COMIC DETAILS
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Comic Description:
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X-Men Annual 8 Signature
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Grade:
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9.8
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Page Quality:
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WHITE
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Certification #:
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4231851009
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Owner:
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Colossus Keck
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SET DETAILS
Owner's Description
Chris Claremont (writer), Steve Leialoha (artist), Jo Duffy (original idea), Glynis Wein (colorist), Tom Orzechowski (letterer), Ann Nocenti (editor), Jim Shooter (editor in chief)
Brief Description:
The X-Men and New Mutants are sitting around a campfire in the grounds of Xavier’s school, telling stories. Wolverine tells a story about a female Samurai that alludes to Shadowcat’s recent ordeal in Japan. Next, Illyana takes the floor and spins her own fairy-tale, as a reward to Kitty who once soothed her troubled sleep by telling her a story inspired by the X-Men’s lives. In Illyana’s story, set in space, Kitty is a young girl, whose home, the Chicago shuttle, is invaded by the pirates of the nefarious White Queen and her consort, the Black King. The Queen murders Kitty’s parents and intends to seize Kitty and have her as her heir. Kitty, however, escapes her clutches, thanks to the intervention of Lockheed the dragon and his crew, Nightcrawler and Wolverine. Kitty joins Lockheed’s crew and later they visit the court of Emperor Xavier. There, Kitty falls in love with one of Xavier’s guards, Peter Rasputin. However, Lockheed is mysteriously summoned away by someone. Wolverine tries to follow him but is captured by the White Queen instead. Desperate and thinking Lockheed dead, Kitty enlists the aid of the most reputed pilot in the universe, Ororo. Even though Ororo insists she’s unable to fly anymore, she is finally convinced to help Kitty in her quest. Soon, they discover that Lockheed was summoned by a tribe of female dragons, who desperately coveted a male of their species in order to ensure their survival. Lockheed and the X-Men reunite and manage to destroy the White Queen and her forces, before Kitty realizes it is Lockheed, rather than Peter, who is the true love of her life. Back in real life, Kitty finally makes amends with Colossus after their recent breakup and also thanks Illyana for cheering her up with her story, realizing that Illyana is truly her best friend.
Characters Involved:
Colossus, Nightcrawler, Professor X, Rogue Shadowcat, Storm, Wolverine (all X-Men)
Cannonball, Magik, Magma, Mirage, Sunspot, Warlock, Wolfsbane (all New Mutants)
Stevie Hunter, Amanda Sefton (X-Men allies)
Lockheed, the dragon
In Illyana’s story:
Kitty Pryde
Lockheed
Illyana, Nightcrawler, Wolverine (Lockheed’s crew)
Ororo, Colossus, Rogue (allies of Kitty and Lockheed)
Emperor Xavier
Empress Lilandra
Xavier’s Imperial Guard
White Queen (Emma Frost)
Black King (Sebastian Shaw)
Kitty’s parents
Crew of Chicago
Pirates and consultants of the White Queen (all unnamed, except Bertani)
Unnamed people at the pits
Various female dragons
Story Notes:
Kitty previously narrated a fairy tale to little Illyana – a story that featured fantastic and often humorous versions of the X-Men – in Uncanny X-Men 153.
This story chronologically takes place shortly before the finale of Uncanny X-Men #192.
While in Battleworld, Colossus fell in love with an alien healer, Zsaji, who eventually sacrificed her life to help the heroes summoned there by Beyonder. [Marvel Super-Heroes Secret Wars] After returning to Earth, Colossus confessed to Kitty he no longer loved her, an announcement that brought about the collapse of their relationship. [Uncanny X-Men #183] Heartbroken, Kitty left the team for a while and did not return until Uncanny X-Men #192. In between, she and Wolverine had an adventure in Japan which serves as inspiration for the story Wolverine narrates at the beginning of this issue. [Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1-6]
Storm permanently lost her powers after being hit by a neutralizer meant for Rogue in Uncanny X-Men #185.
Illyana once appeared at the mansion wearing a space suit, carrying an energy weapon and hinting at having experienced an incredible space adventure together with Lockheed. [New Mutants (1st series) #21] This adventure apparently served as an inspiration for the story she narrates here. Later, Illyana will dream of that adventure in New Mutants (1st series) #63, although it is left unclear if the adventure she saw in her dream was truly the one she had experienced for real.
As a footnote informs readers, the fashion outfits Kitty tries on were designed by comic artist and writer Trina Hobbins, one of the first female artists to appear in the underground comics scene of the 1960s.
Ballybran is a fictional planet that produces a namesake crystal and which is featured in the 1982 science fiction novel Crystal Singer.
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