Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #212

Issue Date: 
December 1986
Story Title: 
The Last Run
Staff: 

Chris Claremont (writer), Rick Leonardi (artist), Dan Green (inker), Glynis Oliver (colorist), Tom Orzechowski (letterer), Ann Nocenti (editor), Jim Shooter (editor in chief)

Brief Description: 

Moira MacTaggert, Callisto and the X-Men helplessly watch as more and more of the rescued Morlocks die from their injuries. Nightcrawler is still in a coma, and Kitty has been placed into a containment chamber to keep her phased atoms from dispersing. It’s too much for Storm, who blames herself of bad leadership and finally she runs away into the woods, Callisto chasing after her. In the tunnels below, Wolverine finds many dead bodies, till he finally is attacked by Sabretooth, who was about to kill the Morlock Healer. At the mansion, Colossus collapses, and it is discovered that his metal form looses energy as an after-effect of the battle with the Marauders. Magneto is able to stop the energy leaks, but the operation leaves Piotr paralyzed. In the woods Storm decides to abandon the X-Men, but Callisto talks some sense into her; the former enemies have now come to respect each other. Wolverine is able to drop a wall on Sabretooth and takes the Healer to the mansion. Right after he is clear, the tunnels are filled with a red hot firestorm that burns all deceased bodies away. The X-Men wonder if the New Mutants were still in there, as Logan had earlier caught their scents.

Full Summary: 

Wolverine is searching for the Marauders in the tunnels. He finds some dead bodies and frightens off some rats, to stop them feeding on the bodies. Out of nowhere Psylocke mind links with him, so that Storm can find out what's happening. He thinks the Marauders are long gone, but he will get Storm a prisoner. He also mentions that he came across Power Pack and sent them home. Psylocke tells Wolverine that she is worried about Storm, but Wolverine thinks she'll be fine.
Back at the mansion Psylocke wonders who is the more arrogant, her or Wolverine and also wonders if the few in the infirmary are all that’s left of the Morlocks. Magneto, Storm, Moira and Callisto tend to the wounded but more and more are dying. Storm is upset as she looks over Nightcrawler, and wonders if she'll ever hear his laughter again. Kitty is in a containment chamber, with Colossus looking over, but her condition hasn't changed. Colossus hopes that Wolverine can find the Marauders so he can crush them like riptide. Storm can't believe that Peter, who was once the gentlest of souls now dreams of vengeance. She runs out of the infirmary thinking that it is all her fault. Colossus tells the others that he will follow her. Storm runs without thought of direction and feels like she needs to escape, because she isn't fit enough to lead the X-Men.
Back inside the mansion Psylocke opens the door only to have Colossus collapse on her in agony. Rogue is talking with Tom Corsi about whether the Marauders will attack the mansion, when Psylocke sends a psychic message about Colossus. Rogue and the others arrive and move Colossus off of Psylocke.
Back in the tunnels Wolverine is following the scents of the Marauders when he comes across the scents of the original X-Men (X-Factor). He also recognizes one of the scents as Jean Grey's and can't believe his senses. Before he can really think about it he is hit from behind.
Rogue is trying to find Storm but isn't having any luck. Storm climbs out of a lake and asks the bright goddess why everything she cares for gets destroyed. She tears off her clothes and heads into a forest.
In the mansion Moira can't feel Colossus's heartbeat, but knows that it's not normally possible when he is in his armored form. Psylocke does a mind probe and finds that he is still alive but only just. Magneto uses his powers on Colossus and finds that although he is unable to bleed in his armored form, he is losing energy from various blast points on his body. He carefully alters the shape and structure of Colossus's atoms to try and heal him. After Magneto has finished Colossus smiles. However he suddenly realizes that he cannot move his limbs and is paralyzed. Magneto can't believe that he has failed to completely heal him.
Back in the tunnels Wolverine realizes that he was hit by Sabretooth. He also notices that Sabretooth has caught the Morlock Healer and if he could get him back to the mansion the Healer could help with the wounded. Sabretooth tells Wolverine that Mr. Sinister is playing a game that doesn't allow for wild cards like the Morlocks and the X-Men. So he created the Marauders to do the dirty work. Both are poised and ready to strike, Sabretooth believes that he could have taken out Wolverine earlier but wanted to have some fun but Wolverine thinks that he should prove it.
Callisto tells Rogue that she will find Storm. Rogue agrees and gives Callisto Storm's vest. Callisto finds Storm as she dresses herself with clothes from a washing line. Storm asks Callisto to leave her alone so that she can abandon the X-Men, but Callisto is having none of it and slaps her. Callisto tells Storm that they have all been hurt and she shouldn't leave her friends behind. Storm runs but Callisto chases after her. Storm tells Callisto to leave her alone and they fight.
Back in the tunnels Wolverine and Sabretooth are fighting. Sabretooth has the upper hand but Wolverine collapses a wall on him, trapping him. Wolverine picks up the Healer and leaves for the mansion, he tells Sabretooth that he is not like him, he has learnt honor.
Callisto beats Storm to the ground and Storm admits defeat. She tells Callisto that she can lead the Morlocks once more, however Callisto refuses and gives her the vest Rogue had given her. She tells Storm that she has respect for her and she means to see that Storm is worthy of her respect.
Wolverine arrives at the entrance to the Morlock tunnels and is greeted by Tom Corsi and Rogue. Wolverine tells Rogue he had picked up the scents of the New Mutants in the tunnels. At the same moment a giant wave of energy shoots out of the tunnel. The tunnel has been scorched clean. Rogue wonders what has happened to the kids as it must have passed through the entire tunnel system.

Characters Involved: 

Colossus, Magneto, Nightcrawler, Rogue, Shadowcat, Storm, Wolverine (all X-Men)

Psylocke / Betsy Braddock

Moira MacTaggert

Tom Corsi, Sharon Friedlander (mansion staff)

Callisto (Morlocks)

Story Notes: 

The energy wave was from Thor giving the Morlocks a Norse funeral as depicted in Thor #374.
The issue belongs to the Mutant Massacre crossover.

Issue Information: 

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