Product Description
The destruction of Buffy's hometown, plus covert and powerful slayer "cells" around the world, add up to a new label for the Scoobies: Terrorist threat. Speaking of Sunnydale, the crater formerly known as, has opened to reveal the witch Amy, and boy is she mad.
Season Eight continues as Buffy creator Joss Whedon brings Buffy back to Dark Horse in this direct follow-up to Season Seven of the smash-hit TV series.
Customer Reviews:
And the story continues.......2007-04-22
Warning: Thar be spoilers ahead!
Remember each week those exciting words (which alerted us that we were about to get a new exciting episode of the best show on TV)? "Previously on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER . . . " The new comic series seems to be doing something along these same lines. On the inside of the outer cover are printed the following:
"This story takes place after the end of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Season Seven.
"The Slayer population of the world has gone from two to nearly two thousand. Almost five hundred are working around the world with Buffy's organization in squads--or "terrorist cells," according to the American military. Buffy, Xander, Dawn, and a passel of Slayers are currently bunked out in a Scottish castle, where the latest mission revealed a strange symbol carved into human bodies.
"Also, Dawn's a giant."
This may be a summary that is rewritten each month to reflect what has happened in the previous issues.
The first episode in Season Eight established the situation; this one begins moving the story forward. The U.S. military (or rather, a military leader who has on his chest the strange symbol referred to in the monthly summary) has authorized Amy the witch and her army of zombies to go after Buffy and her cohorts. After the story begins with three very different approaches to training the new slayers by first Giles, then Buffy, and finally Andrew (who actually couldn't be said to be training them at all) we find Xander explaining why Dawn took the form of a giant when it was possible she could have assumed other forms instead (obviously, she is trying to get her sister's attention in the most blatant manner possible). The catch is, does Xander really tell any of this to Buffy or is it all just part of what we later learn is a spell-induced sleep in which she experiences an unbroken nightmare. And in a fairy-tale twist she can only be awakened by the kiss of true love. We can, of course, imagine a line of possible candidates for that: Angel and Spike fighting to be first in line. Well, of course Buffy will be awakened, and sooner rather than later. Can't imagine her being asleep at the end of the next episode. The tricky part is how one defines "true love." That needn't mean romantic love. My gut tells me that the kiss won't come from any of the usual suspects. My money is on Dawn. Yeah, I know. No one likes Dawn. But the brute fact is that except for struggling to save her in Season Five, Buffy has been a truly awful sister. Not in a Cinderella step sisterly way, but in the completely neglectful, can't-spare-her-a-minute way. But early in Season Six, Dawn seemed to miss her more than anyone. Like I said, my money is on Dawn.
The issues ends with Buffy asleep, the castle under assault by hundreds of zombies they can't keep at bay, Amy gloating that she could handle slayers with ease, so there was no one there who could take her on. The final frame is of someone who says that they would "like to test that theory." And thus Willow makes her first appearance in the story.
I am going to say something that I don't think I can say often enough. I don't want Joss Whedon writing comics. I want him creating new television shows. I suspect he enjoys the control that a comic gives him. I am sure he is tired of battling studios and networks. I can understand that. But once the battles have been waged and the BS has been waded through, Joss Whedon has been able to create some of the most extraordinary, most timeless television that has ever been made. He needs to get back to it. That being said, I am so much happier with him doing BUFFY Season Eight than either his X-Men project or the Runaways (and mind you, I like both the X-Men and the Runaways). There are others who can tell further stories about the X-Men and the Runaways, but Joss Whedon is only one who can give us authoritative Buffy stories. So I am acquiring these with joy and my heart and impatience in my soul. But I want him back in television. We've had some great TV since BUFFY and ANGEL left the air. LOST, 24, VERONICA MARS, and especially BATTLESTAR GALACTICA have filled the huge gap BUFFY left at its departure. But LOST needs to start winding down (whether it will has to be seen), BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (the only show to completely match the brilliance that was BUFFY) has possibly only one more season left and at most two before Ron Moore brings his series to an end. 24 is definitely in decline. VERONICA MARS might be cancelled. In short, JOSS! WE NEED YOU TO COME BACK TO TELEVISION! But in the meantime, I'll wolf down every one of these issues.
Episode Two: Attack of the Rat.......2007-04-05
Buffy fans will be expecting a lot after seven stellar seasons on television and the success of the first issue of "Season Eight." So the question here is this: Does Issue #2 deliver?
In short, yes. I have to say though--there is so much going on, so many jokes, and so much foreshadowing that I wasn't able to completely enjoy the Jossy goodness until my second read. The first read intrigued me, but the second wow-ed me.
The plot continues directly from the previous issue. Amy (the former rat) is working with the government to take out Buffy and the slayers, and she has an army of zombies to back her up. The ending sequences are amazing--I'm already itching for May 2nd to come so I can get my hands on the third issue. There was a big revelation about half-way through the comic, and clues to who the Big Bad of the season will be as well. Giant Dawn is great, Buffy is true to herself, and Xander is playing the biggest role he's played since the first season.
This issue also re-introduces two fan favorites: Giles and Andrew. So, all in all, this issue is just as good as the first. But did anybody expect anything less? I mean, come on--Joss Whedon wrote it.
9/10
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Arcade and Murderworld, Starjammers, Dracula, Arkon and more great X-Men. Arcade is one of those crazy nut supervillains you love, with his weird sense of honor and gamesmanship. The Starjammers are fab, as Cyclops learns about his past. Storm encounters some more personal issues, are various men want to be involved with her. Ok, Dracula is an undead vampire, but he still fancies her in the same way Arkon does.
