Previously in The Black Panther and Storm:

For over ten thousand years warrior kings called Black Panthers ruled and protected the isolated and unconquerable African nation Wakanda. In their isolation Wakanda became the most scientifically advanced nation on Earth. T’Challa was the latest Black Panther, and he believed that his great nation was obligated to use its resources to help the less fortunate; defenseless peoples of the world against tyranny, corruption, and megalomaniac super humans.

Black Panther later married Ororo ‘Storm’ Munroe the extraordinary mutant heroine.

Story: Malice

For Your Eyes Only

It has been confirmed by our agents in Chedula that Malice has indeed recovered from her once terminal illness. We have not discovered the reason for this drastic turnaround, but are pursing it.

We do see a benefit in the change of events. It will give us leverage to use in order to regain control over Soberk. It has been suggested that we offer our protection or promise to terminate Malice on his behalf. Agent Raven will handle the delivery of the proposals to Soberk.

In the interim, we must keep Malice safe from her other enemies. Measures are in place to hamper the activities of the Hellfire Club, the Hand, Red Skull, Wilson “King Pin” Fisk, Hydra and A.I.M. We are also keeping a watch on the vigilante Punisher. With regards to T’Challa and Ororo, we calculate that they will not attack Malice without provocation.

Still we are unaware of Malice’s motivations. She may likely seek revenge against T’Challa, Ororo and Soberk in an all out assault sooner rather than later. In that case we must protect Soberk. However if she’s able to eliminate T’Challa and Ororo then we will re examine our future involvement with Soberk.

Also at this juncture, the status of former section chief Kallus remains in doubt. If alive we strongly believe that he has not spoken to T’Challa and Ororo about this organisation based on the fact that they have not come after us. On the other hand, T’Challa and Ororo may have privately executed him. Either way his successful stratagems are being archived for future references.

The next item for our up coming meeting will be the developments in Genosha.

Chapter One

“Ororo, Malice is here,” Scott Summers aka Cyclops said cautiously expecting the storm the news would create.

“What?” exclaimed Ororo. First she was shocked that Malice was even alive and secondly that the woman was at the X Men Headquarters.

“Magneto just brought her in. That is why I’m calling you-”

“Are they still there?”

“Yes-”

“Then keep them there. I’m coming,” said Ororo.

“All right then.”

Ororo ended the videophone link to Scott who was on the original X Men team. It was through that team’s capture that she was drafted into another team in order to attempt a rescue. Since then she had been a member of the X men and had led several teams.

“Magneto and Malice,” said T’Challa as he tried to find the connection between the two other than being mutants.

“Why do I have the strange feeling that he aided her recovery?” Ororo turned to him. “But we’ll soon find out.”

“The ICC Chairman will have to answer to the families of the people she helped kill for this scandal,” T’Challa pointed out.

“They were suppose to be monitoring her. It was a condition under her release,” said Ororo. “This a major slip up on his part. People will be demanding his head and I support them.”

“I wonder how Umba is going to react to this.”

“We’ll tell him after he gets back from school,” said Ororo. “And why would Magneto take Malice to the X men? What does he want her to join?”

“But how many times has Magneto re joined the group despite the atrocities he has committed or overseen?”

“I know that. We have an unwritten “water under the bridge” policy when it comes to foes entering our fold,” said Ororo.

T’Challa took up the sword that was leaned against the table. “Take us to the X Men headquarters front entrance.”

“All right,” said the time space computers on the hilt. Afterwards a golden light encompassed T’Challa and Ororo and they were teleported to the destination.

X Headquarters

“Hey it’s Ororo and T’Challa,” said Armour.

“She looks pissed,” stated Rockslide. “Must have something to do with Magneto and the nice looking woman he brought.”

T’Challa had to increase his pace to keep up with Ororo as she entered the headquarters. He noticed the two teenagers seated on a bench a few feet from the doorway. The Japanese girl, Armour, waved at him and he returned the gesture.

He usually received a genuinely warm reception from the mutants. In the past he had worked with their mentor and founder of the team, Professor Charles Xavier. T’Challa and Ororo also funded the team. He liked the mutants. They had their own sub culture and customs.

The couple passed through the living accommodations and met several other members of the X men-some were human looking and others were not. Then Ororo and T’Challa entered a corridor that led to the War Room.

Its grey metal door opened automatically as the couple approached. The silver hair of the great mutant called Magneto was the first thing Ororo noticed on entering the room. Then she sharply focused on Malice who sat innocuously at the command table.

Immediately Magneto drifted across the room and he came between Ororo and Malice. But Malice rose and stood next to him. Then she stared threateningly at Ororo.

The other two people in the room were Cyclops and Emma Frost. The latter was a former foe of the X Men who became a member and then Scott’s lover. Eventually she earned a senior position in the X men hierarchy.

Chapter Two

Ororo and Malice were practically the same height- five foot eight. They were both slender and near omega level mutants. Together their beauties would captivate a room of admirers. Their life stories were slightly similar in that both were orphaned at a young age and operated as thieves to survive. However their ages differed. Ororo was thirty and Malice appeared to be in her mid twenties, but she had been alive for centuries (mostly in a sleeping chamber).

Ororo looked distastefully at the woman. Malice had long curly hair and a small gold nose ring. She was remarkably healthy as compared to the last time Ororo saw her when the condemned woman was mere skin and bone due to her cells degenerating.

“Ororo, just listen for one second,” said Magneto in a humble tone.

She glared at him.

“You have one second then I’m hauling her back to the ICC,” said Ororo.

“You can try,” commented Malice. “The fact that I promised Magneto not to is the only reason I haven’t turned you to stone.”

“She is a benefit to mutant kind and the X Men. I healed her using remnants of the Celestial eye,” Magneto interceded. “With the help of the High Evolutionary I have created an antidote from her blood for the X gene nullifier serum. I gave Scott several canisters of the antidote in case the weaponized version of the serum is used against any of the X men.”

Ororo ignored Magneto’s statements and she had the audacity to do so because she had spared his life once. She turned to Scott.

“I want to speak with you in private,” she said.

Scott had expected it. “All right. Emma can you kindly entertain Malice in the meantime.”

Magneto glanced at T’Challa. The last time the two had met he was still the ruler of Genosha, but certain events had destroyed that island. And then there was the matter of Ororo’s relationship with T’Challa that he wanted to address.

“I want to speak with you,” he said to T’Challa.

The Black Panther also wanted the time to speak with the Wakandan mutant Nehzno who had chosen to live at the headquarters.

Thus within moments everyone else had vacated the room and Ororo and Scott were alone. Then the wind rider delved into his decision forthwith.

“You can’t be serious to make her an X man?” inquired Ororo heatedly.

“Magnus believes it’s an opportunity for her to serve the community in order to pay for her past deeds.” He stood like a Boy Scout in his X Men uniform. A specialised visor was over his eyes. The X gene that he was born with caused his eyes to emit red wavelengths of energy that his body stored.

“So Magneto is making the decisions now?” asked Ororo in fury. Her eyes became white and glowed. Charged electrons formed short visible electrical currents from the corner of her eyes.

“It is not like that,” said Scott heatedly.

“Then how is it? Where are the canisters?”

“Hank is checking them out. But his preliminary tests show that the antidote works,” replied Scott. “And have you considered the political advantage that Malice brings to the table? As a national leader she gives us a lot of resources similar to you. I hope you’re not clouding a practical decision because of what she did to your ward.”

“How dare you. I’m thinking about what is best for the team.”

“Sure doesn’t look that way. Ororo, almost everyone one on the team has blood on their hands or a questionable past. We aren’t perfect. All that I’m asking is that you agree on this.”

Scott appreciated the frankness of Ororo’s conversations with him. Therefore he was not put off by her temper.

