CHILDREN OF THE ATOM (1998)

Nightcrawler, Shadowcat and Colossus are about to return to the X-Men for the first time in years. And they have an all-new, all-different team of alleged X-Men to contend with...

Joe Kelly and Steven T Seagle whittle down the group to seven core members - Storm, Wolverine, Marrow, Rogue and the three former-members of Excalibur - in an attempt to take the X-Men in a new direction in preparation for the new millennium. Unfortunately, editorial would become much more heavy-handed at this stage, eventually leading to Kelly and Seagle's quitting the titles.

Stories that help set the scene for this event:

• OPERATION: ZERO TOLERANCE - The last X-Men shake-up

• Uncanny X-Men #360
• X-Men #80

Uncanny X-Men #360

Shadowcat is kidnapped by a team of new but familiar X-Men and brought to Professor X who informs her he's dying and needs her help. The real X-Men are busy investigating the disappearance of their friend Dr Peter Corbeau who, until recently, was working on launching a rocket with über-secret cargo. Nightcrawler and Colossus return to America looking for the X-Men. After packing up her stuff, Cecilia Reyes gives them the keys to the Blackbird jet and leaves the X-Men behind her. By the time they catch up with the X-Men near Cape Citadel in Florida, the team has come under attack from these new X-Men whose leader, Grey King, forces the jet to crash...

X-Men #80

Shadowcat frees herself and Peter Corbeau, discovering the rocket is going to be used to track and kill mutants across the globe. Outside, the X-Men discover 'Professor X' is actually their now-sentient mutant locating device, Cerebro. The new 'X-Men' are all Cerebro's creations based on the abilities of former X-Men with two power sets combined (Grey King is a combined Phoenix and Magneto, Crux is a combined Iceman and Sunfire, Chaos is a combined Cyclops and Havok, Mercury is a combined Wolverine and Colossus, Rapture is a combined Angel and Mystique & Landslide has powers similar to Sabretooth and the Beast). The X-Men destroy the rocket, ruining Cerebro's plans and forcing him to show his true mechanical form. He absorbs his 'X-Men' into himself and exits. Shadowcat, Nightcrawler and Colossus decide to rejoin the X-Men since they had so much fun almost getting killed.

Uncanny X-Men #361 (1998) 

Gambit rounds out the new line-up when he rejoins the X-Men.

X-Men #81 (1998) 

Rogue and Gambit sort out their differences and try to move forward.

X-Men: Liberators #1-4 (1998-1999) 

The reunited Wolverine, Colossus and Nightcrawler's attempt at some male-bonding and clash with Omega Red.

Uncanny X-Men #363-364 (1999) 

Cerebro and the real Professor X return; Cerebro briefly resurrects his new X-Men during THE HUNT FOR XAVIER.

X-Men #84 (1999) 

Cerebro is destroyed during THE HUNT FOR XAVIER.

X-Men #102 (2000) 

Cecilia Reyes rejoins the X-Men during X-MEN REVOLUTION.

Uncanny X-Men #390 (2001) 

Colossus sacrifices himself to cure the Legacy Virus during THE CURE.

X-Men #110 (2001) 

SHadowcat leaves the X-Men during THE CURE.

Astonishing X-Men #9 (2005) 

Another of the X-Men's pieces of technology gains sentience - the Danger Room takes on humanoid form as Danger.