GENERATION X #51:
Story Title: "The Rescuers"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Gregg Schigiel, Inks: Wiacek/Mei/Milgrom/Decastro
Characters in issue: White Queen, Banshee, Adrienne, Husk, Gaia, Jubilee, Penance, Monet, Chamber, Synch, Skin, Artie, Leech
Guest Stars: Tristan Brawn
Guest Villians: Mr. Legault, Hunter Brawn
NOTE: The summary writer for this issue (GenX #51) is my good friend, Humber12/Blackwolf, enjoy the review!

Humber12/Blackwolf here, steppin' in for my gal-pal, Tigrr Wildcat. Here we go!
We begin at "a sprawling horse ranch nestled comfortably in the rolling hills of Vermont". A hulk of a guy (Mr. LeGault) and a skinny old man (Hunter Brawn) are standing around talking about how stupid their captive is. When Ol' Skinny gets ticked off by a very flippant Irishman, he's about to make a threat when Sean (the captive) laughs in his face and grumbles about the inhibitor collar around his neck. Then one of Ol' Skinny's cronies tells him something, and Ol' Skinny leaves to speak with his grandson, Tristan. Tristan wants to know why his granddad's men took him from the Massachusetts Academy. Granddad gives a couple of lame reasons: one is "...those Xavier people may be too.... progressive.... for people like you and me." Tristan protests, saying that his granddad doesn't know anything about the school; his enrollment was handled by his "nanny", like everything else in his life is. Tristan thrusts an informative letter at his granddad and tells him to read it. Granddad does, notices a name on the stationary and murmurs, "Headmaster Sean Cassidy, eh?" Meanwhile, at the Academy, a frustrated Emma is ranting to her rather battered students, griping about how Sean is nowhere to be found. When Adrienne enters the room with Artie and Leech, Emma turns the "frosty killer glare" on her and inquires about Sean's whereabouts. Adrienne copies the "frosty killer glare", and responds she doesn't know, "... But judging from the looks of you, I think you've got quite a story to tell." Emma quickly explains the kids were kidnapped, tortured and trounced. Jubilee butts in, demanding that Emma tell Adrienne about her friendship with Dark Beast. Emma brushes it off. Then Leech says Artie knows where Sean is, and Artie projects a hologram of Sean and his predicament. Way to go, kid! Turns out Artie made a mental link with Banshee and used it to get all that info. Angelo asks how Sean got himself into that mess, and Artie shows the 'copter kidnapping, Sean's tracking the kid, and his capture. Husk insists they go after him, but Emma says it's too dangerous. Jubilee argues against that, saying the team can handle it, and M agrees with her! (Did Hell just freeze over?)

As it is, Adrienne is on the kids' side too, and gives them new uniforms for the job: Virtual carbon copies of the New Mutants' uniforms, with masks. But Gaia shows up uniformless. She explains she's leaving to live life, and she's sorry about the bad timing. Emma is extremely rude about it and tells Gaia to be gone by the time they get back. The rest of the kids are instructed to meet White Queen at the airfield in half an hour. But guess what? The kids decided they couldn't trust her and left her behind! M flies their jet (much to the dismay of Synch and Skin) while Husk hacks the school files, reporting that Tristan Brawn lives on the ranch with his grandpa, Hunter. When they get there, Jubes wants to hit it hard and fast, but Synch votes against it, suggesting that a couple of them go "sneak" onto the grounds and get captured. There's some debate on who gets captured (with one particularly dumb vote from Skin).

Inside, two cronies bring Sean Husk and Jubilee. Jubi quips "Oh, no. How will we ever escape?" Then she paffs herself free and helps Husk out of wrist bindings; Husk gets Sean out of his metal straitjacket and inhibitor collar. They dash to the exit while Sean demands to know what they're doing there, in X-Men uniforms, no less. Their escape is blocked by Hunter and lots of stooges. Husk morphs into stone, and Hunter retaliates by turning on a strange energy armor. Jubi telepathically yells, and I mean YELLS for help, and the cavalry charges in! M tells Jubes to "guide" the others to her exact location, just as Husk is thrown through the earth and onto the ground. (M quote: *Never mind. I think we found you.*) Chamber runs over to check on Husk (Hey! They're CIVIL to each other! There's still hope), and attacks Hunter as he comes out of the hole in the ground. But Chamber's bio-blast has no effect on the armor. Yet things get worse as Banshee is assaulted by a big bruiser he finds familiar. M and Synch fly up and hoist Big Guy into the air. Sean's impressed: The kids are gettin' good at the hero biz. Jubes takes on a few more cronies, but when Hunter threatens to stretch Skin beyond recognition, Synch counters by stating he'll break Bruiser's neck. And since he's synched onto M's powers, he could pull it off easily. Hunter stands down, drops Skin, and offers to make a deal of sorts. Since Cassidy was only there to help Tristan, Hunter tells them this: Tristan was in no danger, except the danger the attack coulda put him in; he adds that Gen X is trespassing. Sean bargains: If Tristan can prove he's there by his choice, the whole team will leave. Tristan is brought out from the game room (which was soundproofed to occupy certain "business associates" of Hunter's), and Tristan tells Hunter that he wishes to go back to Snow Valley. He gets his things and Sean growls to Hunter, "I don't know what I stumbled onto here, Brawn, but I aim to find out." Hunter smirks and returns, "You're welcome to try, my boy." On the way home, Jubes complains about how ridiculous the fight was. Skin points out that Hunter could be a major villain. Husk just hopes her mom doesn't take the news badly. What "news", Jubes wants to know. Husk is certain all of them will be expelled for tricking Emma. Uh oh.... Back with Hunter and Big Bruiser: Bruiser wants to know why Hunter let Tristan go. Hunter reasons that Cassidy's students were obviously fighters. One day, Hunter will die, and he wants Tristan to be strong enough to handle his criminal empire. And what better way for him to learn to be strong than a school for superkids, right? the Big Guy questions. Hunter grins, and simply says, "Exactly." The End? I hope not!

