X-Men #1 (2026 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

1991's X-Men #1 by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee holds the Guinness World Record for the best selling single issue of all-time. The total number of copies sold is around the 8 million mark. However, I don't think it's a fair attribute. 8 million people didn't buy this book. There were 4 different variant covers that revealed a massive battle scene between the X-Men and Magneto. Add the fervor of speculators who gobbled up first issues by the long box full, and in reality, X-Men #1 was probably only purchased by 2-3 million individuals. 

The new series was a restructuring of the X-Men franchise. Seeing that there were just too many mutants to keep track of,  first, Marvel killed off a few fan favorite characters with a massacre in Genosha. Then they split the roster in half and blue some of the all-time greats together in a sister series. Then, Magneto, who had become an ally of the Xavier's School for Gifted Children, renounced his membership and fled to the ruins of his asteroid compound to create a refuge for mutants. In return, Charles Xavier returned to lead the X-Men after years away. 

Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Beast, Storm, Gambit, and Rogue. Plus support from the mechanic genius Forge. If this sounds like the lineup for Fox's classic X-Men: The Animated Series, you're almost right. Only Jubilee is missing. But over time, she'll be recruited by Cyclops to join what will soon be dubbed 'the blue team.'

As Claremont was winding down his lengthy run as the X-Men's scribe, co-plotter and artist Jim Lee's star was rising. In just a couple of issues, Lee would also become the new writer of the series. But his tenure would be short. Feeling undervalued by Marvel, Lee and about a half dozen other writers and artists from the bullpen broke free from the publisher and founded Image Comics. 

A rotating lineup of talent would write on the new X-Men title, including Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, and Grant Morrison. After a brief 2-issue fill-in by Art Thibert, before eventually setting on Andy Kubert as the regular penciler from issue #14-59. As for the series itself, beginning with the Morrison run, issue #114, it was retitled New X-Men. Issue #157 lost the 'New' moniker before another change at issue #208. Becoming X-Men: Legacy, the title went back to just X-Men in 2012 for the milestone 300th issue. Never cancelled due to dwindling sales, X-Men #300 concluded many storylines and paved the way to seasonal relaunches in hopes of streamlined numbering of titles.

 However, if you have ever read any of my reviews of the more recent Deadpool series with a nearly annual reset back to issue #1, you'll know that I hate this new way Marvel numbers it's books. It's a leading reason that I have stayed away from most Marvel series of the past decade. But I don't seem to be the only one who hates this new method of doing business. However, despite how much we hate it, it doesn't seem like Marvel will be ceasing this way of conducting business any time soon.

Completing this review completes Task #36 ( Work by Jim Lee, Fiona Staples or Alex Ross) of the 2026 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

And with this review, my 2026 Reading Challenge is COMPLETE!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Generation X #4

I've read this issue before. But it's such a Christmas classic that when I finally located an issue, I immediately put it in my read pile to read it again.

The main story is that while members of the Xavier School are out for a holiday field trip, they come across a hostage situation. Readings indicate that there is a mutant involved somehow and it's believed that the disfigured lad holding his teacher and classmates is what is causing sensors to go wild. However, in a twist, it's not the boy, though mutated he may look, that is the dangerous mutant on the scene. Instead, it's a character nobody really suspected and I'm not sure very many readers even know who the foe is. New costume notwithstanding...

Indicating that humans with deformities might make them looked upon as freaks in the eyes of society, but it doesn't make them mutants, is a poignant addition to X-Men lore. It had been, and still is debated, that birth defects should make humans into mutants in the Marvel Universe. Yet, this issue clearly states that those humans who might look different from the rest of society, while are not mutants, are classified as such and it's a tragedy that they get lost in the cracks. Mutants have groups like the X-Men to turn to for protection. Who do those with Dome Syndrome or Multiple Sclerosis have? 

While this 1995 issue is indeed thought provoking, it's not the writing of this story, by Marvel mutant veteran, Scott Lobdell, that makes this issue a classic. It's the artwork by Chris Bachalo. Almost every page oozes Christmas. There's an elf narrator throughout the book. His words are presented like scrolls of lost holiday lore. Panels of jingle bells and other holiday icons fill the borders between panels and pages. Not a single inch of space is wasted. It's like a classic TV Christmas special that I don't want to end.

