Story & Script Chris Claremont

Story, Art & Color Barry Windsor-Smith

Letterer Tom Orzechowski

Cover Dated May 1986

Kitty Pryde doesn’t appear in this issue, in fact, none of the X-Men do, besides Wolverine.  Kitty is in the character corner box, on the cover – so that’s all I need to buy an issue.

When I reviewed Alpha Flight 33 –

https://shadowandflamewithmagik.com/2015/01/01/alpha-flight-33/

I mention how this issue, Mile High Comics had this issue at various prices – $3, $4.80, $6, $9.60, $15 and $30.   Pending on if it was Newsstand or Direct Market.  I got it, for Father’s Day 2015, for $2.90, so that’s a pretty good deal.

I mentioned this issue, in that review, due to this, 205, being Lady Deathstrike’s next appearance, after Alpha Flight 33 & 34.  Here, she gets a major upgrade from Spiral, as does the three Hellfire Club goons, that Wolverine tore into, way back in issue 133 of Uncanny X-Men.

Onto the issue – which could be summarized as “one big fight” but there is more to it.  A lot of the heart of the issue comes from Katie Power (of Power Pack fame) being in the issue.  Windsor-Smith’s artwork is intense and takes the issue to the next left.

The issue opens in Spiral’s Body Shop, as we witness the birth of Cyborg Lady Deathstrike.  She is now a threat to Wolverine.  The Post-Hellfire Club slash Pre-Reavers – Reese, Cole and Macon, have also become cyborgs.  Lady Deathstrike has a deal with Spiral, that once she gets her revenge, Spiral will reverse the process and make Lady Deathstrike human again.

South Street Seaport, on the Lower East River Shore of Manhattan Island.  Katie Power is on a school trip.

I do like how we join the Wolverine v Lady Deathstrike and Trio fight, clearly an hour into the action.

Macon is down, already, and Cole fires a laser cannon into the crowd.  A blizzard is occurring and it is thick, adding to the chaos.

Katie gets separated from her class, and she runs into Wolverine.  Not just regular Wolverine, but a badly beaten Wolverine. This guy is down to only his boots and briefs.  Gone are his shirt, gloves and . . . his ability to to communicate!  This starts to scare Kate, as Mr. Logan is super scary.

The villains keep firing on Wolverine, who goes from growling to speaking in Japanese.  Katie knows that something is seriously wrong with Wolverine.  For his part, Wolverine is trying to protect Katie.  With a huge RAHRRRR, his English returns.  As does his manners, as he thanks Katie for stalling along enough for his healing factor to kick in – both physically and mentally.

Wolverine gets to Cole and takes him out of action.

We finally get to the center piece – Wolverine v Lady Deathstrike!

There is an ad for New Universe, in 1961, the Marvel Universe began.  Now 25 years later, there is The New Universe.  Not as dramatic as the end of Secret Wars 2015’s first issue with the ending of two universes.

Wolverine tries to debate with Lady Deathstrike, about her choices.  She tells him, that either she gets her revenge for her father and can start her life anew – or she dies and is free of the burden.  Lady Deathstrike gave up her humanity, for this goal, something Wolverine wishes he could have back.

Wolverine tears into Lady Deathstrike, until she can’t get up again.  He doesn’t kill her though.

Checklist – New Mutants 38, Power Pack 21, Vision and Scarlet Witch 7, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe 5, Alpha Flight 33 (so this issue must have came out, right afterwards! – that is some tight continuity!), Uncanny X-Men 204, X-Factor 3 and Marvel Age 37.

Issue ends with Wolverine and Katie, walking away and holding hands.  To be honest, the Katie pages, are probably my favorite.

Letters page has letters from – Kahtryn J. Routtliffe of Chicago, IL / Kate Payne of Salem, OR and Jeffrey L. Morris of Billings, Montana.  Montana Represent, Yo!

Next issue caption states that Dan Green returns to the title, as he has been doing a painted Doctor Strange one shot, written by JM DeMatteis, which sounds pretty awesome.  The story, itself, it is the X-Men’s last night in San Francisco.  They meet Julia Carpenter, the second Spider-Woman and Freedom Force shows up.   Freedom is a Four Letter Word!

Inside back cover ad is for Power Pack (getting top billing!) and the Amazing Spider-Man with some helpful tips on how to protect yourself from sexual abuse.