From: albert@bcm.tmc.edu (Rick Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics
Subject: The X-men Files #6 (170-179)
Date: 17 Apr 1992 04:09:01 GMT
Organization: Baylor College of Medicine
Originator: albert@chain.ssctr.bcm.tmc.edu


X-men #170: Scott and Maddy are quite an item up in Alaska.  He does,
however, tell her about Jean.  She's still interested in him, tho.
Storm is infected by Plague in a futile escape attempt.  Kitty swears
that she'll stay with Caliban if he helps the X-men.  Mystique has a 
nightmare starring Jason Wyngarde and Jean Grey (which is essentially
a replay of one of Jean's timeslips, for a slightly different
point of view).  Rogue runs away from home.  Storm fights Callisto to
the death to free Angel.  She fatally stabs Callisto (tho a mutant
healer is there to save her).  Scott and Maddy smooch some more, 
and he shows her why he never takes off his glasses.

X-men #171: Storm, now ruler of the Morlocks, sez play nice with the
humans (no more kidnapping surface kids).  Maddy reveals she was the
only survivor of a plane crash the same day Jean Grey died.  Rogue 
comes to Professor X for help. The mind of Carol Danvers (which 
she had permanantly absorbed) is driving her nuts.  Illyana has
a traumatic flashback, and manifests what is later known as her 
Soulsword, which can hurt Kitty even while phasing.  Storm is
well on her way to a nervous breakdown dealing with the stress of
leading the X-men.  Rogue is admitted into the X-men.  Just at
that opportune moment, Binary shows up and knocks Rogue (literally)
into orbit.  Things calm down, and Rogue is admitted into the X-men,
and Binary leaves.  

X-men #172: Following the events in the Wolverine mini-series, the X-men
(sans Charley) fly to Japan for Wolverine's wedding.  Yukio (from
the mini-series) and Silver Samauri (Mariko's relative).  It seems that
Mariko is now the hereditary leader of Clan Yashida's illegal activities,
and SS wants it.  With Viper's help, all the X-men, save Wolverine, Storm, &
Rogue are drugged.  More intrigue between Yuiko, Viper, and SS.  Thanks
to what is later revealed to be ############ (see below), Storm and Yukio
barely escape with their lives.  Wolverine and Rogue go out looking for
Storm. 

X-men #173: While Wolverine and Rogue kick butt around Tokyo, Viper's
hired the Hand to kill Mariko.  Rogue saves Mariko and Wolverine 
from a blaster that critically injures her.  Wolverine lets her absorb
his healing factor, and she recovers (YAY!).  SS and Viper escape.  
Storm eventually returns, with a mohawk and wearing leathers. (Pretty
tacky, IMHO) Everyone is freaked by this, but not as much as Maddy 
freaks them out.  Just as the "I do's" are about to be said, Mariko
leaves Wolverine standing at the alter, because Logan is not worthy.
(Did I happen to mention a mysterious caller at Mariko's the night
before the wedding?  Silly me.)  Somehow, going punk is supposed to
ease the stress of being the X-boss.  (Or, she was wound up so tight
before, the only way to cope is to go hog wild)

X-men #174: Romance is in the air.  Scott and Maddy.  Corsiar and 
Mam'Selle Hepzibah.  Charley and Lil.  Kitty and Peter. Kurt
and Amanda. However, all is not as it seems.  In Alaska, Mastermind
appears, and Dark Phoenix (??) broasts Cyclops.  

X-men #175:  Dark Phoenix returns?  NOT!  It's all Mastermind.  
He's got a nifty little plan, using Maddy and Cyclops.  Cyclops
manages to take on all the X-men and survive long enough to convince 
them (using Rogue duping Prof's powers) that Mastermind is behind it 
all.  They don't kill him, but I'm dammned if I know what they 
do with him.  Scott and Maddy get married.  [You know, in an
old interview with CC from around that time, he said he was 
going to leave Scott alone and let him live out a life with
Maddy, since his life "had been so sh*tty, and he deserves a little
happiness." God bless Marvel. NOT!]

X-men #176:Wolverine returns to Japan, now that the Prof freed her from 
Mastermind's hypnosis.  She says she can't marry him until she undid all
the damage she did while hep-mo-tized.  (sure taking her logn enough, eh?)
Scott and Maddy's flight to Boragora is interrupted by a storm and 
a giant (Suicide? Nah!) squid.  Val Cooper gives a report to the 
Cabinet and Henry Peter Gyrich about the X-men.  Calisto reminds
Caliban about that little promise Kitty made and forgot about. 

X-men #177: Mystique fights robot X-men in Murderworld as a training
session.  Corsair and Lil leave to return Lil to her throne.  And the
rest of the X-men (Colossus, Kitty, and Kurt, plus Amanda) go out for
a night at the Met.  The BOEM attack and Colossus is turned into
a statue (after being super heated by Pyro, then chilled by liquid 
nitrogen tankers).

X-men #178: Eveything continues, and Nightcrawler and Amanada have to
fight off the BOEM.  Kitty breaks into the Baxter Building to find
a gizmo of Reed Richards that should fix Peter.  Wolverine and 
Storm arrive to help Kurt, but it was all a trap so Mystique could
'rescue' Rogue.  Rogue convinces Mystique that she's there under her
own free will, and Mystique trades the Prof's life for letting the
BOEM go.  Kitty found the gizmo and was about to air-walk back,
when she was suprized by.. Something.  A dead Kitty is found dead at
the foot of the Baxter Building.  

X-men #179: Wolverine says the body isn't Kitty.  She smells different.
Storm can add as well, and realizes Masque is behind it.  A scanning 
wave from outer space assaults the Prof.  (similar events are happening
all over the Marvel Universe)  Kitty is about to be married to Caliban.
She resits, but Callisto reminds her about a certain promise she didn't
keep.  We meet Leech for the first time, and Kitty realizes that 
(she shouldn't make stupid promises? Nah!) she should keep her word. The
X-men show up to rescue Kitty, but Kitty says she'll stay. Rogue manages
to save Colossus but absorbing his power, so he turns to flesh, and
the Morlock healers fixes him up. (It's really painful for Rogue, but
hey, who said hero was an easy job?)  Kitty agrees to go back with
Caliban, but he releases her from her promise, since he knows she'll
be miserable down there. (What a nice guy!)

X-Men Annual #7:  The Impossible Man shows up on a Scavanger Hunt. 
He collects all sorts of neat stuff, but still doesn't win.  It's 
goofy, but fun.


Next: Secret Wars, more Rogue, Forge, Dire Wraiths, and Kulan Gath.
-- 
Rick Jones				Systems Support Center
albert@bcm.tmc.edu			Baylor College of Medicine
Voice: 713-798-7352			standard disclaimers apply
GEEZ Mahn, I'm surrounded by amateurs!- Sebastian (the Little Mermaid)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics