X-Men (1991) # 9

"The Not So Big Easy" 

Cover Date: June 1992; On Sale Date: April 1992 

 Writers: Jim Lee & Scott Lobdell; Artist: Jim Lee; Inkers: Jim Lee & Art Thibert; Letterers: Tom Orzechowski & Lois Buhalis; Colorist: Joe Rosas; Editor: Bob Harras; Editor in Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Jim Lee 

In caverns beneath New Orleans, the X-Men are confronted by the Brood and their queen, who has infected Ghost Rider with a Brood embryo. The X-Men go on the defensive against the alien insects, but when Wolverine attempts to kill the queen, the floor gives out beneath them, sending all parties even deeper into the tunnels. Wolverine and Beast are confronted by the possessed Ghost Rider, and the alien presence within him fights with the spirit of Dan Ketch for control. Ghost Rider flees into the tunnels before Wolverine can decapitate him. 

Rogue and Jubilee discover the missing members of the Thieves Guild, held captive by the Brood. While attempting to free them, the two mutants are attacked by Ghost Rider, and the ensuing battle draws the other X-Men to them. Psylocke senses Dan’s presence and goes into Ghost Rider’s mind, where she finds Dan’s soul being attacked by the consciousness of the Brood. Belladonna, Gambit’s psychically powered wife, assists Psylocke in destroying the Brood, freeing Ghost Rider. The cost is high, as the fight costs Belladonna her life. The X-Men are told about the children of the Thieves Guild being held deeper in the tunnels, and Ghost Rider recovers enough to join the X Men in searching for them.

X-Men (1991) # 8

"Tooth and Claw"

Cover Date: May 1992; On Sale Date: March 1992

Writer: Scott Lobdell; Artist: Jim Lee; Inker: Jim Lee & Art Thibert; Letterer: Tom Orzechowski; Colorist: Joe Rosas; Editor: Bob Harras; Editor In Chief: Tom DeFalco; Cover Artist: Jim Lee

At the X-Mansion, Professor X and Storm introduce the newest member of the team, Bishop, to the rest of the X-Men.  Bishop is a time-traveler from a future where the X-Men were betrayed and murdered by one of the team.  When he sees Gambit, he accuses him of being the murderer due to him being the lone survivor of the future attack.  Xavier breaks up the tense scene by ordering the team to relax at the lake that's on the X-Mansion's property. 

At the lake, Rogue and Gambit's picnic is interrupted by Bishop, who claims that he knows Remy LeBeau as the monster who raised him after "the great betrayal".  Gambit and Bishop begin fighting, which is eventually stopped by Rogue, who convinces Bishop to accept Gambit for who he is now and not who he may become.  Suddenly, they are all attacked by a young woman that fires energy blasts, who Gambit says is his wife.  Later, all of the X-Men are listening to the woman's story: her name is Bella Donna, and while she is a member of the New Orleans Assassins Guild, her "husband" Gambit is a member of the Thieves Guild.  The two clans are now at war with one another, and it's all because Gambit killed Bella Donna's brother in a duel.  In order to keep the peace between the groups, Gambit was exiled, but now that the truce has been broken it's his responsibility to put a stop to the bloodshed.  The other X-Men volunteer to go with him, despite his protests that he can handle the responsibility alone.  While the X-Men prepare to leave, on the outskirts of New Orleans a sheriff's deputy attempts to pull over a speeding motorcyclist.  When he stops the biker, though, he finds that it's actually the Ghost Rider on his way into the city.