When strange, mutated animals arise in South Africa, the X-Men become aware of them because the animals seem to register with Cerebro, which has only been able to register human mutants in the past. Coming along for this mission is Storm, who has not been back to Africa since Professor X recruited her for the X-Men.
Returning to Africa is painful for Storm as she sees how many people are in need in her homeland. When she comes across a tin-pot dictator threatening people and throwing them into a pit wherein lurks one of the new mutated Animals they have been searching for, it causes her to question why she has never been back. She was accounted a goddess by her people. Why has she left them to suffer so?
Wolverine tries to comfort her by telling her she is only one person and Africa's troubles are bigger than just what one person can solve. Meanwhile, Emma has asked for help from Wakanda, but King T'Challa seems to be missing.
They track the problem to a place called "The Factory", where a white scientist has been conducting experiments on animals- and perhaps people as well. Black Panther is there, going through the computer files kept by the scientist, but when they break through to try and reach him, they discover that the scientist has given himself the power to steal other powers, much like Rogue, but he can control his powers after he steals them, unlike her.
Black Panther had hoped to be able to keep the man from absorbing any more powers, but when he touches the X-men, they must help Black Panther stop the man and prevent the scientist from becoming any more powerful by stealing any more powers. But the scientist isn't alone, he's working with a communist villain named Red Ghost and some intelligent apes from the jungle, and they are planning on selling the X-men, and their powers to dictators around the world. Can Black Panther and Storm stop the villains, free their friends, and capture the scientist and the others responsible? And how will Storm deal with her abandonment of Africa? Can she ever make it up to her people, and to herself?
This was an interesting graphic novel, with all sorts of juicy bits for fans of the X-men. We get to see Storm's disquiet about never returning to Africa, especially when she seemed concerned over her people back when Xavier first recruited her, and with the revelation that she and Black Panther had some kind of adult relationship (at least, that's the kind of vibe I got) back when she was younger.
I don't know quite how I feel about that second bit, because Storm only looked 15 or 16 in the comic where she is recruited, and I feel a bit squicky about adult relationships that early. Yes, I know it's different in Africa (in the states, there are places where you can marry as early as 13 or 14, with your parents' permission, if not earlier), but that still doesn't make me feel any better about it! It just made me... uncomfortable.
But the rest of the story was interesting, especially the Apes, which, honestly reminded me of Gorilla Grodd from the DC Universe. Apparently, the Red Ghost is some kind of superbrain, in addition to being able to go intangible like Kitty Pride. But in comparison to Black Panther (who is apparently made of awesome, with a side of awesome and awesome sauce), the X-men get their butts handed to them by just about everyone and their mother.
They bicker, they argue, they get their powers stolen, and it's up to Storm and Black Panther to step in, save the day and clean up after them. The X-men looked like complete Tyros, except for Storm and Wolverine (who is also made of awesome, but not in this book particularly)., and that was rather disheartening to read. So, I didn't enjoy the depiction of the X-men in this book, and I felt that Black Panther was elevated over them in many situations. I wouldn't spend money on it, but the story isn't excessively bad, it just backs Black Panther over the other characters. Not my favorite by a long shot.
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