| Slot: |
X-Factor #84 |
| Item: |
X-Factor 84 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1272306001
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| Slot: |
X-Factor #85 |
| Item: |
X-Factor 85 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1272306002
|
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| Slot: |
X-Force #17 |
| Item: |
X-Force 17 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
1240462007
|
Owner Comments
Owner's Description
Published: December 1992
KEY ISSUE: Part 8 of the X-Cutioner’s song series.
Fabian Nicieza story
Greg Capullo, Harry Candelario, & Steve Bucellato art
Greg Capullo & Harry Candelario Cover
A total of 17 have been graded with 7 having graded out at 9.8, 1 having earned 9.6SS (Mine), 3 graded at 9.4, 3 graded at 9.2, and 3 graded at 9.0. As for mine and the only true OAK of the list, there is currently a single issue having been graded out at 9.6SS. Signed by Capullo, this now stands out as the lone OAK of the group and only Signature Series book. May try to send this one off for pressing to see if I can bump up that one single grade.
Story Title: Sleeping with the Enemy (X-Cutioner's Song, Pt. 8)
SUMMARY:
Bani Maza
Stryfe confronts Apocalypse in his sleep chamber. Apocalypse does not know who Stryfe is and is unsure why he has attacked him. Stryfe states that Apocalypse has ruined his life from his birth and that he is destroyer of tomorrow. He then stabs Apocalypse with the sword that Apocalypse used to kill Stryfe at one point. Apocalypse stumbles to his teleportation matrix and disappears. Stryfe then turns to meet the Dark Riders who pledge their allegiance to him.
Graymalkin
Cable explains to Wolverine and Bishop that their true enemy is Stryfe. He has Professor show them Stryfe's past, in the distant future, and shows them that he has come back in the past to stop the ascension of the High-Lord. Cable tells that he came back to the past to ensure that the High Lord awakened and brings order to the future nightmare. He also tells that Stryfe wears his face and he does not know why.
X-Mansion
Sam watches over Boomer in the medical lab. He makes sure she is okay and then leaves. Havok meets him outside and tells him that he needs to check on his soldiers in the Danger Room as they are becoming restless. Havok then goes to check on Professor X and learns that Hank is going to perform surgery to remove the virus from his head. Sam then heads into the Danger Room. Siryn is angered by Multiple Man's indifference for what she and one of his clones had shared. Rahne apologizes to Sunspot and Rictor for detaining them. Sam then tells the team to remain patient that everything is going to work out.
Stryfe's Secret Base
Stryfe walks down a dark corridor and checks on his prisoners, Cyclops and Jean. He then heads off after seeing that they are still detained. Jean then turns to Cyclops and tells him that it is time for them to leave and they sneak out of their prison and head down the corridor.
X-Mansion
The mansion is suddenly attacked and the X-Men race to try to stop the intruder. They are all astonished to learn that it is none other than Apocalypse himself. Archangel quickly attacks and Apocalypse is unfazed by his attempt. He is amazed that Archangel is so fierce now and tells them all that they must team up to fight Stryfe... together.
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
Another raw submission signed at Wizard World St. Louis and now returned into my X-Force collection. Hoping to get this one pressed in the near future or to find another to replace it and bump up that last .2 grade.
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| Slot: |
X-Force #18 |
| Item: |
X-Force 18 |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0223365002
|
Owner Comments
Published: December 1991
KEY ISSUE: The final part of X-Cutioner’s Song and the seemingly death of Cable and Stryfe.
Fabian Nicieza story
Greg Capullo, Harry Candelario, & Marie Javins art
Greg Capullo & Harry Candelario Cover
A total of 10 have been graded with 3 having graded out at 9.8, 1 having earned 9.6, 5 graded at 9.2, and a lone OAK at 8.0. As for mine and the only true OAK of the list, there is currently a single issue having been graded out at 9.8SS. Signed by Capullo, this now stands out as the lone OAK of the group.
Story Title: Ghosts in the Machine (X-Cutioner's Song, Pt. 12)
SUMMARY:
Stryfe's Moonbase
Cable confronts Stryfe. Above them both, Jean and Scott are tied in to a time vortex machine that shows images of all their pasts. Stryfe tells Cable that he is a clone of him and not a person at all. Cable does not believe him and they battle on the surface of the moon.
Inside, The X-Men search for the Dark Riders and see that they have just escaped. While Iceman and Bishop go to join the others, Archangel goes off in search of a dying Apocalypse. Iceman tries to stop him but Bishop tells him to let him go.
Outside, Cannonball and Polaris see that Havok has made it through Stryfe's shield and they recover from the pain it brought them by trying to enter. They cannot do anything but watch as inside Cable and Stryfe fight to the death.
X-Mansion
Jubilee and Beast try to get Professor X to calm down as he has just awakened and is screaming. He tells them that he saw a vision on the moon and was telepathically linked in to each of them. He fears for the lives of Jean and Scott and realizes that they are the cause of some of this madness.
Stryfe's Moonbase
Archangel finds the dying Apocalypse barely holding onto life. Apocalypse is expecting him to kill him since he is now unfit to live, according to his own beliefs. Archangel tells him that he will not kill him and that his living is suffering enough for him.
