Uncanny X-Men 258 - Acts of Vengeance

The third and final issue of the X-Men's contribution to the crossover may include the phrase "act of vengeance" but otherwise there's still no indication of the wider events going on. Given that these issues are the most reprinted and best known of the whole thing, it's a pity such an absent image has been left for many reasons them in subsequent years. The "act of vengeance" in question is carried out by the Hand on their own old foe, Wolverine, with no sign of the wider scheme of trading enemies. The Mandarin returns for the showdown but with no mention of his current associates.

Uncanny X-Men #258

Writer: Chris Claremont
Penciler: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colourist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Bob Harras
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

Instead this story, written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Jim Lee, see the conclusion of the Hand's corruption of Psylocke as they seek to do the same to Wolverine. Meanwhile the Mandarin makes a more rudimentary attempt to alter Jubilee so as to de-Americanise her as she is "a daughter of the Middle Kingdom" even though she doesn't speak the language and feels thoroughly American. Emphasising the Mandarin as a modern-day Chinese nationalist, seeking to advance power through economics, technology and crime, has brought the villain a long way from being an "imitation Fu Manchu" in some underground wizard's lair and shows that he can be made to work in the modern era without resorting to worn out stereotypes.

Much of the issue is focused on attempts by the Hand to transform Wolverine though he keeps on fighting it and the mentalscape scenes aren't as interesting as the ones with Psylocke two issues ago. However the continued presence of illusions of both Carol Danvers and Nick Fury offers complications as they start to appear to Psylocke via a mental link with Wolverine, adding to the madness. Elsewhere Jubilee struggles against her captors and also against their determination to push her into a traditional Chinese role, even declaring "No speakee Chinese -- only American!" Her powers are getting stronger to the point where she lets off a huge blast that devastates the Mandarin's mansion, a prelude to the final battle.

The Mandarin is finally seen in his armour in this issue, which he strangely wears beneath one of his robes, but once again the colouring is confusing - the cover has the standard dark and light blue but inside it's depicted in red and grey. We see the outcome of Psylocke's conditioning and it's a pity that she doesn't actually free herself but instead has to be rescued by Wolverine and his own demons. The battle is also notable for another direct quoting of the Batman movie when Wolverine asks the Mandarin "you ever dance with the devil by the pale moonlight?", a question that neither understands. Marvel at the time didn't need to be constantly homaging and quoting the big DC movie and these references have dated heavily.

As ever, this isn't really a good chapter of the wider crossover since the three issues as a whole have ignored the broader set-up completely. As the conclusion of an X-Men story arc this is more a straightforward issue for moving the plots forward, but the failure to revert Psylocke's race change was a missed opportunity to quickly undo what is ultimately a very bad idea.

Uncanny X-Men #258 has been reprinted in:

• Uncanny X-Men Acts of Vengeance (Boxtree, 1995)
• X-Men: Mutations (1996)
• X-Men Visionaries: Jim Lee (2002)
• Essential X-Men volume 9 (2009)
• Acts of Vengeance Crossover Omnibus (2011)
• X-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Omnibus Volume 1 (2011)