X-MEN #25 (TBT REVIEW)

X-Men #25 (October 1993)

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Artist: Andy Kubert

Inker: Matt Ryan

Cover: Andy Kubert




Rundown:
Story begins with the President of the United States calling up and informing the Russian President of the U.N.'s vote to initiate the "Magneto Protocols" that are in place, and we see Nick Fury (Sr.) and the mutant Forge doing just that. Bringing many inactive satellites floating around Earths orbit back online, which then form an electromagnetic fire mesh covering the exterior of the planet. Magneto takes notice and exception to what they have done. The mesh creates a field that would leave him unable to use his powers on the surface and recruit new members to live in his haven, Avalon. Magneto then uses his powers to cut through a section of the mesh sending a massive pulse wave around the Earths surface  blacking out power everywhere. From NY where we see Thing and Mr. Fantastic, Japan where the mutant Sunfire is caught in the wave, to England where Nightcrawler and Captain Britain, all seeing the result of Magneto's powers. Back at the X-Mansion Beast and Banshee are getting power back up and running for at least the mansion. Professor X assemble his X-Men in the Danger Room to explain the situation and to brief them on the plan to take Magneto down. Cyclops lays out the plan for them all, but is against it, but realizes he and others are staying behind to "carry on" incase things go south. Wolverine, Gambit, Jean Grey, Quicksilver and Rogue are selected to carry out the mission, along with a Shi'ar Exoskeleton wearing Professor X (suit and his powers enable him to walk).
The team teleports upon Avalon (Magneto's haven for mutants) almost unnoticed, with the exception of Colossus who had defected after his sisters funeral (see Uncanny X-Men #304), but chooses not to pass on the information to the rest of Magneto's Acolytes. After quickly dispersing their initial roadblock in the form of Rusty and Skids, Quicksilver is speeds off to plant a device for Xavier in a specific spot. Xavier then uses the computer terminal to transport all of Magneto's Acolytes including Exodus to pods outside the space station to hang in its orbit. Magneto quickly responds and attacks immediately. He quickly throws Wolverine to the side, then holds his own against the others while Jean and Charles flood his brain with memories from his childhood and the events of WWII and how it affected him. It is when Quicksilver lands a shot on him knocking off his helmet, that Magneto feels betrayed and snaps, proceeding to attempt to kill his son. Wolverine recovers and tries to intervene when he is caught by Magneto and his powers. Magneto is extremely angered, has had enough and begins to rip the adamantium from Wolverines skeleton through the pores and old wounds of his skin. Xavier has had enough of Magneto and his ways, and while vowing that Logan would be the last victim uses his powers to "take away" Magneto's mind, leaving him in a comatose state. Colossus enters and tells the X-Men to get Wolverine and themselves to safety and he would stay and care for Magneto. Story ends with them rushing off (Logan in a protective cocoon courtesy of Jean's abilities) while Colossus carries the now fallen Magento looking out at the destruction around him.


Review:
As a kid this was the most amazing comic book I had ever read, and 20 years later it still ranks up there for me. it helped that there weren't really any "spoilers" available to me back then, other than reading Wizard magazine and friends who may have read or heard things, so it was also a complete "shock" to me back then. Now, I see that it was almost Marvel's answer for DC Comics "Death Of Superman" and "Breaking Of The Bat", taking one of their top characters and basically "breaking him". Of course the adamantium isn't gone for long, but it made for some good stories to see the Ol' Canucklehead in a more vulnerable state. I am also more appreciative of Fabians writing now, seeing how even the simple addition of Quicksilver to the mix made the story deeper in how his actions would trigger Magneto's (Pietro was usually in X-Factor), as well as Xavier and Jean putting his childhood memories come to the forefront and how Mag's actions were very similar to that of the Nazis, and how although he "thought" he may have been doing good, he was doing just as much damage as Hitler in the end.

As for the art, Andy Kubert (and his brother Adam) is still one of my all-time favorites, and this issue is one of his pieces that solidify that for me. Like I mentioned above as a kid I wasn't able to really appreciate the depth of the writing, but the art was done so well that I got the majority of it, and still does the job today. Done so well that it could be a silent issue and the visuals would give you exactly what you would need to know what is happening.
The wrap-around cover was attention grabbing, and bot just for the hologram card glued on the front. But, as a kid, that little card meant that I "had" to have this issue. And I find it hard to see people complaining about the $3.99 or $4.99 we pay today for "special" comic books, when this was $4.40 off the rack.


Check in next week for another entry into "Throwback Thursdays" where we'll take another look back at a comic book from yesteryear!

Stay Nerdy!