GENERATION X #52:
Story Title: "Secret Identities"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Inks: Rachel Dodson
Characters in issue: White Queen, Banshee, Adrienne, Husk, Jubilee, Monet, Chamber, Synch, Skin, Artie, Leech
Guest Stars: Colossus (X-Men) as art teacher, Tom Corsi (New Mutants) as gym teacher, Paladin, Tristan Brawn
Guest Villians: None
NOTE: As of GenX #52, Humber12/Blackwolf has come on board as the new summary writer. Enjoy!

HUMBER12 IS TAKING OVER! OOWWWWWOOOOOOOO! Okay, I'm through bragging.
The story: I offered to permanently take over the monthly reviews as a favor to Tigrr, since I enjoyed the last job so much. So here I am. Enjoy!

The series is gettin' wilder and wilder, I tell ya! Tristan tells Our Heroes he knows they're mutants. He found out when he saw Ev helping Jono with his powers, and there were other times he noticed the use of powers when they thought they were alone. Ev tries to weasel a way out: It doesn't work. Jubes WHACKS Ev on the head, wantin' t' know why he didn't use the Danger Room. Sean doesn't let 'em use it unsupervised, remember? But Tristan says he'll keep the secret on one condition: Paige must go on a date with him. Paige tells Tristan a date's not bad, but she still feels used. Is he serious? Oh yea! Jono's ticked, of course, and tells Tristan to take his threats and deals and shove 'em sideways.... Paige yells at him to stop, saying her business is not his. (Darn. I really wanted t' hear the rest o' that insult.) The team grabs Paige and drags her away, saying they'll consider it. Later, during an art class by Piotr Rasputin (X-Men's Colossus), Jubes remarks Paige is more interested in boys now. Jono thinks he should start flirting with more girls and see how she likes it. M snaps at them to knock it off: She didn't tel-connect them to gripe about Husk. Jubee butts in, sayin': "It's about our little secret being on the front page of the school newspaper!" The bell rings: Piotr pulls them aside and explains he knew they were mindspeaking. They oughta show more respect for guest lecturers.

Next, we see Sean, Skin, Synch and Husk in the Danger Room with a new power teacher: Tom Corsi, an old pal of Sean's. He wants to the kids to think of him as a cross between Magneto and a drill sergeant. Oh boy....

During that, Jubes finds a formal is gonna be held in Proudstar Hall! She wonders what Ev looks like in a tux. (Uh, li'l goof there: She knows. Remember ish 10?) A buncha girls start fawning over Jono, asking how he talks and such. After a useless plea to M for help, Jono bluffs and uses some nonsense hand signs. It's romantic (gag) but M steps in, saying he's got to wash the pus-filled sores under his wraps. It turns the girls right off and Jono "shouts" at M, *THAT is what you call HELPING?!* M only giggles.

In the Danger Room, Husk learns she can become glass! Skin acts like a smart-ass, of course, and that worries Tom. He takes it up with Emma, Adrienne and Sean. (Anyone notice how much Adrienne looks like Sailor Jupiter in this one?) Right in the middle of a discussion 'bout discipline, two cartoon characters run across the lawn. Emma immediately figures out who the culprits are, and confronts Artie and Leech. Turns out they were misusing the image inducers she gave them earlier in the story. (But you gotta admit, they looked SO funny!) Back in the office, however, Sean receives a phone call from X-Force's Sam Guthrie, aka Cannonball. Theresa, Sean's daughter, has been seriously hurt and he must go be with her.

Outside, Paige agrees to a date with Tristan. (WHAT? Geez, girl! Get a brain!) Jono takes Tristan aside and tells him if he causes Paige the slightest discomfort: *...Well, let's just say my powers have a nasty habit of blowing blokes' faces off.* (Serious, serious ouch!) After that, Jubes goes for a jog, thinking and scheming over Ev, when suddenly a strange man falls onto the path, muttering something 'bout Adrienne. In the words of Jubilee: "Aw, man.... I think Adrienne has some explaining to do!"
Come back in thirty for the next review! I guarantee, it'll be TWISTED!

