Villain: Garokk, the Petrified Man; Zaladane

Guest Appearance: Ka-Zar, Karl Lykos

Innovations: Wolverine’s healing factor and unbreakable bones

Letters Page: Page One

Ka-Zar leads the X-Men to the City of the Sun-God, the abomination that Garokk built that threatens the ecological balance of the Savage Land. They are attacked by warriors on pterasaurs and Cyclops, Colossus, Ka-Zar and Banshee are captured and carried off in the distance. Left behind, Wolverine takes command of Storm and Nightcrawler and leads them into the city. Before they leave, Wolverine calms Zabu and shows off his extraordinary ability to commune with wild animals.

Upon arrival at the city, Wolverine kills a guard and sneaks them in through the city’s sewer system. A dinosaur attacks Wolverine’s hand but he simply pops his claws into the creature’s head. Strom and Nightcrawler are simultaneously impressed and frightened by this side of Wolverine. They make their way through the city hallways and finally come upon a massive arena where the other X-men are on a stage and bound to stakes. Colossus is being burned at the stake. He is in armored form, his organic steel glowing red hot, and though he still remains alive, wonders how long he can maintain his composure.

Nightcrawler teleports in and rips the blindfold from Cyclops’ eyes. Cyclops fires into Peter’s stake and Colossus breaks free, punching the warriors with his still steaming body. Storm frees Cyclops with a lightning bolt and he chases after the Petrified Man. He catches up on the roof where the Petrified Man has plugged himself into the city’s power source. The Petrified Man fires rays from his eyes which Cyclops matches with his own optic blasts.

The roof gives way and the two fall into a deep, seemingly bottomless chasm. Banshee catches Cyclops, while Storm races downward to try and save the villain. She is hit by falling debris before she can catch the Petrified Man, and he falls down into the darkness. Her claustrophobia gets the better of her and she bursts up through the ground in a fit of anxiety. The other X-Men and Ka-Zar have made it outside. Ka-Zar and Karl Lykos thank the X-Men for their help and once again give them a craft to sail home. Lykos tells Cyclops that he intends to stay in the Savage Land and make his way through life without fear of turning into Sauron. The X-Men push off but hit a deadly storm around Cape Horn.

- -synopsis by Jonathan Clarke, aka doesitmatter, and Gormuu

- - panel scans provided by Jonathan Clarke, aka doesitmatter