Generation X (1st series) #21

Issue Date: 
November 1996
Story Title: 
To Live and Die and Molt in L. A.
Staff: 

Scott Lobdell (writer), Chris Bachalo (penciler), Joe Pimentel (inker), Richard Starkings & Comicraft (letters), Steve Buccellatto (colors), Mark Powers (associate editor), Bob Harras (editor, editor-in-chief)

Brief Description: 

Skin, Chamber and Howard head to a club in L.A. to find Tores, and end up in fight. Skin disguises himself as he visits his grave and sees his mother. At the school, Beast is holding one of the Mid Terms when M spaces out and Beast suspects she is autistic. Penance tries to take part in the exam.

Full Summary: 

Hank McCoy, aka The Beast, is holding the Xenobiology Mid Term exam and has to tell Jubilee off for doodling on her paper. He then walks round wondering if he and the other original X-Men were ever this young. He watches Synch and wonders if he knows how powerful he could one day become, notes how eager Paige is and is astounded at how Monet finishes the exam in 4 minutes. She asks if she can leave, but Hank tells her that patience is a virtue. Penance watches from the window and jumps in and sits at a desk and tries to write like the others.

In L.A, Howard is having trouble getting served in a bar and he uses Quack-Fu to defeat some rowdy staff when the situation turns nasty. Chamber helps him out and he tells the man he wants to see Tores. The man attacks Chamber and tells him that Tores is a very private person and Chamber unleashes his power to save him and Howard. Watching from above, Skin regrets taking Jono and Howard to Tores' posse. He realises he must get help to save his friends and runs off. As Howard and Jono defeat the last of the crowd, Tores appears asking them what they want.

At the school, Hank is watching M with great intrest. She has zoned out again and nothing he says can get through to her. She starts to fold and rip up her midterm. Sean and Emma are in the kitchen discussing Hank's teaching methods. They fail to notice that Leech takes several bottles of milk from the fridge.

At a graveyard in L.A, a woman arrives at the cemetary to grive her son, Angelo Espinosa. She sits next to an old man who comforts her and then leaves.

Back in the class room, M suddenly snaps back and finds Beast observing her. She apologises and Hank asks her if this is a problem for her. She says no, but the other kids think otherwise.

In LA, Tores arrives and leaves something at the grave, cursing Angelo for going and dying. The old man watches her depart and Chamber and Howard watch as Skin takes his old man disguise off and goes to the grave. Chamber asks him if he wouldn't mind telling him whats going on, but Skin says he does mind.

After the test is over, Hank shows Sean and Emma Penance's effort and then hands them a miniature house made out of paper. This is what M did when she was 'spaced out'. Hank tells Sean and Emma he thinks that Monet is autistic.

Characters Involved: 

Chamber, Husk, Jubilee, M, Mondo’s double, Penance, Skin, Synch (all Generation X)
Banshee, Emma Frost (Generation X‘s teachers and tutors)
Leech (as Generation X’s ward)

Beast (X-Men, guest tutor)

Howard the Duck

Tores
Mrs. Espinosa, Skin’s mother

Story Notes: 

This issue was dedicated to the memory of Mark Gruenwald.

First appearances of Tores and Skin's mother.

Written By: