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| HistoryText = ===Final Genesis===
 
| HistoryText = ===Final Genesis===
   
After the [[X-Men (Earth-616)|X-Men]] were disbanded in the wake of the events of [[Messiah Complex]], [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Donald Pierce]], disguised as [[Scott Summers (Earth-616)|Cyclops]] recruited a new team of several young mutants, made up of [[Eric Gitter (Earth-616)|Eric Gitter (Ink)]] as well as former students [[Sooraya Qadir (Earth-616)|Sooraya Qadir (Dust)]], [[Nicholas Gleason (Earth-616)|Nicholas Gleason (Wolf Cub)]] and [[Santo Vaccarro (Earth-616)|Santo Vaccarro (Rockslide)]]. Santo, however, refused to join unless Cyclops would accept [[Ruth Aldine (Earth-616)|Ruth Aldine (Blindfold)]] whom he hadn't originally planned to recruit, to be on the team as well.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 1|Young X-Men #1]]</ref>
+
After the [[X-Men (Earth-616)|X-Men]] were disbanded<ref>[[Messiah Complex]]</ref>, [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Donald Pierce]] disguised himself as [[Scott Summers (Earth-616)|Cyclops]] and recruited a new team of several young mutants: [[Eric Gitter (Earth-616)|Eric Gitter (Ink)]] as well as former students [[Sooraya Qadir (Earth-616)|Sooraya Qadir (Dust)]], [[Nicholas Gleason (Earth-616)|Nicholas Gleason (Wolf Cub)]] and [[Santo Vaccarro (Earth-616)|Santo Vaccarro (Rockslide)]]. Santo, however, refused to join unless "Cyclops" would accept [[Ruth Aldine (Earth-616)|Ruth Aldine (Blindfold)]], whom he hadn't originally planned to recruit, to be on the team as well.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #1}}</ref>
   
Blindfold had previously seen a vision of this team of young X-Men facing off against Donald Pierce, a deadly old foe of the X-Men, and former member of the [[Hellfire Club (Earth-616)|Hellfire Club]], during which one of the members was murdered.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 1|Young X-Men #1]]</ref>
+
Blindfold had previously seen a vision of this team of young X-Men facing off against Donald Pierce, a deadly old foe of the X-Men and former member of the [[Hellfire Club (Earth-616)|Hellfire Club]], during which one of the members was murdered.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #1}}</ref>
   
After assembling the Young X-Men in the [[Danger Cave]], "Cyclops" gave them their costumes and told them that he was reforming the X-Men, beginning with perhaps the last generation of mutants. Their first mission would be to take down what he claimed to be the new incarnation of the [[Brotherhood of Mutants]], under the control of [[Roberto da Costa (Earth-616)|Sunspot]] (who was Lord Imperial of the Hellfire Club at the time) and made up of his friends and former teammates, [[Samuel Guthrie (Earth-616)|Cannonball]], [[Amara Aquilla (Earth-616)|Magma]], and [[Danielle Moonstar (Earth-616)|Dani Moonstar]].<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 2|Young X-Men #2]]</ref>
+
After assembling the Young X-Men in the [[Danger Cave]], "Cyclops" gave them their costumes and told them that he was reforming the X-Men, beginning with perhaps the last generation of mutants. Their first mission would be to take down what he claimed to be the new incarnation of the [[Brotherhood of Mutants]], under the control of [[Roberto da Costa (Earth-616)|Sunspot]] (who was Lord Imperial of the Hellfire Club at the time) and made up of his friends and former teammates, [[Samuel Guthrie (Earth-616)|Cannonball]], [[Amara Aquilla (Earth-616)|Magma]], and [[Danielle Moonstar (Earth-616)|Dani Moonstar]].<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #2}}</ref>
   
