STORY: "Moving On, chapters 1 and 2" (23 pages)  The X-Men are returning home to Earth but get derailed by a mysterious alien ship.

What you need to know:
It's the first appearance of Maggott, who's looking for Magneto.  The reason why is eventually explained in Maggott's origin story in X-Men vol 2 #76.  At this point, he's just a large blue man with slugs on his shoulders.  Joe Kelly has claimed that when he inherited the character, there was no detailed plan in place beyond that.

For reasons never explained, Sister Maria is attacked by what looks to be a cyborg ape hunting for Magneto.

The Shi'ar throw parties when they're in mourning.  Just thought you'd like to know.  Incidentally, Bablyon 5's very similar Centauri race do the same thing, but I don't know which series did the idea first.

Joseph and Gambit both angst suitably over the massacre of the Shi'ar.  In Gambit's case it's foreshadowing of his involvement with Mr Sinister, as finally explained in issue #350.  The foreshadowing is less than subtle.  "The unholy alliance he once struck with one of his friends' most sinister foes" - why, who could it possibly be?

Deathbird is assigned to accompany the X-Men home.  Obviously Lilandra has a very strange idea of how to make the X-Men feel comfortable.  Following this issue, she and Bishop are separated from the others, as picked up on in issue #348.  This issue is effectively Bishop's last as a member of the X-Men for some time to come.

More hinting at romance between Bishop and Deathbird, again without much subtlety.  (The words "slip into something a bit more comfortable" are used.)

According to the Shi'ar Chapterhouse (a book of some sort), Deathbird's real name has been banished from the Shi'ar language in punishment for her crimes.  Deathbird, however, claims that these stories have been told since she was a child and seems to be suggesting that she was the victim of some kind of prophecy that she would turn out to be evil, making her a pariah as a result.

The purpose of the larger ship which attacks the X-Men towards the end of the issue remains unrevealed.

Comments:
We're now into the tail end of the Scott Lobdell run, and a lot of this stuff is simply dumped after he leaves the title.  There are a few interesting ideas in here, such as Deathbird having turned out the way she is because of a literally self-fulfilling prophecy, but for the most part this is unimportant stuff.

If this issue is significant at all, it's for having the first appearance of future team member Maggott.  Maggott's power, the control of two giant slugs that eat things, was widely regarded by many readers as extremely silly.  A later revelation that the slugs actually were his digestive system, intended to make us feel a bit more sorry for him, didn't entirely work.  At this stage, he's a rather generic mystery figure.  He won't get all that interesting for a while yet, until Joe Kelly gets his hands on him.

FEATURE CHARACTERS
The Beast, Joseph and Rogue (all next in issue #347)
Bishop (leaves the X-Men and appears next in issue #348)
Gambit

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS
Trish Tilby (next in issue #347)
Lilandra Neramani (next in Galactus the Devourer #5)
Deathbird (next in issue #348)
Sister Maria de la Joya (surname revealed; between issues #327 and #368)
Maggott, Eeny and Meany (first appearance of all; all last in flashback in X-Men vol 2 #76; all next in issue #347)

VILLAIN
An unnamed armoured man

OTHER CHARACTERS
The Shi'ar (next in Galactus The Devourer #5)

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