X-Men Giant-Sized Annual Vol 1 #1

X-Men Giant-Sized Annual Vol 1 #1

There's No Place Like Home

At some point prior to the events of this story, the gale surrounding Kirinos disrupts telecommunications and bars incoming traffic from air and sea. In Asgard, Illyana Rasputin and Doug Ramsey commence study of Amora's grimoires. Dani dispatches Warlock to locate Ororo Munroe. Roberto Dacosta returns to the City of Asgard. Karnilla transmits the New Mutants' recent exploits to Kitty Pryde via a dream.

Xavier's School: Rachel Summers relays Kitty's dream to the X-Men. The team determine to rescue Ororo and the New Mutants. Rachel dons her Phoenix costume. Scott Summers uses Arkon the Imperion's lightning bolts to transport himself and the other X-Men to Asgard. Karnilla magically assures the team's safety in the crossing.

Nidavellir: Sam Guthrie wakes Amara Aquilla from a disturbed sleep. Together, they assist Eitri in forging Ororo's uru hammer. Eitri grants Sam enchanted arms and armour. Sam and Amara depart for the City of Asgard with the uru hammer.

Asgard: The X-Men appear in the forest wilds and save the wolf prince. Hela confronts Rachel. Loki strikes down Warlock. Dani and Doug go to Warlock's aid. Scott divides the team. Kitty, Logan, and Rachel enter the City of Asgard. Dani and Doug arrive and enlist Roberto. They encounter Warlock, who seizes Doug and flees. The wolf prince leads Scott's team to Amora's castle. They are met by Illyana, Rahne, and Shan. Loki apppears and transports the team to his dungeons. Doug merges with Warlock. Sam and Amara enter the City of Asgard and are joined by Kitty, Logan, and Rachel. Loki ensorcells Rahne and the wolf prince and dispatches them to capture the remaining X-Men and New Mutants. A confrontation ensues in the City of Asgard, during which Logan is poisoned and Sam breaks the enchantment on Rahne. Combat ends with the arrival of Doug and Warlock. Logan, Rachel, Roberto, Doug, and Warlock enter the Hall of Heroes. Shan frees Scott's team; they are joined by Kitty, Rahne, and Sam. At the Hall of Heroes, Loki presents Ororo to his peers. Ororo takes up the uru hammer and strikes down Logan; Loki's power over her fails. Hela appears to claim Logan's soul; she is forced to retreat before the combined forces of Ororo, Scott, Rachel, and the Valkyrior. Kitty faces down Loki. Ororo destroys her uru hammer. Loki returns the X-Men and New Mutants to Earth.

NOTES: It is midsummer (p.74). According to Rachel Summers, Kitty Pryde and Illyana Rasputin "share a primal subconscious awareness of each other" (p.75); but see Karnilla's comments on her own part in the drama (p.116). Charles Xavier is away in England (p.77). When Amara Aquilla was a child, her father Lucius told her stories of the "faery folk" (p.79). Illyana Rasputin feels incomplete without her Darkchilde aspect (p.80). Hela states that Dark Phoenix "sent more souls unto me than any who professed to serve my cause", though whether her claim is meant to be interpreted literally is unclear (p.85). The City of Asgard is still being rebuilt in the wake of the Surtwar (p.86). Xi'an Coy Manh observes that "[t]he more Illyana practices the Enchantress' spells, the more like her she becomes" (p.87). The Valkryior can sense whether a person is alive (p.92), and know when death threatens the living (p.101). Peter Rasputin is more susceptible to Illyana's magic than are his teammates (p.107). A blow dealt to one Valkyrie is felt by all (p.114).

Page numbers refer to The New Mutants Classic Vol 5.

This story is contemporary with the events of The Mighty Thor Vol 1 #361-2.

[More to follow.]