After they failed in training sessions against Brotherhood simulacra, [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Cyclops]] decideed to send them after Moonstar and Magma in small teams, each with a specific target. When surprise-attacked by Dust, Rockslide and Wolf Cub in Los Angeles, Magma responded violently, destroying their [[Blackbird]]. In the Colorado Rockies, Moonstar proved herself a match to the young mutants Blindfold and Ink despite her lack of powers. However, she wass taken down by an unseen force that Blindfold seemed to know. Carrying the unconscious Moonstar back to their Blackbird, Ink knocked Blindfold unconscious and delivered her to Donald Pierce. When Pierce questioned him about why they weren't dead, Ink responded that he was a mercenary, not a killer. [[Jonas Graymalkin (Earth-616)|Graymalkin]], who had been living in shadows a the site of the former X-Mansion, watched the conversation from a distance, apparently talking to himself when he said "Very well. I'll kill the [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Cyclops]]."<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 3|Young X-Men #3]]</ref>
+
After they failed in training sessions against Brotherhood simulacra, "Cyclops" decided to send them after Moonstar and Magma in small teams, each with a specific target. When surprise-attacked by Dust, Rockslide and Wolf Cub in Los Angeles, Magma responded violently, destroying their [[Blackbird]]. They recovered from their crash and attacked Magma, who was unprepared but much more experienced. She turned Dust into glass and Rockslide into a pile of rocks. Distracted by a reformed Rockslide, she was eviscerated by Wolf Cub, knocking her out but leaving Wolf Cub with a nasty burn.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #4}}</ref>
   
  +
In the Colorado Rockies, Moonstar proved herself a match to the young mutants Blindfold and Ink despite her lack of powers. However, she was taken down by an unseen force that Blindfold seemed to know. Carrying the unconscious Moonstar back to their Blackbird, Ink knocked Blindfold unconscious and delivered her to Donald Pierce. When Pierce questioned him about why they weren't dead, Ink responded that he was a mercenary, not a killer. [[Jonas Graymalkin (Earth-616)|Graymalkin]], who had been living in shadows a the site of the former X-Mansion, watched the conversation from a distance, apparently talking to himself when he said "Very well. I'll kill the Cyclops."<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #3}}</ref>
Meanwhile, Rockslide, Wolf Cub, and Dust recovered from their crash and attacked Magma., who was unprepared but much more experienced. She turned Dust into glass and Rockslide into a pile of rocks. Distracted by a reformed Rockslide, she was eviscerated by Wolf Cub, knocking her out but leaving Wolf Cub with a nasty burn.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 4|Young X-Men #4]]</ref>
 
   
Ink shaved his head and aquired a lightning bolt tattoo made by mutant tattoo artist [[Leon Nunez (Earth-616)|Leon Nunez]] on his temples, granting him telepathy. Ink, Rockslide and Wolf Cub then lead an attack on the Hellfire Club to fight Cannonball and Sunspot. Wolf Cub managed to wound Sunspot, angering Cannonball. At the same time, Graymalkin attacked Cyclops/Pierce back at the Danger Cave, forcing him to reveal his true identity. Once both teams learned the truth, they went after Pierce, but arrived too late to save Wolf Cub, who turned out to be the then-unknown teammate that was killed in Blindfold's vision.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 5|Young X-Men #5]]</ref>
+
Ink shaved his head and aquired a lightning bolt tattoo made by mutant tattoo artist [[Leon Nunez (Earth-616)|Leon Nunez]] on his temples, granting him telepathy. Ink, Rockslide and Wolf Cub then led an attack on the Hellfire Club to fight Cannonball and Sunspot. Wolf Cub managed to wound Sunspot, angering Cannonball. At the same time, Graymalkin attacked Cyclops/Pierce back at the Danger Cave, forcing him to reveal his true identity. Once both teams learned the truth, they went after Pierce, but arrived too late to save Wolf Cub, who turned out to be the then-unknown teammate who was killed in Blindfold's vision.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #5}}</ref>
   
