Essential Classic X-Men, Vol. 2 (Marvel Essentials)

We sure waited a long time for Volume 2 of the "Essential Classic X-Men," not to be confused with the "Essential X-Men" (which is now up to Volume 7), since Volume 1 came out in 2002 (and was entitled "Essential Uncanny X-Men"). This collection has "X-Men" #25-53, along with "Avengers" #53, covers the period when I first started reading Marvel comics. "X-Men" #43 was the first one I bought (so I was not sure who was the dead Professor X they are all talking about), and then I started working my way backwards and forward at the same time. After Spider-Man the merry mutants were my favorite comic book, probably because I could identify with both Cyclops and Beast, and because we are still talking about teenager superheroes at a point where I was (only) the former.Things start off slowly in this collection. The X-Men tangel with El Tigre (#25) who then becomes an incarnation of the godKukulcan (#26). Then things pick up with the return of the Mimic (#27), who had all of the X-Men's powers, for a trilogy that involved first the Banshee (#28) and then the Super-Adaptoid (#29), who had all of the Avengers' power. The Warlock (#30), the Cobalt Man (#31), set up another rematch with the Juggernaut (#32-33). Then Tryannus captures Professor X (#34), and then Spider-Man shows up for a visit (#35), followed by Mecano (#36) and the three-part Master of Factor Three story (#37-39). Next up, the Frankenstein monster (#40), and a two-parter with the Sub-Human (#41) that ends with the death of Professor X (#42), at which point Magneto shows up (#43) and then Red Raven (#44).The crossover with the Avengers starts in "X-Men" #45, where Cyclops takes on Quicksilver before we get to "Avengers" #53 where the two superhero teams take on each other. The Avenger lineup makes for interesting match-ups: the Beast versus the Black Panther, Iceman versus Hawkeye, Cyclops versus Golaith, and Marvel Girl versus the Wasp (Angel is being held captive by the Avengers). Magneto is behind it all, but then he usually is when it comes to the X-Men. With Professor X dead, the government orders the X-Men to split up, so we get the Beast and Iceman versus Warlock (#47), Cyclopes and Marvel Girl take on the Hive (#48), and then come back together to defy the demi-men, which is the first of the four-part Lorna Dane story arc.The best part of this collection are the two episodes (#50-51) drawn by Jim Steranko (who also does the cover for #49 along with these two), where we learn that Bobby Drake's girl friend, Lorna Dane, not only has green hair, but she is the daughter of Magneto, hence the title of #51, "The Devil Had a Daughter." Unfortunately we are back to the Heck and Roth team for the final part of the story. Then comes what I still think of as being the worst drawn comic book I have ever owned, "X-Men" #53, which is the first thing Barry Smith (now Barry Windsor-Smith) ever drew for Marvel. Look at the splash page of Marvel Girl on page 3 or Ice Man as the Silver Surfer on page 7. Oh, we hated this comic book back then. Of course, today I have two autographed prints by Windsor-Smith, a giant blow up of the splash page for the "Conan the Barbarian" tale "Red Nails" that I have colored in, and plans to frame more of his art work when we build or buy our new home. Now I know that this comic book was drawn on benches in Central Park, but there has to be universal agreement this is the worst thing he ever drew.Roy Thomas writes thee issues through #44, where Gary Friedrich takes over through issue #47, at which point it is Arnold Drake's turn. The situation with the artists on the book becomes strange, because Werner Roth draws ten issues by himself, draws eight jointly with Don Heck, teams up once with George Tuska to do the pencils and three times with him to do Heck's layouts. Even that is not a complete list of all of their crazy combinations with this unique tag team approach to drawing the "X-Men." Dan Adkins does an issue, Ross Andru two, and John Buscema does the "Avengers" issue. Starting in issue #38 is the five-page feature "The Origins of the X-Men," which covers Professor X (#38), Cyclops (#39-43), Ice Man (#44-47), and the Beast (#48-53), written by Thomas and Drake, and drawn by Roth. In these you get their origins and then a look at their specific powers and abilities.Anything with Magneto is pretty good and the same is true with the Juggernaut with the X-Men, but of the rest only the Mimic stories and the Avengers crossover are above average. Now, of course, we have to wait for Volume 3, which has the classic "X-Men" stories illustrated by Neil Adams that spell the end to the early glory days of the merry mutants, before the book was effectively canceled (it was turned into a reprint magazine for a couple of years). So one more volume should complete the original run of the X-Men and complete the existing gap in the "Essentials" series between these X-Men and the international version.