Graphic Novel junkie.......2007-07-31
Ok, ok, I should say comic book junkie, because that's what they were called when I first started reading them some decades ago. This whole series of Essential X-men books are a fun read unless you get bogged down in details. I never did, I just enjoyed reading them. This is a great book. Enjoy
Awesome...yet in dire need of reprint........2007-02-03
These stories are amazing. Pure and simple. After I read the Dark Phoenix Saga-well, of course, no X-Men story will ever equal the depth, perception, and feeling of those nine issues, but this volume comes close enough to be hailed. From the opening arc concerning Doctor Doom and Murderworld to the spellbinding cliffhanger on the final page, it's a great thrill form beginning to end.
You get to see some X-characters that don't get a lot of steam these days like Polaris and Banshee really work it, and it's a treat to witness the short-lived (and never formally ended) romance of Scott Summers and Lee Forrester. Thier entire subplot to 150 has just the right amount of emotion and serves as a great "breather" during those early issues. Kitty Pryde fully takes her place as an X-Man, yet Dave Cockrum's art doesn't do her justice (I always felt he made her look nerdy.) For everything else, Cockrum's art excels, and it's sad to think that he recently died. The events with Magneto in issue 150 are amazing, particularly the last pages. The Storm and White Queen Saga is very unusual, and Kitty's fairytale is a joke, but the good kind of joke. Then you get the whole complicated Brood and Shi'ar saga, which is always a blast (even if it takes up a thrid of the book)and two great issues illustrated by guest pencilers that, in my opinion, are the jewels of this collection. First you get X-Men 159 guest-starring Dracula and suprisingly astounding on levels of art, stories, and personality. Then next issue is where the mutants are transported to Limbo to save Illyana Rasputin and encounter evil and dead versions of themselves and eventually rescue Colossus' sister, but at the price of her aging seven to thirteen in the moment the X-Men exit Limbo without her. And, c'mon, when it features the Starjammers, Garrok (yeah, he's back!), Dazzler, and Spider-Woman, plus Arcade's revenge, it's impossible not to love these stories.
The one bad thing about this book is that it's gotten behind the times. All the other X-Men essentials have been reprinted with new covers, a better-looking continutiy shuffle, and more content. I think they're not doing it for this one because if they do they'll have to remove the X-Men Annuals 3-4 since they were replaced in thier rightful positon in Essential X-Men #2, leaving this book with one (albiet properly placed) annual and making the book significantly thinner. Maybe they'd find a place to put Annual 6 or something, since it seemed to get lost in the transistion for Essential X-Men Vol. 4 from first printing to second printing. Ah well, the clever mind can easily deduce the chronological placement of X-Men Annual #5.
Still Lovin' the Mutants !.......2006-07-05
Bottom line definitive classic X-Men from the writer who
helped to define them in the first place, Chris Claremont.
The 'Essential' Volumes are just what the the title says.
A must if you want to get a handle on these longtime claw
slicing, mind reading, stormbrewing, metal manipulating
band of superheroes and villains.
Recommended for ages 6 - 60.
The only downside would be the black and white art,
but for the amount of material you get for the money,
it's certainly worth putting up with.
If you've enjoyed the films, and are a new fan as a result,
or if you just want to go back and relive the fun, these'Essential' titles
will leave you more than satisfied,
they'll make you hunger for more..enjoy!
GREAT.......2004-04-03
Here we have Uncanny X-Men #145-161. We have Starjammers, Dr. Doom, and all sort of goodie. I just wish it would have been in color.
Product Description
Collects The X-Men #122-131 and Annual #3.
Book Description
An all-new edition! Ever-expanding their ranks, the Children of the Atom combat the evils threatening both mutants and humans like the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, the Hellfire Club and Dark Phoenix. Collects X-Men #120-141, Uncanny X-Men #142-144 and Annual #3-4.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
The Marvel Essentials program is a fantastic idea, and a great idea, and here is why. You get the classic storylines in this volume and a hell of a lot more for a great price. You can get these for about the same price as 3-4 comics new, here, so it is pretty clear why these are a good idea and why DC copied them. If you have all this material and can get it to your readers, why not do it?
A truly essential arc of an essential run.......2007-08-29
This is the second Marvel Essential to chronicle Chris Claremont's record-setting 16 year continuous run on The Uncanny X-men.
This essential chronicles what is often sited as one of the best comic story arcs ever written: the Dark Phoenix Saga.
In this arc, we see the introduction of the Hellfire Club, including their White Queen, Emma Frost, a character that has become incredibly important to current X-men continuity, especially to Grant Morrison's acclaimed run on New X-Men.
We also see the introduction of Kitty Pryde, a character featured in the white hot Astonishing X-Men by Buffy scribe Joss Whedon and the death of Jean Grey.
In short, you have one of the most beloved comic arcs of the last 30 years and the introduction of characters that today's hottest comic writers come back to again and again.
If you call yourself a comics fan, or even just a fan of great storytelling, you owe it to yourself to get this essential. Even better, it's less than 15 bucks. You can't go wrong.
Graphic Novel junkie.......2007-07-31
Ok, ok, I should say comic book junkie, because that's what they were called when I first started reading them some decades ago. This whole series of Essential X-men books are a fun read unless you get bogged down in details. I never did, I just enjoyed reading them. This is a great book. Enjoy
Essential review.......2007-01-25
This is a great book in the Marvel Essentials series. It has over 20 editions of the Uncanny X-Men comics, with the introduction of Kitty and the dark Phoenix. A great book for the avid X-Men fan!
Black and White and Read All Over.......2006-11-27
I am writing to comment on the persistent complaint that the "Essentials" series is in black and white on "cheap newsprint." While true (and there is no excuse for the shoddy binding of these reissues), it's important to remember that ALL comic books were, at that time, printed on very cheap paper. The colors available to comic artists were also far inferior to what is standard today. I actually found the black and white presentation crisp, clean and revealing. The reissues do preserve the often haphazard editing. Spelling errors abound: the "Assination" of Sen. Kelly is mentioned in the "Days of Future Past" storyline; "Definite" is sometimes misspelled "definate." Storm experiences "Atatistic" horror when confronted by the brood. Commas, periods and entire words just drop out of sentences. This was a disposable media. To have looked for immortal storytelling in comic books would have been considered pointless. But the same was said about the fanatics who preserved Shakespeare's plays in cheap "quarto" editions. The stories here will last as long as the comic genre last. They're that good and that "essential".
