Comics: Uncanny X-Men #240

UNCANNY X-MEN #240
January 1989
"Strike The Match"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Marc Silvestri
Inker: Dan Green
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco

The X-Men all begin their descent into madness in this issue. It starts with Madelyne Pryor and Havok on a date at the Rainbow Room in NYC, which turns bloody when the demonized building starts eating people just barely off-panel. Gateway teleports the couple back home and Madelyne then goes out, alone, in full Goblin Queen gear to visit and pout at Jean Grey's grave. Jean's parents happen across the grave and Madelyne turns them into demon henchmen out of anger. Back at the X-Men's Australian headquarters, Dazzler gets extremely mad when Rogue flirts with Longshot. And then Longshot gets upset when he realizes Dazzler considers him hers and, after being a slave for Mojo, doesn't like the idea of being possessed. Cut to the Nebraska orphanage that Cyclops and Jean visited a couple issues ago in X-Factor and Madelyne starts uncovering some secrets about her history. The X-Men then track the Marauders to the Morlock Alley and start getting some revenge. The issue ends with the reveal that Mr. Sinister believes Madelyne should call him...father!

Overall this is a good issue. Several plotlines lurch closer towards their climax, and the issue also includes a lot of slam-bang action. At first I was wondering why the X-Men were all of a sudden so blood thirsty for the Marauders. Sure the Marauders kicked the crap out of them before, but the X-Men have never really been about revenge. It's hinted at later that all of this is dark energy influencing the team. I like that Alex is insecure about his new relationship with Madelyne and I like that Colossus still feels remorse for killing Riptide (who is alive again, shockinlgy) back during the "Mutant Massacre." The end reveal is bold and it feels like all the loose threads that have been dangling for the last few years are coming together...even if this isn't what Claremont envisioned.

The art is fun. Silvestri turns in solid action work, even if his faces tend to be fairly flat when he shows them from a low angle...which he does a lot. But anyway, it's still fresh and crisp. Solid inking from the vet Dan Green helps, definitely. I don't really get why Madelyne Pryor's dress changes from panel to panel during her date with Havok. I'm assuming it's to show her dark mastery over matter, or evil sorcerous ways, and maybe to highlight the surrealness and creepiness of the date and her control over Havok's perception...but none of that is mentioned. It's subtle, so I will take it as intentional.

Good issue, and a lot better than the New Mutants and X-Terminators issues of this crossover since it doesn't focus on the demons as much as it does on the characters.

MY SCORE: 8.7/10