GENERATION X #53:
Story Title: "Land of the Rising Sons: Part one"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Inks: Rachel Dodson
Characters in issue: White Queen, Adrienne, Husk, Jubilee, Monet, Penance, Chamber, Synch, Skin
Guest Stars: Paladin
Guest Villians: The Rising Sons - Noy, Dragonwing, Spoilsport, The Sign, Nightwind, Jet-Black, and Tough Love

Hiya! I'm back (Finally! Rassum frassum subscription.... Too dang slow!) and have I got a review for you! Told ya it would be twisted....
First, we start with guest-star Paladin's recount of how he got so banged up. Turns out he tangled with villains called The Rising Sons. He escaped and made his way to the Academy, where Jubes found him and dragged him to see Adrienne. Jubilee wants to know why he needed to see Adrienne, and the new headmistress tells her she often employs Paladin's.... services. In this case, he had to retrieve a samurai sword that was stolen from her. After a brief argument, Adrienne pushes Jubee out the door, but Paladin requests that she doesn't tell anyone he's there. After that, Jubilee can't concentrate in her classes, and goes back to see him. She offers to help him on his mission, which results in the team (minus M, White Queen, Penance and Banshee) flying to Madripoor. Why didn't the others come? Well, Sean's in San Francisco, Emma's managing the school, and M and Penance are having some down time. Now, Paladin talks about the villains: Dragonwing, Spoilsport, The Sign, Nightwind, Jet-Black, and Tough Love. They work for a guy called Noy. (As in anNOYing, perhaps?) To say more would kill all the fun for ya. Paladin says Noy frequents a certain restaurant. Then he asks, "Jubilee.... What's your dress size?" When the team lands in Madripoor, Jubee and Husk go shopping, where Jubes picks out an absolutely STUNNING evening gown. So while Paladin and Jubilee are enjoying fine cuisine at the restaurant, Husk is taking charge at Noy's apartment. She orders Chamber to stand as lookout while the rest of them search for the sword. Jono acts like a real jerk about that (any more 'tude from him and I'm gonna change my name to "Husk12/Blackwolf"!), but Synch explains the job was assigned to him because his telepathy lets him contact others fast. So Chamber grudgingly looks out for trouble.... and gets it from behind! Yikes! It's Nightwind! *IT'S A SETUP!* Jono cries, just before behind shoved over the rooftop edge. Skin comes to the rescue by diving off the roof, grabbing Chamber and then snagging a sign by his feet. A rather shook-up Chamber remarks, *I.... I guess one advantage to not having a mouth is that I can't puke.* Nightwind gets away before the team can strike back, and Husk informs Paladin about what happened. He says it's no prob, 'cause he and Jubee caught up to Noy! Our Heroes follow him and board a train, telling the others to catch up. Uh.... how will they catch up to a speeding train?

Back at the Academy, Emma storms into Adrienne's office, demanding to know where the kids are. Adrienne simply smirks and quips, "Don't you just hate that your mind-reading doesn't work on me?" But with our Heroes, Paladin and Jubilee find Noy.... and ALL the Rising Sons! Big, big, BIG trouble! How're they gonna get outta this one? I'll tell you.... in thirty. ;-) C ya then!

GENERATION X #54:
Story Title: "Land of the Rising Sons: Part two"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Derec Aucoin, Inks: Rachel Dodson, Scott Elmer
Characters in issue: White Queen, Adrienne, Husk, Jubilee, Monet, Chamber, Synch, Skin
Guest Stars: Paladin
Guest Villians: The Rising Sons - Noy, Dragonwing, Spoilsport, The Sign, Nightwind, Jet-Black, and Tough Love

Heya! I've finally returned with another scintillating review for you. It's gonna be complicated and long, so please bear with me.
We begin by seeing Emma show her softer side to Adrienne: "I'd die for those children, and if you've endangered them, SO WILL YOU!" Adrienne coolly remarks there is no need to panic, and explains she sent the team to Madripoor to fetch a sword for her. That doesn't please Emma. Adrienne adds that she sent along a chaperone: Paladin. Then, we segue to the train in Madripoor, where Jubilee is standing on Paladin's shoulders, peeking out a door in the roof. Looks like there's trouble: Tough Love! He plucks Jubi from the train and comments that he'd rather take her on a date than hurt her, but he has a job to do. Paladin comes to the rescue by using his gun to disrupt Tough Love's nervous system. Ouch. Meanwhile, the rest of Our Heroes have "borrowed" a pair of motorbikes and are racing to catch up to the train. Synch, who has Skin as his passenger, asks if they can slow down a little: he's having trouble driving, unlike Chamber, who turns out to be an expert. Husk reflects on how weird her situation is: She and Jono used to talk about renting a bike and going for a ride, and now they're on one together when they're barely speaking to each other. Suddenly, Jet Black roars onto the scene and launches missiles at them. After the resulting explosion, an unscathed Husk checks on Synch and Skin while Jono takes a shot at Jet Black.... and misses. Jet Black reforms into human shape, but gets double-teamed by Synch and Chamber. So now, how can they catch up using one bike?

