X-Men `97 #2 Review!

 Re:cap - X-Men `97 #1; the X-Men have rescued Dazzler from FOH and Jubilee gets a concert ticket to use with Bishop. At the Danger Room, Cyclops activates the Magneto scenario for Wolverine, and Logan questions his leadershop. Cyclops appears and gives an optic blast at Wolverine’s back! This is heard by Beast who is contacting Dr. MacTaggert. This moves to the Charles Xavie Memorial Concert at Governors Ilsand. Bishop is uncomfortable I plain clothes, but reassured by Rogue and Gambit while Jubliee runs to the concert. Dazzler begins her show to the cheers of the crowd. Jubilee is excited and Bishop says muic was illegal in his time. The mutant lader of the Nasty Boys, Ruckus, uss his sonic power to blast Dazzler! 

The Nasty Boys were a team first appearing in X-Factor #75 (1991). Rogue picking up Dazzler recognizes them from their appearance in “Til Death Do Us Part (Part 2)” (1993). The crowd starts to panic and run for the exits. Gambit charges up his playing card to use on Hairbag and Slab. Dazzler blasts Gorgeous George, and through his tar-like body, to the Savage Land mutate, Vertigo. They start to retreat with Gorgeous George wrapping his body to carry away his team. Dazzler continues the concert. At the mansion, finally alone, Jean Grey tells Scott that she’s pregnant. Wolverine looks distraught hearing the news from the next room. The Nasty Boys return arguing amongst themselves when their leader, Mister Sinister appears and blasts them! 

He says he has learned of Jean Grey’s pregnancy, his “genetic key” which we saw in “Fire Made Flesh.” He says he will need a stronger team and on a screen sees Sabretooth and the Marauders! This villanous team was introduced in Uncanny X-Men #210 (1986). The cover for issue #2 by Todd Nauck has Wolverine facing his rival, Sabretooth! Steve Foxe and Salva Espin continue the story. Trish Tilby covers the events from the concert and that the team has bcome popular now. The next story begins coverage of Psylocke, but the television is shattered by Mister Sinister! He says that “Xavier’s whelps” are close to fulfiling his dreams of acceptance. He tells this to his group in the shadows whom he dubs his Sinister Seven! The scenes run like the X-Men `97 animation, excellent work by Espin! 

At the X-Mansion, Jean shows Scott the test results, and they kiss. Wolverine drives off and Storm flies to talk with him. Cyclops has a number of questions, but then the mansion alerts go off and then an explosion! The cause of it is the man in a battle suit called Hazard! He first appeared in X-Men #10 (1992). He sends rubble to smash Cyclops and Jean Grey, but she puts up a telekinetic shield. Jubilee loved the concert, but then Bishop piloting the Blackbird, says they hit an electromagnetic pulse! Rogue goes out to help land the jet in Central Park. They face the woman, Siena Blaze, introduced in Stryfe’s Strike File #1 (1992). It is interesting to see the X-Men to face threats beyond the usual villains! 

Storm is there to talk to Wolverine about Jean Grey's news, but he senses something and pops his claws! Riptide enters throwing spikes form his spinning body! Storm tosses the spikes away from bar partons with her winds. Then, they face Sabretooth and the Marauders!  At the X-Mansion the Beast checks on the alert and sees Hazard slammed into a wall by Cyclops’ optic blast! Hazard holds his side as Cyclops explains the situation. He escapes and then vows to destroy the mansion since he blames Xavier for leaving when his mutant powers emerged. Cental Park, Bishop fires his rifle, dodged by Siena Blaze who blasts Jubliee! Rogue touches Siena’s face, but her wild power causes her to scream! Wolverine tackles Sabretooth to the outside of the bar. Arclight smashes the floor, Storm brings down the lightning, but it is refracted by crystalline Prism. Great battles and threats to all of the X-Men in X-Men `97 #2! 

Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five! 

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