1987 - Uncanny X-Men Annual #11

Uncanny X-Men Annual #11

1987

“ Lost in the Funhouse”

Writer - Chris Claremont

Artists - Alan Davis and Paul Neary



This classic X-Men tale kicks off with a drunk and rowdy Wolverine making a scene at Professor Xavier’s School. Although with his healing factor, he’s having difficulties remaining as drunk as he’d like.

His best efforts still don’t dull the pain of the anniversary of the wedding he never had with Mariko. It’s a heart-wrenching scene with Wolverine struggling with his honour and desire to be with Mariko and his respect for Mariko who feels she can only be with him once she’s proved herself worthy of him.

Wolverine isn’t able to wallow in self-pity for long as a being known as the Horde attacks the mansion and easily defeats the X-Men.

Horde “recruits” the X-Men to break into a place called the Citadel of Light and Shadow to steal the Crystal of Ultimate Vision. The team enters the Citadel and the building itself taps into their fears and insecurities, putting each of them to the ultimate test.

Wolverine and Storm are the only two to make it to the Citadel’s inner-most chamber where they decide to try and grab the Crystal before Horde shows up. However, Horde anticipated their betrayal and kills Wolverine before he can reach the Crystal. But, a single drop of his blood splashes onto the Crystal and Wolverine rebuilds himself thanks to the Crystal which exponentially enhanced his healing factor.

The Crystal reveals Horde’s weakness and Wolverine defeats him. Wolverine resists the urge of the Crystal’s ultimate power and destroys the Crystal.

The X-Men find themselves back at the mansion while the Citadel rebuilds itself and we learn that it was simply a test. If a species passes this test, their race is permitted to evolve to their full potential. Interestingly, we see eternal guardians in the shape of the Skrulls and the Kree and can infer that these races have reached the end of their evolution.

This annual’s events occur between Uncanny X-Men #219 and 220 (Jul.-Aug 1987).

Alan Davis’ smooth and clean artwork captured one of my favourite versions of Wolverine. His art worked well for both Logan and his costumed alter ego.

Uncanny X-Men Annual #11 is a wonderful self-contained story with a lot of emotional energy and fun. Sadly, this was near the point I started to pull away from the X-Men as the Mutant Massacre event had disbanded my favourite X-Men team, one which would never be put back again. It just didn’t feel the same with Dazzler, Longshot, Psylocke, and Havok. One fun angle though that set the stage for the Excalibur series was the guest appearance by Captain Britain and Meggan.

If you can’t find the floppy, this story was reprinted in Essential X-Men Vol. 7, X-Men: Old Soldiers Trade Paperback, and the Captain Britain Omnibus.