They come from across the globe and all walks of life, but these teens share a spectacular and frightening secret--a genetic twist of fate has gifted each one of them with incredible powers. This is the next generation of mutants who have come to the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters in Snow Valley, Massachusetts, to learn how to control and utilize their growing abilities for the greater good of mankind. Helping them along the way are the exclusive academy's three headmasters, Sean Cassidy, Emma Frost, and Raven Darkholme. Together, the pupils and teachers do their best to attend class, learn about themselves, and find their place in a world that fears and hates them...


Generation X

Issue #3

by Mike Fitzgerald

Once a student of Professor Xavier himself, Irish native Sean Cassidy has now dedicated his life to teaching young mutants how to live with and employ their fantastic powers. Banshee's own genetic gift is that of a
Banshee

Once one of the X-Men's deadliest enemies, Emma Frost is a telepath of enormous power and questionable morals--a mutant who is more than willing to use her ability to read and control the minds of others. Only after seeing her first group of students perish did she resolve to join Xavier's efforts to create a brighter future for mutants and humans alike.
Emma Frost

Jubilation Lee is a southern Californian, ex-mallrat with the power to generate explosive bursts of energy! Her rebellious nature is perhaps the result of being orphaned, as she lived for a time relying solely on her own resourcefulness to survive.
Jubilee

Raised in the harsh environment of East LA, Angelo Espinosa learned at an early age not to expect too much from life. He must concentrate to maintain control over what everyone else takes for granted--and learn how to use his 6 or so extra feet of skin to stretch, grip, and wrap him self around opponents!
Skin

Born and raised in London, Jonothan Starsmore is cursed by his frightening appearance--the result of the first manifistation of his mutant ability, when telekinetic energy literally erupted out of him. Chamber's only means of communication is the capacity to project his thoughts into the consciousness of others. In addition, he can use the power of his mind to generate destructive bio-blasts!
Chamber

The young woman named Monet St. Croix comes from a family of aristocrats whose ancestral home is Monaco. Often time, her haughty bearing infuriates her teammates--but none can deny her advanced intellect, telepathic power, or superhuman strength.
M

Paige Guthrie has followed in the footsteps of her older brother Sam--X-Force's Cannonball--to become a student at Xavier's. As a metamorph, Husk has the ability to shed her skin, revealing beneath it a new body, a new form, in any number of bio-organic substances--from diamond, to rock, to steel!
Husk

Perhaps the most well-adjusted of the group, Everett Thomas possesses a synchronistic aura--an energy field that allows him to become genetically 'in synch' with any mutant in close, physical proximity. In essence, he has the ability to utilize aspects of other mutant's powers--on a limited basis.
Synch

After a battle with the Phalanx, Clarice Ferguson was believed to be dead. However, now she has mysteriously returned, and her whereabouts for the past few months remain a mystery.
Blink

The man known only as Bishop comes from a time 70-100 years in the future where he was a member of the Xavier Security Enforcers (XSE). After being stranded in the present era, he joined the X-Men. He's recently been lost in space with Deathbird, but has now returned.
Bishop

Nathanial Essex was once a 19th century scientist until he made a deal with Apocalypse. The ageless mutant transformed Essex into Sinister. Now, over a century later, Sinister still continues his research.
Sinister

The cousin of Generation X's Banshee, Black Tom underwent experiments which transformed him into a plant-like being. He has the mutant ability to direct energy blasts through his hands.
Black Tom Cassidy

By far the most mysterious of all the GenX kids, the young girl whose only other known name is Yvette has yet to communicate verbally with her fellow students or teachers. Apparently unable to give voice to her personal terrors, she has managed to find refuge within the confines of Xavier's School--where she is slowly beginning to learn how to cope with diamond-hard, razor-sharp, skin.
Penance

"Seeing all these cars remind me how much I want to learn how to drive..."

The words of Everett Thomas echoed in M's mind, as she lay helpless to the machine. It held her up in the air. It reminded her of the constructs from Genosha that were used to hold the X-Men. She had been particularly fascinated with the subject of Genosha ever since the UN gave it to Magneto. So she studied the X-Men's adventures there. It's funny, she thought. The public will never know what kind of madmen were in that country...

She wondered how it'd feel. What kind of torture was she in for? What was Sinister going to do to them? She shook off those thoughts. She thought again of Everett. And of things he'd said to her...

"I've never had a proper girlfriend. There's that whole thing I haven't done..."

He was so sweet and kind to her that day. But then her environment distracted her again. She'd wondered when she was going to get out of this place. But, she didn't "feel" scared. Suddenly, she knew why...

She heard the machines begin to boot up. The high-pitched noises made by them drove straight into her soul. She clenched and thought of him...

Suddenly, a great explosion was heard! Monet's eyes burst open in surprise. The sounds she had heard weren't the contraption around her at all! It was Bishop's gun!

"M, I'll have you down in a second. Hold on!" Bishop yelled.

