As the X-Men identify two new mutants, Dazzler and Kitty Pryde, and attempt to understand the threat posed by the Hellfire Club, Jean Grey is beset with disturbing dreams of a life in the past, during America's Civil War, where she was happy not with Scott Summers, but a gentleman named Jason Wyngarde. At the same time, Scott becomes worried about the extent of Jean's power, and the ease with which she manipulates the things and people around her.
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The Hellfire Club's main threat appears to be from their Black King, Sebastian Shaw, a mutant who stores and uses others' energy , and White Queen, Emma Frost, a telepath who rivals Jean for power. But in fact it is Mastermind, also known as Jason Wyngarde, who is sending Jean her dreams, slowly brain-washing her and at the same time breaking down the blocks she has placed on her own power, hoping that her addiction to the power will lead her to become the Club's Black Queen.
After attacking her fellow X-Men, Jean is able to break free from Mastermind's hold, only to discover that the the damage done to her mind is too great, and that the full power of the Phoenix has been unleashed within her. It is too much for any one human, even a homo superior, to cope with, and Jean Grey and the X-Men are faced with their most difficult battle yet. Can they save Jean's human life - and will they damn the universe in trying?
One of my primary goals in undertaking The CMRO was to read everything before this arc, one of my childhood faves, and see how it held up to what came before it. Well, having read the 3,000+ books that it took to reach this point, I have to say this is EASILY the best, most engrossing storytelling I've ever encountered in the world of comic books. Rock on!
