hesitates, but does as ordered. After blasting Xavier a final time, Alex, just in time, makes it on the plane before it takes off.

Alex tells Bloodstorm to go full-speed so that Xavier doesn’t have the chance to follow them. Scotty asks what Xavier wants, because he seemed so nice at first. Alex doesn’t know for sure, but is going to find out. After Scotty asks where they are going, Alex says to Antartica, where they have some friends. A short time later, they all arrive in Apocalypse’s citadel. They are a bit surprised to be there, but Alex confides to his friends that it’s safe here. Magneto shows up from behind, confirming this, and the rest of the Six are all surprised to see him alive, thinking he was dead. When Bloodstorm asks where the other X-Men are, Magneto explains that her former teammates are all fine, currently scattered all over the world’s four courners, preparing to defend themselves against Xavier’s attack.

Magneto promises to answer their questions in time, but now they need to make strategies and asks Havok and Captain America to come with him. A short time later, the rest of the Six wait in a separate room in Apocalypse’s citadel. While Gambit teaches Scotty to play cards, Ice-Man’s bored because they’ve been waiting for two hours. He also doesn’t like that Captain America is allowed to go with Alex and they not, and Cap’s not even a mutant. Scotty laughs at him, saying that Captain America is a mutant, can’t you see it? Ice-Man believes they are missing his point and thinks they might have walked in the middle of a trap. The Fallen, Apocalypse and the Horsemen show up, and the Six go into defense mode, believing they have betrayed their friends.

Brute jumps at the Fallen, trying to slash him to death, but Alex blasts his friends back, in an attempt to clam them down. Alex orders them to stop fighting because they are their allies. Ice-Man can’t believe it, because of how many times has the Fallen betrayed them in the past. Alex asks Brute to let the Fallen go, but he won’t listen because the Fallen has hurt him before. When Scotty takes over and tells his uncle that it’s okay, Brute listens and lets the Fallen go. Magneto says it’s over now, all this being a misunderstanding. Magneto finds it’s time to go, but the Fallen becomes angry and wants to kill the Brute for attacking him.

Apocalypse picks the Fallen up, telling him to calm down, or “Death” will be more than just his code-name. The Fallen gets it and relaxes. Alex explains to his friends that he knows it’s hard to understand that Apocalypse and the Horsemen are the good guys, but they are. When they faced them before, they were all under Xavier and the Shadow King’s mind control. As are Nick Fury and the U.S. government for the past few years. All they did is Xavier’s fault. He’s using his mind to bring fear again towards the mutant, so they’d notice less of what he was doing. Now, Xavier plans to take over all minds in the United States. Ice-Man doesn’t get it, asking how one bald guy can do all that by himself.

Apocalypse opens his video-screen, saying Xavier plans to do it with that. It’s Galactus! Or, as Apocalypse explains, at least an amazing simulacrum. Xavier plans to present the world the one being that is capable of devouring it. A worldwide panic will ensue. Apocalypse explains that the Shadow King feeds on fear and now he has fully merged with Xavier, making them more powerful than any other being on this planet. This will be the beginning of the end for this world.

A short time later, Galactus lands in New York City. As he attacks, panic breaks out. The Six and their allies land their plane and go into action. Magneto says that the X-Men won’t be able to back them up, so they’ll have to do the job on their own.

Magneto says it’s best to draw Galactus’ attention, and it’s up to Ice-Man to do that part. Ice-Man mocks for always having to do the dirty work and freezes up Galactus’ foot. Galactus, however, notices it and kicks Ice-Man away. Galactus brings out help, his Heralds Drax, the Silver Surfer and Nova. Alex is sure that they aren’t real, because he met the Surfer and Nova, who are with his brother in the Starjammers. That’s good enough for Cap, who wants to end this fight now. He takes the first step and takes the Surfer out throwing his shield against him.

