By: Matt Fraction Publisher: Marvel Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 136 Publication Date: June 17, 2009 Studio: Marvel
Product Description: In the depths of his heartache over Kitty Pryde, Colossus goes looking for something - anything - to stop his pain...and finds a nightmare from the Old Country running rampant in the States. What's their connection? Elsewhere, Angel and the Beast begin a worldwide quest gathering some of the most unique minds on Earth and run across a hero long thought dormant. Emma checks into a hotel you have to see to believe, while poor Scott sits idly by...oh, and then footage showing the Alaskan Massacre that kicked off Messiah Complex is released to the media. Just another day in the life of the all new, all different X-MEN! Collects Uncanny X-Men #504-507 & Annual.
Decent art and a somewhat boring story ^ I have always been a big X-Men fan but am not currently a regular reader. I checked out this trade because it looked interesting. However, it didn't read that way. The overall plot was sadly, mundane. The storyline involving the science X-Club was more interesting but not substantial enough. Emma's relationship with Namor was interesting and I look forward to reading more about that. The art by the Dodson's was what you expect from them which is good but far from great. That, and all the females look like the same woman with different wigs on. All together this collection is okay but not what I wanted it to be.
nice art.... bad writing...you dont need this. ^ Seriously... when you're done you'll say "whoaa was that an X-men comic!?" this plot came out of nowhere and its pretty boring. Hey the art is nice. and who doesnt like Emma Frost?
Great book for Fans of the current Uncanny X-men Series ^ I really enjoyed this book. I am a former comic book collector who has switched to collecting Graphic Novels for organizational reasons. I really enjoy the fact that Marvel now publishes their comics along with Graphic Novel collecters like me. It's true that as a stand-alone read, this book would not be reccomended. But for readers familiar with the current Uncanny X-Men storyline, this is a great read!
It takes place tying in with events where the X-men have moved to San Fransico and are recovering from the Scrull Secret Invasion War storyline. This book also leads into events that tie into the upcoming Dark Reign storyline. It answers or brings to surface questions such as 1) How is Colossus handling the disappearance/Death of of his long-time lover/friend/Kitty Pride? 2) Where is Cyclops/Emma Frost's love relationship going? What hidden secrets are they holding from each other and what will happen when everything comes to the light? What are Emma Frost's ties to Norman Osbourn in the upcoming 'Dark Reign' storyline and where will the answers lead to with her involvement with the X-men?
It also includes plenty of action, the preview of the return of Magneto, The Red Goblin Queen, Spiral, and other x-villians. This book is more of a bridge and plot-builder to an upcoming X-men event, but I enjoyed it. I not only read the X-men stories for great action, but great story plots and drama.
I recommend this book to fans of the current Uncanny X-men series!
More of the Same ^ The highlight of this collection is the reprint of Uncanny X-men Annual #2. Unlike some other reviewers, I actually liked the contrasting art styles used on this piece--especially the present sequences by Mitch Breitweiser. I don't think that anyone was actually asking to see Emma Frost and Namor in bed together (either literally or figuratively), but the results are amusing. This ties into the "Dark Reign" event running through the Marvel Universe titles in 2009. You wouldn't know that from just reading this book, however, so the alliance between Norman Osborn, Dr. Doom, Loki, Emma Frost, the Hood, and Namor won't make any sense without any background knowledge.
And that's the problem with this collection: Almost nothing here stands on its own. The only storyline that sees any sort of resolution involves a newly-created villain from Colossus's past. Angel and the Beast's quest to assemble the biggest and best scientific minds to solve the mutant birth problem leads them to some rather odd characters (have Wikipedia handy). A redhead from Cyclops's past returns. And the X-Men confront more anti-mutant hysteria. The move to San Fransisco seemed like a fresh start for this title. So why does it feel like we've seen all of this before?
Matt Fraction. ^ Passable writer. Likes captions every issue that introduces us to characters we met in the issue before. Sometimes funny. Sometimes even witty. Not Claremont. Not even Lobdell or Nicieza. Luckily, he's not Loeb.
Yeah, so he does this for every character, and I can't really recommend this volume because it's got nothing really going for it as a stand alone. It's in the middle of his other arcs. And he's got lots of silly ideas like a Sisterhood of Evil Mutants and Magneto in a High Evolutionary magneto-suit, when all he had to do was say Magneto is using his powers but lying low and pretending not to use them, which is Magnus-like and more interesting than what he's managed to do. I quit Uncanny as a result of Fraction's stuff, but honestly, I was on the way out as a fan because of Brubaker, who didn't impress me much, either.
Personally, anyone into X-peeps should get X-Factor, and the alternate reality X-Men Forever and Exiles, and leave the rest of the X-verse (Ultimate also, tho' it's canceled thankfully for now) alone.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
