FLASHBACK (part 2) / A MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1997)

FLASHBACK (part 2, 1997)
Flashback month continues to focus on what Marvel's cast of characters were up to before the Fantastic Four got their powers...

Get the full story on Flashback:
[part 1 - X-Factor]
[part 2 - Daredevil, Excalibur, Incredible Hulk, Venom, What If?, X-Man]
[part 3 - Deadpool]
[part 4 - Cable, Silver Surfer, Thunderbolts]
[part 5 - Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Men]
[part 6 - Generation X, X-Force]
[part 7 - Peter Parker: Spider-Man]
[part 8 - Ghost Rider, Ka-Zar]
[part 9 - Alpha Flight, Elektra, Journey Into Mystery, Spider-Man (Amazing, Spectacular, Untold Tales)]

Years before he merges with Spider-Man's alien black costume, young reporter Eddie Brock investigates the arrival of an alien being on Earth: Krobaa. The creature merges with scientist, Dr Nigel Donlevy, before destroying itself to prevent inflicting the madness of humanity on it's own race.

On Earth-295 (dubbed the Age of Apocalypse), Sinister's secret pet project: a genetically-created young boy who he names Nathan Grey. Sinister finds the boy and tries to teach him to fear the world he's been exploring. In an attempt to help some captured humans, the boy instinctively unleashes his powers. Sinister restrains him and returns the boy to his nutrient bath, planing to install a failsafe in case his immense powers grow out of hand.

On Earth-97799, young Professor Charles Xavier is visited by a mutant from the future names Trevor Fitzroy. Fitzroy tried to convince Xavier not to form the X-Men, but he's pursued through time by the mutant cop called Bishop...

In the present day, the Hulk was recently separated from Bruce Banner during the final battle against Onslaught. The now-Bannerless Hulk stands in front of Brian Banner's grave. He recalls the time when Brian (Bruce's father) was sent to prison for the murder of his mother. Years later, Brian is released and visits his wife's grave where he finds his son, Bruce. Telling his son he regrets killing his mother instead of Bruce himself, Bruce lashes out and Brian falls, hitting his head on the gravestone and dying instantly. Banner blocks the memories by convincing himself his father was killed by muggers. The returning memories of what Banner did bring a tear to the otherwise emotionless Hulk's eye.

Jack Murdock takes his son to State University where he plans to study to be a lawyer. Matt Murdock befriends Foggy Nelson and shows he can handle himself, despite being blind, when he takes on some muggers.

Kurt 'Nightcrawler' Wagner threatens to leave the circus. His foster-sister, Jimaine Szardos, wants to leave with him, but her mother, Margolis, forbids her. Morgolis revealing to her daughter that she will become the bearer of the Soulsword doesn't swing it for her either, so Margolis makes out bad shit'll go down if she doesn't accept her destiny. Disguising herself as Belasco, Margolis causes one of the trapeze performers to fall to his death. Jemaine blames herself and stays with the circus when Kurt leaves, promising that they'll reunite one day.

Follow the story in:

Venom: Seed of Darkness #-1
X-Man #-1
What If? #-1
Incredible Hulk #-1
Daredevil #-1
Excalibur #-1

Fallout - Venom:

• Venom: Lethal Protector #3 (1993) Eddie Brock next appears in a flashback.
• Amazing Spider-Man #298 (1988) Eddie Brock first appears in shadow.
• Amazing Spider-Man #299 (1988) Eddie Brock first appears on panel as Venom.
• Amazing Spider-Man #300 (1988) Venom's origin is revealed.
• Venom: License to Kill #3 (1997) Venom's modern continuity picks up again during License to Kill.

Fallout - X-Man:

• Tales From The Age of Apocalypse: Sinister Bloodlines (1997) Sinister and the Dark Beast next appear.
• X-Man #4 (1995) Nate Grey next appears in a flashback during Age of Apocalypse.
• X-Men Alpha #1 (1995) Earth-295, Sinister, the Dark Beast and the Infinites first appear during Age of Apocalypse.
• X-Man #1 (1995) Nate first appears during Age of Apocalypse.
• X-Man #4 (1995) Nate kills Sinister during Age of Apocalypse.
• X-Men Omega #1 (1995) Nate escapes Earth-295 during Age of Apocalypse.
• X-Man #12 (1996) Stranded on Earth-616, Sinister's failsafe is discovered when Moira MacTaggert reveals Nate Grey will be dead by the time he's 21 during Trust.
• X-Man #29 (1997) Nate's modern-day exploits continue.
• X-Man #75 (2001) Nate Grey sacrifices himself to save the world from the Harvester.

