Marvel Essential X-Men Comic Book Review: Wolverine, Storm and a Return to Greatness!
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Marvel Essential X-Men Volume 1: A Mid-1970s Revival Of a Mediocre Comic!
The revival started in 1975 and made the comic book the hottest series for many years. It also made Wolverine into one of Marvel Comics' biggest characters! The collection includes the debut of Storm, Nightcrawler, Phoenix, Colossus and much more!
The Marvel Essential books, each containing several hundred pages, reprint the original stories in black & white rather than in color.
The X-Men Return After Five Years of Reprints!
The Summer of Giant-Size Comics!
The X-Men, introduced in their own series in 1963, and had run out of steam by 1970. Issue No. 66 was the last original story. Marvel continued the series with reprints of earlier stories, and I only occasionally bought the comic. Then in mid-1975 Marvel launched a number of 'Giant-Size' titles that cost more than a regular comic but had many more pages. Among them was Giant-Size X-Men No. 1.In Giant-Size X-Men No. 1, writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum introduced a new team of X-Men that are recruited to save the old group, who had been captured by a living island (yes, it was kind of silly). The new team combined new superheroes Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Thunderbird with the already introduced Banshee, Sunfire and Wolverine.
The story continued into the regular X-Men comics starting with No. 94, with all of the old X-Men leaving the group except for Cyclops. He would remain as leader.
Chris Claremont took over as writer with issue No. 94, and with Cockrum began to build one of the most interesting comic books of the late 1970s. Cockrum would later be succeeded by John Byrne.
The series had a depth that most comics didn't have. The team suffered death and losses while each character gained an individualized personality. Claremont did a wonderful job developing the series, with one surprise after another.
This collection contains numerous stories that are thrilling, including the fight that cost the life of an X-Man (I won't give any hints), the return of Magneto as a seriously powerful villain, and a visit to the Savage Land of Ka-Zar. The stories are well-told and flow from one to another, and the art is superb. Marvel Essential X-Men Vol. 1 is just a great book, and well worth owning.
Buy Essential X-Men Vol. 1 on Amazon today!
Which of the New X-Men Was The Coolest?
Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler or Thunderbird?
Giant-Size X-Men No. 1 introduced four new superheroes: Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Thunderbird. Thunderbird was short-lived, but Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler all went on to being some of the most popular X-Men. If I remember correctly, Storm and Nightcrawler also were the first of the new X-Men to make guest appearances in other comics at the time. Which of these new superheroes do you think is the coolest?
Collect All The Marvel Essential X-Men books on Amazon!
Dave Cockrum vs. John Byrne
Whose Your Favorite X-Men Artist?
Artist Dave Cockrum kicked off the new X-Men, drawing the team's debut in Giant-Size X-Men No. 1 and continuing on the regular series from No. 94 to No. 111, when John Byrne took over. Both artists were seen as some of the industry's finest at the time, and there was a debate among fans over which artist was better for the X-Men.
At about the time issue No. 114 came out I attended a comic book show in South River, New Jersey, and that was the main topic of discussion. I always liked both artists, but I lean toward Cockrum because he featured Nightcrawler a lot more than Byrne, who was more partial to Wolverine.
Which X-Men artist was your favorite, and why?
Dave Cockrum
RhondaSueDavis says:
Storm, she had the best look, even when she had a bad attitude. She was set apart and unapproachable and very lonely.
goldenrulecomics says:
Dave Cockrum, because he always put Nightcrawler in the spotlight and he was one of my favorite characters!
John Byrne
NvrTllMeThOdds says:
I was always a big John Byrne fan. His X-Men and Superman runs are some of my favorites. The Dark Phoenix and Hell Fire Club issues were particularly memorable.
Dave Cockrum art on eBay
Iron Fist, the 1970s Martial Arts Superhero!
Claremont and Byrne Before The X-Men
John Byrne Original Art
The Marvel Essentials Series
Essential X-Men No. 1 was published at the same time, causing some controversy among fans who felt Marvel should have started the Essential X-Men collection with the 1963 debut of the book. Marvel would later publish the early X-Men stories under the title Essential Classic X-Men.
Many of the Essential volumes have been printed more than once, with different covers on some of them, so don't let that throw you off when buying. Carefully check to make sure which volume number you are considering.
The huge advantage to these volumes is cost: a reader can get 30 or more stories for about what a half dozen new comic books cost, and the old stories have more pages of action per issue. The Essentials books are much more cost-effective than buying all the original comics as well.
Marvel Essential Books on Amazon
Are Marvel Essentials worthwhile?
Some say the Essential series is a great way for fans to read all their favorite series without having to scout down the old comics and spend a great deal of money. Others say the books just aren't worthwhile because the reprints are in black & white and losing the original colors of the art makes everything look drab.
I agree the colors are a major part of enjoying a comic, but I do think the Essentials books are a great deal. I no longer have to go through my collection and pull the original comic out of its protective bag to enjoy an old story. Now, they can sit in a handy volume on my bookcase for me to dip into whenever I want!
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What do you think about the Essential X-Men?
Now's your chance to speak up!
What do you think about Marvel Essential X-Men Vol. 1, the X-Men, comic books, this lens or anything else? Here is your chance to speak your mind!
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mojo_007
May 17, 2012 @ 3:22 pm | delete
- Nice lens...I used to collect every single X-book during the late 80's till the mid - 90's......sadly I lost my whole collection in a housefire.
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SaintFrantic
Oct 5, 2011 @ 4:55 pm | delete
- I would love to start buying some comics in next few years. X-Men is my favorite
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Rankography
Aug 8, 2011 @ 5:55 pm | delete
- Nice lens, very well researched.
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bangcool
Jul 31, 2011 @ 11:28 pm | delete
- great lense mate, until now all i know about marvell only from its game
thnkas for your share
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Doctone
Jul 28, 2011 @ 4:22 am | delete
- I don't know much about Marvel, but this strikes me as a pretty good lens!
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Marvel Masterworks X-Men
From Debut to the Coming of the Phoenix!
I have reviewed Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 in separate lenses, so please check them out!
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by goldenrulecomics
I was a big, big fan of comics back in the 1960s and 1970s, and still have thousands of Marvel comics and DC comics in my attic. I remember the excite... more »
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