 
===Book Of Revelations===
 
===Book Of Revelations===
 
After the death of Wolf Cub and the arrest of Pierce by the X-Men, the real Cyclops brought the Young X-Men to the new X-Men base, [[Graymalkin Industries]] in Marin Headlands of [[San Francisco]], CA. Cyclops asked Sunspot and Moonstar to counsel and lead the Young X-Men. They both accepted and with help from [[Kurt Wagner (Earth-616)|Nightcrawler]] they found a new base in a local Episcopal Church. <ref>{{c|Young X-Men #6}}</ref>
   
 
Tensions were high at the time, especially with Rockslide. Blindfold decided to leave the team, since she was no great contribution on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Moonstar asked [[Victor Borkowski (Earth-616)|Anole]], also a former member of [[New X-Men (Earth-616)|New X-Men]], to join the new team.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #6}}</ref>
After the death of Wolf Cub and the arrest of Pierce by the X-Men, the real Cyclops brought the Young X-Men to the new X-Men base, [[Graymalkin Industries]] in Marin Headlands of [[San Francisco]], CA. Cyclops asked Sunspot and Moonstar to counsel and lead the Young X-Men. They both accepted and with help from [[Kurt Wagner (Earth-616)|Nightcrawler]] they found a new base in a local Episcopal Church. <ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 6|Young X-Men #6]]</ref>
 
   
 
After performing a genetic test on Graymalkin, [[Henry McCoy (Earth-616)|Beast]] discovered that he was a [[Homo Superior|mutant]] over 200 years old, although he physically appeared to be only about seventeen and that he was an predecessor of [[Charles Xavier (Earth-616)|Professor Charles Xavier]], hence how his last name was the same as the street that the [[Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters|Xavier Institute]] was built on.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #6}}</ref> Beast analyzed the boy's powers but couldn't determine what could have caused him to be buried alive. Anole comforted Graymalkin and helped him with coming to terms with his homosexuality. <ref>{{c|X-Men: Manifest Destiny #3}}</ref>
Tensions were high at the time, especially with Rockslide. Blindfold decided to leave the team, since she was no great contribution on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Moonstar asked [[Victor Borkowski (Earth-616)|Anole]], also a former member of [[New X-Men (Earth-616)|New X-Men]], to join the new team.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 6|Young X-Men #6]]</ref>
 
   
 
During their next adventure, Ink discovered he was not a mutant and briefly left the team. The rest went to La Jolla, California to investigate the [[Y-Men (Earth-616)|Y-Men]], who proved to be more than the Young X-Men anticipated. Meanwhile, [[Alisa Tager (Earth-616)|Cipher]] revealed herself to Ink to help his teammates against the Y-Men.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #9}}</ref> After getting two new tattoos and accompanying powers ([[Healing|Caduceus symbol]] & [[Phoenix Force (Earth-616)|Phoenix symbol]]) from Leon Nunez, Ink and Cipher hurried to the Young X-Men's aid. Ink used his new powers to heal Dani Moonstar's wounds and depowered all the Y-Men. Despite his not being a mutant, Cyclops asked Ink to stay on the team partly because he did not want someone with Phoenix Force-like powers running around without supervision. Because of the strain of granting Ink Phoenix Force-like powers, Leon Nunez was left in a catatonic state in the infirmary.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #10}}</ref>
After performing a genetic test on Graymalkin, [[Henry McCoy (Earth-616)|Beast]] discovered that he was a [[Homo Superior|mutant]], over 200 years old although he physically appeared to be only about seventeen and that he was an predecessor of [[Charles Xavier (Earth-616)|Professor Charles Xavier]], hence how his last name was the same as the street that the [[Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters|Xavier Institute]] was built on.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 6|Young X-Men #6]]</ref> Beast analyzed the boy's powers but couldn't determine what could have caused him to be buried alive. Anole comforted Graymalkin and helped him with coming to terms with his homosexuality. <ref>[[Comics:X-Men: Manifest Destiny Vol 1 3|X-Men: Manifest Destiny #3]]</ref>
 