So the fight goes, and each heroe takes on a different Herald and they are easily defeated. Galactus is still standing, so they decide to combine all their powers against Galactus and he… melts! Ice-Man wonders what he was made of. Suddenly, Xavier shows up, explaning he’s the result of years engenieering of a good friend of his. But Xavier assures the Six that his plan won’t be so easily foiled. Mr. Sinister suddenly appears and Xavier tells his friend to show the mutants that they did exactly what they hoped for. Sinister activates a device on his wrist. The molten ashes of Galactus merge, and green creatures appear!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, Gambit, Havok, Ice-Man (the Six)

Scotty Summers
Elektra

Apocalypse
Death/the Fallen, Famine, Pestilence, War (Four Horsemen of Apocalypse)

Professor Charles Xavier
Mr. Sinister

Drax, Galactus, Nova, the Silver Surfer (simulacrums made by Mr. Sinister and Xavier)

Notes:
Galactus died after his fight with the Fantastic Four, as revealed in the epilogue of Mutant X #12.

Alex met the Starjammers in Mutant X #14. The Silver Surfer and Nova are indeed members of that group. Drax is the only Herald that has never been shown before in previous issues.

The Fallen used to be a member of the Six, untill he helped the Goblin Queen in her attack. [Mutant X #1-12] He became Death prior the events in Mutant X Annual 2000.

The X-Men seemingly died after a bomb was dropped on the X-Mansion in Mutant X #15.

Bloodstorm was a member of the X-Men until the day she was bitten by Dracula. Not trusting herself and fearing she might harm her friends, Bloodstorm thought it to be better that she left the group. [Mutant X Annual 2000]

The Six fought the Four Horsemen in Mutant X #19.

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay

 

[RAMORE]

Mutant X #23



Issue Date: September 2000
Story Title: The Gift of Fear!

Staff: Howard Mackie (writer), Tom Lyle (pencils), Andrew Pepoy & Cliff Rathburn (inks), Gina Going (colors), Chris Eliopoulos (letters), Jason Liebig (editor), Bob Harras (editor-in-chief)

Brief Description:
The green creatures created by Mr. Sinister and Xavier make the heroes witness their worst fears. Even Havok falls for them but he receives the help of Jean Grey and Apocalypse, who shield his thoughts from Xavier. Xavier kills Apocalypse, so Alex stands alone. Xavier gives Alex the choice to join him or not. Should he say no, X-Man shall kill the kidnapped Scotty and Raven. Alex almost gives in, but is strong enough to resist. Xavier explains his plan to take over every mind on the planet and create one huge mind: his. Hearing this, Sinister becomes angry at Xavier, because this is not what they discussed and Sinister won’t allow him to destroy the human race. Subsequently, Sinister and Xavier fight and Xavier kills Sinister. X-Man goes over to his deceased “father” and drops Scotty and Raven, who combine their powers with Alex’ plasma-blasts and defeat Xavier. While nobody else notices Xavier getting up again, the Brute takes the bullet before Xavier can blast Alex. Xavier disappears, promising that this is only the beginning of the end. The Six return to their castle and send Scotty, Elektra and Raven with Magneto and the X-Men to live on the moon, where they shall be safe. After putting the Brute in the infirmary, the rest of the Six plan their next move. Alex isn’t sure anymore if he should continue lead the team. Their conversation is ended by the Brute, who is surprisingly already healed, and has his intelligence back!

Full Synopsis:
Mr. Sinister asks Alex why he, as close to genetic perfection as they come, would associate himself with the rest of the rabble over Xavier and himself. Alex simply says that he’s rather picky of the company he seeks. While the green creature’s from “Galactus’” ashes merge behind him, Sinister already plans something to do about that. Sinister points his attention towards Xavier, asking if he would be so kind.

Xavier steps forward and uses his mind-blasts against the heroes, thinking they’ve already given them enough time to delay their plans. But little do the heroes know that they themselves and their psionic energy are part of it all. Xavier struggles, as they are trying to resist him. Sinister says it’s useless to resist, as he is already here! The green creatures step out, ready to bring them all fear.

Captain America seems to be the first. Cap is left alone and he doesn’t see his friends anywhere. He wonders where they are. The Red Skull shows up, telling Cap that they are gone and he, the imposter, has to face him alone now. Cap doesn’t understand it, as he thought that the Skull was killed by his predecessor! The Red Skull gets angry and floats his energy through his hand, asking Cap, the mutant mongrel, if he can fare the same. Cap is surprised that Cap knows that he’s a mutant. The Red Skull attacks Cap, telling him that should he be allowed to have seen his fate, Cap and all the other mutants would have been nothing but a memory. The Skull believes that it might not be too late to live that dream, as he takes on one corpse at a time.

