Description

The Uncanny X-Men: Annual 1992        Imported UK Hardcover 
Edited by: Sophie Heath, Jacqui Papp, & Dan Abnett
Cover by: Dougie Braithwaite & Robin Smith
Endpapers by: Gary Frank

From Marvel Comics Uncanny X-Men (1st Series 1963) comes a tale that had to be told in 2 issues. Respectively, The Uncanny X-Men (1980) Issues #139 & 140. The Uncanny X-Men: Annual 1992 UK hardcover reprints “…Something Wicked this Way Comes!” Part 1 of 2. Guest-starring Alpha Flight’s Vindicator, Shaman, and Snowbird. Story by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Art by John Byrne and Terry Austin. Kitty Pryde joins the team and soon finds she might live to regret her decision. Meanwhile, Wolverine and Nightcrawler head to Canada and come face-to-face with one of the deadliest killers in the Marvel Universe… Wendigo. Featuring a flashback cameo from Incredible Hulk (Vol. 1) #181 when Wolverine battled the Hulk and Wendigo. Also featuring the 1st appearances of Stevie Hunter and Heather Hudson, first time Wolverine named Logan, and the first appearance of Wolverine tan/brown costume. This issue takes place two weeks before Alpha Flight #1.

Then there is…”Rage!” Part 2 of 2. Guest-starring Alpha Flight’s Vindicator, Shaman, and Snowbird. Story by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Art by John Byrne and Terry Austin. Wolverine and Nightcrawler must team-up with Canada’s premier super-team Alpha Flight in order to corral one of the deadliest beasts walking the planet – the savage Wendigo! Plus, more secrets from Wolverine and Vindicator’s past are revealed.

Also includes a prose X-Men short story entitled, “Professional Rivalry”.

So true believers, strap yourselves in for all-out action as The Uncanny X-Men teams up with Canada’s Alpha Flight to go toe to toe with the savage Wendigo!

The Uncanny X-Men: Annual 1992 UK Hardcover reprints/collects:

The Uncanny X-Men (Marvel 1980) #139  
Writers: Chris Claremont & John Byrne
Artist: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski

“…Something Wicked This Way Comes!”
The X-Men participate in a grueling session in the Danger Room. As Angel, Colossus, Storm and Nightcrawler go through their exercises, Professor X and Kitty Pryde witness the spectacle from the room’s monitoring station. Kitty is terrified to see the degree of danger that she may one day have to face. As the session ends, the team regroups and they decide to officially welcome Kitty to the team. When Nightcrawler appears in the room she is instinctively frightened by his appearance and feels bad for acting that way. When the Professor decides it’s time that Kitty take up a code name, he suggests the name Ariel. She doesn’t like it and chooses Sprite instead. When Nightcrawler inquires why Wolverine changed his costume, he replies that he just felt like it. Wolverine approaches the Professor and asks if he can go up to Canada and straighten out things with the Canadian government. The Professor agrees that this is a good idea and Nightcrawler asks to go along, hoping to meet Aurora again.

Storm and Kitty leave the mansion for the streets of Salem Center. Ororo brings her to a dance studio owned by famed dance instructor, Stevie Hunter. Kitty is excited to begin taking classes, and feels that the physical exercise will help her balance out all of the mental challenges that the school might throw at her.

Later, Wolverine and Nightcrawler arrive in Canada. They meet with Heather McNeil Hudson, wife to Department H’s James Hudson, formerly known as Weapon Alpha. Now calling himself Vindicator, James arrives shortly after and prepares to settle affairs with Wolverine. Their past animosity has to be tabled however, as more pressing matters are brought to the forefront.

In Ottawa, Ontario, the capital of Canada, Heather Hudson comes home to find intruders in her home. Grabbing a broom she gets the drop on them, and is surprised to see that it is Wolverine. When she calls Wolverine ‘Logan’, Nightcrawler asks why Wolverine never told anyone his real name. Wolverine comments that nobody bothered asking. When Logan gets down to business, he asks Heather where James is, and she tells him that he’s up in the Hudson Bay area investigating something with Alpha Flight on behalf of Department H.

Up in Hudson Bay, Vindicator returns to the cabin where Alpha Flight has stationed themselves on this mission. With Aurora, Northstar, and Sasquatch on another mission, James only has Shaman and Snowbird with him. As they go over the maps of the area, Shaman’s mystical alarms go off and Alpha Flight prepares for an attack. It turns out to be only Wolverine and Nightcrawler who offer their help. Vindicator is happy to see Logan and explains that they are out searching for a family that was attacked by the Wendigo. While the son managed to escape the father was killed, but the mother and her baby child might still be alive in the wilderness. Wolverine recalls his previous encounter with Wendigo and believes that if anyone can stop that beast it’s him.

