Uncanny X-Men #176 (Dec 83): Decisions

Creative Team: Chris Claremont, writer; John Romita, Jr., penciler; Bob Wiacek, inker; Glynis Wein, colorist; Tom Orzechowski, letterer; Louise Jones, editor; Jim Shooter, editor-in-chief

Starting Line Up: Storm (DNA), Nightcrawler (DNA), Wolverine, Colossus (DNA), Sprite (DNA), Rogue (DNA)

Guest Star: Cyclops

In New Mutanst #10: As Cannonball, Sunspot, and Wolfsbane try to figure out what's going on, Psyche and Amara are captured and taken to Selene for a sacrificial ritual; Selene throws Amara into a lava pool, and Amara re-emerges with super-human powers, demanding vengeance.

In Magik #1: Illyana is left behind in Limbo with the X-Men from an alternate timeline.

Synopsis: Cyclops and Madelyn and off on their honeymoon. They're flying a little spruce plan to a tropical island. They run into a storm, and are struck by lightning. In Japan, Wolverine confronts Mariko. He sent him back the Honor Sword and he wants to know why. He says it is rightfully his. He wants to know why she still won't marry him even after Mastermind's tricks have been exposed. She says because he killed her father and because, during her time under Mastermind's influence, she followed in her father's path and got her family involved with crime again. She has to undo it herself and will not allow Wolverine to help. He lets her know he will always be there to help. Back in the Pacific, Cyclops and Madelyn make repairs on the plane. Cyclops is nearly eaten by a great white shark, but then that shark gets eaten by a squid. In Washington, DC, Henry Peter Gyrich heads to a security meeting. A CIA agent recounts Magneto's last attack on humans (issue #150) when he created the volcano in Russia and sank their missle sub. He doesn't know what halted Magento, but believes Magneto could have defeated the Avengers had they tries to intervene. Valerie Cooper than addresses the meeting about mutants. She mentions how mutants have begun popping up all over the world and may soon be used as weapons or spies against the United States. She suggests doing so first. Gyrich objects on the grounds that that could be seen as enslaving mutants, proving Magneto right, and rallying more to his cause. Cooper doesn't believe other nations will have the same attitude and that they are in danger. Back in the Pacific, the storm starts to overcome the honeymooners as they continue to have trouble getting the plane started. In the New York City sewers, Callisto, Sunder, and Masque confront Caliban about his obsession with Kitty. Caliban is upset because Kitty promised to stay with him, but she hasn't return to him yet. Callisto promises to make her, and hopes Storm tries to stop her. Back in the Pacific, Madelyn is pulled under by the giant squid from earlier. Cyclops battles the squid for a while, then they rush to get the plane airborne before the storm hits full force. They finally make it. Cyclops decides against going into space with his father, since the Starjammers are headed off to fight in the next Shi'Ar civil war. He wants to stay on Earth and live a normal life with Madelyn.

Yeah, but is it good? Cyclops, the first X-Men, has gotten married and left the team. In his sendoff issue, he fights a squid. Not exactly Days of Future Past. Really, though. A squid? Give me a Spider-Manesque bank robber or something other than... well a squid. Anyway, take care Cyke. We'll see you in the future. The rest of the issue is there to set up future plots. Mariko still can't marry Wolverine and has to fight the Yakuza. Callisto will make Kitty live with Caliban and try to reclaim her leadership from Storm. And most importantly, the government is getting further worried about mutants. Gyrich, and possibly Cooper, have already popped up in New Mutants, but this is the first time we get these specific mutant specialist government agents here. Nasty things are in store for our merry band of mutants.

Significata: Cyclops leaves the X-Men to live a normal married life. Mariko still will not marry Wolverine and must fight to clear her family name. The US goverment becomes more paranoid out mutants, other nations' use of mutants, and plans their own use of them. Callisto plans to make Kitty live with Caliban and retake leadership of the Morlocks from Storm.  ¶ 6:00 AM