Writer Chris Claremont
Artists John Romita Jr. and Dan Green
Letterer Tom Orzechowski
Colorist Glynis Wein
Cover Dated July 1984
So much happens in this issue!
Issue opens with Colossus explaining to Kitty why they have to break up. He fell for Zsaji during Secret Wars. She died there, so he could not explain to Kitty what happened, though it would be so awkward with how the rest of the X-Men know what happened.
Poor Kitty during this entire scene, we get her continued mental monologue. He wishes he had the right words. She asks him if Zsaji was pretty and he describes her like a poetic, something he could never do about her or to her. He keeps talking and her world just shattered.
The problem is that if he could fall so easily for another woman, then how much could he really love Kitty.
Then with a turn of the page, Kitty has moved on. Or at the very least, is done with this nonsense and wants to be done with this conversation.
Kitty is walking back to the mansion, they were on a hill top. She is thinking about calling her mother, and get some advice. Which is nice as in 2014, she hasn’t thought or seen her mother, on page, in years. She tried to see her once towards the end of Excalibur, during Douglock’s initial appearances but had to save lives. Weird how joining the X-Men means abandoning your old life.
Kitty sees Storm watching her walk back. She realizes then that all of the X-Men knew what Colossus was doing at Battleworld.
Kitty makes her way to her room. Illyana asks how the conversation with her brother went. Lockheed is sitting between some books on her shelf above her bed. Which clearly she sets her books that way for him, which is adorable.
Also adorable? Lockheed’s kwooo? He cares for her so much. Illyana walks over to Kitty as she starts to cry into her teddy bear. Kitty finishes crying on Illyana’s shoulder.
Storm sees Rogue in the Danger Room. Rogue is fighting some robots. Last issue, the Carol Danvers’ personality came out, big time. Rogue is hoping she is still in control, but fears she may not be.
Storm, on her own, wishes Xavier wasn’t gone this weekend with the New Mutants. She also wishes Colossus died on Battleworld rather than have him hurt Kitty.
Colossus finally makes his way back to the mansion. Wolverine tells him that the two of them are heading out. Kurt tags along to make sure Colossus isn’t too hurt.
Storm finds Kitty packing a bag. Kitty is heading to Chicago to spend time with her father. She will come back when she is done crying. She will be heading off to what will be the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine miniseries.
In Dallas, Val Cooper and Raven Darkholme discuss that there is a building mutant problem.
In Manhattan, at Monahan’s Bar, is the true point of the issue – and cover feature. Colossus is almost twenty and earlier, Kitty comments that she has been on the team for two years, so she is close to sixteen. Wolverine is getting Colossus drunk. Wolverine wants Colossus to explain himself.
The two of them talked about marriage. Then Colossus got scared when Doug showed up, as he had so much in common with Kitty.
Then Wolverine smells Juggernaut and forces Colossus to spill his drink over the villain.
Juggernaut shoves Colossus through a wall. He armors up and charges him.
Kurt wants to help but Wolverine stops him. He was going to fight him so this is win win.
Juggernaut jokes that Colossus should call the X-Men, and he states he doesn’t beed them.
I like that Colossus can’t place his sparring partner at all, Juggernaut has to say his name before he recognises him. I also like how Juggernaut keeps calling him Colossus, he took the time to learn his name.
The other people at the bar try to leave. Someone comments that it is a good thing the bar is insured against super hero battles. It is details like that that I adore, the real day to day realities of living in Marvel New York City.
At the end, Juggernaut drops the bar on Colossus. He tells us where this is in his continuity, this takes place after Amazing Spider-Man 230, which is a great story.
Juggernaut sees Kurt and Wolverine. He tosses a wad of cash, to cover the damages. Earlier, Wolverine had also offered to pay for the damages.
Juggernaut tells the two standing X-Men, that Colossus should be proud for holding his own.
Colossus is upset for the two of them not helping out. Wolverine quotes that he said he didn’t need their help.
Wolverine starts asking Colossus all of these questions. We stand together? Through thick and thin? No matter what? We go to the wall for each other? Pay the price, make any sacrific, their lives, even their honor?
Of course, Colossus is answering in the affirmative, not seeing where this is heading.
Wolverine finally drops the other shoe. Kitty, during the Morlock first appearance – only four issues ago, no less than two months ago, had to agree to marry Caliban to save the X-Men. If it wasn’t for Caliban’s kind heart, she would still be living in the sewers as his bride. She would have to cut all ties with her former life – as no one would want to visit her in the sewers. Now, that would make an interesting What If? issue. I swear, I believe there is an interesting What If? issue in every other issue of this era of Claremont’s X-Men.
Wolverine is angry that Colossus never even gave Kitty a ‘thank you’ for her sacrifice she was willing to make. Colossus broke up with her, not even giving her or them a chance to deal with this.
Issue ends with Selene, willing to rule the world.
Next issue, The Past of Future Days? Rachel is making her first appearance in this time line.
There is a full page house ad for the New Mutants, don’t call ’em X-Babies anymore! Issue eighteen is on sale by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, which if that is your first issue of that series, your mind would be blown as that is the beginning of the Demon Bear Saga.
With this Lockheed Month comes to an end. March will be back to basics, and I am still planning on April being Captain America Month. We haven’t had a basic month here at S&FwM since October!
Shadow and Flame with Magik 