Uncanny X-Men

#143

November 1980

Cyclops. Storm. Nightcrawler. Wolverine. Colossus. Children of the atom, students of Charles Xavier, MUTANTS - feared and hated by those they have sworn to protect. These are the strangest heroes of all! Stan Lee presents: The Uncanny X-Men!

    Miscellaneous Comments:    July 30, 1999

    Solo Kitty Pryde story.

    Type of Series: Super-Hero Team; Action-Adventure;

    Similar Comics:

    Strengths: The writing and the art.

    Weaknesses:

    Plotting: Simple, but very well done. It's Christmas Eve and newest team-member Kitty Pryde is all alone at the mansion when a horrible "Demon" attacks. Kitty must use her wits to survive and defeat it.

    Logic: Impeccable. It's really a joy to go back and see how this story hangs together.

    Originality: Very little about what happens is original. But is it extremely well told.

    Ending: Clever. On two counts. A cliff-hanger style climax pulls you in, then - on the next page - Claremont jumps forward in time to keep you guessing as much as possible about what eventually happened in the battle.

    Secondly, we are given an explanation as to why Xavier took Ororo and Peter, but not Kitty. This is wonderful because, earlier in the story, Scott Summers wondered why Kitty had been left along like that. And, suddenly, because he was wondering it, the reader began to wonder it, too.

    Re-Readability: Well, this is a good issue of an excellent series, but since Kitty isn't a major favourite of mine, there's nothing here to make me really, really want to read it again.

    Impressive Characters: Kitty, of course. She's only a child but she logically, and believably, defeats a monster many times her [apparent] superior.

    It's also good to see Scott Summers. Even if it is only for three panels. He remarks that Kitty seems lonely and wonders why the others have left her.

    The man is in great pain, yet he's worrying about a child he barely knows. Hero material.

    Impressive Writers: Chris Claremont wrote this, with John Byrne co-plotting. Louise Simonson is the Editor.

    Impressive Artists: John Byrne drew it, with Terry Austin doing the inking. And the art is absolutely perfect. The X-Men as they are mean to appear.

    Less-Than-Impressive Characters:

    Less-Than-Impressive Writers:

    Less-Than-Impressive Artists:

    Continuity: The issue is a direct sequel to #96, and the opening pages take us back to that earlier issue. Mention is also made of the recently deceased Jean Grey and - best of all - Scott Summers has a cameo (three panels) from the fishing port of Shark Bay, Florida, where his self-enforced leave of absence has taken him.

    Guide:

    Reviews:

    Other Info: This is the last issue to feature the artwork of Byrne And Austin. In ways this could be seen as the last issue of a particular 'golden age' in the history of the series.

Three Things I Really Like About This Issue:

    When we first see Kitty Pryde she is deep in studies with the Professor. Learning about the Blackbird's ignition procedure. The scene serves two purposes: it lets us see that Kitty has to study, even on Christmas Eve, to keep her place with the team and it beautifully sets up the story's climax when Kitty will use the Jet's ignition system to defeat the demon that will try to kill her. In anyone's judgement, this is skilled story-telling.

    These days great mileage is gotten from praising the portrayal of teenager Buffy, The Vampire Slayer as a credible dynamic heroine in the face of terrible odds. Yet, nearly twenty years ago, Chris Claremont was writing this 13-year-old X-Man with such skill that every reader was completely engrossed. Never doubting for a moment that a teenaged girl could accomplish great acts of bravery and resourcefulness (not matter how frightened or hurt she was).

    Claremont writes another of those wonderful scenes where characters you never met before are introduced and killed off. And by the time they die, you have come to know them and care about them. In this issue, you see a loving couple for only seven panels and you are suitably affected when they meet gruesome deaths.

Three Things I Really Don't Like About This Issue:

    Wolverine flying off the handle and nearly injuring Kurt for trying to kiss Mariko under the mistletoe. I know it's a vital character moment, and all that, but still… I just didn't like it.

    

    

GRADE: A

Review by Michael Leddy

Comments are welcome: dec@iol.ie

 

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