Original X-Men (UK) Vol 1 17

Cyclops watches over the X-Men's latest training session. He helps Iceman develop his powers, including making his body colder, which in turn makes him appear icier and more transparent, rather than a snowman. Following the tough workouts, Cyclops gives the group the rest of the day off. Jean tries to convince Cyclops to spend the rest of the afternoon with them, but he refuses, saying that he has too much work to do. From her thoughts, it becomes obvious that Jean has fallen in love with Scott.

Heading for the coffee shop where they met Zelda, Hank and Bobby come across a child in danger of falling off a roof. Without any time to change into costume, Hank climbs up the side of the building and rescues the child. When he reaches the ground again, he and Bobby are attacked by the onlooking mob, which is angered that there was a mutant hiding among them. Hank and Bobby escape and head back to the mansion.

Infuriated, Hank tells Scott that he is quitting the X-Men. Scott does not know what to do, so he contacts Professor Xavier. Professor Xavier tells him that he cannot do anything about it, and continues on his quest to find Lucifer.

A week later, Hank has established himself as a pro wrestler named The Beast. His latest opponent is Unus, the Untouchable. Hank tries to attack Unus, but every time he attempts to strike the man, he is stopped by an invisible forcefield. Hank suddenly recognizes Mastermind in the audience, then realizes that the two men somehow know each other.

After the fight, Mastermind heads into Unus' locker room. Unus inquires whether he can join the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants yet. Mastermind informs him that due to the failures of Namor and the Blob recently, Unus must prove his loyalty before receiving membership. He informs Unus that he must find or even defeat one of the X-Men.

Unus has no idea how to find the X-Men, so he goes for a walk. He sees a bank robbery and thinks that he could put the money to better use, and robs the bank robbers. The X-Men are nearby and assume Unus is the bank robber and confront him. The four X-Men are unable to figure out how to fight a man who can't be touched. Unus grabs Angel, who tries to fly off. Unus holds onto him, knowing that the X-Men are not killers. Angel eventually sets Unus down on a nearby rooftop.

The X-Men return to the mansion to plot a strategy and find Beast in the lab, working on a strange device. Beast informs them that the device is designed to increase Unus' powers. The X-Men think Beast has joined with Magneto and attack him. Beast tries to explain his plan, but the others won't listen, so he grabs his device and jumps out the window. At the gym, Beast uses the device on Unus, increasing his powers. The X-Men arrive too late.

At first, Unus is very pleased with his powers, but quickly realizes he can no longer control them. He learns that he can't touch anything, not even his cigarettes and food. The X-Men find him in a restaurant trying to grab food because he is starving, but his power thwarts him. Beast makes a deal with Unus to reverse the device's effects, as long as he does not join the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Unus agrees and returns to his wrestling career after being treated, and Beast returns to the X-Men.

Appearing in "Earth 33 1/3"

Featured Characters:

Iceman

Other Characters:

Blob
Kingpin

Locations:

Earth-333333333

Synopsis for "Earth 33 1/3"

Synopsis not yet written

Appearing in "Demon-Tree!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Devil Dinosaur #7

Featured Characters:

Supporting Characters:

New Folk
- White Hair (Death)
- Stone Hand
- Eev

Antagonists:

Prime Computer (Destroyed)

Other Characters:

The plant-eaters

Locations:

Dinosaur World
- Valley of the Flame
- Prime Computer's Paradise

Synopsis for "Demon-Tree!"

Reprint of the 1st story from
Devil Dinosaur #7

Finding Prime computer and the three New Folk, Devil Dinosaur is thrown away by Prime Computer at the praise of Stone-Hand and Eev and eventually is forced to flee due to the computers power. The computer them imprisons the three in a glass dome in order to prevent harm to come to them, Stone-Hand and White-Hair are unhappy about this but Eev is more accepting.

Back with Moon Boy he leaves the cave he was hiding in only to be attacked by a hungry Hopper. Fleeing through the swamps he is nearly crushed by a giant Plant-Eater, but is still unable to escape the Hopper. Just as he is about to be caught he is rescued by Devil and the pair are reunited.

Prime computer has turned the dome prison into a mini paradise, which both Eev and White Hair have come to accept and enjoy. Stone-Hands however, wishes to be free but his attempts to destroy Prime Computer are thwarted. Devil and Moon-Boy eventually return to the computer, finding that White-Hair has died from what later turns out to be radiation poisoning. Feeling the computer lied about there guaranteed safety Stone-Hand, renews his attacks on it. Damaging it, Devil then charges the weakened barrier breaking it, which causes a feedback to the computer and destroys it making the garden disappear and freeing Eev and Stone-Hands. The pair leave proclaim they will never forget what happened and will tell the story to everyone.

Links and References

References