Classic X-Men #43
In "The Fate of the Phoenix!", the X-Men find themselves on the Blue Area of the Moon, caught between the Imperial Guard and the will of Lilandra, who demands Jean Grey be executed for the destruction of a star system. With Xavier pleading for a trial by combat and the Phoenix Force stirring once more, the battle for Jean’s fate begins — and the line between hero and monster blurs. Written by Chris Claremont and John Byrne, with art by Byrne and inks by Terry Austin, this pivotal issue features a cover by John Byrne that captures the cosmic stakes in bold, dramatic detail.
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Lilandra transports the X-Men to her base so that Phoenix can be killed for her crime of wiping out an entire star system. Xavier explains that the Phoenix Force has been purged from Jean and demands the right to trial by combat when his captors refuse to listen. The X-Men and the Imperial Guard fight on the Blue Area of the Moon to determine Jean's fate. During the battle, Dark Phoenix manifests herself once again and Jean sacrifices herself rather than let the Phoenix loose on the universe.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).