Average customer rating:
- Graphic SF Reader
- Graphic Novel junkie
- Solid Era of X-Men in Affordable Format
- Asgardian adventures, mutant massacres, and more Chris Claremont classics!
- Essential a Dissapointment
|
Essential X-Men, Vol. 6 (Marvel Essentials)
Chris Claremont ,
Barry Windsor-Smith ,
Louise Simonson ,
Walter Simonson ,
John Romita Jr. ,
Rick Leonardi ,
June Brigman ,
Bret Blevins ,
Alan Davis ,
Art Adams ,
Terry Shoemaker ,
Walt Simonson ,
Jackson Guice , and
John Bogdanove
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 078511727X |
Book Description
"Mutant" means "change," and there was plenty of that when the Uncanny X-Men counted down to the Marvel Mutant Massacre, beginning with the trial of Magneto! Rachel Summers became Phoenix and the Brotherhood became Freedom Force! Lady Deathstrike became a cyborg, Moonstar a Valkyrie, Colossus a killer, and Psylocke an X-Man! And Sabretooth first set his clawed foot into the X-Universe alongside his fellow Marauders! Guest-starring the original X-Factor, Power Pack and Thor! Gods, Morlocks, talking frogs and more! Collects Uncanny X-Men #199-213, New Mutants Special Edition #1, X-Men Annual #9, X-Factor #9-10, New Mutants #46, Thor #373-374 and Power Pack #27.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
This includes the classic Mutant Massacre, and some great Barry Windsor Smith stuff. A team of mutant assassins is hired to slaughter the Morlocks living in the tunnels after the city. Most of them fall, but they manage to get word to the X-Men, and their absentee leader, Storm. The X-Men come to help, at great cost to themselves. There is also an appearance by Thor.
Graphic Novel junkie.......2007-07-31
Ok, ok, I should say comic book junkie, because that's what they were called when I first started reading them some decades ago. This whole series of Essential X-men books are a fun read unless you get bogged down in details. I never did, I just enjoyed reading them. This is a great book. Enjoy
Solid Era of X-Men in Affordable Format.......2006-02-24
I love this "phone book" format - I remember reading these and have since sold mucgh of my collection. This book gives me the opprtunity to enjiy those issues in one setting! Only way to improve this is to add color and better paper but that's not the point - this is made for people who love to read comics!
Asgardian adventures, mutant massacres, and more Chris Claremont classics!.......2005-10-04
I can thank the X-Men for my present love of Marvel comics. When I was ten, the superlative X-Men animated series premiered on Fox and my good friend Nick offered to share with me his almost exclusively X-Men comic collection (which was begun by his father in the late 70's). I wasn't able to collect many comics myself until I discovered the Essential series five years ago and made the Essential X-Men #1 my first purchase. Also, as a casual moviegoer, I am even more thankful that the X-Men movie of 2000 was such a hit and opened the door for all of the Marvel-licensed movies that followed (which have a way of begetting even more Essentials). Frankly, I think that Chris Claremont's revival of the X-Men is probably the most deserving title to be reprinted in its entirety. It seems that Marvel agrees because we now have six Essential X-Men's (the second since the release of the second movie) and I'm just as pleased as punch.
There are so many enjoyable stories in this collection that I'd better just get right to them. Cyclops duels a still de-powered Storm for the right to lead the X-Men. The child who will one day become the time-hopping warrior Cable is born. Mystique's Brotherhood of Mutants receives a pardon for their acts of terrorism by serving under the U.S. government as the Freedom Force (it makes you wonder if our government would let an al-Qaeda agent work for the CIA). Fans of Wolverine are bound to love seeing their favorite Canuck go claw-to-claw with Lady Deathstrike and Sabretooth in their X-Men comic debuts. In the latest Hellfire Club appearance, we learn that the preferred ensemble of the discerning depraved mutant plutocrat can include headbands and bandito masks in addition to double-breasted suits, powdered wigs and lingerie. Also, a recurring villain, who twice before survived a vivisection from Wolverine, suffers a heart attack in the heat of battle and dies (I found it to be a "comedy = tragedy + time" kind of moment). My personal favorite story would be issue #200, the Trial of Magneto. A repentant Erik Magnus Lehnsherr goes on the stand in front of an international tribunal to answer for his crimes against humanity while the X-Men scramble to stop the attacks made by a radical band of mutants called Fenris who (allegedly) want to free Magneto by force. The issue is a great balance of blistering comic book action and realistic characterization and emotion, plus it expertly ties in the events from an important past issue, and it makes for the most interesting courtroom drama from Marvel that I have read (and I've read all three Essential Daredevils).
One of the greater complaints about the fifth Essential X-Men is the amount of plot threads connected to other series that don't get presented or resolved in the pages of the book, and I'm afraid that's still the case here. It's an unfortunate but understandable drawback of reading these stories in reprints two decades after the fact. At this time in comicdom, all roads pretty much lead to (and from) the X-Men, and so more crossovers were featured in this series to get the recent bandwagon-jumpers to invest in other series. Therefore, some stories can't help but feel a little broken. For example, take the sudden arrivals of Spiral and Psylocke. I know who they are and where they came from thanks to outside sources, but you won't learn that from these issues since it's never mentioned. This book also contains a small fraction of the Secret Wars II crossover issues, so only some of the Beyonder's shenanigans on Earth are recorded. However, in what is perhaps an attempt by the publisher to stave off some of the inter-series mystery, non-X-Men books are included for the first time in an Essential X-Men for two great crossovers.
