Uncanny X-Men (1st series) #376

Issue Date: 
January 2000
Story Title: 
Filling In The Blanks
Staff: 

Alan Davis (plotter), Terry Kavanagh (scripter), Roger Cruz (penciler), Batt, Owens and J. Palmiotto (inkers), Liquid! (colors), RS & Comicraft’s Albert Deschesne (letters), Mark Powers (editor), Bob Harras (editor in chief)

Brief Description: 

Scott wants to quit the X-Men and start a family but there never seems to be a good time. Gambit tries to work out some relationship issues with Rogue. Neither gets accomplished when Xavier summons them all to the Briefing Room. They go over the contents of Destiny’s diary. During this discussion the Professor discovers a mutant Skrull by the name of Fiz. Chaos ensues, but the problem is resolved quickly as Fiz is friendly. He warns the team of the plans of the Skrulls and that something’s going on with “the Twelve”. Professor has the Twelve listed in Destiny’s diary and tells everyone who they are. The last name on that list is Magneto. In Egypt an ancient cult resurrects the living Monolith. Sinister is there as well and puts him under his control. He is vital to his mission.

Full Summary: 

Cyclops is in the Danger Room firing away at some floating orbs. While honing his skills, he thinks to himself about his past and how he came to be an X-Man. He also thinks about the love of his life, Jean. Recently, they were on a break from the X-Men, but were called back by the Professor to help them expose a traitor among the team, and they discovered that Wolverine had been replaced by a skrull. He wonders if he’ll ever truly find peace. After finishing his session, Jean walks in.
She was worried about Scott when she woke up in the middle of the night and didn’t find him in bed next to her. He tells her that he couldn’t sleep. Jean says she understands; He wants to leave the X-Men, but it will be very hard for him to do after all these years. Scott tells her that he’ll talk to the Professor about it in the morning.
In Egypt, beneath a towering pyramid in the desert, we find a cult of Monolith worshipers. The cult leader yells out into the crowd that they will get revenge for the trespasses against their god. A while back the Monolith was hurled out into the far reaches of space by Thor, but was recently found by the Skrulls. They understood the essence of Monolith and brought him back to Earth. As the leader continues to speak, the sarcophagus behind him starts reflecting blinding light.
Back at the mansion, we find Rogue flying down a corridor when she’s stopped by Gambit mid-flight. He asks Rogue if she’s been avoiding him. She hasn’t really spoken with him since the Professor played those mind-games with them, testing their loyalty. He’s afraid he said some things he shouldn’t have. Rogue tells him it’s all right, but regarding what she said, she still doesn’t think it will work between them. Gambit seems pretty upset and wants to know what she means, but Kitty and Piotr interrupt them. They relay the message that the Professor wants everyone in the Briefing Room. Rogue heads out quickly leaving Gambit behind.
In the Briefing Room, Professor X goes over the analysis done on the diary that belonged to Destiny. Some of the verses have already come to pass, like Wolverine becoming Death and killing the Skrull imposter and Piotr finding his brother, Mikhail. Suddenly, the Professor senses an unknown presence behind the wall. He alerts the team mentally and gives Jubilee and Nightcrawler the command to capture whoever it is.
Jubes blinds the intruder and Nightcrawler teleports behind him, putting him in a headlock. It turns out to be a Skrull mutant who enlarges himself so much that Nightcrawler falls off. He also knocks down the wall into the Briefing Room. Rogue goes flying at him, but he shrinks himself and she whizzes right over him and into a wall. Gambit jumps in and kicks him in the face. Then he knocks the Skrull through the wall of the infirmary where Moria is watching over Mikhail. Colossus follows them in and picks the Skrull up, ready to deck him. Kitty comes running in and tells him to stop. She has an understanding of the Skrull language and tells everyone that he’s trying to surrender; he’s come as a friend. His name is Fiz and he has important information for “the Xavier”.
Everyone leaves the infirmary except for Colossus. He asks Moira how his brother is doing. She tells him that he’s doing fine. At that moment, he awakens from his coma and is pleased to find his brother standing before him. Moira tells Piotr that Mikhail needs rest. Before Colossus leaves, Mikhail mentions his dream about pyramids and a resurrection of a dark god.
