X-Men #119 (Mar 79): 'Twas the Night Before Christmas...
Creative Team: Chris Claremont, author; John Byrne, penciler; Terry Austin, inker; Costanza, letters; G. Wein, colors; R. Stern, editor; J. Shooter, ed-in-chief
Starting Line Up: Cyclops, Pheonix, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Banshee, Storm, Colossus
Guest Stars: Misty Knight, Colleen Wing, Havok (cameo), Polaris (cameo), Jamie Madrox (cameo)
Synopsis: The X-Men are making their assult on Moses Magnum's base in order to save Japan. Storm flies Nightcrawler over the base and he teleports inside. He knocks out a guard and then flashes back how they got into the situation. After recieving Moses Magnum's ultimatum, the X-Men met with Japanese officials. They explain it is theoretically possible to sink Japan is Magnum causes quakes in key locations, and he's proven he has that power. Misty Knight & Colleen Wing use dectiving to discover his base. The X-Men agree to infiltrate it and stop Magnum. Inside the base, Nightcrawler contacts Misty. She then gives the signal to Storm and Banshee to start attacking their radars and guards outside to draw attention. While the guards inside distracted, Nightcrawler heads towards the basement. Under the seafloor, Cyclops, Wolverine, Colossus, and Sunfire are tunelling towards Magnum's base, following Nightcrawler's homing beacon. The foursome break through the floor of the base and are immediately attacked by Magnum, who already defeated Nightcrawler. Magnum hits Colossus so hard he flies outside, which doesn't hurt him but insanely fustrates him. Magnum proves he be too tough, so Cyclops calls Storm and Banshee in for backup. But Magnum counters that with his Mark II Mandroids. Colossus returns and easily takes the Mandroids apart. Magnum runs from the battle so he can sink Japan. Banshee takes off after him. Magnum starts to charge up his power to level that will be required. As the vibrations begin, Banshee uses his sonic scream at the same frequency to cancel it out. He strains himself beyond anything he's ever felt before. The result is the small island Magnum's base is on is destroyed, but the rest of Japan is saved. Misty & Colleen fly in and pick up the X-Men and Sunfire. Banshee's power, however, may have been burned out and he's rushed to a hospital. Days later, Banshee is leaving the hospital and returning to the Yoshida home, but none of the X-Men came to pick him up. He's a bit miffed, but when he walks in, there's a surprise welcome home/Christmas party for him. Meanwhile in Edinburgh, Scotland, Pheonix meets up with Moria MacTaggert, Havok, Ploris, and Jamie Madrox. She's decided to spend time with them on Muir Island. Speaking of which, in the laboratory, Angus MacWhiter breaks in and plants explosive charges. He walks by "Mutant X"'s cell. He's then attacked by some unknown force.
Yeah, but is it good? It's pretty nifty. Moses Magnum is nothing but a C-level villain, but the teamwork required to break into his base is a fun read. Colossus finally cuts loose. It's good to see "Petey Pureheart" get mad and rip into something. Sunfire didn't really rip into the Westeners, so that's a tad disappointing. Banshee's voice problems start here, which is an interesting turn for the character.
Significata: Banshee's sonic scream is burned out. Wolverine continues his gentle side around Mariko. Colossus gets homesick again and also frustrated in himself during battle. Storm continues to chear him up. Pheonix goes to Scotland to be with the X-Men's friends there. Angus MacWhirter tires to blow up the Muir Island lab, but is attacked by a (cliche) mysterious someone. Mutant X?
