Uncanny X-Men #221

Uncanny X-Men #221 (September 1987)
Rating:  ★☆★☆★☆★☆★
"Death by Drowning"
Writer:  Chris Claremont
Artist:  Marc Silvestri
Inker:  Dan Green

When people think of the 80's era X-Men, they think of this team:  Storm, Wolverine, Psylocke, Dazzler, Havok, Longshot, Rogue.  It's funny, because this team didn't even really show until the latter half of the decade, but this team is affectionately known as the "Outback" team, because of their adventures later.  This issue is memorable for two reasons.  First of all, this is where the X-Men hook up with Madeline Pryor.  Second, and more importantly, this is where Mister Sinister, a villain so awesome I had to include TWO pictures here, makes his first formal appearance (other than being mentioned).

The issue opens with a close up on Sinister, berating the Marauders for their failure to kill Madeline Pryor.  Sabretooth loses his temper but is quickly put in his place.  Sinister sends the Marauders back out, pointing out just how important it is to kill Pryor.

Elsewhere, Dazzler and Rogue are in a battle against each other, each trading hits.  Dazzler strikes Rogue but Rogue is only winded and not apparently injured.  She resumes her attack on Dazzler.  Dazz tries a different approach and uses her laser to drop an entire stage lighting system on Rogue.  That appears to do the trick.  At this point, we see that this was only an elaborate Danger Room sequence and it is interrupted by the real Rogue.  She appeals to Dazzler to let their past go and work on the team together.  Dazzler's not buying it, though, and refuses to release the feud.  Before they can get into a fight, Psylocke interrupts, summoning them both.

Elsewhere, Storm is traveling with Forge's old teacher, Naze.  Naze, who is acting even more suspicious than normal, is alone on a butte, apparently plotting something to do with Forge and Storm.  He then returns to Storm so they can resume their hunt for Forge.  Storm is still unsure if she will ask Forge for help...or kill him.

In San Francisco, Wolverine explains to the X-Men about a call he received from Madeline Pryor.  He explains that Cyclops apparently ran off and took their son (we actually know that latter part isn't true).  Havok is in disbelief, but before they can do anything more, Psylocke realizes that there are Marauders in the hospital already.  Rogue takes off.  She easily gets the drop on Sabretooth in the hallway and punches him so hard he flies through the wall and out the building.  She rushes into Madeline's room to find Scalphunter holding Madeline, prepped for a kill.  Scalphunter fires a single blast and Rogue is knocked through several rooms.  Madeline smacks Scalphunter with a metal tray and tries to escape.  Scalphunter grabs her, but before anything else can happen, he is struck in the back by a laser from Dazzler.

Longshot, Dazzler, and Psylocke are watching from a neighboring rooftop.  Dazzler prepares for a second shot when their world turns upside down.  In an effort to get away from Vertigo, Longshot knocks them all off the building.  His luck lands them into the bed of a dump truck carrying sand.  It doesn't last for long.  Harpoon strikes Psylocke with one of his spears.  The pain is transmitted to all of the X-Men through her psychic rapport.  In the hospital, Havok and Wolverine are doubled over in pain when Scrambler touches Havok and causes him to release a wild blast of energy that demolishes several floors and strikes Wolverine full blast.  Before Scrambler can do the same to Wolverine, he his knocked on his ass by Madeline who is wielding one of Scalphunter's guns.

Arclight causes an earthquake, hoping to drop the hospital.  Rogue shows up and grabs Madeline to get her out of the hospital.  She flies past the Golden Gate bridge when a river of iron girders are torn from buildings and begin following her.  She and Madeline are quickly trapped and the newest Marauder is revealed as Polaris.  She sends the river of iron carrying Rogue and Madeline towards the bay and Dazzler quickly grabs Longshot's grappling hook and lands it on the girders and is pulled along to the bay.  The river of iron is quickly deposited at the bottom of the bay where Rogue and Madeline will surely drown.  Dazzler first frees Madeline.  Then, even though air is running out as is her energy, she returns to free Rogue.  At the last possible second, Rogue breaks free and they both head to the surface, finally reconciling their differences.  Just before Polaris/Malice returns to finish the job.

This issue is a great read, even if it isn't the best issue out there.  I especially love it just for the introduction of Mr. Sinister.  The story is fantastic.  Sabretooth's reactions to being chided as well as Havok's outburst over his brother's supposed abandonment are both enjoyable.  The story takes a bit to get into the action but once it does, it's non-stop.  As Claremont does so well, he also continues other subplots, building to a much larger story.  This issue continues the build up to Fall of the Mutants.

I love almost every single Marauder story.  They are the X-Men's match in every way, only more ruthless.  I think the only thing that keeps this from being another 10/10 story is that Marc Silvestri's art simply isn't at the level that it one day will achieve.  Or maybe it's the inker.  Maybe the colorist.  It's hard to figure out, but the overall artwork in this issue is good, but not great.