X-Men (vol.1) Issue #109
Writer: Chris Claremont Penciler: John Byrne Cover Artist: John Byrne
Inker: Terry Austin Colourist: Andy Yanchus Letters: Joe Rosen
Cover Date: FEB-1978
ALPHA FLIGHT IS…
WEAPON ALPHA
Story Title: Home are the Heroes!
What if the Canadian Government were a bunch of high-tech, secretive, militant arseholes? And, well, who’s to say they aren’t now? A young John Byrne grew up in Canada after moving there from England as an eight-year-old with his family and through his youth fermented the idea of a Canadian Super-group capable of rivalling the Mighty Avengers. Why can’t Canada have a super team join the Americans on the big stage? Young John even dawdled out some of the characters throughout his school years. His work on X-Men was finally the opportunity for these ideas to see print in issue #109, including the first reference to the new Canadian Super-group, Alpha Flight. This issue picks up the plot thread of Wolverine’s mirky, mysterious past hinted at from as early as Giant-Sized X-Men #1 when he quit Canada’s clandestine military program. Here, Canada turns it up a notch by sending in a powered up heavy hitter to drag Wolverine back by the scruff of the neck. Weapon Alpha is our main antagonist this issue, albeit with an empathetic edge.
The X-Men return home from saving the Universe (!!) and in great X-Men tradition, it’s time for some relaxation. Cyclops does what he does best, broods, while Jean updates her very supportive folks on her supped-up powers after the Phoenix imbued her with cosmic gifts. Nightcrawler takes a date to go see “Star Wars” (bless) and the rest head off for a picnic. Grumpy Wolverine goes hunting in the woods nearby only to be surprised by Weapon Alpha! Canada’s government sponsored, battle suit wearing superhero.
Yes, this was a clandestine, covert military operation and not a knock on the X-Mansion front door, but Weapon Alpha attempts to talking with Wolverine before all the punching and slashing. It seems Weapon Alpha, aka James McDonald Hudson, and Wolverine were old friends at some point, so some half-hearted attempt to convince Wolverine to come along peacefully makes sense. But Mr Hodson’s diplomacy sucks and he should have just started with the fisticuffs: “You always were a royal pain in the butt Logan. Short and arrogant and feisty as your namesake. It’s time you learned some manners pipsqueak.”
Sure, Weapon Alpha doesn’t throw the first punch, but thems fightin’ words in any language and he should’ve known there would be only one kind of reaction from Wolverine. Lo and behold, the claws come out and it’s on. The fight spills out onto the X-Men’s picnic, and they quickly join the fray. A stray bolt from Weapon Alpha ricochets off of Colossus and grazes Moira McTaggert’s head, knocking her unconscious. Well, this sends Banshee off the deep end and Weapon Alpha finds himself suddenly out numbered and outmatched. He figures better to retreat than face off against an enemy he knows little about, and he blinks out of the fight with a ‘pop!’.
3 main takeaways from this issue:
The X-Men gets some down time. Strengthening the ‘soap opera’ aspect of the X-Men, we get a glimpse of the social interactions and relationships develop. What differentiates these early adventures is the lack of melodrama, as any confrontations or antagonisms between characters are reflected upon and managed with degrees of reason and rationality, not played up as wildly emotional for the sake of contrived drama. Cyclops has legitimate concerns about is relationship with Jean. Nightcrawler gives sage advise to Scott which could easily have been played up as motivation for retaliation, but Scott takes it on board and gives it it’s due attention. Chris Claremont has a good understanding of his characters and allows them to grow into and with their own voices. In later issues, when there is worthy conflict between characters, it’s moments like these that gives the emotional punch more weight.
The mystery that is Wolverine begins. Wolverine’s past is complicated and convoluted. At this point, the memories Logan can recall are unknown to the reader. We know he worked for the Canadian military and his body had been augmented to include claws and unbreakable bones. Here, we get small hints to his backstory which eventually unravel into sprawling threads of further questions and misdirection. But the shadow of devious, unethical military practises is hinted at. Which segues nicely into to…
The first steppingstones of Alpha Flight are laid here. Weapon Alpha doesn’t last long, as his code name changes to “Vindicator” with his next appearance. Also, “Department H” isn’t referenced, but we see indications of that shady agency. And the implications aren’t subtle either. Any ideas of who these Canadian bad boys look like?
There is even a “Star Wars” reference in the comic, perhaps to trigger the comparison? And finally, we see Weapon Alpha consider the veiled threat of returning with Alpha Flight. John Byrnes second issue as X-Men artist is a fresh contrast to the cosmic universe-on-the-line battle last issue. A nice one-off that lets the audience reset before our X-Heroes are challenged once again.
Evin Bryant, 22/08/2023