Back in the Briefing Room, Kitty relays everyone Fiz’s message. He was able to sneak into the mansion by shrinking down to microscopic size and hiding on Nightcrawler. He wants to join the X-Men. Storm comes over with a translator and he finishes the rest of the story himself. After his planet was destroyed the Skrulls scattered throughout the universe. They had too many enemies out there so they allied themselves with the “Death-God”. They are currently forming an army for the “Ally”. He has plans for many Earth mutants. Xavier wants to know details, but Fiz doesn’t know them. He only knows that certain mutants can’t be harmed. That’s when Kitty mentions that a Skrull-warrior told her she could be killed because she wasn’t one of the Twelve.
The Prof asks Fiz why these twelve are so important. Once again, he doesn’t know. Polaris butts in, wanting to know why they stole Havok’s costume. After all, that’s the only thing she had left of him. He doesn’t know that either. She gets all upset and storms off saying that she’ll get it back by herself if she has to. Scott tries to stop her, but she won’t listen. She tells him that she knows that Havok’s still out there somewhere. Scott tells her that he believes the same thing, but she shouldn’t risk her life over a costume. She tells him that the jewel in the cowl began to glow again recently, as if picking up Havok’s energy again, and she thinks the Skrulls might know something about it.
Back in Egypt, the Living Monolith is now fully resurrected. Everyone there bows at his feet. All except for one, Sinister, in the guise of a human. He speaks to the Monolith and reminds him of when they first met. How he had grafted a sample of Alex Summer’s DNA onto him which resulted in his power being split between both of them. Now that Havok is gone, Monolith has access to their joint energies through his headdress. And so, Monolith must answer to him. This enrages the Monolith and he goes berserk. Sinister holds out his staff and fires a beam at the headdress, which puts Monolith under his control. Now Sinister is satisfied and says the End Game can begin.
Still in the Briefing Room, Professor X goes over the validity of Destiny’s diary. The list of the Twelve resides inside. They are as follows: Xavier, Cyclops, Phoenix, Storm, Iceman, Sunfire, Polaris, Cable, Bishop, Mikhail and the Monolith. However, Charles does not mention the last name at this point. Archangel says that the Monolith has been gone for a long time now. Phoenix suggests that it might be a new Monolith. The X-Men wonder what the Twelve are supposed to do. Kitty suggests that they start trying to contact the rest of the Twelve. Marrow brings up the point that they still haven’t been able to find Wolverine. As the team leaves, Professor tells them to prepare for the worst.
Scott and Jean stay behind. Scott brings up the point that they can’t seem to leave the X-Men. Especially now that they are both on the list of the Twelve. Charles regrettably tells them that he needs them to stay. Scott agrees, but only if they know everything. That’s when Xavier releases the last name on the list, Magneto. He left him out because he feels he must personally contact him.

Characters Involved: 

Archangel, Beast, Colossus, Cyclops, Gambit, Marrow, Nightcrawler, Phoenix IV, Polaris, Psylocke, Rogue, Shadowcat, Storm, Professor Charles Xavier (all X-Men)

Polaris, former X-Man

Jubilee (Generation X)

Moria MacTaggert

Mikhail Rasputin

Fiz

The resurrected Monolith

Mr. Sinister
In various flashbacks :

Colossus, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Phoenix IV, Storm, Wolverine

Havok

Monolith

Mr. Sinister

Thor

Story Notes: 

The Living Monolith was hurled into space in Marvel Graphic Novel #17, entitled “Revenge of the Living Monolith“. In X-Men (12nd series) #92, he was found by Bishop and Deathbird, who apparently took some cell samples of him.
Mikhail was put into a coma after he was freed from an entity that took possession of his body and soul back in Uncanny X-Men #374.
Fiz escaped the Skrull base during its destruction in X-Men (2nd series) #95.
Kitty was told she wasn’t one of the Twelve in X-Men (2nd series) #95.
This issue is part of The Twelve Crossover.

Issue Information: 
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