X-Men Milestones: Inferno

X-Men Milestones

by Chris Claremont, Louise Simonson

The biggest and best adventures of Marvel's mighty mutants - these are the X-Men Milestones! Strike the match...fan the flames...and light the Inferno! Limbo's demon-lords corrupt two of the X-Men's nearest and dearest - Colossus' sister Illyana Rasputin and Cyclops' wife Madelyne Pryor - and use them to bring a horde of demons raining down on New York City! But as Illyana battles to regain her soul, Madelyne threatens to cast a spell that will merge Earth and limbo permanently...with the sacrifice being her own innocent son! And when Mr. Sinister brings his own agenda into the mix, secrets are revealed that rock Cyclops to the core! The X-Men, X-Factor and New Mutants face their most harrowing ordeal ever, with the fate of the world in the balance!

Collecting: X-Terminators 1-4, Uncanny X-Men (1981) 239-243, X-Factor (1986) 35-39, New Mutants (1983) 71-73

Genres: Comics, X Men, Marvel, Graphic Novels

496 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2019

About the author

Chris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.

Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.

Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.

Reviews

[Taneli Repo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inferno (1988) oli ensimmäinen isompi Ryhmä-X-tarina, jonka luin suoraan alkukielellä. Lehtiä piti metsästää erikoisliikkeistä Tampereelta ja Helsingistä, joten muistaakseni koko tarinan kerääminen ei ollut aivan helppoa. Muistan myös, että olin tarinaan hieman pettynyt. Nyt 33 vuotta myöhemmin syyt, joiden vuoksi en ollut 13-vuotiaana täysin tyytyväinen lukemaani, ovat yhä nähtävissä, mutta toisaalta on myönnettävä, että Inferno ansaitsee paikkansa "virstanpylväät"-kokoelmassa. Infernossa saatiin päätökseen monta X-lehdissä kirjaimellisesti vuosikausia kypsyteltyä tarinakokonaisuutta.

Tärkein näistä on ehdottomasti Jean Grey / Feenix / Madelyne Pryor -soppa, joka alkoi Pimeän Feenixin saagasta (1980). Paluumatkalla avaruudesta Ryhmä-X:n Ihmetyttö Jean Grey melkein kuoli, mutta "nousi kuolleista" miltei kaikkivoipana Feenixinä. Erinäisten käänteiden kautta Jean menettää voimiensa hallinnan, tuhoaa erään aurinkokunnan ja lopulta surmaa itsensä pelastaakseen muut Pimeältä Feenixiltä. Jonkin verran tämän jälkeen Kyklooppi / Scott Summers, joka on ollut aivan murtunut mielitiettynsä Jeanin kuolemasta, tapaa Madelyne Pryorin, joka on Jeanin ilmetty kaksoisolento. Scott ja Madelyne menevät naimisiin ja saavat lapsen. Happy ending? Ei aivan... Hieman tämän jälkeen Kostajat ja Ihmeneloset löytävät meren pohjasta oudon kotilon, jonka sisällä on Ihmetyttö, joka on ollut meren pohjassa chillaamassa ja parantumassa edellä mainitulla sukkulamatkalla saamistaan vammoista.

Tässä ratkaisussa on tietysti parikin ongelmaa. Jos Jean Grey ei ollut koskaan Feenix, Feenix oli pelkkä avaruuden muukalainen, jonka kuolemassa ei ollut mitään traagista ja joka oikeastaan vain sai, mitä ansaitsi. Toisaalta myöskään Ihmetyttö, joka ei koskaan ole ollut Feenix, ei ole mitenkään huippukiinnostava hahmo, vaan oikeastaan aika tylsä.

Kuultuaan, ettei Jean ollutkaan kuollut, Scott palasi tämän luo perustamaan Tekijä-X-supersankarijoukkuetta. Madelyne Pryor taas jatkoi elämäänsä Ryhmä-X:n hangaroundina ja jonkinlaisena kunniajäsenenä ja oli oikeastaan aika sympaattinen hahmo. Maddie kuitenkin chattaili verkossa nahkeasiipisten demonien kanssa, ja Infernossa hän muuttuu pahaksi Goblin Queeniksi.

Inferno-tarinaa oli kypsytelty varsinkin New Mutants -lehdessä vuosikausia. X-miesten nuoriso-osastoon kuului Kolossin pikkusisko Illyana, joka oli kaapattu lapsena Limbo-nimiseen helvetilliseen ulottuvuuteen, josta Illyana palasi maan päälle vasta teininä (aika kuluu Limbossa nopeammin) mukanaan sielumiekka ja kumma panssari, johon ilmestyi uusia osia sitä vauhtia kuin Illyana käytti voimiaan. Mitä tapahtuisi, kun panssari olisi valmis?

