Production Chris Claremont & Leinil Francis Yu
Inks Edgar Tadeo & Gerry Alanguilan
Colors Jason Wright
Letters Richard Starkings & ComiCraft/EM
Cover Dated June 1998
We celebrate my wife and I’s eighth anniversary by celebrating not only Wolverine and Viper’s wedding but Chris Claremont’s return to Wolverine’s ongoing that he help launched. When this issue was in the hype phase, there were rumors that this could be the issue that Wolverine regains his adamantium. That doesn’t happen but he does gain something.
Issue opens with Jubilee running for her life. She’s being chased by the Phoenix Force.
I’m recalling how this issue was great and the next one was pretty good then the last two issues of Claremont’s brief stint (we’ll be reviewing all four of these issues over the course of the next few days) as not ending on a high note. Let’s see if my memory holds up.
Jubilee is treated to repeating what happened in Uncanny X-Men 251 (which I own and will review one of these days but not this month) where she freed Wolverine from a crucifiX. Jubilee suspects they are not in the Australian Outback as she was in Chinatown only a few minutes ago. Gateway is there but since he doesn’t talk, she can’t get any confirmation. Jean Grey, with the Phoenix Force but wearing a full green version of one of her uniforms. She implies that her and other women (we don’t get a full panel of who else is there but I can see Psylocke) have been gathered to serve a purpose. Jubilee isn’t going to play that game as she keeps trying to drag Wolverine along. At least he should be a tad lighter without the metal coating his bones.
In the catacombs under the city, Jubilee and Wolverine are confronted by – Tyger Tiger, Psylocke and Jessica Drew – also all dressed in green. This was during the time when Jessica Drew hadn’t been Spider-Woman in years. Jubilee uses her powers to flash a bright light and she is able to escape with Wolverine.
The pair are caught off guard by Rogue and Yukio. Yukio throws some daggers but Jubilee somehow strangely falls through the wall.
This whole time, I’ve been reading the captions as if they belonged to Jubilee but it turns out, they belong to someone else.
The narration boxes belong to Jubilee’s predecessor, Kitty Pryde! Kitty brought her good buddy, Lockheed, for this adventure!
Kitty is also in a green outfit but not a variation of any of her previous ones. She isn’t really one to show off those legs. I do like those short green gloves though. Yu draws a sweet Lockheed!
Who is Kitty narrating this to?
Is this the first meeting of Jubilee and Kitty? I would find that hard to believe except that Excalibur barely interacted with the rest of the X-Titles. This issue came out June 1998, the same month Excalibur 121 came out so I imagine this was a good way to remind people of her connections before she rejoined the main title.
Jubilee must be still under some effect, a she seriously thinks Kitty is responsible for Jubilee’s trip through memory lane as that isn’t really in Kitty’s powerset.
Kitty knows that Viper is behind this latest scheme, to turn the women in Logan’s life against him. Jubilee finally notices that Kitty has green hair and wearing a green outfit, so maybe Kitty is actually in on the plan. Kitty explains that due to her powers, she was able to escape before being given Viper’s mind controlling poison. Thus proving that Kitty is far better than those ladies who were put under.
Kitty wants Jubilee to lead them to Wolverine. Since it took so much time to explain to Jubilee everything, Jean and Rogue are almost to their location. Jubilee shouts for Gateway to teleport them out, just in time.
In the real Australia, Jubilee has some clothes stash away. Jubilee gets in her classic yellow trench coat, pink sunglasses and what is clearly a homage to DC’s Robin’s outfit with the red shirt and green shorts. We’ll see a full body shot on a below image.
Kitty has to borrow Jubilee’s clothes and Lockheed & Jubilee enjoy the fashion show. Kitty starts to have a good time with it too. Why does Jubilee even own that last outfit and why did Kitty even put it on?
Kitty eventually settles on a simple white shirt and a pair of blue shorts.
Kitty has an idea of where to find Wolverine.
Mount Logan, the highest point in Canada. Kitty instructs Jubilee in taking the time to learn about her teammates and her environments.
See Jubilee in the bottom row of panels? It doesn’t take much to realize that is clearly inspired by Robin’s costume.
