Sophia’s Reviews > X-Men Epic Collection, Vol. 17: Dissolution & Rebirth > Status Update

An interview with Jim Lee and a (actually helpful) score card, telling us where the X-Men are currently.

Plus lots of sketches and various art by Jim Lee.

Some of them were TPB covers, updating the original art and they look quite 90s! I liked them.

Issue #267 -
There’s those playing cards! Also Gambit’s energy is now white, not green.

Anyway, after escaping the Hounds, Gambit takes Storm to New Orleans where she feels at home…

Then after the duo’s ‘Robin Hood’ escapades, Nanny finds them!

But that only helps Storm to truly remember her past.

Once the ship is sunk into the river, the young mutant asks if Gambit’s ever heard of the X-Men…

Issue #266 -
Storm holds up well against the Hounds and Shadow King’s mental onslaught.
She is still only a child tho and requires a little help from… Gambit!!

Who speaks and dresses like how you imagine him to. But his energy is green NOT purple *shocked face*
And he doesn’t have his playing cards!

Anyway, Gambit saves Storm, then she helps him get away from the Shadow King.

Mystique knew Val would come…

Issue #265 -
The young Storm is falling back on old habits, stealing. Not in Egypt, but in Cairo, Illinois!

She has no control of her powers and wakes from nightmares of people who are after her.
We know they are Nanny and the Shadow King!

The ‘King’ already has Lian and Val under his influence and wants V to kill Mystique…

The end sees Storm caught in a trap!

Read even less of 263.

I saw that Peter (Colossus) was mixed up in the drama.

Then by the end of the issue, Forge had returned Jean and Sean back to normal and they were discussing Peter’s body’s instant reaction even though he has no memory of his past or the X-Men.

I skipped #264.

I didn’t really read #262.
So. Many. Words!

Anyway, I did read that Jean’s known Moira for just as long as she’s known Xavier.

And Sean can’t handle seeing Jean in the new X-Men uniform… Which I found gross and disrespectful to Moira but anyway.

That last page made me agree with Jean’s negative opinion of the costumes…

Ugh series that were released more than once a month is the bane of my existence atm.

Issue #261 -
Skimmed some of this.

Sure, Logan is smart but I don’t really associate him as someone who tests his companions to see if they can work together.

Forge and Sean know Moira is not who she once was…

Sean wants Forge to create something that can detect the X-Men who are still missing.

I liked the bit about the ‘Wolverine Rescue Squad’.

Skipped issues #259 and 260.

Issue #258 -
Just like Wolverine’s mind, things get a little chaotic.

It’s funny how intimidating the Mandarin is in these comics, whereas in Iron Man he’s more the hockie sort of villain.

On Muir Island, everyone’s not acting themselves, and Legion has trapped Lorna in his old containment room!

Something in Wolvey’s mind brought Psylocke back to their side, and the end sees the 3 of them sail away.

Issue #256 -
Read this as part of Acts of Vengeance though this has basically nothing to do with that.

This is the issue where Betsy Braddock - Brit born and raised - through the manipulations of the Hand, becomes an asian woman.

This must have been controversial at the time of publishing, right? Like, what was the reason for doing this?

I’m all for more diversity, but just create a new character!