During that, the Madripoorian Valley Girl, Spoilsport, finds the other two and gives Paladin a good whack, which takes him out. Jubilee tries to nail her opponent, without much luck. That's when Synch flies up (he synched with Jono's flight abilities) with Skin hanging on. Skin uses his toes to snag Spoilsport, which grosses the girl out so much Jubi has no problem knocking her out. Synch lands and Skin uses his power to hoist Chamber and Husk up to join them. Then it turns out Paladin is missing! Obviously, he's gone to get the sword, but since he's not in the best condition, Gen X has to find him fast!

Somewhere else in Madripoor, the villainess known as Viper finds out about Jubi and her friends, and wonders why they didn't bother to visit. Maybe she'll visit them instead....
Back on the train, Angelo and Everett have teamed up again to start the sword search. Nightwind gets the drop on them, however, and fences with Synch for a minute. Wow, she's good: She just got Ev on the arm, right where she zapped Chamber before. Skin breaks in and gives her a "sleeper" hold, solving that problem.

Inside, Noy is gloating to The Sign about his victory. That ends fast as Husk breaks down the door, leading in Jubilee and Chamber. Jubes demands to know where Paladin is, but he's not there. He's on the roof instead. Chamber blows a hole in the roof while Husk attacks The Sign and Jubilee angrily takes on Noy. She punches him to the floor and gets the sword- Hold it! It's a piece of junk! What's going on here? Jubilee holds the weapon to Noy's throat and demands to know why the thing is so special. Noy admits he doesn't know why Adrienne covets it so much, but as long as he has it, he's got the upper hand. While this is going on, Chamber confronts Dragonwing, who threatens to drop Paladin off the train if the Gen Xer tries anything. Jubilee joins the party and declares she'll drop the sword under the train if Paladin isn't released. Dragonwing doesn't buy it, so Jubilee follows through. Dragonwing freaks out, drops Paladin and breathes fire at Jubi, who just flips over him and goes to help Paladin, who's hanging off the edge, unable to pull himself up. As the trains rumbles toward a low bridge (anyone notice the Pokemon graffiti?) Dragonwing fights with Chamber and Jubilee succeeds in pulling Paladin to safety, and forcing him to hit the deck with her. A still-steamed Dragonwing tells Chamber the Rising Sons have never lost a battle so there's no way to win. In answer to that, Chamber falls forward as Dragonwing is slammed against the side of the bridge. KA-WHAM! Ouch, again. Paladin praises Jubilee as she basks in the glow of his admiration, but Chamber reminds them that Adrienne is gonna be ticked now that the sword is gone. But this is Jubi we're talkin' 'bout here! She had a plan. Skin was hiding between the train cars, and he caught the sword! Whoopee!

When the team returns home, Paige worries about getting punished, but Angelo reminds her Adrienne gave them permission to go out onto the field. Jubilee hands Adrienne the sword, and asks if it's worth anything. As she walks off, Adrienne replies, "Maybe to you it's not." Emma quietly explains that the sword was the very one that killed Adrienne's husband, and she wants to use her psychometry to be with him during the last moments of his life. Gruesome, but sad. We close with Adrienne doing some gloating of her own: "So, my dear darling Steven. When the cold steel pierced your heart, did you know it was me? Did you know-- I arranged for your death on that cold night? Did it hurt, Steven? I hope it hurt. Because that's what happens when you cross me."

Shocked? I know I am. Maybe the next ish will shed some light on the mysterious past of Adrienne Frost. I'll let you know if it does. C ya.

GENERATION X #55:
Story Title: "Sins of the Past - Part One: In Another Man's Shoes"
Story: Jay Faerber, Terry Dodson, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Inks: Rachel Dodson
Characters in issue: White Queen, Monet, Husk, Jubilee, Chamber, Synch, Skin
Guest Stars: X-Men
Guest Villians: The Hellions, Trevor Fitzroy

Hey gang! Sorry I'm late: Thunderstorms kept knockin' out my 'puter. But I'm here now, so let's go!

Jubilee's trying to sleep in, but a telepathic yell from Emma wakes her up. She wants the kids to come to the combat room. Jubes goes to get her costume, but she finds a Hellion costume instead! That's not all: When Jubee looks in the mirror, she doesn't see her reflection. Quickly she runs to Monet's room to tell her what happened. M thinks Jubilee pulled a suit-switch prank, but she sees Jubilee in the Hellion costume, and realizes Jubes wasn't behind it. Odd. Jubilee tells M to round up the rest of the team, and they congregate in a restroom; once there, Jubes orders the team to look in the mirror.... Whoa! They look like Hellions! M is Tarot, Chamber is Beef, Jubilee is Catseye, Synch is Empath, Husk is Roulette, and Skin is Bevatron. Too weird! When the kids try t' figure out what happened and how t' deal with it, Emma yells in their minds, ordering them to the combat room. When the kids get to the combat room, they see a younger White Queen in her "Inner Circle" getup. Gulp! Emma tells the team about attempts on the Inner Circle's lives, and the X-Men are going to attend a Hellfire Club party that night in order to help figure out who the culprit is. Jubilee suddenly knows what her teacher is talking about: That's the day the Hellions died!