Wolverine sends Nightcrawler out to their jeep to get their gear. As the sun sets, Nightcrawler’s thoughts think about how Jean Grey had died in battle and curses the fates for being so cruel. Hearing something coming up behind him fast, Nightcrawler turns and is horrified to find that the Wendigo has come up behind him.

Reprints: The Uncanny X-Men (1980) Issue #139.  Marvel Comics 

The Uncanny X-Men (Marvel 1980) #140
Writers: Chris Claremont & John Byrne
Artist: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin
Colorist: Glynis Wein
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski

“Rage!”
Angel flies around Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Having only recently returned to the X-Men, he is still adjusting to the team’s most recent members. He converses briefly with Colossus, as the latter pulls a rotting tree stump out of the ground. Professor X summons Angel and asks him his opinion on the X-Men. Angel does not hide his feelings concerning Wolverine. He thinks that he is a dangerous psychopath with “freaky claws”. Professor X reminds Angel that the purpose of the school is to cater to all mutants – no matter how rough they may appear on the outside.

In Salem Center, Storm endures an uncomfortable encounter with an amorous pimp before stopping at Stevie Hunter’s dance studio to pick up Kitty Pryde. She is surprised to see how closely Kitty and Stevie have become in so short a time, and shamefully admits to herself that she is growing jealous. Kitty phases into the passenger side of the car, and Storm scolds her for such a showy display of her powers in public. Kitty assures her that she checked to make sure no one was watching before she attempted her stunt.

Meanwhile in Northern Canada, the Wendigo charges at Nightcrawler, forcing the X-man to retreat farther into the woods. The surrounding environment is too congested for Nightcrawler to risk blindly teleporting, so he avoids Wendigo’s grasp by acrobatically flipping through the trees. The monster manages to latch onto him however and begins squeezing the life from his body. Nightcrawler has no choice but to teleport blind, and he transports himself several yards directly into the air and then teleports again safely to the ground. The Wendigo catches up to him however, and throws him hard against the side of a wood cabin.

Inside the cabin, Vindicator, Wolverine, Shaman and Snowbird are discussing their strategy on how to deal with the Wendigo. Wolverine hears the sound of Nightcrawler’s body slamming against the side of the building and rushes outside. He finds Nightcrawler’s unconscious form, and the Wendigo brandishing a pick-up truck as if it were a baseball bat. Vindicator flies outward from behind Wolverine and begins firing his laser blasts at the Wendigo, but the Wendigo easily bats him away. Wendigo throws the pick-up truck which explodes creating a fire. He then takes off deeper into the woods.

Shaman uses powder from his medicine pouch to put out the flames while Snowbird and Wolverine begin chasing the Wendigo. They eventually track the monster back to its lair where he has camper Eileen Parnall and her infant son trapped inside of a cave. He tells Snowbird to regroup with the others while he tackles the creature directly. Like his namesake, Wolverine dives on top of the Wendigo and begins voraciously slashing at him with his claws. The Wendigo has supernatural strength however, and is able to continue fighting despite his injuries. He grabs Wolverine and begins smashing him against the side of a tree. Suddenly Nightcrawler arrives and attacks the monster from behind, distracting it long enough to give Wolverine a chance to catch his breath.

Snowbird returns with Vindicator, and realizes that only brute savagery can possibly stop this menace. She transforms into an actual wolverine and launches herself at the monster. She succeeds in bringing the Wendigo down, but the violent passions of her animal form have consumed her and she is now completely feral. Wolverine softly approaches her, and coaxes her down until she is tame enough to revert to her normal humanoid form.

Shaman uses his magic to counteract the curse of the Wendigo. He cures the creature’s condition, transforming him back into the human, Georges Baptiste. Vindicator is faced with a difficult decision. As a duly licensed agent of the Canadian government, he is forced to place Baptiste under arrest.

When Vindicator returns to Parliament, the Prime Minister informs him that the Ministry of Defense no longer maintains the budget to continue funding Department H. He tells him that he will allow him to keep his security status, but as of this moment, Alpha Flight is officially disbanded.

Epilogue: In a maximum security prison in Demming, New Mexico, the evil mutant known as the Blob escapes from his prison cell. He refers to a mysterious contact who has invited him to join a new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.

Reprints: The Uncanny X-Men (1980) Issue #140. Marvel Comics  

UK Hardcover reprints/collects: The Uncanny X-Men (1980) Issues #139-140. Marvel Comics

UK Hardcover is bagged and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.  

First Printing 
Publisher: Marvel Comics Ltd.
Publication Date: 1992 
Format: FC, 64 pages, HC, 11.25″ x 7.70″  
ISBN-10: 1854002732 
ISBN-13: 9781854002730 

Collectible Entertainment note: UK Hardcover is in Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious The Uncanny X-Men collector and/or enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended. 

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