Colossus poses for a calendar.
Since the beginning, the X-Men have been a family of sorts, especially given that many of them are rejected by their biological families when their mutant nature manifests, so it’s been very strange that they have been “playing dead” in Australia, allowing their loved ones like Kitty Pryde and Colossus’ own, biological sister Illyana believe that they’re dead.
By breaking stuff and looking strong.
He does this for several pages—very solid character work. And his teammates are worried about him.
Gateway, the aborigine character who has been silent so far and who has kind of been hanging around where the X-Men are hiding out, without revealing whether he is friend, foe, or indifferent, then uses his powers to open a dimensional portal and shows that Illyana is in Limbo trying to use magic to resurrect her “dead” brother.
So Colossus goes to her. She thinks her spell worked and he’s back from the dead, and he allows her to think that.
The two of them then team up against the ongoing Limbo nemesis of S’ym.
In the end, Magik “undoes” her conjuring and allows Colossus to be “dead” again.
Colossus is sad when he gets back, but his sketchbook gets hit by lightning.
Colossus thinks it was Gateway–further showing how the team is suspicious of Gateway–but it was Storm.
This issue falls smack in the midst of Claremont’s “burnout” phase, which resulted in Marvel taking him off the job for several years. And it shows. This tale meanders, with too many characters doing nothing at too many times. I really have no interest in watching the X-Men- or anybody else- do their dishes. I hate doing my own dishes-why would I cough up good cash for an ever-increasingly expensive product, just to watch them wash their dishes?? Colossus spends too much time flexing on the beach, etc. I don’t care how talented a “necromancer” little Illyana is becoming, there is an old saying that holds true here, which is supported by our Bible: Never, never, NEVER bother the DEAD. Not for ANY REASON. EVER. No matter how “cool” it sounds or looks to do so. The only “snaps” I can give this issue- or any issue of the Claremont “burnout” phase- is to Rick Leonardi’s excellent pencilwork. Boy, does he draw a beautiful Storm. Those legs. Unfortunately, it takes more than great artwork on beautiful women to make a comic-book-especially a Marvel comic-book-successful. I’d give this effort a “C”, myself.