Madpenguin
"An awesome volume that features one of the greatest milestones in X-Men history."
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An awesome volume that features one of the greatest milestones in X-Men history.
-
Oct 30, 2011
- by Madpenguin
- posted in Speech Bubbles: Comics & Graphic Novels
Rating:
Professor Charles Xavier is a mutant born with the ability to read minds. Mutants are people who are born with special powers such as telekinesis or control over the magnetic field. Some are born with abnormal characteristics that stand out amongst normal people, such as wings sprouting from their back or over sized limbs.
+5
Professor Xavier is the headmaster of a school that teaches mutants how to control their powers. A group consisting of five students under his tutelage form the X-Men. Their purpose is to put a stop to mutants who use their powers for evil purposes.
Previous Volumes:
The Uncanny X-Men Volume One: New Deadly Genesis
The Uncanny X-Men Volume Two: Enter The Phoenix
The Uncanny X-Men Volume Three: Magneto Triumphant
The Uncanny X-Men Volume Four: In Search of Mutant X
The Uncanny X-Men Volume Five: Child of Light and Darkness -
No longer feeling safe at the School for Gifted Youngsters aka the X-Mansion, Cyclops moves the X-Men and Xavier to the home of former X-Man Angel. After winning their recent battle with an unknown outfit, who knew everything about the X-Men's powers, battle strategy, and how to beat them. Phoenix mind scans one of the assailants and learns they belong to an organization called The Hellfire Club. The X-Men travel to New York in hopes of infiltrating their home base, and defeating them if necessary.-summary
Picking up where the previous volume left off. Volume five continues and ends quite possibly the most epic storyline in the X-Men mythos; The Dark Phoenix Saga. Many fans I know consider this storyline the absolute best. I wouldn't exactly argue against that, but I will say it's among my favorites though. Volume five contains issues 132-140, and X-Men Annual #136. The stories are delivered again by Chris Claremont.
The first few issues come out in full throttle as the X-Men immediately lock horns with The Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, which is made up of a group of powerful mutants with some extraordinary mutant talents. I remember this group capturing me by complete surprise when I first read these stories. The writing in this chapter is splendid, due to its well balance of action, drama, and heavy suspense. Although Claremont's storytelling feels a bit formulaic, he managed to keep this reader, at least, gripped to every page.
Jean Grey is the focal point of this story, as it mainly focuses on her Phoenix transformation. Leading up to this chapter, there were many segments taking place concerning her "time slips", which involved a supposed ancestor of hers, who was possibly married to a man named Jason Wyngarde. In this saga everything comes to light, while all loose ends are tied up in the process. The drama comes out well choreographed, with Jeans love for Cyclops being well exercised. The romance angle feels genuine and never really had that cheesy feel which ran rampant in the animated series.
The story is full of plot twist and new developments. Jean is eventually consumed by her god-like powers and is considered a universal threat. This soon involves the X-Men's one time enemies and allies the Shiar Empire, which is being lead by Professor X's lover Lilandra. The threat of Phoenix is very well developed, due to Claremont's writing and wild imagination. He doesn't give readers a taste, instead, he delivers a full serving on Phoenix's abilities and maniacal ways. He even goes so far to mention that Phoenix could very well become a greater threat than the world devourer Galactus, since Phoenix could very well grow dependent on consuming entire solar systems.
The ending is wrapped up very well, and the aftermath creates a new chapter in the X-Men's lives; such as many of them developing new personalities, and the mantle of leadership is given to another. To include, Wolverine's violent actions towards certain individuals will result in the creation of the cyborg gang called the Reavers. The follow up story which takes place in X-men # 138 is a retrospective story, that chronicles the journey of the original X-Men team as well as the new one. I think it was the perfect cool down and aftermath story. Unfortunately, the cool down was taken a bit too far with the X-Men Annual # 4: Nightcrawler's Inferno. This story features Dr. Strange and quite honestly, I found this one to be very boring to say the least. I had a hard time getting through it. The final two stories introduces Kitty Pride as a X-Man, and wraps things up as Wolverine travels to Canada with hopes on making peace with Alpha Flight. This story leads him into teaming up with a few members of the group, to take on the mythical beast named Wendigo.
