Set Description:
These are all the first appearances I remember as a kid. I will enjoy putting these together!
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The gallery tab shows only items with images. Click the thumbnails to enlarge. |
Slot: |
Alpha Flight 1 |
Item: |
Alpha Flight 1 Modern |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0944493001
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Owner Comments
Mooove over bacon! Now there's something leaner....and meaner.
Published: 8/83
KEY ISSUE: 1st appearance of Puck & Marrina. Origin of Alpha Flight.
John Byrne story & art
John Byrne & Terry Austin cover
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Slot: |
Alpha Flight 33 |
Item: |
Alpha Flight 33 Modern |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0635486011
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Owner Comments
My Not-So-Fair Lady!
Bill Mantlo story
Sal Buscema & Gerry Talaoc art
Mike Mignola cover
Key Issue: 1st appearance of Lady Deathstrike.
X-Men appearance.
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Amazing Spider-Man 300 |
Item: |
Amazing Spider-Man 300 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0218874009
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Owner Comments
My father and I picked this puppy right off the shelf the day it came out in 1988.
I've held onto it ever since and when I went to the 2013 Orlando Megacon, I took it to get On-Site graded and it came back 9.6!!!
YEEEHAA!!!
Since then, I have cracked it open, taken it to the 2013 Baltimore ComicCon and had Tom DeFalco (editor) and Bob McLeod (inker) both sign it!! It retained the 9.6 grade, which is fantastic!!
Now I'm just waiting for my opportunity to get McFarlane and Michelinie added to it!
Update: it has now been cracked and had David Michelinie added to it!! As soon as I get it back, I will be seeking to get McFarlane and Stan Lee on it. Then it will be done!
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Slot: |
Avengers 196 |
Item: |
Avengers 196 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1194725001
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Owner Comments
Tnerb and I found this copy raw from a dealer at the 2013 Baltimore ComicCon. After fully examining it, we determined that it had a shot at 9.8 with a pressing. Tnerb decided to pass on it, so I picked it up for only $20!!
I then had Joe Rubinstein sign it right there at the same show and submitted it for pressing and grading.
I am ecstatic at the 9.8 it got!! Totally awesome!!!!
Thank you big brother!
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Daredevil 168 |
Item: |
Daredevil 168 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0006081004
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Owner Comments
My father and I went to the house of a co-worker of his back in 1986. His name was Eddie Looney. He must have been looney to be selling off his comics, which were all top notch condition copies that he had never even read!
We picked up a number of issues from him on that day but our best acquisition wound up being THIS copy of Daredevil #168.
We payed him a whopping $5 for it!! At the time, that was a lot of money for us to pay for a single comic book. We had just recently caught the comic book collecting bug and weren't beyond cure yet. LOL
Dad passed away in 2000 and even when I sold off the vast majority of my raw collection, I still kept a few, including THiS one. So I've had this thing in my hands for over 27 years now!
Three years into my CGC collecting, I went to the Orlando Megacon this year and since they were doing On-Site grading, I decided to finally get this beauty graded.
I lowballed my estimate at 9.4 but was silently praying that it would miraculously become a 9.8.
In the end it came back at 9.6, which I was absolutely ecstatic about!!
CHECK IT OUT, DAD!!! :')
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Slot: |
Daredevil 197 |
Item: |
Daredevil 197 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0918798016
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Owner Comments
Another great Sienkiewicz cover!!
Published: 8/83
1st appearance of Yuriko Oyama who later becomes Lady Deathstrike.
Denny O'Neil story, Sienkiewicz cover
William Johnson, Mike Mignola,
Larry Hama & Klaus Janson art
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Slot: |
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero 1 |
Item: |
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero 1 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0218874008
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Owner Comments
I cannot believe the price I got this for! It is centered beautifully!
Published: 6/82
Larry Hama story. Trimpe & McLeod cover
Herb Trimpe, Bob McLeod,
Don Perlin & Jack Abel art
Based on the Hasbro toy line.
