Uncanny X-Men #299

Publisher
Marvel
Year
1993
Month
4
LastChanged
1/22/2024 7:02:09 AM
Nightlines

Players and Pawns
Summary

  Gyrich has Forge help him investigate the crash site of part of Asteroid M (see X-Men II:3). Forge says it survived the crash too well, so something or someone guided it. Inside, they find Magneto's empty armor, with Delgado and Anne Marie kneeling, statue-like before it.

  Jean takes Xavier to ABC-TV in New York: his assassination attempt (iss. 294) has upped his public image from genetics expert to mutant-rights activist, and he is on Nightline debating Kelly (chairman of the Federal Committee on Mutant Affairs) and Creed (head of the Friends of Humanity, whom they don't realize is Victor Creed's son), in the wake of the Acolyte attack (last iss.).

  In St. Mary's Boys Home, Warren puts Teddy to bed and chats with the Mother Superior, who is pro mutant.

  Xavier points out that there are good mutants as well as bad; Creed tries to blame the X-Men for Kelly's wife's death (iss. 247), but Kelly denies that and says he's not out for vengeance. He just wants to police the mutants, and Creed calls for the implementation of the Mutant Registration Act (iss. 224).

  Fitzroy wants to offer Creed membership in the Upstarts, which now includes Cortez, who claims to have killed Magneto. They bicker, and Gamesmaster rules that Fitzroy's secret other protégé will be the last Upstart. Whoever wins gets the service of all the others.

  Piotr sketches; Illyana gets out of bed to give him a valentine she made for him. He says he'll always be there to protect her.

  Hank joins the TV debate, with the Avengers symbol behind him. He says "Sieg Heil" to Creed and proceeds to ridicule his position, ending the debate with a raspberry. Xavier hides his face.

  Bobby, Bishop, Ororo, Warren, and Charlotte watch the debate at Harry's; Bishop thinks he recognizes one of the waitresses; Ororo raises a toast to fallen comrades and fallen foes, and finally to the future.

  Kelly realizes he agrees with much of Xavier's position. Off stage, Jean hears a telepathic voice: Kelly's aide is a mutant. Xavier is in touch with Scott and prepares to take the team to France, where the Acolytes are based.