“The whole thing reminds me of Xavier working again with Magneto after all the things Eric did,” thought Ororo and she then controlled her anger. The sudden news had unsettled her.

“Very well,” she said sternly yet calmly. Her eyes returned to the blue hue and the electrical currents disappeared.

Then she left to find T’Challa. Scott held his head and hoped that it was the right decision.

Chapter Two

T’Challa made a call to the ICC chairman and scheduled a meeting. Then the Black Panther learnt that Nehzno was in the Danger Room thus he and Magneto walked along a corridor to the training area. Magneto took the opportunity to commence the conversation.

“Ororo earned my respect by besting me in battle. I consider her an equal and I like her style of leadership of the X men. I was surprised that she had married especially to you. I understand that you and Xavier had worked together before therefore he had no qualms against the marriage. I on the other hand have met you only once before and like I said on that day, “I don’t know you all that well”,” said Magneto. “However I understand that you have financially supported the X Men. But I want to know if that was because you married a mutant or out of genuine concern for the species? I have also encountered Nehzno and he told me of the mutant hate in Wakanda.”

T’Challa was also not pleased with the level of mutant prejudice in his country. He believed it was a failure on his part. Hence his eagerness to speak with Nehzno.

“To answer your first question. I am interested in mutant affairs and it is not only due to my marriage. Secondly I admit that there is still unacceptable mutant discrimination in Wakanda. Still Ororo and myself are working to combat it,” said T’Challa.

The Black Panther knew that Magneto had also suffered dual discrimination first as a Jew in Nazi Europe and then as a mutant able to generate and influence electromagnetic energy.

“I’m glad that you recognise the faults that drove the young man to flee his country,” jabbed Magneto.

T’Challa remained silent since he didn’t want to be dragged into an unnecessary argument. Personally he was suspicious of Magneto. The man had on several occasions tried to eradicate humans so mutants would rule the earth with him as king. He was opposed to Xavier’s dream of peaceful co existence between mutants and humans.

“It is amazing that this lunatic has so much respect in the mutant world,” thought T’Challa. “But it is understandable because he cares about their welfare.”

Finally T’Challa and Magneto arrived at the Danger Room control booth. It was situated slightly above the holographic training area. The mutant called Jubilee was monitoring the latest training session which was a mix between senior and junior X men.

“Hey T’Challa,” she said while leaning back in the chief chair. In front of her were various computer screens and controls. A sunglasses was stuck in her dark hair. “Mags,” she said when she saw the man enter the room.

Magneto gave a slight expression that he didn’t like the pet name. His real name was Erik Lehnsherr but changed it to Magnus in his earlier years.

“I heard that Nehzno was here,” said T’Challa as he peered into the training scenario.

He spotted Nehzno who was using his agility to avoid combat fire. The other mutants were codename Colossus, Warpath, Havoc and Magma.

“I’ll tell him you’re here,” said Jubilee.

“It is all right. I’ll wait,” insisted T’Challa.

“It is not a big deal. The training session is almost complete. Boring as it is,” said Jubilee.

Then she spoke into a microphone like a sport commentator at a football game. “Hey Nehzno guess who is here? T’Challa.”

Meanwhile Magneto found it interesting that Jubilee thought the training was boring.

“What makes the training lacklustre?” he inquired.

“The training routines are the same. The Danger Room computer can come up with thousands of scenarios but since most of us have fought in the real world these in door exercises seem trivial. There is no more challenge in my opinion. But Scott insists that we do them.”

“And what could be done to invigorate the program?” asked Magneto.

“A new prototype combatant. The computer already has everyone who ever entered the Danger Room recorded in its memory and it uses that pool of memorised skills to hopefully provided challenging opponents for trainees,” she answered.

Magneto saw the wisdom of the Danger Room but it would be useless if it didn’t bring out the best of the mutants using it. Then an idea entered his head.

“T’Challa,” he said. “Aren’t you one of the best fighters in the world? You can assist the mutant cause some more if we were able to pattern some of your moves for the Danger Room.”

“Really. You would do that?” asked an excited Jubilee.

“Well,” uttered T’Challa as he thought about it. Showcasing his fighting skills was not an aspect of his personality. His talents were initially to defend his country and then it extended to protecting the world. Still he did care about helping the X men outside of monetary terms.

“I will,” he finally divulged.

“Great. I’ll tell them,” said Jubilee and soon enough the young Chinese American woman stopped the training session and related the information to the trainees.

T’Challa headed down to the main entrance. Nehzno greeted him at the door. The teenager was around fourteen years old. His X gene allowed him to generate massive muscular bulk; however, it placed a strain on his body so he rarely used the ability.

“Great to see you. Is Ororo here too?” inquired the teenager.

“She’s meeting with Scott.”

Then the boy looked at him puzzled. “Are you fighting in those clothes?” pointed out Nehzno.

He was referring to the causal attire that T’Challa wore rather than the ceremonial Black Panther body armour.

“I only need my skills and this.” T’Challa raised his sword. The death instrument had a nano robotic sheath for the dark force energy blade. The large bladed fitted into a hilt that had twin time space computers disguised as golden seals.

Magma overheard him. “Are you sure about that?” she asked. “I’ll hate to burn your nice suit.”

T’Challa looked at the woman who was literally on fire due her heat manipulation. “I’ll be fine,” he said.

Then he surveyed the other combatants. Warpath was a Native American Indian with super human strength and strong iron like skin. He was also an expert hand to hand fighter.

Colossus was equally a good hand to hand combatant and his skin morphed into a metal. He also had superhuman strength.

Havoc was Scott’s brother and he emitted through his hand energy that his body stored. Furthermore he was a clever tactician.

When T’Challa had finished his gaze several means of defeating his opponents were on his mind.

“Do you want a setting in which to fight like a burned out city?” inquired Havoc.

“Not a problem,” said T’Challa.

In the control room Jubilee leaned into the microphone. “I heard and activating setting now.”

Suddenly multiple lights engulf the white walled Danger Room. The lights ran the great length and height of the area. Then spectacularly objects began forming in the space around the combatants. The colour changed to brown and grey. Then soon burnt out cars and fires were appearing. Followed by debris and damaged buildings. Finally the setting was complete and it appeared as though the aftermath of a Los Angeles riot had been transported into the Danger Room. The feel, atmosphere and smells were real to the senses.

“Ready?” asked Havoc.

“Yes,” replied T’Challa.

“You against us,” said Havoc who had seen the Black Panther fighting abilities before therefore he knew it was a fair contest.

As practised the X men began forming a ring around the target. T’Challa was in the middle of a street with garbage burning next to him. The area was dark to replicate night time.

“Magma close him down if he tries to get away. Warpath, Colossus, and Nehzno get him,” ordered Havoc.

Nehzno relied on his speed and the basic combat training that all Wakandans received. His attack would be a distraction since he was the weakest.

Thus T’Challa reacted swiftly to dodge the boy’s trained fist and he applied a finger tap to a nerve centre.

Nehzno collapsed from his sight just as Warpath closed in. T’Challa channelled his chi force and strength to the tip of his fingers and he stabbed them into the mutant’s throat.

A normal human attack would not have hurt Warpath but T’Challa’s focused superhuman strength did the trick. And the mutant was left without oxygen flowing temporarily to his brain. As a result he blanked out.

The Russian, Colossus, bolted into the Black Panther. Judging the speed, T’Challa grappled the huge man and then used the momentum to fling Colossus first face into a wall.

“Magma hit him with everything you got,” shouted Havoc. He also fired yellow concussive energy blasts from his hands.

With lightening reflexes T’Challa somersaulted several times away from the fireballs and the energy blasts. Then he erupted into a blistering run towards the attackers. He was merely a glimmer to them thus they fired aimlessly.