Signed by Herb Trimoe & Bob McLeod at the 2013 Baltimore ComicCon!!
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Slot: |
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero 14 |
Item: |
G.I. Joe, A Real American Hero 14 Modern |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0931484015
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Owner Comments
It's Mr. Clean, Chrome edition!
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Slot: |
Marvel Graphic Novel 4 |
Item: |
Marvel Graphic Novel 4 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1187211001
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Owner Comments
Published:1982
KEY ISSUE: Origin & 1st appearance of the New Mutants.
Chris Claremont story
Bob McLeod cover and art
There are now 27 of these in 9.8! This is 1 of only 5 SS 9.8 copies! It's signed by both Claremont and McLeod with a Cannonball sketch by Bob!
Since this is signed on the back, the second image is of the back cover instead of a first page scan.
Story Title: RENEWAL
SUMMARY:
In Scotland, Moira MacTaggert meets a wolf that transforms into Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane) on the run from a mob. In Brazil, Roberto Da Costa (Sunspot) changes into an extremely strong (& black) mutant form for the 1st time at a soccer match. In Kentucky, Sam Guthrie (Cannonball) takes off & shoots forward at extreme velocity when he blasts out of a mine as it caves in. In Colorado, Danielle Moonstar (Psyche) is told by her grandfather to go get training from Charles Xavier (Professor X). Angrily, she reveals her ability to take someone's greatest fears & project them visually as spirit forms.
Donald Pierce witnesses these events & decides to kill them all out of hatred & a desire to take over the Hellfire Club from Sebastian Shaw. He kills Dani's grandfather. She vows vengeance.
At the School for Gifted Youngsters, Rahne watches Professor X examine Xi'an Coy Mahn (Karma). When Shan shows how she can possess people by taking over Moira, Rahne freaks & partially transforms. The Professor cools things down. Shan tells some of her past & of her untrustworthy uncle, Nguyen Ngoc Coy.
The X-men are supposedly dead at the hands of the Brood. Charles has become leery of teaching more students just to see them die as well. Moira speaks with him & he agrees to help train the youths. Professor X then receives a message that Dani's grandfather wants him to train her as well.
Charles, Shan & Rahne arrive in Colorado to find that Dani's grandfather is dead. They're attacked by both Dani & by 3 of Pierce's goons. Dani soon realizes her mistake & the assassins are defeated. Charles finds out about Pierce through mental interrogation & Dani joins the team to get revenge on Pierce.
In Brazil, Moira, Shan & Dani are arrested by the Police, who think they abducted Roberto's girlfriend, Juliana & tried to abduct Roberto. Shan & Dani escape but Moira is taken into custody. Later, Shan & Dani follow Roberto when he goes after Juliana. The 3 of them battle with 4 of Pierce's goons & beat them, but not before one of them kills Juliana. Roberto joins up for revenge against Pierce.
In Kentucky, Charles & Rahne look for Sam, who instead finds them by blasting into their jeep. Rahne goes wolfie & hides while Sam pulls an unconscious Charles from the jeep. Pierce has hired Sam to help him. Sam doesn't like it, but needs money for his family. Wolfsbane follows Sam & Pierce's men to their compound. She discovers that Pierce has nullified Charles' mental powers with a machine that is both drawing information from his brain and slowly killing him.
Roberto, Shan & Dani arrive to help & Sam discovers them. Psyche scares him off with a spirit form. The group breaks in. Wolfsbane is severely injured by Pierce. Psyche is KO'd when Pierce throws Dani's psionic attack back at her. He's part bionic!
Sunspot bursts in & then gets blasted by Cannonball, causing him to turn back to normal. Karma tries to possess Pierce, but only gets zapped. When Pierce tells Cannonball to kill all the kids, Sam refuses & Pierce points a gun at him.
While the others were distracting Pierce, Professor X gets the injured Wolfsbane to turn the machine off. Professor X then enters a mental power struggle with Pierce & takes control of him.
