X-Men #103 (Feb 77): The Fall of the Tower
Creative Team: Chris Claremont, author; Dave Cockrum, artist; Sam Grainer, inker; John Costanza, letterer; Janice Cohen, colorist; Archie Goodwin, editor
Starting Line Up: Cyclops (DNA), Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Banshee, Storm, Colossus
Synopsis: Nightcrawler is being carried away by leprechauns. He comes to and is a little freaked out by his rescuers. Eamon O'Donnell returns to tell Nightcrawler the other X-Men have been taken captive by Black Tom and Juggernaut. He then explains the leprechauns, "The Families" who live in Cassidy Keep, were taken hostage by Black Tom and Juggernaut and used O'Donnell to trick Banshee and the X-Men to come. Tom and Juggernaut were taking their orders from Eric the Red. The leprechauns then ask Nightcrawler about him disappear in shadow, which he didn't know he could do. The leprechauns then show Nightcrawler where the X-Men are being mentally tortured (so Xavier can feel it). It gives Nightcrawler an idea. He uses his image inducer to make himself look like Xavier, then teleports into the room. Thinking it really is Xavier, Juggernaut underestimates him, which allows Nightcrawler to get an advantage on him. Black Tom tries to blast him, but instead busts a hole in the side of the wall. Seeing the outside, Storm snaps out of her panic and summons winds to free herself and chase away the villains (who take Banshee with them). She uses her theif skills to free Wolverine and Colossus. The villains take Banshee to the top of the castle and tell them X-Men to come get him or else. Storm flies up. Colossus throws Wolverine up. Colossus climbs up. While the villains are busy try to keep the three from getting at them, Nightcrawler from the shadows frees Banshee. Banshee takes off after Tom and they duel it out while the other X-Men try to fight Juggernaut. Banshee knocks Tom off the edge of the castle and into the ocean below. Juggernaut abandons the battle and goes after Tom, his only friend in the world. The X-Men search for the two, but find no trace of them. Elsewhere, Eric the Red is being chastized by his master (the one who was watching Lang all that time ago), and Eric reveals he has a new ally to defeat the X-Men... Magneto.
Yeah, but is it good? It's ok. The story felt too big to be crammed into one issue. There was just too much stuff here. And the X-Men didn't get a decisive win after getting trounced last issue. Nightcrawling discovering he disappears in shadows really bothers me. It's a fine power and suits him, but he's only finding this out NOW? A man that disfigured has never been in shadows before? Or out at night? Please.
Significata: Nightcrawler discovers he disappears in shadow. Eric the Red revealed as the one who hired Black Tom and Juggernaut. Eric the Red also has a master who wants Xavier dead, for fear of Princess Neranami reaching him. Eric hires Magneto, the X-Men's oldest foe, to stop them.
