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| Uncanny X-Men #171 |
| Cover Picture Coming Soon! |
| An historic issue - Uncanny X-Men #171 brings our Southern Belle to the X-Men, seeking Professor Charles Xavier in the hope he'll be able to succeed where Mystique and Rogue herself have failed, helping her to control her powers. Having absorbed Carol Danvers, one of the friends of the X-Men, Rogue takes a huge risk in going to the X-Men for help. Indeed she is confronted by a steel clad Colossus who is all but ready to pound her. This issue actually opens with the triumphant Storm who having defeated Callisto is now leader of the Morlocks. In her new role Storm lays down a few laws, namely the Morlocks shall no longer attack those who live on the surface of New York. She warns them that the consquences of them not obeying this law could be grave. Storm then returns to where Callisto lies wounded, Callisto swears revenge and that she shall regain her place as leader; Storm warns her not to push her luck. Leaving Callisto in the care of Sunder- a sort of bodyguard Storm leaves with Nightcrawler, who finds Storm's treatment of Callisto unlike her. Storm has resigned herself to forever being an enemy of Callisto, Nightcrawler is certain the old Storm would have at least tried to make ammends. Furthermore the old Storm would have never taken another life, yet she almost killed Callisto in the battle, only the healing powers of another mutant saved Callisto. Meanwhile in Alaska, Madeleyne Pryor, Scott Summer's new wife is having a nightmare, apparently about the plane crash she almost died in, but this crash occured on September 1st, 1980, the very day Jean Gray, Scott's first love died! Is Madelyne's striking resemblence to Jean a coincidence? Or something more? In Beverly Massachuttes, Carol Danvers visits her parents, acutely aware that she no longer knows what she feels for them, or anyone she ever knew for that matter. Carol's mother notices she is different, but although her parents know that Carol is a superhero, they do not know the terrible thing that has happened to her and robbed her of her emotions. Carol is inwardly furious that she is no longer herself, but decides that she will begin as Binary. In the X-Mansion Kitty Pryde is having a fit accusing the X-Babies of taking her computer disks, that is until Illyana Rasputin points out there under her keyboard where she left them. Meanwhile Professor X is in the gym with Lilandra exercising his 'new body' cloned from his old one with one important difference, he can now walk. Although he has to learn how to again, having spent years in a wheelchair, and due to the phantom pain he feels when he tries. Lilandra however is certain he will walk one day, he is 'the strongest mutant on Earth, among other things...' she says as she kisses him. Then she suggest she examine Charles's feelings perhaps he can't walk due to physical rather then psychic reasons. Peter Rasputin meanwhile is busy in the kitchen trying to figure out how to make a quiche, the Professor notifies him psychically that there is someone at the door. Peter goes to answer the door noting the Professor seems tired as he opens the door to reveal... ROGUE! Our Southern Belle has finally arrived! But she arrives to find Peter now turned metal-clad Colussus ready to punch her lights out, for Rogue is an enemy to the X-Men having attacked and defeated them in Uncanny X-Men #158. But is she an enemy anymore? Rogue is terrified, begging Colussus not to hit her, she needs help she cries or she's as good as dead! The next thing we know Rogue is meeting with Professor X and ALL the X-Men including Storm and Nightcrawler. Colussus still in metal form towers over Rogue obviously to stop her from trying anything dangerous. Rogue tells Professor X her nightmarish problem with shaking hands, Carol Danver's personality is fighting hers, trying to take permanent control of Rogue's body! Professor X can not read Rogue's mind due to this. Rogue also tells them the whole thing was an accident and she didn't mean to absorb Carol permanently. The X-Men though seem to think its too late for apologies now, even Nightcrawler-future priest- says Rogue's internal struggles and growing inability to tell her own memories from Carol's is a suitable punishment for her! Rogue breaks down in tears telling them she didn't want to leave Mystique, but had no other choice Mystique wouldn't listen or help her, Professor X is her only hope. But the X-Men uncharacteristically cruel seem perfectly happy to turn Rogue away, still feeling she is dangerous, Professor X however wants to talk to Rogue privately, feeling the tramatised girl is no threat and sends the X-Men away. The X-Men go to the Danger Room to cool off, leaving Kitty and Illyana to program the room. When Illyana sees a man called Belasco, a Demon lord who had captured her months before and made her his slave she goes nuts. She attacks her own best friend with her mystic sword that can hurt Kitty even when she is phasing. Finally Illyana come to her senses, but is deeply upset by what she remembers. Later Storm is up in her room reflecting on current events and watering her plants, she feels her life is out of her control and wonders if her recent actions such as fighting Callisto which goes against all she once believed in are making her a better leader. Her troubled thoughts cause her raincloud to become a mini-thunder storm that destroys her plants! She realises her own inner turmoil expressed itself in violence and her plants have suffered. When the Professor psychic image appears to inform her he has finished with Rogue, Storm turns on his image, brandishing a knife and throwing it at him blaming him for the recent events that are destroying her! The Professor sensed Storm's feelings but doesn't probe her mind because he is more concerned about Rogue, who he has come to a desicison about. When the X-Men arrive the Professor shocks them by announcing not only will Rogue be staying at the Mansion she will be a member of the team! Storm is adamnet that Rogue will NEVER be part of the X-Men. the worse is still to come, for Binary who is living with the X-Men has returned, she enters the Mansion... The next thing we know Rogue has been punched all the way into SPACE! Luckily Rogue can survive, and firery as she is rushes back to Earth to give Binary her own back, but Binary too fast hitting Rogue into a tree. The X-Men unhurt but shocked by the major punch Binary threw at Rogue rush out to where the fight is. Colossus restrains Carol, who is furious when she hears Rogue is under the Professor's protection. Storm probably sarcastic reveals Rogus is the newest X-Man further infuriating Carol, who cannot believed the cruelty. Rogue of course has no idea who she is and doesn't know why Binary hates her, until Binary reveals her true form as Carol Danvers 'The woman whose life you destroyed, Rogue. Except that now I possess the power to do the same to you.' Storm announces then that if Rogue stays she goes, Nightcrawler says they will ALL go. Finally Professor X reveals ther hypocrisy, asking them why only SOME mutants like Wolverine whose past was bad can be accepted but others not. This strikes a chord in Storm who had spoken up for Wolverine to begin with. Wolverine the Professor states was at first a danger just and Rogue was, but the Professor says he will never turn any mutant away. Finally all the X-Men agree to let Rogue stay, Carol however will not and can not forgive Rogue, she choses to leave instead. Storm too goes off to be by herself, where she is torn between duty and desire, that is the desire to leave the X-Men. She understands that whether she choses to be Storm or to be Ororo Weather Goddess, she will never be the same. This was one of the best comics I read, it was written in such a way that not only did you sympathise with Rogue but with Carol Danvers too. Also Storm one one of my favorurite characters was very powerful in this comic. The comic opens in fact with Storm in all her glory standing over the Morlocks. I also found the behaviour of the X-Men toward Rogue was very human, hypocritic though it was it made easier to see them as real people. This was definitely comics in its heyday, and I recomend you buy this comic, you won't regret it! |
| Written by: Chris Claremont Penciled by: Walt Simonson July 1983 |