The Scott and Jean Archives
To officially commemorate their graduation, Xavier and the X-Men pose for graduation photos. Official diplomas have also been prepared for the students. However, Xavier has other news. Following their graduation, he will be taking a temporary leave of absence and will be assigning the role of group leader to one of the X-Men during that time.
Meanwhile, Magneto has gathered his Brotherhood to prepare for another battle against the X-Men.
Back at the Institute, Xavier has made his decision that Scott should be the group leader in his absence. The X-Men will have the assistance of a machine to help them track down mutants.
The next morning, Warren, Jean, Hank and Bobby are planning to go into town to celebrate their graduation. They find Scott behind Xavier’s desk, busy with work. Scott declines to join them, despite Jean’s pleas.
At the carnival, Magneto seeks out the Blob. After much persuasion, with the help of the Brotherhood, Magneto manages to convince the Blob to join him.
The rest of the X-Men are having fun downtown when they are summoned back to the Institute by Cyclops. They quickly get into costume and arrive at the location Magneto had provided them with. The Blob attacks them first, followed by torpedoes launched at the X-Men by Magneto. Iceman manages to stop a few of the torpedoes. Quicksilver jumps in to interfere but backs off when Magneto launches the remaining torpedoes at the X-Men who are still busy trying to stop the Blob. It is the Blob who actually saves the X-Men by taking the full force of the explosion.
Realising that his plan has failed yet again, he retreats. After the fight, the Blob decides that he doesn’t want to get involved in any more fights and returns to his former life in the circus.
(X-Men: The Early Years #7 is a reprint of Uncanny X-Men (Vol 1) #7.)