Eve of Destruction

*“Interesting master plan you have here, Ms. Grey. Take an eclectic group of novice mutants with no experience working together as a team -- and drop us into the middle of a crisis that would have taxed even the most seasoned X-Men.”*

—**Northstar**, *Uncanny X-Men #393*

## Eve of Destruction

### Issue(s)

*X-Men* #111-113 (2001)
*Uncanny X-Men* #392-393 (2001)

### Character(s)

Northstar
Phoenix
Omerta
Frenzy
Magneto

**Eve of Destruction** is an X-Men storyline written by Scott Lobdell.

The story features Northstar's first mission as a member of the X-Men, though he served on the team very briefly. He would later join the X-Men permanently in *Fall Down Go Boom*.

## Story

Magneto, driven mad with power, threatens to conquer the world from his Genoshan base. He captured Professor X, leaving the X-Men without a leader. While Wolverine and Cyclops went to investigate the island underground, Phoenix assembles a temporary band of X-Men to assist against Magneto. Her first target is Frenzy, Genoshan ambassador and a member of the Acolytes faithful to Magneto. Phoenix attempts to recruit Frenzy willingly, but it is later revealed that she was telepathically coerced into helping the X-Men. Next was Northstar, who was on his book tour for "Born Normal". A man in line to get a book signed suddenly pulls a gun out on Northstar, wanting to kill him for "being an abomination against all things clean and just". Northstar speedily grabs the gun and shoves it inside the homophobic man's mouth. Phoenix arrives and telepathically speaks to Northstar, but he rebuffs her invitation.

Phoenix later saves a young mutant with transparent skin who takes the codename Wraith, recruits the indestructible Italian mobster Omerta, and finds Sunfire's younger sister with similar flame-based powers, Sunpyre, having accepted the call to action instead of her brother. Inside the mansion, Omerta immediately insults Northstar, who punches him out of the building. Omerta continues to make homophobic remarks, prompting Northstar to repeatedly punch him in the face until he bled. Phoenix calms the situation and briefs the team of mutants on their mission to stop Magneto. Suddenly Dazzler enters the mansion after an adventure in the Mojoworld and also joins the group.

With no time to physically train, the X-Men take off to Genosha in the Blackbird. Northstar is skeptical with Phoenix's plan, but she brushes off his worries. Soon, Northstar starts to realize that Phoenix had forced Frenzy into joining them so that they'd have knowledge of Magneto's base. Phoenix then telepathically scans Dazzler's mind, with the entire interim X-Men team finding baby versions of Apocalypse, Dark Beast, Holocaust, and Sugar Man.

As the X-Men get closer to Genosha, Frenzy loses control of the Blackbird. Northstar believes Frenzy had regained her senses and betrayed the group, but they soon discover Magneto is the cause of the turbulence. The Blackbird is soon obliterated, with Northstar scrambling to grab two of his teammates. However, Magneto uses his powers to gently bring each of the X-Men down from the sky. Magneto reveals the imprisoned Professor X which enrages Dazzler. She uses the cheers from the audience around them to blast Magneto, but he turns her powers against her and apparently turns her to dust. Northstar comments that they should have trained before confronting Magneto, but Magneto derides the group Phoenix chose.

Omerta insults Magneto, who tries to kill him by manipulating the iron in his blood. When that fails, Northstar attempts to pummel Magneto as he raises Omerta into the upper atmosphere. Northstar reluctantly leaves the battle to save Omerta while Frenzy, Wraith and Sunpyre each attempt to defeat the villain. Northstar brings the unconscious Omerta down to land and gives him mouth-to-mouth. When he awakens, Omerta pushes Northstar off of him and insults him, but soon thanks him for saving his life. Wolverine and Cyclops soon arrive to the battle and Wolverine stabs Magneto in the gut with his claws. Professor X later gives a speech to the citizens of Genosha.

Later, at the mansion, each of the new recruits declines offers to stay with the X-Men. Northstar comments, "Later for that."

## Featured characters

* Northstar
* Interim X-Men
	+ Phoenix
	+ Dazzler
	+ Frenzy
	+ Omerta
	+ Sunpyre
	+ Wraith
* Magneto
* Professor X
* Cyclops
* Wolverine