X-Men Vol 1 109

X-Men #109
Previous Issue	Comics:X-Men #108
Next Issue	Comics:X-Men #110
Cover Date	February, 1978

1. "Home are the Heroes!"
Appearances · Synopsis
Writer(s)	Chris Claremont
Penciler(s)	John Byrne
Inker(s)	Terry Austin
Letterer(s)	Joe Rosen
Editor(s)	Archie Goodwin

 She could have a concussion - or worse! An ye - Major Maple Leaf, or whatever ye call yerself - ye're the man responsible! 

—Banshee

Appearing in "Home are the Heroes!"

Featured Characters:

• X-Men
  • Cyclops (Scott Summers)
  • Storm
  • Wolverine
  • Colossus
  • Nightcrawler
  • Banshee (Sean Cassidy)
  • Phoenix
• Professor X

Supporting Characters:

• Starjammers
  • Corsair
  • Ch'od
  • Hepzibah
• Lilandra
• Moira MacTaggert

Villains:

• Weapon Alpha, first appearance
• Department H, first appearance

Other Characters:

• Elaine Grey
• John Grey
• Gladiator (Kallark)
• Starbolt

Locations:

• New York
  • Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Salem Center, Westchester County
  • a lake

Items:

• Cyclops' Visor, version 2

Vehicles:

• Starjammer

Synopsis for "Home are the Heroes!"

The X-Men return to Earth, having recently dethroned the mad Shi'ar emperor, D'Ken, and saving the galaxy from the threat of the M'Kraan Crystal. The Starjammers accompany them and drop Lilandra Neramani off at the Xavier school. Before returning to outer space, Corsair has a brief conversation with Phoenix. He makes her promise that she will not tell Cyclops that he is actually his father. Phoenix agrees to his wishes, but feels as if she is betraying Cyclops by keeping such a secret from him. Storm overhears the conversation and warns Jean about keeping such vital information from Scott.

Soon after, Jean reunites with her parents, John and Elaine. She tells them of her recent experiences and her new identity as the Phoenix. From a distance, Scott Summers observes the conversation and grows concerned. Jean seems like an entirely different person now. Nightcrawler enters the room and tries to pull Scott out of his depression. Scott snaps at him, and Nightcrawler fires back at how difficult it is being born blue and furry.

The other X-Men decide to take a much-needed vacation. Moira MacTaggert tells them of a lake in New York where Charles and she once visited during their courtship. Wolverine elects to tag along in order to do some hunting. Storm is appalled at the notion, and criticizes him for wishing to kill defenseless animals. Wolverine responds sharply indicating that it "takes no skill to kill..." and that he prefers sneaking up on an unsuspecting doe and tapping it on its hindquarters. Storm apologizes for misjudging him, but Wolverine could care less.

Meanwhile in Canada, James MacDonald Hudson an agent of a defense program known as Department H dons a battle-suit and becomes Weapon Alpha. He flies to the United States on a mission to capture the rogue secret agent, Wolverine, and bring him back to Canada. James and Wolverine have a long history together, and he knows that he will be in for the fight of his life.

At the lake, Storm and Colossus relax on the shore, taking in the sun, while Banshee and Moira play around in the water. Wolverine skulks about the surrounding area, tracking a small deer. Just as he comes in close enough to touch it, Weapon Alpha appears before him. Wolverine unsheathes his claws and launches himself at Hudson. Hudson refers to Wolverine as "Weapon-X" and states that he is still the property of the Canadian government. Wolverine has no intention of returning to his former employers, and begins slashing at Weapon Alpha. Fortunately, the electromagnetic fields of Hudson's battle-suit protect him from Wolverine's Adamantium claws. He blasts the feisty mutant with his repulsor weapons, sending him flying through the trees.

Wolverine lands close to the lake and the other X-Men snap to attention. Weapon Alpha engages Peter Rasputin, who transforms into Colossus and punches him back through the trees. Regaining control of his suit's flight systems, he turns back and unleashes a volley of electro-blasts against Colossus. One of the shots ricochets off of the hero's steel frame and hits Moira MacTaggert. Banshee goes berserk and pummels Weapon Alpha with a concentrated sonic scream. Hudson realizes that he is woefully unprepared to take on Wolverine, as well as his teammates. Promising a rematch, he flies off and returns to Canada.

Notes

• This issue is reprinted in Classic X-Men #16 and Essential X-Men #1.
• First appearance of James MacDonald Hudson as Weapon Alpha. He appears next using the name Vindicator in (Uncanny) X-Men #120.
• Colossus and Phoenix appeared last in Iron Fist Vol 1 #15. Chronologically, they appeared next in the second story in Classic X-Men #28.
• Cyclops appeared last in Iron Fist Vol 1 #15. He chronologically appears next in the second story in Classic X-Men #26.
• Elaine and John Grey appear next in publication order in flashback in Bizarre Adventures #27. Their next actual appearance is in (Uncanny) X-Men #136.
• Moira MacTaggert appeared last in Iron Fist Vol 1 #15. She appears next in (Uncanny) X-Men #110.
• The Starjammers appear in flashback only from events chronicled in (Uncanny) X-Men #108. They appear next in Uncanny X-Men #154.
• Wolverine appeared last in Iron Fist Vol 1 #15. He chronologically appears next in flashback in Alpha Flight Vol 1 #17.

Trivia

• Although Department H is never mentioned by name in this issue, is the Canadian agency that both Weapon Alpha and Wolverine were associated with.
• Due to the accidental injury that he gives to Moira MacTaggert, Weapon Alpha soon changes his code-name to Vindicator, swearing to vindicate any innocents that are injured due to his negligence. This is revealed in Alpha Flight Vol 1 #2.
• This is the first comic book issue where Wolverine is referred to as Weapon-X.
• Wolverine is still wearing Fang's Imperial Guard costume from (Uncanny) X-Men #108 in the beginning of this story.
• On page 5, Cyclops remarks about how different Jean Grey has become in recent weeks. Originally, writer Chris Claremont intended Jean Grey and the Phoenix to be the same person. It wasn't until years later that it was revealed that the Phoenix entity and the true Jean Grey were completely separate characters. However, Cyclops' dialogue in this issue helps to support the retroactive continutiy as it relates to the Phoenix storyline.

See Also

• 3 image(s) from X-Men Vol 1 109
• 9 reprint(s) of X-Men Vol 1 109

Recommended Reading

• Alpha Flight Vol 1 #1
• (Uncanny) X-Men #120, #121, #139, and #140 - X-Men appearances of Alpha Flight.

Links and References

• Uncanny X-Men article at Wikipedia
• Uncanny X-Men series index at the Grand Comics Database
• Uncanny X-Men series index at UXN
• Marvel Chronology Project (appearances)

References

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