Operation: Zero Tolerance - 25 Years Later part 6: A Couple Quick Hits

The forces of Operation: Zero Tolerance march on in Cable 40, and a short scene appears in Uncanny X-Men 344 that will add context for a plot point during the event. Both of these issues take place after Graydon Creed's assassination and are skippable if you're not a completionist (though the scene in Uncanny X-Men 346 does make a later plot development in "Operation: Zero Tolerance" less of a surprise). Both of these issues take place after Graydon Creed's assassination in X-Factor 130.

The following includes spoilers for Cable 40 and Uncanny X-Men 346.

Blink and You'll Miss 'Em

Cable 40 is a one-and-done issue with the titular character running an errand for Moira MacTaggert. Moira is worried because it's been weeks since she heard from Renée Majcomb, a respected researcher in the field of mutagenics and covert ally of Charles Xavier. Majcomb's location was known only to Xavier, stored in his secret files. But with Xavier gone and most of his files deleted by the X-Men to keep them away from Onslaught, Moira fears she may lose contact with Majcomb completely.

Cable 40

Cable, with the help of Domino and Douglock, find Majcomb and dispatch the troops sent to apprehend her by Harper (Bastion's lieutenant who here resembles his appearance in Uncanny X-Men 337).  Harper apparently doesn't care whether his forces capture Cable or not, and it's unclear whether Bastion's pointed comment about Harper's good work is meant to be genuine or threatening.

It's worth noting that despite this worry over all of Xavier's files being lost, they will seem to be intact during "Operation: Zero Tolerance" and be used as a subplot through several issues, most especially in this series.

Unlike Cable, the Uncanny X-Men scene--despite lasting only two pages--actually serves a lasting purpose. Henry Gyrich and Senator Robert Kelly, historically no friends of mutants, have come to the old Hulkbuster base in New Mexico to dig into Bastion's operation. Much as he did during his clandestine meeting with Scott Summers in Uncanny X-Men 333, Kelly expresses worry and regret over laying the foundation for Bastion's programming. In some ways this is the bad end of Kelly's road of good intentions (as he saw them).

Uncanny X-Men 346

This scene continues Kelly's turn toward a more tolerant attitude as compared to Graydon Creed (and eventually Bastion) that began in Uncanny X-Men 299. As a character arc its foundation is somewhat dubious. The best we ever really get from Kelly is that he's changed his mind; while he regrets what his action have led to he never really expresses regret for taking those actions. But even though his transformation is more a consequence of narrative demands than the end result of organic character evolution, Lobdell has tracked it well enough over time that by now it doesn't feel out of place.

Uncanny X-Men 346

As superfluous issues go, these two at least contribute somewhat to the larger story (even if Xavier's files are handled inconsistently). They're certainly no X-Man 22 or Silver Surfer 123. They're also the last of these unnecessary issues during this prologue period. Lobdell laid most of the actual build-up for "Operation: Zero Tolerance" in Generation X in a story that that puts Jubilee front and center.

~~~

For an index of the entries in this "Operation: Zero Tolerance" retrospective, jump back to the landing page here. And for an issue-by-issue commentary check out Twitter @theroncouch #CompleteOZT.

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