X-Cutioner's Song
X-Men Series 3 Trading Cards (1994) Fleer Ultra
Card #: 107
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294 - X-Factor #85 - 10/20/1992
The issue which presumably drove Peter David off the book, as the hot 90s trio of Bishop, Cable and Wolverine take over the book.
Cover by Jae Lee. Interiors by Peter David & Lee.
#XmenADay #XMen50 #Wolverine #XFactor #XCutionersSong
Heck ya! 🤘 #XCutionersSong is what got me hooked on #XMen! Gonna give that crossover a re-read soon! 😎
266 - X-Force #16 (9/22/1992)
Front and center for the end of the first act of "X-Cutioner's Song".
Cover by Greg Capullo & Harry Candelario. Interiors by Fabian Nicieza & Capullo.
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Card 012: Stryfe
Finishing up with the big man himself, with what has become something of an iconic image for the character and some cardback text that could the verse of an 80s power ballad.
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Card 011: Archangel
I've always liked the way Archangel was deployed in the crossover - he's not a big player, but he plays a key role as the person most familiar with Apocalypse's BS.
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Card 010: Dark Riders
Of the various 90s era supervillain jobbers, the Dark Riders might be my favorite.
Apocalypse being Prey but his lackies Hunters is a fun nod to how this group betrays Stryfe by the end.
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Card 009: Jean Grey & Cyclops
Stryfe really likes to use the dash in his writing.
I'm not quite sure what Jean is supposed to be doing, other than apparently making sure her butt is in the shot.
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Card 008: Mister Sinister
The big problem with the Hunter/Prey convention is that the Prey images get obscured by the annoying target.
Otherwise, great card. A+ sit from Sinister here, man knows how to lounge.
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Card 007: M.L.F
Would have been pretty hilarious if Stryfe labeled his goons as Prey.
I wish this had more characters in it, but it's a pretty solid composition nevertheless.
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Card 006: Polaris & Havok
Nobody nailed these looks quite as well as Stroman.
Stryfe reading back issues and throwing shade, pointing out how this duo were reluctant heroes and calling them "second tier".
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Card 005: Bishop & Wolverine
Even Stryfe is like "these guys are too badass to be Prey."
This card is a nice reminder of the chapter of this crossover in which these two fight Cable in a book none of them star in.
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Card 003: Cable
Does Stryfe love or hate Cable? Hard to say based on this cardback!
Still wild that this crossover was built around the Cable/Stryfe mystery and it still didn't resolve it fully.
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Card 003: Apocalypse
Labeling a major X-villain as "prey" is a good example of how this all personal for Stryfe.
"Master of the Forbidden Past" ... "dry-caked ichor" ... Stryfe is such a drama queen and I love it.
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Card 002: Caliban
Love the use of a Walt Simonson pre-transformation headshot. Also love Stryfe's hilarious OTP baroque dramatic commentary.
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Card 001: Professor X
Each issue of the 1992 #XMen crossover #XCutionersSong (in which drama aficionado Stryfe launches his arch revenge plot) came polybagged w/a trading card. Cardbacks are written in Stryfe's voice, w/each subject labeled a "hunter" or "prey"
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