The Uncanny X-Men #213
Uncanny X-Men #213 serves as the dramatic capstone to the Mutant Massacre crossover's Uncanny X-Men chapters, delivering two narrative payoffs that would shape the X-universe for years to come: Betsy Braddock (Psylocke) officially earns her place on the team after single-handedly stalling Sabretooth long enough to protect the mansion's wounded, and her telepathic probe of Sabretooth's mind produces the first visual glimpse — a shadowy silhouette — of the mastermind behind the Marauders, Nathaniel Essex, who would step fully into the light eight issues later as Mister Sinister. The Wolverine-versus-Sabretooth brawl that closes the issue is routinely cited by readers and critics as one of the defining early confrontations between those two feral rivals, cementing the depth of their enmity in a way that previous skirmishes had only hinted at. Together these two threads — the forging of Psylocke as a full X-Man and the seeding of Mister Sinister — make this issue a genuine pivot point in Chris Claremont's tenure on the title.
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The issue was written by Chris Claremont with pencils by Alan Davis and inks by Paul Neary, edited by Ann Nocenti under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, and carried a January 1987 cover date (on-sale October 1986 per Grand Comics Database). It lands as part four of the Mutant Massacre crossover — the first multi-title X-Men event — which spanned Uncanny X-Men #210–213, X-Factor #9–11, New Mutants #46, Thor #373–374, and Power Pack #27. Mutant Massacre itself originated partly as a sales initiative designed to drive readership during traditionally slow months, and Claremont used the event's aftermath to reshape the team roster, installing Psylocke while leaving Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Shadowcat sidelined with injuries that would carry narrative weight into subsequent arcs. The 2004 Marvel Legends Series 6 Wolverine action figure was packaged with a reprint of this issue featuring a new cover by Barry Windsor-Smith, underlining the story's enduring association with the Wolverine–Sabretooth mythology.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance (cameo in shadow) of Mr. Sinister (Nathaniel Essex): Psylocke psychically probes Sabretooth's mind during the Wolverine fight and perceives the Marauders' employer as a generic silhouette — the character's only appearance in this issue before his full reveal in Uncanny X-Men #221 (September 1987).
- Official joining of Psylocke (Betsy Braddock) to the X-Men roster: after demonstrating courage by leading Sabretooth away from the infirmary full of injured teammates, she is formally welcomed to the team at the issue's end.
- Story titled 'Psylocke'; written by Chris Claremont, penciled by Alan Davis, inked by Paul Neary, colored by Glynis Oliver, lettered by Tom Orzechowski, edited by Ann Nocenti — a full creative lineup distinct from the penciler who handled the earlier Mutant Massacre chapters.
- Fourth and final part of the Uncanny X-Men's Mutant Massacre tie-in arc (issues #210–213), which forms the backbone of Marvel's first multi-title X-Men crossover event.
- Malice (possessing Dazzler/Alison Blaire) appears in a Los Angeles subplot, publicly revealing Dazzler's mutant identity — a story thread that continues into subsequent issues.
- Nightcrawler is in a deep coma, Colossus is locked in his steel form and paralyzed, and Shadowcat is trapped in a permanent phasing state following the Mutant Massacre; the mansion is functioning as a makeshift field hospital when Sabretooth invades.
- The 2004 reprint packaged with the Marvel Legends Series 6 Wolverine action figure bore a new cover by Barry Windsor-Smith rather than the original Alan Davis/Paul Neary cover.
- The issue has been reprinted in numerous collected editions including Sabretooth Classic #10 (1995), X-Men: Mutant Massacre (1996 and 2009 trade paperbacks), Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Vol. 14, and the X-Men: Mutant Massacre Omnibus (2018 and 2021 editions).
Cast · 40 characters
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Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Sabretooth invades the mansion and Wolverine and Psylocke have to stop him. Psylocke joins the team.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).