Afterwards, Jubilee takes the others outside and calls a meeting. Paige wants to know why Emma's telepathy isn't picking up on their problem, and Angelo wants to skip the party. Jubilee's shocked: She thinks it's a stupid idea. They're X-Men (almost) fer cryin' out loud! They can't just skip out. Angelo argues that suicide missions were never on the curriculum, and he doesn't want to go. Jonothon agrees, though he admits it sounds somewhat cowardly. Jubilee tells them they can change the coming events. If anyone has a problem with that, they should speak up. No one does. So, Generation X attends the party, watching out for the imminent danger. They have a close encounter with the real Jetstream, but Angelo diverts that disaster. Meanwhile, Phoenix (just Jean Grey back then) keeps telepathic tabs on the X-team and the "Hellions". Jubilee notices and reasons that even though Emma can't tell Gen X aren't Hellions, maybe Jean can. Unfortunately, a young female assassin goes flying through a wall with the White Queen close behind. Emma threatens to peel the assassin's psyche like a ripe fruit if she resists a mind-probe. Very scary! Storm tries to stop her, and that brings on the wrath of Jetstream, who knocks her down as he flies by. After that, it's pure pandemonium. The X-Men and the "Hellions" grapple, but the fight is quickly ended by a very loud psi-order from Jean, who tells the group that if they fight, they're vulnerable to another attack. Emma gets down to business, asking if the Hellfire Club falls, can the X-Men be too far behind?

While that's going on, Jetstream decides to score points with Queenie and put the assassin through questioning. Jubilee remembers he's the first to fall, and tries to keep him from doing the job. A frustrated Jetstream goes to question the assassin anyway. During that, Emma withholds vital info from the X-Men, and that means they can't call a truce. White Queen wants to finish the questioning, and Jetstream agrees, saying "Yes! She'll talk! She'll tell us who's behind- AAGH!" Yikes! Trevor Fitzroy, the murderer of the Hellions, has a death-grip on Jetstream's neck, draining his life away. Gen X and the X-Men attack, to no avail. When Archangel tries to slice him up with a rain of wing-blades, they just bounce off Fitzroy's armor and one grazes M on the arm! She screams.... and suddenly she's in the Danger Gym, in her own uniform. Was it some sorta dream? When she notices the rest of the team konked out on the floor, she tries to wake them up, but gasps in pain: Her arm is bleeding where the wing-blade sliced her. Guess she's not as invulnerable as we thought. And for once, M is scared. She thinks, "That means whatever happens in there, really happens. The other kids could actually DIE in there!" Oh no....

The end? It better not be!

GENERATION X #56:
Story Title: "Sins of the Past - Part Two: Heal Thyself"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Karl Kerschel, Inks: Rachel Dodson, John Czop, Rod Ramos
Characters in issue: White Queen, Monet, Husk, Jubilee, Chamber, Synch, Skin
Guest Stars: X-Men
Guest Villians: The Hellions, Donald Pierce, Sentinels, Trevor Fitzroy, Adrienne Frost

Hi y'all! Sorry to keep ya hangin': I just couldn't get off my lazy duff. Anyway, better late than never, right?

The story starts with M cradling Jubilee in her arms, telling the sparkler if she doesn't wake up, she's done for. Unfortunately, it has no effect on Jubes or anyone else for that matter. Monet decides to get backup from Adrienne, since Sean is still in San Fran. But as it turns out, Adrienne is out late, which means M must use the telepathy that got her out to re-enter the false world and try to save the team herself….

Inside the false world, Everett is holding Monet, not far from tears as he mourns her apparent "death". Even Jubilee is sorry, even though she's M's enemy. Skin gets pissed off and starts ranting about how dangerous the job is. C'mon, first Clarice "Blink" Ferguson dies, and now M! They never shoulda been in that position, and for that matter, their job as heroes-in-training brings nothing but misery. Thankfully, Chamber grabs him and gets some sense back into him. That's when M revives. Synch is overjoyed to see her; of course, Jubilee is jealous, even though she keeps her mind in business. M tells them how she got out of the false world, says that their predicament is merely a mental trick, and tells them they've got to escape. Jubilee wants to know why she didn't get help or try to wake them up. M says she tried, but it was useless. At least she returned…. because the team is now considered her friends. Sadly, that touching moment is disrupted by a guy called Donald Pierce using his pet Aborigine to teleport in. (Sound familiar?) Uh oh…. He's being followed by Sentinels! Once again, a fight breaks out, and Jubilee saves Emma from being toasted. M serves up a "fastball special" with a stone-form Husk, but Paige gets stuck in the middle of her target, another Sentiel. Thankfully, Jono's got her back. Synch syncs with Colossus and helps him and Jean Grey tear another machine apart. Skin uses his skin to plug up a Sentinel's hand-laser until Iceman freezes him over. Jubilee takes out a Sentinel with no help at all. Suddenly, just as M takes out another machine, Synch, who's now synced with her, notices something weird in the room. It's Emma! What's the deal? Well, she's trapped between the false world and the real one, and Synch is telepathically keyed in to her. M wants to know why she can't see their teacher: Synch reminds her that he can use other mutants' powers in ways they can't. Now the two of them must free Emma, but the team needs to give them cover while they bring Emma into the false world. Paige is baffled, and rightly so, but she can't think about it right now: Colossus just punched her in the face. Apparently, whoever controls the false world wants Emma to stay out. Synch keeps trying to help her, though, and Chamber tells the team to cut loose! Good thing the "X-Men" are fake too.

