Essential X-Men vol. 6

[SPS]

Well I am finally gettting around to reading vol. 6 of Essential X-Men, and I thought I would share my thoughts with you as I read each issue:

#199- Solid issue, sets up issue #200 nicely. I liked the scene of Magneto at the holocaust museum, until Freedom Force came in and ruined it. Don't get me wrong I like the Brotherhood but I do not like the name Freedom Force though I like the idea also. It also Gives Rachel her horrible costume that she will have for all of 5 issues before she is written out of the book for a project that never materializes. Also I have to say this is the beggining of a high point for the X-Men after vol 5 was one of the most boring trades ever. This trade picks itself up and starts running.

New Mutants Special Edition #1- I am a little frustrated that we do not get issue #200 next in the trade, instead we get one of the most entertaining issues of a comic I have ever read. It drags a bit at the beggining and end but once it hits its peak it is really really good. Just the characterization of the New Mutants is spectacular. Then there's the art. I kind of wish I had this in full color as it looks a little busy at times in black and white reprints but it is still pretty readable at times and is the main reason why I started this thread. But overall a good issue.

Can The X-Men's portion of this crossover match up? Find out next time!

Also if this does well I will go back and re-read vols 1-5 and provide my thoughts.

[Elliot Kane]

The X-Men's part is good, but the New Mutants' part is better, IIRC. That's the Asgard one, right?

[SPS]

Yep its the Asgard one.

[Elliot Kane]

Yeah, the NM issue is Alan Davis and it's absolute classic. One of the best NM stories ever, because it really puts them up against it.

(And should anyone ever wonder, it's also my justification for giving Illyana's Darksoul its own voice when I write her...)

[SPS]

There was another Asgard crossover. One drawn by Paul Smith. That is the one I'm talking about. Sorry.

[Elliot Kane]

Ah. In that case, I'm not sure I remember it... Either that or I got my artists confused, which would not be the first time...

[SPS]

Probably the artists as this one is where the New Mutants get seperated and sent throughout Asgard.

[Elliot Kane]

I got confused, then. Yana ends up with her Darksoul ripped out and encased in a suit of armour, yes? And Amara gets turned into a faerie?

[SPS]

Yeah that's the one.

[Elliot Kane]

One of the best NM stories ever, then. And yeah, it's better than the X-Men story that follows. X-Men story is very good, don't get me wrong, but it's not so personal as it is for the NM.

[SPS]

And all I got done with last night was the X-Men annual. You are right E it isn't as good as the NM half. It just seemed like a jumble of images and was pretty forgettable (perhaps I shouldn't read these before bed?). I did like the interactions between Scott and Rachel though, and the reaction to the team of Rachel's hideous new costume. Also good to see Loki show Shan some mercy. But overall kind of eh issue. It showcases why X-Men was the B-book in CC's eyes at the time. It seems like CC is just running through the motions.

I plan on reading #200 today sometime. If #150 was any indication #200 should be a great issue focusing on Magneto.

[Elliot Kane]

#200 is awesome, yes. 'The Trial Of Magneto', IIRC. Featuring a truly GREAT Captain America moment, odd as that may sound. Some great portrayal of Magneto, too. I always loved him as a conflicted person fearful for his people and trying to do the right thing as he saw it far more than the two dimensional villain he sometimes gets portrayed as.

Overall though, if CC thought that NM was the best of the X-titles at the time, I'd have to agree with him. I've always felt that to be the case, as the depth of personality given to most of the kids totally dwarfs that given to any of the X-Men bar Wolvie (Though I'm sure Steve will think I am missing one character, there... ;D).

[SPS]

Didn't read #200 last night, but I did find the last three essentials I'm missing on half.com for about $7 a piece (that is the average cost with shipping).

[Gray Lensman]

Ah, yes, the Asgardian Wars. One of the high points of the middle period of the first Claremont run. Good call there.

New Mutants generally was a better written title than the X-Men for a long time, though X-Men generally had better artists for the most part. (With the exception of the Sienkewicz run on NM, which was so bizarre and surreal that it gave NM a distinctive series voice.) Except for the annuals and specials, all of which were great-looking comics. Especially the two Alan Davis annuals and the Special.

El... I think the Davis one you're thinking of is NM Annual #2. One of my faves too, but you knew that. And the Paul Smith story that SPS is talking about is X-Men vs. Alpha Flight, I believe... not bad, but nowhere near as good as the NM Special.

New Mutants Special Edition is one of my favorite NM issues of all time, must be said. Every major character just gets dropped in a bad situation and has to make some kind of choice. I like that Roberto gets to be the hero he always wanted, while for Amara, Asgard is a curse she can't wait to be rid of.

Do agree that the X-Men part wasn't as good, though there are some really good moments here and there. Did like Kitty standing up to Loki, though... that was a classic moment for her, IMO.

Trial of Magneto... good issue, though it leaves a lot of stuff dangling for a while. It's stories like this, "God Loves Man Kills", and Magneto's stint at headmaster that makes me strongly prefer the "noble villain/tragic hero" version of the character. Magneto really should be treated to some extent like Black Adam is at DC, but too many writers and editors strip away the complexity that made him interesting in the first place.

Ah, those were the days.

[Elliot Kane]

'God Loves, Man Kills' may just be the best Claremont X-Men story of all. Love that

[Gray Lensman]

Best Magneto story ever, certainly.

Best Claremont story ever? That's a lot harder, just given the sheer volume of great stories he told during his prime. GLMK would certainly rank pretty high up there, though.

[Elliot Kane]

Best Claremont X-Men story ever. Quite a few of his New Mutant stories are better. But then, that was always the best Mutant title anyway, in it's prime.

[SPS]

GLMK is probably the best Chris Claremont issue of X-Men IMO. Actually pretty much every issue of X-Men he wrote with Magneto in it was amongst his best.

[SPS]

Finally read the next two issues, here are my thoughts:

#200- Alright issue but not as good as I had hoped it would be. What weakened this issue is the subplot of the Fenris twins who have never been all that engaging of characters. The Magneto parts were good though, and we get to see him change which is good.

#201-Hate to say it but despite the great art by Rick Leonardi this is a really forgettable issue despite being the next stage of the X-Men's evolution. Though we get to see Storm own Cyclops, which is nice.

[Gray Lensman]

Yeah, SPS, I'd say that's a pretty fair assessment of both issues.

Fenris... they've always at best been minor villains. They tried to replace Baron Von Strucker and it didn't take well at all. Though Andreas became much more interesting when he joined the Thunderbolts... mainly by being extremely screwed up, even for a Nazi.

To be honest, I actually wasn't too fond of Leonardi's work at this point in his career. Maybe his art was a bit too stylized for this book, I don't know. But I won't argue that this was rather a slow issue at this point in the run. Things pick up in a few issues, though.

Storm beating Scott was a good moment for her, that said. I miss Storm when she had no powers and wasn't playing the stuck-up weather goddess. Ororo was a bad team leader, but she developed quite well as a character from the 180's up to this point.