   
 
Since his arrest and her own near death experience, Dust continued visiting Donald Pierce in the X-Brig. It was Pierce who revealed Ink as a non-mutant and confirmed that Dust was in fact dying because of Magma's melting her into a glass form. Beast later also confirmed Dust's doomed state. Dust eventually attempted to assist Pierce in escaping because he promised to heal her. During his escape, Dust seemingly died. Later she was brought back to life by Ink who used his Phoenix Force-like powers again. Dust appeared completely healed, but the episode left Ink comatose. As noted by Beast his brain activity was subdued as if it had been overcharged. <ref>{{c|Young X-Men #12}}</ref>
During their next adventure, Ink discovered he was not a mutant and briefly left the team. The rest went to La Jolla, California to investigate the [[Y-Men (Earth-616)|Y-Men]], who proved to be more than the Young X-Men anticipated. Meanwhile, [[Alisa Tager (Earth-616)|Cipher]] revealed herself to Ink to help his teammates against the Y-Men.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 9|Young X-Men #9]]</ref> After getting two new tattoos and accompanying powers ([[Healing|Caduceus symbol]] & [[Phoenix Force (Earth-616)|Phoenix symbol]]) from Leon Nunez, Ink and Cipher hurried to the Young X-Men's aid. Ink used his new powers to heal Dani Moonstar's wounds and depowered all the Y-Men. Despite his not being a mutant, Cyclops asked Ink to stay on the team partly because he did not want someone with Phoenix Force-like powers running around without supervision. Because of the strain of granting Ink Phoenix Force-like powers, Leon Nunez was left in a catatonic state in the infirmary.<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 10|Young X-Men #10]]</ref>
 
   
 
After the newly resurrected Dust was reunited with her teammates, Moonstar entered announcing the [[Neo (Earth-616)|Neo]] had returned and were advancing on San Francisco. The Young X-Men battled the Neo on the [[Golden Gate Bridge]]. <ref>{{c|Young X-Men #12}}</ref>
Since his arrest and her own near death experience, Dust continued visiting Donald Pierce in the X-Brig. It was Pierce who revealed Ink as a non-mutant and confirmed that Dust was in fact dying because of Magma's melting her into a glass form. Beast later also confirmed Dust's doomed state. Dust eventually attempted to assist Pierce in escaping because he promised to heal her. During his escape, Dust seemingly died. Later she was brought back to life by Ink who used his Phoenix Force-like powers again. Dust appeared completely healed, but the episode left Ink comatose. As noted by Beast his brain activity was subdued as if it had been overcharged. <ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 12|Young X-Men #12]]</ref>
 
   
After the newly resurrected Dust was reunited with her teammates, Moonstar entered announcing the [[Neo (Earth-616)|Neo]] have returned and were advancing on San Francisco. The series concluded with the Young X-Men battling the Neo on the [[Golden Gate Bridge]]. <ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 12|Young X-Men #12]]</ref>
 
   
 
==="End of Days" possible future===
   
 
In a possible future (known as the [[Earth-3873|End of Days timeline]]), the mutant race had been hunted to near extinction presumably by Donald Pierce and his tenth generation [[Sentinels]] known as Sentinex. Only six mutant remained alive, amongst them an elderly Wolverine, a muscular Graymalkin, an older [[Emma Frost (Earth-3873)|Emma Frost]] now codenamed '''Diamondheart''', Anole with two matching large reptilian arms and an evil Dust. The sixth mutant was not revealed, but it was presumably Ink (although Ink was never a true mutant). The X-Men now resided on the sovereign island nation of [[Xaviera]] (established at an undetermined time in the future by UN General Assembly Resolution GSXM1 at an unknown date). <ref>{{c|Young X-Men #11}}</ref>
'''"End of Days" possible future'''
 