Suddenly, Synch cracks open the bubble imprisoning Emma. She pushes the gap open wider and gets out! Generation X cheers in victory. Emma ignores them for a minute and stands in front of her "past self", gently touches her cheek, and tells her, "It's not your fault. You did everything you could. Let it go." There is silence…. and then the old White Queen is gone. Wow…. Did our Emma really do that? Never mind: There's still the fake X-Men and fake reality to deal with. With a simple gesture, Emma warps the reality to neutral. Then she states, "This all ends NOW!" CRASH! She kicks the wall between realities and shatters it, sending all of them back into the real world. Boy, she's gonna feel that one tomorrow. (I predict massive psychic hangovers with a harsh headache front closing in.)

Anyway, Jubilee is pretty mad herself now, and she declares M was right about the false world. Of course, Skin doesn't care: "We looked Death in the eye and Death blinked, man!" Emma tells the kids to calm down and think rationally. Someone is responsible for that deadly false world…. Three guesses, everyone, and the first two don't count: Say hello to the new White Queen, Adrienne Frost. (Get a load of Adrienne's costume! Disco pizzazz + Egyptian overtones + Victorian Era pomp = CLEAVEGE!) Ahem. To get back on track, Emma is outraged. How dare Adrienne call herself that, and how dare she endanger them? Adrienne coolly explains Emma was in no real danger, but the kids were. They would die so Emma would be broken and Adrienne would be on the freeway to power with no roadblocks. Now Emma's really enraged, and she threatens to push her pushy sister right back. Uh, one problem: Her powers don't work on her. Thankfully, Gen X has no such problem. Then again, who says Adrienne is gonna stay there and get pounded? She touches her choker's pendant and teleports away, promising to return. Jubilee wants to find her, but Emma vetoes that notion. She can't sense her sister, and none of the telepaths can conduct a search that intense. Adrienne won't be seen until she's ready to be seen. Angelo blows up again, demanding to know how Emma can be so calm when her psycho of a sibling just tried to kill them. Emma defuses that situation by saying they have tomorrow to think of Adrienne: "Tonight, I'd just like to appreciate what I've got." She gazes fondly at her students, and perhaps sees echoes of her beloved Hellions in them. Oh yes…. Appreciate Gen X, Emma: You never know what tomorrow brings.

HEY WAIT JUST A DARN MINUTE! Didn't Adrienne want the team as her personal mercenary force at the start? What made her change her mind? Beats me, but hopefully I'll find out in the future, and if I do, I'll tell you. C ya.

GENERATION X #57:
Story Title: "A Night to Remember"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Chris Renaud, Inks: Rachel Dodson, Scott Elmer, John Czop
Characters in issue: White Queen, Banshee, Monet, Husk, Jubilee, Chamber, Synch, Skin, Penance, Artie, Leech, Tristan
Guest Stars: Iceman, Tom Corsi
Guest Villians: Emplate and his goons: DOA, Vincent, Wrap, Nocturne

Hey all, Tigrr Wildcat here to give you a few reviews. This fifth anniversary issue starts out with Jubilee arguing over Paige's fashion sense while Paige is trying on dresses for the upcoming formal. Paige has a date with Tristan, Jubilee is going with Synch, but they wonder who Monet would go with. Seems all the guys are intimidated by her and although they all like her, no one has asked her to go to the formal yet. While those two are discussing dates, Emma and Sean are talking about what happened with Adrienne's attack on them. Emma explains that she truely doesn't know the reasoning behind it and never even knew Adrienne had psionic powers to create the illusion they were trapped in. She is certain that they haven't seen the end of her however. With that discussion going on, Chamber and Synch are on the other side of town getting tuxes for the dance while Skin is home talking to Artie and Leech about the way their powers affect them. (discolored skin and the outside world) It seems that both Chamber and Synch have dates, but Skin doesn't. When Chamber starts going on about Paige's date with Tristan, Synch interrupts and asks him to go one day without saying the name, "Tristan". Chamber's reply is, "Okay, We'll call him Rat Boy instead."

Later in a failed exercise in the danger room, the team learns that Robert Drake has shown up to teach an accounting class for the students. With a moments break, Jubilee asks Banshee if he'd asked Emma to the dance yet, Emma quickly counters back that she has a date, she ponders and then points to Iceman, much to Iceman's surprise. Later on, Monet goes downstairs to check on her sisters. (the two twins trapped in the Penance body) She finds Penance going bezerk, clawing and tearing everything up in sight. Monet assumes that the frustration of being trapped in the Penance body has finally gotten to them and she heads back upstairs thinking that seeing her all dressed up for the formal will only upset them more. The time finally arrives for the dance and people pour into Proudstar hall. Everyone is shocked however to see Monet on the arms of a odd texan-looking Angelo. He quotes that "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. Anyone can wear a tux, it takes a vato with brass ones to wear this." Just then Synch freezes and alerts Emma that he's caught a glimpse of Emplate in the room. Emma calls the kids to create a diversion to which Skin agrees and tackles Chamber in a mock fight. While the kids are distracted, Jubilee uses her firework power to set off the sprinklers and get the kids out of the room. With the humans gone, the kids take on Emplate and through the confrontation, they realize he's ill and that this was all a diversion, Penance is in the basement alone. Monet, Synch, Chamber and Iceman leave the team fighting Emplate and bust through the basement wall to help Penance fend off her 4 attackers, lackeys of Emplates who are called, Wrap, Vincente, Nocturne and DOA.

