"Lifedeath - Part 2" is a strong episode of X-Men `97 brings the stories of Ororo and Professor Xavier up to date with the events on Genosha! Re:cap - “Lifedeath - Part 2”; the first part of the episode features the war between the Shi’ar and Kree. Deathbird is hunting the Supreme Intelligence with the Imperial Guard. Empress Lilandra has announced her marriage to Professor Charles Xavier! He has recovered from his attack by Henry Gyrich and is now able to walk with the exoskeleton of his armor! This turns to Forge’s cabin where Storm has to struggle against The Adversary.
Forge is poisoned by The Adversary’s bite, but he is able to save Ororo by driving away the demonic force with magic! The story continues adapting Uncanny X-Men #186 (1984) by Chris Claremont and Barry Windsor-Smith. She catches Forge as he falls, he gasps that he learned desert magic from his mother, in the comics it was from the shaman Naze. Storm thinks the grimoire of Forge’s mother might have a cure for the poison. He says there is a cacti, the midnight cholla, that has aloe with magic.
Forge says he can show her the way to caves that has the midnight cholla. He tells her he doesn’t want to be alone and die when Ororo is gone. She tells him that they will both ride to the cave. At the Shi’ar palace, Empress Lilandra and the Royal Consort are announced to cheers. They both walk past Gladiator, leader of the Imperial Guard, and take their places at their thrones. The Chief Advisor Araki (Gavin Hammon), he questions the timing of the royal wedding with the ongoing war. His feather-like hair reminds me of Hawk from the sci fi show, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
Flying in, Deathbird, has contempt for Xavier, the Terran. It was tough to face the hate as a mutant, now as a human?, it doesn’t make sense since Xavier proved himself saving the universe twice. A late version of royal alien sisters as rivals was in New Teen Titans with Starfire and her sister, Blackfire. She thinks his homeworld is “inferior.” Xavier counters that he and empress decides on alliances. Deathbird says Xavier wants Earth to be the Shi’ar throne world. She tells the High Council that she calls for the Rite of M’Dashaa. He knows the rite is a “test of loyalty” for non-Shi’ar to marry royalty. He says he already passed it.
Deathbird says it will be her own test and that he must erase all memory of Earth! She adds that Lilandra has to be the one to take away Xavier’s memory before flying away! Xavier is regarding two statues and joined by Gladiator who tells him that they are Shara and K`ythri. These gods were former enemies who married to bring peace to the galaxy. Gladiator says that idealism is insanity. Charles says that this is like Magnus. Lilandra enters, then says that if she gives up the throne, her sister would be a brutal ruler. Xavier says she saved him so he will sacrifice for her and they kiss.
Storm rides with Forge slumped behind her, but he sees their destination, Snowsnake Tower. This is a butte that rises from the desert. They enter the cave and Forge says that Union soldiers stored weapons there. It was actually built during the Plains War. Bats flutter past them. Forge says he heard The Adversary says to Ororo to let him die. He says that it feeds on “self-loathing” which is what he shares with Storm. Forge starts coughing and then shows her the tight mine that she needs to crawl in. Ororo stares feeling her claustrophobia!
Xavier is in his armor, kneeling, for the Rite of M’Dashaa with Lilandra standing above him. Araki asks him if he will give up his memories of Earth and the X-Men. He pauses and then Deathbird is furious walking up to the guards. She questions Xavier’s inferior blood. A councilwoman says he is not even a true Terran, he’s a mutant. Deathbird says Lilandra has turned insane like their brother, D’Ken. Lilandra declares her sister has commited sedition and orders Gladiator to stop her! He knocks her out with one punch and then uses super breath on her soldiers! Deathbird slashes Xavier’s leg with her claws and then attacks he sister. Araki leaves.
Professor Xavier removes his helmet and then uses his full telepathic power saying, “Hear me. Class is now in session!” They are all at school desks about to be schooled in the astral plane! Xavier in his suit bites an apple. Ororo crawls through the tunnel holding the pen light in her mouth. It is a struggle, but she finds the glowing midnight cholla through a crack in the rocks. She starts to climb, but slips down and pen light plunges down! Storm hears The Adversary as it starts to crawl around the tunnel towards her! I can’t believe Sealy-Smith voices both parts!
Ororo hears it’s words of doubt and promise of her “daydream”, but then begins to climb. She tells The Adversary no, wind starts to howl down the tunnel!, a storm batters Snowsnake Tower with lightning. Storm says that it is an echo of herself. The power fills Storm and she says, “For I am lightning!” Storm sends the lightning at The Adversary and it bursts out of Snowsnake Tower with owl feathers! A satellite is by a swirl in the clouds. Out of it flies Storm, Mistress of the Elements, transformed in her outfit from Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)! I would really like to see that costume designed by Dave Cockum in live action!
Ororo flies back to Earth and flies amongst a herd of horses. She flies through a canyon and then she sees her reflection in the lake. Storm forms several waterspouts from the lake and her eyes crackled with her power! The animation is sophisticated rendering these scenes. Night at Forge’s cabin, Storm says she is grateful to the demon and then applies the cactus paste to Forge’s wound. The dark poison withdraws from the paste. He wonders if they will go to a tropical island and then Storm switches on the news. Trish Tilby reports on the “Tragedy in Genosha” and the mutants are told that they can return to their “home countries.”
Rumors are that this is the start of a war, Ororo gasps!, and then Trish speaks about Professor Charles Xavier. He is speaking at the astral plane about power. Charles asks where the Shi’ar Imperium gets its power. Deathbirds leaps up and it is from “inferior minds” like the professor. He gives her a demerit, funny!, and an apple in her mouth silences her! Xavier tells his class about the “stolen worlds” taken by the Shi’ar and force them to bend the knee. Charles concludes that their empire is a “snake oil racket”, critical, though thy may not understand the reference. Araki brings up the Terran expression, “Might makes right.”
Xavier counters that it should not be one person becomes great at the cost of another. This is really at the heart of any conflict. He poses the question about how made up these rules. Lilandra admits it is all of them. Aaki says his ideas would cause chaos with the Shi’ar. Charles admits that “co-existence” is difficult and finds teaching and the heroism of the X-Men to be inspiring. He says that everyone is made of stardust, Carl Sagan said, “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff”, and that they are “children of the atom”, a term also used for mutants. The globe on his desk wildly spins and then sets on fire. He sees his class as skeletons! Gambit rises and then fades into a skeleton! Xavier screams, his dream is lost. “Lifedeath - Part 2” has two romances that are dramatic and collide with the Genosha invasion!
Five Sentinel Blasters out of Five!
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