Exhibit A: X-Men in Asgard. Although the ninth X-Men Annual is well remembered for sending the merry mutants into the fabled land of Norse mythology, the saga actually began in a New Mutants Special Edition. This book is included, all 64 pages of it! After reading it, I felt that, if it had been omitted, I would have accepted the X-Men's sudden quest to free Storm from Loki's fiendish plan and the unexplained transformation of some of the New Mutants (into valkyries and fairies and the like) as par for the course. Not to mention that the Special raises as many questions as it answers. Why is Storm babysitting the X-Kids on the island of Cyprus when she was last seen starving and alone in the Serengeti a couple of issues back? Why is Karma, who was pronounced dead back in the fourth Essential X-Men, now alive and morbidly obese? Regardless, I still enjoyed this story and am happy to have read it, since it wouldn't otherwise be in an Essential volume until the Essential New Mutants #2 (and don't ask me when the first one will even come out).
Exhibit B: the Mutant Massacre. The first crossover that brought all of Marvel's mutant titles together (and Power Pack and Thor, apparently), the Mutant Massacre famously came about because readers weren't becoming enamored with the homely, sewer-dwelling Morlocks, despite their multiple across-the-board appearances. Therefore, author Chris Claremont rolled up his sleeves, crafted a new villain team called the Marauders, and sent them down into the Morlock tunnels to waste anything that moved. A previous reviewer commented that there was little point in offering the entire Mutant Massacre in B&W when it has long been available as its own trade paperback in color. While I agree to a point (I've owned the TPB myself for over a year), I feel that the Massacre was an event that greatly affected the X-Men world and that the entire sordid affair belongs in the X-Men reprint series so that any level of reader can understand it.
That's about all I have to tell about the Essential X-Men 6. I'd say that it's required reading for any true X-aficionado, and still a very entertaining read for anyone. As a longtime fan, I can say that the only thing that would make me happier is a second Essential for the original `60's X-Men. Until then, face front, true believers!
Essential a Dissapointment.......2005-09-21
I love the essential volumes, started since the first Spider-Man volume all those years ago, 8 years I think. I love readin the classic X-Men stories from Claremont and collect those great tpb's featuring the great crossovers. My complaint is I bought this for the X-Men stories not the crossover stories. If you want to read about the Mutant Massacre, go buy the tpb in color, especially since it was just re-released and readily available. Extremely and essential dissapointed in this volume. Marvel don't make this mistake again, we're buying it for the X-Men issues, and those issues only. Think about it money wise that if the person really wants to see how the Mutant Massacre turned out they will shell out the money to buy the tpb itself. Way to lose some money.
Average customer rating:
- Graphic SF Reader
- Graphic Novel junkie
- Essential X-Men Volume 4
- A LOT of different stuff, of different quality, by different people
- The Uncanny X-Men soar even higher
|
Essential X-Men, Vol. 4 (Marvel Essentials)
Chris Claremont ,
Paul Smith ,
Dave Cockrum ,
John Romita Jr. , and
Brent Anderson
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
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ASIN: 0785122958 |
Book Description
Newly remastered! Call them freaks. Nature's mistake. Mutants. They are born different, with characteristics and abilities that make them outcasts. Wolverine, Storm, Rogue, Colossus, Nightcrawler and more - gathered together by telepath Professor Charles Xavier, the X-Men are sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them. Ever expanding their ranks, the Children of the Atom combat evils threatening both mutants and humans - including the Morlocks, the Hellfire Club and the alien Brood. Collects Uncanny X-Men #162-179 & Annual #6 and X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Nasty alien monsters, Storm and the Morlocks, Cyclops solo, Wolverine in Japan. The legend continues. Some of the best X-Men stories are set in space, and you could I suppose view the whole thing as a form of space opera. That being said, when Wolverine and/or one or two of the others venture into Japan those are usually very good, as well. No different here.
Graphic Novel junkie.......2007-07-31
Ok, ok, I should say comic book junkie, because that's what they were called when I first started reading them some decades ago. This whole series of Essential X-men books are a fun read unless you get bogged down in details. I never did, I just enjoyed reading them. This is a great book. Enjoy
Essential X-Men Volume 4.......2006-12-28
This tome contains Uncanny X-Men #s 162-179, plus the Annual #6--which means this collection represents when I joined the X-Men for regular thrills. Which means I missed some key stories, yes, wouldn't you say? Don't worry, though...I backtracked too, like crazy. Having acknowledged the greatness of what came before, I must say that these, here, are some of my favourite X-Stories ever. Let's face it--the Phoenix Saga was a big event in this series, but look at all the high-impact series-shaping plotlines that unfold in Essential X-Men Volume Four. It's quite stunning, really--and quite a masterful balancing act by author Chris Claremont.
Not perfect, alas. Claremont simply writes too many words, at times. Most of these mutants fall into a routine of analyzing the good and bad of their situations, their choices, their teammates' choices, the pros of the various cons, the cons of the various pros. This leads to a sameness in the way most X-Men ponder things, sorting and itemizing their angst, either in dialogue, or bloated thought-balloons ("If I choose this, I am no better than so-and-so, but if I fail to do this, I am guilty of such-and-such."; "I must do this to feel whole, but I cannot do it, or I betray whatsisname...oh dear, what shall I do? I'll mull it over for five issues...") Maybe when they were writing the Sphinx's dialogue for the superhero movie satire called Mystery Men, they were actually mocking the X-Men. I would believe it. Because almost all the X-Men come off as great philosophers, tireless ponderers of what is going on around them; it reveals the Claremont Overmind, the author resorting to one technique, too much.
