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5 (4) 4 (11) 3 (8) 2 (1) 1 (0) 4.0 starsAverage score of 24 user reviews
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"I Married a Doombot!" 0
At last, "Schism," the most important X-Men story arc of the year, is here! "Schism" Part One begins rather routinely with a grouchy Logan blowing off his students and Scott doing the whole "leader" thing. What is interesting about this introduction, however, is the interaction between Logan and Scott. One can, with the help of a flashback panel, see that these two are closer than they have ever been before. A cute line by Logan further reinforces this fact: "When there's somebody around worth...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Gorgeous Art and Awesome Awkwardness 1
Uncanny X-Men #539 surprises in many ways. Along with the addition of new artist Ibraim Roberson, this issue features the return of Hope and her squad to the realm of Uncanny, from which they have been absent for ten issues. Hope is an interesting, if polarizing, character, and I (along with many other fans, I'm sure) have been waiting for the awkward confrontation between Hope and Wolverine. We get that in this issue, and it does not disappoint. At the beginning of the issue, Hope, Idie, and ...
8 out of 8 found this review helpful. -
Well-written, but Predictable 0
Uncanny X-Men #536, the second issue in the "Breaking Point" arc, continues where #535 left off, that is, Kruun and a multitude other breakworlders pleading for asylum on Earth (and, indeed Utopia, more specifically). Kruun, who readers might remember from 2006 in Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men run, is back, and apparently he has had a change of heart. While obviously a ruse, Kruun's appearance does at least give us some nostalgia and a nod to continuity. As the issue begins, the breakworlder...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
Kitty Pryde, Emma Frost, and the Start of the Dark Phoenix Saga 0
Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Oh, those were the days! Uncanny X-Men #129, released in 1980, is an important X-Men issue for many reasons, including the first appearances of classic characters Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost and the proverbial beginning of the legendary “Dark Phoenix” saga. At the start of the issue, we see Jason Wyngarde tampering with Phoenix’s mind, dragging her into an alternate reality where he is her master and the most magnificent man she knows. As we will see later in th...
0 out of 0 found this review helpful. -
Bad Idea, but Good Execution 0
X-Men: First Class, released in 2011 and directed by Matthew Vaughn, is at best a fun, well made summer flick, useful for the revival of the franchise, and at worst a polarizing film whose only bold steps involve blatant disregard for continuity of the source material. That being said, longtime comic book and X-Men fans should enjoy watching this film (maybe not thinking about it) for its stylish direction and the good acting by its good actors, such as Fassbender, McAvoy, and Bacon. It is inter...
7 out of 9 found this review helpful. -
Fresh and Dramatic 0
Age of X Alpha is a Marvel one-shot issue introducing an alternate universe where the X-Men never existed and mutants everywhere are fighting for their lives. This issue is, I think, as close to exposition as Carey is willing to give; it details via flashbacks a number of significant events that have altered the lives of some of our favorite mutants, such as Magneto, Cyclops (who is now known as Basilisk), Wolverine, and Cannonball. As with many Alpha's, this issue is a collaboration of a few di...
4 out of 4 found this review helpful. -
The Loose Ends Issue 0
Book two of X-Men: The End, written by Chris Claremont, begins immediately where issue six and book one left off. Cyclops and the others are shown, in the aftermath of the complete destruction of the Xavier Institute, trying to piece together a damage report, tend to the wounded, and mount a defense against a clandestine enemy. Numerous plot threads and questions left unanswered in the finale of book one are addressed in this issue, such as X-Force, Gambit and Mr. Sinister, and, to some extent, ...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
A Tragic Finale 2
The sixth issue of X-Men: The End (a miniseries detailing the "last days of the X-Men") is the action-packed finale of book one of the series, written by X-Men legend Chris Claremont . Beginning with the reemergence of a flame-haired, tattooed Phoenix, the whole universe of the X-Men becomes fundamentally challenged by forces more powerful than anything they have seen before--and they don't just want to win; they want the X-Men dead. In this issue, we bear witness to a full-scale assault of the ...
3 out of 3 found this review helpful. -
A Good, Layered, Set-Up Issue 0
This fifth issue of X-Men: The End continues the advancement of Claremont's plot through its many winding avenues. In this issue, Claremont introduces the audience to a number of important mutants' current whereabouts, such as Wolfsbane, Sage, X-23, and Monet. As the last issue was focused on X-Force, this issue seems to focus more on the New X-Men quite a bit more, which is interesting. While Claremont does not reveal any aftermath of the X-Force issue, the (seemingly) main plot with Sinister, ...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
Goodbye Fraction. Hello Gillen! 3
Uncanny X-Men #535 is an issue that breaks away from previous installments of the title in a very profound way. Matt Fraction, lead writer of Uncanny for thirty-four issues, is gone. We have a new writer, a new story arc, and a new (more returning) artist. Should you be excited about this new era of Uncanny? Yes, you should (and with good reason, as discussed below). What was good? First things first, the cover for this issue is great. The composition really works well, and I like the emphasis...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
The End of X-Force 0
Issue four of X-Men: The End, Book 1, continues Chris Claremont's alternate universe story in which our favorite mutants will supposedly meet their "end." This issue seems disconnected from the previous three issues (Aliyah, Sinister, and the Phoenix are not present), but is it really? The mastery of Chris Claremont is his ability to weave a multitude of stories into a single volume--wheels within wheels, so to speak--and he is definitely doing that in X-Men: the End. Aside from the layout of th...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
"Don't you just love the scientific method?" 1
X-Men #9 is the third part of Gischler's "To Serve and Protect" arc, and, in this issue, our favorite heroes continue the search to uncover the truth behind the curious reptilian creatures in the NYC sewers and the mysterious disappearance of nerds all over town. This issue reveals, rather startlingly, the real face behind the experiments, and let's just say it is not the Lizard. This issue is very effective for a variety of reasons, and felt nostalgic and very entertaining at the same time. Mor...
6 out of 8 found this review helpful. -
A Charming, yet Somewhat Excessive Sequel 1
X-Men #8 continues the search of the "lizard problem," introduced in the last issue, by Storm's detective team (which includes Wolverine, Spiderman, Gambit, and Emma Frost). It is executed in the classic style of X-Men comics, which I really appreciate--that is, the X-Men taking the fight to the enemy, instead of the other way around, and actually serving to protect humans. Within the last few years, the X-Men have been so focused on survival that we do not get many stories like this one, and fo...
5 out of 5 found this review helpful. -
Pure Entertainment in the Vein of Classic X-Men 0
Having began my subscription of X-Men (3rd series) near the end of the vampire arc, I decided that this particular issue would be a good starting point for the newcomer of X-Men core titles. Gischler is a relative unknown and newcomer in the comic industry, so, I was interested to see what direction this series would take and what kind of stories it would give us. After reading the issue, I was left with a feeling reminiscent of 90's age X-Men issues, and, in my mind that is not a bad thing, so ...
4 out of 5 found this review helpful. -
A Great Start to an Alternate Universe 2
Wow, I was very surprised by this, X-Men: Legacy #245, the first chapter of "Age of X." Alternate universes are hit-and-miss with me, but this one seems like it is going to be a great addition to the X-Men stories. Mike Carey is often praised for his current "Legacy" run, and I am now really glad that Marvel let him do his own thing for this one. But why did it turn out so great? Let's take a look: What was good? Character change-ups. And not just for the sake of doing it, these are awesome! Cyc...
5 out of 5 found this review helpful. -
"Now...who shall I be today?" 0
After almost six months of build up, we are finally here--the end of the "Quarantine" story arc and the resolution of a few plots which have, it seems, been dragging on for a while now. This, the 534th issue of Uncanny X-Men, adequately delivers in its resolution, and has a few great scenes, but I feel like it is pretty "surface level" entertainment. Nothing shocked me. Not even the last scene, which I have been expecting for a few issues. All in all, the issue works well and accomplishes its go...
