A Big Green Goodbye

The X-Men have only once chance to save Professor X, and his name is Bruce Banner. Unfortunately, his other name is The Incredible Hulk. The secret to saving Charles is locked inside the mind of a monster, and it’ll take everything they have to get it out. The X-Men have had run-ins with the Avengers in the past, but this is actually their first encounter with the Hulk. Issue 66 shows us how this team performs against the most powerful brute force on planet Earth. This is also the final issue of this titles early run, before taking a five year hiatus. The days of Scott, Bobby, Jean, Hank, and Warren end here, for now.

Threats Within, Threats Abroad

An alien planet approaches Earth, set to invade. The X-Men plan a counterattack, but there is friction building between them. The X-Men face one of their biggest external threats just as their internal struggles reach a boiling point. They’ve always been a five person unit, and their new friends are rubbing them the wrong way. Can they rally to save both man and mutant kind? If they succeed it won’t be without some significant help, as even bigger secrets will be revealed. Guess who’s back.

The End of the X-Men

Issue 46 promises us a lot of satisfaction, as it delivers not only the supposed end of the X-Men, but the return of the Juggernaut. The team will have to face their most ferocious opponent without the aid of the Professor. Without Charles, they may have never defeated Cain Marko during their first encounter. How will they survive now? And is the team really finished? Can they somehow continue without Charles? (SPOILER: Yes, they can, but that happens much later.)

Origins: Cyclops

At the end of issue 42, we get another installment in the origin of Cyclops. Jack O’ Diamonds meets his fate, but more importantly we get to see Scott Summers don his uniform and iconic visor for the first time!

The First Death of Professor X

That’s right, this is the death of Professor X. His very first death… of many, which means don’t worry too much. Seeing an issue promise the death of Professor X doesn’t carry the same weight that I’m sure it did back in 1968, and issue 42 is pretty quaint by today’s standards. Charles Xavier has died several times. Heck, he’s dead right now. What of it? Yet this issue must have been quite a shock back then, when Professor X was seemingly killed off permanently and without warning. At the hands of Grotesk? This seems like a high honor for such a boring monster.

Origins: The Living Diamond

These Origin stories that have been in the back of the last few issues have been some of the more interesting stories these comics have given us recently. Unfortunately, this segment is pretty unnecessary. Jack O’Diamonds gets his wish and fully becomes the ugly man version of Emma Frost.

Origins: Jack O’ Diamonds

The origin stories continue in the back pages of issue 40, this time continuing Cyclops’ adventure running away from the orphanage. Lost in the woods, he was beckoned into a creepy shack. We were promised the first evil mutant, and this issue delivers. However, the answer isn’t as lavish as Magneto or as powerful as Namor. Instead we have Jack of Diamonds, the man with diamond hands and telepathy. Get ready for sex-offender Emma Frost.

Origins: Scott Summers

The last part of issue 39 that I want to mention is a continuation of the X-Men Origins story that began the prior month. This segment picks up right where the last left off, following Scott Summers as he flees his orphanage home. He was just responsible for outing the mutant race in public and on camera, and now an angry mob is chasing him down. Good job, four eyes. Scott runs from the mob and makes his escape in a freight train, skipping town like a hobo. With his preppy sweater and bowtie he’s sure to fit right in.

Origins: Professor X

After we are left with a doomsday cliffhanger, issue 38 shifts to another segment, the secret origins of the X-Men! It is the story of how the team came to be, and what caused the Professor to meddle in the affairs of humans and mutants alike. We find out how the “mutant problem” began, and how one person laid the groundwork to form a team of superheroes that would rival the likes of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers.

X-Men on Trial

At last, the X-Men have a solid lead on Factor Three. This secret organization, its members and its plan, will be unmasked. With so many villains that could be holding a grudge against the X-Men, who will we see? We’re certain to see some new faces as well. Whoever they are, they’re planning on holding the X-Men on trial for crimes against the mutant race. Issue 37 is one of the most exciting I’ve read in a while.