Classic X-Men #20

Issue Details

Synopsis

Continued from last issue.. Following their battle with Magneto, Phoenix and Beast are only seeming survivors when Magneto's Antarctic base was destroyed in a violent volcanic explosion. Now, carrying the unconscious Jean across the frozen wasteland, the Beast struggles to not succumb to the elements. When he spots a scientific research helicopter and tries to hail it. When Jean awakens she immediately begins digging for Scott, however Beast gets her to stop, telling her that Cyclops and the other X-Men are dead. Jean's Phoenix effect however has alerted the helicopter of their presence and the descend to rescue the two heroes. Beast is wrong however, the other X-Men are still alive, having tunneled through bedrock to escape from the exploding base, they blast their way free and find themselves in the Savage Land. Free from the confines of the cave, Storm shakes off her claustrophobia and flies off into the air with Banshee tailing after her to get her to come back. Both are attacked by a pterodactyl, prompting Wolverine to have Colossus do a Fastball Special. Wolverine hacks the prehistoric creature to death with his Adamantium claws. Scouting around, Banshee finds a village and the group begins to head there. They are unaware they are being watched by Dr. Karl Lykos, who despite the change in costume recognizes Cyclops as one of the X-Men. A week later, Jean and Hank return to the X-Mansion where Jean has the unfortunate task of telling Professor Xavier that the other X-Men are dead. During this week, the surviving X-Men have come to be welcome guests of the Fall People, and have been spending their time recovering from the battle with Magneto. Cyclops, thinking that Jean and Hank are dead spends time by himself shaving his face down near a pond. Looking at his reflection in the water, he notices his striking resemblance to the Starjammer known as Corsair and finally makes the realization that the space pirate was really his father. When he confronts Storm with this, Storm reveals that Jean had learned this but decided not to tell him because they would likely never see each other again. When Scott talks about losing Jean, he admits that he feels no loss over her seeming demise. While Colossus takes up the hospitality of the native women, Wolverine vows to avenger Jean's supposed death. Storm decides to take some time having a relaxing swim, and as she rests in the sun she does not notice Karl Lykos approaching her. Lykos absorbs some of her mutant life energies, however he takes too much, causing his transformation into Sauron once more. Hearing Storm scream and seeing a lightning flash, the other X-Men change into their costumes and rush to her side to find Sauron with her pledging to kill her and the rest of the X-Men. This story is continued next issue...