Many, including myself, erroneously think that the title of this book is the 'Generation X Holiday Spectacular' and that this is the 4th edition. I've wasted several hours trying to find issues 1-3 to no success. No, this is 4th issue of the 1st volume of Generation X, which ran from 1994-2001. Adding to the confusion if you're trying to compete the run of this series, Generation X would be temporarily cancelled to make way for Generation NeXt, a 4-issue miniseries tie-in to the 'Age of Apocalypse' storyline that saw a changed mutant society after someone went back in time and assassinated Charles Xavier. 

I gotta say that this is a great issue and if the quality of this lone tale is any indication of the rest of the Scott Lobdell/Chris Bachalo run, then I want it!!! I already own Generation NeXt 1-4, so I should be able to collect them without much further annoyance. I just wish that the storyline of the troubled young man wasn't left so wide open. Did he get the help he so craved? Did he wind up incarcerated? Do we ever see this guy again. Too many questions prevent this from being a happy ending.

Worth Consuming.

Iceman #1 (2024 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

There are very few instances of the mutant known as Iceman working independently of the X-Men and it's numerous offshoots. The frigid protagonist was a member of both the short lived Champions as well as the New Defenders. Anyone alive in the early 80s might remember Iceman's secret identity of Bobby Drake being roommates with Peter Parker on NBC's Saturday morning toon Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. But that wasn't considered comic book canon, was it? If you count a pair of 1983 comic book inserts that appeared in Dallas and Denver newspapers and co-starring a third member of the team, Firestar, as official; then yes, it's canon!

Iceman #1 marks Drake's return to the East Coast after years away from the Xavier School in Upper New York due to his time with the Champions and New Defenders in California and Colorado subsequently. Bobby Drake has come home to Port Jefferson, Long Island, to celebrate his father's retirement. Apprehensive about his return, Drake's misgivings are founded when in his frosty form as Iceman, he encounters bigotry from the local police department after a misunderstanding.

Unknown to Drake, a pair of thugs from another universe or dimension have also arrived in Port Jefferson searching for a person who is a source of unimaginable power. Readers are fooled into believing that the Laurel and Hardy appearing duo known as Idiot and White Light are actually looking for Iceman, when in reality, it's the daughter of the Drake's next door neighbor, a young girl named Marge Smith who caught Bobby's eye.

This 4-issue miniseries from 1984-85 would be Iceman's lone solo book until the new millennium where the character has been the focus of 3 limited series in less than 25 years time. J. M. Dematteis, who penned the first half dozen issues to star the New Defenders, crafted Iceman's starring role debut. Pencils were by Alan Kupperberg with inks provided by Michael Gustovich. Cover by Mike Zeck.

Issue #1 would be high on melodrama as Bobby Drake is extremely apprehensive about returning to visit his family, who except for mom and dad, are unaware he's a superhero. Only the last 4 pages does any action finally occur with Iceman taking on Idiot and White Light inside of the Smith family home before the fisticuffs results in the buildings collapse and Bobby being outed as mutant superhero in front of his entire family!

Completing this review completes Task #49 (Involves Ice or Snow) of the 2024 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

X-Men Noir: Mark of Cain

The sequel to X-Men Noir has a much different tone. The story starts in jungles of Madripoor with the original '40s Angel, Wolverine, Cyclops and Puck seeking the legendary Eye of Cyttorak. In desperate need of cash, these survivors from the first miniseries take a job for a crime lord which results in a double cross! But when the boss winds up dead back in the States, there's a second chance to score some bread from this rotten deal. The only thing standing in their way- recently paroled Professor Charles Xavier and his newly formed Uncanny X Men!

This Marvel Noir entry had a little bit of everything. The first chapter was like if Indiana Jones was a mutant. Then there's a Hong Kong crime picture. Horror thriller. Mission Impossible type heist. And a wrap up with a Body Heat/Double Indemnity type mystery noir. 

While I did feel that the Mark of Cain was much better than the first X-Men Noir book, it wasn't perfect. At times, this book was a bit schizoid. That's not me trying to be poetic or something. That's a literal assessment.

One thing that I appreciated more with this series was the lack of the prose pulp that really caused the first volume to lag. I think those extra 2-3 pages were needed. This story definitely was action packed!

The behind the scenes stuff was a lot more in-depth this time around too. So many great images. And those variant covers- breathtaking!

The final image of this story sets things up for a third volume. That would round out a trilogy. Alas, that just doesn't seem likely. Mark of Cain debuted on shelves in 2009. I just don't see Marvel rounding things out any time soon. Marvel does get nostalgic and returns to it's theme storylines from time to time. Marvel2099 is making a return currently. Could Marvel Noir be awaiting in the wings? If so, I hope we find out what happened immediately after the curtains feel on this adventure.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

X-Men Noir

In 1940s New York, Eric Magnus is the chief of police. In the pocket of several crime bosses, Magnus let crime take over the Big Apple while putting on a show in front of the press with his war against the X Men. As for the X Men, they aren't heroes. Instead, they're a bunch of former juvenile delinquents who were 'reformed' into the ways of crime by the noted psychiatrist Charles Xavier.