Karma takes control of Pierce from Charles & they hand him over to the Hellfire Club. As the group leaves, Sam asks what he should do now & Roberto tells him to go follow his boss.
Later, back at the school, everyone dons their new uniforms. Sam shows up & Roberto is skeptical about letting him join the group, but Rahne forgives Sam & Roberto agrees.
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
This was my 1st comic book series to collect & read, so it was my introduction to many other Marvel characters & series.
I didn't actually read THIS issue until I had already read the first 4 issues of the regular series.
It was cool to see how the kids found out about their powers. Sam was my favorite character by this point. It was neat to see him go from Pierce's lackey to the hero he would later become.
I had heard mention of Juliana from Bobby in the regular series & here I got to see the events happen that Bobby spoke of.
I thought it was funny how these kids had grouped together because of anger, revenge & even hatred, but were now a team of heroes. Good things CAN come from the worst circumstances.
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Slot: |
Marvel Fanfare 8 |
Item: |
Marvel Fanfare 8 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0229876004
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Owner Comments
What's he gonna do, suction cup me to death?
Published: 5/83
Gil Kane & Carmine Infantino art
Pin-ups by Bill Sienkiewicz.
Pedigree: Winnipeg
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Slot: |
Marvel Team-Up 100 |
Item: |
Marvel Team-Up 100 Modern |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
0968246012
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Owner Comments
If you're a New Mutants fan like me, then you MUST own this comic!!!
This is an absolutely perfect comic! Centered beautifully and no outwardly visible defects through the plastic. Must've been either something internal or ever so slight surface imperfection that caused the grade to not reach 9.9 or 10! BEAUTIFUL!!!
Published: 12/80
Chris Claremont story
Frank Miller, Bob Wiacek & John Byrne
art. Frank Miller & Klaus Janson cover
Pedigree: Western Penn
Key Issue: Fantastic Four. Origin & 1st appearance
of Karma (Xi'an Coy Manh). X-Men cameo.
Black Panther/Storm backup story.
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Slot: |
New Mutants 10 |
Item: |
New Mutants 10 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1194977006
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Owner Comments
When in Rome......
Published: 12/83
KEY ISSUE: First appearance of Magma.
Chris Claremont story, Bob McLeod cover
Sal Buscema & Tom Mandrake art
Instead of the first page I decided to display the LAST page of the issue, which is the FIRST view ever given of Amara as MAGMA!! AWESOME!
I had this issue signed by Bob McLeod at the 2013 Megacon!!
Story Title: Betrayal!
Story Summary:
The kids are being worshipped in the city as gods. Marcus is now highly thought of for bringing them there and hopes to become Emperor next. Lucius, Amara's father, is upset about the whole thing and Roberto is still worried about his mother, Nina, of whom there is still no sign.
At a private feast for the mutants, Marcus tells them he is the good guy and Lucius is out to become Emperor. Most of the kids are not as stupid as he thinks, but play along for the time being. Rahne however thinks Amara to be a liar, probably cause of her feelings for Sam, who has appeared to believe Amara up to now.
Marcus says that Amara's current absence shows her untrustworthiness. He leaves the kids for the night. Roberto thinks back on the people he's lost recently: Julianna, Shan and Nina. He then spots a woman being taken somewhere who looks like his mom from a distance.
When he runs down to try and see if it is her, he is stopped by soldiers who claim she is someone who would do them harm. Roberto rightly decides to let it go for now.
That night, Dani tries to get away to see what's really going on in the city. She fools a couple of guards with illusions of their heart's desires, but is captured by some unseen person.
Later that same night, Roberto and Rahne are attacked by Castro who, when captured, tells them he was sent by Lucius to kill them (a lie, of course).
Dani awakes to find herself half-drugged and in a cavern with Amara & another girl. They are told they will be sacrificed to the fiery pit for Selene, the black priestess. Selene appears & takes control of the other girl & forces her to fling herself into the pit! Who's next?
Meanwhile, Sam & Roberto attack Lucius' estate with other soldiers to arrest Lucius. Sam convinces Roberto to "capture" Lucius instead of letting the soldiers kill him, because he just doesn't trust Marcus. Roberto agrees & they pull it off, much to Marcus' regret.
Roberto hasn't revealed that he can speak Latin, and after hearing a conversation between Marcus & Lucius in the language, he is convinced they've made a mistake.
Back in the cave, Selene sets the drugged, controlled Amara on the edge of the pit & tells of how she killed Amara's mother & plans to do the same to her father after her. Dani breaks free of the guards with her power & rushes at Selene.
Selene now sees Dani as one like her, a mutant, and begins to take control of her when Amara manages to break free of Selene's control and throws herself at her.
Selene backhands Amara straight into the pit!! An earthquake occurs across all of Nova Roma and down in the cave, Amara suddenly shoots up from the pit, revealed as a mutant and declaring vengeance on the priestess!!
MAGMA IS BORN!!
Continued in #11...
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
OH WOW! This was my first experience of the birth of an original Marvel character! I knew this was the case because of the story. This was no rehashing of some figure that had been around for years.
The last page of this issue (see image #2) will forever be burned into my memory! What a fantastic image!! Magma looked unbelievably powerful & beautiful at the same time!
Man, oh man, I could not get to the next issue fast enuff...
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Slot: |
New Mutants 13 |
Item: |
New Mutants 13 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1194971006
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Owner Comments
Kitty's always either yelling or crying on covers.
Published: 3/84
Sal Buscema and Tom Mandrake art
I had this gorgeous copy signed by Chris Claremont at Megacon 2013 and it stands as the only SS 9.8 copy as of this posting!
Story Title: School Daysze
SUMMARY:
Amara is introduced to Prof X, who decides to keep a very close psychically linked eye on her due to her very dangerous powers and fragile emotions.
During an evening dinner party, Sam (showing off) accidentally gets soda all over Amara's dress from her dead mother & she wigs out, causing a magma fissure to erupt and setting a tree on fire which Bobby throws into a lake to put out.
Meanwhile, Henry Peter Gyrich & Sebastian Shaw test out a new model Sentinel, paid for by Shaw and designed by Gyrich's Project Wideawake. During the test, someone hacks into the system & causes the Sentinel to go wild! Gyrich has no choice but to self destruct the unit. Gyrich vows vengeance on the hackers.
Kitty Pryde, along with her partner Doug Ramsey, were behind the hacking. Kitty wants to know more about Shaw but can't tell Doug everything because she knows Shaw is a mutant himself. Kitty leaves the Ramsey estate through the woods & comes upon Amara. She offers help to the Nova Roman but Amara's mental state has her on edge & she snaps at Kitty, who tramps off again.
Kitty comes upon the other New Mutants who tell her that they can take care of their own & make reference to her having previously referred to them as "X-Babies". Kitty meets with the professor, who reminds her of her obligations to the X-Men & to do her best to work with the New Mutants & leave the feud behind.
Prof X mentally goes over all the recent events of his students. Kitty's displacement, Amara's sadness, the possible after effects of the drug that was injected into Roberto & Rahne (read Marvel Team-Up Annual #6 in my set), his missing of Lilandra. Then he's hit with another, more intense, mental scanning wave, which have been plaguing him of late. Who's doing it, he still hasn't found out yet but he has too many other obligations to focus all his resources on it right now.
The kids go through a computer lesson, some more successfully than others & then have a dance class with Ms. Hunter. Rahne unconsciously transforms during a dance move & is warned by the others to be more careful in public.
The Prof tries to have a danger room session with Amara, but she balks at the Prof being in her mind to monitor her. He had previously promised to do no such thing & Amara sees this as a lie. She runs back to her room & ignores the Prof's mental callings..
