Fan Retrospectives: Chris Claremont's X-Men: Part 4: Merry Christmas, X-Men...
Chris Claremont is arguably the most influential X-Men writer and one of the most important superhero comics creators in general. His command of prose, deft use of subplots, and willingness to let characters grow in unexpected ways put a definitive stamp that few has been able to replicate since. Come and see how X-Men rose from obscurity into the a global pop culture phenomenon primarily under the pen of this one man.
"Merry Christmas, X-Men..." Uncanny X-Men #98
Writers: Chris Claremont
Artists: Dave Cockrum
Review by Eric Lee
Previously on X-Men: Professor Xavier is haunted by dreams of a strange insectoid spaceship. He is so perturbed that he goes on a vacation. Jean Grey rejoins the team in time for Havok and Polaris to become brainwashed by Eric the Red to attack the team at the airport. Havok, Polaris, and Eric get away while there is some tension brewing between Cyclops and Wolverine.
Despite the hanging thread of Havok and Polaris, Chris Claremont does not immediately resolve it and instead lets it hang for months. I said it previously, but that is pretty revolutionary that plots do not always guarantee a fast resolution. Like real life, sometimes you don't know what happens with your friends or family and you just move on with your life.
So the X-Men decide to celebrate Christmas at Rockefeller Center. The group is gathered in front of the famous ice rink and giant Christmas tree. Oddly, it seems like Nick Fury and Valentina de Fontaine also are hanging around in the bottom right corner of the panel to celebrate the holidays. Does SHIELD take federal holidays off?
We're also treated to the first time that Wolverine is shown without a mask. I can only wonder what people thought about his hair mimicking his mask fins. It must've been weird to realize how similar his haircut is.
Meanwhile, we are treated with another running gag of Nightcrawler being a real horndog and thirsting after some girls on the street. I kinda wish we saw this fun side of Nightcrawler's personality more in current comics. I feel like he's just the default religious guy- which makes him serious much of the time.
Unfortunately for the young mutant couple, their night is completely ruined with the arrival of Sentinels freakin' ripping the entire ceiling off the restaurant.
It is so funny that humans create Sentinels to capture mutants, but don't consider how they're such a menace to other human bystanders. You know that the owner of the restaurant is ruined financially since it's unlikely that he can replace an entire roof.
This is honestly the first time ever that we see Jean Grey cut loose with her telekinetic powers like ever. Before that, she was doing crazy things like levitating a book. Now, she can straight-up push back the hulking Sentinels while Cyclops finishes them off with an optic blast. However, they end up capturing Jean Grey and leaving Cyclops hanging precariously over the city street. I wonder why they only retrieved Jean? This story never really explains this.
The rest of the X-Men see the battle on the street and suit up. Y'know, there is a consistent theme where Storm is able to use lightning to transform her clothes into her costume. It's weird. They actually try to explain it in a later issue but it's still shaky science at best. It reminds me of how Elsa from Frozen is somehow able to make new outfits with just ice powers.
Another funny thing I noticed about Storm during this re-read is how over-dramatic she is while yelling about weather. I always thought that was a thing only from X-Men: The Animated Series, but I guess Storm has always been a bit of a diva.
Anyways, while Storm dispatches the last of the Sentinels, Cyclops realizes that the Sentinels may also be hunting for Professor Xavier. And he is correct, because a Sentinel captures Xavier while he is fishing in the middle of the Bahamas sea.
In the Sentinel's secret headquarters, crazy bug-eyed scientist Dr. Stephen Lang gloats over capturing some dirty muties. There is an interesting plot where they examine Wolverine and they state how his readings are different from the other mutants. This plot never came into fruition and Wolverine's backstory was altered from Chris Claremont's original idea was. I won't get into it here, but Claremont's initial plan for Wolverine was wild to say the least.
Once Lang slapped Jean, Wolverine shifted into a rage mold and slashed out his restraints. In another first, this is the first time we learned that Wolverine's claws are a part of his body, not his gloves as some other characters erroneously assumed previously.
After they clear the room and suit up, Wolverine callously suggests that they ditch Xavier's unconscious body, which seems moot since Jean Grey can easily carry him with her telekinetic powers. There is also a slightly funny series of panels where Wolverine keeps calling Jean Grey "Red". It doesn't feel intentionally funny how Wolverine kept on repeating himself. It's almost like Claremont took notes from 90's era Frank Miller's dialogue writing.
The X-Men completely wipe the floor with an army of Sentinels and Banshee absolutely rips through the headquarters until he is stunned silent.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team meet up with a wildly exhausted Peter Corbeau to inform them of Xavier's capture. Corbeau put it together that the reason why the team can't find their missing teammates is because they're not on Earth at all!
Banshee, Wolverine, and Jean are now stuck floating in the vacuum of space.
To be Continued...
By the Numbers
Notable Developments:
- The first appearance of Wolverine's hair.
- The Sentinels returned.
- First reveal that Wolverine's claws are a part of his body.
Subplots Count:
What is Project: Armageddon?UPDATE: Project: Armageddon is a revived Sentinel program- What is Moira McTaggert's real role?
- Eric the Red brainwashes Havok and Polaris for an unknown reason.
- A mystery person is monitoring the X-Men.
- Why does Storm have claustrophobia?
- What is Wolverine's mystery backstory?
- Professor X is haunted by visions of a mecha-insectoid being.
Repetition is My Job, My Job is Repetition:
- Mystery villains spying on the X-Men so far: 2
- Professor X screams wildly so far: 4
- Characters with accents so far: 5 (Moira McTaggert, Banshee, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Wolverine)
- Wolverine calls someone "Bub" this issue: 4
- Wolverine calls Jean "Red" this issue: 3
- Number of times Banshee says 'Ye' this issue: 6
Professor X is a Jerk!:
- No new jerky actions this issue! Yay!
The Most Claremontiest Quote of the Issue:
“Well I am Storm, Monster...and I resist you--! And I will not be destroyed. You are only a machine, Sentinel--and how an a mere machine stand against the power of Storm--? The power of a rampaging hurricane!!"- Storm
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