   
 
Dust aided in the extinction of the mutant race by hunting down and killing her former teammates and mentors because she had lost her soul when Ink used his Phoenix Force-like powers to resurrect her. Dust explained this to a decrepit Ink after murdering the remaining X-Men.<ref>{{c|Young X-Men #12}}</ref>
In a possible future (known as the [[Earth-3873|End of Days timeline]]), the mutant race had been hunted to near extinction presumably by Donald Pierce and his tenth generation [[Sentinels]] known as Sentinex. Only six mutant remained alive, amongst them an elderly Wolverine, a muscular Graymalkin, an older [[Emma Frost (Earth-3873)|Emma Frost]] now codenamed '''Diamondheart''', Anole with two matching large reptilian arms and an evil Dust. The sixth mutant was not revealed, but it was presumably Ink (although Ink was never a true mutant). The X-Men now resided on the sovereign island nation of [[Xaviera]] (established at an undetermined time in the future by UN General Assembly Resolution GSXM1 at an unknown date). <ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 11|Young X-Men #11]]</ref>
 
 
Dust aided in the extinction of the mutant race by hunting down and killing her former teammates and mentors because she had lost her soul when Ink used his Phoenix Force-like powers to resurrect her. Dust explained this to a decrepit Ink after murdering the remaining [[X-Men]].<ref>[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 12|Young X-Men #12]]</ref>
 
   
 
| Equipment =
 
| Equipment =
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| Notes =
 
| Notes =
   
* It is notable that the first story arc of Young Men echoes a narrative pattern first established with the inception of the [[New Mutants]] in their eponymous graphic novel, which was also echoed in the first story arc of [[New Mutants Vol 2|New Mutants]] volume 2, which gave rise to the [[New X-Men (Earth-616)|New X-Men]] series that is the immediate antecedent for [[Young X-Men (Earth-616)|Young Men]]. All three of these storylines deal with the assembly of a new team of mutants, feature the cyborg [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Donald Pierce]] as the villain, and have one member of the team ([[Samuel Guthrie (Earth-616)|Cannonball]], [[Joshua Foley (Earth-616)|Elixir]] and [[Eric Gitter (Earth-616)|Ink]], in the respective stories) that initially works for [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Pierce]] before switching sides and joining the new team. This story pattern was also followed, to some extent, in the [[New X-Men (Earth-616)|New X-Men]] arc that appeared within the [[Earth-58163|House of M]] timeline. Further underscoring this continuity is the appearance of many of the original [[New Mutants]] in all three stories: as the protagonists in the [[New Mutants]] graphic novel, as teachers and mentors to the "new" [[New Mutants Vol 2|New Mutants]] volume 2 series, and as the antagonists, the ersatz [[Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]], in the arc in Young X-Men.
+
* It is notable that the first story arc of Young Men echoes a narrative pattern first established with the inception of the [[New Mutants (Earth-616)|New Mutants]] in their eponymous graphic novel, which was also echoed in the first story arc of [[New Mutants Vol 2|New Mutants]] volume 2, which gave rise to the [[New X-Men (Earth-616)|New X-Men]] series that is the immediate antecedent for [[Young X-Men (Earth-616)|Young Men]]. All three of these storylines deal with the assembly of a new team of mutants, feature the cyborg [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Donald Pierce]] as the villain, and have one member of the team ([[Samuel Guthrie (Earth-616)|Cannonball]], [[Joshua Foley (Earth-616)|Elixir]] and [[Eric Gitter (Earth-616)|Ink]], in the respective stories) that initially works for [[Donald Pierce (Earth-616)|Pierce]] before switching sides and joining the new team. This story pattern was also followed, to some extent, in the [[New X-Men (Earth-616)|New X-Men]] arc that appeared within the [[Earth-58163|House of M]] timeline. Further underscoring this continuity is the appearance of many of the original New Mutants in all three stories: as the protagonists in the [[New Mutants]] graphic novel, as teachers and mentors to the "new" [[New Mutants Vol 2|''New Mutants'']] volume 2 series, and as the antagonists, the ersatz [[Brotherhood of Evil Mutants]], in the arc in ''Young X-Men''.
*[[Young X-Men Vol 1|Young Men]] ended with its final issue, [[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 12|#12]], released in March 2009. It was replaced by a new [[Comics:New Mutants Vol 3|New Mutants]] series.
+
*[[Young X-Men Vol 1|''Young Men'']] ended with its final issue, [[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 12|#12]], released in March 2009. It was replaced by a new [[Comics:New Mutants Vol 3|New Mutants]] series.
*One of the criticisms against [[Young X-Men Vol 1|Young Men]] was the discovery of three previously unknown mutants (namely [[Jonas Graymalkin (Earth-616)|Graymalkin]], [[Alisa Tager (Earth-616)|Cipher]] & [[Leon Nunez (Earth-616)|Leon Nunez]]) after the events of [[Decimation]] when 98% of the world's mutant population was depowered.
+
*One of the criticisms against [[Young X-Men Vol 1|''Young Men'']] was the discovery of three previously unknown mutants (namely [[Jonas Graymalkin (Earth-616)|Graymalkin]], [[Alisa Tager (Earth-616)|Cipher]] & [[Leon Nunez (Earth-616)|Leon Nunez]]) after the events of [[Decimation]] when 98% of the world's mutant population was depowered.
*In principle, the island nation of Utopia bears a striking resemblance to the sovereign island nation of Xaviera depicted in dystonian future of the End of Days timeline. Xaviera appears in [[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 11|Young X-Men # 11]] and [[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1 12|Young X-Men # 12]]. The sovereign island nation of Xaviera was established at an undetermined time in the future by UN General Assembly Resolution GSXM1.
+
*In principle, the island nation of Utopia bears a striking resemblance to the sovereign island nation of Xaviera depicted in dystonian future of the End of Days timeline. Xaviera appears in {{c|Young X-Men # 11}} and {{c|Young X-Men # 12}}. The sovereign island nation of Xaviera was established at an undetermined time in the future by UN General Assembly Resolution GSXM1.
 