Later that night, she oversees the Prof in an intimate holographic conversation with Lilandra, and after a touching conversation with the Prof herself, decides finally to stay for good & let the Prof do whatever he needs to in order to train her.
Continued in #14...
Personal Comments:
Amara has to learn control of her powers. She's very emotional & the slightest thing is causing her to erupt, literally!!
The Sentinels look like they could become very big threats soon. Luckily, Kitty & Doug took care of this test.
This issue is actually the first appearance of Doug Ramsey who I didn't know at the time would go on to become Cypher.
Who is scanning Prof X? It's gotta be bad, whoever is behind it.
I've known people who were thrust into more responsible positions at an early age. They also felt like those of equal or even older age in "lesser" groups were beneath them. It never sat right with me in real life, so I can definitely identify with Kitty's struggles. Hopefully she can work things out with the others.
Yes! Amara is gonna let the Prof help her.....
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Slot: |
New Mutants 18 |
Item: |
New Mutants 18 Signature |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1007105002
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Owner Comments
Let's get techno-organically funky with the all new Warlock!!
Published: 8/84
KEY ISSUE: 1st appearance of new Warlock.
Chris Claremont story
Bill Sienkiewicz cover and art
This copy is not only a rarer news-stand edition in high-gade, but is also signed by Bill! Fantastic!!
Second scan is of the page containing the first view of the new Sienkiewicz creation known as Warlock (not to be confused with the other orange-skinned guy with the same name).
Story Title: Death-Hunt
Summary:
A mysterious girl with psyhcic talents sees a vision of the future. In it, the army blows up the mansion killing Xavier and the other mutants. When she knocks on the door and Illyana answers, she realizes the time is close and flees in tears.
Dani keeps seeing the Bear that killed her parents but doesn't know what it's supposed to mean. She wants to tell Illyana but doesn't want her involved. She feels bad about it since Illyana has told Dani most of her secrets.
A strange techno-organic creature named Warlock, lands on a desolate planet to restore his energy only to be found by Magus, apparently his father, And flees the planet as Magus destroys it.
Dani uses the Danger Room to do battle with a fake version of the bear to ready herself for a possible future battle with the beast. Illyana helps her but Dani doesn't tell her the real reason for the bear. Dani blames herself for her parents taking on the bear to protect her from it. She refuses to involve any of her friends in the matter just to see them die too.
That night, she heads out into the snow and calls for the bear. It appears and when she uses her power to draw forth an image of its deepest fear, it turns out to be herself!
She battles the beast and believes to have killed it, but when her back is turned, It comes back to life. Rahne senses Dani's distress and rouses the others from the house and out into the wintery darkness.
When they find Dani, she is severly injured and lying in a pool of her own blood, red against the snow!
Continued in issue #19...
Personal Notes:
This is the first issue of the Sienkiewicz run of art in this series. I'm gonna agree with Tnerb on something here. I HATED Bill Sienkiewicz's artwork at first! I thought it was the ugliest artwork I had ever seen on or in a comic book, and with the following issues it didn't get any better by my view.
But over time and with age, I too have come to vastly appreciate Bill's art contribution to comics. Like Tnerb, I was wrong, and I wish I could tell that to Bill myself someday!
This was also the first comic that I remember seeing the small purple limbo demon, Lockheed in. He seems to be reaI chummy with illyana and though I wasn't sure where he would fit in, I was sure the wonderful Marvel writers would come up with something.
I remember thinking that this Warlock creature meant some really interesting things were on the way for my favorite mutants.
Seeing the vision of death of Xavier and the others was disconcerting to say the least. Who was this strange girl? I couldn't wait to find out!
I was terrified for Dani in this issue! How bad was she hurt? Was she dead? Dadgummit, Where was that next issue!
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Slot: |
New Mutants 21 |
Item: |
New Mutants 21 |
Grade: |
CGC |
Cert #: |
1194971001
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Owner Comments
The new mutants version of Starship's knee deep in the hoopla album cover.