T’Challa stomped on his feet to gain the lift needed to carry him over their heads. He did this successfully and he landed behind Magma. He then swung the sheathed blade delicately into her throat. She gave a gasp and then fell.

Then T’Challa focused on Havoc. The Summers brother finally saw him and made to shoot.

But T’Challa went aerial again and descended a heavy kick into Havoc’s face. The man was knocked down.

Magneto was not pleased that a human had so easily defeated mutants. He returned the specially made helmet to his head and departed from the control room. He went down and opened the Danger Room.

“Seems you require tougher opposition,” Magneto remarked.

“That will not be necessary,” said T’Challa sensing the man’s intention.

“I insist,” said Magneto.

Meanwhile Jubilee watched on with great interest. Two powerhouses were about clash.

“Okay,” said T’Challa.

“Let’s begin,” said Magneto.

He manipulated the gravity around his body and was able to levitate several meters in the air. Then he enveloped himself in a magnetic force field. Still Magneto had another trick. He bent the light spectrum and thus became invisible.

“You won’t be needing your sword,” said Magneto as his powers grabbed onto the weapon’s metal. Then he pulled the sword from T’Challa’s hand and flung it away.

Afterwards the great mutant began lifting large metallic debris around the Black Panther. His intention was to hurl them from all directions at T’Challa.

Nevertheless T’Challa still smelt him and heard his heart so he knew where his opponent was.

He shouted out, “Sword.” Hoping the weapon was in hearing distance.

Instantly the time computers heard their master and the sword teleported into his hand.

He whispered to the sword, “One second ahead.” As commanded the time space computers sent their master’s atoms one second ahead of normal time. Thus T’Challa had completely vanished. Then he sprinted forward knocking away the levitating projectiles from his path and he gained momentum for a leap.

Suddenly T’Challa elevated from the ground and he soared towards Magneto. The Black Panther twirled and the sword unsheathed. The blade slashed the force field open on the first twirl and then on the second one T’Challa pushed his free arm through the opening and he extended his first finger. It slipped underneath the helmet (made to keep out telepaths) and applied pressure to the centre of the forehead.

The result was Magneto becoming totally paralysed and he lost control of his powers. Instantly the force field disappeared and the great mutant reappeared and plummeted to the ground. Meanwhile T’Challa landed comfortably on his feet.

“Normal time,” he said to the sword and he reappeared.

There was a hush of astonishment in the control room. “I didn’t even see when he moved,” Jubilee confessed.

T’Challa swiftly went to Magneto and applied pressure to the forehead. The mutant was able to move again and he breathed hard as he tried to rationalise what had happened to him.

“I guess I’m dead,” said Magneto.

“It was a good spar, but I have to speak with Nehzno now,” said T’Challa.

Chapter Three

Emma poured herself a cup of coffee. She glanced at Malice who was seated in the lounge area.

“Who are you really?” the White Queen inquired and shattered the silence. “Your own woman or Magneto’s lap dog?”

Malice simply glared at her. Emma returned the expression.

“So Magneto told you to be on good manners that’s the reason you’re holding back,” stated Emma and she sipped the coffee.

“That means I can say whatever I like to you, so I’ll let it out,” Emma continued. “I despise you just like Ororo does but for a different reason. You see I once lived as a teacher on an island called Genosha and one day a monster was unleashed on it and that beast levelled everything taking 16 million mutant lives in the process-my students. The act you committed on behalf of your husband was too similar and that is why I loathe you. I experienced the lost that your victims felt.”

Malice stood and clenched her fists by her sides. Her eyes gleamed.

“I’m not finished,” said Emma. “I was apart of the inner circle of the Hellfire Club. The same one that you almost successfully terminated on your husband’s orders.” The White Queen took another sip and contemplated on the taste. “Are you going to stand there all day fuming or are you going to say something eventually?” she coaxed.

“Don’t ever mention my husband again,” said Malice forcefully. “And I’m not anyone’s lap dog.”

Emma smirked. “Your file doesn’t say that. The first king of Chedula had you on a tight leash. Then his descendant did now it is Magneto and then it will be Scott and Ororo. Am I the only one seeing a pattern here.”

“For your information Midas freed me from the spell and I stayed with him by choice.”

Emma was enjoying digging her claws into the woman. “Really now. Sure it was not for the money? You were a commoner,” said Emma twisting the words into the wounds.

Malice wanted to strangle her. She might as well been called a whore.

Noticing that the woman was short for words and class Emma dug further, “Do you know how to run a country? Ororo and I may not be best of friends but I do respect her ability to manage a nation like Wakanda. But how will you fare with your country? I did some weekend shopping there. It is a glorious place. I’ll hate for you to ruin it.”

“That is none of your concern,” snarled Malice.

Emma chuckled. “I didn’t know it would be so easy to get under your skin. Take it easy dear.”

Then she stepped close to Malice. “I have committed more atrocities than you can imagine so whatever plot your cooking up in your brain to get back at me will simply fall back in your face,” Emma said coldly.

The White Queen looked into the Malice’s eyes that had returned to a brown black hue. They were burning with hatred.

“You will do find here,” finished Emma.

Instinctively she sensed someone approaching the room and she took a step back. Magneto strolled in and gestured to Malice.

“I trust Emma has been cruel as usual,” slighted Magneto.

“I was just trying to know my new team mate a little better,” said Emma.

“Sure you were,” commented Malice much to Emma’s surprise. “And I learned something about you.”

“Which is?” inquired Emma.

“That you’re a tricky little bitch,” shot Malice.

“Actually to Ms Frost that is a compliment,” stated Magneto.

“Well thank you Eric,” said Emma. “If you will excuse me I have someone else to grind an axe with.”

Then the White Queen departed from Malice’s and Magneto’s sight.

“I don’t know how long I can bite my tongue for these people,” blurted Malice.

“For as long as it takes. You are free now. I hold no power over you other than gratitude. But you must learn to humble yourself at times. The X men is a house of big egos. We have heads of states, master thieves, spies, warriors and immortals. What binds us is the X gene we were born with and the prejudice that world wreaks on us. As the saying goes ‘united we stand and divided we fall’. That is the reason I brought you here so that you will not be alone on the fringes.”

“You make it sound like this is a family,” remarked Malice while she folded her arms.

“It is a family.”

Scott’s footsteps interrupted the conversation and soon the man appeared in front of the pair.

“It has been decided. Malice will be placed on probation before becoming a full member of the X men,” he said.

“And Ororo agreed to this?” inquired Magneto.

“Yes,” responded Scott.

“Very well then we’ll be leaving shortly. Malice needs to return to Chedula, and I have to conduct some private business,” said Magneto.

Malice’s mind flashed to her brother in the law the Regent in charge of Chedula. He didn’t like her and had hoped she died quickly so that he would be crowned king. Removing him from office was the first thing on Malice’s agenda. The second was killing the doctor who had messed with her cells and thus caused her illness. Thirdly was taking vengeance on Soberk for killing her husband. The final item was getting back at T’Challa and Ororo in some form or fashion despite her promise to Magneto.

Soon she and the king of magnetism exited the headquarters. He placed himself and her in a magnetic force field which then flew on the Earth’s magnetic waves to Chedula.

Meanwhile Ororo met up with Emma in a corridor.

“She is a nice girl. I’m going to have fun goading her,” said Emma. “More than I had with you.”

Ororo kept a blank expression knowing how Emma spoke and thought.

“I still don’t get why Magneto brought her anyway?” Emma continued. “Surely he would have known that it would piss you off. But then again we never know what’s going on in that mind of his. One day he’s plotting human genocide and toppling world governments. The next he thinks of himself as a good shepherd over the mutant flock. I don’t know why we keep allowing him back in.”