*Because of the series' cancellation, it still has not been revealed what if any effects [[Eric Gitter (Earth-616)|Ink]]'s resurrection of [[Sooraya Qadir (Earth-616)|Dust]] had on her soul. Also, fates Ink and Leon Nunez remain unrevealed. Presumbly they remain in catatonic states in the care of the [[X-Men (Earth-616)|X-Men]].
 
*Because of the series' cancellation, it still has not been revealed what if any effects [[Eric Gitter (Earth-616)|Ink]]'s resurrection of [[Sooraya Qadir (Earth-616)|Dust]] had on her soul. Also, fates Ink and Leon Nunez remain unrevealed. Presumbly they remain in catatonic states in the care of the [[X-Men (Earth-616)|X-Men]].
   
 
| Trivia =
 
| Trivia =
   
*On the cover of [[Young X-Men Vol 1 1|Young Men #1]], Ink is shown as being bald, even though he has hair inside the book.
+
*On the cover of {{c|Young Men #1}}, Ink is bald, even though he has hair inside the book.
   
 
| Links = *[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1]]
 
| Links = *[[Comics:Young X-Men Vol 1]]

Revision as of 18:38, 3 May 2010

History

Final Genesis

After the X-Men were disbanded[1], Donald Pierce disguised himself as Cyclops and recruited a new team of several young mutants: Eric Gitter (Ink) as well as former students Sooraya Qadir (Dust), Nicholas Gleason (Wolf Cub) and Santo Vaccarro (Rockslide). Santo, however, refused to join unless "Cyclops" would accept Ruth Aldine (Blindfold), whom he hadn't originally planned to recruit, to be on the team as well.[2]