Our story opens on the first day of Eric's son Peter's first day as a detective. Peter and his partner have been called to the docks to investigate a death- that of Jean Grey. Meanwhile, a reporter is snooping around into the history of the X Men. His investigation seems personal. But what those motivations are just aren't clear. But upon an interview with an incarcerated Xavier, the journal is given an urgent tip- 'Find Marie Rankin'- the rogue X Man!

X-Men Noir is an interesting take on the Marvel mutants. I've seen medieval X-Men. Fairy tale X-Men. I've even encountered X-Men Babies. While this may not be my favorite incarnation of the group, I much preferred these gritty heroes to the Noir version of Daredevil that I read previously. There was an air of Batman: The Animated Series to this book. Plus, Daredevil was set in the 1930s. X-Men Noir was in the post-war 1940s and since technology has always been an important element to the Children of the Atom, I think that change of time period was a key element to my enjoyment of this book.

In the Daredevil Noir review, I complained how I didn't like that there were a few characters added that did not have modern comics counterparts. This book includes a character from when Marvel was known as Timely Comics and I loved that touch of nostalgia! While this character isn't an X-Man staple, I did appreciate the addition.

One element of sentimentality that I wasn't such a fan of was the inclusion of a prose story set as a sci-fi pulp multi-parter. While that tale allows for more of the vast cast of X-Men characters to appear in this book, it just felt a little unnecessary. Plus, the story was supposed to be written by a eugenics advocate and entertaining that little bit of prejudice and bigotry felt outdated.

X-Men Noir wasn't prefect. But it was an entertaining mystery. If you enjoy films like Rudolph Mate's D.O.A. or the Bogart classic The Maltese Falcon, then this is the sequential art story you've been looking for. If you decide to skip the prose story at the end of each chapter, you won't be missing anything. But don't skip the BTS stuff at the end of this hardback. They're visually stunning pages!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #114

The Arabic superhero, the Arabian Knight, makes a return visit in this issue. In his last appearance, issue #47, I was under the assumption that Abdul Qamar was a character in like the 8th or 9th century. But as Qamar battles a mutated villain called Sandstorm, I learned that this guy's story has been occurring in the present day. 

See Sandstorm was a former American soldier who had recently fought in the Gulf War. Iraqi enemy agents captured this guy and dosed him with some sort of chemical agent that reacted with the soldier's latent mutant abilities. As a result, the Marvel Universe has another master of silicon dioxide (Sand for those of you in South Carolina.)

The other 3 segments were really good. Wolverine's torrid love affair with Typhoid Mary, Ghost Rider's encounter with a group of mutated scientists turned bad and Iron Fist, and the Bill Foster led story just kept getting better. 

If I had to choose a winner for this issue, it would be the Giant-Man tale. Turns out that all the missing Stane tech was at the result of a shrinking baddie. So the contrast of a growing superhero having to take on a shrinking villain was very well balanced fun.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #92

Since Marvel Comics Presents has transitioned from a 2-sided full cover to a flip cover, I'm going to select my favorite of the 2 images to represent the MCP issue I am reviewing. I was getting bored of seeing Wolverine's face all the time. And like I've been saying, some of these Sam Keith covers are horrid. 

The Beast story comes to an end. It was sad. 

The one-and-done story features Northstar from the Canadian super group, Alpha Flight. The story delves into the mutant's past history as an Olympic skier as in the present day, an international terrorist threatens to blow-up a ski tournament. My guess is that the terrorist is going to cause an avalanche with the bomb he's got. Because otherwise, I just can't fathom a bomb doing too much damage in such an open area. 

Oh, and the Wolverine story comes to an end. Seeing as this is the issue in which Wolverine mans up and beats the living snot out of Cyber, who up until this time had been giving Logan fits, I hated the ending. 

Sorry. I'm just getting bored with the same old Wolverine story for each issue. MCP at this point has lost its anthology essence and I'm not overly happy with the results.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars. 

Marvel Comics Presents #82

A multi-parter featuring Firestar (Angelica Jones) begins in this issue. I remember the heroine as the fire half of Peter Parker's Fire and Ice powered allies from NBC's Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. I knew that when the cartoon debuted in 1981, Firestar was created specially for the show. Apparently Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, wasn't available due to licensing rights. Plus, NBC wanted to add a female hero to appeal to girl viewers. What I did not know was that Firestar ever debuted in comics later on.

