![](https://cdn.marvel.com/u/prod/marvel/i/mg/3/90/591477ebe5312/clean.jpg)
Marvel, get your shit together. The (very good) Sabretooth one-shot takes place right after Uncanny X-Men #328, but is published a month before it–thus the one-shot spoils a pretty significant fight from the X-Men issue.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/0ccae680590dcc0df31e3865933b0295/e543dd87e42cef28-2d/s250x400/e34fdcb1049ab411ecc8edd2fe4d077b1d7e39f0.jpg)
In X-Men #328, Professor X finally gives up on trying to rehabilitate Sabretooth and invites Agent Valerie Cooper to take him into custody. But of course he escapes.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/801fdfd7a5ce7ca7badda0ed63f6cf5a/tumblr_obx2x0k20l1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
Not through brute force but by taunting Boom-Boom until she attacks him and inadvertently unchains his bonds.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9444527c07db0bf1bf5b44f3d6b8453/tumblr_obx2yyVkbC1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/bb330306f3ba78507341deda153c328d/tumblr_obx318zAwd1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/60873bcbf7ab9629874cf304d5ddad29/tumblr_obx345vaLv1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
Once he is out, Psylocke rushes to contain him.
![](https://hoomahmoos.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/classic-fight.jpg)
Boom Boom can’t join in because she already used her power to lash out at Creed–and she needs time to recharge.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/66d8edca12ba9032de6ebf19ae30aebe/tumblr_obx38hv3Rb1uvxc4ro1_1280.png)
And so she is powerless and has to watch as Sabretooth he cuts Psylocke open.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/e479799843ac3e88d72de1b63cf7c807/e543dd87e42cef28-99/s1280x1920/7eefe6c9bd3d1dde91d3b5f0040fa803a886556d.jpg)
From there, we move to the Sabretooth one-shot, which has art by the great Gary Frank.
It’s basically The Fugitive, but with Creed.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/sabretooth-681x1024.png)
It even starts with him running through the sewer.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/c7478b322c51941a9b44285b3831aa1e/5875665747fe73cf-b1/s500x750/9a48e2e04d6012bb81de4eef8827a378ec405055.jpg)
It’s a simple story–a chase–but lots of fun. In the above (and below) sequence, he slashes Archangel’s steel wings, which will (thankfully) lead to Angel getting his original feathered wings back.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/sabretooth-angel-657x1024.png)
The story actually ends with Sabretooth’s death. But, not, of course he’s not really dead. His body is taken away by Val Cooper.
All this is a pretty standard ‘X-Men’ romp, so I only have a couple of things to say about it: 1) As delighted as I was to see the ball get rolling on the return of the Angel’s natural wings, I am still lost on how Sabretooth managed to shred that razor-wing without losing a few of his own fingers! Archangel’s razor-wings are just stupid-sharp- they have been seen to rip open armored cars and bank vault doors- and Sabretooth’s fingers are fearsome, to be sure, but they are ultimately just flesh and blood, versus deadly-sharp razors!! Even to this day, looking at that panel just gives me the skeeves!! At the very least, healing-factor or NO healing-factor, Sabretooth should have required serious medical attention after that stunt! Second point: Psylocke in the spotlight! My Darling! May her fashion-sense never go Politically Correct! But, if there’s one woman in the ‘X-Verse’ who could-possibly- bounce her out of my bed, it’s Valerie Cooper!! Wow! What a dish! Doctor Cooper is the whole package! Which means, she’s probably on track to DIE!!!! C’mon, Marvel- show a little originality, and let her hang around for a while! I know she’s the definitive “Claremont Chick”- I’m willing to forgive her for that! Just let her hang around! X-celsior!