“I have asked that question myself,” said Ororo.

“To think of it Ororo, you may relatively be the most moral person in the high command. How would we survive without you?” Emma held a reflective expression as she pondered on the wind rider’s great relevance to the team.

“Please,” said Ororo as she left for the Danger Room.

Chapter Five

Ororo chatted with Nehzno for a while afterwards she and T’Challa teleported to the International Criminal Court chairman’s office.

A measure of guilt and embarrassment was etched on the old man’s face. He had a brigade of lawyers going over laws to find a means of re incarcerating Malice. He even imagined that his job was on the line because of the matter.

“I also contacted Jashaw the Regent for his take on this. And Soberk will also be going the meeting,” advised the chairman.

“But couldn’t you have known she had recovered. Don’t the medical staff report to you on a daily basis?” inquired Ororo as she took a seat at the office table.

“That’s the strange thing. They have been giving daily reports and nothing indicated that she was well,” responded the chairman.

“She may have used her mind control powers on them,” suggested T’Challa as he sat.

“It is possible,” said the chairman. Then he remembered that he meant to speak with the couple over an issue even before the Malice fiasco came up. “I would like if you will stay after this meeting. There is something else on the agenda.”

“All right,” said T’Challa.

Shortly after a sphere of fire appeared in the back of the office. Unnaturally the flames emitted no heat and thus they didn’t burn the immediate surroundings. Then the fires vanished. An equally strange man stood in the aftermath. He eyes gleamed and the skin was brown and hard. His attire was stately.

“Good day,” Soberk said to the gathering in a low voice.

He was politely greeted and he took a seat next to Ororo.

Then a holographic phone link activated on the chairman’s desk and he took the call. It was Jashaw. He was in his late thirties. He had a short beard and keen eyes. He got the introductory formalities out of the way and then waded into the chairman.

“This is entirely your fault. You should hang your head in shame. She should have never been released from prison on compassionate grounds,” he said forcefully.

“I know and I accept full blame. Nonetheless I have a team of lawyers on the case to find a means of rectifying the error,” defended the chairman.

“And if none is found what will happen then?” inquired Jashaw. “She will naturally come after me and my family.”

“You have our protection,” affirmed Ororo.

“Yes, I have the number that you and your husband provided the country,” said Jashaw shifting his eyes to the couple.

“One other thing,” said T’Challa. “Weren’t you aware of the developments inside of Malice’s home. I understand that the Queen Mother was attending to her during the time she was sick.”

The mention of the Queen mother made Jashaw visibly uncomfortable. “The Queen Mother has unfortunately alienated herself from the rest of the royal family. In some bizarre way she believes we influenced Midas’s misconduct. But her doctors believe it is mental deterioration that is plaguing her.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Soberk.

“Of course she will becoming after you in due course,” pointed out Jashaw as he faced the strange looking man.

“I look forward to it. Attempted murder should land her back in prison,” Soberk joked, ” isn’t that correct Mr Chairman?”

“Indeed,” confirmed the chairman. “The same goes for T’Challa and Ororo. She will go after them too.”

“So this is the plan. Let her attack and then trap her?” asked Jashaw. “If so, then I agree in the meantime I will make Chedula ungovernable for her. I expect several people to resign from their posts out of protest to her rule.”

“You may draw her wrath to you,” said the chairman.

“She’ll have to find me. I’ll be leaving the country and going into exile once she has removed me from office. I shall strike from afar.”

“I wish you luck,” said Soberk.

“So we have reached an agreement on strategy. I hope to have further meetings,” said the chairman.

“That will be welcomed,” said Jashaw. “Good day to you all.” Then his holographic face disappeared.

“Now if you will excuse me. I have an African Economic Union function to prepare for tonight. I trust I’ll be seeing you two there this evening,” said Soberk as he faced T’Challa and Ororo.

“Hopefully,” Ororo managed to say.

Then Soberk rose and he shook hands with the chairman. He strode to the back of the office and then the magical teleportation fires wrapped around him. Seconds later he was gone.

“Nice person,” commented the chairman.

However T’Challa and Ororo knew otherwise, but they said nothing.

“So what next is on the agenda?” inquired T’Challa.

“Genosha,” answered the chairman while he rapidly typed on the desk keyboard. Abruptly a holographic image appeared of the small island near Madagascar. It had two small peninsulas that formed a bay.

Meanwhile a sudden sadness fell on Ororo as she remembered the former mutant haven.

“We are turning it into a maximum security prison for meta humans and mutant criminals,” continued the chairman.

“And who are the “we”?” asked T’Challa.

“All the world powers have agreed to this. We have already started construction and a few inmates are being stored in temporary cells there,” answered the chairman.

“Magneto,” came to the couple’s minds.

“Have you taken into the account the connection the island has with the wider mutant population?” quizzed Ororo.

“Sure we have. It was determined that the place was suitable since Magneto had abandoned the island and there was no functioning government much less any mutant or human presence. Moreso we didn’t want pirates using it as a base of operations like we saw in Somalia or a terrorist training ground.”

“And what is security like?” asked T’Challa.

“The Avengers, War Machine and S.H.I.E.L.D personnel are on the scene,” stated the chairman. “We have the situation well in hand.”

“I hope you do,” said Ororo.

Then after a few parting remarks, the couple left for home.

Chapter Six

“Forget about Malice. Enzi told me she wants us to have a ‘time out’ in our relationship. “A time out” could you believe that,” whined Umba after he received the news about the person that had blinded and cursed him with an extraordinary power.

T’Challa and Ororo were shocked and slightly amused by his reaction. They were also interested in his dilemma.

“What happened?” probed T’Challa.

“I asked her the reason this guy has been hanging around her. She said that they were working on a special project together. I asked her if it was related to school and the answer was no. When I tried to find out what the project was about she got defensive. She said I crowded her. That she needed space.”

“So what have you been doing ever since?” inquired Ororo.

“I came home and called her several times, but got no answer.”

T’Challa and Ororo glanced at each other. “What to tell him?” they asked with body language.

Umba sat at the kitchen table with some food he had prepared. He was fifteen years old, stocky and with a computer visor that acted as a seeing aid.

“Maybe you do need to take a step back,” T’Challa said finally.

“What? I will lose her. I know this guy is trying to get her. I can feel it,” protested Umba.

“Calm down,” said Ororo as she consoled him with a tight hug. “You have to trust her. It is the only way your relationship will sustain. All right?”

“Okay I will,” said Umba. “But do you and T’Challa have time outs?”

Ororo was caught off guard by the question still she adjusted. “No. We just give each other some space at times.”

“So this is normal?” inquired Umba.

“Yes,” said Ororo warmly while she loosened her embrace and then rubbed his back.

“Thanks for telling me,” said Umba.

Then as he settled the severity of Malice’s return came to his mind. “So you will be working with Malice now?”

Ororo frowned. “Technically for the time being.”

“How will that work out?” he asked.

“Honestly I don’t know,” she responded.

T’Challa noticed the time. “We have to get ready for the function,” he said in his mind. Nonetheless he was admiring Ororo’s parenting skills with Umba.

“T’Challa and I have to go now,” she said. “You’ll be okay?”

“Yes,” replied Umba.

Then she and T’Challa left the kitchen and went upstairs to their room that was on the third floor.

With time alone they were able to discuss Malice fully.

“Scott justified bringing her in based on precedence,” said Ororo while sitting on the edge of the bed. “I was going to bring up the point that her presence puts us in the firing line of the Hand, Hydra and AIM, but then I remembered so does half the team members including myself.”

T’Challa eased up near her. “Another aspect about this is that she has not changed at all. She has made no attempt to redeem herself.”

