Home > COMICS > X-MEN 'DIVIDED WE STAND' ROUND-UP: 4/23/08
X-MEN 'DIVIDED WE STAND' ROUND-UP PART 2: 4/23/08
This week: The X-Men are getting into trouble in Russia and San Francisco; plus Bastion's evil plans are being unveiled
By Tomer Soiker
Posted 4/23/2008
X-Force #3 Written by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost Art by Clayton Crain
Recently in X-Force: After disbanding the X-Men, Cyclops decides on a new method to fight the enemies of Mutantkind. He orders Wolverine to lead a new black-ops team consisting of X-23, Warpath and Wolfsbane to kill anyone who threatens mutants, namely a religious terrorist group: the Purifiers.
Their first mission to attack the Purifiers' secret headquarters goes awry when the Purifiers' current leader, Reverend Matthew Risman threatens to kill Wolfsbane, who was taken as a hostage while trying to infiltrate the hideout by herself. Eventually he escapes with Rahne and a mysterious figure and gives the girl over to her father Reverend Craig, who begins torturing her.
When X-Force meets back in Warren Worthington's home, he finds out about the new team and their lost member. Meanwhile, the Purifiers use a stolen device from S.H.I.E.L.D. to rebuild Bastion, the android designed to destroy mutants. Bastion takes control of the organization and reveals the first step in his plan: Finding the evil Technarchy: Magus.
What happened:
-The Purifiers are gathering villains from all over the globe, all of them anti-mutants. Some—like Cameron Hodge and Graydon Creed—are dead, while others among the living are gathered—like Donald Pierce and Leper Queen.
-Risman tells Eli Bard and Reverend Craig about how William Stryker saved his life and why he's committed to his dream of annihilating the X-Men and the mutants. He is willing to keep on with his plans despite Bastion's orders to abort them and focus on his own plans.
-X-Force finds Rahne in Montana, drugged and barely alive.
-Although she is alive, Risman lies to Bastion and says that she was killed.
-Bastion suspects Eli Bard is lying, since he can't find any information about him or his background. Risman stands up for him and convinces Bastion to spare his life, on the condition that Risman himself will investigate Bard and kill him if he turns out to be an enemy. He promises to Bard that he will help him to get out of this situation.
-Bastion takes Risman to a room where he keeps the people he gathered. Also in there is an offspring of Magus of the Technarchy. Bastion takes control over the Technarchy and reprograms it. He merges it with the people and dead bodies in the room.
-X-Force arrives at Angel's safe house in Colorado. Rahne is having a seizure. When Warren insists on helping help, Wolverine sends him to get Elixir.
-In the Purifiers' HQ, Bastion explains to Risman that there is no terrestrial solution to deal with the X-Men, therefore he forged one by using an extraterrestrial being.
-In front of a horde of Purifiers Bastion presents his "new" pawns: those who will bring an end to Mutantkind. Among the ones gathered are Stephen Lang, William Stryker and Bolivar Trask.
Collecting the wild cards
Bastion proves that even death won't stand between him and the destruction of mutants. Two Purifiers finds anti-mutant terrorist Cameron Hodge's remains in Mount Everest.
Digging the grave
Another one of Bastion's "recruits" is former presidential candidate Graydon Creed. Even if papa Sabretooth was alive and mother Mystique was around, I doubt that it would've been a happy family reunion.
A flaw in the system
Bastion is not happy to find an operative with no information behind his identity. Someone is gonna sleep with the fishes tonight.
They are one
Bastion activates a machine and uses the Technarchy creature—now under his control—to take over and resurrect the individuals he assembled for his plan. Advice: During group hugs don't stand next to Leper Queen. Yikes...
Extermination
Bastion introduces his new pals, all have a common thread...they all love pie. Also, they've all killed numerous mutants directly and indirectly. The winner? Bolivar Trask. The prize? The largest piece of pie!
