Issue(s): Uncanny X-Men #36
Cover Date: Sep 67
Title: "Mekano lives!"
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
Ross Andru - Penciler
George Roussos - Inker

Review/plot:
The Factor Three plotline gets dragged out again as the X-Men spend the issue figuring out how they're going to get to Europe. We've seen that the X-Men have some fancy vehicles, but the plane is out of gas, and both Xavier and Warren's parent's funds are unavailable to the teenagers. After various failed money-raising shenanigans...

...the X-Men have to stop a college student in a battle-suit on a "my rich daddy doesn't love me" kick...

...and the father shows his thanks by buying them some plane tickets.

The Factor Three storyline started back in issue #27 when Xavier was so frantic to bolster his forces that he attempted recruiting Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and even Spider-Man, and then settled for the not-quite-reformed Mimic. Since then Xavier seemed to lose his sense of urgency about the matter and we've had several unrelated stories. It's actually kind of cool to see a slow-boiling plotline at this point in publication time, although some issues, especially this one, have felt a bit like padding, especially when accompanied by another artist replacement. In any event, things get wrapped up in the next arc.

At that start of this issue, some random burglars break into the school, and after the Beast subdues them, Cyclops erases their memories using Cerebro and sends them to a police station.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: The X-Men get on a plane at the end of this issue and shouldn't be seen anywhere before the start of next issue.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men vol. 4