Ice-Man tries to resist, as he knows the creatures come from Galactus. His fear comes in the form of his father. William gets angry at Ice-Man, who calls him dad instead of father. As Ice-Man’s father slaps him in the face, his hand freezes! William says he’s not too surprised to see this happening from the likes of mutants. Ice-Man tries to apologize, but his father interupts him. Bloodstorm follows. She wonders what’s in store for her, as suddenly mist appears. A shadowy figure steps out and Bloodstorm is startled to see… Dracula! She’s too scared to do something, so Dracula quickly goes over to her and bites her in the neck.

Gambit rushes over and tries to save her, but he gets blasted down. The Assassin appears, who’s the last of his kind, after all the Thieves killed his family. Now, the Assassin is ready to kill Gambit. Meanwhile, Brute is scared of all the mist images. His own worst fears come in the forms of his human form, Hank McCoy, and the blue-furred Beast he once was. They mock at Brute, not understanding why they’ve let themselves dis-evolve in such a way. Brute recognizes them, but the images only mock harder, calling him an idiot; of course he recognizes them, because they are him! Brute tells them not to call him names, because he gets mad when they do that. And when Brute gets mad, he fights! He grabs the human Hank by the throat, ready to kill him!

Magneto seems to be left standing and knows what is going on. He wonders what his old friend, Charles, could possible gain by this, but Magneto promises him he shall withstand until his last breath. But Magneto gets caught anyhow, when hungry and haunted mutants come after him, touching and begging Magneto to come help him. It’s too much for Magneto and he screams out loud. Havok tries to help Magneto, but his own worst fear comes in the form of his older brother, Scott. Alex can’t believe it, but Cyclops tells his brother to be quiet, as he is an embarresment to the Summers family. Powers always out of control, losing every girlfriend, even losing his world. Alex almost gives in, but he gets the help from Jean and Apocalypse, who defeat his fear.

Jean says they have weapons to defeat Xavier and Sinister. Xavier doesn’t believe it and attacks them, saying that Apocalypse looks rather weak from where he’s standing. Jean tells Alex it’s up too him. When Alex asks why him, Jean explains that he is unknown to Xavier… an X-factor. And despite his bravado, Xavier can’t seem to get a hold on his mind. Jean doesn’t want to give Xavier time, because that will make him win. Alex uses his most powerful blast against the green creatures and destroys them all. Alex asks what to do, but Jean explains that she and Apocalypse can no longer help him now; he’s got to figure it out by himself.

Alex is ready for it. Xavier finds him pathetic and asks again to join him in a world with one ruler, where there is no world, hunger or strife. Alex isn’t interested and knows that Xavier is afraid of him. X-Man shows up and has Scotty and Raven in his might. Xavier explains that Scotty was never safe with Elektra, and Gambit’s daughter has always been a part of his plan. Scotty and Raven are psionic batteries and their power shall serve Xavier, unless Alex joins him. If he won’t, X-Man shall kill them both. Alex powers down and asks Xavier what he wants.

Xavier says he wants a perfect world come true! He also believes that he is the only person who’s capable of doing such a thing. All inner battles shall be stopped by using his power. Alex asks if he’s going to do that by rulling over them. Xavier explains that he shall have the power of the most powerful minds of the world, which he shall combine and form one unique mind… his! Sinister becomes angry because this is not what they discussed when Xavier came to him for help. Xavier calls Sinister a fool for thinking he’s interested in his futile experiments. Enraged, Sinister attacks Xavier, because he will not stand by while he destroys humanity. Xavier dodges the attack and fights back, the blast killing Mr. Sinister. X-Man goes over to his “father,” tending to Sinister and drops Raven and Scotty.

