Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #345

Issue Date: 
June 1997
Story Title: 
Moving On
Staff: 

Scott Lobdell (plot), Ben Raab (script), Joe Madureira (pencils – part 1) Melvin Rubi (pencils – part 2), Tim Townsend (inks – part 1) Vlasco & Candelario (inks – part 2), Richard Starkings & Comicraft (letters), Steve Buccellato & Team Bucce! (colors), Mark Powers (associate editor), Bob Harras (editor & editor in chief)

Brief Description: 

At night Gambit helps digging graves for the fallen Shi’Ar to atone for some sin in the past. The X-Men celebrate the defeat of the Phalanx with the Shi’ar, and then head home, only to be caught in the explosion of a stargate/starship collision. Maggott is introduced as a mutant following Joseph’s trail.

Full Summary: 

Part 1)

In Guatemala, Sister Maria de la Joya (the woman who sheltered Joseph for a time in UXM 327) is running from an armoured monster that wants to know where Joseph is. As the creature is about to kill her, it is suddenly attacked by two giant slugs, belonging to the mutant Maggott, who is also looking for Joseph.
Meanwhile, on the Shi’ar homeworld, Lilandra looks out over the ruins of her capital city and thinks about the massacre perpetrated by the Phalanx. Later that night, the Shi’ar stage a celebration for the defeat of the Phalanx by the X-Men (as seen last issue). Joseph wonders how they can celebrate with so many dead, and struggles with his own feelings on the matter and fears to repeat the mistakes he made as Magneto. Rogue promises to tell him all about Magneto when they get back to Earth. Gambit is not participating in the celebrations, instead opting to dig mass graves at the outskirts of the city, atoning for a misdeed of his past. Back at the banquet, Beast suggests to Trish Tilby that they try to deepen their relationship, but she says not to rush things. The next morning the X-Men board a starcruiser back home to earth; Lilandra sends Deathbird along as their escort.
Part 2)

Aboard the starship, Bishop reads up on Deathbird’s history and is fascinated. Deathbird, wearing a revealing dress instaed of her battle suit, catches him and destroys the history datapad, more interested in the present than dwelling on her past. Suddenly, the starship is knocked aside in the wake of a huge ship heading for the stargate to Earth. As they watch, the mammoth ship hits the stargate and seemingly destroys it. The X-Men’s ship is caught in the explosion and sucked into the destabilizing portal.

Characters Involved: 

Beast, Bishop, Gambit, Joseph, Rogue (all X-Men)

Trish Tilby, Hank’s girlfriend

Lilandra

Deathbird
Sister Maria de la Joya

Maggott, a mutant accompanied by a pair of metallic slugs

Story Notes: 

none

Issue Information: 
Written By: