Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”

X-Film II:

X-Men: X-Factor

❌-Elevator Pitch No. II:

The School for Gifted Youngsters and its Alumni are being pulled apart from warping to manipulation by the figures working in the shadows. The audience is pulled in, as they reflect on the television as a represents of agency, and in its reflections of their culpability. Leaving us with a lingering question of who will come together in the face of an ending of that which is written?

Fan Fiction ❌-Film Treatment Pitch No. II:*

*This film takes on a lot, and requires a deft handling of pacing for each scene. This require a balance of sitting in the pocket to cultivate clarity and emotional connections for the audience and editing of waste for narrative building of momentum and efficiency in traversing and pulling together the various plot strings into an ending that sticks the landing for this film as a stand alone and to set up a more streamlined experience in subsequent films. This is not a storytelling prototype. It is a slog, “yes,” and a narrative utility. One that should age well with repeated viewings, despite its initial unwieldy appearances. A means to an actual end. 

Act I:

Act I:

00:00:00

Summer, 1985;

Corner of E. Fayette St & Montgomery St, under the shadow of the Hill Building, Syracuse, NY, USA, Earth-616 (or any Upstate New York corner with gargoyles hovering over it):  A portal opens and out drops a humanoid male and what looked like an animal, perhaps a pet, into a relatively bustling day for an Upstate New York downtown. Longshot, chiseled delicate features, his battle ready three fingers and a thumb, blond mullet, is in his iconic proto Deadpool black leather (Han Solo utility belt/Indiana Jones satchel/Western bandolier/w/ signature Throwing Knives/sturdy bracing boots) METAL gear. His branded symbol, will mirror a star is on Spiral’s blade, an inspiration for Starbrand in the New Universe. Longshot’s left eye above it will shine when he uses some of his more abstract powers. He is not at all acquainted with the local costumes and a series of humorous fish out of water encounters, reveal a bit about his confusion and abilities. Especially his charm and charisma. As he extracts himself from unwanted attention, a result of his powers, he paradoxically becomes annoyed by manakins not being able to communicate. Ducking inside, the clerk, she tries to sell up to him and flirts with him, making him bashful and more confused. Pressured he chooses a trench coat, resulting in the classic comics moment where we get a joke about capitalism and he becomes a thief. “Is pure soul and spirit enough?” -Nocenti…Which leads him to the street to make a conspiracy theorist survivalist friend who takes him under his wing. Saying they are from the “same side of the tracks,” and complimenting him on his “fallout gear.” 

We see this is being viewed through a screen. We are viewing it, and there are three figures in it’s reflection that are back lit, so we can’t quite make them out; centered is a spineless floating blob, with what looks like a mechanical scorpions tail; Coming in and out of the shot are, a bipedal elongated form, and called into the shot is a multi armed female form with swards and a samurai looking headdress. The first figure seems to be taken aback by Earth, the appearance of mythical creatures (humanoids) as being potentially real, as the elongated form suggests as much. Upon hearing this the spineless one exclaims: “no! Impossible! They’re FAKE!” Calling in the multi armed woman into the reflected shot. He is unusually respectful to her. Actually asks what she wants to do here…and she states she has been cultivating a presence on Earth. The spineless one is at first perturbed, but then retroactively gives his blessing, twisting it, as if it was his idea all along. She dances and they both teleport away. Leaving lanky bipedal to mutter his displeasures.  His fingers press a button and the screen shifts to another world view. 

The Otherworld: Merlin moves a chess piece that looks like Longshot on a complex chess board, reminiscent of one Spock might be invested in. They play while lounging about a hot tub in a garden patio from mystical and other worldly designs. Merlin’s daughter Roma, places one that looks like Ronald Reagen. We can’t see their moves from there. We see in isolation Brian Braddock, Opal Luna Saturnyne, and Linda McQuillan pieces isolated on the board. Then Merlin rises from the water. Saying, “your move,” and then collapses towards the worms eye viewed camera. Glassy eyed in death. 

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. A cackle escapes its breath.

Roll Title Credits; hidden in them: “Stan Lee presents A MAN WITHOUT A PAST,” actual title: X-Men II; X-Factor.

Muir Island, Scotland, UK: BBC One Scotland plays, Brian is on the news talking about making the Manor more accessible and a utility to the UK, when local news is the next story.  Jaime Madox AKA Multiple Man, Sean Cassidy AKA Banshee, Moira McTagart, Tom & Sharon discus concern for the news report that seems to be Legion having a flair up at a bar near the docs in Ullapool, where Rahne was raised by a cult. Magneto is not in his office, and one of the Mutant’s hears a voicemail come in. Magic has concerns; “…I can teleport through space and time - - trouble is, I’ve been barely able to control it, since LA. I’m a demon sorceress, but those powers are virtually nonexistent on Earth, and anywhere they do work…their nature turns me to evil. Yet, without that part of myself, I feel incomplete. Hollow. Like being a painter, and deliberately making yourself blind.” But a portal opens and the students take a leap of faith.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “What, no dance?!”

DC: Reagan, the President, surprises Val in her apartment, revealing themselves to be Mystique, to pitch an exoneration for their team in exchange for government payroll positions.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. A back lit shadowed blobs form leaning in. 

Ullapool, Scotland, UK: The Mutants rescue Legion from himself at a bar…or was the Shadow King simply hiding in there, messing about, buying time. Xuân seems off. Coincidence?! Either way, afterwords, they connect with Lila in London, and Xuân decides to go with her to LA…Sam is in his feels. The rest of the students take a leap of faith, back home.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. A back lit shadowed blobs form leaning in. “Now that kids out of his gourd."

October, 1985; Graymalkin Lane, Salem Center, NY: Morning, groggy, chatter. Baby Nathan is playing on the kitchen floor of the School for Gifted Youngsters. Kurt is on the counter, observing, sipping coffee. Punkers: Ororo and Rachel, with Squares: Kitty & Maddy sit at the kitchen table. Sam leans against the door, half chattering and half telepathically communicating with Rachel, about Ororo’s quality as a teacher, Lila and Sam’s status, and his obvious crushing on Kitty in the moment. Sam is perpetually distracted by his flirty desires. Kitty is tinkering with Sam’s MAC II, which her hands are literally in. Phased. Rachel is giving him a deserved hard time. Ororo is sharing her perspective on Scott to Maddy, who is struggling with Scott. That’s Scott. He cares, but you can’t see it. Maddy is reasonable in asking for some proof. Kitty nearly lets slip that Rachel is Scott’s daughter with Jean from a different timeline, to Maddy; Nathen’s mother from this one, and wife to his father, Scott. Kitty is stopped by Rachel, who has invaded her mind, is monitoring it, and uses her telepathy and telekinesis to stop her this morning blabber mouthed from blowing up her spot. Telepathically the two future friends, who have their own surrogate Mother and Daughter relationship from Rachel’s timeline, banter a bit. Kitty, wonders were Rachel was, when Kitty used the N-word. And Rachel, has no interest in saving her friend from herself, in that sort of context. Hypothetically or not. The camera turns to Ororo, who states: “Whelp, let’s get on with this." She rises from the table and walks out.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. A scoff is heard.

The Otherworld entrance through Stanleigh, Cornwall, England, UK: As Brian and Linda part with the other Captains of the Corps who are expressing a change of heart, and apologizing to Brian; for what it really doesn’t matter to us here and now; the after party of Merlin’s funeral finds Roma asking what service she can provide to the remaining Captains. Brian speaks of his sister and his world, in this order. Linda questions Roma why Opal Luna is not with them in this moment. Roma, has already given her the gift of revenge. Roma calls her, "ruthless," which will feel like a kindness. Revealing Majestrix Saturnyne is returned to her position as head of the Omniversal tyranny.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Saucy minx.”

Salem Center, NY: Bellow the School for Gifted Youngsters, in the Danger Room control booth, a debate is happening. Magneto seems on Scott’s side. Logan is on Ororo’s and says Scott simply can’t do the job. Kitty calls out his bias. Ororo avoids a blast and grabs Scott’s visor while flipping mid air. The duel is over. He kneels. Ororo is team leader, and Scott is free to be a father to his child. A choice, he always had. He is consolatory on the outside and bewildered on the inside. Kurt is taken by Rogue and Piotr to the local hang out to check in, as a moment ago, he was the teams leader. Ororo and Logan are called away to Japan by Yukio. A voicemail from Xuân is left that is cryptic, casual, but eerie, it mentions “he” will be in LA. Who? Illyana hears the message and Sam, Rachel and her enters into a portal. Kitty, Magneto and the remaining Mutants are all that is left in the kitchen. Lockheed is board, so Douglock starts to play with him. They are cute. So Berto is annoyed.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Disgusting.”

Manhattan, NYC: We see a ticket to SFO, on a duffle bag, on a roof, with Daredevil AKA Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil senses, our Friendly Neighborhood Spidy flings through the skyline with Ftrestar and Iceman in tow, all waving at WWIII AKA Warren Worthington III AKA Angel, who is outside Dazzler AKA Alison Blaire’s apartment where the two are parting ways as friends, not lovers. The phone rings and Kitty is on the other line, wondering if she wants to get a bite after this speaking engagement she is attending. Ali says she is on her way out to LA to look for a gig. Rain check. Kitty hangs up the phone and transitions from the niceties of a call to a sullen sense of responsibility. Kitty enters a hall, and mingles, before giving a “never forget" dedication, accompanied by Magneto and his date, Aleytys. Aleytys reveals herself to be Mystique, who is accompanied by Freedom Force; Destiny, Alvalance, Blob, Pyro, a Spider-Woman, and Spiral. They take Magneto into custody, without much of an incident, out of respect, for Magneto is trying atonement and above all else has respect for his events that acknowledge we shale “never forget,” and his personal history as one who was in the Death Camps during WWII. He is accustom to being retained. 

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Look, their you are!”

Thendara, NY: Longshot is reflective, as he, a stranger to himself, rides in a strange truck, with a strange guide; he doesn’t know his own name. He has a sense of humor about the whole thing. Now being as introduced to Elliot’s underground bunker, while we are connected with Pup, who is the blur we saw appear in the moment Long shot appears to open the film, and seems to be tracking Longshot. Longshot is getting deep. What is it he really needs? Since he is a “clean slate.” “Love,” this question is perfect for ❌-Men, a romance comic story. “I’m scared. But I must have had dreams…” Instinctively he throws his blades at Pup. Who he seems to be noticing for the first time. Pup can talk. IN the bunker a story appears on Elliot’s screen. “What? That’s just a news story.” -Eliot Eliot reluctantly admits there is some truth in the news. And then reluctantly admits, “babies are innocent enough…I think…” and so reluctantly get with Longshot’s natural superhero instincts. And as they go down a hidden Batpoll elevator shaft under the bed situation…Eliot asks Longshot his name. And then the story reveals itself to be a horror story. As we are introduced to Hester, the mother of the kidnapped child. A young white woman, who looks the opposite of the Morlock mother who lost children in the previous film. As in any great 80’s horror film, sexuality and exploitation of female form is evident for the vibes. A blood splattered wrecked room. Chalk outlines. Evidence of a bleeding out corpse. A bloodied baby doll, missing an arm, left as a sign in place of an actual baby. Longshot is aware of his abilities. He says, “I’ll read the doll’s past and future.” He has Psychometry, the ability to read an imprint of the narrative the object is significantly apart of, per those who have left the imprint in the object. It’s a real fun aspect of Longshot. He can sense that Hester has a major bond with her child and that someone/thing else left a strong imprint on the doll. And so they follow the lead, because Hester only has crazy people willing to help her in her desperation. “They follow an invisible yet palpable trail…” Hester notices a change in the pallet of the environment. They are headed to an indigenous burial ground and Eliot is completely unselfaware, “there’s been all kinds’a metaphysical quack’s going there to search for secrets…”They avoid those “tracking” them, by Eliot having laid down traps. “I should have never followed a longshot…” -Eliot💭 They arrive through smelling the tracks at a windmill out of Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (not actually), and a light show ceremony with monsters on its roof top. We are introduced to troops from the Mojoverse, who are surrounding the place. A fight ensues. They sneak around, while Quark (a humanoid with a Ram’s head) claims Longshot, as his to take down. He knows him. Longshot flings a grabbing hook and does a high wire act across…not sure when they bring this up, but part of the reason beyond his “luck” (probability manipulation, and reality warp immunity) and superhuman speed, agility, reflex, stamina, regeneration, and beauty, he is able to perform like this is, he has hollow bones like a bird. It’s unclear how helpful Pup is…he takes credit for saving him from falling, but did he cause him to fall? Spiral is virtually naked, performing a ceremony over the baby wielding a wavy bladed knife. Longshot swings and tosses some sort of weapon at Spiral and the Mojo troops leader, Grog, who fade away, long enough to Longshot to place the baby in his satchel and leap for the high wire. Which catches fire, but he grapples it and swings to safety climbing up to the cliff top. The place is ablaze and the troops have faded away. Eliot names him Longshot. Longshot leaves them with personal messages of hope. Hester asks him to check in on the child one day. Eliot thinks he should get some money. “Money, huh?…” -Longshot

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Pain in the arse!”

