Issue(s): Uncanny X-Men #271
Cover Date: Dec 90
Title: "Flashpoint!"
Credits:
Chris Claremont - Writer
Jim Lee - Penciler
Scott Williams - Inker
Suzanne Gaffney - Assistant Editor
Bob Harras - Editor

Review/plot:
So far we've had two contingents of X-Mutants in the X-Tinction Agenda: the group that was initially captured by the Genoshans (Storm and several of the New Mutants) and the ones that came to rescue them : X-Factor, Cable and the rest of the New Mutants, and the "X-Men". But the "X-Men" were really Storm (captured), Gambit (brand new; is he even officially part of the team yet?), and Banshee and Forge. The real X-Men are still scattered thanks to the Siege Perilous. But in this issue, another main contingent of X-Men joins the fight against Genosha: Wolverine, Jubilee, and Psylocke.

But Wolverine is still not in top shape.

Good thing for Psylocke and the focused totality of her telepathic powers.

But Wolverine is definitely not doing so good.

However, the three X-Men do manage to rescue Rictor and Boom Boom from the Magistrates. I love this scene with the intimidating Psylocke as Wolverine suggests a mind scan to bring everyone up to speed.

The rivalry between Jubilee and Boom Boom won't make either character look better.

Jubilee is told to remain behind and get the two New Mutants to safety while Wolverine and Psylocke go to rescue Storm and Rahne. Psylocke is able to detect the fact that the other X-Teams are on the island, but they don't connect in this issue.

Meanwhile, the Genegeneer, Philip Moreau is participating in a televised debate with Moira MacTaggert. Moreau loses the debate on a technicality: the incorrect use of the phrase "begs the question".

After the debate is over, Moreau notes that something is odd about Moira. Her ferocity and the clothes she was wearing.

One thing that will be pivotal to the resolution to this story line is a change of heart from Moreau and Chief Magistrate Anderson, who have been shown to be reluctant to go along with Cameron Hodge and the president. It's important to note that this isn't because their views of mutate Apartheid are evolving, or at least not yet. It's because they fear that Hodge's hatred of mutants is putting their country in danger.

After Moreau leaves Anderson, Storm shows up, implying that she's going to kill him ("Whatever happens to me, Moreau, at least Genosha's Genegineer will no longer create any more mutates."). Moreau tries to convince her that he's the lesser of two evils, but before he can get into the specifics, Hodge shows up.

I'm sad that Hodge has given up on his cardboard suit. I also think it's very polite of the president to raise her finger like that to indicate that she'd like to speak. She didn't want to just interrupt.

Moreau manages to convince the president to put Storm into the genepool instead of just killing her. That will again be pivotal to the plot resolution.

Psylocke detects the agony that Storm is feeling as Moreau does his work, and she and Wolverine manage to infiltrate his citadel. But they spot Havok and are surprised.

Psylocke manages to disable Havok, but they are then attacked by Hodge.

Psylocke tries to fight him, but her insistence on thinking about "the focused totality of her telepathic powers" every damn time she uses her psi-knife slows her down and Hodge is able to defeat her.

Meanwhile, Moreau has finished turning Storm into a mutate.

Jim Lee's art is looking more the way i expect it to than last issue, and it's quite good. This is an action oriented middle part of the story, and it's a lot of fun.

Quality Rating: B<