Behind the Scenes
From a rational perspective, the main premise of this issue is a bit cheesy: Xavier is fearful that the worst menace ever to attack the X-Men is pounding its inexorable way to the mansion, so he takes this opportunity to tell them the story of his childhood. Either Juggernaut is terribly slow, or Charles's storytelling pace is quite rapid. Perhaps the most groan-worthy aspect of the issue is the sudden remembering "oh, wait, we have a gigantic metal inner wall of protection - I just remembered that!" and it is during this scene of heightened urgency to raise this last line of defense that Warren, Bobby, and Hank resume their recently-abandoned hijinks and in-fighting. The third, and smallest, niggle in this issue is actually resolved well - the other X-Men learning of Cerebro. Why Charles and Scott wanted it a secret from the others for so long makes no sense, especially since they just talked about its visualizing capability in the previous issue in front of everyone. It's good to finally let the others know part of the mechanism that is responsible for sending them on so many seek-and-invite missions, especially now that they are graduates. Now that the three main blemishes of the issue are out of the way, we can highlight some of the good merits of this issue. As a whole, the issue works (putting the timing element aside) quite well, both as an increasing suspense build-up and as a set-up for the next issue. Though we have already had two-part-like issues with the X-Men, this is really the first preview (admittedly in a very microcosmic form) of the longer cross-over/extended storylines to come. We have had several stand-alone issues already, almost to the point of A-Team-like predictability and formula. Though some may argue that today we have too many mega-crossovers and events and not enough simple, self-contained stories, that does not take away from the necessity at this point in the X-Universe to develop longer stories and rounded characters. Making Cain Marko Charles's step-brother instead of half-brother or true brother distances the intrigue somewhat - it would have been much more interesting (especially before the Cassandra Nova nonsense) to make them true brothers, since Magneto's early connection to Charles hadn't been invented yet. The drama with their parents is rescued from sheer melodrama by Kurt's dying regrets and sincerity. Charles's early life is more reminiscent of Magneto in a way, with the feeling of superiority over mere mortals. It seems rather unlikely that Charles and Cain would be serving together in the same platoon in Korea, coupled with the unlikelihood that Cyttorak's temple just so happens to be slightly off their patrol lines fully open for anyone to enter. Charles's excuse for abandoning Cain, that he no longer exists because he has been possessed by the gem, is rather weak. Perhaps some of his guilt for abandoning him helps motivate Charles to become a protector of mankind and advocate for equality.
