aksis

I’m going to read every* X-Men book ever and use this account as a series of diaries for it. *Flagship, plus crossovers.

X-Men #158 (1963) Senator Kelly continues to push his anti-mutant agenda, so with help from Carol Danvers, the X-Men break into the Pentagon to destroy any info the government has on them. They fight Rogue and Mystique along the way.

X-Men #157 (1963) An alien disrupts Charles’ mind link, leaving him in a vegetative state. Chan. Araki is slain by Lord Samedar. Kitty and Kurt give the Shi’ar some Phoenix PTSD to buy time for Lilandra to tell the Shi’ar that she’s safe so they won’t blow up the Earth.

X-Men #156 (1963) The Starjammers pick up the X-Men and proceed to save Lilandra and Charles (he got captured last issue) from Deathbird and the Brood. With the Starjammer’s ship damaged, Chancellor Araki is unaware Lilandra is safe, and plans to destroy Earth.

X-Men #155 (1963) The X-Men team up with Tigra (the only Avenger that was home) in an attempt to save Lilandra, and eventually fighting Deathbird and the Brood. Colossus gets absolutely bullied this issue. First an acid bullet, then stabbed.

X-Men #154 (1963) The X-Men move to Magneto’s abandoned island in the Bermuda Triangle. We get a Storm and Cyclops issue where Corsair travels to Earth to save Lilandra, who was captured by a terrorist group. Scott finds out Corsair is his father + the mansion is destroyed.

X-Men #153 (1963) As the X-Men clean up the damage the Hellfire Club caused to the X-Mansion, Kitty tells Illyana Rasputin a bedtime story. Kitty as a pirate, Bamfs, Lockhead, and a “happy ending” to the Dark Phoenix Saga. Fun little issue.

X-Men #152 (1963) Kitty and a body swapped Storm free the X-Men from the Hellfire Club and take back Storm’s body from Emma. There was a fun bit with some returning henchmen, other than that, not much to say outside of the body swap gimmick.

X-Men #151 (1963) Kitty’s parents send her off to Massachusetts Academy (owned by the Hellfire Club). Emma Frost (who was assumed dead) swaps bodies with Storm to infiltrate the X-Men, while Shaw sends his Sentinels to attack.

X-Men #150 (1963) Magneto tries to take over the world because nukes would inadvertently massacre mutants. The X-Men disagree per usual. Magneto’s backstory as a holocaust survivor is established. It only took almost 18 years.

X-Men #149 (1963) The X-Men are sent by Xavier to scope out Magneto’s old volcano base, only to discover Garokk, who survived his fall (and is very mad at Storm) in #116 thanks to Magneto. Kitty manages to save Storm while wearing a hideous new costume.

X-Men #148 (1963) Kitty’s been afraid of Kurt since her introduction. When her, Storm, and Spider-Women encounter Caliban, she learns to see him beyond just his appearance. Scott and Lee find themselves shipwreaked in the Caribbean and end up waking in on Magneto (he’s back!)

X-Men #147 (1963) The X-Men escape Doom’s traps and frees Storm (she was basically trapped in carbonite), who becomes one with the elements and declares herself a god. Colossus deescalates, and as Storm returns to normal, Doom hits on Storm again and allows Arcade to go free.

X-Men #146 (1963) Doctor Doom keeps the X-Men in unique death traps, while Havok, Polaris, Iceman, and Banshee go to Murderworld to save the supporting characters. Nightcrawler manages to escape at the end of the issue. Iceman reveals that he’s still in love with Polaris.

X-Men #145 (1963) The X-Men are recruited by Miss Locke (Arcade’s assistant) to rescue him from Doctor Doom. She holds X-Men supporting characters hostage for leverage. Doom and Storm hit it off. It’s revealed that Arcade was never a prisoner, and then X-Men are captured.

X-Men #144 (1963) Cyclops and Man Thing team up issue. D’Spayre terrorizes Scott Summers and Lee Forrester after Lee's father committed suicide. (Scott’s new origin w/ the plane crash is flushed out here). Scott is able to resist him w/ his memories and love he had for Jean.

X-Men #143 (1963) Back in #96, (47 issues ago) a lone N'Garai managed to escape and finds his way to the X-Mansion on Christmas Eve. It’s literally an Alien homage (was getting some Home Alone vibes, even if that film came out 9 years later), Kitty Pryde vs N’Garai.

X-Men #142 (1963) As the X-Men battle Mystique’s Brotherhood to protect Senator Kelly, we get our first hints at Nightcrawler and Mystique’s complicated history. Kitty saves the day, but doesn’t stop the Gov. from allowing Shaw, Kelly, and Gyrich to start building Sentinals.

X-Men #141 (1963) Days of Future Past needs no explanation, but it’s crazy how this is the first real time we’re getting back into mutants being hated and feared. Kitty as main character. Mystique’s first time in an X-Men book + her new Brotherhood. Hints at Rachel Summers.