“At least she was honest on that matter.” Ororo laughed a bit. “I know a few others who had joined feigning that they were making a change only for them to betray us at crucial points.”

Afterwards being so close ignited their primal passions and soon they were making love. Deferring the worries over Malice to another time.

Chapter Seven

Meanwhile, Soberk was not going to allow Malice to roam freely much less wait for her attack. As the acting President of his country he had unrestricted access to any place in the territory. Thus he went to the central iron works facility. But he did this discretely. His plan was use his presence at the function as an alibi while his minions eliminated Malice.

Using his high-end magic and a few tricks he recently learnt, Soberk created ten robots powered by magical energy. Then he made a spell that would transport the robots at a precise time to the Chedula royal palace. Afterwards Soberk left the iron works facility and prepared for the function to be held in South Africa.

The function was his initiative as he edged nearer to becoming president of the African Union. Local government elections were expected in his country shortly. He had declared it when he realised that he had the majority of the public’s support. He thought little of the faction that opposed him. They were made up of former exiles that had fled from his father’s rule.

On his return to his opulent residence, Raven telepathically contacted Soberk.

“What do you want again?”

“To offer our assistance regarding Malice,” she said in a pleasant voice.

“I have made it clear that my relationship with your organisation will be made on my terms,” he stated strongly.

“You need our protection,” said Raven persuasively.

Soberk had never seen the woman but he imagined from her voice that she was petite and good looking.

“Darling I have the situation well in hand,” he said sweetly. “But I may be persuaded if we were to meet face to face. Just the two of us.”

Raven went silent as she contemplated the bait.

“I’ll have speak to my superiors,” she said in a rush.

“I’ll set the time and place. And now if you can leave my mind I need to attend a function.”

“We’ll most likely be there,” she said in a flirting manner.

“I know you are everywhere. I’m sure your organisation’s tentacles are in my country.”

“We can also eliminate the opposition group if you so wanted.”

“Ha,” said Soberk. “Those expatriates don’t bother me.”

“We have information on them that you will find alarming though.”

Soberk stopped what he was doing and focused on the tone of Raven’s voice. It was confident like she was telling the truth.

“We’ll discuss it in the meeting then,” he said seriously.

“Oh, I got your attention now,” she said casually.

“You have always had my attention it is your employers that I want to keep away.”

“They aren’t that bad,” she flirted.

“We’ll I don’t want to find out. Until our next chat, goodbye for now,” he said with finality.

“Goodbye Soberk,” then her voice faded.

He waited a few moments to ensure she had gone. Then he asked himself gravely, “What do they really have on this opposition group and if so are they a real threat to me?”

Chapter Eight

Malice stared at the mirror contemplating her life and the future. She thought about Emma’s assertion that she wouldn’t make a good ruler.

However Malice had previously planned for the Queen mother to become her chief advisor.

As for the citizens she felt nothing for them not even dislike. They were not important to her life. She doubted that they would even warm to her rule.

In regards to Jashaw, she had promised the Queen Mother not to kill him or harm his family. But in the ancient times when Malice was born she had heard that regime changes were messy affairs that usually incorporated lost of life. Thus she resigned herself to keep the promise once Jashaw posed no threat to her.

Magneto’s explanation that the X men were like an extended family did nothing for her. As far as she was concerned the Queen Mother was the only family she had and Malice genuinely loved her.

She reminisced on the moment the Queen Mother discovered that she was healed that morning. The expression was one of joy and surprise. Then they planned to make it a secret until it was certain that she wouldn’t be returned to prison. The Queen Mother had consulted several lawyers discretely on the matter and they told her Malice could not be re convicted for the same crime once she was released.

In the meantime Malice had used her mind control on the doctor and nurse to keep them from revealing the secret. However she had purposefully left the physicians mentally scarred as punishment for their uncaring treatment of her.

It was also on that fateful morning that the Queen Mother broke down in tears and explained the reason she assisted Malice.

“You made my son so happy,” she said. “I had never seen him act like that before.”

The sentiment had touched Malice and for some unknown reason she began crying. Thus both them sat hugging each other and crying. Later Malice realised it was because they had both loved Midas.

The alarm clock rang. It was time for her to regain the throne. A guard came to escort her to the palace.

Chapter Nine

The Queen mother had gone to the royal palace along with a group of reporters. She met Jashaw privately and had a bitter argument with him. It was disturbed by loud shouts from the courtyard. Malice had arrived and immediately she caused a stir.

“You cannot stop it,” stated the mother hotly.

Jashaw fumed and stormed out of the room. Then the Queen Mother hurried to the lower floor to greet the Queen.

They met and then Malice spoke to the reporters.

“I am retaking the throne,” she said.

But the reporters wanted to know how she recovered from certain death.

Suddenly someone shouted and pointed to the night sky. A behemoth robot descended and crashed into the courtyard. It scanned the people until it spotted Malice. Then it pointed its arm cannon at the woman and fired a wavelength of energy.

Malice pushed the Queen Mother down and managed in the process to avoid the attack.

Pandemonium ensued around her as nine other robots landed in the courtyard.

“We have to get inside,” said Malice as she held up the Queen Mother and then they ran up the steps into the palace.

The robots pursued, tearing through the foray and firing indiscriminately into the people that stood in the way of their target.

“They are totally metallic so I can’t hurt them,” Malice thought.

Meanwhile a panicky Jashaw heard the commotion and he called the Black Panther and Storm.

At the time the couple had arrived at the function and they were expected to give a speech along with Soberk.

The couple were forced to apologies to the host for leaving so soon. Then they returned to their jet plane and changed into their combat attire. Afterwards T’Challa had the sword teleport them to the Chedula palace.

Of course, Soberk used the couple’s absence to subtly upstage them at the function.

In the meantime, T’Challa and Ororo appraised the situation at the palace.

Looking at the rampaging robots Ororo said, “They’re probably after Malice. I’ll handle them.”

Then she summoned thermal air currents that lifted her and she glided on them towards the robots. Immediately she sensed that they had no electrical energy signature.

“Odd,” she thought.

Nevertheless the wind rider created lightening bolts from charged atoms in her palms. She then released them at one of the robots.

The target exploded as the lightening ripped through it. However as soon as the lightening subsided the robot began reassembling its pieces.

“They are all like this,” experience told Ororo. “Then deep cold should hold them for now.”

Thus Ororo raced into the palace where the ceiling and pillars were falling due to the robots.

She manipulated the temperature around the metal hit men. Soon ice began forming on the robots, first in their joints and then rapidly to the rest of the bodies. They gradually came to a standstill.

“That should do it,” said Ororo while she turned her attention to helping the wounded.

A sudden crack noise from the ice turned her back to the robots. They were burning through the frozen prison with wavelength energy from their eyes and arms.

“I’m going to have to get tougher,” Ororo thought.

However two robots had gone out of her sight and they were closing in on Malice and the Queen Mother.

Malice thought about becoming intangible as a form of protection, but she wouldn’t be able to carry the Queen Mother to safety.

When she saw three guards coming to assist her, she got an idea. Her eyes gleamed as she manifested her mutant powers on the guards. The men began to merge violently and nastily in front of Malice.

In a horrific metamorphosis the sacrificed guards intertwined and became a single four-legged feline creature with sharp claws and fangs. Malice commanded the creature telepathically to defend her.

Thus the snarling beast raced towards the approaching robot and nimbly climbed it. Then the beast attacked the robot’s head.

Malice didn’t wait to see the outcome of the battle. She hurried towards the south of the palace were the royal garage was.

Elsewhere T’Challa caught up with Jashaw, but the man was more concerned for his mother.

