Now That's More Like It

X-Men: Soul Killer
Boulevard Books
Richard Lee Byers, writer
Leonard Manco, chapter illustrations

This is another of those 1990s Marvel prose novels and one of the best ones I've read. I'm not well versed in X-Men history like I am with some other Marvel characters, but this adventure pits Storm, Rogue, Cyclops, Jean Grey and Wolverine of the X-Men against the demon-sorcerer Belasco. Apparently the X-Men have quite a history with Belasco in the comics as many past battles are referenced in this novel. The five members of the X-Men are joined by Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, Colossus and Amanda Sefton of Excalibur. The two mutant teams also develop an uneasy truce with Dracula, lord of the undead, in opposing Belasco's scheme to bring the Elder Gods back to conquer the world.

It's also interesting that this series of novels has its own internal continuity of sorts. The last 12 pages of this book list all of the various 1990s Marvel-themed prose novels to date in "chronological" order of how they happened. That might not be a big deal when it comes to a Spider-Man solo novel and an X-Men novel, but several of the books team various heroes in one adventure. For instance, the Doom trilogy teams Spidey with first the incredible Hulk, then Iron Man, then the Fantastic Four. Another trilogy I haven't read yet teams Spidey with the X-Men for a time-traveling saga. That adventure apparently happens immediately prior to Soul Killer because several times in this novel various X-Men characters mention still being tired from the conclusion of that tale.

One further item of shared continuity for these novels is SAFE, the Strategic Action For Emergencies federal agency. This S.H.I.E.L.D.-like national police force has never appeared in any actual Marvel comic as far as I am aware. But they have made an appearance in all of these novels that I've read to date. The head of the organization is Sean Morgan. This book includes several nameless SAFE agents led by one of Morgan's lieutenants, Major Nefertiti Jones, who has also been in several of the novels I've read before. I'm not sure why the novels don't just go ahead and use S.H.I.E.L.D., the more familiar Marvel national cops. I wouldn't think it would be a rights issue because S.H.I.E.L.D. is typically mentioned in the novels, but SAFE is always the go-to agency involved in the action of the books.

And speaking of action, this book begins with Belasco assuming control of a nest of vampires in Natchez, Miss., and using them to put his latest scheme into motion. He generates a massive storm cell over the city, partially to cover his other actions and partially to lure the X-Men to the area. Storm travels to Natchez to use her weather-controlling abilities in an attempt to limit the storm and subsequent flooding. Rogue volunteers to accompany her teammate, which proves fortunate for Belasco, as she is the main X-Man the sorcerer is hoping to lure into his trap. Belasco uses one of his vampire brood and Rogue's mutant ability to leech energy from people to assume control of the heroine. Then he uses the controlled Rogue to attack Storm. The other X-Men get involved when they lose contact with their teammates, and Excalibur is made aware of the situation by Dracula, who is alerted to Belasco's scheme when control of his Natchez nest of vampires is taken from him.

Obviously, the book combines typical superhero action with no small portion of supernatural activity. Oh, and no small amount of good writing. I'm not saying the book is flawless. There are a number of coincidences in both Belasco's plan and the mutants' final victory without which the story would fall apart. But again, this is by far the best of these Marvel novels I've read. Check it out!