The Life Death, Part II storyline from Uncanny X-Men #198 is a poignant narrative that explores themes of loss, resilience, and the essence of life itself. This powerful tale, penned by Chris Claremont with art by Barry Windsor-Smith, delves into the emotional turmoil of Storm (Ororo Munroe) as she grapples with the loss of her mutant powers. The story’s exploration of identity and change resonated deeply with readers and left a lasting impact on the X-Men mythos.
This narrative thread was woven into the fabric of the X-Men animated series, particularly influencing Whatever It Takes. In this adaptation, Storm’s struggle is portrayed with a similar depth of emotion, capturing her journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The episode reflects the comic’s exploration of what it means to be a hero beyond one’s superhuman abilities, emphasizing personal strength and determination.
Whatever It Takes delves into Storm’s personal history and her deep connection to her African roots, revealing layers of her character that are as complex as they are compelling. Viewers are taken on a journey that explores Storm’s inner strength and leadership qualities, as she confronts challenges that test her both physically and spiritually. The episode is a tribute to her resilience and unwavering spirit, showcasing how her humanity and compassion are as much a part of her power as the ability to control the weather.
It stands out as a poignant narrative that not only highlights Storm’s significance to the X-Men team but also celebrates her as a character who has inspired countless fans across the globe.
While playing near his village in Africa, M’Jnari spots a mysterious tear in the air that only he can see. From this rift, the Shadow King emerges and takes control of the boy. Jean Grey, monitoring the situation through Cerebro, detects the anomaly in the astral plane and alerts her teammates. Meanwhile, Wolverine is deep in the Amazon on a quest to find Morph.
Storm and Rogue head to Africa to investigate the dimensional breach. Upon arrival, they’re greeted by the sight of burning villages. Storm extinguishes the flames, and her old friend Shani reveals that M’Jnari is responsible for the chaos. Concurrently, Wolverine encounters Morph, who’s disguised as a bartender, and they strike up a conversation.
Shani recounts M’Jnari’s birth, where he didn’t breathe until Ororo resuscitated him, leading to Storm becoming his godmother. The possessed M’Jnari summons Storm to a nearby mountain, where she agrees to let the Shadow King possess her if he frees the boy. Rogue attempts to extract the Shadow King from Storm using her abilities, but fails. Back in the Amazon, Wolverine and Morph engage in a brief skirmish in a mine shaft before Morph persuades Wolverine to release them to resolve their own conflicts.
Storm, fighting for control, ascends to the upper atmosphere, forcing the Shadow King out of her body due to lack of air. As she loses consciousness and starts to plummet, Rogue swoops in to save her. M’Jnari, seizing the moment, enters the closing astral portal, drawing the Shadow King in pursuit. Rogue rescues M’Jnari just as the portal seals shut.
In Antarctica, Professor X and Magneto emerge from the avalanche. They stumble upon a prehistoric jungle known as the ‘Savage Land‘. Mysteriously, their mutant powers are inactive, and Xavier finds himself able to walk. Suddenly, they’re ambushed by natives on Pterodactyls. Magneto is nearly captured, but Xavier skillfully throws a boomerang, freeing him. However, Magneto is swept away by the river’s strong current. Without hesitation, Xavier dives in to rescue his old ally. The fierce current overpowers them, and they’re both sent tumbling over a waterfall.
In the original Uncanny X-Men #198 story, M’Jnari’s character is quite different from his animated version. In the comic, Storm helps a pregnant woman named Shani reach her village after a car accident. Upon Shani’s delivery, M’Jnari, the village elder, leaves the village, revealing to Storm the village’s sacred balance of life: as one life enters, another must leave. M’Jnari, who has left to die, shares his wisdom with Storm before passing away. Storm then saves Shani during labour and is named the godmother of the child, who is named M’Jnari in honour of the elder.
Storm’s childhood encounters with the Shadow King are detailed in Uncanny X-Men #119 and further explored from Xavier’s viewpoint in Xavier Remembers.
It is assumed that the Shadow King has been trapped since his initial clash with Xavier, as depicted in Xavier Remembers, unless he has since been defeated. Beast hypothesizes that the Shadow King’s escape was triggered by Bishop’s time travel in Days of Future Past. Xavier likely informed the team about this adversary, as Rogue appears to be well-acquainted with him. The Shadow King’s involvement with Storm in Africa might have inspired the Wolverine and the X-Men episode Overflow, which bears resemblances to this narrative.
Bloodscream and Roughhouse, notorious villains hailing from Madripoor in Wolverine #4, make their exit from the Brazilian bar, just as Wolverine walks in.
Morph shape-shifts into Maverick, Omega Red, Sabretooth, Deadpool, and Jean Grey, playing mind games with Wolverine. The twist in X-Men ’97 revealing Morph’s romantic feelings for Wolverine adds a whole new layer to the scene for contemporary viewers.
Morph drops a hint about Xavier’s disappearance, news to Logan who hasn’t returned to the mansion since the season began. This clue points to Sinister’s involvement in the dire situations of Xavier and Magneto in the Savage Land. In this particular episode, we catch only a glimpse of Sinister’s arm as he orchestrates an explosion.
Sinister himself admits in Reunion (Part 1) that there’s no logical reason for Xavier’s mobility in the Savage Land, other than the real-life practical issues of animating a disabled character across the challenging jungle landscape.
The 90’s Fantastic Four episode Prey of the Black Panther features a cameo by M’Jnari and Storm.
X-Cess Minutiae 
Leave a comment