“Malice has her. Please do what you can to save my mother,” said Jashaw. “I’ll be waiting here.” Then he entered a fortified four-wheel drive vehicle on the East entrance. T’Challa noticed that several other vehicles were transporting the royal family out the palace grounds.

The Black Panther re entered the building and tried to find Malice’s scent. Eventually he found it and he hurried towards the location. All the while, the support beams of the palace were being knocked over by the robots in their battle with Ororo.

T’Challa arrived in time as a robot cornered Malice. He drew his sword and sprinted to the robot, slicing the legs off the machine. Thus the robot toppled and missed its target. The Black Panther then dissected the machine’s arms and decapitated it.

Then T’Challa called out to Malice, “Give her to me. They want you not her. Jashaw is outside waiting,”

His kimoyo began ringing and he answered it while he kept an eye on Malice who was contemplating his words.

“T’Challa these robots are instantly self repairing, but I have a plan. There is a volcano several miles from here. I will be able to carry the robots and drop them in the lava pit. But I need all of them out in the open. Creating hurricane winds in here that powerful will further harm the civilians in the palace,” said Ororo.

“I have Malice here. She can lure them out,” said T’Challa breathlessly.

The robot began to heal itself. Thus T’Challa told Malice of the plan.

“Hurry and make the decision,” pressured the Black Panther.

He ventured nearer to the Queen Mother who Malice had protectively close to her.

Malice whispered into the terrified Queen Mother’s ear. “Go with him. I’ll be okay. I love you.”

T’Challa couldn’t wait and he held the Queen Mother just as Malice released her. Malice’s facial expression told him that she agreed with the plan. Therefore T’Challa called Ororo over the kimoyo as he surveyed the surroundings.

“Malice is with us on the plan,” said T’Challa. He stared at the queen. “Stay here,” were his final words before he teleported to Jashaw’s location.

He quickly handed over the old woman and returned via teleportation in front of Malice.

At that moment the robot had repaired itself entirely and prepared to resume its attack. Immediately Malice mentally manipulated her cellular structure and she became intangible.

“Run to the west wall,” ordered T’Challa.

Malice fumed because she had to listen to him. As she raced off to the location T’Challa informed Ororo about the progress.

Meanwhile the robot fired repeatedly at Malice and the energy waves passed through her. Nonetheless the robot pursued and eventually the nine others fell in behind it.

Soon Malice slipped through the west wall and she emerged in the garden area. The robots broke through the wall as they clamoured to reach her.

Malice stopped in the centre of the garden and waited for the robots to converge on her. She didn’t notice Ororo hovering over the garden.

“I can’t believe I’m going to do this,” commented the wind rider as she watched Malice with disgust.

Then the wind rider gracefully raised her arms skywards. Her intention was to create a vortex between the garden and the volcano she had spotted on a previous trip to Chedula. However she searched the route for the movement of aeroplanes. There were none. Thus Ororo manipulated the pressure and temperature around her and the volcano.

Suddenly great hurricane winds snatched up the robots and they were transported miles away through a tunnel of air.

The transference took only a minute and the robots were despotised in the lava pits where they were trapped in a cycle of melting, reforming only to melt again.

With the plan completed Ororo rectified the Earth’s pressure and temperature. Then she descended to speak with Malice face to face. T’Challa was already walking out into the garden.

Chapter Ten

For a moment the women merely stared disdainfully at each other. Malice grew tired of it; hence, she spoke.

“What do you want me to say?” she asked angrily.

“Nothing Malice, nothing at all,” replied Ororo. “I would have been more open minded to accepting you if there was a hint of reform in your character. But there isn’t.”

“I don’t need your acceptance,” spat Malice but held back what she really wanted to say.

Ororo noticed it. “Magneto is not here. You can tell me what really is on your mind.”

“I want to kill you with my bare hands,” Malice said flatly.

“Then go ahead and try. Woman to woman, no powers,” stated Ororo as she invited an attack.

Malice reverted to a tangible form. Rashly she darted into Ororo with a raised fist. The wind rider expertly caught the wrist and using the attacker’s momentum flipped the foolish Malice. She landed roughly on her back.

Ororo stood over her in triumphant. “Earlier I thought you joining the X men would be torturous for me, but it seems it will be more hellish for you with me there.”

Malice cursed her.

Ororo then looked at T’Challa who was on his kimoyo. He hanged up the call and approached her.

“A distress call came from the Avengers on Genosha. Pulsar is rounding up a team to head over there. She wants us,” he said.

“Fine,” said Ororo.

Then her kimoyo rang. She activated the ‘receive’ icon and the mutant Psylocke appeared on the screen.

“Ororo we have a problem. Scott and the others went to find Magneto on Genosha but something has happened. Gambit, Rogue, Angel and I are going there. I’m rustling up Wolverine, Colossus and Nightcrawler. Care to join in?”

“I’ll be there,” said Ororo.

“What about the new girl, Malice?” inquired Psylocke.

Ororo looked down at Malice who was breathing hard. She had heard the speaker.

“I have to check on the Queen Mother,” said Malice.

Ororo was internally relived and she answered Psylocke. “She won’t be able to make it.”

“Okay. Where should we meet since Rogue is taking the Blackbird?” asked Psylocke.

“Madagascar. I can be there in ten minutes,” replied Ororo.

“All right,” said Psylocke and then the transmission ended.

Ororo moved away from Malice. “I had a feeling Magneto would have gone hay wire when news of Genosha finally reached him,” said Ororo.

“Me too,” said T’Challa. “I’ll go to Avengers HQ and see the situation. Then I’ll contact you so we can co-ordinate our efforts.”

Ororo raised his mask so she could kiss him tenderly. “I’ll see you shortly,” she whispered.

Then the wind rider took to the air and soon she was out of sight. T’Challa gave a partial glance at Malice and then he teleported to the Avengers Tower.

He and Ororo both knew that they would have to lead their respective teams in the mission.

Next Story: Genosha

www.blogsurfer.us

halfway thru this hectic week, i’ve finally found some time to blog about this great record that i’ve been listening to none stop.  Judgement Day’s 7″ Vinyl “Out of The Abyss:Live On Tape” was made available on Third Culture Records last month! Order your copy HERE if you haven’t yet!

anyway, let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

Let me say that i think releasing a vinyl was a lucid decision on their part.  for the music junkie, (me and others), having a vinyl is just way cooler than having an ordinary cd.  A 7″ is way more creative, fun, and original. anyone can get a cd anywhere and let’s face it, the internet is jam packed with free mp3’s. plus, fan’s who purchase this get a nice little trinket for their music collection and if you don’t have a vinyl library, you can start one!

now besides it being an amazing business move, the 7″ most definitely displays the pure talent these musicians have. the songs on this record were recorded with gear from the 70’s! and if you know anything about anything you know that back then, there were less studio stunts. the music was definitely more true to who the artists really were. i totally get that from listening to this record.

the A-side of the record is, obviously, Out of The Abyss. This version, to me, is packed with WAY more energy than the original recording on Dark Opus. the violin and the cello were real crisp on this track. there were many embellishments that i didn’t notice on the original recording that i heard on the 7″. the violin sounded grungy but clean at the same time.(i don’t even know if that’s possible.) those riffs carry their songs to unimaginable places. that guy has power! the cello was all around ill. it most definitely served as a strong foundation. the song just wouldn’t work without it.  then, to top it all off, you have the drums.   i think that the drums were the shit on this track! they definitely stood out to me more than they usually do. they brought  A LOT of the energy to the song! the drums just tied everything together. the icing on the cake, if you will.