The Rockies, Truchas, NM; our old friend Tessa Thompson’s Brunnhilde AKA King "Val" Valkyrie, is mounting Aragorn, pool side at WWIII AKA Warren Worthington III AKA Angel’s mountain side modernist château. The two meet in the air above the mountains before she flys off to further adventures. WWIII reflects. These are the final moments for The Defenders. As the attempts to turn it from a casual meeting of crime fighting necessity back in the days of Matt and friends, to a roommate situational comedy at the Walkers, turned sideways, when WWIII tried to make it a formal thing, having moved it from the Ceader St & Hautvale St, Montclair, Essex County, New Jersey headquarters, to a different timezone. They were spending more time at Sanctum Sanctorum on Bleeker St & Fenno Place in Greenwich Village, NYC, until Stephen and Wong, didn’t want to be a roommates or a team with them. Here and now, poor old Gargoyle was out on his arse, maybe he could go back and move in with old roomies, Patsy and Damian? It’s to bad about Misty, Milli and Ororo, not keeping their rent controlled apartment in NYC. Cloud’ Bobby’s queer love interest was in the wind. The nail in the coffin was Moondragon’s cosmic ego dabbling with mysticism beyond her abilities, leading her off Terra…maybe to meet up with GOTG. Leaving three founding X-Men. Two are packed and heading down the stairs. Candy is at her drafting table, jotting down a sketch before heading to the pool. WWIII sores into lift up a floating Candy in the pool. Construction workers, ogling Candy and hatting on the “Mutie,” fail safety protocols, and are dumped off the mountain side. Saved by their employer and his fellow mutants. The phone rings, and Candy grabs it and passes it onto WWIII. It’s Reed Richards. We witness what he speaks of:

Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn, NY: Monica Era Avengers and She-Hulk Era Fantastic Four work together to retrieve a sunken capsule, that repels Namor, but is able to be retrieved and by Sue Storm’s invisibility powers is revealed to contain, a Jean Grey, presumed dead.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Why can’t they just stay dead?”

Braddock Manor, Maldon, Essex County, England, UK: Meggan Puceanu appears as her youthful self, a form of fur, bat, and elfish, is in her own mind about the situations unfolding and her growing bond to Brian Braddock AKA Captain Britain of Earth-616. Her empathic powers are bringing her closer to him. The square, Brian is drunk, on the roof of the Manor, in his feels, melancholy and romantic in the nostalgic and artistic sense. Meggan approaches and it becomes clear they are having a moment. Their first...when Jeeves intervenes to announce the arrival of strangers. Bellow they overhear (although not with clarity for Brian’s condition). Below, Linda is there as a “photographer," RCX, lead by Gabriel and Michael, have with them an ace in up their sleeves. They are accompanied by a cast of characters, including Vixen’s cuck and Jennifer Vixen’s bull flank Vixen herself, with Jools & Simon in tow. Brian bonds off the roof. Peculiarly, Jarvis recognizes this and: "I advise caution.” ..is uttered as the leap to action commences. Meggan heads these words and proceeds with more caution and stealth, by way of returning the way she came. Brian is startled to see his twin in front of him. Betsy Braddock’s wide eyed look sweeting and haunting. She is accompanying Vixen and RCX, it seems, along with her teammates of psi mutants, including, Thomas Lennox, Kevin Mulhearn, Vicki Reppion, and Alison Double. Alison dryly, like death at your door, with sincerity: "I am very well, thank you, Brian.” Brian walks Betsy through their Manor, as they catch up. "How are you, Betsy?” Betsy: "I'm alive, Brian, for the moment.” They are greeted by Emma Collins and Jarvis. Brian is set to introduce Meggan, who has shifted to her comfortable place in front of the TV. Brian: "...but I'd better warn you, she’s..." Meggan energetically enters into the room, from the couch. Alison {telepathically}: "BEAUTIFUL. Like an iridescent butterfly.” Bets {telepathically...LIKE SHE IS BRIAN'S TWIN}: “WHAT?!” On cue...Brian: “A little unusual..."Alison {telepathically}: "her aura…” They pass the TV room where an eclectic bunch already occupy the couch and spill over onto the floor: Opal Luna Saturnyne, Fascination, Numbers, Legion, Wardog, Cobweb, Lady Burning Fish, Oxo, Zeitgeist, Ringtoss, Havanner, Sextant, Linda has walked out, as Brian goes after her, Opal Luna Saturnyne, Numbers, Legion, Wardog, Cobweb, Lady Burning Fish, Oxo, Zeitgeist, Ringtoss, Havanner, Sextant, Gatecrasher, Bodybag, China Doll, Hard-Boiled Henwy, Joyboy, Numbers, Ringtoss, Scatterbrain/Fascination, Waxworks, Yap, Elmo, Ferro, Pandora, and Paradok, are joined by Tom. Opal Luna Saturnyne winks at Linda, who has an expression of concern. Linda walks out, as Brian goes after her. Betsy gets a flash of what is on Vixon’s mind, when it comes to her brother and calls the narcissist vane sociopath dominatrix, Vixen a “hag.” Betsy needs a moment to settle into her home, and heads up stairs alone. Gabriel and Michael, pull Brian aside, to tell him about their concerns, away from Vixen and her people. They have reason to believe Vixen has infiltrated their operation as part of a larger plot that is being set out by political operatives attempting to take control of the government; set to fall into coup. They have brought with them, mutant children who will most likely be caught up in all this, and could end up in the clutches of a “Death Camps.” But unfortunately, Vixen and her henches came along. They are using the children as a manipulation to compel Brian's to join with them and become a symbol to protect their interests and save the UK from becoming a fascist state. Brian excuses himself, clearly not sober, and heads up stairs. On his way he finds Vixon’s henches and somehow warps their forms into grotesque death. Brian knocks on Bets door. She opens, and she is thankful for the rescue. Which turns into Brian trying to kiss his sister, and then changing forms from what seems to actually be Byron Bra-Dhok (Earth-794), to Vixen employee Slaymaster, to her older brother James Braddock Jr, to Jim Jasper. She defends herself all along, and while this is playing out upstairs we alternate events as downstairs Kevin and in the same instance Tom are disposed of, commencing a sequence of losses lives; Vicki, Wardog, Cobweb (this times), Legion (a), Ferro (this), Sextant, Havanner, Zeitgeist, Lady Burning Fish, and Oxo all perish. Alison, Tom, Kevin, Vicki, and Betsy share a psi link and this messes them up, but also Bets opens a link to Earth-616 Brian, which she had kept closed for his privacy, but now principles are out the window. Brian flys from the lighthouse. As Bets has seemingly murdered her attacker, after he has dug out her eyes. Brian arrives to late to save his sister. And then the corse folds into time and space. Outside the Warpies and Meggan had been left to deal with the murderous rouges, and through this emerges a Meggan that reflects hers and Brian’s ideal self.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Yuk.”

Anchorage, Alaska, USA: A rural large log home, a Madelyne holding a baby Cable. A pile of logs, a man in to tight pants, and a pink triangulating shape diagonally exploding the vibe is visceral still. Madelyne: “Congratulations, Mister Summers! You’ve just successfully showed those trees who’s boss in this family!” TV says that Sen Kelly’s Anti-Mutant Bill is still going through legislative processes. Maddy is pissed and she asked for him to help parent…and he is like “No Problem!” It’s been avoidance central and a massive problem. A statement of the legislation requiring mutant registration and then Scott’s of “they can’t do that.” Scott: “It’s not that simple.” Spending time presenting Madelyne’s side, through her voice, clarity comes. At this point it is clear that she is the one who is seeing things for what they are and is a grounded relatable person. Including the obvious…she looks like Jean. Scott tries to bottle it up. We have quieted moments of peace, provides that sense of living, sitting in the moment. A look of loss in thought. A desire to not be scene, but clearly being scene by a loved one. At a moment of realization, love is slipping away as this is the impasse that has been moving all along. Naming what is and knowing the process is not at end or beginning. Recognizing it just is. Scott’s presentation of an apology housed in once again a false proclamation, Maddy asks for him to answer the phone as she tends the actual work on hand…he is drying a dish. We feel for Maddy in multiple ways. Scott doesn’t even say the name…he just “I got to go!” Who left her, silent desperation, heart ache, rage, resolute. 

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “So dramatic!”

Malibu, CA: After a multi-dimensional and distant teleportation that seem to be effecting Illayna, she, Sam and Rachel arrive in front of Lila’s and maybe she can help them connect with Xuân. GUIDO CAROSELLA answers the door. Ali is there, looking for a gig. Lila doesn’t know about all this, but Ali is sharing a story about the Gladiators, and how she and Hank (our Beast) got caught up in some local hippy cult turned death cult, lead by a Dr. Doom poser/potential son (there may be some direct Sceret Wars references here).  They have these shows as part of an exclusive club, some sort of gladiator area for folks from the The Hills and the underground scene. It’s where the underbelly and the exclusivity of LA mingle. Xuân’s social status and foot in both worlds may find her there. The voicemail from Xuân has Kitty attempting to track the disappeared Magneto to perhaps, So Cal. If it turns into something she may have to hop on a plane to Japan. This is the only lead, she assumes after Freedom Force captured him, the government, meaning Val, handed him over to their lawyer James Jaspers. She suspects for a covert small room preceding. She heads to Lila’s in Malibu for help. Finding Lila, has company; Ali, Sam and her best friend Illyana. The gang gets dressed for the scene, a punk vibe, and finagles their way in. They use Ali’s return as a cover. Ali has finagled her way into being showcased for the crowed, a pop up concert. As she performs, we see The Hand seems to be providing security, but not only that The Beast (not Hank) Krahllak has turned this into his own exclusive show case, which seems odd, as he usually works from the shadows. In the prisons bellow the arena, Lila, Kitty and Illyana find a scene with Magneto at its center, a shell of himself. And witness Linda McQuillan of Earth-238 and Magneto, occupying the same space, but backs turned, seem to be in to different universes, as they both mutter about “Death CAMPS.” Opal Luna Saturnyne of Earth-238 occupies Linda’s space, has had enough:"For God's sake HELP them! YOUR'RE a super-woman!” and presses, coaches, shrinks Linda McQuillan through her feels. Linda: "No! Leave me ALONE!,” as the garments come off, the pants being the major sticking point, Saturnyne"and no man shall aid you!”…until all that is left is her suit. Linda is Captain U.K. Finally she must place the helmet on her head. She is Captain UK. She has done it now. The two women acknowledge Lila, Kitty and Illyana, and implore the two girls and the woman to do their part and create the place they need to address the problem in this setting, Jim Jasper. Kitty encourages the two teleporters to work together and phases away through a wall; she has The Hand to deal with. 

Reflection shifts as source nearly changes on the viewing screen. “Wait, I’m watching that!”

Jasper has been warping what is around him. In fact it becomes clear that the normal operations of the arches all seem to be warped and the events of what is happening seems to be not as it would be if Jasper was not there. Ali and Sam end up in conflict on the arena floor with Krahllak. But there is a shadowy figure who seems to be running the show, and Sam slams into their box seat to reveal it is a changed and enlarged Xuân. Illyana and Lila work together to pass Jasper through time, space and dimension and drop him into nothingness, where there is nothing to warp and his is left to be nothing himself. Kitty by then has join with Sam and Rachel to help counter Krahllak and rescue Xuân from the influences of the Shadow King. As Xuân embodies the Shadow King themselves, Rachel is enough of a threat to entice The Shadow King to enter into Krahllak who escapes despite Kitty’s trained efforts.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Delightful.”