The character's comic book debut was in a 1985 issue of The Uncanny X-Men. Later on, Firestar got the miniseries treatment. But this issue was my first print encounter with a character I've known since I was in Pre-K. And to experience this was so cool!

In this opening chapter, Angelica Jones is laying low as her father is terrified for her safety. He's convinced that should the US government uncover her whereabouts, Angelica will be submitted to harsh medical testing as Firestar is a mutant! 

Honestly, I didn't know this! I just figured Firestar was bitten by a radioactive bonfire. Okay. Not really. But you could have knocked me over with a feather when it was revealed that this character has the X gene.

Also appearing in this story is the Freedom Force. The Marvel Comics version of the Suicide Squad; this is a clandestine team of mutants lead by Mystique with the promise of pardon upon successful completion of their government sponsored missions. 

It appears that Papa Jones was right. Angelica uses her powers against dad's wishes and this sends Freedom Force after her. But also on Firestar's trail is the White Queen, Emma Frost, who wishes to turn Firestar into a disciple of evil. If only she had listened to daddy...

A good chapter with a great reminder from my youth. The Weapon X story continues to be gory. But I also know that it's all part of a VR simulation. Iron Man and Luke Cage also appear in this book. I read these stories a while back- I'm catching up on a lot of reviews- and I just can't recall either. So, if you balance things out, this just isn't a great overall issue despite a very solid opening chapter starring Firestar and some dastardly mutants.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Excalibur: Weird War III (2022 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

With the July, 1989 issue of Excalibur (#10), the world was introduced to the 'Cross Time Caper'. A pac-man shaped robot that was an inter-dimensional gate along with a time traveling train took England's answer to the X-Men through time and space. The first alternate world the mutants visited was one in which the Nazis won World War II. 

Over the course of 12 issues, Excalibur's ranks grew by one when they visited King Arthur's court and added the tiny purple dragon Lockheed. They then took on some Silver Age members of the Marvel Universe, discover a UK inhabited by Cowboys and Indians, participate in a madcap grand prix and revert to alternate versions of the X-Men; all the while narrowly avoiding a group of extra-dimensional bounty hunters called Technet. 

With the conclusion of issue #24, the caper was over. Or was it?

In 1990, Excalibur would return to the world that started it all, Earth-597. The world where the Axis powers win the war! Hitler is now confined to a wheelchair with the Red Skull by his loyal side. Not confined is Charles Xavier. In the role of Goebbels and Hauptmann, this Charles Xavier is making a play to overthrow the Fuhrer by experimenting on mutants and turning their life-force into unlimited psychic power. 

During the 'Cross Time Caper', Excalibur battled their evil selves. In Weird War III, the heroes have melded into one with their evil halves. Earth 616 and 597 have synced together, possibly as a residue aftermath of said Caper. Thus, as reality bleeds together, the two worlds become a bit of a chaotic mess.

I am a big fan of the 1988-98 regular series version of Excalibur. It was wacky fun by Chris Claremont and Alan Davis. With writer Michael Higgins' (The Infinity War) take on the 'Cross Time Caper', the story is incredibly dark and serious. I understand that Nazis aren't funny. But Weird War III felt more like a continuation of X-Men's 'Days of Future Past' than anything in the Excalibur repertoire. The same goes with the artwork by Tom Morgan. It's gritty and gangly. Very similar to Morgan's work on West Coast Avengers and Punisher 2099.

Overall, this story just doesn't feel like Excalibur. This is more like a Marvel MAX tale. And for fans, the results can be rather jarring. While the regular series relishes in the weird, Weird War III is not the right type of weird. Nor is it a proper spin-off.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #21 (Graphic Novel Under 100 Pages Long) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Marvel Comics Presents #43

 Another very good issue. 

We start learning more about the origin of the Black/White entity that is terrorizing Hong Kong. Tragic backstory about a poor mutant that becomes lab rat fodder. If they had started with this in the story, I probably would've been a fan of this entire story. At least this story has been improving over the past couple of issues.

Iron Man makes 2 appearances. He's still working with members of the Avengers to free Wonder Man from the enchantments of the Enchantress. Then in a single issue story, Tony Stark must dive into his company's newest AI when a baddie long thought dead imparts himself as part of the tech.