The B-side of the record is the “Etude” that cellist Lewis composed.  An ‘Etude’ is a way to practice technique on a certain instrument. this specific etude is some serious, jaw dropping shit. it’s extremely fast, it’s mind blowing, and it sounds difficult! lucky for me (and for you ), it comes with the sheet music for it.  im thinking it might be too ambitious of me to want to give it a shot on the piano. it might not sound as cool as the cello. anyway, i can’t really explain how awesome the etude is so, you’re just gonna have to listen yourself. prepare to blown away!

lastly, the boys of judgement day were kind enough to give us a bonus track! the track is called Genosha. they perform this song on the chasing the moon podcast. it’s pretty damn epic! this song is definitely up there on my list of favorites.

anyway, this record is simply amazing!  it’s definitely worth MORE than what they’re charging you so, don’t pass it up!  buy it buy it buy it!!! seriously, good quality music. that’s what these guys provide. it doesn’t matter if you’re not into metal or whatever…these guys are SO good that they’ll get you to AT LEAST tap your feet.

Judgement Day’s Facebook

Judgement Day’s Myspace

Judgement Day’s Youtube

Judgement Day’s Official Website

they’re going on a little tour very soon. i suggest you catch a show!

TOUR DATES

ACOUSTIC TOUR

Friday, 8/14
Acoustic Instore @ Streetlight Records
939 Pacific Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95060-4429
with Foxtails Brigade (Record Release)
2 pm / All Ages

Friday, 8/14
Acoustic Set @ Cafe Pergolesi
418 Cedar St,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
with Foxtails Brigade (Record Release)
8 pm / All Ages / Donations Accepted (help us get to LA!)

Saturday, 8/15
88.9 fm KXLU- Neuz Pollution – live on-air performance
KXLU at Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, CA
11 pm / FREE! Tune in!

Sunday, 8/16
KXLU + LA Underground Present: Acoustic Set @ Bootleg Theater
2220 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90057-2208
with Foxtails Brigade (Record Release), Agent Ribbons, One Trick Pony
8pm / $8 / All Ages

Tuesday, 8/18
Acoustic Set @ Guru Indian Cuisine
950 Oakdale Rd
Modesto, CA
w/ The Lovely Eggs (UK), Foxtails Brigade, City Psychology and Neil Vento of The Panduhs
7 pm / $5 / All Ages

________________________
FULL BAND TOUR

Sunday, 8/23
The Fillmore
1805 Geary Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94115
with The Matches (Last show!) and Dizzy Balloon
7pm / All Ages / $21

Friday, 8/28
Gilman
924 Gilman st.
Berkeley, CA
with Ninja Academy, The Prids, Anon Remora
7:30 / All Ages / $8 + $2 Gilman Membership

Saturday, 8/29
Cafe Coda
265 Humboldt Ave
Chico, CA 95928
with Ninja Academy and more!
8pm / All Ages / $5

Sunday, 8/30
Cinespace
6356 Hollywood Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
with The Devil’s Orchestra
We play at 10:15. 21+

—-peace&love—-

p.s. if you haven’t heard of this band, check ‘em out and tell me what you think about them in the comments! aiight?!?!

p.p.s. some people have asked me why i take time to write these things and i have many answers:

1.because i can
2.because i want to
3. most importantly, because music is my passion and i want to share good music with others!

p.p.p.s. i got caught! im such a dork.

my cousin thought it was funny to take a picture. (yes. i read sheet music b/c im a nerd.)

It’s actually becoming very compelling.

The MRD is around and gathering mutants and those who help them. Magento has built Genosha as his mutant sanctuary. But, at some point before this show starts, an explosion happened at the mansion that was centered around Charles. He disappeared and so did Jean. Everyone disperses and does their own things.

The show starts when Wolverine saves a little girl, but her family gets taken by the MRD for helping him. He goes to the mansion for help and can only find Beast. Together, they break out the family and a few other mutants. Then, they decide to reform the X-Men. They go to Rogue to ask her to rejoin, but she says she won’t because Wolverine can’t lead. She ends up joining the Brotherhood, who’s being led by Quicksilver. Wolverine agrees that he’s not the right leader and tries to find more of the X-Men to join up, including Scott as leader.

At some point (because I’m watching these out of order), Charles’ body is found, but he’s in a coma. He ends up talking telepathically with Logan from the future. He tells of the world once the war between mutants and humans breaks out, and he thinks that Logan and the X-Men can stop the war from happening. So, Logan is getting some help that way. Kitty, Bobby, Storm, Angel (sometimes), Scott, and a few others join together. And we do see others that we know.

Anyway – long involved summary, but still I’m really getting hooked. And the animation is not bad. You might want to give it a shot. There’s a few weird things from time to time. A flashback has Wolverine being involved with Mystique, and just as she’s going to be experimented on by Striker, he breaks them both out – but that’s when he loses his memory – stuff like that. But Kurt goes to Genosha to help some mutants there and gets kidnapped with Wanda and together they have to save Logan – that gets kinda fun. Overall, pretty good.

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin & Casey Jones (Pencils), Karl Kessler (Inks), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Clever, funny, and visually pleasing, Jeff Parker’s Exiles series is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

The Story: Imprisoned in an alternate-reality Genosha for trying to overthrow Magneto’s reign, the Exiles must think of an escape plan or else the universe will suffer the consequences.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The best thing about Exiles #3 is how Jeff Parker manages to spin the predictable into the unexpected. While I can’t go into specifics, I can say that (outside of the escape attempt) the Genosha conclusion is likely to disappoint a bit. At least until the characters make the “jump” into the next mission; an event which impressively passes the torch from one art team to the next. That said, the latest issue of Exiles is still quite fun.

Jeff Parker does a great job playing with the alternate-reality concept and characters. Sure, some things never change, but the stuff that does is surprisingly entertaining. I say that because Beast and Black Panther continue to be a highlight because of how much they differ from the established versions. Also, though he only appears to narrate the standard recap, Morph gives Exiles a recap page that manages to match (or even surpass) the Incredible Hercules’ on the entertainment scale. Those of you that read Incredible Herc know that that’s saying something.

As for the visuals, Salva Espin continues to be a perfect fit for the tone of the series. Some of the smaller panels look a bit rough, but as a whole, Exiles is a very nice-looking book. I’m not entirely sold on Casey Jones’ more realistic style, but I’ll hold judgment until I see his work over the course of an entire issue.

Conclusion: While not quite a strong as the first two issues, Exiles #3 is still well worth your time and money.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

     This new Exiles series is nothing but fun.  Even though, as is thus far revealed, it has only a tangential relationship with the old series, Jeff Parker has successfully captured all of the fun that made it great.  In this issue, the Exiles infiltrate Genosha, which is under the complete and total control of Magneto and his two daughers, the Scarlet Witch and Polaris.  Naturally, the Exiles’ own Witch and Polaris end up dressing up as their alternate universe counterparts, and Blink and Black Panther (revealed to be T’Challa’s son, T’Chaka) go with them to mingle at a party.  Naturally, they’re discovered, due to Jean Grey’s telepathy, and the Exiles are now in another pickle.  Mm… pickles…

     All of the new characters are just chalk-full of goodness.  They’re each well-defined and completely unique.  Black Panther is sort of the Spider-Man/comedic relief for the series, and he’s absolutely adorable.  I can’t wait to see what happens when Blink and Morph drop the act and reveal who they really are.  Nonetheless, this is a superb series.  Salvador Espin is the perfect kind of artist for this series, as he’s got that kind of playfulness that the Exiles need.  More serious artists, like Tom Grummett for New Exiles, just don’t fit the tone of the series.  I’m just so glad that someone finally got it out of the quagmire that Chris Claremont put it in.