Waldorf Astoria, Park Ave, Midtown, Manhatton, NY, USA: Reed Richards and the fantastic car take off. We now know Jean Grey is alive. Keeping in mind, we don’t know who Jean Grey is. Like at all. We are left with Warren and contemplation we are not often afforded with him. As trying as it is for him. We learn he feels responsibility, insight, and conflict. We learn he takes his time. Has a process. We know now he understands his friend Scott. He cherishes his marriage, in one hand, more than Scott does it might seem. He also has repressed and will continue to repress feelings of romance for Jean. Perhaps not doing Candy, Jean, Maddy, Scott or himself any favors. The privilege turned tragedy that is WWIII is deepened in this moment. Scott is being escorted by a security force in the Waldorf-Astoria up to a fully X-Men/Defenders Era costumed Angel. Then through a door to his heart, who has been told nothing. That has been left to him. We see Jean…looking classy. She is in his arms. She is resisting his confusion and boundaries.  Jean: “who else loves you this much?” Scott is not equipped at all for a moment like this. These two have known each other intimately since 1963…here we are November of 1985 and he is crying in her presence for the first time. Jean: “Now that we’re back together things will be just like they used to be!” (We absolutely do not need to see this again…those Fox films exist and the comics do too!). This is getting uncomfortable. Warren pops in because…uncomfortable is what we do in the ❌-Men. Scott’s assessment: “Ah…yes. Wonderful.” Warren begins to try and share Reeds explanation, a few critical clarifying facts come out, but mostly the narrative is cut off by; Scott interrupts with, “I was there!” And Warren is like chill dude. Warren is basically, Phoenix was such a great copy of Jean she killed herself because that what the right human thing to do was…that’s what Jean would have done. So we are supposed to trust this is Jean and not just another clone?…Scott has one already in Alaska. And a real baby. Where is……her body healed but not her telepathy. Jean: “Oddly enough…my telekinetic powers have been increased dramatically by the experience!” “Mutantkind is almost on the verge of extinction!” Ulp Scott is downplaying. And Jean is ready to act…apparently the Avengers are her source for the interpersonal dynamics at the School…so Maggie being the head and Chuck being gone are nonstarters for Jean. Jean is appalled at Scott’s apathy…And now she is about to get a taste of Warrens nuances have lead him to enjoying life. Warren is like…I hung up my tights…as he is wearing his tights. Jean: “WHAT?” Jean tries to get Scott to support her…and Scott is like actually, my arse got handed to me by a depowered Ororo so I get where Warren is coming from. We kinda suck at this!And Jean is like…wait…you actually tried working with Maggie…like as a teammate?! Scott: “Well…I…” Jean invokes Chuck’s supposed dream…as her powers…have about Jean go out the window Jean: “- - I’m not going to stand around twiddling my thumbs while our kind is totally wiped from the face of the Earth!” Out the wall…as it has been blown to rubble revealing a huge window with pink furniture flying through. Jean in an effective power stance with powers enacted. Jean floats out and around…then boys are boys…”confused” Warren has a goal…fly after her Warren eagle eyes and wings track Jean down. They are cooking up something. 

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; Hank is interviews and rejected for an academic and research position for the fifteenth time, in which they openly sight bigotry towards mutants, because lawsuits were not a concern in this context, and so he wonderfully strips out of his shirt and the hairball jumps out the window onto a revolutionary or civil war figure and is approach by course, Cameron Hodge. Beginning the building of a case that as wonderful comparatively WWIII is, he is THE ENABLER, and struggles with boundaries designed to protect himself from his friends and his peoples. His privilege is possible at the root of both these hypothesis.

Empire States Building, Lower East Side, Manhattan, NYC; A call comes through, and then Bobby Drake, makes quick call to Peter and Angelica, before gleefully leaves his desk at Harras, Anderson, and Brown freezing the water cooler and streaks in ice as he leaves everything behind. 

The Lower East Side, NY: Along the waters edge. Beast gives her his patented hug lift its been to long greeting…in this case…thought you were dead. And that’s when Jean and Warren spring there, we have a plan…but we need Scott’s news. Which is basically the opposite of what they need and the opposite of what Warren last told Bobby and Hank about life going forward.

Jamaica Bay, Brooklyn, NY: Sunset, where Jean “died” and Scott thinks his problems started…Scott looks like he has been standing there longe enough to have a a five o’clock shadow and has his shades. Hank and Bobby who really only care about getting the band back together after the reality of bigotry and the mundanity of passing for assimilated had clarified what “joy” is…they are exactly the tool Warren and Jean need to catch a fish. And so, in a way they save Maddy from a pathetic excuse for a Dad and husband Scott. 

The Lower East Side, NY: The band is back together. For better or worse. What is billed as the most important meeting of their lives happens. Lead by Warren and his “public relations representative” Cameron Hodge. The most boring person is interrupted to Hank can estimate it is a similar sales pitch to Chuck. So lame…and effective. He brakes it down to ‘locate and somehow gain trust of the growing population of mutants in everyday society. After providing them with the necessary training to control their…um (do not trust this guy)…gifts we can return them to society to live quiet, safe, productive lives.’ He goes on to say in his personal expertise on PR as a corporate stooge they have developed “a viable system for defusing the problem of mutant hysteria by turning it upon itself!” Scott’s again impatient as he co-wrote the manual. Hodge continues: “Our organization will capitalize on human beings’ distrust of mutants by posing as mutant deterrent agency.” For the record it is Bobby and Hank that are alarmed and vocalized this immediately. A bit novel, that the branding of the agency is ❌-Factor. That really we are buying the cover story. The bigoted propaganda. Also, Hodge has already been airing and distributing ads, before the team even assembled. Which was Summers turn to have a reaction again. Warren’s jet is already branded red with ❌ on the wings. Jean: “…there is more. There’s something about Scott no one is telling me. He’s always been so withdrawn, but I always thought he’d turn to me.” Jean: “So why do I feel so alone? Why does it seem there’s no place for a Marvel Girl in this brave new world?” She has been and is isolated on this team. She is objectified, loved, respected, desired, misunderstood, a tool, a guide, a mother, a daughter, a wife…she is as many women find themselves…asked to morph and be what her male partners have designed as a need. Sexy WWIII is in his embossed bathrobe, drinking coffee…Scott wants space, fully clothed for the day…cranky in the background. Warren as the best OG ❌-Men is simply offering advice. Scott is defensive and stuck. To Warren it is simple: you have responsibilities to your wife and baby…communication is minimal…being present is actual. Scott is like, but love?! WWIII and Cam meeting in hallway (the snoop). Bobby and Hank are apartment hunting, as Bobby just gave up ret control with Peter and Angelica, and the messages for ❌-Factor are like: “Ronald Reagan is a mutant and I can prove it!” 

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Hah.”

Osaka, Japan: Ororo has a rendezvous with a flight at the Narita International Airport out of Tokyo to SFO late this evening. The plan was a restful night and then a train. Only problem is her trip has been sidetracked the the heart, Yukio, and The Hand’s internal war in Osaka. Ororo has been saying for days now, this is none of her business, and Yukio has been responding, “oh Kinki,” a flirty and lovingly as possible, as they get deep and deep into this quagmire. Which has brought them to the rooftop of this bar, where a body has just been thrown through its wall onto the street, and a drunk Logan is about to make a their mess far worse. Logan had some loose ends with Mariko’s estate, and his lack of any part of it. Now he was in his feels. Luckily, Kitty has tracked them all down, and has an extraction plan, being practically local at this point in her young life. They make the flight and Amanda, happens to be their flight attendant. Kitty divulges why she showed, Magneto, Xuân, Ali, Shadow King, Krahllak, The Hand, death cult…it’s a whole thing.  Elketra, is on the flight and overhears.  At the airport in SFO, Elektra is seen taking a flight to San Concepcion.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Death Cult. Yes, more please!”

East Village, Manhattan, NY; Rainy morning, Hank is equating living in the ❌-Factor building to living in the Avengers Mansion…”no private life at all.” Bobby notes: “yeah, but you at least had Jarvis…” They get splashed, only Bobby reacts by freezing the water…Hank: “Bobby! Are you crazy!” Bobby: “I was just doing what comes naturally.” Hank has lead them to a bit of a surprise. His ex’s, Vera’s. Bobby: “…never understood what you see in that conservative librarian type.” In the foreground they are being watched by a guy who looks like he might be unhoused. Also looks like he is Tower. Now Vera has changed a bit. And both these two…squares These two dumb arses conversation is adorable: w i s p e r e d t o n e Hank: “brainwashed by aliens?” Bobby: “nope” Hank: “drug overdose?” Bobby: “doubtful” Hank: “Vietnam flashback?” Bobby: “unlikely” Hank: “shhhh! She’s coming!”Vera: “…D.R.I…” Vera: “Have you ever listened to lyrics like this?” Hank: “E-very day!” Bobby: “Likewise” lying. Tower walks across the street; enters Vera’s apartment building; shrinks, exiting his trench coat; crawls under the apartment door. Vera, turns problematic as we are colonizing: “I opened my own bookstore on St. Marks Street! It specializes in Left-Wing music and literature (a bit on the nose) FROM SOUTH AMERICA” Vera: “I think it will catch on very soon now!” Hank: “I-I suppose so Vera!” Bobby: “Hey Vera, ya got any Mercedes Sosa albums? She’s terrific in expressing the plight of the peasant class under totalitarian oppression!” Bobby : “Boy! This is gonna be great! Heh-heh!” Vera: “…Bobby! Just come by the store! I give a special discount to politically aware mutants!” As Bobby enjoys his win…the room shakes. Cue absurdist villain’s self proclamation self undermining introduction. Tower: “I’ve looked for you a long time, Furball! Now get ready to be smashed by TOWER!” Smashing the doorway and wall he was just crawling through all tiny. So dumb…love it. Hank: “Holy…” Bobby and Vera get dumped out of the scene. Tower has real fight with Beast, but within a minute it’s over. Tower wraps up Furball and stuffs him in a hoopty with a balled evil scientist in the drivers seat.

The Lower East Side, NY: Scott realizing he is a tool and everyone is right. As he gets over himself, he makes the call. Disconnected. Was Scott the first person to get Ghosted?! Scott: “I HATE IT!” He blows up (MURDERs) the landline. 

East Village, Manhattan, NY; “❌-Factor” shows up at the apartment to investigate a mutant situation. Scott: “Are you all right, Mr. Drake?” The hunt for Hank is on. Vera is FINE. Thanks for asking. 

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “D.R.I…add it to the list.”

Fall, 1985;

