Created by Scott Lobdell & Chris Bachalo

Inks by Mark Buckingham

Lettering by Richard Starkings and ComiCraft

Colors by Steve Buccellato and Electric Crayon

Cover Dated June 1995

Illyana is narrating this issue, at first, from inside Mondo.  All she knows about life is the Core.  She tries to reach out, as we see Mondo trying to sneak out of the core before she dissolves inside of him.  Her hand breaks out from his chest and he tries to push it back in there.

Several Levels Above.  We catch up with Quietus as ‘he’ has shot Chamber, to make Sugar Man happy.  Bachalo was really firing on all cylinders with this series. This is an awesome double splash page and Sugar Man never looks much better.  Which is impressive as this is only his three appearance, after appearing for the first time in the second issue.

Sugar Man doesn’t care for being made to look foolish in front of the slaves.  Sugar Man knows that no one breaks into a place like The Core without backup.  So he stabs Quietus and Vincente oozes out of the husk.

Vincente is hurt, even in his gaseous state.  Skin is checking on him.  Husk is bleeding out.  Husk turns into her proper form and brags that they are the Next Generation of X-Men – so she couldn’t work the title of the series into dialogue.

There is a giant explosion from above them and Chamber is on his feet, bragging about how he tricked them all into thinking he was shot.  A mutant comes at Chamber but Skin extends something out of his forehead and runs the mutant through.  Sugar Man tries to escape, or get back up but Chamber blasts him apart.

Colossus lands and tells his young charges to find his sister and escape.  Sugar Man, who is tiny at this point, recognizes the name of Illyana.

Below.  Two thugs keep punching Mondo, even though he keeps asking them to stop.  He pushes the two of them off the cliff.  The little girl that Mondo saved, asks to be rescued as well.  Mondo tells her there isn’t enough room for two but he will try.  Just then, Skin and Chamber arrive and remind him of the mission.

There is a four page ad for the Ultraverse.  In 1961, Marvel launches the Modern Age of Super-Heroes.  1975, Marvel launches the Modern Age of Mutants.  Now, Marvel announces the Age of Ultras!  Marvel and Ultraverse and putting on a six month event starting with April 1995’s Rune / Silver Surfer 1, and leads into Black September 1995 – that will change both universes . . . FOREVER!!!  Other titles are – Lord Pumpkin 1 (May 1995) Hardcase 23 / UltraForce 8 (June 1995) Curse of Rune 2 / Mantra 22 (July 1995) UltraForce/Avengers Prelude 1 / Eliminator 3 / Lord Pumpkin 4 / Night Man 22 (August 1995) UltraForce/Avengers 1.  Guest stars include Silver Surfer, Loki, Thor, Black Knight, Infinity Gems and the Avengers.  From the Ultraverse – Prime, Rune, Mantra, UltraForce and Lord Pumpkin.  Safe to state, that I didn’t read this and never heard anything from it.  I did like the UltraForce cartoon, the two episodes I remember seeing.  I wished I had watched Night Man, as the concept sounds insane.  Plus, an appearance of Manimal, a show I thought was cheese as a kid but I bet I would love it now.  That and AutoMan.

Like Sugar Man did to Quietus, he stabs his tongue through Mondo.  Illyana falls through the newly created hole.  Sugar Man makes the mistake of threatening to eat Illyana.  Just then, Colossus double stomps onto Sugar Man.  She immediately recognizes her brother, she always knew he would come to her rescue.  Such a great splash page, of him holding her.  She’s so tiny in his left hand.  Him calling her “little snowflake” wins me over.

Mondo’s new friend’s name is Gel.  Chamber is going to rescue her.  They are going to rescue and free everyone.

The human slaves are starting to attack their mutant overlords.

Colossus tells his students to get back to back, they will make it to topside.  Shadowcaat phases out of Colossus, where she’s been hiding this entire time.  We don’t really get a scene of the two sister-in-laws.

Chamber gets knocked down and Skin follows suit.  Shadowcat tells the others to flee as she gives chance after the boys.