The last story was my favorite. It too was a single issue story; starring the daughter of X-Man Banshee. Theresa Cassidy is on Muir Island home alone when a group of mutant villains storm the house looking for poppa. Called the Kinsmen, these antagonists don't seem to realize that the child of a mutant might too have special powers. Using not just her inherited vocal mutant powers, but some ingenuity and martial arts training, Siryn plays the role of Kevin McAllister in this mighty Marvel take on Home Alone.

4 solid chapters. I think 8 pages was enough for the Iron Man story. But I would have liked Siryn's story to maybe have been a two-parter. It was very funny. I think doing 3 segments (or more) wouldn't have worked. But I think you could have done one cliffhanger with a Home Alone type booby-trap saving the day at the beginning of part 2. A missed opportunity but still a very good issue of MCP.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #41

The one-and-done story involves a corner of the Marvel mutant universe that I wasn't aware of: Freedom Force. Mystique along with several members of Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants agree to work deadly missions for the government in exchange for pardons of their past sins. 

I'm assuming this was the House of Ideas' answer to DC's Suicide Squad. Still, I liked it. 

When a Senator is kidnapped by another group of rogue mutant baddies, Freedom Force is called to the rescue. But will these reformed villains carry through with the extraction when they discover their mission is to save the strongly anti-mutant Sen. Robert Kelly?!

The Hercules story wraps up. It took the final chapter to get good as there is an assassination attempt on the life of both Herc and his progeny. 

Wonder Man's story continues to amuse. Hank McCoy, the Beast, is out of action (and in traction) thanks to the events of the last issue. So stepping up to stop the Avenger actor on a rampage next is Iron Man himself- Tony Stark.

Still can't really get into the Wolverine story. He's hanging around a group of Hong Kong pirates that are on the hunt for an entity that is killing indiscriminately. It's some kind of negative and positively charged being. Only it operates at the same time. The action is good. I'm lost with the backstory plot. 

A better offering after a couple of previous issue duds. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Marvel Comics Presents #39

 An overall forgettable issue of the anthology series. 

The only thing that sets this issue truly apart is that finally after 39 issues, Spider-Man appears! It's regrettable that Spidey's story is a one-and-done tale of only 8 pages. I guess the wall-crawler wasn't as big as a draw in the late 80s as opposed to the plethora of mutants that have starred in this series. 

The story is simple. Peter Parker is struggling to balance his personal life, marriage and career as a superhero. Trouble arises thanks to a warning from the Spidey-sense. It's not a super villain this time but a bunch of eco-terrorists with good intentions. They want to save a bunch of lab animals being mistreated. 

Being devoted to truth and justice, Spider-Man has to apprehend them since these animal lovers are breaking the law despite the goodness in their hearts. How can Spider-Man be true to himself while in the middle of a crime scene that is very much a gray area ethically?

One oh too short, heartwarming tale. 3 forgettable fillers.

Not Worth Consuming!

Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

Wolverine: Season One

I've been a big fan of Marvel's Season One books. They were too expensive for me to buy when they were new in 2012-13. But over the past couple of years affordable copies have come on the market at used book stores and Ollie's of all places. 

Logan/Wolverine's origin has been explored to an Nth degree. There's been Wolverine: Origin, his time as in the Weapon X project in Marvel Comics Presents, and numerous looks at the mutants first days with the X-Men. But finally do I learn of Wolverine's ties to Alpha Flight!

I remember an issue of The Marvel Saga briefly mentioned on Wolverine being a member of that Canadian superhero team. But nothing further was ever explored. So I always wondered about that. For the most part, writers Ben Blacker and Ben Acker (Thrilling Adventure Hour) do an exceptional job with that. 

Though one confusion remains. In both that issue of The Marvel Saga and other books, Wolverine is shown leading heroes such as the hairy but diminutive Puck and the hairy but quite large Sasquatch. But neither character is in this book and this book covers all of Wolverine's time with Alpha Flight. So, was there a retcon? Had to be. It's the only explanation.

Speaking of explanations, I loved the why behind Wolverine's costume change from his first appearance in Hulk 180-181 to what you see in Giant-Size X-Men #1. 

Plus, if you love Wolverine's first appearances with the Hulk, you are going to love this book.

Artist Salva Espin (Deadpool) adds a level of sensuality to this book. It appears that Logan finds himself in love triangles with stuffy team leaders and brainy babes with red hair quite often! Plus that painted cover totally rocks!

This origin story wasn't what I was expecting. However, I've got no complaints as this Season One explores areas of Wolverine's life that I had always pondered. There's still some anachronisms floating around. But a large chunk of my questions into Logan's time with Alpha Flight has been answered.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix

Fox's run on the X-Men movies comes to a close with Dark Phoenix. With some small adjustments, this movie was one of the more faithful-to-the-comics adaptations. However, this was also one of the most boring films I ever sat through.

