About Heroes

Author: Robert Kirkman
Penciler: Tom Raney
Inker: Scott Hanna

“Date Night” part 3
Back at the restaurant, Xaiver and Lilandra continue to talk about the Shiar and the Phoenix. Professor Xaiver uses his mental powers to freeze Lilandra in place, making her unable to move. He assumes that she is in league with the Hellfire Club and fears that her organization is out to harm his X-Men. Lilandra tells him that’s not the case and tells the history of the Phoenix entity. The Phoenix is basically the spark of life that initiated the universe. The Phoenix roamed throughout the solar system for centuries, eventually ending up helping creatures come to life on various planets. As these different species grew into prosperous beings and civilizations, they all rallied together to capture the Phoenix and harness it’s mighty power. The attack on the Phoenix went on for ages, and finally she was defeated. The various beings tried to find a prison strong enough to hold the Phoenix, and they eventually formed a massive prison around it. That prison would grow and thrive as our planet Earth. It’s believed that the Phoenix helped the first organisms evolve on Earth, and over centuries it watched as the human race took form. But the Phoenix also played another role in evolution, it helped create the mutant gene and bestowed this gift on a handful of the people of Earth.

Early civilizations came to study the Phoenix and realized it’s energy was a part of the Earth. Thus, the Shiar religion was created to study and observe the wonderful teachings of this being. Xaiver still has doubts about the Shiar and their ties to the Hellfire Club. Lilandra tells him the Hellfire Club are a rogue society that split with the Shiar years ago. Whereas the Shiar want to spread the peaceful word of the Phoenix and it’s love, the Hellfire Club want to harness the Phoenix’s power for themselves and shape the world in their image. Lilandra tells him that they believe Jean is the chosen vessel for the Phoenix to be reborn into our world and she wants to examine Jean. Xaiver tells her he must first talk to Jean about this and wants no harm to come to her. Charles believes Lilandra is no threat and they finish their meal.

Logan and Ororo continue to fight Sabretooth. Sabretooth still tells Logan that he is his son, and when he gets close to Logan, he strikes his side. A few organs fall out of Logan and Ororo fries the foe, sending him fleeing into the night. Logan claims he has had worse injuries and the two head back. Meanwhile, a new mutant named Elliott Boggs has accidentally murdered his parents. Nick Fury shows up to confront and calm him, but Elliott freaks out. He is in shock over killing his parents, and doesn’t understand his new powers. Fury and his troops detain the young mutant and shackle him. They take him to Xaiver’s mansion.

Back at the school, Bobby and Rogue “clean up” after their night alone. They realize they still have feelings and become an item once again. A few rooms over, Scott and Jean also rest after their night. Scott asks Jean if she enjoys his new assertive persona, and she tells him to keep it up and ask her again in a month. Kitty takes a cab back to Westchester from her night with Spider-Man, and Peter is still down in the dumps after realizing Kurt doesn’t feel comfortable being his friend anymore. As Kitty walks in, Nick Fury and his men have Elliott shackled. Luckily, Xaiver pulls up. Fury tells Xaiver he has a new recruit for him, and the professor vows to help Elliott. Logan and Ororo pull up and Logan asks Nick “What makes this one worth saving?” Fury scoffs at his comment, pretending he doesn’t know what he is talking about. (Pick up Ultimate X-Men # 41, New Mutants Part 2 for details) It seems that the X-Men’s night off has come to a close. Later, at a Weapon X lab, Dr. Cornelius welcomes Sabretooth back. He asks Sabretooth if he has the sample, and he hands the doctor one of Logan’s internal organs. Dr. Cornelius vows that if they can’t control Wolverine, they will create one of their own.

Thoughts/Comments:
WOW! This issue was a joy from cover to cover. I love the angle Kirkman is taking with the X-Men. He understands their characterization and personalities. I loved how we were led to believe that Sabretooth is Logan’s son, only to realize it was a trick conceived by Dr. Cornelius to obtain a tissue sample. Tom Raney’s artwork was a joy, loved the parts with Phoenix flying through space and learning that Earth is one huge prison for the entity. I loved all three parts of “Date Night” and give the storyline an A+ Highly recommended!