REVIEW: Uncanny X-Men #200

“The Trial of Magneto!”

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artists: John Romita, Jr. & Dan Green
Colorist: Glynis Oliver
Letterer: Tom Orzechowski
Review: Will "Identity Crisis" Dubbeld

Few things were as exciting to a young comics fan as the words, “double-sized Issue”. Years ago, Marvel’s double-sized issues were full of new content and meant some shit was gonna go down. Issue 25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and anything else in an increment of 25 promised a throwdown with Magneto or Apocalypse, some secrets about Weapon X, or a Green Goblin fracas.

I only acquired X-Men #200 recently but was always aware of its place in X-Men lore. There’s a lot to process in this issue, so let us begin...

The set dressing for this issue is, per the title, the trial of mutant supervillain/borderline terrorist Magneto after his arrest at the hands of Freedom Force.
A Parisian world court sees to his fate as he is defended by longtime X-supporting cast member Gabrielle Haller and prosecuted by Sir Jim Jaspers, a stereotypical British dickhead.

As an aside, the rampantly anti-mutant Jaspers appeared, albeit an alternate version thereof, in Alan Moore’s Crooked World storyline. "The Crooked World" (or Jaspers Warp) arc was an early ‘80s Captain Britain story involving an insane Jaspers as a reality-warping mutant. It also coined the term ‘616’ and introduced the Captain Britain Corps.   

This issue spans a few days time and pits the Strucker Twins, Andrea and Andreas (Fenris, if you’re nasty), and their terrorist organization against the X-Men. Implicating the mutant outlaws in their attacks, Fenris seeks revenge against Magneto for defeating their father, Baron Strucker.
We’re falling farther and farther into the deep end of Marvel lore here, folks...

The Twins are introduced whilst on their yacht, sipping champagne and generally being Eurotrash. Andrea busts her brother hanging out in her bed in a bathrobe and even in this early issue the pair give off a weird incest vibe. I’m not sure if I’m projecting this based off of subsequent stories involving Fenris or that was Claremont’s intent.
Either way, those two creep me out...

Fastball Special included, Claremont crams everything he can in this double-sized issue without it feeling too bloated. The X-Men and New Mutants return from Asgard, Professor X is ill and dying, the Starjammers visit Madelyne Prior who is pregnant with the baby destined to grow up and become Cable.
There are A LOT of woven plot-threads and bits of X-Men lore in here...

John Romita, Jr. is on his absolute A-game here, as was all of his X-Men work. Additionally, this is Chris Claremont in the prime of his writing. Riding high at the height of 1980s anti-mutant hysteria, this issue as well as most of Claremont’s halcyon days are absolute classics.
I could go on ad nauseum about how wonderful this era of X-Men was and how much better the old stories are versus the new.
Those who have read them already know, and those who haven’t seriously need to remedy the situation.