The artwork is once again splendid with some very nice character designs. I especially liked the detail in the facial expressions for Dark Phoenix. It was just something else to see Jean Grey with such an evil and hateful look. I actually found it quite funny. The battles are plenty and are very good, which is to be expected. The fight between the X-Men and Inner Circle is a great display of their mutant powers. Someone who may be new to the series will see how come the Hellfire Club were instant favorites. They gave the X-Men one hell of a showdown. This also goes for the all out battle with the Shiar Empire. The fight against Wendigo was also good with a brutal moment or two.
In closing, this is the best book so far during the Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men run. Hardcore X-Men fans really shouldn't pass this up. I also recommend casual fans picking up this book, along with the fourth volume. For those out there who enjoyed The Dark Phoenix saga in animated form, I definitely think you should give it a read. This is one of those occasions where the tv show didn't do the book much justice.
These are the chapters taking place over 266 pages. This book also contains an alternate ending to the Dark Phoenix Saga.
The X-Men # 132, April 1980
"And Hellfire Is Their Name!"
The X-Men # 133, May 1980
"Wolverine: Alone!"
The X-Men # 134, June 1980
"Too Late, The Heroes!"
The X-Men # 135, July 1980
"Dark Phoenix"
The X-Men # 136, August 1980
"Child of Light and Darkness!"
The X-Men # 137, September 1980
"The Fate of Phoenix!"
The X-Men # 138, October 1980
"Elegy"
The X-Men Annual # 4, 1980
"Nightcrawler's Inferno"
The X-Men # 139, November 1980
"...Something Wicked This Way Comes!"
The X-Men # 140, December 1980
"Rage!"
Pros:
-Action, drama, writing
Cons:
-One weak story
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FM_ALEX
November 06, 2011
Your title says it all
Madpenguin
November 06, 2011
Thanks man.
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woopak_the_thrill
October 30, 2011
The Hellfire Club storyline is one of the best in the X-men mythos. It was also quite well adapted into the animated series. I tell yah, H-wood should adapt these stories into the movies....
Madpenguin
October 30, 2011
I didn't think the animated series did it as well. It was still entertaining though. H-Wood would mangle it, especially if they bring that bitch Halle Berry back to hog up the spotlight.
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Madpenguin
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About this topic
The X-Men are a superhero team in the Marvel Comics Universe. They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1 (September 1963). The basic concept of the X-Men is that under a cloud of increasing anti-mutant sentiment, Professor Xavier created a haven at his Westchester mansion to train young mutants to use their powers for the benefit of humanity, and to prove mutants can be heroes.[1] Xavier recruited Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast, and Marvel Girl, calling them "X-Men" because they possess special powers due to their possession of the "X-gene," a gene which normal humans lack and which gives mutants their abilities. Early on, however, the "X" in X-Men stood for "extra" power which normal humans lacked. It was also alluded to that mutations occurred as a result of radiation exposure.
The first issue also introduced the team's archenemy, Magneto, who would continue to battle the X-Men for decades throughout the comic's history, both on his own and with his Brotherhood of Mutants (introduced in issue #4). The X-Men universe also includes such notable heroes as Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, and Rogue. Besides the Brotherhood of Mutants, other villains that the X-Men have fought include the Sentinels, Apocalypse, Mister Sinister, and the Hellfire Club.
The X-Men comics have been adapted into other media, including animated television series, video games, and a ...
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The first issue also introduced the team's archenemy, Magneto, who would continue to battle the X-Men for decades throughout the comic's history, both on his own and with his Brotherhood of Mutants (introduced in issue #4). The X-Men universe also includes such notable heroes as Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Shadowcat, and Rogue. Besides the Brotherhood of Mutants, other villains that the X-Men have fought include the Sentinels, Apocalypse, Mister Sinister, and the Hellfire Club.
The X-Men comics have been adapted into other media, including animated television series, video games, and a ...
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