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The posting of the Dark Phoenix Saga a few days ago made me think of a happier--and much, much sillier--version of that story. Specifically, the one in...

UNCANNY X-MEN #153 begins with Illyana Rasputin--at the time an uncomplicated and undemonic six-year-old--asking Peter and Kitty for a bedtime story. And so Kitty promptly begins the tale of the swashbuckling Pirate Kitty, and her true, er, friend Colossus, who are loved by the people and hated by the mighty, and have many exciting adventures. After a few too many of these adventures in the same city, they're thinking it might be a good idea to get out of town, and as they wander the docks they come to the aid of two strangers getting hassled by thugs...

Phoenix threatens to doom the world, etc., but Xavier faces her down with a magical jewel which contains the essence of Jean's soul, and she flees rather than confront it, warning that this isn't over. She has, however, wrecked all the ships in the city, making it difficult to follow her. Not to worry, Kitty has a solution:

This is about a year before the actual Lockheed-the-dragon shows up, and may have been what Kitty was thinking of when she named him. Now, why she gave the Blackbird jet an Irish accent I don't know, unless she's combined it with Banshee for some reason.

(Back in the real world, Nightcrawler is eavesdropping at the door, and gets Wolverine to join him when he wanders by.)

So our heroes fly after the Phoenix all day and night, until Lockheed finally calls a pit stop, and they set down on an island for a bit. And then:

He's walking along the beach, as it happens, where he finds a mysterious black bottle. Curious, he pulls the cork free, and what should emerge but a very familiar genie...

...I don't know how Kitty didn't hear the laughter from out in the hall.

They continue on their quest to find the Phoenix. It doesn't take very long.

After several pages of...well, failing to get killed, mostly, our heroes manage to hold Phoenix long enough for Xavier to bring out the soul-gem and bid the Phoenix to return to its proper home in the stars. "In the name of mercy--in the name of Lady Jean--be free."

Awww.

(Approximately 7 1/2 pages of a 23-page story.)

Tags: char: colossus/piotr rasputin, char: cyclops/scott summers, char: marvel girl/phoenix/jean grey, char: nightcrawler/kurt wagner, char: professor x/charles xavier, char: shadowcat/kitty pryde, char: storm/ororo munroe, char: wolverine/logan/james howlett, creator: chris claremont, group: x-men, publisher: marvel comics, title: uncanny x-men

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I miss these X-Men.

We all miss them.

Agreed... I must see if I can find the Cockrum Nightcrawler mini-series in my boxes. It's a delight and would be a nice tribute to Kurt.

I don't know much about Kurt. If people would do some tribute posts it would be great.

I was thinking about posting some scans of that sometime this weekend.

Please do. I went through the Nightcrawler tag this morning, and it wasn't nearly enough to sooth my wounded heart.

I can't find my copies at the moment, so go nuts on my behalf! :)

my copies are in deep storage, but oddly enough I have a housemate who also has the complete series. I'll scan it later tonight!

Please do - either you or goblinthebamf, whoever gets there first. I've always been interested in that series.

...except for those of us who weren't comic fans in the 1980's and have never seen this version of the X-Men before.

Naw, I only got into comics these last couple years, and I miss the eighties X-Men desperately.

Hush, you don't count.

I started reading comics circa 1993, and I miss these X-Men. Back issues and all that.

Motto. A golden era.

I miss Dave Cockrum. If you're going out tonight or tomorrow, everyone, hoist one for him; I know I will.

Wow, I am pretty sure this was my first X-Men comic. The continuity was a complete mystery to me, but it was fun.

Ahhh... now that line from X-Men/Titans (where Kitty suggests Changeling-as-a-dragon talk with an Irish accent) makes sense.

Lion of my heart. LOL!

Cute cute story.

one of my favorite comics. I've only seen it in black and white in my "essential" trade. thanks!

~~left out my favorite panel~~

I wanted to post that bit, I really did. Alas, sacrifices had to be made.

Love this comic, and especially the Bamfs and "Mean", so much.

This is one of my favorite stories ever.

I wanted a Bamf doll so badly after this. Why, Marvel, whyyyyyy?!?!?!

I still want a Bamf doll! The first time Kurt gave one to Amanda I told my brother that's what I wanted for Christmas.

Someone made their own here

Oh, yes, I remember this one. I swear, whatever happened to characters that could make fun of themselves every now and then? I would gladly read the continuing adventures of Pirate Kitty and company, whereas I've pretty much given up on the current X-books because they're too damn complicated and trying much too hard to be cool. (Or so is my impression, anyway - like I said, I'm not actually reading them, so I can't really tell.)

Also, I really love this version of Lockheed. The regular one is great, too, of course, and one of my favorite characters, but there's just something that WORKS about a full-sized, yet cowardly, dragon with an engaging irish accent that allows himself to be bossed around by a feisty teenage girl in a pirate hat. Again, if this version were to show up on a regular basis, I would be one happy camper.

The great thing about this Lockheed is he wasn't even based on the actual dragon, who didn't debut for an other year after this, but her story's version of the group's Blackbird jet!

Which may be one of the reasons I like him - he doesn't FEEL like a knockoff. If he'd been created after that, he'd be communicating in semiverbal little squeaks and grunts just like the other guy, and we'd be all 'oh, right, he's Lockheed Mark 2', but no, he's Lockheed Mark 1. This is the original deal here, and he feels like just as much of an original character as his successor.

"Kitty may have 'pegged' me, but she's skewered you!"
"What's a matter, Elf - jealous?"

oh my *fans self*

Lovely little detail: Carol wearing the symbol of the Marvel family :P

That caricature of Wolverine passes "amusing" and moves into "hilarious" once you spot the teeny-tiny cowboy hat.

Little weird that Wolverine chooses to take his shirt off while standing in the hallway listening to this story? Just sayin...

Yeah, when I was looking over the pages I'd scanned, I had the same reaction--what on earth, Logan? But rechecking the issue, he's not actually wearing a shirt to begin with; he just has a towel over his shoulder which he discards at some point. The X-Men have been doing repairs on the mansion all day, so he's probably just out of the shower or something.

Less weird. Potentially more hot.