The refreshing exception to this is Rogue. She's been rather a wicked villainess up til she arrives at Professor X's doorstep, pleading to be allowed a shot as a heroine--and the X-Men don't want her around. They don't trust her. And to maintain the readers' suspicions that Rogue may be pulling a trick, planning a betrayal as some kind of Brotherhood of Evil Mutants mole, Claremont is forced to keep us out of her head. We have to judge her by her actions, by her choices as they are made. This makes Rogue a delightful anomaly amongst all the chatty-mutant-Cathies infesting this team; she's an instant hit, as far as I'm concerned, precisely because of this subtle distinction; we don't see her mulling her morality too much. She just...does. She just...springs in to action. Slowly proving that she is there to stay, with the quiet determination to battle the distrust and cruel comments of her new teammates, as well as their foes, as they come charging over the horizon. And, incidentally, Rogue never looked sexier than when she was drawn by Paul Smith (Rogue, you had me at "Hello. Anybody home. Please don't kill me, Wolverine.".)
I guess, to be fair, there's a lot for the X-Men to ponder in these stories. Will Cyclops fly into space with his father, or stay and marry a woman who may be the greatest threat to the universe, reborn? Will Storm handle recent trauma, in space and in the series, well enough to retain her gentle essence? How does Wolverine cope with rejection by the love of his life? Is Kitty Pryde really to be demoted from X-Man down to the wimpy New Mutants? Why won't Charles Xavier's mind allow his legs to walk again? Okay, all this does require some deep thought while battling The Brood, Dracula, The Brotherhood of Evil You-Knows, the Morlocks (a couple times), Viper and Silver Samurai, a hidden villain who doesn't quite pull the grand-illusionist fake-out that Mysterio pulled on Spidey in his Amazing Comic (#'s 193-200) (but as master manipulator villain-types go, this guy is still pretty good), and a giant squid (the weakest villain of the bunch, this squid, and probably killed off by Scourge not long after, alongside the Grinder, the Pickler, and Mister Fish. But I digress.)
Final decision, after pondering and mulling like a Claremont character: I love these stories. I love Paul Smith drawing Rogue, even just for a little while. And if the X-Men think too much, well, at least they distinguish themselves, collectively as a team with a conscience. Thankfully, there are also a lot of terrific fights.
A LOT of different stuff, of different quality, by different people.......2006-11-21
Most of the stories/art in this book were pretty good, but not wonderful. The Brood story (actually, the end of the Brood story arc, which began in Essential X-Men 3 evidently) was pretty good. The artist, or artists, were talented, the story was pretty intelligent. THe only real problem was that it stated that Carol Danvers was implanted with a Broodqueen embryo, when there was no point in the story when that could have happened. But other than that, the story was good, and it hung together okay. Most of the stories were at about this level. Some had better art than others, and soem had fairly lame plots while others were pretty clever, and one of them was obviosuly the latest in a VERY long storyline which tended more to tragic romance than good sense on the parts of hte lovers, Mariko Yashida and Wolverine. As I said, fun, but not super.
There were two exceptions. First, the X-Men Annual 7 was well and truly abysmal. It was a crazy story revovling around the antics of someone called the Impossible Man, who presumably had been introduced before. It is full of cross-referances to Avengers, someone called Nick Fury who you are evidently supposed to know pretty well. This may have been nice for old hands, but it left me confused. Also, and this is the worst part, the artist had a nasty habit of making people's heads look like potatoes. I am serious. Lumpy potatoes.
The other exception was the graphic novel "God Loves, Man Kills." That one was stellar. The art suffered a LOT from being in greyscale rather than color, but it was still gorgeous. It had one of hte smartest plots, too. THe story- involving a televangelist who believes mutants are demonic- is intelligent and, though the good-and-evil is pretty clear-cut, the moral dilemnas the heroes face are real, and so is the realization taht they have to face this foe differently tahn they can face physical attack. Cyclops' confrontation speech could have been way better, but Ariel's (Kitty Pryde's) verbal defence of Nightcrawler was wonderful.
So, although there are several dubious story arcs in here, I'd say it's worht reading. Better yet, just get "God Loves, Man Kills" in color, and read the rest of it in a library if you're interested.
The Uncanny X-Men soar even higher .......2006-03-06
Chris Claremont really put the team through its paces in these issues. At the time, this was still the only X-Men comic on the stands. The New Mutants, and the avalanche of X-titles it would usher in, had not yet made its debut. So, as the sun set on this last great time in X-Men history, Claremont, Paul Smith and John Romita, Jr. strode like giants over its epic landscape.
The X-Men are all over the world in these stories, ever on the go as they respond to threats from without and within.
Wolverine becomes embroiled in a terribly sad marriage fiasco in Japan just as the young, brash Rogue attempts to become an X-Man. She was once a member of The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants though, and once assaulted and stripped ex-Avenger Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers) of her powers. Can Rogue be trusted? Especially when the Silver Samurai and Viper are on the attack?
Team Leader Storm endures a soul-shifting metamorphosis as she evolves into a freer, more flamboyant personality (including a mohawk!). This sends young Shadowcat into fits of insecurity and worry.
Founding X-Man Angel is captured and tortured by a viscous sub-terranean mutant group known as the Morlocks. Storm rises to the occasion, and faces her deepest fears, as she heads undergound to rescue one of the X-Men's most beloved members. The results alter her forever.
Xavier, Nightcrawler and Colossus are tormented with their own challenges as time passes.
And then The Uncanny X-Men find themselves reunited with Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers), now known as the interstellar being Binary. It's another freewheeling space adventure as the team faces their most deadly adversary yet -- the horrific, murderous Brood.
Shadowcat makes an ally and a new friend in the mysterious alien dragon creature she discovers and names Lockheed. A new, even stanger X-Man joins the fold, and he breathes fire!
Journey with The Uncanny X-Men as they embark on their most harrowing adventures yet. No one emerges unscathed in these classic, riveting tales of the strangest super-team of them all.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
A whole bunch of X-Men nostalgia. Or, how many people in the one house can have the hots for Jean Grey.