Varsinainen Inferno-tarina käynnistyy X-terminators -nimisestä limited series -julkaisusta, jonka pääosassa olivat Tekijä-X:n nuoriso-osasto eli Rusty, Skids ym. hahmoja, joita ei suomennetuissa Marvel-lehdissä ole paljonkaan nähty. Infernon demonit ovat alkaneet kaapata vauvoja maan päältä rituaalitarkoituksiin. Tämä on oikeastaan aika pelottava lähtökohta, ja X-terminatorsin alussa onkin mukavia kaikuja 1970-luvun kauhusarjakuvista. Olisiko niin, että Marvelin johtoportaassa kuitenkin tätä ideaa on pidetty liiankin pelottavana? Ryhmä-X on koko perheen lehti, joten Infernon demonit on kirjoitettu vähän hassuiksi ja hölmöiksi olennoiksi, jotka tuskin aiheuttavat traumoja edes perheenpienimmille. Madelyne Pryorin Goblin Queen -uniformu puolestaan on sen verran skimpy dress, että se on suunniteltu teini-ikäisten poikien tarpeet huomioon ottaen, eli jokaiselle jotakin.

Ryhmä-X ja Tekijä-X pääsevät kohtaamaan ensimmäistä kertaa vuosiin, ja tappeluksihan se menee. Lopullisessa välienselvittelyssä Jean ottaa mittaa Madelynestä, joka on tässä vaiheessa mennyt jo aivan umpihulluksi. Selviää lopullinen totuus eli Madelyne on Hra Pahuuden (Mr Sinister) Jeanista tekemä klooni, joka heräsi sillä hetkellä, kun Feenix kuoli Kuun pimeällä puolella. Feenix-voima oli jättänyt Jeanin ruumiin paranemaan merenalaiseen kotiloon ja rakentanut uuden ruumiin, johon se oli ottanut osan Jeanin psyykestä/sielusta/ oli mikä oli. Feenixin kuollessa se yritti palauttaa tämän osan Jeanille, mutta meren pohjassa nukkuva Jean torjui Feenixin muistot liian traumaattisina. Niinpä Feenix oli palauttanut muistot Madelynelle, joka Jeanin kloonina oli paras mahdollinen korvike aidolle asialle. Infernon lopussa Madelyne kuolee ja Jean Grey ottaa takaisin sen osan itsestään, jota Feenix-voima oli lainannut Pimeän Feenixin saagassa, saaden samalla Feenixin muistot kyseiseltä ajalta. Tyydyttävä loppuratkaisu? Enpä tiedä, mutta ehkä vuosien mittaan syntynyttä sotkuista vyyhtiä ei pystytty purkamaan tätä tyylikkäämmin.

Tällä välin Uudet Mutantit ovat saaneet hommat hoidetuksi Limbossa ja Illyana on muuttunut jälleen 6-vuotiaaksi pikkutytöksi. Ryhmä-X:llä on kuitenkin vastassaan vielä välienselvittely salaperäisen Hra Pahuuden kanssa. Hra Pahuus on tavallaan kiinnostava ja tavallaan vaivaannuttava superroisto, jonka Chris Claremont kumppaneineen kyhäsi, koska oli kyllästynyt pelkkään Magnetoon ja muihin vanhoihin vihollisiin. Kiinnostava Hra Pahuus on Marauderien taustapiruna, joka on manipuloinut mm. Kykloopin, Havokin ja Jean Greyn elämää vuosikymmeniä. Mutta ei hyvää päivää hänen gay pride -henkistä kostyymiään, joka on täysin ristiriidassa sen kanssa, mitä Pahuuden muuten pitäisi edustaa. Infernossa Hra Pahuus näyttää saavan surmansa, mutta ei toki lopullisesti.

Juonen puolesta Inferno kärsii siitä, että samaan soppaan on sotkettu liian monia aineksia. Kuvituksen taso vaihtelee melko hyvästä (Marc Silvestri & Dan Green) varsin hutiloituun (Walter Simonson & Bob Wiacek).

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

did so bad on an exam i had to reread inferno to cope

[Alex E · Rating 3 out of 5]

A horde of demons begins taking mutant babies while Madelyne Pryor, now the entity known as the Demon Queen gathers power. But there is another in the shadows, the architect of the entire fiasco and far more... Mr. Sinister.

Boy this was really long. And honestly i think the length of the entire story kind of works against it. The actual plot itself is not that bad and does make for very interesting moments, but they could've cut a lot of stuff out to make the pace more cohesive and easier to digest.