If you are familiar with Chris Claremont's 'Dark Phoenix Saga', then you have a pretty good idea about the plot. Always troubled by her immense mutant abilities, Jean Grey (Game of Thrones' Spohie Turner) gets possessed by a cosmic force during a rescue mission in space. The entity causes what little command Jean had on her telekinesis to spiral out of control, resulting in a body count. 

It's revealed that Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) had kept a number of secrets from Jean as to how she became a pupil at his School for Gifted Youngsters, mostly through mental barriers established. When the truth comes out, Jean seeks both revenge and answers. Enter the mysterious Jessica Chastain (The Help) who plays an alien with ties to Jean's 'Phoenix force' powers, along with promises to those questions. Now Jean is stuck between the forces of good and evil with control of her new powers with the fragile truce between humans and mutants forged since the previous film hanging in the balance.

I know that I am going to upset a bunch of X-Men fans by saying this; but I really don't like Jean Grey that much. Yes, the 'Dark Phoenix Saga' is awesome, but it's really all of the other characters who make that story so good. It just seems to me that Jean Grey always loses control, dies and then comes back, spending all of her time trying to make amends before going insane with the Phoenix Force yet again.

Then there's the fact that we already had this storyline in 2006's The Last Stand. I didn't feel like I needed to see this plot again so soon, if at all. But I promised my god son we'd go see it. I wish we went to the new Men In Black movie instead...

I thought that the make-up and special effects were quite good. So were the fight scenes. But Dark Phoenix is a movie that is heavy of melodrama and very light on action. I truly think this is the case why the movie had such a steep drop-off at the box office from the first and second weeks. Very few people clamor to see Schindler's List again after first viewing. But they'll jump right back in line for a movie with amazing action and adventure scenes. 

Let's also face the biggest problem with the entire X-Men franchise: the timeline. Everything is just so mixed up. For one thing, this movie occurs in 1992, meaning that in 8 years, Michael Fassbender, who plays Magento, is supposed to look like Ian McClellan and Xavier will turn into Captain Picard! I still cannot figure out how Wolverine ended up back in the Weapon X project after being rescued by Mystique...

One thing is certain, the X-Men are better as a TV show than a movie. X-Men: The Animated Series proved this. There's so many plot threads, that with progression jumping 3-5 years into the future in each chapter, 2-3 hours is no enough time to catch up on all the missing parts. 

This still isn't the worst Marvel movie I've ever seen in theaters (Thor: Dark World wins that distinction). But this also wasn't a necessary film either. I know Fox wanted to milk that cash cow one more time. But with how money hungry Disney is, I am afraid that all Dark Phoenix did was push back an sort of reconciliation of Marvel's mutants with the rest of he MCU back for years to come!

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Muties: The Changling #1

(2002) Marvel Comics. Written by Karl Boilers. Art by Peter Ferguson & Sam Salgood

Muties is a 6-issue miniseries of stand alone stories. Each issue is a tale of mutants that aren't fortunate enough to become members of the Xavier School. The premiere issue tells of a Columbine-like incident with a gut wrenching shocking ending you won't see coming.

I'm actually surprised that this issue was allowed to be published. I'm not calling for censorship of it. It's just that in this day and age, such stories as the Changling are frowned upon. The master of horror himself, Stephen King, won't allow his book Rage (penned under the name Richard Bachman) to be released anymore due to several school shootings that sought to mirror events in the book.

That all being said, I am also very surprised that this book doesn't get more recognition or praise. It's quite powerful and it doesn't glorify violence. The horrific ending just happens to be a result of countless years of bullying and abuse.

The book bears some great interior art. But I hate the disjointed collage cover by Ferguson.

Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Heroes For Hope Starring The X-Men #1

   A couple of days ago, I reviewed DC's Heroes Against Hunger, a benefit comic book released in 1986 to raise awareness and funds for famine relief in Africa. Unbeknownst to me until after reading Heroes For Hunger, it turns out DC was following suit after Marvel published their benefit comic a year earlier. Maybe had I known this, I would've read Marvel's offering first. But I was really looking forward to reading Heroes Against Hunger and chose it first instead. But hey, in the spirit of fairness, I went on and read Heroes For Hope afterwards.

    In this benefit special, the X-Men are facing their worst fears and they are trembling in terror and defeat. With the help of Rachel Summers and Storm, the mutants are able to regain their confidence. After the attacks, the X-Men determines that the offender is stationed in Africa and race to the region to prevent further damage. 

    Landing in Ethiopia, the X-Men come face-to-face with the horrors of hunger and famine and volunteer to unload planes laden with relief supplies. But the mutants will have to act fast because every minute they spend helping their fellow man, the unseen terror that assaulted them back at the X-Men mansion grows ever stronger.

    Geez- this was a stinker. I gave Heroes Against Hunger a solid rating, trying to be as impartial as can be. I tried to do the same with this book but Marvel didn't make it easy for me. Yes, dozens of legendary writers, artists, and editors got together and worked pro bono for this project- including Berni Wrightson, Alan Moore, Frank Miller, and The Man himself, Stan Lee. Why even the master of horror, Stephen King contributed 3 or 4 pages! But no matter how hard I tried, I just hated this book. 

     The plot was a mess. There was very little cohesion between the assortment of writers. Plus, I thought this book was supposed to be about hunger relief. But honestly, the famine in Africa seemed like an afterthought. Plus, most of this story takes place in the deepest darkest recesses of the minds of several X-Men, including Magneto and man was it dark! 

     I know that people dying of starvation isn't joyful stuff. But unlike DC's publication, this special was a giant downer. For a title called Heroes For Hope, the main characters sure are hopeless.

Sorry folks, but I just ain't on board with this one. Like they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and the intentions behind this landmark comic were very genuine. However, I found that attempting to get through this rambling mess was hellish to say the least.

    Not Worth Consuming.

    Rating: 3 out of 10 stars.

All-New X-Men, Volume 6: The Ultimate Adventure

    With their teachers summoned to Westchester to hear the reading of Professor X's will, the students of the New Xavier School are bored silly. Suddenly Cerebro goes wild having detected a new mutant just coming into her powers. But when some of the time displaced X-Men arrive, they spook the young mutant further and find themselves teleported away to various locations around the world. Separately, each member of the team are faced with strange happenings that lead them all to come to the same realization- this is not their earth!

  Just when I think All-New X-Men can’t  get any better, Brian Michael Bendis scoops a handful of the mutants up and puts them into his Ultimate Universe! BAM- or should I say Bamf? Either way, it’s an instant classic.

  The addition of the Miles Morales as a guide for the time and space displaced original X-Men was a brilliant idea. Spidey isn’t really known for being affiliated with the X-Men. But because Miles has crossed universes before, teaming with the Peter Parker Spider-Man of Earth-616 in the miniseries Spider-Men (2012), it makes perfect sense.

  If you like stories that involve time travel- then All-New X-Men is the series you’ve been looking for. But if you also like for your time travelers to hop from alternate earth to alternate earth, you should watch Doctor Who. But this volume is the next best thing!!!  Featuring some of your favorite Ultimate Universe characters (Plus X-23!), dynamic art by Mahmud Asrar (Siege: Battlefield), as well as the aforementioned Bendis this truly is the Ultimate Adventure!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

X-Men Apocalypse

In the latest offering from the X-Men film series, an ancient Egyptian mutant is released from his centuries-old slumber. This being, known as En Sabah Nur, is so powerful that along with his four disciples of doom, he can literally change the world. One of Nur's disciples is Magneto, who seeming went straight after the events of Days of Future Past, but is now wishing to unleash his vengeance on the world after the death of his wife and child. 

   Seeking to stop Magneto is his former ally, Mystique. Since she parted ways with Magento at the end of the last film, the shape-shifting mutant has been on a personal mission, secretly savings mutants from humans seeking to exploit them. Mystique's actions in saving Nixon in 1973 has made her a hero in both the human and mutant communities of 1983. So when Nur's Four Horsemen kidnap Professor Xavier, it's up to Mystique to lead a group of untested but equally star-struck mutants to stop En Sabah Nur's plan to unleash the destruction of the apocalypse onto the world.

    X-Men: Apocalypse is my favorite of the new trilogy. It narrowly beats outs First Class and it leaves Days of Future Past lying in its wake. Now whether this film is better than X2: X-Men United is up for debate. 

   Personally, I don't think it outpaces X2, but it's close. To me, the reason why Apocalypse doesn't assume the throne as the greatest X-Men movie ever is because of the character of William Stryker. I thought Stryker died at the end of Days of Future Past what with Mystique impersonating him at the film's end in order to rescue Wolverine from the Potomac. But the evil army officer rears his ugly head once again with no explanation as to his return and possible resurrection. (But if I know director Bryan Singer, this will all be covered in the film's DVD director's cut due out sometime in the next couple of years...)

