Uncanny X-Men, The (1981 series) #190

Bizarre and monumental changes have taken place in New York City overnight. National Security expert Valerie Cooper briefs the President and his cabinet that Manhattan has been enveloped by an energy curtain and inside the city everything has regressed to a barbarian state of swords and sorcery. Anyone passing through the curtain is absorbed into the alternate world, losing all memory of their previous life. Several heroes have been identified inside but they have also been transformed. Meanwhile, in the city, Ororo is lounging aboard a ship when the Vizier’s guards (the former Morlocks) led by Callisto burst in and attempt to force a slave collar on her. Ororo overturns a brazier, setting the ship afire and attempts to escape, slashing Callisto with a dagger. The two women fall overboard and are swept under the energy curtain, where Ororo regains her memory. The wizard Kulan Gath, who has created this world, has enslaved other magicians including Dr. Strange and is bent on revenge against Spider-Man. He has merged Professor Xavier with Caliban, using him to recruit slaves to his cause. The latest recruits are the New Mutants, lured into a mind-controlling trap from which only the half-machine Warlock escapes. Later, Rachel Summers and Amara (Magma) Aquilla are rescued from marauding guards by the sorceress Selene. In Hoboken, Ororo and Callisto are contacted by Selene and asked to reenter the city under her protection to overthrow Kulan Gath. Meanwhile, Spider-Man, the only person in the city not absorbed into the change, finds himself utterly confused and unable even to speak the local language. Fleeing the New Mutants he passes through a tavern where a number of former Avengers and X-Men are relaxing. The heroes join in the battle against the rogue mutants complicated by the presence of Colossus and Sunder among the enemy. A slash from Magyk’s Soul-Sword breaks Kulan Gath’s hold over Colossus, but the New Mutants get away with Spidey as their prisoner. As the heroes ponder their next move, Selene appears before them with Amara and Rachel to enlist them in the fight against Kulan Gath. The evil wizard, however, seizes her with a spell and spirits her away while threatening the heroes with dire consequences unless they declare allegiance to him. The rebels, led by the former Captain America, are joined by Ororo and Callisto and together they vow to invade the villain’s stronghold and overthrow his evil reign....