Not to mention Magneto - the birth of a really good villain, and the amusing villainy of Unus the Untouchable, the Vanisher, and various other clowns of that nature.
Fun.
So much fun.......2007-02-09
Despite Black and white pages, stories are very well-written.
I don't care about the colors, this book just is great to read.
We can see original X-Men issues.
It is an honor for me to possess this great comic book.
Almost X-Cellent.......2006-09-17
When I first started really reading comic books in the early 1980s, there was a definite distinction when it came to the X-Men. In particular, the heroes featured at the time were the "New X-Men" with such members as Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler and Colossus. These were different from the "Old X-Men" of Iceman, Angel, Beast and Marvel Girl; only Cyclops really bridged the gap between the two. A quarter century later, with the rosters changing so much, "Old" and "New" don't have the same meaning, but back then, it did. The Essential Uncanny (or Classic) X-Men chronicles the original group.
For those unfamiliar with the team's origins, it started off as a group of five kids in their late teens attending a private school with the single instructor, Charles Xavier. Professor X, as he was commonly called, was a mutant, gifted with strong psychic powers, especially telepathy. Recognizing that there would be other mutants out there, he founded the school to keep these other superpowered individuals on the straight and narrow and protect the world from less benevolent mutants.
These students were Jean Grey (Marvel Girl), a telekinetic; Warren Worthington (Angel) who had wings; Hank McCoy (Beast) who had incredible agility; Bobby Drake (Iceman) with grand ice-generating powers; and Scott "Slim" Summers (Cyclops) who could shoot destructive beams out of his eyes. Led by Professor X, they would fight various supervillains. More importantly, they would try to fight anti-mutant bigotry.
In the twenty-four issues in this first volume, the X-Men would battle a slew of villains such as the Vanisher, Unus the Untouchable, the Sentinels and Count Nefaria, but by far their greatest enemy was Magneto who was incredibly powerful but also had a contempt for humanity; he wanted to pave the way for the mutants, also known as homo superior. Either solo or with his evil brotherhood, he would be the greatest challenge to the X-Men.
In these early issues, the characters are still not fully defined, with only Cyclops and Professor X having really distinct personalities. For the others, we only get glimmers of who they are. But overall, the stories are pretty decent, if a little Scooby-Doo-esque: if it wasn't for those blasted kids, who knows what villainy could occur. Among the early Marvel comics, this is one of the better ones, even if it is not quite five-star quality yet. If you're an X-Men fan - even a "New" X-Men fan - this is a must read.
Colorless comic?.......2006-05-26
I've never seen comics in black & white before. I was truly disappointed.
X-men Legends!!!.......2005-10-24
This is a great example of Stan lee at his best. along with Jack Kirby Stan "the MAn" Lee created this great world full of real people with real problems. the X-men Being one of the most Downtroted people in the marvel universe, its great for any one who has ever wished to kick some bad guy but and stand up for the little guy.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Compendum.......2003-12-08
This Masterworks edition features The original X-Men series (later titled 'The Uncanny X-Men' numbers 22-31. For $35, it is definately a great buy. Although Stan Lee ends his run as writer with issue 22 (taken over by Roy Thomas), the stories remain great and Jack Kirby's artwork is impressive, even for 30 years ago.
Unlike the Essential X-Men series, these Masterwork editions are in full color with glossy covers. If you're looking to elarn the histroy of the X-Men or are new to the series and can'ty afford spending the money to buy all the old issues, this is the place to start. I definately recommend getting the first three Masterwork editions and then following up with the Clarement "Essential" books later to learn all the important storylines.
Average customer rating:
- Graphic SF Reader
- Graphic Novel junkie
- It's already lucky number seven for Marvel's merry mutants!
- Solid eighties X-Men!
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Essential X-Men, Vol. 7 (Marvel Essentials)
Chris Claremont ,
Barry Windsor-Smith ,
Alan Davis ,
Jackson Guice ,
Marc Silvestri ,
Bret Blevins ,
Kerry Gammill ,
Rick Leonardi ,
Art Adams , and
Jon Bogdanove
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
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Binding: Paperback
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Essential Classic X-Men, Vol. 2 (Marvel Essentials)
ASIN: 0785120556 |
Book Description
In the wake of the Marauders' Mutant Massacre, the X-Men go mobile to plan their next move - but recruiting Dazzler and Havok brings them even more catastrophe! And with a teammate's life on the line, the mutant marvels are forced to fight the Fantastic Four and seek the genius of Doctor Doom! Another elite X-saga of the eighties concludes with the world-shaking Fall of the Mutants! Plus: the introduction of... the X-Babies!? The cosmic power of... Wolverine!? Featuring Sabretooth, the Juggernaut, Mystique, Captain Britain and more! Collects Uncanny X-Men #214-228; Annuals #10-11; Fantastic Four Vs. The X-Men #1-4.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
The team is in a bad way after the Mutant Massacre, and has to do some recruiting, so we get Longshot, who is a lot of fun, and Dazzler, who isn't. The X-Men decide to go on the move to make themselves less of a target, and move their injured comrades to a safe location.
Mojo and the X-babies appear here, and that is a lot of fun. The whole Freedom Force thing at the end is where the franchise starts to lose its way, I think, but this is still an excellent deal.
Graphic Novel junkie.......2007-07-31
Ok, ok, I should say comic book junkie, because that's what they were called when I first started reading them some decades ago. This whole series of Essential X-men books are a fun read unless you get bogged down in details. I never did, I just enjoyed reading them. This is a great book. Enjoy
It's already lucky number seven for Marvel's merry mutants!.......2006-05-31
I am both amazed and incredibly pleased to have seven volumes of Chris Claremont's X-Men Essentialized already (plus two of the Silver Age X-Men, but I'll talk about that in a later review). I now have a virtual library, a nearly complete collection of one of Marvel's most storied franchises, all for much less cost than what I used to spend to fuel my video game habit back in the Sega Genesis era. Thanks to the rapid release of these comprehensive and inexpensive tomes, this is perhaps the best time to make classic comics a hobby. Anyway, that's enough praise for the Essentials as a whole, now for my praise of just the Essential X-Men #7.
