X-Man #24

Background

Peter Parker recently met Nathan, the X-Man on Christmas Eve in Amazing Spider-Man #420. Assigned to take pictures of a soap-box preacher, he found something a little more.

Now it's Christmas Day, and the begining of a must uncommon way to spend the festive season.

Story 'First Noel'

Nathan's some-time love Threnody is down handing out Christmas Cheer in the hospital, in the form of euthanasia to the terminally sick. Meanwhile, Nate has been bitten by Morbius, and has come to Peter Parker's basement looking for a little help - or maybe a little blood.

Struggling to overcome the psychic imprint of Morbius, which drives him also to bloodlust, Nathan and Pete head to the local cemetary. Just as Nate is throwing off his urges, Threnody becomes possessed. Morbius decides to bunk, and Spidey follows - leaving Nate and Threnody to face the arrival of Madelyne Pryor. Of course, she used to be dead, but what does that count for in comics? 'Nuff said.

General Comments

This suffered from being written by one of Marvel's poorer scripters, and from being part of that morass of pointless tales which currently pass for X-books.

Overall Rating

Slightly sub-par, and the rating reflects that.