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Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #180

on-sale: Jan 10, 1984
Chris Claremont | John Romita Jr.

Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #180 cover

Story Name:

Whose Life Is It, Anyway?


Synopsis

Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #180 synopsis by Anthony Silvestro
Rating: 4.5 stars

Charles Xavier revels in the full use of his legs for the first time in decades, having fun playing basketball in the mansion’s gym. His fun is cut short by another psychic scanning wave, which he’s been experiencing for the past couple issues. He’s found by Storm and the two discuss Storm’s recent radical changes. Storm expresses frustration that Kitty feels she’s turned into a monster but admits she has similar worries, and wonders if she’s going crazy. She used to hold all life sacred but nearly killed Callisto on two occasions, a fact which concerns her. A cursory psychic probe reveals no mental issues, and Xavier offers to run a more intensive test but Storm elects to work through this on her own.

Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde and her new friend Doug Ramsey are playing an arcade game at the mall, when they get kicked out after accidentally breaking it. They head to the food court and Kitty vents her worries about Ororo to Doug, about how Ororo has changed, becoming harder. Doug then tells Kitty about the invitation he got to join the Massachusetts Academy, which concerns Kitty as it’s secretly run by the Hellfire Club. Back on the grounds of the mansion, Colossus is cutting down trees, despite his still-healing injuries, when he’s found by Wolverine. Colossus expresses his own worries about Kitty’s newfound closeness with Doug, and feels that perhaps what he thought he and Kitty shared was nothing but a naïve dream.

Elsewhere, Storm takes a trip to the Bronx Botanical Gardens to visit the plants that used to be in her attic garden. While there, she stops a gang from accosting an old couple and kicks their butts without even using her powers. Though she helps the couple, she finds that they’re even more scared of her than they were of the gang. Professor Xavier calls the X-Men together to discuss the matter of the Massachusetts Academy’s interest in Doug. Xavier reveals that Doug is a mutant, his power having to do with languages. Kitty devises a plan to go with Doug, betting she’ll be safe since the Hellfire Club is currently in disarray, with Emma Frost still in a coma. Kitty promises to reach out to Xavier the instant she needs help, and they reluctantly agree to her plan.

Later, Storm sweeps Kitty up into a wind high above the mansion for a much-needed talk. Storm confronts Kitty about her feelings about the recent changes Storm has gone through. Storm admits that she doesn’t quite understand it all either, but states that change is a part of life. Kitty can’t accept this, worrying that Storm has changed and that she won’t love her anymore, just as her parents don’t love each other anymore. Storm tells Kitty that she can’t be her replacement mother, but that she still loves her and needs Kitty’s support while she figures out who she is and where her life is headed. Finally, Kitty starts to come to terms with everything. A week later, Kitty and Doug fly out to the Massachusetts Academy, but on the plane ride there, Kitty receives a shock when she’s confronted by Emma Frost, out of her coma! Meanwhile, Xavier has traced the psychic scanning waves to Central Park, where they find a large, mysterious structure that has sprung up out of nowhere! Xavier and the X-Men enter the structure and are whisked off to parts unknown!


Characters
Good (or All)
COLOSSUS
KPRYDE
NIGHTCRAWLER
XAVIER
STORM
WOLVERINE
Plus: Cypher (Doug Ramsey).

Enemies
EMMAFROST

> Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) comic book info and issue index



Excelsioring your collection:
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(The Boy Wonder)

Main/1st Story Full Credits

John Romita Jr.
Dan Green
Glynis Wein
John Romita Jr. (Cover Penciler)
Dan Green (Cover Inker)
Unknown (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski.



Review / Commentaries


Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #180 Review by (March 12, 2025)

Review: Lots of emotions this issue as Kitty finally starts to come to terms with Storm’s recent changes. The two have a long, emotional, and very realistic heart-to-heart about everything. At first glance it may seem irrational that Kitty treats these changes she sees in Ororo with such disdain. However, she saw Ororo as a mother figure in the wake of her parents’ divorce and she’s worried that the changes mean that Ororo will leave or won’t love her anymore, just as her parents no longer love each other. Really, it’s a fear of abandonment, but Ororo assures Kitty that she’s just as confused and unsure, and that she needs Kitty during this time of reflection and change. Claremont once again proves how good he is at making his characters feel realistic and multi-layered.

Colossus has his own worries, about the future of his relationship with Kitty. He feels that perhaps what he thought they shared was nothing but an unattainable dream, and Wolverine wisely tells him that if he thinks that, he may have already lost. Storm also gets to show off how tough she is by beating up a gang with her bare hands (something she’ll have to get used to pretty soon). It’s also kind of nice seeing Xavier having fun for once, when he’s playing basketball at the beginning, even narrating his own moves! Interestingly, the issue ends with two plots that get wrapped up in other series. Kitty heads off to the Massachusetts Academy, which continues in New Mutants, and everyone else heads off to the events of Secret Wars! Next issue picks up after everyone’s back from Battleworld.

Comments: Doug Ramsey first appeared in New Mutants #13-14, where he met Kitty. Kitty’s plotline continues in New Mutants, while the rest of the team are whisked off to experience the events of Secret Wars.





Thor

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