STORY: "Up and Around" (22 pages)  The Beast and Archangel reminisce about their schooldays while repairing Harry's Hideaway (the pub wrecked when Scott and Jean were abducted in issue #294). Professor X is briefly able to walk as a result of Apocalypse's treatment, and goes rollerblading with Jubilee. Rogue and Gambit discuss their relationship.

What you need to know:
Again, not much. This is the epilogue to X-Cutioner's Song and it's really characters chatting to one another rather than a normal story.

Comments:
Conventional wisdom has always had it that Scott Lobdell is at his best in the quiet, post-crossover issues. This is the classic example, a wonderful issue which puts Professor X and Jubilee together (two characters who'd rarely spoken to each other for any length of time before) and just lets them chat. Okay, it's got this rather contrived idea about Xavier getting the use of his legs back for a night, and the scenes where Hank and Warren rebuild a completely wrecked building in one night defy credibility. But the scene at the end, where Xavier loses the use of his legs a minute or so earlier than he'd expected and has to be helped back to his wheelchair by Jubilee, is just perfect.
 

FEATURE CHARACTERS
Professor X (last in X-Force vol 1 #18; next in Wolverine vol 2 #66-67, then in X-Men vol 2 #17, then in X-Force vol 1 #19)
The Beast (last in X-Force vol 1 #18; next in X-Men vol 2 #17 and #19, then in issue #299)
Archangel (last in X-Force vol 1 #18)
Rogue (last in X-Force vol 1 #17; next in X-Men vol 2 #17, then in X-Men vol 2 #19-21, then in Wolverine vol 2 #69-71, then in X-Men vol 2 #23-24, then in issue #304)
Gambit (last in X-Force vol 1 #17; next in X-Men vol 2 #17)

SUPPORTING CHARACTER
Jubilee (between X-Force vol 1 #18 and Wolverine vol 2 #66)

Last revised: 7 September 2004

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