After Kurt (and Kitty) were injured in the Mutant Massacre, the X-Men were supposedly killed in Dallas, in Uncanny #227. Kurt and Kitty aren't told they really survived for years, which leads to the formation of Excalibur. In Excalbur #10, Kurt steals the Blackbird, figuring he was the last surviving X-Man, so it was his as much as anyone's. He used to often be seen working on it, sometimes with Banshee? And I think he was the pilot fairly often, especially if Cyclops wasn't there. Anyway, Professor X--who I don't think Kurt and Kitty knew was alive either--stole the Blackbird back, in Uncanny #278! He easily could've called and asked for it, but narratively I don't think Claremont wanted to bring in Excalibur there, and deciding to do something the dickest way possible is on-brand for the Professor anyway.
Sometime after that, did the jets transition from the SR-71-style Blackbird to the X-Jets from the animated series? (That link claims Nightcrawler still owns the plane!) I don't think they've been seen recently, but I imagine they're still around somewhere; although I know there's more than one and I don't think anyone maintains or takes care of them (except maybe Forge?) and they're basically magic now...
Ok, fairplay to Sat (and by extension YOU) for bringing up so many solid points that really do seem to be glossed over a lot.
ReplyDeleteHow exactly DID Kurt suddenly have a proficiency for fixing experimental (then one of a kind) jets like that? Did Professor X randomly decide to mental place the knowledge in his mind off-panel one day? "You know Kurt sure hangs out with Logan a lot. You know what would be a surefire way of further cementing their friendship? Bonding over fixing the Blackbird on a regular basis (every other mission) Their bond gets stronger, and I get free labor. Win-win for everyone."
Man, the more you get older, the more of a dick Prof. X just keeps looking like. Magneto really WAS right...