136. Uncanny X-Men vol 1 #189 ... Marvel ...

Let's fast forward several years or rather more than a decade to issue 189 ... where the X-Men comics were hitting the top of the charts regularly ... and their popularity is such that off-beat issues are permissable without denting their sales

This is one such issue

All the main X-Men (a depleted team) is recuperating from the last big fight against the Dire Wraiths and also busy feeling sad as Storm plans to take a hiatus to clear her mind and find herself ... that sort of thing ...

So against that setting, this issue sees 2 mutant chicks just deciding to get out of the X-Mansion for a wander about. Who are these two? As the cover shows, Magma (from the new mutants) and Rachel (baby phoenix) who at this point have arrived at the X-Mansion but is not yet an X-Man. See what we mean? Not one full X-Men is taking the lead and yet it is such a good story

So we have Magma, a girl who grew up in a civilization that is backward when compared to ours and Rachel a girl from the future - what a perfect pair to go exploring the city together. Unfortunately while strolling about, who should they encounter but Selene, the Hellfire club's new black queen??? And to their surprise, both girls discovered that they have both had dealings with the bitch and none of it good ...

Selene who is not just a mutant (ability to control non organic objects) but also long lived (external?) and a sorceress (wielding magic, baby) ... is going to give the 2 X-ladies far more than they bargained for when they tracked her across town to her lair ... only to find her waiting for them ... and that it was potentially a trap (SPOILER ALERT)

A fight ensues ... but are the girls up to it? And if not, who is going to come to the rescue? Buy the comic, find out!

Ratings: 7/10