This volume collects X-Men (original series) #125-128, plus supplemental material.

In this story, we learn that X-associate Moira McTaggert has a son, the product of a rape by her ex-husband, who is a dangerous mutant. Kevin McTaggert, who takes the name Proteus, is an energy vampire who uses bodies like we use clothes - but goes through them much faster. He also has the ability to warp reality, an experience that leaves even the hardest X-Men quaking in their boots. Freed from his cell by a battle between Magneto and the X-Men, he intends to kill his father, and then proceed with grander plans.

This being a Claremont book, there are a lot of other things going on as well. I hear people today criticize the author for being too wordy and dense, while complaining that they feel cheated by current comics. Some people are just never happy. The fact is, when you bought a Claremont comic you were getting your money's worth. He also liked to play a long game. The seeds of the Dark Phoenix Saga, which would come to a head almost a year later, are planted herein.

When Marvel reprinted these issues in a series called Classic X-Men, they added backup stories that fleshed out the action in the main story, or presented "untold stories" from the period. Three of those pieces are included here as well. They've also included the new cover art (front and back) from those issues.

On a personal note, these were among the issues that hooked me on comics (particularly Marvel's) when I was a kid. I had the first chapter of the story, but due to the vagaries of comic distribution (and my being nine years old) at the time, I didn't get to read the rest of the story until a decade later when the reprints came. I'm glad to have this great story collected in one volume...but I'm still keeping my copy of X-Men #125 (for sentimental reasons.) ( )