01:00:00

San Francisco: A backlit silhouetted Ororo surrounded by back alley trash, mostly papers informing a sense of wind…Ororo has nothing to do with this. It’s just mother Earth. We could be in any number of cities of the world, as the neon Japanese lettering leads to assumptions. To the right of the glow of the light source are the X & DD office and bullpen cartoonist creators names all tagged on the brick wall. Camera lingers for readability one more tag on the ally wall; we see: FREEDOM IS A FOUR LETTER WORD! San Francisco. A date is saved by Ororo, SFPD Lt. Bree Morrel, and some of SF’s finest. The posers scatter like rats. Morrel: “I don’t care what they say, welcome to San Francisco.” 1 Yarbro Court: Jessica Drew & Lindsay McCabe’s, Kitty has gone full 80’s punk club scene, as she has dressed for a date with home owner, David Ishima. Mother hen Ororo is not mincing words…he better not do anything beyond what he is saying he will do in this moment. Kitty is getting on Ororo’s last nerve. They are headed to the Chi Chi Club to see Lila and Alison perform. There is concern, after what happened to Magneto, being disappeared by the government, for the second time in his life. The last time was during WWII Nazi occupation. Rachel’s pants game is just beyond sick, as she is cleaning up dishes telekinetically. Rogue is giving her crap. Rogue is reading a postcard w/pic of Scott, Maddy & baby Nathan (Four months after Scott has left Maddy and Nathan)…it’s all picturesque and this causes Rachel to loose her shit and drop the dishes and lays into Rogue, creating psychic chaos in the kitchen and dinning room. Rogue and Piotr have a light moment, before Rogue confronts Rachel, attempting to use their mutual experience as women walking around with epic baggage to deescalate this kitchen scene. Kitty and David are in line to see Lila and Ali’s show. The think they see Jen, Nat, Gloria & Foggy, who all seem concerned about Matt; they run into Xuân, who has been recuperating at her Dad’s locally, but makes plans to head back to the school; it’s not their scene. There is gossip about Jessica, Carol and Rogue. David almost says something, but Kitty signals to him to let them be. Lila and Ali invite them back stage, but Kitty passes on the after party, having heard from the Mutants what that entails. David and Kitty walking home after the show, transitions naturally from the stories of the haunted neighborhood, to potential earthquake, to nope buildings are still, an “avalanche. Sidewalk and road tidal wave, to Kitty phasing them through it, to David’s question of this being natural (he’s the local), to Kitty so casually saying: “Nope. I think the ❌-Men are under attack. Sorry. Omigosh —-David the waves heading for your house!” A taxi goes through the front of next door. Piotr, Ororo, Rogue, and Rachel are trapped in an energy webbing of Spider-Woman (Julia Carpenter, single mother/Denver college friend of Val Cooper’s, not Jessica Drew…who lives in the house under attack by Julia). Freedom Force are there to place them under arrest. Rachel is simply out techniqued by Spiral. And then to make matters worse her Pheonix effect flames feed Pyro. This still annoys Ororo, who use to be able handle this exact thing. The rain shows up, and maybe Rachel causes Ororo to appear like Storm…a bluff. Rogue gets into it…when Blob appears out of nowhere and bonk…there goes Rogue. Spiral goes after Ororo who is literally going to die, but for Kitty who phases up to her and saves her. Colossus tries to use water from a hydrant to the result of him getting toppled by a street wave. Colossus from bellow and Rogue from above turn the tables on Blob (not easy)…as for Jessica and David…Jessica doesn’t have her powers and on instinct oversteps in confronting Julia…who is unbothered and has this line: “I’m a federal officer.” Jessica is kinda screwed here. While Lindsay is hanging onto the side of the house. Kitty is first to notice. Ororo barks out orders…’cause she is THE boss. Rogue goes at Spiral…and absorbs her psyche and powers…and this is a hella of a head trip. Rogue doesn’t have control. Spiral who dancing through minds is her life’s work, takes over. Piotr fastball specials Kitty who saves Lindsay, who was saving her cat. Spiral/Rogue body slams Colossus. Pyro declares its over. Julia sounds all official. And Spiral/Rogue goes after Kitty. “…finds herself frozen in her tracks—her body phasing in place like an image smeared along a sheet of paper, almost to the point where part of her loses physical cohesion and dissipates into nothingness. The effect is blessedly transitory, but Kitty doesn’t notice. She’s barely aware she’s alive.” -Claremont…Jessica is shocked by the defeat. Avalanche: “WE WON! WAY TO GO FREEDOM FORCE.” If Rogue touches someone’s unconscious body while possessing their psyche…it becomes permanent. Storm is freaking out, because she doesn’t fully realize who is in control of Rogue in this moment and now Rogue is clearly in possession of Spiral’s psyche, because she has six arms…is reaching for Spiral’s body passed out on the ground. When the Police distract her. It’s Lt. Bree Morrel! Spiral: “Private” Bree: “Tough.” …”We’re the law. You’re in trouble.” Spiral is dismissive, but the delay is just enough for Rogue to become Rogue and Spiral to become Spiral. Jessica intervenes. They get into jurisdiction and the constitution and basically SF is a sanctuary city and these feds do actually need a warrant…and aren’t you all known criminals…and they are like…we got pardoned.  The ❌-Men are like…sorry about the mess…whelp we better go. Jessica is like…I’ll take a check. The cat is fine. Kitty is like…I was just getting into the scene here. Rachel is like almost ended up dead or in jail…Rogue is right…I need to see Scott, Maddy and Nathan.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Your friends are fools.”

Act II:

Act II:

01:20:00

A Laboratory South of Atlanta, GA; Hank is wondering why he was kidnapped. Hank successfully isolated the chemical source of mutation, thus how Hank looks now. Hank blames Carl in part for that experiment going the way it did and knows he is unethical…the kidnapping tracks…A discussion over Hanks rescue…and then Carl calls ❌-Factor to take out Tower. 

The Lower East Side, NY: WWIII thinks it all to convenient. Scott’s assessment lacks nuance and takes the to obvious take. Bobby votes a third specific: Trap! Jean thinks a step ahead…they could be exposed. The ❌-Factor branding is to obvious. Obviously. WWIII calls this paranoid. They are on the ❌-Factor jet.  

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Yippie! Super science!”

Mount Zion Hospital, San Francisco: A Jane Doe is admitted for gunshot…is that?! Amanda is not expected to make it.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Stop pushing the buttons!”

Cambellton Rd, Atlanta, GA; ❌-Factor has tracked down Tower at a house. Another great exploding wall…this one is cyclops doing. Tower has them shook, though. As the fight continues in the “Burbs.” The teamwork is working…though tested a bit. An optic blast nocks the giant out. A negotiation commences between ❌-Factor and Tower.

Off Books Laboratory South of Atlanta, GA; Carl provides Hank his notes. We are bing introduced to ARTHUR. Our X-Factor POV. Carl’s son is the best. Hank is critiquing Carl’s math. It’s off. Arthur is projecting the thoughts of Hank into the lab. He is mute, but is able to communicate through a visual lexicon he projects into the air. He can also read people’s own visual lexicon and project it. So here we see beautifully rendered math equations, that are providing Carl the solutions that have escaped him. Carl shoots Hank…with a gun of sorts. A radiation experiment begins underground…as the still deliciously rendered creepy blights form on furry Hank. Hank is having a heart attack… Hank’s body lays on the table, back from the brink, welts, with his kidnapping mad scientists old colleague in thought next to him. Carl asks Arthur to project Towers minds scan, as Carl introduced them yesterday. The boy reveals in purple lines and light blue backgrounds the events of ❌-Factor v Tower, only this confuses Carl, because he called for “❌-Factor” to capture the mutant. Why is Tower fighting other mutants? It’s a live feed. Carl asks Arthur to do something he doesn’t like to do, a “mind lock.” He uses the well being of Arthur’s kitten as a manipulation. Arthur’s eyes go from white to black with yellow star glow in the middle.

Cambellton Rd, Atlanta, GA; As debate on what to do commences in the burbs. A deal is struck with Tower and the team (with Jean’s reservations). As it is about to see fruit, Tower’s eyes go catatonic. The link is taxing on both Tower and…

Off Books Laboratory South of Atlanta, GA; …Arthur. A struggle for control. Carl fails to do his final injection on Hank, as Arthur stumbles. Hank looks deceased, but still has fur, Arthur is in there alone with him, to satisfy curiosity, despite his father’s wishes. A mind meld results in an intimacy of familiarity and a level of understanding few have been privy to. Maybe Chuck, Jean…it’s short list if there is one. The level of horror and pain Arthur has felt through Hank’s…its horrific. Arthur feels for either or both Carl and Hank. To bring for tears and add to his experience as one with trauma.

Cambellton Rd, Atlanta, GA; Tower rises. Tower has had enough of Carl (and Arthur). He reveals all. They are letting Tower go, a deals a deal. Jean tries the old Xavier speech on him. “…together to aid all mutant kind!…join us…make amends…” Tower: “Sweet Cheeks you’ve got to be freakin’ kiddin’! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Has a point. Cyclops reaction makes me agree with Tower even more.

The Lower East Side, NY: Back at headquarters, Vera is worried and checking in with Cam. Cam assures her and then scoots off to a meeting in ear shot with Senator Thompson who is on the mutant committee with Sen. Kelly…but is sympathetic to mutants and an old friend of Warren’s Dad, WWII. He is worried ❌-Factor is causing more harm and has a classified file he is willing to leak for a friend and the cause. 

Off Books Laboratory South of Atlanta, GA; WWIII has scouted to entrances to the facility where they are told Hank is being held. Scott splits them up for the best chance. Warren is the voice of caution…what is Tower lied and now they are breaking and entering. The rule follower says… Scott: “Warren, we’re renegade mutant’s! How much more trouble could we get into?” Well okay then. The Bobby Jean team up is really great. There is a friendly sexual tension. Feels really non threatening and interviewing with the power play. Bobby: “Holy —! Her power is fantastic!” As Jean lifts a fence with her mind in a power stance. The Scott and Warren flight and talk goes better then their last conversation. Some ribbing and some intimate friendship talk. Then work awaits, as they been spotted. Meanwhile, Jean finds a sensor’s…but they just levitate to avoid it. Arthur however is able to project their progress. Bobby’s freezing power is the only way to make it through a tech door. And so they are in. Only no elevator. Jean pushes Bobby into shaft and the. Floats them down. They run into Scott and WWIII down in the sub basement. Arthur is standing his ground against his father. As he does this, another blow through the wall. Carl has been doing all this off books and he is in as much trouble as them. We see Arthur’s projection of his father confronting Tower, who appears reluctant, and some new figures and Carl gets killed by them. It’s pretty horrific. Arthur is really appealing, and his trauma only add more to our sympathy. 

The Lower East Side, NY: Back at headquarters Jean confronts Scott, but they are interrupted, Hank is awake, with hair remaining. He kinda wanted the change, but has accepted this path (a change from the comic). Arty’s father’s death has them seeking to confront Tower.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Domo, what’s the body count at?!”

Leonia, New Jersey: A family of three arrives from the Moon. They approach a home and are greeted by WandaVision. Wanda is pregnant. From the shadows of the suburban night, Magneto, a changed man, is paused, in witnessing this, armed with a sliver of a window into making amends, a core Jewish practice, has been afforded an opportunity post Jasperwarp. He is free to attempt to heal his relationship with his children; the twins. He finds them in front of the home. Wanda: “Come in Father.” Inside, holiday small talk, baby talk, and of course talk of WnadaVision’s ordeal with Gyrich and the West Coast Avengers, are all paused by the presence of Magneto. He will have his work cut out for him to win over this room; Martha Williams (Simon’s Mom), neighbors Holly LaDonna, Norm Wester, Ilya & Glynis Zarkov, super friends Stephen Strange, Namor, Luke Cage, Steve Rogers, Pietro & Crystal Maximoff, their daughter Luna (Magneto’s granddaughter), the ghost of Agatha Harkness, photographer Peter Parker, and their hosts WandaVision. They have video chat with the West Coast Avengers, Avengers form East and West, current and former like, Cap, Janet, Hank, Clint, Patsy, Simon, Tigra, Monica, Bobbi. Wanda looks like she is about to pop.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Yawn.”

LaGuardia, Queens, NYC; Another wall down at LaGuardia, Beast mid flight, foot in Towers jaw, sending him backwards, the rest of the team right behind, a crowed in shades purple alarmed, the rhetoric is designed to keep the teams confusing duality of purposes and identities in tack. Tower is simply like, ‘screw this,’ again, and shrinks, walking away, with Warren, Jean, Bobby, Scott and Hank being left to a crowd yelling hate speech at them, because hello…they just missed their flight and nearly got killed. And THEN Tower re-emerges outside were we get our in comic introduction to Frenzy (Joanna Cargill). One of the murderers…“You are an utter incompetent. I should have known!”And then behind him, casually lurking, Franzy: “You failed to kidnap the child, as master instructed! It’s just as I told him — never send a ‘boy’ to do a woman’s job!” A few more exchanges like this and then she simply tosses him an a dumpster and a walk off. 

The Lower East Side, NYC: Arthur projects nice things and then Scott’s failing marriage. Now, Arthur is a therapist. And so, Jean pops in on Warren: “Warren, I need to talk to someone! It’s about Scott.” WWIII: “Oh…Er…come on in!” Subject: Scott “avoid”ance Diagnosis by WWIII: “When has Scott ever not been Moody? It’s CANDY SOUTHERN!!!! Sorry Warren. Jean. Or…Candy reminds him they are in love…he says don’t be silly of course…she then mentions some business matters needs his attention…and he says no…you got this…and hangs up on her. 

The Lower East Side, NYC: Frenzy attempts to recruit Arty, casually interacting with him when Arty creates opportunity wanting to explore the rocks along the waters edge. Encouraged to keep their secret, he tries to walk away. Frenzy: “Perhaps I didn’t make my intentions clear?” Arty out whits her though. Heading North to evade her, Arty, ends up in ABC City.

East Village, NYC; Then in disguise Arthur, in the cutest ill-fitting outfit, has tracked down Bobby, who is clearly on a date with his “friend,” some dude from around the way.

ABC City, NYC; So we have ❌-Factor v Frenzy, and it delivers except…Frenzy walks off after nearly taking them all out, as a Timeshadow messages her through her Dick Tracy Leather iWatch.

Frenzy is contemplating outside the ❌-Factor headquarters how many of her fellow mutants must be trapped inside. The branding propaganda is out of hand. She is kinda disappointed the “master” is after Arty. She is chatting up her girl…Stinger…man Fenzy calls everyone on this thing…when she has to go, cause Timeshadow. Who is warning her to get the job done or return ASAP before her withdrawal symptoms return, “yes, MOM!,” per the Masters assessment of her current condition. The key here is withdrawal, Frenzy : “The master was wise to insure that none of us could exit without it. But if all goes well, soon, I will not need the ‘SOURCE’ anymore! When that day comes—all my enemies will die!” 

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen.  “Death Cults back on!” 