Monet took on a cynical tone of voice. "Finally, the X-Men decide to run in and rescue us."

Bishop gave her a disgruntled look as he examined the equipment. "What are those teachers of yours teaching you? X-Men aren't your baby-sitters, little one. Ah, I think this ought do it..." He punched a few buttons and her shackles were released! "Besides... its just me. Happened very much by coincidence."

Monet dropped down. "Yeah. Mr. Cassidy told us you were in space with some villain"

"Something like that..."

"Well, we'd better get to work. Do you know where the others are, too?"

"I could probably find your Ms. Frost, first. She's got a homing device on her."

"...Wait. How did you find me then?"

"...pardon?"

"Shouldn't you have found Ms. Frost first?"

"I don't know. Look, we don't have time to argue over this. We have to get going."

"Right. I think Synch is nearby. I thought I saw him next to me earlier."

"You should know first, though. This place is full of traps. I'm certain Sinister's been planning this for a long time, yet. This place is HUGE."

A faint scream was heard.

"Everett!"


The young girl named Penance lies still. She's been in this kind of situation before. She knows how to act. It's been hammered into her... figuratively, too. She's totally unencumbered. Silent. Unruffled.

A solitaire tear rolled down her cheek.

The machine lit up. A spark of energy flows throughout the room as everything booted up. Suddenly everything seemed as if it was about to begin... when... it stopped. A sound of denouement was made. And that was it...

Penance looked around, smiled faintly, and clenched her arms to break out of the shackles! She landed on the ground gracefully and her head darts around. She walked to the wall on her right and began to scratch at it.


Clarice Ferguson lie still. The ambient light of a few small machines operating in the room seems to illuminate the violet skin on her face. She breathes slowly and reflects on how her world has come crashing down upon her. Ever since the strange occurrence in the In-Betweener's realm.

Suddenly, she hears a small scratching at the wall to her left. Scritch scratch. Scritch scratch. Against cold metal. She pondered this for some time. Had there been an infestation in the facility? Scritch scratch. Scritch scratch. It got louder each time. The sound plagued at her skull. Sent chills up and down her spine... scritch scratch...

Finally, it stopped. Clarice let out a sigh of relief.

Then, something began picking through the wall. Strange, red hands began to poke out. She'd never seen this sort of thing before. Was it one of Sinister's test subjects? What could this strange thing be? Then, Penance poked her head out. Blink sighed again. She recognized her from seeing her in the In-Betweener's realm. But this was their first face to face meeting.

Penance looked around the room with curious eyes. It was similar to the one she had been in, but now there was a different person in place of where she was. A funny lookin' person, at that.

"Penance!" Blink shouted.

Penance stepped back, startled at the cry. She had never seen her before. Yet the other one seemed to call out her name as if she knew her.

Blink spoke again. "Penance? Let me down, sweetie!"

Penance gazed at her. An inquisitorial look in her eyes.


Synch's yelling was outright deafening to hear up close. For the machines had already started on him. And he was in a vast amount of pain. M and Bishop entered the room.

"Bishop! You have to do something!" M cried.

He stared at the control panel near Synch, "Hold on a moment, I'll have it in a second. This machine's different from the one in your room."

"How long will that take?"

"Just hold on..."

M put a disgruntled face on. At that point she thrust her fist into the panel!

"M! NO!!" Bishop shouted. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

All the lights began to dim. Synch slowly drifted into unconsciousness...

"We had to work fast. If it had been any longer, we would have lost him to Sinister forever," she proclaimed.

"It was NOT your choice to make, young one. And it is NOT the way the X-Men work! Everett could have brain damage now because of you! How will you explain that?!"

"I'm not answering to you. And we don't know what's going on in Everett's mind as of now. He could be just fine."

"As the only adult around here, you DO answer to me. Now, since I suppose we cant do anything about that now, help me get him out of here with your superhuman strength, since we can't unlock him after what you did to the panel..."

".......very well, SIR."


Jonothon Starsmore woke up with a start. He was the last one to recover from Black Tom's initial attack. He wondered where he was now, and what had become of Tom*. He turned to his left and the love of his young life, Paige Guthrie, unexpectedly came into view.

[*Last ish--Dino]

"Jono! You're awake!" Paige exclaimed.

"Hey gel," his words were a little fuzzy as he spoke to her, "w-where are we?"

"I'm not sure. But the thing is, Sinister has us, not Black Tom," she looked down, "Jono... call me crazy, but I have a sneaking feeling... this is it."

"Don't talk like that! That's not like you!"

"I know, I'm so messed up right now... I cant even THINK straight right now..."

"It'll be okay Paige, you just gotta--"

He was broken when all of a sudden the bonds were released and they fell to the ground.

Paige was the first to get up, a little shaky, "Ah! What was THAT?"

Jono got up, too. "Oh... I don't know... But I say we high-tail it out of here"

"Let's go, babe."