I’m surprised at how many cool miniseries came out as part of the Decimation Event.

The 198 establishes the “Mutant Sanctuary,” located on the grounds of the Xavier Institute, where mutants who survived the House of M depowering can come for refuge.

It attracts an odd collection of criminals, weirdos, and lone wolf types. Some are well-established characters like Toad, Leech, Caliban, Magma, and Skids. Others are D-listers (e.g., Peepers, Outlaw, Mammomax), and there are a few new ones introduced.

The mutants arrive gradually and live in tents on Institute grounds (the mansion was recently destroyed when Wolverine caused a Sentinel to fall on it). One of the new arrivals is Mr. M, from the District X series. He’s the main focus of this book.

Valerie Cooper’s Sentinel “guardians” immediately identify Mr. M as a powerful potential threat, and some of the other refugees treat him as their leader.

Eventually there’s a showdown between those who follow Cyclops and Mr. M’s group, and it appears that Magma kills Mr. M–but in the end, he seems to have “evolved” into a flock of butterflies.

The series was followed by a one shot of dossiers on the members called “The 198 Files.”