The fight seems to have ended quickly until they realize that Emplate has taken control of Jubilee, Paige, Banshee and Skin while they were fighting DOA and the others. They fight their own members, trying to break the spell but it isn't working until Synch manages to break Emplate's hold on Jubilee. She becomes furious and the next panel we see is Proudstar hall in the midst of an explosion. The smoke clears and we see the teens bashing away at the ice shield that Iceman had formed around the team to protect them. The only problem is that he wasn't able to get Emplate and Penance in the ice dome before the blast. The team searches and finds an unconscious Emplate and Sean finds Penance...she appears to be dead. Emma doesn't think so as she turns Banshee around to see the two twins standing behind him, released from Penance in the explosion. Later that night, Emplate is being taken care of while Tom Corsi tells Banshee and Emma that the humans have been told that it was an electrical fire that blew up the hall. No one knows what to do however with the Penance body that lies still on the floor. Elsewhere on campus, Tristan tells Paige how worried he was over her and she gives him a kiss for being so caring unlike some others. Further down the campus, Jubilee and Synch talk about each other for a bit until Synch starts going on about how beautiful Monet looked, much to the disappointed Jubilee. While everyone is doing their own thing, the once lifeless form of Penance begins to stir. Once fully awake and aware of her surroundings, she burrows like mad and escapes the campus grounds to roam the forest for freedom once more....

GENERATION X #58:
Story Title: "Something Wicked"
Story: Jay Faerber, Guest Pencils: Darick Robertson, Inks: Rod Ramos, John Czop
Characters in issue: White Queen, Banshee, Monet, Husk, Jubilee, Chamber, Synch, Skin, Penance
Guest Stars: M twins (Nicole and Claudette St. Croix), Ambassador St. Croix, Alpha Flight
Guest Villians: Emplate

The morning after the blast at the Acadamy and Synch and Banshee are talking about how the situation was dealt with the human students. On their way to the med-lab, they are shocked to find that while Emplate still remains unconscious in his bed, Penance's body is longer there and there is a huge hole in the wall. Banshee immediately alerts the White Queen as to what has happened. Telling Emma that Penance apparantly ran into the woods, Emma is startled to find a bloodied human stagger out of the bush into her jogging path. "The situation just got a lot worse." is all she can manage to reply.

Elsewhere on campus, Monet is reuniting with her sisters and discussing the Penance body when out of the blue, their father steps into view. He's ecstatic to find his children alive and well but is interrupted by the White Queen running past them. Monet stops her but can't get a straight answer from her as to what she was in a hurry for. Later we find the team (minus Monet) gathered for a meeting in full war gear. Paige is defending Penance, there is no proof Penance is the one resposible, but the team heads out into the woods to track Penance all the same. Back at the campus, Ambassador St. Croix is arguing with Monet that he needs to make peace with his son Marius, AKA: Emplate. He feels bad for neglecting him and Monet protests that he's "a vicious creature who doesn't deserve human compassion." All the while the gang are in the woods, they are suddenly in the midst of an unnatural landslide. Monet and her father make their way to the infirmary when Emplate awakens and quips with Monet before telling his father what had happened to their mother. It turns out that while his father was out with the girls, his favorites, he started to feel sick, his palms itched and his stomach was in knots. His mother tried to help him but it was too late, he mutated to the genetic vampire known as Emplate and sucked the genetic life from his mother. He literally killed her with his own two hands.

Above the woods, a flying Banshee spots an overturned trailer on the road. Whatever was in it has escaped and is running loose. Before he can tell Emma about it, the creature finds them. It's a huge Sasquatch that overpowers the teens. Just as they are being pummeled, Penance leaps from the trees and after an intense battle, appears to be the victor. Banshee brings back an armed soldier and after learning that it was a real sasquatch being transported to be examined in a Boston lab, Emma telepathically makes the soldier call off the hunt and retreat. Banshee gets in contact with Alpha Flight, being a friend of the "Sasquatch" and all, he feels they'll deal with this situation appropriately. After the beast is taken away, the team turns to Penance, what does she want to do? "Home" is answer she scrawls into the base of a tree and a relieved team takes her back to the Acadamy. Back at the Acadamy however, another surprise is waiting. Monet's father is upset on how he failed his son. He wants to prove to Monet that he is dedicated to his children and tells Monet that he is listening to her. She had said earlier in her first enrollment at the Acadamy that she'd rather attend other schools. To a shocked Monet, he tells her that he has withdrawn her from the Massachusetts Acadamy.

