X-Men #139 (Nov 80): ...Something Wicked This Way Comes!Creative Team: Chris Claremont, writer; John Byrne, plot/penicler; Terry Austin, inker; Tom Orzechowski, letterer; Glynis Wein, colorist; Louise Jones, editor; Jim Shooter, editor-in-chief
Starting Line Up: Storm, Angel, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Colossus, Kitty Pryde
Guest Stars: Vindicator, Snowbird, Shaman, The Hulk (flashback)
Synopsis: The older X-Men are training in the Danger Room... and Angel is not doing well. He's spent too much time away from the super hero game, especially in a team, that he's not only endangering himself, but his fellow X-Men. They're understanding, however, and plan to help him get back in the groove. Xavier then tells Kitty she needs a code name. He suggest Ariel, but Storm prefers Sprite. So Xavier obeys his thirst and names her Sprite. Wolverine then decides, since the X-Men are in a down time, he needs to go back to Canada and make sure Alpha Flight and Department H will accept his resignation so they won't bother the X-Men anymore. Nightcrawler goes with him. In the meantime, Storm takes Kitty to her first dance lesson with former ballet dancer, Stevie Hunter. In Ottawa, Heather Hudson, wife of Alpha Flight's Vindicator, returns home to find her door wide open. Inside she finds Wolverine and Nightcrawler. She actually happy to see Wolverine and they act like old friends. She uses his name Logan, and it's the first time another X-Men has ever heard his real name (We found out back in issue #103 when one of the Lephraucans knew it, and he confirms it in issue #118 when he meets Mariko Yoshida). She tells them that Vindicator isn't home, he's off with Alpha Flight on a mission up north by Hudson Bay. Actually, it's only half of Alpha Flight as some are off in a guest appearance for another comic. But Snowbird and Shaman are with him. They're searching for come large creature. Wolverine and Nightcrawler arrive and a fight almost breaks out. Nightcrawler calms everyone down and Shaman explains why they're there. A family was camping in the area when they were attacked by a large creature. The older son got away. The father's remains were found. They assume the mother and the baby are still alive. The have a cast made of the foot print. Wolverine recognises it as the Wendigo. He relates the story of his first comic appearance (Hulk #181) where he was sent to capture the Hulk, but found him fighthing Wendigo. He explains that Wendigo was a man cursed because he turned to cannabalism to survive, but since then that man was relieved of the curse because another man wanted the power of the Wendigo. So now it's a different guy. Nightcrawler goes outside to get their supplies. He contemplates the unfairness of Jean's death and is attacked by Wendigo.
Yeah, but is it good? I'm not much of a fan of this one. Not that it's bad, but a) despite being Canadian, I was never fond of Alpha Flight. The only interesting characters on the team (Aurora and Northstar) arn't even featured here. b) Wendigo isn't much of an interesting villain (a mindless brute who can only say his own name... he's the world's biggest Pokemon). c) This isn't the type of story I like seeing X-Men in. The whole issue is a lot of fun, though. And that's what X-Men needs to be after all the previous depressing story arcs. They make some jokes about 'Sprite' and the play between the X-Men and Alpha Flight is somewhat humorous. There's also some good build and bonding between Storm and Kitty. Plus I like the idea of Angel, one of original X-Men, not being able to hold up against the new team.
Significata: Angel is having troubles adjusting to working with the new team. The bonding between Storm and Kitty continues. Stevie Hunter is introduced. Wolverine and Nightcrawler have become two very good friends. Kitty is given the code-name Sprite, and it's barely ever used. An X-Men learns Wolverine's real name. Nightcrawler's religious side starts to emerge when he questions God's plan in taking Jean. Wolverine debuts his long lasting yellow and brown costume, replacing his eventually returning yellow and blue one.
