Uncanny X-Men #145 (May 81): Kidnapped!Creative Team: Chris Claremont, writer; Dave Cockrum & Joe Rubinstein, artists; Joe Rosen, letterer; Glynis Wein, colorist; Louis Jones, editor; Jim Shooter, editor-in-chief
Starting Line Up: Storm, Angel, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Colossus, Sprite
Guest Stars: Cyclops, Havok, Polaris, Banshee, Iceman, Beast
Synopsis: Storm is attending a ballet with Stevie Hunter. It was supposed to be Kitty going with Stevie, but she caught the flu, so Storm went instead, despite her revervations about Stevie. As they're sitting in the private box, they are both touched on the shoulder by Miss Locke, Arcade's assistant. Storm immediately attacks her, but Stevie, and soon Storm, collapse. Locke's touch had poisened them. Locke will give them the antidote after Storm hears her out. Apparently, Arcade got into some trouble with Doctor Doom and is now his prisoner. Locke wants the X-Men to free him. To garuntee their compliance, she has kidnapped, Jean Grey's parents, Moira MacTaggert, Candy Southern, Amanda Sefton, and Colossus' sister Illyana (as well as now Stevie). Storm wakes some time later. She checks on Amanda and the Greys, finding them all gone. She reports to the X-Men. They get some files on Doom from Beast and the Avengers, but want to keep the matter "in the family". Xavier plans on following Locke's orders and sending the X-Men after Doom. Wolverine doesn't want to give in to blackmail since there's no garuntee Locke will release the prisoners, so they should attack Murderworld. Storm agrees with Wolverine, but thinks both options should be followed. So a second team of reserve X-Men is formed. He metally conacts Havok, Polaris, Iceman, and Banshee, but is unable to contact Cylops since a subtle shift in the Earth's magnetic field is causing him much stress in using his powers. Only one man can be the cause. Xavier worries about Magneto's next move. On a deserted Carribean island, Cyclops wakes up after a shipwreck. He can't find his glasses, so he uses his tattered shirt to made a tight blindfold so his eyes will stay shut. He finds Aleytis Forrested on shore with him, but no sign of the rest of the crew. They have to wait for a rescue. Back at the mansion, Xavier assembles his two X-teams. Havok suggests the rustier X-Men get some Danger Room time in, but it's still damagd after Kitty's fight with the demon. The regular team (minus the sickKitty) head off for Doom's castle in upstate New York. Storm formally introduces herself to Doom and wishes to discuss the terms of Arcade's release. Doom invites her to a civil dinner. The rest of the team sneak into the castle. They locate Arcade's cell, but are ambushed by guards in battle armor (*sigh* picture Moses Magnum's Mandroids or the Hellfire Club's super soldiers). Meanwhile, Storm is enjoying her dinner and conversation with Doom. Doom is as well, but it totally aware of the sneak attack on his castle. The X-Men trash the guards without much trouble (although Wolverine loses his clothes). Doom then introduces Storm to another of his guests - Arcade. Storm realises it was a trap all along and springs into action. Doom throws a globe at her that turns her into organish chrome. The rest of the X-Men bust in, but are easily zapped by Doctor Doom.
Yeah, but is it good? This is a good one. I don't read much Fantastic Four, but I can only hope Doom is written this well in his "home" comic. He's the second greatest villain in the Marvel Universe behind Magneto. Has the trait all great villains have - He's likeable. While he's an evil megalomaniac, he's also a charming gentleman. While you want to see the heroes win in the end, you want to see the villain get close and that dark recess of your mind even cheers him on. This is only a build up issue as the next two issues are devoted to the two teams and their seperate battles. And speaking of #1 Villain, his next move is already being pondered. I like for one the forshadowing isn't "Who could be behind it?" and we find out Magneto, but rather "What Magneto up to and when will he strike?" It's more exciting when you know the greatest villain of all in about to show up again, and the suspense of when and why is what keeps you reading. Kitty being sick is pretty lame, though. She shows up for one panel in bed. Obviously Claremont didn't want to have Kitty on a mission against a villain way out of her league, but I think Xavier flat out saying she can't go would have done more for both characters. It's also nice to Iceman back after being ignored in favor of Angel and Beast for so long.
Significata: Havok, Polaris, Iceman, and Banshee come back for a "one arc only" reunion tour. Cyclops is shipwrecked on a deserted island with Aleytis, whose name spelling changes once again. There is a mutual attraction between Storm and Doctor Doom. Storm still does not trust Stevie Hunter. Stevie sees an X-Men using their power for the first time, their identities revealed to her. Dave Cockrum returns to the series as artist.
