Uncanny X-Men #151 (Nov 81): X-Men Minus One!Creative Team: Chris Claremont, writer; Jim Sherman, Bob McLeod, and Josef Rubenstein, artists; Tom Orzechowski, letterer; Bonnie Wilford; colorist; Louis Jones, editor; Jim Shooter, editor on chief
Starting Line Up: Storm, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Colossus, Sprite
Synopsis: Xavier summons the X-Men to tell them that Kitty's parents are taking her out of Xavier's school to be in one with people her own age. Since it's her parents' decision, there's nothing they can do. Kitty's extremely upset. Storm goes to talk to her later and Kitty reveals her parents are sending her to Emma Frost's Massachusets Academy, run by the White Queen of the Hellfire Club. Apparently she's alive. After Xavier makes sure Kitty's parents are acting of their own free will, Kitty says her goodbyes. Colossus promises to write and the two have their first kiss. Storm decides to accompany Kitty to the school herself. When they arrive, Kitty goes off to get herself squared away while Storm waits in the lobby. That when Storm is attacked by the White Queen. Later, Kitty comes back and says goodbye to Storm. Storm drives off, but when she gets far enough away, she "tests" her powers. Clearly, the White Queen is now in Storm's body. After trying different weather patterns, she calls Sabastian Shaw at the Hellfire Club to tell him phase one is complete and he's to start phase two when she arrives at the school. Back at the Academy, Storm wakes up to find she's in Emma Frost's body. Back at the mansion, Nightcrawler is having a romantic strole with Amanda Sefton. Out of the lake, they are attacked by Sentinels. Wolverine and Colossus run out to their aid, while Cyclops fires from inside the mansion. The Sentinels are being controlled by Shaw's tech team. Another one busts in throuh the roof of the mansion to get Cyclops and Xavier. The team outside nearly destroys all the Sentinels they are fighting when "Storm" arrives to recklessly finish them off. She then zaps all the X-Men. Back at the Academy, Storm uses her thief skills and picks her cell's lock. She poses the White Queen's telepathic ability, so she's swarmed with other's thoughts. She tries to control and focuse them to find Kitty. She breaks into Kitty's room and all Kitty sees is the White Queen, so she tries to run. Storm reaches out to stop her, but accidentally mentally blasts her.
Yeah, but is it good? Yeah, it's ok. The Hellfire Club makes for pretty good villains. I do find this a waste of a Sentinels appearance, though. I understand Shaw was interested in creating them last time we saw him. He was even the one who put the thought in Sen. Kelly's head (which lead to the Days of Future Past timeline). But the Hellfire Club itself is enough of a dangerous force that Sentinels arn't really needed. How the White Queen survived her apparent suicide still isn't explained, though. That "death" always sat wrong with me. The mindswap is an interesting idea. And Kitty having to leave the school makes sense when you think about it. She is a lot younger than everyone else, and the school only has five other students. Her parents should be worried. This is very much a Storm/Kitty relationship story. Kitty's parents are getting divorced. She's worried they may stop loving her too, but she knows she'll still have Storm. The leadership issue is still being avoided at the point. Kitty and Colossus have their first kiss, so I guess we can consider their relationship started?
Significata: Kitty leaves the X-Men for Emma Frost's Massachusets Academy. Emma Frost isn't dead after all. The Hellfire Club now has Sentinels. They cause even more damage the already damaged Xavier mansion. Kitty and Colossus have their first kiss.