5 out of 5 found this review helpful. -
More Good Things from Fraction, Land & Co. 0
Just as Fraction's last issue was a great beginning to a new arc, this issue is a great continuation of that. There are many things in this issue that make me excited to read and continue to read Uncanny, so let's take a closer look of this, the 531st issue, and see why. What was good? Many of the good things from the last issue carry over to this, such as Angel's team of X-Men, Lobe's team of X-Men, and the actual pencil-work. Beginning with Angel's team, I still like the fact that it's a gr...
2 out of 2 found this review helpful. -
An Amalgam of Many Good, yet so Many More Bad, Things 2
Ugh! This issue drives me insane. The ironic thing is, it's not just the fact that it's bad that drives me insane; it's that the issue has quite a few (very) good things going for it, but they all get dragged down by a poor plot with (mostly) off-key characterization and some quite appalling script choices. Let's take a closer look at this, the first issue of the Astonishing X-Men 2010 volume. What was good? Storm! Holy cow. Let me just get this out of the way: I think that Kaarre Andrews' depi...
3 out of 3 found this review helpful. -
Some Good Fan-Service, but What About Everyone Else? 0
Oh Mass Effect, what a delightfully wonderful game you are! So good, in fact, that Dark Horse decided to publish a series featuring your lead writer, which is great. Is this series just an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of the game, however, or does it stand on its own as a good comic? Let's take a closer look at the good the bad and the ugly of the first issue of the Mass Effect: Redemption series. What was good? Well, Mac Walters is certainly an excellent writer, which is evident ...
3 out of 3 found this review helpful. -
An Exciting Holiday Surprise for X-Fans 0
Wow, what a surprise this issue is. It is easily the best of the last five or six issues of Uncanny, and I think a 'lot of that has to do with the change of pace from the last issues--aka, no mention of Hope and the departure of Whilce Portacio. That being said, this issue still has some annoyance factor to it, so let's get down to business and talk about the good the bad and the ugly of this, the 530th issue of Uncanny X-Men. What was good? Oh boy. There were so many things in this issue th...
3 out of 4 found this review helpful. -
The Legend Begins... 2
Writing a review of a 47-year-old comic book would be very difficult under normal circumstances, but writing one for something like this, the first issue of the X-Men, is nearly impossible unless we can agree to judge it only by the standards of its age, not by ours. The dialogue may seem cheesy to us, the art foreign, and the characterization wholly alien, but when we remove the scope of the modern lens, we can start to truly understand this book. That being said, however, this issue is not per...
9 out of 9 found this review helpful. -
"Cable, are we THERE yet?" 0
Dream a Little Dream...Moving on to the third issue of the maxi-series, X-Men: The End, by Chris Claremont and Sean Chen, I must say: this issue is packed! Six different locales and numerous new plot elements are introduced in an issue that gives us the first real bit of story development in the series thus far. In this issue, we bear witness to the first death (of many) of an established character, and we also get a glimpse of the whereabouts of Beast, Jubilee, Domino, and a few more of our fa...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
"Hush now. Daddy's workin'." 2
Moving on to the second issue of X-Men: The End, Claremont reveals the answers to a few questions you probably had after reading the first issue, such as the true identity of Aliyah's holographic aide, what all those aliens were up to on the Shi'ar planet, and the whereabouts of a few of your favorite X-Men. This issue is a continuation of the first in the sense that it is excellent at setting up future events, but this issue has even less action than the first, which probably will bore some peo...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful. -
Revisiting a Favorite: X-Men: The End 2
Alright, let's get down to business. Because it has been over six years since the release of this issue and the start of X-Men: The End, I feel I can more adequately write a review for its first issue and provide some analysis of a series that I feel is quite often misunderstood and under-appreciated, in some respects. Chris Claremont got a 'lot of criticism (some deserved, but not all) for his work after returning to Marvel, but it is my honest opinion that none of his work in the past decade ...
1 out of 1 found this review helpful.
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