X-Factor #38

The Credits:

Louise Simonson (Writer), Walter Simonson (Pencils), Al Milgrom (Inks), Joe Rosen (Letters), Tom Vincent (Colors), Bob Harras (Editor), Tom DeFalco (Editor-in-Chief)

The Story:

Continued from Uncanny X-Men 242

This is absolutely a must-read issue! Everything about Madelyne's creation (by Sinister), her awakening (by the Phoenix entity the day Dark Phoenix died on the moon), and her corruption (by N'astirh and S'ym). At the end, Madelyne and Jean are locked together, physically and psychically, and Madelyne decides to let her own life slip away, dragging Jean with her. The Phoenix entity offers to save Jean - all she has to do is accept the part of her back that Phoenix "borrowed" from her (when Phoenix tried to return it to her after the Dark Phoenix's death, Jean rejected it so it ended up in Madelyne). Jean accepts the Phoenix's offer, and everything in NYC is returned to normal. Scott and Jean get baby Nathan Christopher Summer back, but Madelyne is dead.

Continues in Uncanny X-Men 243

The Characters:

X-Factor:

Archangel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, Marvel Girl

X-Men:

Colossus, Dazzler, Havok, Longshot, Psylocke, Rogue, Storm, Wolverine

Others:

Elaine Grey, John Grey, Phoenix (II), Madelyne Pryor, Nathan Christopher Summers

Others (Flashback):

Marauders (Harpoon, Prism, Scalphunter), Mister Sinister, Annie Richardson, Roma