Before Shadowcat can actually do so, Colossus grabs her arm.  The mission is to safe Illyana, that comes before saving others.  Shadowcat loses respect for him but takes his lead.  Husk shouts to not leave them behind.

Sugar Man’s back up as arrived and humans are being slaughtered.

Once they are outside, Shadowcat unphases them.  Illyana is clearly safe and Shadowcat is going to go back for her students.  Colossus refushes to lose both is sister and wife so he will go safe the students.  Illyana finds her brother to be brave but Katya has her doubts.  Which is pretty intense.

Colossus is trying to make his way to the front door but it is closing quickly.

Colossus makes crazy eye contact with Husk, as she is clearly fighting.  Colossus falls to his knees, an utter failure as Illyana hauntingly narrates that he wouldn’t let the students die.

Hours later, Colossus has waited an appropriate amount of time and has come back – empty handed.  Shadowcat knows that he didn’t really fight.

Issue ends with Sugar Man, tiny again, hiding inside a fold of Colossus’ costume.  Next issue blurb is for X-Men Omega, except we are stopping by two other comics.

X-Facts April 1995.  The Wish List –

Astonishing X-Men 4
X-Man 4
Generation Next 4 – Trapped deep behind enemy lines . . . surrounded on all sides by Apocalypse’s goons . . . it’s do-or-die time for the next generation of mutants!  Will they finally liberate Illyana Rasputin so that she can help save the universe, or was this mission all for naught?  By Scott Lobdell & Chris Bachalo!
Weapon X 4
X-Calibre 4
Amazing X-Men 4 – Together again for what may very well be their final reunion, X-Men past and present unite to safe Bishop from the Madri and the maniacal Abyss!  By Fabian Nicieza & Andy Kubert!
Factor X 4
Gambit & the X-Ternals 4
X-Men Chronicles 2
X-Universe 2
X-Men Omega – This is the one you’ve all been waiting for!  The crystallization wave is about to inundate this last bastion of extistence, and it’s up to the X-Men to stop the tide before the entire universe is destroyed!  By Scott Lobdell, Mark Waid & Roger Cruz!

Such a great series!

Created by Scott Lobdell & Chris Bachalo

Inks Mark Buckingham

Colors Steve Buccellato and Electric Crayon

Lettering Starkings and ComiCraft

Cover Dated May 1995

Issue opens with Skin and Chamber, not really liking their odds for success.  Skin is narrating this issue.

We see that Apocalypse mutant goons mistreat flatscans horribly.  One of them kills a young girl’s father, as he was giving his daughter three day old food – from their last meal.  It takes all of Skin’s strength to keep Chamber from lashing out.  Skin wants to wait, until they actually have a chance at winning.  We do see that Skin camouflages himself to resemble a guardrail and as the guy who killed the father is leaning on it, Skin allows himself to relax and the mutant guard falls to his death.

Elsewhere.  We see Husk and Vincente, still masquerading as the Chief Administrator of Mutant Resources.  They are surprised that they have made it as far as they did, into the Core.  They are in Quietus’ office and can’t find any records on Illyana Rasputin.

Sugar Man is outside of Quietus’ office, we learn that Sugar Man is Quietus’ boss as well as the boss of the entire Core operation.  Once inside, “Quietus” is having a shower, trying to hide his new scent.  Sugar Man explains that Shadow King noticed someone going through their files.  A possible break-in is suspected.

Inside the shower, we see that Husk only has Quietus’ head and it is her body onto of Vincente’s actual form.  Sugar Man laughs at the idea of a break-in and leaves.  Once they are alone, Husk states how much she loves Chamber.  Vincente states that is why she’s been a red head for the past year.

At the Core Entrance.  Shadowcat is phasing herself and Colossus through walls.  Her phasing makes it possible for Colossus to be as light as a feather.  Skin narrates that he has also noticed that Colossus has become reckless, only caring about getting his sister back.  The two teachers are going to wait for a signal.