Basically this story details the first time that Sinister reveals himself. He explains how he has been deeply ingrained in cyclops' and Jean's life for quite some time. He manipulated events, and made deliberate changes to their lives in order for it to fit his plans. Ultimately he does succeed in this respect. The adults of Cyclops and Jean have been basically molded by him to fit what he needs. Once it is all revealed its something that they will have to deal with and make strong strides towards changing in the future.

Sinister makes a great villain as his threat hangs over the entire story. He only battles the X-men at the end and even then he is so powerful they barely beat him. However, I have to say again, the length of the story, especially when dealing with every aspect of the demon plan of stealing babies could have been wrapped up much more quickly. This story really dragged on because of the huge amount of detail and time given to plot points that could've been done in a couple of issues at most.

I think if you are an X-Men fan, this is a must read. There are some revelations that are shocking and that will influence the X-Men for time to come. However if you are more a casual fan, I would skip reading this entire saga and rely more on the plot points online.

[Justin Covey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely thrilling stuff. Claremont (and Louise Simonson) really were writing the great American novel with mutants in the 80s.
Very sad that this is the end of Magiks story, but it's a very sweet ending, one the character deserves.

[Omar Gómez · Rating 3 out of 5]

  X-Men Milestones Inferno, calificación 3/5 estrellas. Cuenta con X-Terminators 1-4, Uncanny X-Men 239-243, X-Factor 35-39, New Mutants 71-73.

  Califique yo con 3 estrellas por el arte que estuvo bien. Lápices de Marc Silvestri, Walt Simonson, Bret Blevins, Jon Bogdanove y Terry Shoemaker.

  Parece la trama salida de un episodio de The Real Ghostbusters, fue mala decisión extender la historia de más, la trama fue en general tonta historia dirigida a niños.

  Los X-Men de claremont esta alineación de la era Outback fue tonta, nunca debió sacar del grupo al Profesor X, Cyclops, Nightcrawler y Kitty Pryde se volvieron idiotas personajes como Storm, Dazzler, Longshot, Psylocke tuvieron que convertirla en ninja y hacerla asiática para darle una mano, Havok que fue otro personaje fallido como Magneto que Claremont lo convirtió en una propaganda judía, Mr Sinister que fue forzada su inclusión en el pasado de Scott Summers así terminó siendo Nathan el niño del orfanato que está enamorado de Cyclops. Madelyn Pryor el personaje mas fallido cambió varias veces su forzada inclusión primero como alguien parecida a Jean Grey y terminó para encajar solo como un clon, los villanos N'astirh, S'ym estúpidos y todos los demonios mas estúpidos aun.
 
  De los personajes que me agradaron fueron Takeshi y Boom Boom desde que la vi cuando era niño en su debut en Secret Wars II, lo destacado fue X-Terminators #1-4 de Lois Simonson.

  La caída de la calidad en The Uncanny X-Men era notoria si la comparas con el arco de Proteus, the Dark Phoenix Saga y Days of Future Past que fueron tramas de John Byrne su partida lo dejo claro.

  El libro X-Factor una tontería que se hicieran pasar por cazamutantes, The New Mutants el cambio de los uniformes clásicos de la escuela de Xavier por feos uniformes individuales fue un error.

Lois Simonson ayudo en las tramas posteriores a Chris Claremont que estába decadente y en picada se tardaron en quitarlo del libro X-Men, sólo era repetir lo mismo ejemplos los X-Men se enfrentan entre ellos, control mental, personajes femeninos que se volvieron mary sue.

  No fue solución de la debacle del libro X-Men con traer a Scott Lobdell y Fabián Nicieza, no eran solución, sólo hizo que fuera mediocre el libro y no alcazo para igualar la saga de Fénix Oscura y Días del Futuro Pasado.

  Traer a alguien que escribiera como David Cronenberg, Dan O'Banon, Alan moore en los años 80s posterior a la partida de Byrne con ideas frescas, en cambio se quedaron con Claremont y con tramas de los 70s como Havok vs Cyclops otra vez, o con el mal entendido de creer según el guión repetitivo de Claremont que los Hombres X estaban muertos como cuando combatieron en un volcán a Magneto fue pésimo. X-Men Elsewhen es mil veces mejor que la carrera de Claremont de 1981 a 1991.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Claremont, for all that he contributed to X-Men lore, is sometimes criticized for leaning into overly fantastical elements during some portions of his run as lead writer. Inferno is certainly an example of that, with a demonic invasion from the plane of Limbo serving as its anchor. This trade collects all of the stories involved in that affair. It's not a bad read by any stretch, but it's a little bloated and a little messy, belaboring some points and rushing through others.

