This Issue! Things Get Worse! #131

The Uncanny X-Men #131
“Run For Your Life!”
Chris Claremont and John Byrne

Synopsis
Cyclops and Phoenix make their way to the White Queen’s base of operations to rescue the rest of the team. Will Dazzler and Kitty prove their worth to the team?

Rolling Commentary
I like that the opening splash page is a Floating Head Cover, in the Justice League of America style. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, don’t feel bad, it just means you’re less of a nerd than I am.

Page 2. Jean Grey smash!

Page 5. Good thing Jean doesn’t have ethical issues with doing something like this like other red-haired telepaths in comic books. I’m looking right at you, Ragged Robin.

Page 6. How do the Hellfire Club pawns know who’s who when they can’t see each other’s faces?

Page 8. Wolverine and Kitty interact for really the first time. Their relationship will develop as the series goes on.

Page 12. I love the dialogue in panel 2. “Wolverine… dealt with them.” “Oh.” Great stuff.

Page 13. Phoenix versus Emma. This fight will never have repercussions. Nope. Not at all. *ahem*

Page 15. Now seriously, Professor, why would anybody possibly not want to have supervillains trying to kill them at least once a day while being attacked as monsters and freaks by racist bigots?

Post Mortem
Yay for more hints of what is to come with Jean! Yay for Wolverine coming to Kitty’s rescue! Huzzah for Dazzler’s brief appearance, et cetera.

Phoenix and Emma Frost have a certain animosity between them to this day, caused by this fight here. Lots of good stuff in this issue, especially with regards to Jean being more compromising with regards to ethics. Cyclops and Storm’s worry about Jean losing control is foreshadowing, of course, but it’s nice of them to worry about her.