Below.  Illyana asks an older lady, May, to describe sunlight.  One of the guards pushes Illyana’s new friend off a cliff.  Luckily, Mondo is there to save the girl.  Is Mondo not Skin?  That might explain my confusion about the two of them.  Reading these again, I do recall a sense of confusion of what was happening.  Maybe I didn’t buy these in order, back in the day, reading them as I bought them.

Okay, Mondo and Skin are two different people.  Skin and Chamber are still on the surface.

Malibu Comics must be a thing, or Marvel’s ownership is, as there is a two page ad for Prime vs Incredible Hulk, as it is a mail order comic for Ultraverse.  $10 for the comic or $40 for the Super-Premium version, signed by the creative team and has a metallic ink cover.

“Quietus” finally catches up with Skin and Chamber.  They can tell it is Husk, pretty quickly.

Above.  Know-It-All is providing an update to the married couple.  Things are not going well.  Shadowcat wants to go down there but Colossus doesn’t want to risk being detected.

Sugar Man likes that Quietus is getting rough on two intruders.  Sugar Man wants Quietus to kill them, “he” pauses but agrees to do it.  Quietus aims his gun but Sugar Man stops him.  Why use a gun when he has his sweet mutant power.  Quietus tries to make a few excuses but mostly, Husk doesn’t know what his powers are.

While putting his new lady friend down, Mondo spots Illyana and promises to come back.  Mondo grabs Illyana and makes a break for the surface.

Know-It-All announces that Mondo has saved Illyana.  Mondo absorbed Illyana, so the more he uses his power, the more likely he make start dissolving her.  Colossus tries to convince his wife to stay behind but she reminds him that they are together for better or worst.  Colossus restates that she will always be the love of his life.  We’ll find out if he really means that later.  Not in this series, but later on in the event.  Shadowcat wants one last “intangible fast ball special” and he tells her that there will never be a last one.

Issue ends with Sugar Man giving Quietus the kill order.

We get the Marvel X-Facts bulletin.  The Wish List is –

Astonishing X-Men 3
X-Man 3
Generation Next 3 – The mission to rescue Illyana Rasputin takes a turn for the worst!  And if Sugar Man doesn’t kill Chamber and Skin, it looks like Husk may have to for him!  By Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo!
Weapon X 3
X-Calibre 3
Amazing X-Men 3
Factor X 3
Gambit & The X-Ternals 3
X-Universe 1 of 2

One more issue to go!

Created by Chris Bachalo & Scott Lobdell

Inker Mark Buckingham

Colors Steve Buccellato / Electric Crayon

Lettering Starkings / ComiCraft

Cover Dated March 1995

We’ll be doing a smaller Civil War event here at S&FwM but what we’re most excited about is X-Men : Apocalypse.  To be honest, there was a part of me that debated to do Age of Apocalypse or Apocalypse : The Twelve.  Since neither one seems to be used as the basis of the film, I went with the original.  I have enough comics of each to fill an event month but I figured Age of Apocalypse would be a lot more fun.

I don’t own X-Men Alpha, but if I did, I would have started there.  The goal is to go in chronological order, of the stories.  I may get it wrong, along the way but that’s okay.

This issue opens with Chamber, but with his whole face intact, jumping from an explosion.  Instead of the hole where his next and jaw should be, it is in his chest.

I do like how Bachalo gets first billing then Lobdell.  I wonder if that’s how they are credited for Generation X.

I guess now is a good as a time to quickly explain Age of Apocalypse.  Legion went back in time, trying to kill Magneto, instead, Xavier jumped in and took the kill shot.  Twenty years later (or something) Magneto is now the leader of the X-Men and Apocalypse is in charge of America.

There is an ad for Disney’s Gargoyles The Movie, which I’m not sure if the movie is just the pilot but I remember really enjoying that show.  The ad says it is their origins so it must have been the pilot plus.

We see that this was a training session with the Generation Next that follows the X-Men.  Boy, is that a hard title to work into a sentence.  Husk gets the drop of Chamber, I like how she is a brunette here.

