Shadow and Flame with Magik

Writer Chris Claremont

Artist Todd Nauck

Color Artist Rachelle Rosenberg

Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino

Cover by Jamie McKelvie with Matthew Wilson

Awesome homage cover to Uncanny X-Men 168

Previously in the series, in defeating Amanda’s mother – Amanda has been banished to a different realm and the day was won.

Issue opens with Kurt playing baseball, with mostly himself.  The Bamfs are there too, adding support.

Nauck still draws an awesome Nightcrawler and super cute Bamfs.

Poor Rosenberg, good thing they do digital coloring as she would spend a fortune on blue colors.  Especially once Beast shows up.

Next, we get to the single page that I bought this comic for.  I really need to just look at all the X-related comic previews that Comic Book Resources has.  Instead, I wait until I’m told to look and find out after the fact – that Kitty appears in a comic.

Classic Claremont baseball game!

I wish that Lockheed appeared on this page as there is a clear Uncanny X-Men Annual 7 reference and Lockheed was there for that issue.

Past this page, it has great moments that I really like and a future villain subplot that I have no interest in.

The spirit of Jean Grey shows up to tell Kurt to keep the faith.  Why a guy who just left Heaven, has no faith, is beyond me.

Kurt is looking for a gig at the Jean Grey School.

Rachel and he come up with him being the Danger Room instructor.

I like how for the session, the students don the basic trainee uniforms.  I recognize Armor and Mercury.  I like the squid / lobster guy, Rico is his real name.  There is a death tree looking chap, that I want to know more about.

I checked the comicbookdb page for this issue, and the tree fellow isn’t named.  Shoot!

Rachel dons a costume that I am not sure if she should wear around impressionable young boys.  I like how Rachel programmed Emma Frost to be the villain of the session.

In Maryland, apparently these villains are the Crimson Pirates.  I have no interest in them.  They are seeking a young lady, whose name is Ziggy Karst.  Which I have to think about Ziggy Stardust, whenever I read the name.  That is on purpose, right?

The Jean Grey School.  Storm gifted Kurt with the original Blackbird, the SR-71X.  He is repairing it.

Rico shows up, he is like the modern day Nightcrawler.  I sort of like him.

Storm gives Kurt the mission to seek out the new mutant.  Who, of course, is Ziggy Karst.

Unless Kitty is seen or mentioned, I’m sure this is it for me with this title until the next storyline – I’m sure.