![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/49117ca1b190a22550329049bb6a6007/tumblr_nvahnuYaMf1uvxc4ro1_1280.jpg)
I like that cover.
![img_1004](https://berkeleyplaceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMG_1004.jpg)
Today, the X-Men are associated with going to other worlds, but this story was the first time we started to see them as a group that would be tied, heavily connected, to space adventures.
In this story, Carol Danvers becomes a big part of the team’s storyline, and the group meets Rogue for the first time–the evil mutant who permanently stole Danvers’ Ms. Marvel powers in one of my all-time favorite comic books of the 1980s, Avengers Annual #10.
![](https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/d/d1/Avengers_Annual_Vol_1_10.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20080928055857)
Seriously, if you haven’t read this comic you need to find a copy and do it…Now. it’s drawn, by the way, by one of the least-remember, best artists of the 1980s: Michael Golden. And so Claremont ties his own Marvel Universe stories together–in this X-Men arc, he also included Ms. Marvel’s enemy, Deathbird.
It starts with Corsair arriving on Earth, pursued by a new alien weapon, the Sidrian Hunters.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_2203-936x1024.jpeg)
Actually, it starts with Storm and Cyclops playing handball.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/9459f64a0bb87cf7d26b0a0ee2d6b515/tumblr_nvamw6K1Le1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
Then, a crash landing.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ba0bf1218810ada47e9a5f6cbf6e44d/tumblr_nvamypjV7C1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
Corsair is pursued to Earth by the buggy guys on that great cover, above. The Sidri aliens.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/corsair-461x1024.jpeg)
The X-Men arrive to help.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/0ba7ac23f7e21224e7f214a7857726b7/tumblr_nvan7aYcFQ1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
After they kill a bunch of the buggy aliens, the aliens cluster together and form a giant spaceship.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Sidrian-Hunters--1024x522.jpeg)
After defeating it, Corsair tells them Lilandra is kidnapped and the X-Men need to go out into space to save her. Because the usurping leader of the Shi’Ar is going to destroy Earth.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/c94ff7f95f04ba6d9784428f47645308/tumblr_nvcefoAScW1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
This is when Scott learns that Corsair is his daddy–and he’s pissed because Storm knew and didn’t tell him.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/876eb5a572bb304c14a640eeef3b328c/tumblr_nvanylc7dl1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
The X-Men go off into space, teaming up with the Shi’Ar Imperial Guard.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/x-men-darth-vader-1024x619.jpeg)
Kitty Pryde finds a costume change machine.
The others try to get The Avengers’ help.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/tigra.jpeg)
Wolverine is not playful.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/rogue-kisses-wolverine.jpeg)
But he does get kissed by Rogue.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/brood.jpeg)
Deathbird and the Brood invade Earth.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/6fb3eab6a66dbbb33f4f942478f32dff/tumblr_nvcffv5J9j1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
And Colossus is almost killed.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d5bf579205279bf5996881a7716677/tumblr_nvcfj0G7B91uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
![](https://66.media.tumblr.com/34f601e2889ab37f0443c28a3491fc5b/tumblr_nvcfnbD9S31uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
The Brood are here to kidnap the X-Men and put their eggs in them, because as mutants they are capable of becoming hosts.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/bc054cbd9b983f22cafd15f04d41bf09/tumblr_nve8yj6khQ1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
Deathbird successfully kidnaps Professor X, and he’s taken to a prison cell with Lilandra.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/91fd318121bab7b4f26aa9a840e74667/tumblr_nve8mtk5iG1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
The X-Men/Imperial Guard get together and save them.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/dcdbabbe62f039aef8b5944716ca5a17/tumblr_nve984ivq51uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
During the rescue, Professor X is the “ball” in an odd sort of fastball special.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d3fc79cf6417a0b4b5f8e9cc583b98/tumblr_nvcfkstRok1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
Scott accepts Corsair as his father.
And throughout, we learn more about Carol Danvers, until X-Men #158 where Rogue–the mutant who stole her powers–and she’s allied with Mystique.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f563b7acb517eaf30787f761dec6c65/tumblr_nvi4b7vrwz1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
Danvers erases her own past, a symbolic way of “owning” what Rogue did by taking away her abilities.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/0941dc331062d1e12ed89faef52e93b6/tumblr_nvi4t1gvih1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
I can’t believe how great these stories were. And I can’t think of anything Marvel is doing right now that’s better. I mean, sure, there are comics that are much better written and some that have more realistic art, but in terms of a long story with character development, richness and depth? Who’s doing that these days?