Astonishing X-Men #17
In "Torn Part Five," Joss Whedon and John Cassaday deliver a tense, emotionally charged chapter as Shadowcat is tormented by the White Queen's illusions, believing she’s protecting a son in peril—only to unwittingly free the true threat, Cassandra Nova. With Cyclops racing to intervene and Lockheed’s allegiance revealed as a S.W.O.R.D. operation, the stakes soar, while Wolverine’s return to himself comes in the most unexpectedly simple way. The cover by John Cassaday captures the moment’s intensity with sharp, expressive detail.
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The White Queen induces hallucinations causing Shadowcat to think that she and Colossus have a son who is in danger. She frees her "son," in reality removing the Shi'ar artificial body housing Cassandra Nova's intelligence. Cassandra Nova appears to have won until Cyclops arrives. Lockheed is revealed to be the "mole" working for S.W.O.R.D. Wolverine's personality is restored by beer.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).