Published: 11/84
KEY ISSUE: Origin of Warlock.
Chris Claremont story
Bill Sienkiewicz cover and art
The page scan is of the page where Warlock destroys Magneto's planetoid and he continues on towards the surface of the planet.
Story Title: Slumber Party!
Summary:
Professor X has allowed the New Mutants female members to throw a slumber Party to celebrate Dani's release from the hospital. She is still in a wheelchair for now but working hard at getting back to normal.
The other girls are from the Salem Center High School in town and don't know anything about the mutant nature of the mansion. While the girls party on, the small Limbo demon Lockheed looks on from up in the ceiling. Rahne's conservative nature makes her uncomfortable in the party atmosphere.
In orbit above the Earth on his personal asteroid, Magneto has a run-in with an object moving at light speed towards the planet! It's Warlock, the Techno-organic being who is fleeing from Magus and is delirious with fear and exhaustion. He doesn't even realize it when he destroys Magneto's orbital home as he streaks towards the surface in search of energy to replenish himself.
Meanwhile, after a (literally) shaky start, Amara starts making some friends at the party. Rahne is off in the corner on her own, so the other girls decide to hold her down and do a make-up job on her.
Sam and Bobby return from a late baseball game and after a heart to heart regarding Roberto's depression about his father, Sam decides to check in on the girls.
The newly drop-dead gorgeous Rahne answers the door and after Sam talks to her without even realizing who she is, he gets a gut punch from her for his trouble and the boys are turned away. Girls only!
While the girls perform a light-hearted seance, Sam takes a skinny dip in the lake while Bobby frets over missing his home. Then Warlock streaks through the air right into the lake!
Sam goes in after the object that looks like a rock and brings it to shore. It's burning hot in the water but is cool to the touch once on land. Sam is suspicious due to its strange nature and the fact that he saw it change trajectory in midair and slowing down when it hit.
The boys take the rock back to the mansion and put it in the lab. Then once they're gone, Warlock comes to and tries to re-energize himself through the wall socket and knocks out the electricity. At the party, Lockheed takes off from Illyana, who goes after him.
Warlock displays his ability to inject a virus with his touch to turn organic matter into techno-organic matter and drain its life-energy.
After Lockheed finds the visitor, the mutants think Warlock is some dangerous enemy and Warlock thinks the same of the mutants. After a swipe from Illyana's sword, a blast from Sam, a lava burst from Magma and small dissection from Bobby, he still stands.
Dani is mad at Sam for bringing the creature into the mansion. Thankfully the loud music from the party is drowning out the sounds of battle so the other school kids don't know what's really going on.
Finally, Dani and Rahne send him off in fear and realize he is a sentient being of some sort and they've made a mistake. Warlock is down in the Danger Room.
The kids decide to break their silence as mutants to Doug Ramsey, as well as inform him of his being a mutant in regards to languages, in order to get his help in communicating with Warlock.
They finally come to understand Warlocks background. His kind are born on assembly lines and forced to battle their fathers for survival. He fled and is pursued by Magus. Rahne helps him to restore his energy and as a result he accepts them as friends!
When the Prof comes back, he is initially upset at the kids decision, but decides that their intentions are noble and agrees to protect Warlock and let him stay on!
Read Annual #1 next and then go on to #22.
Personal Comments:
I didn't really get all that interested in this issue until I realized that Warlock was finally arriving on Earth! Then I was engrossed for the rest of the story!
Seeing the kids interact and finally befriend the alien was really neat! He wasn't a mutant. He was an alien but apparently had transformation abilities that I couldn't wait to see expand with the others help!
Warlock had the wonder and naivete of a child on this strange world by his knowledge. I remember liking how he referred to himself as "self" instead of "I" when speaking.
This was also the issue that the kids finally revealed themselves to Doug Ramsey as mutants and revealed to him that he was a mutant as well.
I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be woken up in the middle of the night and told that everything you thought you were was wrong and now your life would be forever changed.
WOW!!
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