Fallout - What If?:

• What If? #99 (1997) The next alternate universe to be explored is Earth-97899.

Fallout - Hulk:

• Incredible Hulk #312 (1985) Bruce Banner and Thunderbolt Ross next appear in a flashback during Secret Wars II.
• Incredible Hulk #1 (1962) Bruce Banner and Thunderbolt Ross first appear; Banner becomes the Hulk.
• Incredible Hulk #267 (1982) Brian Banner first appears.
• Incredible Hulk #312 (1985) The murder of Bruce Banner's mother by his father is first revealed during Secret Wars II.
• Incredible Hulk #377 (1991) Bruce Banner learns to deal with the guilt over his mother's death leading to the creation of the 'Professor' Hulk and 'Guilt' Hulk.
• Incredible Hulk #455 (1997) In the present day, the Hulk next appears.
• Heroes Reborn: The Return #4 (1997) Bruce Banner and the Hulk are merged back together during Heroes Return.
• Incredible Hulk #460 (1998) Bruce comes to terms with killing his father.
• Incredible Hulk #32 (2001) Reed Richards uses DNA from Brian Banner's body to cure Bruce Banner of Lou Gehrig's disease, further confusing his feelings towards his father.
• Incredible Hulks #619-620 (2011) Brian Banner is resurrected as the Devil Hulk before being defeated by the Hulk during Chaos War.

Fallout - Daredevil:

• Daredevil #168 (1981) Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson next appear in a flashback.
• Elektra #-1 (1997) Matt's first meeting with Elektra is explored during Flashback.
• Daredevil #1 (1964) Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson and Jack Murdock first appear; Jack Murdock's murder is shown in flashback; Matt becomes Daredevil to avenge his father.
• Daredevil #18 (1966) Melvin Potter first appears (as Gladiator).
• Daredevil #353-354 (1996) Foggy's mother, Rosalind Sharpe, employs Matt and Foggy.
• Daredevil #366 (1997) Daredevil's present-day adventures continue.
• Daredevil #367 (1997) Matt Murdock and Melvin Potter next face each other as Daredevil and the Gladiator.

Fallout - Excalibur:

• Nightcrawler #11 (2005) Nightcrawler and Jimaine Szardos next appear in a flashback.
• Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975) Nightcrawler first appears; he joins the X-Men.
• X-Men #98 (1976) Amanda Sefton first appears.
• Classic X-Men #6 (1987) Nightcrawler and Amanda Sefton begin a romantic relationship.
• X-Men Annual #4 (1980) Margolis Szardos' next (and first) appears; Margolis tries to claim Nightcrawler and Amanda Sefton; Amanda Sefton's true identity is revealed as Jimaine Szardos.
• Uncanny X-Men #171 (1983) The Soulsword first appears.
• Magik: Storm & Illyana #4 (1984) The creation of the Soulsword by Illyana Rasputin (the sword's 'other wielder') is revealed.
• Excalibur Special Edition (1988) Nightcrawler joins Excalibur.
• Excalibur #75 (1994) Amanda Sefton joins Excalibur as Daytripper.
• Excalibur #85 (1995) Amanda gains the Soulsword.
• Excalibur #111 (1997) Nightcrawler's modern-day missions with Excalibur pick up during A Most Dangerous Game.
• X-Men: Black Sun #1-5 (2000) Amanda Sefton becomes Magik and rules Limbo during X-Men: Revolution.

Fallout - Flashback:

• Deadpool #-1 (1997) Flashback continues.

A MOST DANGEROUS GAME (1997)
Despite his engagement to Meggan, Captain Britain has quit Excalibur after losing his powers. The team are still in Hong Hong after their recent mission to defeat the Dragons of the Crimson Dawn...