The Mutant Massacre had just abated, leaving Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Shadowcat critically injured and giving the team incentive to hold a recruitment drive. The first new member, Longshot, is probably the most unlikely and, in my opinion, poorest choice. I guess he had to go somewhere after his inaugural mini-series, but the fact remains that he's not a mutant, nor does he really believe in Xavier's dream (he doesn't really believe in much except the wonders of naïve childlike amusement). However, the team had a majority of female members and he's cute, so he stayed. Even so, his "good luck" inducing ability made me remember the similarly empowered Shamrock and wonder why she didn't get an offer (She hasn't seen much screen time since the Contest of Champions. She needs to eat too, you know!). This volume also sees the long-awaited arrival of Dazzler to the ranks of the X-Men after her disco-drenched solo series concluded (she gets a less Donna Summer-y outfit as well). Finally, Cyclops' brother Havok gets an invitation to officially join the X-club at long last. Some say he's little different from his brother, except for a lack of stylish eyewear, but with Scotty heading X-Factor, there was no better time to bring Alex into the fold.
Now that the introductions are out of the way, let's go straight to the action! In the book's opening story, the extra-dimensional media mogul Mojo hopes to bring the X-Men under his control by de-aging them all into toddlers (Don't ask. Most of Mojo's plans tend to be weird for the sake of being weird). This forces the suddenly senior New Mutants to play the grown-up superhero role and save Jim Henson's Mutant Babies. I don't know about you, but between this and the Asgard-centric Annual from the last volume, I'm suddenly in the mood for an Essential New Mutants #1. Then the re-adultified Storm and Wolverine take on a trio of superhuman WWII vets who are thrill-killing particularly churlish members of the Me Generation. About that time, during a visit to Muir Island in Scotland, the rookie Dazzler convinces herself to tackle the Juggernaut single-handedly (a harrowing example of disco music's detrimental effect on our nation's youth). The eleventh X-Men Annual gets off to a rough start with a bizarre challenge by a god-like MacGuffin named Horde (Why call him Horde? There's only one of him. Legion was at least four people), but it ends with a strong message about foregoing personal pleasures in service of ideals greater than yourselves, which to me is what these stories are all about.
However, it became obvious to me as I read further why the mid-80's are so often referred to as the era when the X-Men series had started to leave its glory days behind. When Mr. Sinister was finally revealed as the mastermind behind the heinous Mutant Massacre, he came across as nothing more than yet another fanged albino criminal genius (and while I already harped on another comic book villain's sobriquet, c'mon, Mr. Sinister? Why not just name him Baron von Ruthless?). During a drawn-out aimless brawl in San Francisco between the X-Men (joined by Cyclops' jilted spouse Madeline Pryor) and the Marauders (joined by the malign mindbender Malice), I imagined that readers of the original series started to realize at about this time that it would be years before Claremont would think of a more rational explanation for the Massacre than "It's not like anyone liked the Morlocks, anyway". The aforementioned WWII fighters stretch their fifteen minutes of fame a little too thin when they sign on with Mystique's Freedom Force (OK, one more time. One of those guys can run really fast, so you decide to call him Super-Sabre? Are all the good names taken, is that it?). Lastly, this volume includes the noteworthy Fall of the Mutants storyline in which our heroes sacrifice everything (ie. Everybody Dies!) to stop the Adversary, a chaos fiend in full stereotypical Indian chief regalia. While I'm happy that the set-up to this tale involves Storm finally giving up her inexplicable mohawked street punk persona and becoming the Wind-Rider again, once all is said and done, I feel that this overblown epic can basically be summed up as "the X-Men vs. one of the Village People".
Still, I can't allow myself to talk about the X-Men and end on a sour note. That's why I've saved my favorite piece for last: the X-Men/Fantastic Four mini-series. This four-parter was an unexpected treat, especially since the X-Men/Alpha Flight two-parter was omitted in a previous volume. In this story, Storm petitions Reed Richards to prevent Shadowcat's slowly-phasing-out-of-existence malady. Unfortunately, the FF are too embroiled in their own affairs to help, especially after evidence surfaces about Reed's downright inconsiderate ulterior motives regarding their fateful spaceflight. Therefore, the X-Men take their business elsewhere and answer an offer from the arguably comparable and definitely malevolent scientific genius of Dr. Doom. But did Reed really intend to use his teammates as guinea pigs in his dangerous experiment, and why is Earth's greatest arch-villain so eager to assist the same outcast mutants that he's openly opposed in the past? Once I found out the answers I liked what I saw, and I was most impressed by how spot on the characterizations were between the FF and Doom. I don't know how many opportunities Chris Claremont had to pen Marvel's First Family, but he really showed a knack for it. I might pick up this book later on just to reread this little gem. Let's just keep our fingers crossed for the inclusion of the X-Men/Avengers mini in the next volume.
In short, the seventh Essential X-Men isn't quite as well polished as the sixth installment, but true comic fans can do no wrong by snagging themselves a copy. In the mean time, I implore all the Marvelites out there to see the third X-Men movie (and judging by the box office receipts for the first four days, many of you already have) and be sure to STAY until after the closing credits! I think you'll be glad you did. Good day!
Solid eighties X-Men!.......2006-05-13
This collection contains issues #214 through #228 of the Uncanny X-Men, plus Annuals #10-11 and all four issues of the "X-Men versus Fantastic Four" limited series.
