Uncanny X-Men #152 (Dec 81): The Hellfire GambitCreative Team: Chris Claremont, writer; Bob McLeod, guest penciler; Josef Rubenstein, inker; Janice Chiang, letterer; Don Warfield, colorist; Louie Jones, editor; Jim Shooter, editor-in-chief
Starting Line Up: Storm, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Colossus, Sprite
Synopsis: Storm, in the White Queen's body, is racing to wards the mansion being chased by the White Queen, in Storm's body. Storm has an uncoscious Kitty with her. When Kitty wakes up, she sees the White Queen, not Storm, and instinctively phases through the car door. The distraction causes Storm to loses control of the car and drive off road and roll down a hill. The White Queen gets caught up in the car's expolosion and uses a wind to blow her away, but not being used to the power, is thrown too far away. Kitty is reasonably ok. She seems the White Queen's body (Storm) and saves her from the wreck, not being able to let herself let someone die, even if she think the person is evil. White Queen arrives back at the mansion to find Sebastian Shaw fully in control. She's upset because she believes Storm is dead and her body is destroyed, so she'll be stuck in Storm's body forever. Shaw doesn't seem to mind. But back upstate, we find Kitty has Storm prisoner. She's desperately trying to convice Kitty of her identity, but nothing works. So she asks to just trust her because the X-Men are in danger and she can't take the risk. Kitty reluctantly agrees. Storm starts to prove herself by escaping Kitty's bonds. Kitty used a knot Storm had shown her and it was supposedly untieable. At the mansion, the X-Men and Amanda Sefton are being held captive by the Hellfire Club, using inhibitor collars to keep them from using their powers. The X-Men are shoked to find Storm is alliginace with the Hellfire Club. Wolverine tries to attack, but is taken down by the new bionic Hellfire soliders. The same ones Wolverine cut up back in his attack on their club. Amanda Sefton starts working on a spell to save them. Outside, Storm, Kitty, and Stevie Hunter are pulling up. Kitty tries to phase through the door, but Storm gives one of her motherly chastisings, further Kitty's belief she's telling the truth. Storm and Kitty head off to find another way into the mansion. Once they leave, Stevie is attacked by Shaw and Frost. Inside, the soldiers are having fun beating the crap out of Wolverine. Harry Leland then uses his powers to increase Wolverine's DENSITY until the strain is too much and he died. The X-Men are shocked, except Amanda, who smiles, and continues her spell. Outside, Storm and Kitty are at the hangar entrace. Kitty can phase inside, but can't open the lock. Storm uses her telepathic powers to give Kitty the knowledge to open the lock, but nearly fries her brain on the first try. Before Kitty can finish, Storm is attacked by Shaw and Frost. Forst is happy to see her body still alive. Kitty then opens the door, which is enough of a distraction for Storm to get inside and lock the door behind her. Kitty starts sneaking around the mansion, but is caught by an also sneaking Wolverine. They head to the where the rest of the team is being held. Kitty phases through their collars, distrupting them and freeing the X-Men. They take out Leland and the soliders. Shaw busts in, but Colossus hurls him back outside into the lake. Outside, Storm attacks the White Queen and attempts to take back her body with the same mind switching device she just happened to pick up before she left the Academy and wasn't ruined during the car wreck and didn't have with her for the rest of the issue. During the battle, Shaw is hit with a bolt of lightning so strong even his ability to absorb energy can't cope with it. In the end Storm takes back her body. She's so outraged by what happens she almost kills Frost until Wolverine talks her down. Frost takes the comatose Shaw and promises not to bother the X-Men or Kitty again (the X-Men can't arrest them without exposing their own identities and vice versa). White Queen vows to herself to get revenge on the X-Men.
Yeah, but is it good? A rather unsatisfying and convenient ending. Storm just happened to have this mind switch device the whole time, despite the fact we never see nor hear of it. The X-Men let the Hellfire Club go because stopping them would expose their identities. It's all pretty silly. And apparently Amanda's spell only made Wolverine look dead, but that's not too clear here. About the only part good in this is Kitty realising Storm's identity through her personality. It really shows how much these two have bonded and know each other.
Signicata: Kitty returns to Xavier's school. Shaw is comatose. White Queen vows to get revenge on them. Storm's jealousy over Stevie continues.