Colossus consoles Meggan while the rest of the team meet up with their old friend Rory Campbell who's just had a prosthetic leg fitted by his new employers, Shaw Industries. Rory seems to be a step closer (no pun intended) to becoming the X-Men's future nemesis, Ahab. Their dinner is interrupted when Shadowcat is possessed by Ogun. Pete Wisdom manages to convince Ogun to leave her body by threatening to kill her.

With their mission in Hong Kong over and the team in disarray, only Shadowcat and Wolfsbane decide to head back to Muir Island. Nightcrawler and Wisdom head to Germany to search for Amanda Sefton. Colossus and Meggan decide to go to a theme park in Paris for a holiday. On the way, the pilot of their plane turns out to be a crazy person with a bomb strapped to him and their plane explodes over the Alps...

Colossus and Meggan survive the crash, but Meggan is weak. Colossus carries her for miles, eventually arriving at Mount Wundagore, home of the High Evolutionary. Back at Muir Island in Scotland, Moira MacTaggert's condition worsens as the Legacy Virus takes hold. In Germany, continue to search for Amanda Sefton but come under fire from a mystery assailant...

Bova rescues Colossus and Meggan from the snow and takes them to Wundagore. The High Evolutionary is preparing for the impending conflict with the mutant Exodus. Colossus offers to help, but the Evolutionary teleports him and Meggan to Paris. Pete Wisdom finds he's been taken captive by former girlfriend and Black Air operative, Sari St Hubbins. Wolfsbane is invited to a reunion with the former New Mutants and heads back to America to meet them. 

In an attempt to cheers Meggan up, Colossus takes her to Dudleyworld, Paris. But they park is closed and the duo are captured by Arcade and forced to fight their way through his newest version of Murderworld. The challenge is for Colossus to rescue Meggan by killing Arcade. Colossus fights his way through, but Meggan stops him from killing Arcade who has been used as an unwilling pawn of Black Air. Colossus and Meggan head back to Muir Island...

As Colossus and Meggan return home, Pete Wisdom is busy trying to free himself from his psychotic ex-girlfriend. Wisdom uses his hot knives to free himself and take St Hubbins out, warning her and Black Air not to mess with him or his friends.

Shadowcat searches Muir Island for her missing dragon, Lockheed, unaware that he's been taken captive by Bamfs. Though he manages to break free on his own, he's unable to warn her of the danger. Moira MacTaggert gets a call from SHIELD, looking to recruit Shadowcat...

Follow the story in:
Excalibur #111-113
Colossus #1
Excalibur #114

Fallout:

• New Mutants: Truth or Death #1 (1997) Wolfsbane and Douglock next appear; the New Mutants' reunion begins.
• X-Men Unlimited #16 (1997) Moira MacTagert next appears during Operation: Zero Tolerance.
• Quicksilver #1 (1997) The High Evolutionary, Sir Ram, Lord Gator, Lady Ursula, Sir Delphis, Luna Maximoff and Bova next appear; Exodus storms Wundagore and takes it for himself and the Acolytes.
• Kitty Pryde, Agent of SHIELD #1 (1997) Shadowcat, Colossus, Meggan, Pete Wisdom and Ogun next appear.
• Kitty Pryde, Agent of SHIELD #2 (1997) Lockheed next appears.
• Kitty Pryde, Agent of SHIELD #3 (1997) Ogun is defeated by Shadowcat and Wolverine.
• Excalibur #118-119 (1998) Excalibur face the Nightmare-created Bamfs.
• X-Men Unlimited #19 (1998) Nightcrawler locates Amanda Sefton.
• X-Force #76 (1998) Arcade next appears.
• Excalibur #120 (1998) To prevent Shadowcat getting dragged down by his dubious history and connections to Black Air, Pete Wisdom leaves Excalibur.
• Excalibur #122 (1998) Captain Britain returns.
• Excalibur #125 (1998) Miss Locke and Rory Campbell next appear; Captain Britain and Meggan get married; Arcade and Miss Locke attend the wedding; Excalibur disband.
• Heroes For Hire #15 (1998) The Knights of Wundagore, Quicksilver and the Heroes For Hire begin their attempt to reclaim Mount Wundagore during The Siege of Wundagore.
• X-Men #96 (2000) Rory Campbell becomes Ahab during Apocalypse: The Twelve.
• X-Men #108 (2001) Moira MacTaggart dies from injuries caused by Mystique before the Legacy Virus can claim her during Dream's End.