Katie Powers, whose Mom is in the hospital, hosts a Thanksgiving party with the rest of Power Pack, BillSif, Frankin Richards, Cloak and Dagger and to lighten the mood here there is a bridge from a light kidnapping plot spurned by the death of Annalee’s children and the creepiness of Caliban to the presupposes of death we stand in front of at this point, as Annalee and Leech are invited along with Ape, Erg, and Tar Baby, along with Kitty and Logan, who all come, but not till after Leech is rescued. Meanwhile, Dani and Brightwind visits with the Powers kids Mom. Their Dad is there. Death appears. She passes.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Cute.”

A Chateau, Point Dume, CA; Ballad of Michael Nowlan: A costal cliff So. Cal A-Framed mansion has an escapee, Michael Nowlan, who is being persuaded by the four arches Tower, Frenzy, Stinger, And Timeshadow. He is at a wall, hoping it, and a close up on him in a car with keys frantically bing used. Micheal has a mysterious helper. All for of our favorite arches here, are addicted and worried about withdrawal from something that effects their powers…it is Micheal himself. His power is what is their next fix. So they simply can’t kill him. Thus he escapes. This is the core of Micheal’s context. He is the drug. He is being used. The irony is they refer to him as the Junkie. Meaning he is both a drug and an addict. The world closes in on Micheal Nowlan. It’s a simple phone call in the 80’s. An addict. 

San Diego, CA: Ex wife has cleaned herself up, and is setting up appropriate boundaries on the other end of the line. Susan, her name, is a functional person, who is trying to keep the toxic chaos at bay. By phone, Micheal wildly swings between direct threats and desperate please for help. It doesn’t work, because Susan has done her steps and can hang up a phone. Only, there is a twist…and it’s not just that there are supers (“freak friends”) involved. No…see Micheal need to be high to damper his powers, so his powers are of no use to his “freak friends,” and thus there is a chance he is left alone. It’s addicts logic…but it is logic. Susan’s wounds have been reopened by a call…and so the solution presents itself in the form of a TV add. “hello — ❌-Factor?”

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. “Freaky.”

Middle Branch Moose River, rail line, SW of Thandara, NY; Longshot, and a skittish (disappearing) Pup and physically evolving, encounters a film set, a kinda Thor meets Mad Max, and it’s director, Hitch, and stunt double Richochet Rita. The meet cute with Longest and Rita as action, romance and humor unfolds from a mistaken moment of fantasy heroics involving a train and reality heroics, into a stuntman job for the stranger. Quark hides in some bushes, having tracked Longshot from the night before. Hitch: “I’ve made selling Junk-Food an Art!” Hitch doesn’t have any of the tools that motivate Longshot. And he is asking him to risk his life for film. Something we are learning is at the core of what Longshot detests. We are learning this along with Longshot himself. Rita and Longshot are having a late night heart heart. Longshot: “I’m stripped clean.” Rita: “All my life I been lookin’ for a man without a past.” She leans in to make out, when she discovers his skin is like leather. He is not human. And she tells him as much. Longshot sense things are not as they should be. And his luck feels off. Plus Pup is clearly not a Pup. On set Longhsot, falls from the sky. Hitch just wants them to keep filming. Rita can’t save him, Longest ends up crashing. A bloody broken mess. Assumed nearly dead. Hitch takes Longshot’s body into his own hands, not to the medical care. Dumping it off a bridge at the river. Hitch (speaking to the dead eye floating corpse): “Don’t…Look…at me…”

Spit take at screen dribbles down. Long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers turn the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television.

Lower East Side, NYC; Jean is all Jane Fonda work out in green. Bobby is the closeted conservative for the room.  WWIII, Hank, and Scott are covered just enough. Warren especially. Hank has been like this for over a decade, but now he doesn’t have fur. I think Scott is simply a poser. Bobby is leaning into verbalizing the male gaze. He is obviously queer. Film celebrate his journey…even when the struggle presents as reflective toxic masculinity. Jean handles herself. We are here for strong women as prime directive. They transition for focus on the moment, to a planned meeting. Jean wants to get into the fact that ❌-Factor is propagandizing anti-mutant culture while cherry picking saving mutants. Bobby has heal turned into drinking the cool-aid. Hank is happy to play devils advocate or just agree with Jean any time Bobby disagrees. Which give Bobby a chance to prank Hank and freeze his feet…Hank’s blocks of ice mess up his aerial work. WWIII rescues his friend…and Hank grabs Bobby places him on an obstacle attached to the wall. Scoot shoots him down and Jean catches him with her powers. Scott is in his head that their sophomoric behavior is not what it seems…healthy…but actually papering over the lie that is their life. 

SoHo, NY: Shopping in SoHo. Our friends Vera and Bobby are waiting for obviously Hank to come out of the changing room. Hank is right…he looks “ludicrous.” We are going with something between “Elvis Costello” and “Magilla Gorilla.” They have to run. Vera pays the bill. 

Lower East Side, NYC; Scott is working with Artie and then sullenly leaves. Artie shows using his powers what is in Scott’s head. Without verbal context, Jean, being a Boomer, is constantly surrounded by Boomer Dude’s, who are not exactly with the feminist movement, as they were trying to get in their pants as it was just getting real. And so, she is in the 80’s still constantly trying reframe herself in her “friends” eyes. WWIII simply doesn’t get that she doesn’t need the knight in shining armor…she is fully capable fellow human…or mutant. It makes a lot of sense that a telepath take courses in psychology. WWIII is less than supportive. Cameron has them all in the meeting and as they do always…they hash out what to do with more opinions than facts…or sense sometimes. Cameron is at least right in guessing at Tower and Frenzy being involved with Micheal’s situation…but Suzy didn’t exactly clarify Michael’s powers…so they aren’t sure what they are getting themselves into and they half aren’t committed to the idea he is even a mutant. But they do head to So Cal. 

“Back to the Freak, please!” Long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers turn the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television.

East Harlem, NYC; Nimrod’s a guest at Jaime Rodriguez house, who was there, at Columbia University student's housing, when Kitty said the n-word. Jaime is having a family/friends discussion about mutants…the families across America kitchen table scene. Jaime is empathic to mutants. Not everyone at the table shares that thinking and one is calling him out. Agro now, he is talking homework with his son, Tommy who he was just using as an example of hypothetical empathy…when Tommy is like, all good Nimrod did my homework. Not everyone is comfortable with their new houseguest. Ironically, he is trying to track Rachel Summers. Oh he wants to take out Juggernaut AND ❌-Men.

“This is not it.” Long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers turn the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television.

San Diego, CA: Suzy is not waiting…only she came to that conclusion to late…as Frenzy is in her room, accompanied by Stinger and Timeshadow and Tower is blocking the door; all the murderers of Arty’s father are present. Frenzy will break Suzy if she doesn’t reveal where Mike is. 

Tomahawk Motor Lodge, San Diego; ❌-Factor (in their anti-mutant work suits) are at Mike’s motel room and Mike found his junk. He is out. When Mike comes to…his powers kick in. ❌-Factor is immediately exposed as mutants…their powers go haywire from Mike’s own mutation. Mike is like…’what kinda scam you pulling.’ Jean’s point gains traction every damn day. While they change into their real suits…Mike downloads them on his story. Because he was using since he was a teen, he had no idea he was a mutant. As he and Suzy got clean, suddenly his powers revealed themselves when a fellow detox pt Timeshadow was activated in his presence. And so like a new drug of choice…his powers became a desired and then addictive commodity amongst addict mutants. He relapsed in hopes of ending the cycle of being a drug. And ❌-Factor who are super great at debating a point in the most tiresome and square ways try to navigate this doozy. Mike is like…I am right here and this is my life. Hank can’t let it go. He hugs him. When Tower and friend bust in. Frenzy is ready to break Suzy’s neck. And so Mike uses his powers to enhance the arches. No choice. The fight is classic ❌-Factor fun. We even get a Jean super pose. And Mike is trying to be real about the paradox of his situation while also being a hero to Suzy. The arches win the day and have Suzy and Mike…❌-Factor are left knocked out in the motel scene. 

“Are they dead?!” Long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers turn the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television.

Fincial District, Manhattan, NYC: A large police presence. Cain approaches from down the street in NYC. He looms over the back of a focused or distracted officer. Cain asking what’s up and the cop not knowing who he is talking to: “Juggernaut’s Back in Town.” TV reporter is talking about him. Mick Travis is on the Juggernaut beat, reporting from the street. At the school Kurt wakes up to the news; PBS KQED: Neal Conan. As does Kitty, who cuts off NPR’s Bob Edwards on Morning Edition by phasing into her radio and jumbling the electronics inside. Piotr is groggy too! But when he hears the news he is ready to get back to work. It doesn’t matter that their flight got in late. Rachel wakes up and the mention of Fantastic Four not taking the call to help, just has her thinking about Franklin and other dead friends from her future. Rogue is sane! She is listening to early mid century rock ‘n roll…I Only Have Eyes For You by The Flamingos playing…ulp…Avengers News is ruining her shower and plans to take the day off from superheroing. Logan is running barefoot in the snow. Kurt sips his coffee…Logan is all “up n atum.” Cain tries to go banking. ❌-Men are stalking Cain. Who is simply trying do some normal transactions. Kitty in a whispered tone: “This is silly.” Rachel is like use our psychic DM!…only it’s not…it is a group chat (obviously not a quote.this is the 80’s). Rachel and Kitty are great together. Also Piotr and Logan. Cain is basically, you ruined my banking, and I don’t know what your beef is…but ok…This is when Rachel reacts in her version of terror, muttering about how it “followed” her Cain is initially unbothered by this, but when provoked by Nimrod and Rachel’s reaction is shared through telepathic link, it becomes clear to the ❌-Men, they actually need to assist Cain. Kitty saves Rachel by dropping through a floor. Rogue toss Logan fastball special and. ❌-Men are in it full tilt. Kitty’s electrical powers don’t work on Nimrod. Oops. Rachel’s suit attire works! Nimrod piles up ❌-bodies…touches a bunch of them, she turns into like all of the ❌-Men and comes to Juggernaut’s aid v Nimrod and shatters him. Who then becomes light?! Escapes. Cain walks off, to try another bank?! This one is rubble. Rogue thinks he is being a jerk for not thanking her. Southern hospitality is not universal. This is New York.

“Subplots. Am I right!?” Long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers turn the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television.

Tomahawk Motor Lodge in San Diego had a reputation, but Joe Simsky, has genuine paperwork from ❌-Factor to support his gripe this time. Muties definitely wrecked his establishment…no matter if it’s a place where that the Micheal Nowlan’s of the world rest their heads. It’s a scene. Scott has woken up on the wrong side of the bed…or busted up floor. And Jean is taking on a bunch of his nonsense. And now WWIII has inserted himself again, and Scott is standing his ground. Calling WWIII for the entire idea of being ❌-Factor. And the fight in the rubble spills out into a scene that has gathered. Bobby creates an escape route and WWIII leaves a bunch of cash to pay for damages. They continue the debate as they escape San Diego. 

A Chateau, Point Dume, CA; And that is when we go full circle for the issue to the A-Frame mansion on the Pacific cliff. And a shadowy debut happens; Apocalypse. Frenzy, Tower and friends are trying to get answers out of Mike about ❌-Factor. He is trying his best to maintain their secret. They turn to threaten Suzy, and Mike’s anger transfers into an explosion of all their powers. ❌-Factor hears the explosion at the A-Frame cliff house. Apocalypse has to step in and save Mike for the moment from Frenzy who is totally agro. Apocalypse then takes Mike and forces him into a machine that will control him and his powers. 

A Chateau, Point Dume, CA; And so in the cover of night, ❌-Factor shows, Apocalypes seems to be overfilled by Micheal’s power and is obliterated. A fight results, which kills both addicts; Suzy and Micheal Nowlan. Their ballads rest at this pivotal moment. The “origianal” ❌-Men’s anti-mutant uniforms were destroyed when Mike caused their powers to go haywire. So now they have to sneak into their own plane. They overhear a tv report interviewing Tower who is labelling his new arches as murderers. As if they are the reason Mike and Suzy died. The level of reaction from I am guessing Bobby is a sign of eternal immaturity. Of course Tower will frame it like this. It’s his move. And that’s when Scott slips up. They are floating outside a plane, and his pilot wife isn’t there, but his doppelgänger is, and they are arguing plane jargon…so Scott snaps…with Maddie’s name in his mouth…and then out: Scott: “Honestly, Maddie you…you…” Jean (3,500 miles and an entire person away from Maddie): “Scott…who’s Maddie?” Jean understands enough to realize, she isn’t competing with a dead version of herself called Phoenix. Scott is extra in his head. They are in and on their way back East.

