X-Men Vol 1 118
The X-Men arrive in Japan aboard the ship Jinguchi Maru, where they find that the city Agarashima is ablaze with a great firestorm. The ship cannot dock at port due to the disruption, so the X-Men transport themselves to land. Wolverine reads a local newspaper and relates that most of the city was evacuated in advance of a strange and unnatural earthquake. Cyclops suggests they find their old ally Sunfire and see what they can do to help while at the same time contacting Professor X and letting him know that they are alive.
At that very moment, however, the Professor is aboard a starship en route to the Shi’ar galaxy headed to Lilandra's world, having decided to leave Earth because he believes the X-Men to be dead.
In Japan, Storm creates a mist to enable the X-Men to sneak into the Yashida estate. But they are exposed when Sunfire creates a flare. The team is surrounded by soldiers and Sunfire orders them to surrender. There is a short but tense confrontation, which is halted when Misty Knight shows up and tells Sunfire that the Prime Minister wants the X-Men's help.
Meanwhile, a freight truck pulls up near to the Yoshida estate. The driver alerts his partner that they strike at Midnight.
In a conference with Cyclops, the Prime Minister and Colleen Wing, Sunfire demands (in Japanese) that the Prime Minister allow him to deal with the crisis alone and not allow Misty, Colleen or the X-Men to interfere. Despite his angry demands, the Prime Minister does not change his decision much to Sunfire’s chagrin. Unable to follow the conversation, Cyclops searches for a phone to can call Professor, so he can relate that they're still alive and that (as far as he knows) Jean and Hank are dead. Lost in thought about Jean, Cyclops is unaware of Colleen eyeing him while thinking how attractive he is.
Cyclops finds Misty on the phone (to her boyfriend Iron Fist). When Misty is done, Cyclops calls the school and is surprised to find that the phone has been disconnected. When Cyclops tells Banshee that they need to check back on the mansion, he's told that Colleen is looking for him.
Outside the estate, the two truckers unlock their hauler, revealing armored suits.
In the estate’s gardens, Wolverine comes across young Mariko Yashida. The gentle woman is at first frightened by Wolverine's sudden appearance, but she’s made easy by the fact he is able to speak fluent Japanese and knows much about their culture. The two begin to bond when suddenly the palace is struck by another earthquake.
Wolverine takes Mariko to safety as the other X-Men and residents run out of the house. In reality, the house is being attacked by a platoon of soldiers dressed in Mandroid armor. Sunfire leaps to the P.M.’s defense, but is easily knocked out. The X-Men, however, take them out with relative ease, smashing their armor and preventing their escape. Colossus prevents the driver and his partner from escaping in their truck.
In the aftermath of the battle, a hologram of the Mandroid's leader appears, he introduces himself as Moses Magnum and demand that the government of Japan name him the ruler of the country in the next 24 hours or he will use his “magnum force” to sink the island of Japan.
This story is continued next issue...
Appearances
- Sunfire
- Mariko Yashida (First appearance)
- Daughters of the Dragon
- Crewman of the Jinguchi Maru freighter
- Matsunaga (First appearance)
- Captain Hama
- Osama (First appearance)
- Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda (First appearance)
- Tadeo (First appearance)
- Agama (First appearance)
- Amaterasu (Invoked)
Release Date
November 14, 1978
Cover Date
February 1979