New Mutants #97

Louise Simonson - writer
Guang Yap - penciler

Storm and Cyclops have regained their powers and stand between Hodge and the others. While Cyclops holds him off, Storm restores powers to Jean. The three strike at him, but Hodge's powerful force field protects him. Just then an explosion rings out, and Hodge declares "My Laboratory !" The ceiling falls in, but Hodge escapes by phasing through the floor. Scott reveals that Forge created an autobomb set to destroy the technological center and that he remained unconscious voluntarily to keep the secret from Hodge. Back on the outside, moments earlier, Jubilee, Rictor and Boomer follow Dr. Moreau who is using a mutate to tunnel into the citadel. The same explosion rocks them, but much closer. The mutate is dead but Moreau is unconscious. They take him hostage into the mysterious room that is now opened up which turns out to be Hodge's lair. Hodge arrives and surveys the damage while the others hide. Hodge leaves, but carelessly drops the container full of Warlock's ashes that Boomer conveniently retrieves. Rictor then revives Moreau, grabs him by the collars, and tells him to take them to Wipeout, NOW! Back to the others, Cyclops and Storm revive Forge and restore the other's powers. Anderson explains that Moreau held back on the mutate process to keep Storm as his secret weapon, knowing she could short out Wipeouts actions. Cable and Forge rebuild their appendages and they gather to discuss strategy. Cyclops takes charge and sends Cable, Cannonball, and sunspot to find Rhane and the rest set out to find Hodge. Elsewhere, Havok lifts a key to his power dampening collar and swears to melt Hodge into slag. Back in Hodge's lab, Rhane finally appears again and jumps right on Rictor's throat. Moreau calls her off and lets Rictor know that Wipeout is dead and Rhane can not be turned back to normal. Just then, Cable and crew arrive with Storm. She restores Rictor and Boomer's powers, but an unexpected transformation occurs to Rhane. Instead of turning into a regular wolf, she is transformed into a werewolf, but still is capable of rational thought. If she reverts to human form, she will be a slave. After snapping out of it, She remembers everything Hodge did to her and (you guessed it) swears to make him suffer. The new Mutants proceed to trash the remains of Hodge's lab, while he is battling Iceman, Beast, Psylocke, Gambit, Forge and Banshee. Hodge diverts his attention to his exploding lab where he tangles with more mutants until Moreau pulls out a monstrous gun to make Hodge retreat.

Written By David Downie