“Thank Death!!!!” Long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers turn the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television.

Act III:

Act III:

02:40:00

Middle Branch Moose River, rail line, SW of Thandara, NY; The introduction to Theo “Jinx,” Inez (his wife), Alison, her sister, and Pouchy-Poo, is a meant to be a common scene in a household under the Reagan administration. The poor suffering of the white man in America. The moment the pressure of the ordinary struggle becomes unbearable for the exceedingly ordinarily privileged. BLAM! There goes the TV. Theo does his family a favor and leaves. In the bluish green glow of night, dark humor of a failed suicide attempt by Theo from a low bridge into shallow water SPLOOSH. Poor Theo: “Can’t even kill myself right.” As he has landed on the body of the recently dumped Longshot. Theo drags the body towards shore. Theo: “What if UGH’ he doesn’t want HUF’ to be saved? He’ll probably kill me for this.” Longshot: “They call me Longshot” Theo: “HA! They call me JINX!” Longshot makes it his mission to show Jinx how it is great to be alive. So Jinx blames Con Ed for his families financial stress…and like most of you…Longshot doesn’t know who/what Con Ed is. So breaking and entering into Con Ed proceeds, resulting in zzzrrrkkzzz a New York and New England guide wide Northeastern event.

Long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers turning the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television, is now confronted with it not working. Hits the TV. Fiddles with the rabbit ears. Demands that someone switch the breaker. 

Manhattan, NYC; As the lights go out from an Upstate Con Ed explosion; An alley where a chariot lead by goats sits, having waited for the epic heroics to end. As it does seem to have ended a frog hops their way: “A FROG! I’VE BECOME A FROG!” Frog Thor hops through a delightful lighting fast adventure of urgency. Being swept out by Jarvis (a person, not AI) from the Avengers mansion unhelpfully. Franklin Richards tires to help in his way, but he. Is but a child. The Frog faces rat and cars of NYC. As his chariot with goats continues to await. Thor gets caught in the drama of Frogs. But a hero must hero. As the Frog has defeated rats and is now facing Alligators…because he has come across our old Morlock friend with a pipe and a tune. Thor takes the pipe and returned to the Frog and Rat issues. As the Morlock, Piper finds his pipe amongst frogs and rats. Thor the frog has found frog love. But he must return. And so he finds his chariot and the actual hammer. And by his right he lifts is and become Frog Thor!

Bronx, NY; Folks all over NY have been labeling Longhsot a mutant. He has folks on the streets doing that constantly. We are introduced to kids playing, they are the Starslammers! Not to be confused with the Starjammers. They encounter Longshot, and he befriends them. One of them form a crush, of course. The kids tell him about a monster they have discovered in The Cloisters. The found it when they hit this and it went through an open window. When he holds it, his eye lights up, a vision emerges of the spineless one, Mojo, the multi armed figure, Spiral, the bipedal Major Domo, and he seems to have the perspective of someone with red fur, that reminds him of Pup. This turned into a memory for Longshot, about him using guns with his friends to rebel and become free. And he learns the spineless ones captured him and whipped his mind. 

Sanctum Sanctorum, Bleeker St & Fenno Place in Greenwich Village, NYC, A humble apartment at 410 Chelsea Street, Chelsea, Manhattan, NY,  Baxter Building, 42nd and Madison Ave, Midtown, Manhatan, NY, ; Dr Strange leaves Wong to guard the sanctum, as the orb of agamotto has shown him alien disturbances. We also have, Peter and Jen on their couches, watching the news, which has pickup up Longhsot in the local mutant menace beat. Peter thinking about how young Longshot looks and how he was stuck with JJJ during the blackout. Jen thinking she should check in with FF about this Longshot appearance in NYC.

Central Park, NY: The Jen out for a run, passes Longshot and they begin sparing. She is smitten too! Per his power set. Longshot takes off…Rita on his mind…burning a whole in his pocket. Peter spots the skermish, and swings in to help Jen. Because of the kids being fans of Spidy, Longshot knows this one. Longshot doesn’t appreciate Peter’s sense of humour. Longshot with Luck on his side gets away.

Braddock Manor, Maldon, Essex County, England, UK: Meggan and Brian witness Linda as Captain UK, and the NEW Captain Britain AKA our Betsy flying off together above...which causes Brian to pull a Peter Parker and crumple up his mask and leaving it on the grounds. 

The Cloisters, Fort Tyron Park, Fort George, Washington Heights, Manhattan, NY; Longshot is not sure if his or the kids imaginations are getting the best of them, but he still dins them at this scary old building. Inside they find…Pup! It is Halloween night and Pup is not yet full on the world’s “magic,” BUT Pup IS AKA Gog n’ Magog. Longshot attempting help children as his Pup is now seen in a different light. Longshot is loosing to Pup and the kids talk game, but aren’t more then spectators…so Quark shows up to save the day…well Quark and Gog n’ Magog both vanish. The kids head to their homes. Leaving, Longshot alone, with his thoughts, wandering. He longs for how Rita likes him. No past. He is burdened by curiosity. Quark could be a friend, but like Pup? He empties his satchel. The doll with one arm. A sharpie. Diamonds. An Eurythmics cassette tape. A Go-Bot..or whatever the ones with swords are again. Golf ball. Tape. “A” block. Gumbie. Toothpaste. X-Wing. Chapstick. Keys. Duck toy. Hammer. Flathead. Easter. Xacto. Kiss. The Baseball. Having a moment. Longshot reading an object next to him. He uncovers another memory of a butterfly like insect who has humanoid insect friends like you might see in Elf Quest, along with an Alice and Wonderland like giant caterpillar. And then an architectural marvel, and their creator Arize, a bipedal with robotic legs and a mass of facial and head of hair, who is a Booskan, and brother to Habooska the Horrible, who will loose his life to Thor and GOTG in Love & Thunder in the Battle of Indigarr. Ironically, the architect of the Indigarrian’s Sacred Temple, Thor accidentally destroyed. Longshot seeks help for his enslaved creations. Arize places in him powers for such a day. He himself has been cast out by the bipedal peoples of the Mojoverse and only builds beautiful things these days. He says, they were not built, but genetically engineered. It is up to Longshot from here. Longshot lacks confidence. He is unsure what happened. Did he rebel? Did he lead? He run towards Upstate.

Braddock Lighthouse, Cornwall, England, UK: A short walk from Stanleigh, Meggan and Brian make their new life of normal folks in love at the lighthouse.

Thandara, NY; Rita and her dog Saxaphone are working and then taking a rest in her not so tidy pad. She also has a parrot, Wifferdill. Spiral is in her house. Our long nailed, jaundiced, gnarly, gangly fingers figure turning the dial controlling the channels on a black and white television, is now confronted with it not working. Hits the TV. Fiddles with the rabbit ears. It’s Mojo fiddling with here tv. Spiral is considering terminate residence on Earth, as Mojo is taking things out on Rita…whose hair is now white and is aged. Mojo: “Ah that was so much fun! And look at the lovely day that awaits us! Now, why are we on this murderously ugly, dying planet?” Spiral: “What a screw Mojo - - you can’t keep a thought long before you turn it inside-out.” Spiral dances, follows directions, and. She dances and POIT all three travel away, slip between time and space, Rita, becoming a sort of ghost. 

Thandara, NY; North, arrives as we know too late to find Rita. Longhost hoped to be of help, finds Sax dead with Dr. Strange there. An exchange information and as they are about to make haste; when Pup as Gog n’ Magog shows. A battle unfolds until Pup AKA Gog n’ Magog vanishes as Quark has tracked them to Rita’s. Strange warns of luck turning on Longshot. Longshot cares only for taking responsibility. Being in rural upstate farm country, Longshot and Quark dawn cattleman hats, pocketed jackets, and strapped back packs. We have a moment where Quark encounters sheep with horns like his. Quark is salty and sour and Longshot is motivational and positive. Dr. Strange sits in Rita’s home, joining as an Astral projection. They track, Gog n’ Magog, south. 

The Cloisters, Fort Tyron Park, Fort George, Washington Heights, Manhattan, NY; Mojo: “…our delightful little jaunt through the multiverse gave her (Rita) a permanent soundless scream!” Mojo is the absolute worst. He says he is disgusted by Spiral’s kind of form, and then touches her with out permission. She says “he doesn’t own her” and essentially hands off and he is like, “I absolutely do own you, know your place.” Mojo is not at all like Spiral in how he thinks. So he responds as this type would: “Smile when you talk like that darling.” But Spiral is not without her own abusive and entertained side. She toys with humans. Literally. Mojo calls out Spiral, on trying to win the heart of Longshot. Mojo simply brainwashed a congregation into being his subjects. Apparently this control and asking them to build his big beautiful cultish ceremonial structure to honor him and be a space for space magic, which weakens him. But he doesn’t buy into caution from Spiral’s, I told you so, advising. He is not to be questioned. Left in a haunting scene Rita is left strung up in her eternal scream. Longhsot and Quark come upon the Starslammers, observing a ritual, being lead by Spiral, that is transforming Rita and causing Spiral to dissipate. Rita is Spiral. Paralyzed by empathy for Spiral and pity for Mojo. “We failed.”  Spiral and Mojo delight. Spiral born anew dance’s, opening a portal for all a return to the Mojoverse for Spiral, Mojo, Gog n’ Magog, and Longhsot w/ Quark attempting to follow. Leaving Strange alone, with Wifferdrill.

Winter 1986;

