X-Men #122 (Jun 79): Cry For the Children!

Creative Team: Chris Claremont, writer; John Byrne, breakdowns; Terry Austin, finsiher art; Tom Orzechowski, letterer; Glynis Wein, colorist; Roger Stern, editor; Jim Shooter, editor-in-chief

Starting Line Up: Cyclops, Pheonix, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Banshee, Storm, Colossus

Guest Star: Power Man, Misty Knight, Colleen Wing, Havok (cameo), Polaris (cameo), Jamie Maddrox (cameo)

Synopsis: Cyclops is training in the Danger Room. He's attempting to keep two hydrolic presses from touching, and from crushing him. But he's struggling. Cyclops and Wolverine are watching from the control room. Cyclops can't understand it since Colossus is in top shape. Wolverine explains he might have a lot on his mind. Cyclops is worried about him folding in a crisis. Wolverine explains he won't and get between the presses. Colossus has to succeed or Wolverine dies. He even sabotaged the controls so Cyclops can't turn it off. Colossus succeeds and realises he has just been doubting himself for weeks now. Cyclops is impressed, but makes Wolverine fix the control panel. Cyclops then goes in to town with Colleen Wing to get the mansions utilties turned back on. He now realises the Xavier left with Lilandra and may never return, but he wishes he knew why. Meanwhile, in space, Lilandra is being crowned Empress of the Shi'ar Empire, much to hers and Xavier's boredom. Meanwhile, in Stornoway, Scotland, Pheonix is shopping. She accidentally bumps into a hansome stranger who introduces himself as Jason Wyngarde. As she gets on board the ferry that will take her back to Muir Island, some men coming looking for Angus MacWhirter. They find out he hasn't been seen in weeks. Pheonix sees Wyngarde watching her sail away. She recognises him somehow. He thinks to himself how someday she'll love him and then she'll belong to the Hellfire Club. Meanwhile, back in New York, Cyclops is having lunch with Colleen. They talk about him being unable to relax. Meanwhile, Wolverine drops Storm off in Harlem. As he drives away, he spots Mariko Yoshida. He tries to follow her, but he is not admitted to see her. Storm is visiting the neighborhood she grew up in before moving to Cairo. Her old apartment is now a heroin flop house. Some kids try to kill her for her money, but she fights them off. One almost sneaks up on her, but is stopped by Power Man and Misty Knight. They rap about how society is letting these kids get hooked and then offers them no help. Cyclops is seeing Colleen off on a train, as she leaves on a new assignment. She gives him the key to her apartment. Meanwhile, on a private jet, Black Tom Cassidy and Juggernaut hire Arcade to kill the X-Men.

Yeah, but is it good? Character building issues usually are. The main focus was on Storm and the social commentary about the state of the ghettos in the late 70s. It's really no different today except the angry black gangster is now a romantic figure and something those kids try to be now. Some of them are millionaires, but are we better off when the murders and drug use are up? Of couse the comic doesn't get that deep into the social commentary. It's just raising points to think about. Cyclops, who never did mourn for Pheonix, is now getting very close to Colleen Wing. But the bitch should know better. By now she must know HIS LOVER JUST DIED! Stupid bitch. The Jason Wyngarde stuff begins here, and that will lead to the ultimate peak of X-cellence as far as great writting goes. The Colossus feeling like he's letting the team down issues are finally discussed, but there was no real ressolution. He'll continue to feel homesick, but that's not exactly the same issue. Colossus just stops doubting himself? Ok... The mystery of Angus MacWhiter deepens... if anyone cared.

Significata: Colossus stops doubting himself. Banshee is revealed to be the team's tech wizard and Nightcrawler his apprentice. It's hinted that Wolverine knows a thing or two about tech stuff as well. Lilandra is finally crowned Empress. Jason Wyngarde debuts. Angus MacWhirter still hasn't been seen. Colleen wants to get serious with Cyclops. The price of X-Men comics goes up to 40 cents.
  ¶ 7:02 PM