Which was fun during Marvel vs DC when the two characters flirted with each other –
So during Amalgam when Batman and Wolverine were merged to create Dark Claw – it was awesome – it made perfect sense to combine Jubilee and Robin into –
Sparrow!
Kitty hints about how Sabretooth killed Silver Fox in Wolverine’s cabin. Which I can’t remember if that was a false memory or if that eventually did come to pass.
Kitty notices that Wolverine was here and not that long ago as his whiskey glass is still damp and his cigar is still fresh.
Behind Jubilee, a giant explosion occurs.
Rogue arrives and Jubilee distracts her as Kitty puts her down.
Tyger Tiger, who I’m glad Kitty name checks as I wouldn’t have recognized her. I’m not that familiar with the character but she has a gun to Jubilee’s head so there isn’t much needed to know. Kitty phases through Jubilee and tackles Tyger. For her thanks, Tyger shoots Kitty to her face!
Luckily, it wasn’t a real bullet. Instead Kitty’s entire body is encased with a substance that she can’t phased through.
Lockheed, the true hero that he is, jumps in front of Jubilee and spits hot fire so that Gateway can teleport the trio away.
Agarashima. Somehow in Kitty’s estimation of time passing, Wolverine in that “short time” went from Canada to Tokyo. That’s like an eleven hour flight, or so.
We finally get to see Wolverine! He doesn’t seem all that surprise to see his favorite lady friends.
Jubilee barely gets time to shout to Logan that Viper is after him, when Yukio tries to throw daggers at him. Logan and Yukio spar, as he clearly doesn’t want to hurt her. While distracted with that fight, Psylocke ninjas behind him and with the focus totality of her telepathic powers, digs a psychic dagger into his freaking head!
When Logan wakes up, he sees all of his lady friends as snakes – which is either on purpose by Viper or a sign of how horrible Logan views his friends. This transitions Logan into reminding himself of how Mariko died. So a reference to Silver Fox and now Mariko’s dead body, I believe the only lady in Wolverine’s life that isn’t seen is Storm. Storm, Carol Danvers and Mystique I guess, but this may be too early for Mystique to be seen.
Viper finally shows herself to Wolverine.
Poor Jubilee went from Canada, Japan to now Madripoor in a span on an hour. We finally get our entire cast in one place.
Viper is trying to get Jean to force Wolverine under Viper’s control.
We see someone, not in green, take out Tyger Tiger. Now that we are in Madripoor, Tyger is probably happy as she lives there.
Jubilee breaks Kitty out of her gel prision.
Black Widow makes up the fourth team member of the Rescue Logan Squad. I do like her taking out Jean and Psylocke out first, that’s pretty smart.
Wolverine tackles Rogue and she kisses him, to try to slow him down. Kitty, again, has to put Rogue down again. Kitty tricks Psylocke to put a psychic knife into Rogue’s head.
Black Widow, who this has to be the first time her and Kitty have been in comic together, right? Widow is holding her own against both Yukio and Jessica Drew.
Wolverine chases Viper as Kitty and Jubilee chase Logan. Jean hangs back and knocks everyone else out.
Viper didn’t mean to hurt Logan, she needed to bring him to her and this was her best plan. She reminds him of his vow. He’s still in a middle of a berserker rage so he isn’t listening.
Jubilee wouldn’t mind if Logan killed Viper but it isn’t really something Kitty wants to see. Kitty is going to find a way to slow Logan down. Meanwhile, Viper sums up her goals. On Seraph’s tomb, Logan vowed to do anything Viper asked, whenever she asked it.
Jean has made her way downstairs and is not happy. Kitty merges with Jean, which kicks Kitty like a government mule and snaps Jean out of her mind control.
Jubilee gets between Logan and Viper. She forces him to choose, to act like an animal or with honor like a man. Logan is all about honor and owning up to his word so this snaps him out of his little fit.
Some time passes, the poison is out of everyone’s system as the issue ends with Logan revealing that Viper is his life. Even Lockheed is in shock!
Cutting Edge, letters from – Dustin Angell of Syracuse, NY / EJ Bratcher of Batesville, MS / Rob Olcott of Cedar City, UH and Michael Ferraro.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 