03:00:00

Salem Center, NY, Muir Island, Scotland, UK: Braddock Manor, Maldon, Essex County, England, UK: Braddock Lighthouse, Cornwall, England, UK: At Braddock Manor, it is Christmas, RCX, the Warppies have moved in with Emma, Jeeves & Bets, who is in good sprits despite her lack of eyes. The Telly is on…same for Rahne on Muir Island; Brian and Meggan in Cornwall (recognizing Bets is a character); Starslamers in the Bronx: Alfie, Butch, Darla, Leong and Nga; The Mutants in Salem Center, NY; Sam, Berto, Illyana, Dani, Amara, Warlock, and Doug are watching their Saturday Morning Cartoons. And so are we: On the screen of their television sets a production style that looks to combine the efforts of Ruby-Spears, Hannah-Barbera, Marvel and TSR, with animation by Toei, based on designs by Alex Toth and Jack Kirby. The Alex Toth portion of the animation pans past a cartooned Sasheer Zamata’s Jen Kale interacting with “Ted” AKA Man-Thing, as they see a Darth Vader helmet looking ship emerge from the swamp. Inside the Kirby design influences a committee of arches who seem to comprise of candidates for those who are pulling the strings. They sit at a round table modeled after King Arthur’s round table, a notable chair is empty. It is implied this is the seat of whom we should be focusing our future attentions on. Which is notable, since everyone else seems to have a hand of pulling strings in the background. Present are  The Beast AKA Krahllak of The Hand; who sits, somehow making smallish, next to The Kingpin AKA Wilson Fisk in is still in his vacation outfit; both overshadowing physically The Purple Man AKA a cartoon version of David Tennant’s Zebediah “Kevin” Killgrave, who apologies for not occupying the same space of the previous purple man (Thanos); Valerie Cooper of the US Government, who apologies for Henry Gyrich’s absence, blaming DC traffic and government flight control budgets, as her face changes into a hint of Mystique; Sebastian Shaw of The Hellfire Club sits perturbed; as Donald Pierce formerly of the Hellfire Club awkwardly sits next to him; speaking of, an Astral Projected Professor X AKA Charles Xavier AKA Chuck awkwardly sits next to; an cartoon of Aubrey Plaza as Death, who becomes their true skeleton form; so we are not confused as The Shadow King as a cartoon Aubrey Plaza as Lenore "Lenny" Busker transitions into their larger Xuân form, who compliments Death on her work and then wickedly pivots towards condolences on Merlin’s passing; to Roma, who notes without missing a beat replies, “this is how he was, as his father before him, he had many names and many faces. In another time and place, I am sure a James Jaspers would have gone on with him. However, you required them both in your collection, dearest Death.” And turns welcome Roma’s own choice in his replacement; Majestrix Opal Luna Saturnyne to the their little circle, who leans over to say she has a “crazy” idea; as she heard Arcade is in need of henchmen, and she knows of a “gang,” who seem to be in the market once again for leadership…Arcade; sits next to Hela responding to a question from someone in the group, that for all time Loki seems committed to his thrown; speaking of time, next to her is Nathaniel Richards who keeps altering form between various Kangs/Immortus/Rama-Tut; who is calmed by Dr. Doom’s hand; as next to him a kindred spirit, En Sabah Nur AKA Apocalypse, provides an update that is his little faith in Cameron Hodge, but perhaps some faith in their absent friend who always seems to have a solid handle on an unfolding plan; referencing the empty seat next to him, and we finally pan over to Mojo of the Mojoverse as he begins his this is all about me presentation: "Wildways"is front an central, in technicolor, with blue mono color scenes branching out…cartoon Bets, Spiral, and Mojo. Mojo is messing with Spiral's head a bit...it's horrific...but the worst part is they have now implanted two bionic eyes in Bets...and she is hella scary looking like this. Bets was blinded, but her telepathy allows her to know where she is going, but somehow none of this prevents, "her from being blinded.” Bets is shattered into crystals, as her eye and Spiral's dance created a pathway for Mojo and Spiral to travel to Earth-616, and now they have her other eyes...but her body bag is limp on the ground, and Spiral is playing with her new toy. The game: put Bets back together again. And now they have other toys to play with. Rahne and Berto, Leong and Nga have joined, and the Bratpack…they are no longer on their couches or comfort of their floors. Spiral uses Bets new eyes to age up these kids with laser eyes. All growed up in new costumes, the twins are in all black, and Darla's in a brighter style., etc… Mojo anoints them all Bratpack. The Mutants transport to Alphabet City, where we last saw Brian in fear...and they are greeted by Butch AKA Snitch...and then attacked by Berto & Rahne...and then Darla AKA Jubilee…then the Cao Manh twins de-age Amara...Douglock escapes...but Illyana, Amara, Sam, and Dani are all aged up. Douglock find a deaged naked Brian and his helmet. The get into it, but eventually unite. Somehow Amara is able to break free of the spell...and runs away...a younger self again...right into the hands of Alfie AKA Straight Arrow. Amara is saved by Brian, as Douglock sneaks up on Mojo...who is now merged with or is Betsy. Bets is to focused on her work...but by engaging electrically and with power...Douglock is treated to trauma that is total in its experiences. They seem okay though...and Brian and Amara are still on the run. Now when Douglock forms they are even more interconnected...and this is when the merged Bets/Mojo engages with them. They are in Wildways...and Bets is on top of a carousel which features the rest of this cast as creatures you ride on it...even Brian and Amara now. She tries the same techno organic magic on Douglock...but Douglock rips out of the Centaur from everyone else is in...and attacks Bets...who shifts into Spiral, as a series of Dali inspired natural disasters happen...eventually....as the carrousel spins...Brian joins Douglock and they free their friends from the Spiral. All is back to normal...but Bets is an seems like an astral projection giant....and Spiral is on her heals...for a split second. She has her wicked smile and continues her plan. So Bets destroys it with her new laser eyes. Bets wakes up naked with Doug...who has his pants and innocence. Emotional...Dani finds them and Warlock turns himself into s suit for Bets...saving Brian from something traumatic. Brian checks in with his twin...who has elected to stay...and try and learn more about herself and shed being a victim of circumstance at the school. Brian flys off to his Lighthouse. Doug has a crush. Bets cares. Dani and Doug talk Douglock. There is joy and hope here...for a moment…at…the School for Gifted Youngsters, the Mutants travel through a portal, Limbo, to the spring mixer at Salem Center High. WE WERE ONLY FOOLIN’And Kitty is there too! Kitty and Maggie are getting to know each other better. Kitty also meets a nice kid, Larry. There is some real jerks at this party.They are threatening Larry with calling ❌-Factor on him.Larry makes an anti-mutant joke to the wrong crowd. Kitty dumps his arse just as things were getting started.Larry’s powers remind me of Artie.Rahne, figures out he is a mutant.The next morning, Rahne is about to tell them Larry is a mutant…when Maggie jumps in to let them know, he committed suicide. Kitty phases through Larry’s house. Finds the sculpture his powers made of light. Of the Challenger. An interesting choice given our generation and the themes here. She torches it and it is ruined. Rahne and Kitty have the ❌-Factor note. Kitty speaks at the manorial school assembly. It’s raw and real. About how she knew him best, not at all, and fear, a scarlet letter, and labels.

Salem Center, NY: Sharon and Tom are an item it seems. House parents. A letter from the White Queen checking in…is there a connection. Chuck is holding up residency in Magneto’s mind. Not the telepathic way…the usual way. Objectively, Magneto is doing a way better job, than Chuck. Pours a drink and is surprised. As Emma is in his office. He over reacts superhero comics style. You would think this would be normal after four decades for Magneto. Emma sets it strait. Emma: “if my intentions were hostile Magneto, you’d be dead.” Magneto: “state your business then get out!” White Queen is like, I hated Chuck, but this ain’t about him…it’s for the children. Magneto has trouble taking her up on her proposal, but something convinces him…it’s that he not sure he is doing a good job…and there is mounting evidence he is not. He is doing the work. You let teens be teens. In their feels. Emma seems to call this failure. The strength to let kids develop through the struggle. They suffer. They are teenagers. That’s the process. It doesn’t require manipulation to be a success. Magneto: “Get out.” Stevie the dance teacher, grounds and makes the school a better place. Stevie: “This is my class Magneto. And if you’ve no objections, I’d like to finish it without any more idiot interference.” In a critical moment of intersection and process Dani is struggling in the stalls to do her daily chores to care for Brightwind. The struggle is clearly effecting most in the school. But Brightwind notices something. A frog. And that frog has a pep talk for Dani. It’s Thor. And Dani is able to put the dream and her depression into perspective. Thor Frog brings her hope, as another kind of warrior. Dani: “and it worked. I still hurt Brightwind - but I’m pretty sure now I’ll survive. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the gang.” Gang?! Warren was right!!! A party at the Salam school has the room gossiping about the sullen Mutants…maybe it’s just Chuck?! A conversation between Emma and Magneto about the depression…Empath is in the woods spying on this conversation. And Tom and Sharon catch him peeping. They recognize him and want him to come into the school. He makes them forget him make out in the snowy birch woods with each other. Empath: “a bestial passion that will not die until it drains you utterly. Pathetic animals.” Magneto, meanwhile, ‘yup, I fucked up and at working on it…hopefully not too late.’ He just closed the school…sending the students to Salem (Hell Fire’s little psychopath pipeline for the win).

Snow Valley, Mass: Across the pond at the Berkshires at the rival academy…The Hellions are NOW;  Empath AKA Manny de la Rocha a Castilian noble hailing from España; Empathy & Pathokinesis; Wolfsbane AKA Rahne Sinclair hailing from Ullapool, Scotland; Lycanthropy; former Mutants; Thunderbird AKA Jimmy Proudstar (legacy ❌-Men, brother John KIA as Apache warrior and ❌-Men) from Camp Verde, Arizona, of the Apache people; Superhuman; Strength, Speed, Stamina, Invulnerability, Agility, Reflexes, Hearing, Vision, Flight, Healing; Karma AKA Xuân Cao Manh of the central highlands of Vietnam; Telepathy; former Mutants; Cannonball AKA Sam Guthrie one of nine Kentucky kids; Thermo-Chemical Energy Field Propulsion; former Mutants; Catseye AKA Sharon Smith abandoned in Boston, Mass, raised by cats; Ailuranthorpy; Cypher AKA Doug Ramsey of Salem Center, NY; Omnilingual; former Mutants; Roulette AKA Jennifer Stavros of Atlantic City, NJ; Probability Alteration Disks; Magik AKA Darkchilide AKA Illyana Rasputin of Ust-Ordynsky, Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia, USSR and Limbo; Stepping Discs, Sorcery, Psionic Shields; former Mutants; Jetstream AKA Haron ibn Sallah al-Rashid of the Rif Mountains of Morocco; Thermo-chemical Energy Generation; Magma AKA Amara Aquilla of Nova Roma in the Amazon Jungle’s of Brazil; Earth Manipulation, Magma Manipulation, Magma Mimicry, Fire Generation & Manipulation, Regeneration, Heat & Fire Immunity; former Mutants; Tarot AKA Marie-Ange Colbert of Lyons, France; Precognition. “Pawns of the White Queen” Emma welcomes the Mutants to the ranks of the Hellions. Doug and Sam are meeting up with James Proudstar and his classmate Jetstream AKA Harqum Ibn Sallah Al-Rahid. James is gracious and Harqum is ready for friendly competitions. Sam and Doug are lifeless. The girls are changing and Empath just drops in to use his powers as pretext to sexual assault, only they don’t leave much to be desired as he wants it to be a sickening sport and they are docile. The only resistance he gets is Magic, who appears from Limbo and scares him off his spot. Illyana has not had these dreams. She has not had Emma’s treatment. The Hellion girls back up the new recruits and Empath is down at the feet of Emma, who is full dominatrix teacher explain yourselfing him. Next we see, Empath divulging that Jimmy took Banshee, to Emma. When Jimmy took Banshee Emapth and Angelica AKA Firestar followed from Massachusetts. And now he has left Tom and Sharon who he has figured out have been tracking Jimmy since, Scotland. He has left them in the woods holding each other on the School for Gifted Youngsters grounds. Colonizing descendent Emma telepathically torchers Empath, her favorite student, Manny. He has failed her by manipulating Spidy and Iceman’s ex-roommate, Firestar, an important potential asset of the Hellfire Club. Part of an operation that has taken years to develop. Entitlement and hubris is within both Emma and Manny. She speaks the “troublemaker label,” so Emapth twists into his love slave, which feels part of the ensemble.

Salem Center, NY: Maggie looks at this photo in his office and the photo of his Mutants class. Dani and Warlock are all that is left of the school. She is headed back to her ranch in our birth state of Colorado. Stevie walking Dani out, Dani explains she is setting up a boundary to protect herself from further exposure to trauma. Dani: “I DON’T KNOW, maybe MAGNETO’S RIGHT and THE GANG better off with the Queen. I’ve LEFT MESSAGES everywhere for THE X-MEN. THEY’RE THE SENIOR TEAM — THEY’RE OLDER, LOTS MORE EXPERIENCED…” And Warlock shows: “SELFFRIEND STEVIE HUNTER! CHIEFFRIENDMIRAGE!!” They note that scans for Tom and Sharon have not resulted in finding them. Dani is like hope they are ok.✌🏼Warlock: “QUERY: WILL SELF SEE SELFFRIENDDANI AGAIN? Dani on Brightwind on takeoff: “Anything’s possible, Pal” Dani is thinking about her identity as she transitions back to her home. Cheyenne? Mutant? Valkyrie? A normal ordinary girl? Who is Dani? Where is her place? She only got one spot left. It’s in the Rockies. “Brightwind — you brought me home!” Dani arrives with a blizzard as she arrives at William and Peg Lonestar’s cabin. Embraced by her Dad, who has questions about the winged creature. Peg has the jeep and they are in a rush. Dani is to barn her mount and make herself at home. Brings back Dani to the moment the Demon Bear came to be…and her parents disappeared. Same words. Dani is talking things through with Brightwind. Still in her head she is now processing her present…being home. Mom pops in. They have work to get in between storms. Once again Peg pushes her off from helping and Dani is left to process, worry and rest. The always important “❌-Men in a mall,” Dani is called out by Pat Roberts. We get a lowdown, as he and his friends surround her, call her out, bully, argue and hit her. A few things are revealed to us. Her power exposed Pat’s biggest fear and thus ended their status as best friends. He is now a full on racist who’s father was trying to acquire her family home, and now she has somehow blown up the deal by appearing back in town since she left to go to school. The scene is classic 80’s ❌-Men mutant trauma and Dani is a pro at navigating this. She knows there is a line Pat wants her to cross. She stands her ground, but is not crossing. Then she sees her Valkyrie power expose that Death is coming for him. She runs off, for fear her presence is making this possibility a reality. Pat is left with his posey ranting. His friends want him to chill. Pat almost crashes his truck. Dani is back at the home stall. Is chatting on the radio. Gets an emergency call and takes flight. It’s Pat. His truck crashed. And a blizzard is here again. Dani takes his body into a cave. Fire lit. Dani is startled by her power manifesting images from Pat’s mind. Of her being attacked with a battle axe by him…then them getting married. They talk about his inner conflict. Hate and love. His care shows, as the cave shakes. She emerges to check things out and finds a cowboy, Death. She now has pistols. They dual and she takes Death out. Saving Pat. She speaks to an illusion of Pat. Pat has been out the entire time. At the hospital in Denver, Dani waits. Naze appears next to her. Seems to know Pat is diabetic. Drinks. Smashes his insulin supplies. Thus the crash. He is entering into a diabetic coma. He will never wake again. Dani: “NO THATS A LIE.” Naze reveals to be Death: “Am I so horrible?” Dani: “you cause pain.” Death: “and end it.” Balance. Process. An the end. The living are who struggle. Dani needs to let go. She asks for forgiveness and says goodbye. Pat dies. She sees his parent’s pain. In the barn with Brightwind she is left with questions. She finally joins with her parents to be consoled after he loss.

