Rating: 10.0/10.0
"The Last Run"
Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: Rick Leonardi
Inker: Dan Green
I absolutely loved this issue. It may not have been as hectic as before with mass battles. The X-Men were still trying to deal with the fallout from their battle last issue, but this one focused on Wolverine as he explored the carnage under the tunnels. It was also one of the last issues of this saga that I was able to collect. It has always been more rare than the others, probably because this was the first time you see Wolverine and Sabretooth fight.
The story opens with Wolverine exploring the tunnels, dead Morlocks everywhere he looks. The newest mutant at Xavier's, Psylocke, communicates with him telepathically. Wolverine gives her a quick update including that he ran across Power Pack. She expresses concern over Storm, but Wolverine brushes her off. Back at the mansion, Moira works as quickly as she can on the few survivors, but more still die. Storm stands over Nightcrawler, who is in a coma, concerned that it was her leadership that brought the X-Men to ruin. When she encounters Colossus, still armored up, she is reminded that he is now hell bent on vengeance and has killed. She runs off as the implications hit her hard. Colossus decides to go after her.
However, Colossus does not show up at Storm. He instead shows up where Psylocke is, begging for help before he collapses on top of her. Rogue, Callisto, and Magneto all arrive to help. Rogue flies off to find Storm as Callisto and Magneto remain to help Psylocke and Colossus.
In the tunnels, Wolverine continues his search, coming across more familiar scents: the original X-Factor. Before he can process them all, he's struck from behind.
Back at the mansion, they try to help Colossus, who appears comatose in his armored form. Magneto decides to help, figuring his mastery over metals should cure the X-Man. After a strenuous effort that taxes Magneto, Colossus is left stuck, although he is able to ask for help, although it is barely audible. He is truly a metal statue at this point, unable to move.
In the tunnels, Wolverine confronts his attacker. It's Sabretooth, holding up the Morlock Healer, who is still alive, if only barely. During the conversation, we are treated to two gems. First of all, Wolverine and Sabretooth have a past history. Second, the man who ordered the Marauders to destroy the Morlocks is named Mister Sinister. Wolverine doesn't waste anymore time and attacks.
At the mansion, Callisto finds Rogue who has not had any luck finding Storm. Rogue gives Callisto Storm's jacket and Callisto agrees to find Storm and bring her home. Callisto comes across Storm who is wanting to give up leadership. Callisto and her fight as Callisto claims that what the X-Men have suffered is nothing compared to the Morlocks and yet Callisto still goes on leading them and so should Storm.
In the tunnels, Wolverine and Sabretooth exchange blows, Sabretooth gaining the upper hand. Eventually, though, Wolverine collapses the tunnel, separating them. Turns out, Wolverine was fighting only to separate Sabretooth from the Healer. Wolverine picks up the Healer with Sabretooth screaming at him from beyond the wall and he walks off, back to the mansion.
Callisto and Storm finally stop fighting and Callisto gets Storm to realize that she is still the leader of the X-Men and that is what they need. She returns Storm's vest to her and admits respect for the X-Men leader.
Wolverine shows up at the exit of the tunnels at the mansion. Rogue and Tom Corsi help Wolverine get the Healer inside. Wolverine also mentions that he caught several New Mutants' scents in the tunnels, even though the tunnels have long been off limits. Before they can decide what to do, Rogue hurries them into the hangar as a massive blast of fire rips through the tunnels. Rogue and Wolverine both understand the implications. If the New Mutants were down there, they are dead.
To all who hated The Phantom Menace, I apologize for the analogy I'm about to use. This story was kind of similar to the encounter on Tatooine with Darth Maul. It was almost a teaser to what we would see in the next issue. It wasn't a full fight, with Wolverine working to escape rather than truly defeat his adversary. That is what I love about it. The fight is intense, and Leonardi's art works perfectly in this issue. I love the characterization here regarding Storm, Wolverine, and Psylocke. All three are just so lifelike in dealing with this tragedy in different ways. Storm is filled with regret as no other leader of the X-Men has ever led the group to this sort of ruin. Wolverine is filled with hatred, but also understands the need to help the Morlocks rather than continue old rivalries. and Psylocke is the new kid on the block with the right stuff and just wants to help, but nobody thinks that she really knows what she is talking about.
I do kind of miss the other Marauders, but I think it was the right call to leave them out. The massacre is complete at this point and all that is left is for cleanup. And although I'm not the biggest fan of Wolverine, I do love to see his first battle with his age-old enemy. It wasn't his first battle ever, but it was the first battle readers ever got to see.
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