   Speaking of Bryan Singer, I think he does yet another bang up job at the helm of the X-Men franchise. I heard earlier this week that he's taking a break from directing X-Men movies for a while and some fans cheered. I think they're more upset at the amazing job he has done and how each success keeps Marvel from adding most of the mutant population to its cinematic universe.

     Apocalypse was a fun ride of almost 2 and a half hours of action, adventure, humor, and surprises galore! Seeing the younger versions of Jean Grey, Scott Summers, and Nightcrawler was pretty cool and just wait until you see them in uniform at movie's end. While some feel that the character of Jubilee was underused, I think the real victim was Olivia Munn's Psylocke. She mostly poses for the camera for about 9/10 of her scenes and when she actually does something it's wasn't that impressive.

  With some mild violence, a few swears, with a biggie or two thrown it, it's a good movie for the 12 and up crowd. (My God Son loved it!) And unlike Civil War, I wasn't bored one bit. There I said it, X-Men Apocalypse beats Captain America: Civil War. But it's Deadpool that is still leading as the best Marvel movie of 2016. 
   
  Worth Consuming

     Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

X-Men: Battle of the Atom

 A few months ago, I noticed that both the collected volumes of Marvel NOW series All-new X- Men and Uncanny X-Men were missing a couple of issues. Battle of the Atom is the work that collects those missing issues. A couple of issues of Wolverine and the X-Men ( along with the 2-issue miniseries of Battle of the Atom) are contained within this volume as well. I assume that those issues are missing from the Wolverine trades, but my library doesn't carry that series, so I'm not sure if this is the case.

   I was really excited to finally get this book as I have waited forever for it. I had requested that my local library carry this book since before Thanksgiving and it took until late last month to finally arrive.  But it was worth the extra wait.

    Pressure mounts for the original X- Men to return to their own time. With no one to trust, Jean Grey and Scott Summers make a run for it. But on their tails are a group of X-Men claiming to be from the future. They to want to see the original Children of the Atom returned to their proper place on the timeline.  Only this group of X-Men  more vindictive and cunning in pursuit of their goal, leads Wolverine to smell a rat and do something he never thought he'd do in a million years- team up with the present's Cyclops band of mutant freedom fighters in order to save and protect the first X-Men from being wiped out of existence.

   Battle of the Atom was an epic adventure that pits multiple X-Men teams from across the decades. The only team missing it seems is the Giant-Sized X-Men team created by Chris Claremont in the mid-70s.Written by Brian Michael Bendis, with Jason Aaron and Brian Wood, this trio actually gives Claremont a run for his money on this. The artwork lead by Frank Cho and Stuart Immonen was really good too. However, the last two chapters seemed to have a different inker as the art didn't quite look as clean as the rest of the book.

    Essential reading and a must to complete your Marvel NOW X-titles run, especially if you are collecting only the trades.

  Worth Consuming

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

   

Uncanny Origins #3 (Family Comic Friday)

 

  The third issue of this 1996-97 series features yet another mutant! Big surprise there... 

   The star this time around is one Warren Worthington III- AKA the Angel. Though at the time of this issue's publication, Warren's going around as Archangel, a sort of Angel 2.0, after he is upgraded by the villain Apocalypse. 

   There was lots of new and exciting stuff included in this origin story, including Warren's time as the Avenging Angel prior to becoming an X-Man, along with his first encounter with the group. Of the three issues I have read so far, this is the only one that features to some degree a character's early and later life history. 

   I'm sure that has a lot to do with Angel becoming Archangel as I mentioned prior. However, there was one problem I had with this story. It's explained how Warren's feathery wings were destroyed by fire. Despondent, the mutant hero goes to Apocalypse in an attempt to regain the ability to fly. The evil scientist bonds new metallic wings to Warren's body and the former X-Men became, albeit briefly, an enforcer for Apocalypse. 

   Yet, by the end of this issue, Archangel is again a good guy but while still genetically enhanced, he no longer has the metal wings. They are once more wings made of feathers. But it's never mentioned how Archangel underwent this change! If you are going to present us with a characters history and you make important changes such as the ability to regrow limbs- or wings- you've got to explain it; even if it's just a tiny thought balloon or caption. That's Good Writing 101!

   This series still amazes me with its Batman: The Animated Series style artwork. But there are still some kinks to be worked out in crafting an in-depth origin story that explains all of the vital facts needed to present a concise but accurate origin story. A true bargain bin hidden gem that is perfect for comics fans of all ages!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.