Guthrie Farmhouse, Gomerville, Cumberland County, Kentucky, Appalachia, USA, Earth-616;  “SAMUAL ZACHERY GUTHRIE!?!” Sam: “Momma?!?”Momma: “who is this person?! What are you doing?!” Mom expressed her pain, slammed the door and locked them out. Lila teleported away across the universe to avoid the further entanglement with the badger who lives there. Sam wakes up. On a bus. A dream. Sam off the bus with duffle bags, makes two calls from a payphone in what most most towns in America recognize as the center of town. Not much. One call is to a tape message machine, announcing he home. Another to a tour bus that has one of them new mobile car phones. Touches base with his girlfriend, Lila. She wants him to meet up with her in Charlotte. By the trees. His Dad rests. Sam says his hello. His thoughts turn to voices at the foot of a gravestone. Sam: “Suppose Momma doesn’t like her?!” Momma sneaks up on us: “She must be a nice girl Samual…” “…else you won’t like her.” He gets smattered with questions about the girl till the reach the inside of the house. He does his best to not speak plainly. He is inundated with siblings from there. His brother Josh has a case of the angst. Sam’s Mom is in purple plaid and has white hair. Subtle grounded vibes. They discuss Josh’s fears of becoming Sam and how what they say about mutants in nonsense. Sam uses powers to fly to NC and back stage he first runs into our old friend Alison AKA Dazzler who is in disguise with her black hair. Lila sees Sam and slams into him. Sam is there to talk. She thinks he is there to fuck, and she teleports away for a second to grab a gift from another planet for his Mom. Only he is sure she stole it and thinks she is as “trustworthy as Magneto”…which means Sam is not in a good spot. Lila is not putting up with it. The gift cracks. She breaks up with him. He flies off in a funk. Testy with his Mom; fighting with his brother. He finds himself at the diner. Mom sits on the stool next to him. Not hard to track down. Her wisdom guides them through. No need to be at this place. Family responsibilities are not impeding his path to growth. Josh has word that Lila’s plane crashed. Runs in frantic. He and his brother fly off to the site. They find Alison’s light and she has Lila in her arms. Ali is like why do you care…why you here…you treated her like crap….and she made that for you…Sam is like, she didn’t steal it…Ali is like why would you jump to that conclusion…who are you?! We see members of Freedom Force and an Avalanche starts…Sam saves them. Sam holds Lila. Admits he is a maroon…she wakes and they kiss. Now on the porch again. Dressed up for dinner. Lila teleports in with a new punker look. And the statue she made. She teleports away and returns dressed to impress Mom. And so they meet for the first time.

The Pentagon Basement Headquarters of Freedom Force, DC: Val is with Freedom Force and not to pleased with the results of their work. They can’t simply go and bully old rivals who happen to be fellow mutants. Avalanche and Spider-Woman (Julia), Pyro is Pyro, as he and Blob struggle to find the line of their new position. Pushing Mystique attempt to clean up their act and regain a level of professionalism that aligns with the concerns Destiny has for the future of mutant kind and Val’s for humanities future…addressing their opposing perspectives. She formulates a plan to use be more nuanced and specific in targeting, while buying into the government’s propaganda for now…us Trish to expose WWIII and ❌-Factor as Mutants and former ❌-Men. Placing the fear at Chuck’s students feet publicly.

Lower East Side, NYC; ❌-Factor’s head quarters, where Vera has been working with Cameron in support of ❌-Factor, but it is clear Vera is relentlessly pro mutant and Cameron seems to have an agenda that could very well be the opposite. Outside ❌-Factor headquarters, the members of ❌-Factor, after just making the comment that nobody in NYC would even notice a mutant death, they see an entire protest. Guess things have escalated politically and it wasn’t the West Coasts fault. It is in this, that we are introduced to: Trish Tilbit of W-ARC-TV!!! Trish is now interviewing Vera in the chaotic scene. Hank pushes his giant noggin in the frame and pulls her away from the interview as they rush inside to be greeted by a frantic Artie. The San Diego scene followed them home.

Salem Center, NY: Sharon is in Tom’s arm. She is nearly perished. Stevie and Maggie are taking care of them in the infirmary. EMPATH! Magneto is back. Emma fucked up. Stevie is the witness. She is his support staff. 

New Jersey: Across the Hudson at a New Jersey hazardous waste dumping facility we are finally introduced to our heroes: Glow Worm and Bulk. Glow Worm: “He’s going to die in there.” Glow Worm has a plan, and it requires technical equipment or hazardous materials available in the scrap yard. BUT humans have spotted them and escalated by ❌-Factor propaganda, they are shooting first and asking questions later. Bulk and Glow Worm scram. Bulk: “Those bullet’s smart.” Glow Worm uses a carburetor and turns it into a ball of light that explodes. Enabling a distraction that fascinates a cover as they escape down a hole. The mouse didn’t make it. Glow Worm blames not his friend and his pocket and the flying bullets, but the glow that is consuming the two. They have some sort of radiation like exposure that is making them sick. They are content with dying from radiation poisoning, but not in going out like two who simply run from danger. Bulk says something that is inspiring to his friend and they come to this realization of wanting to go out with glory, in the presence of an ❌-Factor paper advertisement.

Snow Valley, Mass: Emma knows, OG Magnto is coming for her and it is late night, and she is in her head about it. So she calls the Snowy Valley police to report the “international terrorist Magneto” for intent to abduct children. And she has no idea why. Please just call whomever’s department this is. An TV spot Advertises X-Factor. The Police call the number. It goes to voicemail. Magneto appears and Emma divulges the location of Banshee and gives over Empath to distract his wrath.

Lower East Side, NYC; Scott gets off the phone, having completely lost track of Maddie and Nate. The rest of the team is working out…and Jean is trying to get them to divulge who Maddie is. And their silence and deflections answer the question. Scott is married to Maddie. Jean’s not an idiot. And they have all been treating her like one. She has destroyed them in the work out and but she is shredded by the experience. 

Annandale-on-Hudson, Westchester County,  NY: Rachel goes to visit Jean’s grave sight. Rachel has been struggling in her own mind to keep the tack of her emotions and timelines in what seems more and more like the Multiverse. Nimrod having followed her through time and space, has her shook.

Morlock Tunnels, NJ & NY; Bulk and Glow Worm take their tunnel towards NY under the Hudson, looking for some help from folks who welcome strays, but have rejected these two. They are greeted, well blocked by a teen who is dressed in the style…kinda…leaning into late 80’s punk/metal/mall scene and away from the late 70’s punk/metal/rap scene. But that’s not why she stands out for a Morlock. Her face is unscarred. Her power is represented by a white outline. She has permanent shield, like an invisible exoskeleton. She floats…she Skids through life. It is set up. Glow Worm and Bulk can’t hurt Skids, with their radiation, but they can harm the rest of the Morlocks. This seems to be Skids one job. Which, knowing the Morlocks dynamics and her outward appearance…of not being mutated by Mask…you could read into it and think…yes they want her to keep these two loaners away, for safety…but also…we don’t exactly love having your pretty face around ruining the vibes…and this seems like a kismet thankless assignment of Skids. Glow Worm ain’t have time for the bull. ‘tell them to clear a path…“…we’re cutting through the alley to rendezvous with DESTINY — and we’re taking ❌-FACTOR with us!” 

Salem Center, NY: Rachel doesn’t want to track down a fellow mutant. Magneto and Rachel get into it. As they have Empath, in hand, after she probes and experiences the trauma that Tom and Sharon have experienced. Magneto gives her permission to kill him. She doesn’t take the bate and Kitty is like how did you know…and Magneto is like I know hate. Rachel does thinks it is high time she visit the Hellfire Club…as she has a sense there is something there that is fucking with head, so maybe she has hate…and maybe this is where her hate is directed…but first…one last tracking…a rescue mission.

Lower East Side, NYC; Artie is alarming ❌-Factor with images of Glow Worm and Bulk, who are on the street outside escalating the scene of anti-mutant protests, by being as scary mutant monster as they can muster. Jean’s pissed…so she is ignoring her beeper. The humans are shooting at our new friends outside, as inside they debate which costume to put on. They settle on the ‘we are your friendly neighborhood fellow mutants,” only it is just Hank, Bobby and Scott. WWIII goes to check on Jean…because of course he does. Artie is with WWIII. Hank is mad, that Warren doesn’t even have to be part of the sham he created here. Jean is in this moment confronting WWIII…Jean: “Got more half-lies you want to tell me? More nasty little secrets?” WWIII: “A few more, I guess…but we don’t have time for them now!” Hank leans into the branding of the ‘we are mutants’ side of ❌-Factor branding, with “❌-Terminate ❌-Factor,” and Tish is there to live report the rebranding. Tish: “Okay, Joe, I’ve got the angel! Let’s roll…” “The ❌-TERMINATORS—.“ Glow Worm: “Bulk, who ARE those people?” Bulk: “I dunno, Glow Worm. They say they are on our side…but they ain’t too good a HELPIN, ‘ are they?” As the mutants fight amongst themselves…trying not to…Iceman raises them on an ice tower…because they are being broadcast as maroons and the rioting humans are potential collateral…or just not their audience. As they do this “❌-Factor” shows…only there are four of them…meaning WWIII, Jean…are joined by Vera and Cameron. Somehow, this farce settles down and Scott, Hank, and Bobby are able to help Bulk and Glow Worm find their way back to a manhole and the tunnels. In the end our two heroes part ways with the purty mutants…and do the old, thanks fo nothing. Leaving an ❌-Factor splintered and without direction. 

Holden's Butte, Arcadia, Cheyenne Mountains, Rockies, Colorado, USA, Earth-616: Kitty,  Illyana, and Rachel pay Dani a visit. As Jimmy is is frustrated by Empath’s interference. Kitty, Illyana, Dani and Rachel track down Jimmy and free Banshee. Dani and Jimmy have a heart to heart. As Rachel and Kitty return Banshee, Tom and Sharon to Scotland, with Illyana’s help, leaving what was once a school, empty.

Spring 1986;

03:55:00

Central Park, NYC: Having, reconnected with his children, closed the school, delivered the news of suicide, returned to form with a atoned perspective, we next see Magneto approaching what is the Hellfire Club, on the street across from THE Park. He is nearly being attacked by Jean, who sees him out an about for the first time, and is unaware of how he has turned things around and how the world sees him at this point.

Central Park, NYC: In conclusion…for now…across the street from the Hellfire Club…out of the darkness emerges Nimrod over THE Park, our cast presumably bellow, as he states menacingly: “MUTANTS!”

Roll Post Film Title Credits!

Post Credits:

Post Credits:

04:00:00

Post Credits One: Salem Center, NY: Through a static black and white image we see into the School of Gifted Youngsters kitchen. The camera pulls back from a close up of a cup of coffee as it is sipped. The TV, boink, goes blank, as power is out. But then we are no longer seeing the TV’s transmission. We see reality and in full color, through the local lens of what seems like a film camera, as it pulls back as if the audience is operating it, and then the camera seems to move from the kitchen and into the school, eventually passing a mirror, and we see, we are not only the camera, but we are viewing this film through Betsy’s cybernetic eyes.

Reflection shifts as source changes on the viewing screen. Boink.

Actual credits roll:

Post Credits Two Mexico City, Mexico: Karen Page is strung out in a room with shades drawn. It’s hot. She hands an envelope to a man sitting with her. Nassau, Bahamas: Wilson is on a yacht, well off the coast, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, he is handed an envelope. It’s hot. NYC, USA: Nick hands Nat (or Yelena) an envelope, as she exits a debrief on the death of Hazzard. It’s hot in the S.H.I.E.L.D. Office. Panama City, Panama: Elektra is handed an envelope by John Garrett. It’s hot in their hotel room. Agarashima, Japan: Mariko is handed a letter by a member of The Hand. It’s hot. {teasers for Disney+ series: The Hand: Or if we prefer Born Again Season!?!…since this is in part that story and Elektra Assassin in one}.

Fillm stops rolling with this last note: “The X-Men will return in X-Men III: X-Men: Mutant Massacre”

*Source Material: Chapters 26-45