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    The X-Men #4

    The X-Men » The X-Men #4 - The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants released by Marvel on March 1, 1964.

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    The Beast again faces the perils of the Danger Room. He is eventually tripped up by a grabbing a false rope to try to swing over a water hazard. Iceman is next through the gauntlet but is too cocky at his young age and is quickly defeated. Angel humiliates him by hanging him from a wall hook. Once Iceman is rescued by Marvel Girl it is time for her test. She opens a box for Professor X which hides a cake. It has been one year since the X-men were first formed.

    Meanwhile at another table, four other mutants bicker with each other. They are the Toad, Mastermind, Scarlet Witch and her brother Quicksilver. Scarlet Witch becomes insulted by one of Mastermind's propositions and uses her hex power to dump a pitcher of water in his lap. Outraged, Mastermind makes a move to harm Scarlet Witch but she calls her speedster brother Quicksilver to save her. The toad reminds them that the leader, Magneto, would be upset by them fighting and they stop. Magneto is away from their island lair stealing an old ex-convoy freighter.

    Angel spots the freighter that seems unmanned and reports it to Professor X. The Professor is concerned but is unsure how to proceed. Magneto returns home to find that his brotherhood has been infighting and he is not pleased. We also hear that Scarlet Witch is working for Magneto out of obligation to him because he saved her from a bunch of angry villagers.

    Later, Magneto begins a plan to take over the island nation of Santo Marco. The X-men are alerted to this by a newspaper report of a mysterious unmanned vessel shelling the country. Professor X reaches out to Magneto on the astral plane to try to come to an understanding. Magneto makes it clear that because Professor X vows to protect humanity, it has made them mortal enemies.

    The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants successfully takes over the island of Santo Marco using Mastermind's illusionary army. Once in power Magneto estabilishes a legitimate army that appears the same. He rules with an iron fist while preparing for the coming of the X-men. When the X-men arrive Professor X details the plan for them to attack Magneto's castle from multiple points to catch his team off-guard. The Beast scales the castle walls, disables two guards only to be knocked back over by the Toad. While clinging to the wall, Mastermind projects an illusion that the wall has become as smooth as glass and Beast falls out of sight. Angel is able to fly inside but is harassed by a green clothed speedster, although he can't out run Quicksilver he can out maneuver him. Angel is able to dodge and Quicksilver slams into a wall knocking himself unconscious. The Scarlet Witch sees her brother in peril and collapses a wall on Angel.

    Magneto and his soldiers arrive to bind the Angel only to be assaulted by Cyclops. Quicksilver recovers and puts Cyclops in a headlock, this prevents him from lowering his visor which blasts through the ceiling and causes Magneto's generator to go critical. The Brotherhood retreat to another part of the castle, as Cyclops is able to use his optic blast to push the generator out of the castle.

    Angel, Iceman, Cyclops, Marvel Girl and Beast reunite but get trapped by a wave of boiling oil. Professor X senses their panic and arrives to rescue them. The boiling oil is only one of Mastermind's illusion. Before the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants leaves, Magneto sets an explosive trap for the X-men and nuclear bomb to destory the island. Quicksilver and Magneto are shocked that Magneto would murder all the people of Santo Marco. Quicksilver darts back and disarms the nuke.

    Professor X is injured by the detonation of the other bomb. A injury so severe it robs him of his telepathy.

    This is the first appearance of The Brotherhood of the Evil Mutants, and also of Toad, Mastermind, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver.

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    3.6 stars

    Average score of 6 user reviews

    Beastie Boys VS Vanilla Ice 0

    Overview   The X-Men are training in the Danger Room again. Like seriously wow, I think all modern issues should follow suit. The focus is on Beast initially. He jumps around and is all beasty on a obstacle course. Actually thats kind of random? I mean, does Xavier like spend all day sticking giant metal discs on ceilings to drop? Oh, and then its crazy, because a part of Beast's obstacles, is a big pool, and there is a rope... but Xavier painted a piece of paper to look like rope? So basically ...

    10 out of 10 found this review helpful.

    Things are getting serious 0

    The first few issues of the X-Men are often enjoyable reads but the events depicted were relatively inconsequential. The X-Men encounter an evil mutant, the X-Men fight said evil mutant, they get to go home. They encountered a public bemused with their costumes but ready to shake their hands, flirt with them or thank them for a job well done. This is the issue which establishes that wider humanity treats their mutant offshoots with a mix of hatred and fear. Treating us to a disturbing scene of a...

    4 out of 4 found this review helpful.

    The Classic Magneto Story 0

    Magneto is the X-Men's oldest foe, having appeared in the first issue, but this fourth issue is the definitive early Magneto story. This time he's got a naval warship and a team of his own, 'The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants' on his side. I've never really cared for that team name, I mean most villains don't really consider themselves evil, do they? They think what they're doing is right. That's certainly the case with Magneto, who contacts Xavier telepathically in what will be the first of a lon...

    2 out of 2 found this review helpful.
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