GENERATION X #59:
Story Title: "Artie and Leech's Day Off!"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Inks: Rachel Dodson
Characters in issue: White Queen, Husk, Chamber, Synch, Skin, Artie and Leech
Guest Stars: Tom Corsi, She-Hulk, Spiderman, New Warriors, The Avengers, The Black Panther
Guest Villians: The Sandman

The teens are on a day trip and are looking around the Museum of Natural History. Emma thinks the kids could use this to take their minds off of things, especially after Sean and Jubilee had to go to Westchester after the bad news about Wolverine. (see Uncanny X-Men #375) Artie and Leech immediately get bored and decide to change forms with their image inducers and sneak away from the group to explore New York! Emma makes the group split up and they head out to look for the missing duo.

Artie and Leech decide to get a hold of Franklin, their friend from the Fantastic Four, but can't reach him by phone. Paige and Jono are paired together to find the two, and with all the friction between the two, they are frustrated! Synch and Skin are fairing no better and talk about how Synch wants to meet his idol, the Black Panther. Oh well, meeting the She-Hulk isn't too bad either! Emma is searching for the two with Tom Corsi. She is clearly upset and they start a conversation about how Tom didn't want to work with her when he first arrived. He still remembered how evil she was when she lead the Hellions, but he believes that she's changed since then and she do what's right for the kids. Across town, Artie and Leech arrive at the scene of a battle between Spiderman and the Sandman. Clearly being beaten, the two use their image inducers to confuse Sandman into thinking there are 3 Spiderman's. A distracted Sandman gets beaten by the real Spiderman as the two trickers run off again. Back to the gang, Skin and Synch hail a cab, only to have it taken by the New Warriors (in civilian clothes that is..). While Paige and Jono are talking, they get distracted by two guys, of what appears to be members of the Backstreet Boys, run by with a mob of girls chasing them. Hiding in an alley, it turns out that the two guys were Artie and Leech having a little fun! Next they decide to turn into Sue and Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four and take a cab to Avengers Mansion. While there, they change into Thor and Captain America and ask to be let inside. They don't get far as traps capture them and the REAL Thor and Captain America step outside to see who the imposters are. The boys admit to them that they were bored and couldn't find their friend Franklin, so they pretended they were super-heroes. Asking who they should call to get them a lift home, they say to call Emma Frost. This strikes a sour note with Firestar, a former member of Emma's Hellions.

Later we find the whole team at the Mansion ragging out the two. Firestar pulls Emma aside and yells at Emma, absolutely furious that anyone whould allow Emma to teach more students. Emma explains how she's changed, Firestar is reluctant to agree with her, but she is more understanding. She says she'll give her the benefit of the doubt, but if she hears of her messing with other children's minds, she come after her and bring the entire Avengers team with her. Eventually the teams settle things and they head out to go back home. At that moment, after all the frustration the team had gone through, the Black Panther leaps away overhead to which Everett announces, "Yes! The Black Panther! Artie...Leech... you guys gotta run away more often!"

GENERATION X #60:
Story Title: "Christmas Fear"
Story: Jay Faerber, Pencils: Terry Dodson, Inks: Rachel Dodson
Characters in issue: Banshee, White Queen, Jubilee, Husk, Chamber, Synch, Skin, Penance, Artie and Leech, Monet
Guest Stars: Tom Corsi
Guest Villians: Cordelia Frost, Black Tom Cassidy, Juggernaut

Someone is running through the woods by the Acadamy with someone hot on her heels, she's scared to death. Outside the school however, the students are having a nice winter afternoon indulged in a snowball fight. They're having fun until they notice Penance in the background, she's carved a human shaped snow sculpture! Who is this person? While the GenXers are confused, Banshee is having a boxing match with Tom and is pretty frustrated considering the attack on his daughter by Feral. Another who is frustrated is the White Queen when she finds that someone has left a folder full of pictures on her desk. These pictures are members of a team calling themselves, "the New Hellions", copying Emma's old team she lead when she was evil. So much for the Christmas season, everyone is frustrated! Penance leaves the team in a hurry as she was watching the team wrap presents for their loved ones. Jubilee can't help but feel sad for her seeing that they don't know anything about her and the only one who does is Monet...good luck trying to get her to help Penance out.

At a boarding school in the Swiss Alps, Monet is missing her teammates. Her roommate comes in and drags her away from her worries to another friends room to hang out and use a Quija board. Problem is the door is locked and Monet is picking up signs of panic behind the door. As she forces the door open, it turned out their friend was attacked! Meanwhile back at the Acadamy, the group is in for a shock as none other than a hysterical Cordelia Frost crashes through the window! She collapses unconcious on the floor. The teens rush into their costumes and head out onto the grounds to find her attacker. They didn't need to look too far as a bricked body crashes into them. The rest of the team rush out at the noise and are attacked by a...snowman? No wait, it's wooden now...this looks to familiar to the team. Banshee lets out a sonic wail and is shocked when the form returns to normal....it's MONDO! But he was killed by Bastion in GenX #25, wasn't he? Cordelia rushes out begging for them to kill him, but all is interrupted as Black Tom Cassidy and the Juggernaut step into view...