Uncanny X-Men has a year-long story arc going called "Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire" written by Ed Brubacker (sp?). So far it seems good, with mixes of the return of D'Ken, a powerless Xavier being tortured by the Shi'ar, Vulcan (the 3rd Summers brother), Warpath being played up like a badass, and some cool usage of a new X-Man called Darwin (whose power is to adapt to his environment). This story carried over from Brubacker's X-Men: Deadly Genesis mini series last year where Banshee was killed and the team sent in to rescue the original X-Men from Krakoa (NOT the All-New, All-Different X-Men!)...didn't survive. The current lineup on Uncanny is Nightcrawler, Havok, Polaris, Darwin, Warpath (with some Vibranium knives), Rachel Grey, and Xavier.

Adjectiveless X-Men went through one of the crappiest storylines I've ever read in comics where Apocalypse returned and went about creating some new Horsemen (Sunfire as Famine, some other useless mutant as War, Polaris as Pestilence, and Gambit as Death). The story went to complete crap, and featured one of the abosolute stupidest images I've ever seen: Apocalypse wearing an apron. I think this story may have succeeded in burying Gambit's popularity (and I hope so because I hate him). Gambit and Sunfire ran off and joined up with Sinister. Mike Carey (writer for DC/Vertigo's Lucifer) has taken over the book now, with a team led by Rogue. Her team lineup is Sabretooth, Mystique, Iceman (who may be interested in Mystique...), one of Mastermind's daughters (the blonde one), some other mutant I can't even i.d., and Cable.

Astonishing is just freaking awesome; 'nuff said. Kitty Pryde gets a total badass moment. She also phases through the ceiling after her and Colossus...y'know...*wink wink*

X-Factor has been a standout. Peter David is doing a great job with the writing. The Multiple Man leads a team consisting of Siryn (who is in denial after her father's death), a powerless Richter, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, M, Quicksilver (the villian of House of M, and in current possession of the Inhumans' Terrigen Mists), and Layla Miller...'who knows stuff' (a character from House of M).

Hmm. So X-Factor is worth checking out, eh? I think any story involving Epoxylips is a story worth avoiding. I also not like gambit too much, chere. Had high hopes for Excalibur. Not enough to check it out, though. I am curious as to how Dazzler was written back into continuity. I'll probably pick up the trades when they become available.

For Xavier in Genosha check out House of M...Emma and Scott are being headmistress (emphasis on the mistress hisssss...hahahahhaha) and headmaster of Xaviers... I think it is well known by now how Xavier lost his powers but i don't want to give away much check out Xmen Deadly Gensis, it explains alot about what Xavier was doing after house of M and leads into the reasons for what is happening in Uncanny Xmen now. Hope that was of some help...

and yeah X factor keeps getting better and better and Excalibur... I use to love Dazzler back in the 80s.... sigh is all i am gonna say about that book...