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...anti-mutant hysteria, the X-Men's leader has become the most visibly-other mutant on the roster–even if those attitudes were developing long before Kurt took on the title.
Empath and Roulette, Hellions resident assholes, see opportunity in James' plot for them to sow chaos...
...Sam Guthrie through his own self-doubt and perfectionist standards of self.
It isn't that it makes Kurt a hypocrite–his advice to Sam was sincere–but that Kurt himself might not have fully grasped to orders of the job.
It's further interesting that in the wake of growing...
...Kurt immediately assumes blame for his injuries, his self-flagellation extra painful to watch given his typically joyous demeanor.
It's great emotional work on Claremont's end, rendering Kurt more human than ever; it was just a few issues ago in New Mutants that he coached...
...ongoing difficulties in his transition to team leader, his stress about the job practically pouring out of the page.
Even following the time jump that ended UXM #192, Kurt's discomfort in the role doesn't seem to have dissipated and when Charles is attacked by the Hellions...
...that permits his assimilationist attitude.
In many ways, Xavier is truly the "star" of the issue, rare even in the Run's main title–but necessary character development given Claremont's intentions to transition the mutant metaphor to the book's main focus.
The team learns...
...her murder of Angelica's favorite horse, Butter Rum.
It's a moment of exceptional cruelty rarely revisited in the books (I wonder why?) that riskily could have made Emma's character irredeemable in the future.
Emma's gaslighting works; Angelica now fully belongs to her.
...Angelica really would make a sweet couple if this entire whirlwind romance wasn't another of Emma's greater manipulations.
The two very awkward, very sweet, and very good kids share a first kiss, which Emma uses to plant a moment of intense guilt in Angelica.
Running off...
...and it the New Mutants are at the top of the list. This is where I had to really suspend my disbelief; it isn't just illogical, but awful guardianship to let these kids go to the dance.
It makes even less sense that Ororo, a woman whose body Emma literally stole, would...
...goad Angelica into wanting to attend the Massachusetts Academy's school dance, something Emma is surprisingly quick to approve, much to Angelica's excitement and loving-Hellfire-Guard-Randal's chagrin.
But any good party needs an incredible guest list (Hellfire Gala much?)...
It is long before Charles' rumination is at least answered for us: Angelica is *not* doing too hot.
With use of the Hallucinator (trademark weirdly still pending), Emma and Shaw's vision for Firestar comes to light.
Using visions of wicked versions of the X-Men, the two plan...