Suddenly, the Six cry it out from the pain, making Alex ask what’s going on. Apocalypse realizes that Xavier is beginning his plan to strike out on every mind on the planet, but he is shielding Alex and Scotty; he must strike fast or all shall be lost. Havok attacks, but Xavier dodges and attacks Apocalypse instead, toppling him. Xavier prepares to kill Alex now, but Scotty and Raven show up and show Alex a way to win. They combine their powers through Alex’ plasma-blast, which is strong enough to defeat Xavier. Apocalypse congratulates him but he has some bad wounds and is dying. Gambit wants to take him to a hospital, but Apocalypse says it’s too late for that now.

They don’t notice Xavier standing up at the back and preparing to blast Alex down. Brute is the only one who sees it and jumps before Alex, taking the hit for him. Ice-Man quickly jumps in and freezes Xavier up, believing that this should end it. Xavier, however, says this ends nothing, as it is only the beginning. With this, Xavier disappears. Brute is in a bad way and the Six quickly prepare their ship and move him over to their castle.

Two weeks later, in the infermary at the castle of the Six…
Alex has put Brute in a stasis field and Scotty takes good-bye from him. Scotty doesn’t want to go, but Alex wants him to be safe. And he shall be safe with Magneto and the X-Men on the moon. Gambit takes good-bye form his daughter, Raven, who shall also go to the moon. Alex and Elektra also take good-bye, and the Six watch their friends leave in their ship.

A short time later…
The Six argue about what to do. Gambit doesn’t care about the rest of the world and wants to hunt Xavier down. Cap believes they have more of a chance to a world view by improving the bad human/mutant relationship. Gambit says that this is no mutant thing for him, as he only joined the Six to find his daughter, which he has now done. Bloodstorm agrees with Cap and tries to convince her friend to come along. They are still arguing when Ice-Man suddenly asks Alex what he thinks of it. Alex, sitting alone in the back, says he was just wondering if he is the right man to lead them all. Half of the time he is somewhere else, on a whole other world, wondering what happened to them all.

Alex believes that, without Scotty holding them there, maybe Bloodstorm or Cap should lead the team. Their conversation is cut short by the Brute, who’s already healed. And, inexplicably, it appears that Xavier’s blast has somehow given him his intelligence back! Simply put: Dr. Henry McCoy appears to be the Brute is no more!

Characters:
Bloodstorm, Brute, Captain America, Gambit, Havok, Ice-Man (the Six)
Magneto (leader of the X-Men)

Jean Grey
Apocalypse
Death/the Fallen, Famine, Pestilence, War (Four Horsemen of Apocalypse)

Professor Charles Xavier
Mr. Sinister
X-Man

Scotty Summers
Raven LeBeau

fear images
The Red Skull (fear image of Captain America arch-enemy)
William Drake (fear image of Ice-Man’s father)
Dracula (fear image of Bloodstorm’s arch-enemy)
The Assassin (fear image of Gambit’s enemy)
Hank McCoy/blue Beast (fear images of Brute)
Cyclops (fear image of Havok)
Hungry and scared mutants (fear images of Magneto)

in Havok’s memories
Colossus, Cyclops, Rogue, Storm, Wolverine (X-Men from his world)
Forge, Mystique, Polaris, Sabretooth, Shard, Wild Child (X-Factor from his world)

Notes:
Havok was, in his universe, first a member of the X-Men and later stepped over to X-Factor, until landing on this world. [X-Men (1st series) #65, X-Factor (1st series) #71, Mutant X #1]

The Assassin is a whole new character, never before seen in any comic. Not in Mutant X or in any of the Earth 616 books. Even after this issue, he is never seen again. He is probably created to the image Julien Boudreaux had in the real comics, where he was killing the members of the Thieves Guild. [Ghost Rider (2nd series) #26]

The Red Skull is the arch-enemy of Steve Rogers, the first Captain America, who fought him in World War II. Though this version of Cap does not seem to be Rogers, he looks just like Steve without his mask and it is never explained who his identity trully is.

Hank McCoy changed himself into the Brute after trying to find a cure for Ice-Man’s out-of-control powers. The explosion of the failed experiment made him loose his intelligence. [Mutant X #1 background-files, Mutant X #24]

Issue Summary written by: Homer Jay