Plot: 8.6      Art: 8.8      Dialogue: 8.8     Overall: 8.7

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Artist), and Anthony Washington (Colorist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Exiles #1 wasted no time in winning me over. Jeff Parker’s script was informative, surprisingly funny, and featured a solid twist ending. Salva Espin’s lively, expressive artwork proved to be a perfect compliment to the story being told. As for the colors, Anthony Washington’s work made the entire book feel like a breath of fresh air from all the darker, more serious Marvel fare. Simply put, I found Exiles #1 to be quite the creative success because of the fact that everything just came together so damn well. It will be interesting to see if the second issue can keep up all the positive momentum.

The Story: The Exiles mission is to help Wolverine overthrow Magneto’s reign in Genosha. The one catch is that in the reality the Exiles are in, Wolverine isn’t much more than a head on a stick. So what that means is that it’s up to the Exiles to figure out a way to overthrow the royal family of Genosha while blending in with the general mutant population of this alternate reality.

What’s Good: Nearly everything about Exiles #2 works for me. The story that develops successfully threads the line between fun and serious, rarely losing balance. Jeff Parker’s script is clever, humorous (Black Panther has some great lines), and very effective in how it plays around with established character norms. The visuals from Salva Espin look fantastic, especially in regards to the highly expressive characters that show an impressive range of emotion throughout the book. Also, I must mention that Anthony Washington deserves praise for making Exiles one of the most colorful, eye-catching books on the stands.

What’s Not So Good: While rarely losing balance, Exiles #2 does occasionally teeter into melodrama here and there. It doesn’t really hurt things from a story perspective because the drama is used to develop the characters on the team, but it does come across as a bit heavy-handed. Another small complaint is that some panels look a bit rushed. It’s something that’s carried over from issue one and it, while somewhat understandable, still proves to be distracting.

Conclusion: Exiles #2 manages to maintain nearly all of the momentum generated by the strong debut. I highly recommend that you give the series a chance while it’s still early enough (and easy enough) to get into it right from the beginning.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

This is a deeper and more insightful look at last issues’ one-sided view of Magneto destroying New York. Oh, the destruction is ongoing (and mass exterminations are next on his whacked agenda for “New Genosha”), but the hints of conflict among his untried allies are becoming loud and clear. Esme is hardly the second-in-command she imagines herself to be, and poor Ernst is still longing for the illusory Xorn. Strangely, it’s the Toad (of all people) who is just about the only member of Team Evil actually making sense. Not that anyone else is paying attention. They’re all too lost in their own limitations.

Barnell has a completely understandable big gulp moment when Magneto determines to make a man of him. Angel remains uncharacteristically mute, and, oh yes, Professor Xavier is awake. Restrained and probably sedated but awake. You can see in his eyes how he scoffs at Erik’s silly pronouncements, powerless or not.

In an interesting comment on the overlong Scott vs. Weapon X arc, Jean notes the gaping hulk of Weapon XV’s corpse, and Wolvie explains when and why he eliminated him. Not exactly how, except to say that the far superior iteration of the Weapon X program let his guard down enough for Wolvie to “gut” him.

In turn, Jean tries to explain the Phoenix force, but it’s all teasing hints and cosmic mishmash, as always. Still, that final image (an echo of page one, where we see the asteroid like a dark blot dwarfed by the burning white sun) is awe-inspiring, as Wolverine and Jean face death with the intimate bond of their friendship intact. The emotional impact of this issue builds page-by-page, inexorably. Morrison recalls the best of Claremont’s work on these characters (down to echoes of a shocking scene from years ago between Logan and Rachel), without ever over-verbalizing or narrating what we can clearly see.

Too bad there’s no Beast as the cover implies, but I’m assuming Scott, Emma and Hank have roles left to play in this darkening, intensifying and openly savage arc. Morrison’s achievement, more than perhaps anyone else who has taken on Marvel’s mutants, is to show our heroes as victims. Not whiners, mind you, but sufferers on an epic scale. Not just from each other, and not just from prejudiced humans, but of their own powers, of the implications inherent in their own particular gifts and burdens. This issue, more than even the horrors in “Ambient Magnetic Fields” or in Cassandra Nova’s ruthless first arc, builds to the level of compelling tragedy.

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Salva Espin (Art), and Anthony Washington (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ll be totally honest and admit that I’ve never read an Exiles comic before. But since it was a light week for me, I figured a new number one issue would be a pretty good place to start.

The Story: The Exiles are a team of (B, C, and D list) Marvel heroes plucked from their respective realities mere moments before death. The mission? To travel from reality to reality in order to put things right so that existence (as a whole) continues. Beast, Forge, The Witch, Polaris, Blink, and The Panther are given the rundown on the situation in the first issue and then sent to fix the first of many realities.

What’s Good: Exiles #1 really gets the series off on the right foot. From the characterization, to the artwork, to the execution of the necessary plot introduction, everything feels absolutely full of energy. And that, my friends, is a very good thing.

Jeff Parker’s script is clever and humorous while also intelligently dealing with both the dense concept and the unique challenge that comes from introducing characters from alternate realities. It is perfectly complimented by artwork that effortlessly manages to be humorous, clever (Beast’s look rocks), vibrant, and lively all at once. Throughout the book there are great examples of how the visuals can elevate the writing and vice versa. And almost all of those examples involve the brilliant use of the character Morph. I never thought I’d see the “Hitler as a baby” dilemma delivered in such a humorous manner…

What’s Not So Good: Despite the entertaining script and eye-catching visuals, there is no denying the fact that Exiles #1 is a fairly standard “team introduction” comic. The formula is a formula for a reason…because it works. But that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t point out it’s use.

Also worth noting is that some of the smaller panels look slightly rushed and/or lack detail. While excusable for the most part, it proves to be a distraction when the rest of the issue looks so nice.

Conclusion: What else can I say? Exiles is now the latest addition to my pull list. Take a chance with the first issue, I think you will be more than pleasantly surprised.

Grade:  B+

-Kyle Posluszny

For en stund tilbake havnet jeg i samtale med to venner om tegneserier. Jeg var veldig oppspilt, da jeg endelig hadde fått kjøpt inn Essential X-Men #8, som jeg hadde vært på jakt etter et år (det bør vel nevnes at jeg ikke følger godt nok med på utgivelseskalenderen til Marvel, og trolig kunne kommet over praktboka noe tidligere hadde jeg holdt bedre oppsyn med serieverdenen. Det tar jeg på min egen kappe.) De fleste jeg kjenner har ikke et spesielt nært forhold til mutantene jeg anser som venner og forbilder (hallo, liksom, jeg er da hypp på å redde verden av og til, jeg også!), noe jeg selvsagt synes er trist, da jeg ofte savner oppegående mennesker å diskutere superhelter med. Uansett, i samtale med disse vennene fikk jeg et utilslørt gledesbrøl, som kjapt ble etterfulgt med ”ja, jeg leser jo ikke denslags nå, men da jeg var kid syns jeg det var fett.” Tredjeparten i samtalen var helt tydelig mest opptatt av Watchmen (også en veldig fin bok), noe jeg ikke følte tilføyde noe tiltrengt til samtalen. Å sammenligne X-Men og Watchmen er lite fruktbart, det eneste fellestrekket er superkrefter og (spesielt i X-Men) noe banal samfunnskritikk, og det sier, underlig nok, veldig lite.

Jeg har akkurat lest meg gjennom #238, der Madelyne Pryor blir reddet ut av det fordervede slavesamfunnet Genosha (visstnok en øy i det indiske hav), og sitter som vanlig igjen med en fin følelse. Her sitter man, voksen og halvstudert, og leser X-Men på t-banen. Det er kanskje ikke så rart folk kikker rart på en til tider.

Ps. På samme handlerunde rasket jeg med meg Essential Dazzler. Det er kanskje umodent og lite intellektuelt for noen, men i disse diskodager, hva er vel riktigere enn å hente tilbake den eneste diskosuperhelten?