issue summaries

Uncanny X-Men 201 Duel Writer: Chris Claremont Penciler: Rick Leonardi Inker: Whilce Portacio Colorist: Glynis Oliver Letterer: Tom Orzechowski Editor: Ann Nocenti Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter Date: January 1986

When the X-Men returned to the mansion from Paris, they discovered what Madelyne had given birth while they were away. Kitty, Rachel, Ororo, Rogue, Kurt, Peter and Logan all gather around the newborn and Maddie, but Scott stands off by himself, disinterested.

Nightcrawler asks if it's a boy or girl. Rogue and Ororo tease him that he can't tell that the baby is a boy. Then Kurt tells them how blessed the baby is to have the X-Men as godparents, and Rachel uses her T.K. to tip the sofa he's sitting on over. Kurt declares war and starts tickling Ray.

Madelyne gives the baby to Kitty while she goes to talk to Ororo in private in the kitchen. Kitty isn't sure about holding the baby at first, but quickly gets the hang of it.

Maddie and Ororo discuss what happened with Professor Xavier and Magneto in Paris, and then Ororo asks why Maddie seems so angry. She explains that Scott went off with the X-Men, and didn't even bother to check on her. Both Kitty and Ororo called from France to check on her, but Scott didn't. Then she gave birth by herself at the mansion. and she and the baby could have died. She had wanted Scott to be there for the birth, but he doesn't seem to care. Ororo explains that Scott is very private with his emotions, but he does love her. Maddie wants proof of that.

Meanwhile, Kitty asks Rachel if she wants to hold the baby. Ray tentative agrees and Kitty tells him to say hello to his big sister - a bit too loudly and Ray is afraid Cyclops might hear. She doesn't want him to know yet. She psilinks Kitty to the baby so she can hear his thoughts. Kitty is amazed, but reminds Rachel that she needs to eventually tell Scott the truth. She promises to tell him soon, then telepathically says to her baby brother the future he is going to have is going to be different. She promises to save him and protect him, no matter what it takes.

Outside, Scott wonders where Professor Xavier is and if they can trust Magneto.

In space, Xavier is with the Starjammers (including Scott’s father Christopher "Corsair" Summers), who are assessing the damage to their ship. Their super-stardrive has been destroyed, so they have no ability to get back to earth on their own power, and the Shi'ar stargates are too heavily guarded. So there is no way to get Xavier back home.

Xavier talks to Lilandra, wondering what will become of the X-Men and his students and if he made the right decision about Magneto.

The next day at the mansion, the X-Men and New Mutants are enjoying some down time. Kitty, Rogue, Logan, Kurt, Illyana and others are playing baseball. Meanwhile, Sam’s computer crashes while he is writing a term paper. Kitty goes inside, and after fixing Sam’s computer, runs into Ororo and hears Scott and Madelyne arguing in the attic.

Scott tells Maddie that he has to stay and lead the X-Men. He can’t trust Magneto, and there’s no one else that can lead them since he believes Ororo is a combat liability after loosing her powers.

Maddie asks what Scott expects her to do - leave her career and life behind? Scott sticks his foot in his mouth by saying he thought that would change when she had the baby. Maddie furiously questions whether he’s afraid the X-Men can get along without him or that he’s nothing without being an X-Man. But yet he wants her to give up everything for him.

Ororo enters and challenges Scott to a duel for leadership of the X-Men.

They go down to the Danger Room, where Magneto is working with the New Mutants. The students clear out and gather in the control room with the X-Men (except Rachel).

Cypher programs a bombed-out, urban environment, perfectly suited for Ororo’s style of hand-to-hand combat. Ororo is able to hide, and trip Scott up. As Scott continues to search for Ororo, he becomes distracted thinking about Madelyne and how the Professor has always been more of a father to him than his real father. He tells himself its only natural for him to want to take his place.

Meanwhile, Maddie in the attic, looking out the window and holding the baby. She tells him that she made the reservations to go home. She wants Scott to lose so he’ll be joining him, but she knows that will break his heart. Suddenly, it starts raining outside.

In the Danger Room, Ororo jumps out behind Scott, grabs his visor, and pulls it off of him. The duel is over. Ororo won.

Nearly in tears, Scott walks out, thinking that there isn’t any place for him there now.

Meanwhile, several miles away at the home of John & Elaine Grey, Rachel returns the crystal. She repairs it, and adds part of herself to the crystal. The power that radiates from that event is so strong that it even attracts the attention of the Watcher.

She tells her grandparents goodbye (although they have no idea she’s there). She says even though she may never exist in their world, she hopes she will at least be remembered.