Skin arrives and he is gigantic and very angry.  He’s tired of these two kissing while he has to risk his life.

We get the two page bulletin news, explaining what is Age of Apocalypse,  We get the Wish List –

Astonishing X-Men 1
X-Man 1
Generation Next 1 – Hoping to recruit the next generation of mutants for the crusade against Apocalypse, Magneto reveals the long hidden truth about Colossus’ lost sister, Illyana!  By Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo!
Weapon X 1
X-Calibre 1
Amazing X-Men 4
Factor X 1
Gambit & The X-Ternals 1
X-Men Chronicles 1

There is an ad for X-Men Fruit Snacks, the symbols are – Gambit’s playing card of Ace of Spades, Blackbird, a green X symbol, Storm’s lightning bolt and Wolverine’s head.

Husk gets the upper hand on Skin and they are stopped by one of their mentors . . . Colossus!  Who, while looking through all of these comics I’m going to review, and seeing which pages I will need to scan, I didn’t realize how much Colossus was involved in these issues.

Colossus states that Chamber is the leader of this group, but he is weak and sentimental.  While scolding Chamber, Husk gets the upper hand on a second dude, this time, Colossus.

Before Husk can further prove how much of a bad arse that she is, the true leader of this group, Shadowcat arrives!  Such a great character design!  Shadowcat enjoys really slaying into Husk’s face, as she knows Husk’s face will just shred and shred – without really harming her.

Shadowcat is trying to harden these children, as that’s the world they live in.  Husk thinks she is being pretty clever by luring Shadowcat closer to her, to get yet another drop on someone.  Shadowcat lets her make a move but Husk’s claws phases through Shadowcat’s waist.  For her thanks, Shadowcat kicks Husk to the face!

While Colossus is distracted, Chamber drops a tree on him.

Shadowcat refuses to let up on Husk, the lesson is nowhere near over.  Before Shadowcat can up the torture level, she is taking by surprise!

Skin has decided to aid his teammate.  Now that Shadowcat has her bearings, she tugs down on Skin’s tentacles and brings him down to where she is.

Skin is gloating how he is doing a better job than expected.  Husk, who doesn’t like the treatment she was given, decides to barge through Skin to get at Shadowcat.  Husk is a pretty ideal student, in this timeline.

I’m not sure who this lady in the television set is suppose to be, but she calls time on the session.  Colossus starts freaking out, that Shadowcat could be hurting.

Magneto arrives, and he just loves taking time out of his busy day to make sure the kids are doing okay.  I like the comment about how he doesn’t get out much.  I wouldn’t either, if I was married to Rogue and we were raising our son, Charles.

Magneto wants to have a meeting with Shadowcat and Colossus.

Generation Next’s home is in a castle.  Mangeto isn’t thrilled with how the children are being trained.  Colossus doesn’t appreciate Magneto’s tone that he used in front of the students.

We are introduced to Bishop, who is from the Proper Marvel Universe, but his memory isn’t fully there.  Magneto does a good job of promoting X-Calibre 1 & Gambit and the X-Ternals 1, as Kurt and Remy are bringing proof of Bishop’s story.

Magneto wants to do some old fashion time traveling but Shadowcat knows that isn’t possible due to all of the chrono-variant mutants have been killed.

Know-It-All is the lady in the pharaoh headdress and in the computer monitor.

Apocalypse has Shadow King on the payroll, and their records are highly guarded.

I’m not a big fan of Shadowcat smoking but when every day could be your last, why try to prolong it?

Isue ends with the big reveal, a chrono-variant mutant lives!  That mutant, of course, is . . .. Illyana Rasputin!  Everything about this series, was like, tailored made for me.  Colossus thought his kid sister was dead but she sure isn’t!

The odds of rescuing her are .000% which isn’t great.

There is an ad for X-Men Captain Universe comic that you could get personalized with your name!  It would only cost $14.95 plus $2.95 shipping and handling!  Which I remember my mother being willing to do it but my sister would have to get one too and $30 was too much.  Looking back, I guess she wasn’t okay with it.