It may hard to believe to modern comics readers, but the X-Men weren't always a hot commodity. In fact, the first incarnation of the team lasted just a few dozen issues before going into a semi-hiatus status with only reprints. It would take the appearance of the "new" X-Men in Giant Size X-Men #1 and X-Men #94 to raise the comic to the "A"-list. But even if it was a second-tier book in the beginning, there was a lot of good stuff there.Essential Classic X-Men #2 covers issues 25-53, a period which saw the original team of Iceman, Angel, Beast, Marvel Girl and Cyclops really come into its own, especially when its leader, Professor X, apparently perishes. Many classic villains are featured in this book, including Juggernaut, the Blob, Unus, Mastermind, the Mole Man, the Super-Adaptoid and most particularly Magneto. There are also some instantly forgettable villains such as the Cobalt Man and Mekano, and sadly (considering how many issues he occupies), the Mutant Master, leader of Factor Three. This run is also notable for the first appearances of the Banshee (looking rather freakish) and Polaris.Unlike the first volume, the X-Men (with the possible exception of Marvel Girl) are beginning to become really distinct characters. Nonetheless, the most interesting member winds up being the temporary X-Man, the Mimic, whose prickly personality is a nice contrast to his utterly benevolent teammates.With an assortment of writers and artists, this collection is generally hit-or-miss, but overall, there is enough good stuff to merit a solid four stars. By today's standards, these stories may be somewhat crude, but they are representative of the stuff produced in the 1960s. Most importantly, they are fun to read, and provide a lot of the basis for the modern Marvel mythology. For those only familiar with newer versions of the X-Men, this collection has both historical value and is an entertaining read.

Not long after the comics reprinted in this volume, the original X-Men comics series was canceled. From reading this volume I think I can see at least part of what the problem was. There is almost no consistency to the creative team with artists and writers changing from issue to issue. Our heroes face mostly unmemorable foes and the appearances by the big names bad guys (Magneto, Juggernaut) aren't as good as their original appearances. There is a lot of build up to the showdown with the mysterious Factor Three (which never really pays off) and at one point they break the team up and Cyclops is broadcasting his own radio program (seriously). The inconsistency of the creative teams is a negative but the talent involved is rather impressive: Roy Thomas, Werner Roth, Jim Steranko, Barry Windsor-Smith, Don Heck, George Tuska, etc. This volume is worth a read for those interested in the history of the original X-Men but I really don't think it holds up very well compared to most of the material Marvel was putting on the shelves at the same time in the late 1960s.

I gotta say... comics were written so much differently back in the 60's. Reading through a single issue might take you a half an hour or more... these days you can read most comic books before you are done in the restroom!These books are great. The size of phone books, and chock-full of classic stories you probably would never find the original issues from.Also, with them being inexpensive and softbound, they are perfect for lending to friends you want to get into comic books.TOTALLY AGE APPROPRIATE! Get your kids reading!

First the stories themselves, there's a great collection here that gives no hint as to the problems this title would have just a dozen or so issues after this collection ends.Starting with another dip into Mythology by Marvel with the appearance of a Mayan God Kukulkan. The X-men get a new member for a few stories, the Mimic, starting with a tale involving the Puppet Master and ending with a great fight against the Super Adaptoid. We meet the Banshee and first hear of Factor Three and the Mutant Master. There's Merlin (the one from Thor) returning as The Warlock for one great tale, Cobalt Man. Juggernaut (featuring Doctor Strange), Tyrannus and the Moleman, Mekano and then taking on Factor Three. Then they kill off Professor X in the tale involving Grotesk the Sub-human which took everyone by surprise.Leaderless they face Magneto and his newly reformed Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, once again featuring Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch with a cross-over to the Avengers who put in a storming appearance.There's a brief return by Juggernaut and the enforced parting of the X-Men which gives the Beast and Iceman and Cyclops and Marvel Girl chance to shine in a couple of tales.The masterpiece is the tale involving the return of Magneto and the introduction of Mesmero and Lorna Dane which features some great artwork by Jim Steranko.There is also the obligatory guest appearance by Spider-Man.This volume also starts the origins of the X-Men mini series and this is where my ONLY gripe lies. For some reason this massive volume features issues 25 to 53 which leaves only 54-66 to complete the first series which is a little odd especially as it leaves the origin tales unfinished.For that reason I purchased Marvel Masterworks X-Men 6 which is expensive, it is hardback and in colour and covers the last 13 issues but an urge to have the whole series was nagging at me.It just seems such an odd way for this series to be split.

Just what I was looking for

This is good yes

Mimic als Team-Leader, die Einführung von Banshee, der erste längere Handlungsstrang mit Factor Three...Diese Geschichten habe ich noch nicht gekannt und ich habe sie gerne gelesen.Die Komplexität der Geschichten lieg noch meilenweit hinter der Komplexität späterer Bände, die Welt ist noch einfach.Wem das gefällt und wer gerne in seinen Jugenderinnerungen schwelgt, dem ist der Band zu empfehlen.

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