Blindfold had previously seen a vision of this team of young X-Men facing off against Donald Pierce, a deadly old foe of the X-Men and former member of the Hellfire Club, during which one of the members was murdered.[3]

After assembling the Young X-Men in the Danger Cave, "Cyclops" gave them their costumes and told them that he was reforming the X-Men, beginning with perhaps the last generation of mutants. Their first mission would be to take down what he claimed to be the new incarnation of the Brotherhood of Mutants, under the control of Sunspot (who was Lord Imperial of the Hellfire Club at the time) and made up of his friends and former teammates, Cannonball, Magma, and Dani Moonstar.[4]

After they failed in training sessions against Brotherhood simulacra, "Cyclops" decided to send them after Moonstar and Magma in small teams, each with a specific target. When surprise-attacked by Dust, Rockslide and Wolf Cub in Los Angeles, Magma responded violently, destroying their Blackbird. They recovered from their crash and attacked Magma, who was unprepared but much more experienced. She turned Dust into glass and Rockslide into a pile of rocks. Distracted by a reformed Rockslide, she was eviscerated by Wolf Cub, knocking her out but leaving Wolf Cub with a nasty burn.[5]

In the Colorado Rockies, Moonstar proved herself a match to the young mutants Blindfold and Ink despite her lack of powers. However, she was taken down by an unseen force that Blindfold seemed to know. Carrying the unconscious Moonstar back to their Blackbird, Ink knocked Blindfold unconscious and delivered her to Donald Pierce. When Pierce questioned him about why they weren't dead, Ink responded that he was a mercenary, not a killer. Graymalkin, who had been living in shadows a the site of the former X-Mansion, watched the conversation from a distance, apparently talking to himself when he said "Very well. I'll kill the Cyclops."[6]

Ink shaved his head and aquired a lightning bolt tattoo made by mutant tattoo artist Leon Nunez on his temples, granting him telepathy. Ink, Rockslide and Wolf Cub then led an attack on the Hellfire Club to fight Cannonball and Sunspot. Wolf Cub managed to wound Sunspot, angering Cannonball. At the same time, Graymalkin attacked Cyclops/Pierce back at the Danger Cave, forcing him to reveal his true identity. Once both teams learned the truth, they went after Pierce, but arrived too late to save Wolf Cub, who turned out to be the then-unknown teammate who was killed in Blindfold's vision.[7]

Book Of Revelations

After the death of Wolf Cub and the arrest of Pierce by the X-Men, the real Cyclops brought the Young X-Men to the new X-Men base, Graymalkin Industries in Marin Headlands of San Francisco, CA. Cyclops asked Sunspot and Moonstar to counsel and lead the Young X-Men. They both accepted and with help from Nightcrawler they found a new base in a local Episcopal Church. [8]

Tensions were high at the time, especially with Rockslide. Blindfold decided to leave the team, since she was no great contribution on the battlefield. Meanwhile, Moonstar asked Anole, also a former member of New X-Men, to join the new team.[9]

After performing a genetic test on Graymalkin, Beast discovered that he was a mutant over 200 years old, although he physically appeared to be only about seventeen and that he was an predecessor of Professor Charles Xavier, hence how his last name was the same as the street that the Xavier Institute was built on.[10] Beast analyzed the boy's powers but couldn't determine what could have caused him to be buried alive. Anole comforted Graymalkin and helped him with coming to terms with his homosexuality. [11]

During their next adventure, Ink discovered he was not a mutant and briefly left the team. The rest went to La Jolla, California to investigate the Y-Men, who proved to be more than the Young X-Men anticipated. Meanwhile, Cipher revealed herself to Ink to help his teammates against the Y-Men.[12] After getting two new tattoos and accompanying powers (Caduceus symbol & Phoenix symbol) from Leon Nunez, Ink and Cipher hurried to the Young X-Men's aid. Ink used his new powers to heal Dani Moonstar's wounds and depowered all the Y-Men. Despite his not being a mutant, Cyclops asked Ink to stay on the team partly because he did not want someone with Phoenix Force-like powers running around without supervision. Because of the strain of granting Ink Phoenix Force-like powers, Leon Nunez was left in a catatonic state in the infirmary.[13]