Claremont's X-Men books are the highlight. Mr. Sinister makes for an appropriately ominous villain and numerous story lines are tied up, including those concerning the origin of Madelyne Pryor and the mysterious upbringing of the Summers children.

The effects of Limbo's convergence are differently felt by various characters in the story. Some, such as Havoc and Storm, develop interestingly as they are pushed more towards their established character edges. Other changes are more flat, like the "evil" slants given to Wolverine and Longshot. Some are just plain poorly-depicted, such as Dazzler's portrayal as being overly vein.

These changes lead to a confrontation between the X-Men and X-Factor, which was a big deal at the time, but doesn't really amount to much here in the story.

I might call Inferno a strong read if it weren't for the inclusion of the New Mutants and X-Terminators issues. While none of these are necessarily bad, they never feel particularly vital.

X-Terminators is a side story that could have been told in a single issue, or even through a few side panels here and there. Drawn out as it is, it's a lengthy distraction with minimal character depth or development.

New Mutants fares slightly better because Magik's arc is of interest, but there is such a focus on her path that other characters in the book are reduced to bare supporting roles, little more than vehicles for a choir of concern as Magik descends towards her fate.

The X-Factor issues sit somewhere in the middle; Louise Simonson's writing doesn't ring quite like Claremont's here, and Walter Simonson's art feels almost rushed, the weakest by far in the volume.

Where does all of this leave Inferno? I still think it's an important and relevant story for X-Men fans, as it hits on some major narrative beats in the team's collective lore, and despite my complaints I do still rate it as a decent volume. I just don't think it's something that most readers will ever feel a need to revisit after they've read it in full.

[Remxo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ingredients responsible for some of the most epic X-Men stories of the past are now way beyond their expiration date.

Disclaimer: I am reading X-Men chronologically for the first time. My opinion is not colored by nostalgia. I am aware that the context is very different from when these stories were first published in single issues more than 30 years ago.

This X-Men crossover event suffered from multiple issues, including action scenes featuring too many characters and rushed art. But what bothered me most were the lengthy expositions along with countless recaps that impact the narrative flow in a negative way. A know issue with Marvel comics from this era, and one could argue that it makes these X-events less suitable for binge reading.

Chris Claremont and Louise Simonson -the main authors of Inferno- recycle an abundance of concepts from the X-Men playbook. This made the plotlines feel contrived. Take Claremont's penchant for character transformations, a plot device he masterfully exploited in The Dark Phoenix saga. In Inferno, half the cast is in a continuous flux of physical, psychological or spiritual transformation caused by all too familiar triggers.

Madelyn Pryor's mystery is finally solved, but only after another lengthy retelling of her and Jean Grey's past. The conclusion made me question wether there ever was a great masterplan behind Grey's apparent doppelganger's raison d'etre. It seems to me that Claremont struggled to tie up a lot of loose narrative threads in the final chapters of Inferno. Unfortunately his attempt to make sense of everything is done by telling, not showing.

X-Men Milestones: Inferno has some entertaining moments, but ultimately this crossover event is stale and formulaic, which makes it my least favorite X-read so far.

[Mabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

reading main events that are set in a massive timeline will forever be the bane of my existence, how tf did i read this and understand 95% of it?! (i used to be obsessed w reading character profiles on fandom.com when i was 15..)

X-Men’s Inferno was so wacky and over the top it was very entertaining for the most part (i don’t rly care abt the x-terminators aside from Leech/Artie/Taki) but i will have to be honest and say that comics that have come out before the 90’s may not be favourite, still worth it for the crazy story and sick character designs (Illyana as Darkchylde, i will never live her down)

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this as a kid and going “what the heck is going on?” (I only read Uncanny X-Men) so I picked this trade up to get the whole picture. And well still not sure what the heck happened. Seems like the X books wanted to have demons running around New York, but behind that the moves of Mr Sinister and tying a decades old storyline with Madyline Pryor was good. Still the demons, and a techno-demon?!? Oh well

[Matt Sautman · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I genuinely enjoy aspects of storylines Madeline Pryor and Magik both undertake in this volume, the original Inferno storyline feels a bit bloated with too wide of a focus to make every story beat feel as meaningful or coherent as it could be. The repercussions of this story is major, but the storytelling is not on the same level as events like Days of Future Past or The Phoenix Saga.

[Andre vieira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well it's X-men in the 80's.

A little cringe, a little nostalgic but it was a bore read, it's a little convoluted story, i admit i love the last part with sinister more than most of Inferno.

Glad that i have read, glad i finished and probably not going to read again.

[Josh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thirty years later and event comics still have the same problems.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was decent. Too many side plots. Just kind of confusing.