In this gripping chapter, the tension escalates as our cherished mutants face off against a daunting new foe. Prepare for a journey filled with cosmic mystery, internal conflict, and monumental confrontations!

The story begins with an intense kidnapping. Under the mysterious Eric the Red’s command, Juggernaut and Black Tom Cassidy abduct Lilandra, the fugitive Shi’ar princess. Her arrival is far from random, as Professor Xavier’s mystifying psychic episodes are deeply connected to her, weaving an extra layer of fascination into the plot.

Sean Cassidy, known as Banshee, emerges as the protagonist. His distinctive powers, especially his sonic scream, are pivotal. Yet, it’s the interplay of characters that truly enriches this story. The charged relationship between Banshee and Wolverine, often at odds when they first meet, intensifies as they face a dire predicament together.

Gladiator, the devoted protector of the Shi’ar throne, makes a dramatic entrance, altering the course of the clash. The combat reaches a tense deadlock until Phoenix intervenes. Her intervention saves Lilandra and temporarily defeats Gladiator, setting the stage for future galactic duels.

The X-Men are torn between their duties and personal battles. Wolverine confronts his personal demons in the fray, while Moira MacTaggert is concerned for Charles Xavier’s safety, anxious it may affect her bond with Banshee.

Eric the Red’s quest to seize Lilandra alive poses moral dilemmas. His determination begs the question: what lengths will he go to succeed? In the midst of turmoil, a fraternal rift between Black Tom and Banshee unfolds, testing the strength of family bonds.

The action sequences are heart-racing. Banshee’s powers echo through the scenes and Gladiator reveals astonishing new talents. Yet, the episode concludes with a sense of foreboding. The malevolent space tyrant D’Ken’s laughter echoes ominously, foreshadowing dark events on the horizon…

At Muir Island, a crisis unfolds as Moira MacTaggert and Banshee discover Professor X‘s room bathed in light. Inside, Charles Xavier and Lilandra Neramani valiantly battle the Juggernaut. Xavier unleashes a psychic assault on his stepbrother, only for Black Tom to intervene, wielding his cane as a weapon. Declaring their intent to abduct Lilandra, the villains eject Xavier through the window, but Banshee swiftly rescues him.

Meanwhile, Xavier struggles to convince Moira and Banshee of Lilandra’s existence, while Cyclops keeps vigil at the hospital where Jean Grey, now merged with the Phoenix Force, is a patient. With the Professor urging the X-Men to join him on Muir Island to find Lilandra, a hesitant Cyclops agrees, and the team departs.

In Ireland, Juggernaut and Black Tom rendezvous with Eric the Red, receiving payment for Lilandra’s capture. As the X-Men converge on Muir Island, reuniting with Moira and Banshee, Xavier and Lilandra maintain a psychic link, with her revealing the Cassidy Family Crest. The team heads to Ireland, confronting Black Tom, Juggernaut, and Eric at Cassidy Keep. Amidst the chaos, Lilandra liberates herself, and the skirmish escalates to the rooftop. Suddenly, Gladiator enters the atmosphere, launching Juggernaut across the Atlantic. Jean, embodying the Phoenix, repels Gladiator into the cosmos. The conflict reaches a climax as D’Ken Neramani, the Shi’ar Emperor, arrives in his star ship…

Between the previous and current episodes, Lilandra has shed her armour, now donning her attire from the debut comic book story.

As the Juggernaut attempts to overpower his foes, we’re given a window into his tormented past, including childhood trauma and a devastating lab fire that ended a life. These events are explored further in The Juggernaut Returns…

Black Tom Cassidy first emerged as a shadowy figure in Uncanny X-Men #99, making his full appearance in #101. In the comic book lore, he is introduced as Banshee’s cousin, not his brother.

A return to Muir Island reveals another lapse in security since our last visit in The Cure. The comics have seen the island consumed by fire multiple times, notably in X-Factor #69 and Uncanny X-Men #280.

Cassidy Keep makes its inaugural appearance in Uncanny X-Men #99, with its introduction in the series lifted straight from the comic book pages.

This particular episode is one of three offering two versions that differ only in the voice of Gladiator, showcasing a change in voice actors for the character, and slight changes in the music track.

“YOU MAY WANT TO COVER YOUR EARS…”

Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Werner Roth, Banshee has left an indelible mark on Marvel Comics since he first appeared in 1967’s Uncanny X-Men #28.

Sean Cassidy, an Irish mutant, wields an unique power – a powerful ‘sonic scream’ that harms enemies’ auditory systems and causes physical vibrations. His codename pays homage to the haunting female spirit from Irish mythology. Initially an adversary, Banshee later joined the X-Men, leaving a lasting impression.

Beyond combat, he mentored the Generation X mutants, emphasizing a new side to the character that elevated his popularity. His complex relationship with Wolverine added depth, and his tragic demise in X-Men: Deadly Genesis left a void. Fortunately, thanks to the Five, he’s now back where he belongs.

Banshee’s legacy endures, resonating through his abilities and impact on mutant lore. Actor Caleb Landry Jones portrayed him in X-Men: First Class, introducing the character to a wider audience, but even before that, before most of the X-Men were even headed for the silver screen, he was one of the first X-Men characters to be adapted for live-action in the Generation X TV-Movie pilot, played by Jeremy Ratchford – who reportedly voiced him in the animated series!

The Phoenix Saga (Part 2): The Dark Shroud | The Phoenix Saga (Part 4): The Starjammers