Essential X-Men #2
In "Wanted: Wolverine! Dead or Alive! (X-Men #120)," the X-Men are brought to Lilandra’s base as Jean Grey faces execution for the Phoenix’s cosmic atrocity. With Xavier demanding a trial by combat, the X-Men clash with the Imperial Guard on the Blue Area of the Moon, where the Phoenix Force resurfaces—leading to a devastating choice. Written by John Byrne and Chris Claremont, with art by Byrne and inks by Terry Austin, this pivotal issue features a cover by Byrne that captures the stakes in sharp, dramatic detail.
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Lilandra transports the X-Men to her base so that Phoenix can be killed for her crime of wiping out an entire star system. Xavier explains that the Phoenix Force has been purged from Jean and demands the right to trial by combat when his captors refuse to listen. The X-Men and the Imperial Guard fight on the Blue Area of the Moon to determine Jean's fate. During the battle, Dark Phoenix manifests herself once again and Jean sacrifices herself rather than let the Phoenix loose on the universe.
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).