Fan Retrospectives: Chris Claremont's X-Men: Part 5: Deathstar, Rising
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.
"Deathstar, Rising!" Uncanny X-Men #99
Writers: Chris Claremont
Artists: Dave Cockrum
Review by Eric Lee
Previously on X-Men: The Sentinels have returned to capture Professor X, Jean Grey, Wolverine, and Banshee. The X-Men manage to escape Dr. Stephen Lang until they realized they broke out of Project: Armageddon's headquarters and into the empty void of space.
Despite wanting to kill mutants, the Sentinels retrieve Wolverine, Banshee, and Jean Grey from dying in space. Apparently Lang is not done with experimenting on the mutants yet.
Back on Earth, Dr. Peter Corbeau and Cyclops put their heads together and realizes that their missing teammates are in a space station orbiting Earth. There is an interesting computer visual while Corbeau is explaining how he narrowed down the location of the missing X-Men.
It looks gorgeous and feels unnecessary, but it looks so cool.
Then we do a time skip (I think?) where Corbeau uses his NASA connections to allow the X-Men to hijack an entire space shuttle launch. There's really very little explanation of how of why this occured. Was there already a shuttle launch scheduled? If so, what did the X-Men do to the original crew?
Once the X-Men board, we're treated to another reminder of Storm being claustrophobic while wearing the space suit. But she's not the only one who feels trapped. Colossus has some anxiety going to space. Interestingly, he brings up his brother Mikhail who seemingly died in a failed space launch.
Chris Claremont once again demonstrates this progressive form of comic book storytelling. He seeds these random character backstories, but does not follow up with them for years- sometimes even decades. It doesn't necessarily add anything to the current narrative, but it sure make every character feel real and lived-in with their own interior lives.
So while the X-Men blast off in the shuttle, we shift to a scene with some random scientist aboard research space station. The main scientist is warning how the solar forecasts are off-the-charts. Hmmmm...
In yet another subplot, we see a stormy Irish village where a man is attempting to deliver a letter to Sean Cassidy aka Banshee. Except he is stopped by a mysterious shadowed figure Black Tom- who has been identified as Banshee's cousin.
Back at the Sentinel Space station, the scientist's mutant detector is going ballistic for this incoming space shuttle. Dr. Lang immediately sends out the Sentinels to blast the ship. The blast hits the shuttle and sucks Storm right out into the vacuum of space. Fortunately, Dr. Corbeau did his space flying at the school of action movies, because he crashes straight into the side of Project Armageddon's space station. That's pretty hardcore, Dr. Corbeau.
While outside in space, Storm discovered she can manipulate the weather of solar winds. This allows her to destroy the Sentinels around her. Interestingly, she was so disturbed by the Sentinel's destruction, she starts contemplating if being an X-Men is a good idea for her morality.
It's moments like this that make me wonder if Claremont ever meant for Colossus and Storm to have a romantic relationship. He always seems very over-protective of her.
Suddenly, Jean telepathically beckons Cyclops to rescue them in the detention center. For unknown reasons, Lang split Jean and the Professor up into one room and Wolverine and Banshee in the other. The team splits up to rescue everyone, but Cyclops is ready to throwdown with Lang. And he is pissed!
There is always a flash of joy to see Cyclops so charged up because you know he's going to really mess someone up. And mess Lang up he does. He blasts through the doors, frees Jean, and starts beating Lang with his bare hands.
He would've killed Lang too if he wasn't blasted in the back by another unknown figure.
On the other side of the compound the rest of the team frees Wolverine and Banshee off-screen (another off-screen development?!). But then they're stopped by what appears to be the original X-Men and a very bloodthirsty Professor X directing them to kill the imposters.
To be Continued...
By the Numbers
Notable Developments:
- The first mention of Colossus' brother Mikhail.
- First tease of Black Tom Cassidy.
- First use of Storm's solar winds powers.
- The new X-Men team seems to have to battle the old X-Men team.
Subplots Count:
- 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.
- The mysterious Black Tom wants to thwart Banshee
- There is a major solar flare storm
Repetition is My Job, My Job is Repetition:
- Mystery villains spying on the X-Men so far: 4
- Characters with accents so far: 8 (Moira McTaggert, Banshee, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Wolverine, Black Tom, Mr. Flaherty, Irish Postal Worker)
Professor X is a Jerk!:
- Well he was unconscious for the entire issue, so nothing new happened...
The Most Claremontiest Quote of the Issue:
“I'll be knowin' how t'do me own job, thank ye very much--I been doin' it nigh on forty years. Now, fer the last time, close that flamin' door!!"- Irish Postal Worker
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