Classic X-Men Vol 1 17

Alternate Covers:
	Back Cover Pinup
	Published
	January, 1988
"Mindgames!"
	Writer Chris Claremont; Penciler John Byrne; Inker Terry Austin; Colourist Mary Titus; Letterer Tom Orzechowski; Editor Archie Goodwin;
"A Taste for Vengeance!"
	Writer Chris Claremont; Penciler John Bolton; Inker John Bolton; Colourist Petra Scotese; Letterer Tom Orzechowski; Editor Ann Nocenti; Terry Kavanagh;
3rd story
	Penciler John Bolton; Inker John Bolton; Editor Ann Nocenti; Terry Kavanagh;

This isn't fair! I've done what no one else ever has -- I've beaten the X-Men! I have them completely in my power, at my mercy, my slightest whim their eager command! And I haven't a clue what to do next! Magneto -- he'd know, curse him! Probably has a billion revenge scenarios, each more delightfully cruel than the last. But he's never won. I have -- and I'm stuck!

-- Mesmero

Appearing in "Mindgames!"

This story is a reprint of the comic
X-Men #111.

Featured Characters:

X-Men

Supporting Characters:

Beast (Hank McCoy) (Main story and flashback)

Antagonists:

Other Characters:

Circus workers for "Mr. Mike's One-Ring Traveling Tent Show" (First appearance)
- Lotta Little (First appearance)
- Rube (First appearance)
- Bruno (First appearance)
- Jukie (Nick) (First appearance)
- Willis (First appearance)
- Georgie (First appearance)
- Billie (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed others
Various circus patrons
- Gramps (First appearance)
- Jackie (First appearance)
- Marty (First appearance)
- Jim-Bob (First appearance)
- Numerous unnamed others
Lorna Dane (Referenced)
Havok (Alex Summers) (Referenced)
Charles Xavier (Mentioned) (Only in flashback)
Lilandra Neramani (Mentioned) (Only in flashback)
Avengers (Mentioned) (Main story and flashback)
Marvel Girl (Jean Grey) (Referenced)
Hulk (Bruce Banner) (Mentioned)
Lord / God (Yahweh) (Invoked)
Vladimir Lenin (Invoked)

Races and Species:

Humans
Mutants (Main story and flashback)
Abstract Entities
Gods (Mentioned)
Demons (Mentioned)
Gorillas (Mentioned)

Locations:

Earth (Main story and flashback)
- United States of America (Main story and flashback)
  - Texas
    - Sullivan County (First appearance)
      - "Mr. Mike's One-Ring Traveling Tent Show" (First appearance)
  - New York (Only in flashback)
    - Westchester County (Only in flashback)
      - North Salem (Only in flashback)
        Salem Center (Only in flashback)
        Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (Only in flashback)
    - Grand Central Station, 42nd Street, Midtown Manhattan, New York City (Mentioned)
- Yukon, Canada (Mentioned)
- Scotland, United Kingdom (Referenced)

Items:

Synopsis for "Mindgames!"

This story is a reprint of the comic
X-Men #111.

Donning a trenchcoat and fedora to disguise himself, former X-Man-turned-Avenger the Beast has travelled to Dallas, Texas in search of the X-Men. Arriving at Mr. Mike's One-Ring Traveling Tent Show, he’s incredulous at what he finds: Banshee has become a carnival barker and is exhorting circus-goers to come see a freak show.

The Beast has still never met the new team in person and therefore can’t be entirely sure if the “freaks” he’s looking at are in fact the X-Men. They certainly appear to be them, but they do not act like the heroes he’s heard about: A demonic-looking freak (Nightcrawler) gnashes his teeth and growls at the audience. A half-naked savage (Wolverine) is chained in imposing shackles and appears doped up. An “African goddess” (Storm) endures sexist catcalls as she poses in a mini-thong. A steel man (Colossus) is a weight-lifter.

In a flashback sequence, the Beast reflects on the chain of events that brought him there. (See the Notes section below for a full explanation.) Upon finding Xavier’s school deserted, apparently in a hurry, he used Cerebro to track them, which led him to the circus.

Next, Beast observes an acrobatic show under the big top. A trapeze artist billed as “Miz Destiny” performs without a safety net and misses a connection with her fellow performer, thereby plunging toward the floor below. Beast is about to leap to her rescue, but there’s no need: Miz Destiny’s fall slows and she appears to somersault her way to the floor. While the audience believes it’s a remarkable display of gymnastics, the Beast recognizes it as Marvel Girl’s telekinetic abilities. Miz Destiny is Jean Grey.

Following her to her trailer, Hank is flummoxed to find that her personality has been drastically changed to a trashy vamp. A carny names “Slim” enters and Hank realizes it is Scott (Cyclops). Scott knocks the Beast’s hat off and Jean is horrified by his appearance, neither one recognizes their former teammate. Beast knocks “Slim” out of the trailer, prompting him to call out to more carnies for help.

The Beast ducks into the freak show tent to try and figure out what's going on, but gets punched by a hypnotized Colossus. He's dragged off to trailer of “the boss" -- the X-Men’s old foe Mesmero, who gloats how he used his mutant hypnosis ability to enthrall the new X-Men. Now as two of his men pin the him down, Mesmero turns his powers on the Beast, who does his best to resist.

Having seen the Beast get captured, Wolverine begins to react to his situation and he musters the strength to break free of his chains and shake off the effects of the hypnosis he’s been under. He snatches a carny and threatens to pop his claws into him unless he tells him what’s going on. It doesn’t take much convincing to get the carny to talk.

Meanwhile Wolverine has changed into his costume and bursts into Jean's trailer. He decks “Slim” and confronts "Miz Destiny", slapping her repeatedly in an effort to snap her out of Mesmero’s spell. He almost regrets it, as Jean reacts violently, pummeling him with the force of the Phoenix. It works though and she remembers who she is.

In his trailer, Mesmero is perplexed at the Beast’s mental stamina. The Beast glibly cracks jokes, but actually feels his resolve crumbling. At that moment, however, a carny bursts in and alerts him that all hell is breaking loose. The disruption enables the Beast to knock out the carnys holding him down. He’s about to attack Mesmero, but instead he’s laid low from an attack coming from behind him. As the former X-Man slumps to the floor, Mesmero reacts in horror when he see who’s responsible.

The X-Men have all been restored to normal thanks to Phoenix and are in their usual costumes. They are also furious as they battle the carnies. Storm even remarks that she is tempted to set aside her vow never to kill another person. In short order, the whole team convenes on Mesmero’s trailer. Upon entering it, they find the Beast slumped on the floor with Mesmero standing over him. Cyclops confronts Mesmero, who keels over as well. The X-Men become aware that another person is in the room, someone seated in the high-back swivel chair behind Mesmero’s desk. As the chair spins round, the X-Men all gape in horror as they come face to face with...Magneto!