Appearing in "And a Child Shall Deceive Them!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- X-Men
- Brandy Clark (Only in flashback)
- Steve Jackson (Only in flashback)
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Jacob Marks (Only in flashback)
- Marjorie Marks (Only in flashback)
- Doctor John Stennis (Only in flashback)
Locations:
Items:
Synopsis for "And a Child Shall Deceive Them!"
The X-Men stand ready to defend the young Jimmy Marks, who, unbeknownst to them, is actually the half-human half-wraith Hybrid. As the team springs into action, Hybrid uses his mental powers to usurp Storm’s control of weather and creates a blinding blizzard. While Sprite stays close to Jimmy Marks, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Wolverine press an uncoordinated attack. Hybird launches a number of farm implements at Rom & Wolverine. Nightcrawler teleports Wolverine to safety, and the implements impact harmlessly on the Spaceknight.
Rom searches through the storm to find the hulking shape of Hybrid rising behind the young Sprite. As Rom approaches, Sprite turns and spots the horror, instinctively phasing through the Galadorian and disrupting his circuitry. Colossus grapples with Hybrid, who uses his abilities to revert Peter to his human form and begins asphyxiating him. Nightcrawler keeps Peter alive, while Wolverine once again confronts Rom. Sprite tells Wolverine about the TRUE enemy, Hybrid, as Rom once again grapples with his foe.
His Neutralizer is knocked towards Wolverine, who picks the weapon up, but he is severely jolted when he tries to fire it. Then, Sprite, in desperation, picks up the Neutralizer and due to her unique phasing ability, is able to fire it. Hybrid comes to destroy her, but Rom holds him back and instructs Sprite how to retune the weapon to its highest setting. She fires again, blasting apart Hybrid’s molecules but also opening the dimensional rift to Limbo, where Rom, bathed in his own weapon’s beam then falls through. With the destruction of Hybrid, the storm ceases, and the X-Men depart, leaving Rom’s Neutralizer lying in the snow.
Notes
- Plot by Mantlo and Buscema, script by Mantlo, Claremont and Duffy credited with "inspiration and assistance".
- Inks (issue pages): Milgrom pages 1-7, 15, Giacoia pages 10-14, unknown artist page 16, Buscema? pages 17-30.