Since his arrest and her own near death experience, Dust continued visiting Donald Pierce in the X-Brig. It was Pierce who revealed Ink as a non-mutant and confirmed that Dust was in fact dying because of Magma's melting her into a glass form. Beast later also confirmed Dust's doomed state. Dust eventually attempted to assist Pierce in escaping because he promised to heal her. During his escape, Dust seemingly died. Later she was brought back to life by Ink who used his Phoenix Force-like powers again. Dust appeared completely healed, but the episode left Ink comatose. As noted by Beast his brain activity was subdued as if it had been overcharged. [14]

After the newly resurrected Dust was reunited with her teammates, Moonstar entered announcing the Neo had returned and were advancing on San Francisco. The Young X-Men battled the Neo on the Golden Gate Bridge. [15]


"End of Days" possible future

In a possible future (known as the End of Days timeline), the mutant race had been hunted to near extinction presumably by Donald Pierce and his tenth generation Sentinels known as Sentinex. Only six mutant remained alive, amongst them an elderly Wolverine, a muscular Graymalkin, an older Emma Frost now codenamed Diamondheart, Anole with two matching large reptilian arms and an evil Dust. The sixth mutant was not revealed, but it was presumably Ink (although Ink was never a true mutant). The X-Men now resided on the sovereign island nation of Xaviera (established at an undetermined time in the future by UN General Assembly Resolution GSXM1 at an unknown date). [16]

Dust aided in the extinction of the mutant race by hunting down and killing her former teammates and mentors because she had lost her soul when Ink used his Phoenix Force-like powers to resurrect her. Dust explained this to a decrepit Ink after murdering the remaining X-Men.[17]

Paraphernalia

Transportation

Notes

  • It is notable that the first story arc of Young Men echoes a narrative pattern first established with the inception of the New Mutants in their eponymous graphic novel, which was also echoed in the first story arc of New Mutants volume 2, which gave rise to the New X-Men series that is the immediate antecedent for Young Men. All three of these storylines deal with the assembly of a new team of mutants, feature the cyborg Donald Pierce as the villain, and have one member of the team (Cannonball, Elixir and Ink, in the respective stories) that initially works for Pierce before switching sides and joining the new team. This story pattern was also followed, to some extent, in the New X-Men arc that appeared within the House of M timeline. Further underscoring this continuity is the appearance of many of the original New Mutants in all three stories: as the protagonists in the New Mutants graphic novel, as teachers and mentors to the "new" New Mutants volume 2 series, and as the antagonists, the ersatz Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, in the arc in Young X-Men.
  • Young Men ended with its final issue, #12, released in March 2009. It was replaced by a new New Mutants series.
  • One of the criticisms against Young Men was the discovery of three previously unknown mutants (namely Graymalkin, Cipher & Leon Nunez) after the events of Decimation when 98% of the world's mutant population was depowered.
  • In principle, the island nation of Utopia bears a striking resemblance to the sovereign island nation of Xaviera depicted in dystonian future of the End of Days timeline. Xaviera appears in Young X-Men # 11 and Young X-Men # 12. The sovereign island nation of Xaviera was established at an undetermined time in the future by UN General Assembly Resolution GSXM1.
  • Because of the series' cancellation, it still has not been revealed what if any effects Ink's resurrection of Dust had on her soul. Also, fates Ink and Leon Nunez remain unrevealed. Presumbly they remain in catatonic states in the care of the X-Men.

Trivia

  • On the cover of Young Men #1, Ink is bald, even though he has hair inside the book.

See Also

Links and References

References