Outside, Cable continues to fight Stryfe. Havok steps in and blasts Stryfe, burning his skin. Jean and Scott have enough distraction to free themselves and Jean forms a shield around the group. The machine begins to break up around them and Cable races to build a self-destruct unit. He throws the switch to Cyclops and tells him to press the button. Cyclops hesitates and the counter runs to zero. He yells at Cyclops to press the switch, and he does. There is a tremendous explosion and Cable and Stryfe disappear. Cyclops is left regretting what he has had to do again and wondering if he will learn the truth about Cable and Stryfe and which was his son.
Epilogue
In Nebraska, Gordon Lefferts opens the cylinder that Stryfe gave to Mr. Sinister. There is a whoosh of gas and air, but the contents of the tube are missing. Mr. Sinister is upset that Stryfe has tricked him and did not give him the Summers' DNA that he had bargained for. Gordan begins coughing and Mr. Sinister tells him to look after that as he leaves the building.
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
This one was a raw submittal that was sent to Wizard World Austin with my LCS Manager Earl from America’s Heroes Comics, Killeen, TX. I have to say I truly do appreciate everything he has ever done for me and having gotten this one and a few others signed by cover and interior penciler Greg Capullo I truly do owe him one.
Anyways this being an OAK, I am currently over the moon excited to get each on both this series for the X-Force as well as for the X-Cutioner’s Song saga.
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| Slot: |
X-Force #19 |
| Item: |
X-Force 19 Signature |
| Grade: |
CGC |
| Cert #: |
0223365003
|
Owner Comments
Published: February 1993
KEY ISSUE: No, this was the final issue of the X-Cutioner Song series which was and still is one of my favorite series. But from an overall standpoint no it’s not a key issue.
Fabian Nicieza story
Greg Capullo, Harry Candelario, & Steve Buccellato Art
Greg Capullo & Harry Candelario Cover
Only two of these have ever been graded and this stands as the lone OAK at Signature Series 9.8. The other OAK is a blue label 9.8 as well but I think this one looks best dressed in Yellow.
Story Title: The Open Hand – The Closed Fist
SUMMARY:
X-Mansion
Boomer talks to herself about her new outfit she just created with the Shi'ar synthesizer. She admires the new outfit when in walks Lila Cheney. Lila tells her that she should not be talking while trying to heal her broken jaw. She also tells her that if she is interested in Cannonball, that she should go after him and that Sam and herself are just friends.
In the Danger Room, Feral, Shatterstar and Rictor train. The workout is highly strenuous and Beast watches from the control room. He is amazed by how physical and determined they fight. Rictor announces that they are trying to get out all the energy they can in case they end up in jail. Feral tells them that she will not go to jail.
Elsewhere, Siryn and Warpath sneak through the computer room. Warpath looks to gather some information that he hopes will be helpful should they become detained. Siryn feels a little guilty about stealing from the X-Men and Warpath still does it and says they owe him a lot. Professor X sits in another room telepathically hearing what they are saying and Storm and Cannonball enter the room. Cannonball attempts to tell the Professor that X-Force has been held for too long and they are leaving. He explains they are no longer children and that they have been taught enough to be able to make choices for themselves.
Norwell, Massachusetts
Tina knocks at a bedroom door and tries to get Vanessa to get some food. Vanessa does not answer. Tina tells her that she has gone on for weeks without
Helicarrier
G.W. Bridge stomps into the Helicarrier looking for Nick Fury. The agents tell him that he is not on board. Bridge wonders whom has summoned him aboard. He soon finds that Henry Gyrich and General Clarke have called him in to answer for the cost of his attempt to capture Cable using Weapon: Prime. Bridge states that the mission did not concern SHIELD and that it was sanctioned separately. SHIELD seems to have still taken on the bill and they tell him that it was a complete loss. Bridge then turns and quits SHIELD.
X-Mansion
Boomer continues to create outfits for the other members of the team. Warpath and Cannonball get new duds. Even Feral asks for a new set of clothes. Siryn walks outside admiring the fall weather and landscape. Professor X meets with her and asks how she will fair with the group. She seems to be happy to be a part of X-Force as they seem to be in the same place as her in many cases. Charles is a little surprised by her response. Cannonball meets with Sunspot outside and tells him that they are about to go. He sends Sunspot inside and then searches for something outside in the grass.
Back inside, all of X-Force meets with the Professor. They tell him that they are leaving and that they have been held for long enough. Sam tells him that they are more than ready to leave the nest and he even brings up the adage the Professor often used of the open hand versus the closed fist. He makes his point with the Professor who allows them to leave.
Outside, the team gathers around and Lila readies to teleport them to Camp Verde. As they are leaving, Sam looks back and tells the Professor not to worry about them and that they can handle Val Cooper and the government. Charles also reveals that some of X-Force stole from him and that he only wanted Sam to know that it happened so that he knows what kind of people he is getting involved with. The team finally leaves the mansion in the blinding light of Lila's portal.
PERSONAL COMMENTS:
This one was simply within my own collection and honestly cannot remember where I got it from other than I never went out looking for it. Kinda cool how some things just work out. Anyways this one was signed at Wizard World Austin last year by Greg Capullo by a good friend Earl as I was unable to stay and do it myself since I was limited on time due to being on leave from Afghanistan. A press and a grading later and it now resides as the top 9.8SS.
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