Looking back, there's a lot of quality content in these issues. Frankly, when these first came out, there was a feeling among comics fans that the X-Men were already past their prime. Old timers looked back to the days of Byrne and Cockrum wantingly, and let's be honest, Claremont had become a tad repetitive at times (how often had he used that first-person "The Name's Logan" monologue to begin an issue of X-Men by this point?). Still, knowing where the X-Men are at today, it's hard not to view these issues, in retrospect, as examples of a by-gone classic age of quality. These issues maybe weren't the "mountaintop" for the X-Men, but they weren't that far over the hill, either!
Average customer rating:
- Graphic SF Reader
- Graphic Novel junkie
- The definitive essential edition of x-men volume 1
- Great Comics Great Buy
- The retooled X-men come on line
|
Essential X-Men, Vol. 1 (Marvel Essentials)
Chris Claremont ,
Dave Cockrum , and
John Byrne
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
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Essential X-Men Volume 5 TPB
ASIN: 0785123768 |
Book Description
Wolverine! Nightcrawler! Storm! Colossus! Endowed with unique abilities, these mutants were summoned by Professor X to rescue the original X-Men, an underground organization sworn to protect those that fear and hate them. Relive their original adventures; discover the human within the hero and the truth behind the legend. Collects Giant-Size X-Men #1, X-Men #94-119.
Customer Reviews:
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Here is the beginning of the rise to greatness and immense popular of the team of characters known as the X-Men. Claremont masterfully reinvents a cosmopolitan team of mutants from around the globe, after the east coast wasp whitebreak incarnation we had known previously. Adding a more adult edge to their relationships it is something that worked, big-time.
Graphic Novel junkie.......2007-07-31
Ok, ok, I should say comic book junkie, because that's what they were called when I first started reading them some decades ago. This whole series of Essential X-men books are a fun read unless you get bogged down in details. I never did, I just enjoyed reading them. This is a great book. Enjoy
The definitive essential edition of x-men volume 1.......2006-11-14
Finally, after a very long wait of ten years, THIS reprints the contents of X-Men volume 1 issues 94-119--plus the main feature of Giant-Size X-Men 1--in its "most essential" form: in glorious black and white (the emphasis were on the script (Claremont) and the inked pencil art (Cockrum and Byrne)). When the first ESSENTIAL X-MEN came out [circa 1996], it contained very obvious misprints:
(1) Instead of X-MEN issue 113, the reprint came from the version excerpted from the first story of Classic X-Men 14: Witness these glaring markers:
a.) The first page single panel
b.) the segue to Asteroid M wherein Magneto is almost swallowed by thought balloons.
(2) Another reprint-editorial mishap is the last page of issue 119 where the epilogue featuring Proteus smothering the poor Angus MacWhirter was missing.
This, however, is corrected in the reprint edition of ESSENTIAL volume 1 (published 2002, complete with new cover) which finally reprints the missing page. But the contents for X-MEN 113 remain the same.
This NEW EDITION will be a good buy if you are a late completist of the pre-postClaremont X-Men stories so that u won't have to buy the much expensive UNCANNY X-MEN OMNIBUS #1 (which contains the original x-men 113-in color, though), or MARVEL MASTERWORKS featuring the UNCANNY X-MEN (Volume 3).
Great Comics Great Buy.......2006-06-26
I just want to say that the essential are the best and this a great price because the comic book stores want $16.00 plus tax and online they are only 9.72; great deal
The retooled X-men come on line.......2006-04-11
For less than $14 plus shipping you can get introduced to the essential Uncanny X-men. This is a five star deal. Yes, the comics are not in color. Also, the comics are printed on plain paper, little better in quality than news print. However, you're getting a graphic novel that would cost over four times as much if you got it in color and on good paper. This is a nice way to get into the X-men universe at an inexpensive cost.
The reader is introduced to the new X-men. It's over 31 years since the "retool" date and many of these characters are going strong. There are Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, and Nightcrawler in this comic. All have been in the recent X-men movies. It gives great praise to Chris Claremont that his writing has stood the test of time.
The comics go from the inception of the new X-men to the start of the Phoenix saga. The X-men annual of 1975 introduces us to the new X-men. Some of the mutants have been around, like Cyclops, and some were the bad guys, like Banshee. They form a new team to save the old X-men from a new evil.
Where the comic books gets real good is in the new Uncanny X-men comics. At that time this reviewer was a kid and really enjoyed the "James Bond" like setting in the comic Warhunt. The X-men must save America from nuclear war. The result is the X-men win but at terrible costs.
After a rather slow single story the retooled Sentinels return. Dave Cockrum's art work is second to none during this time. This is the time the buyer of the book wishes it was color. However, this is where you get what you pay for.
The end of the Sentinel story goes straight to the beginning of the Phoenix saga. What is really strange is Marvel's X-men comics were putting out stories that were years ahead of any thing science fiction books were doing. Indeed, it's a wonder that a special Nebula award was not given to Chris and Dave for the wonderful work on the uncanny X-men.
The Dark Chrystal and "end-of-the-universe" stories take up the bulk of this book. However, there is an very good comic on the re-introduced Magneto. Only one X-man can "check" Magneto, not beat him.
Now, on it's "debit" side there is a poor story on "Warhawk". This was when Marvel was having producting problems in 1977 and Dave Cockrum was unable to make a production deadline.
John Byrne takes over the art from Dave Cockrum at the end of the Starjammers/Crystal story line.
I highly encourage any Amazon.com buyer to get the Essentials X-men Vol. II for the Phoenix saga.
This comic series is a sample of the "art" form in the late 1970s. The X-men under Dave Cockrum, John Byrne, and Chris Claremont was as good as any comic ever written. Now the X-men have fame the equal of Batman and Superman. It was all due to the work of those three individuals.
This graphic novel is worth five stars. It deserves six.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 1
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 3
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 4
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 5
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, #6 (No Future for You)
