Amazon.com Review: Gorgeous, oversize, and well designed, Ultimate X-Men is also perfectly titled. It's a comprehensive overview of four decades of Marvel Comics's monstrously popular mutant superheroes--from their debut, in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's X-Men #1 (1963), to the terrific X-Men movie (2000). Ultimate X-Men includes the many major mutants who have appeared in The Uncanny X-Men and its spinoffs (Alpha Flight, New Generation, Wolverine, X-Factor, and numerous other series and miniseries). Two-page spreads detail the most important characters' origins, powers, costumes, and relationships. In addition, every superhero and supervillain appearing in the movie receives a sidebar, with stills, that describes the onscreen incarnation. Also receiving detailed coverage are nonmutants important to the X-Men, including Ka-Zar, Longshot, and Dr. Moira MacTaggert; major alien groups and races, like the Starjammers and the Shi'ar; and important locations and technology, such as the Danger Room, Dr. Xavier's estate, and the Blackbird jets. The book also covers the best Uncanny X-Men story lines, the Dark Phoenix Saga, and Days of Future Past. A Summers family tree lays out clearly a tangle of relationships (between clonal and alternate-timeline versions of Cyclops/Scott Summers and Marvel Girl/Phoenix/Jean Grey) that could drive even an experienced genealogist crazy. Ultimate X-Men opens with an entertaining foreword by X-Men creator-editor Stan Lee and concludes with a two-page overview of the X-Men animated series (1992-1997); a four-page "Making the X-Men Movie" section with many great shots; and an insightful afterword by the series' best writer, Chris Claremont.
Ultimate X-Men is a book every X-Men fan will want. It's practically a necessity for the newcomer drawn to the comics by the movie, because Marvel's mutants multiplied like superpowered rabbits in the 1990s. Art-oriented fans, however, may be disappointed by Ultimate X-Men. While it contains a hefty amount of art, the original artwork (the preliminary character sketches, a lovely Dave Cockrum sketch of Nightcrawler and Ororo, etc.) is outnumbered by panel and cover reproductions. And if you're less than enamored with the nature of endless comic-book series, Ultimate X-Men will prove that the more things change, the more they stay the same. --Cynthia Ward
Product Description: This book helps you track the stories of the world's most loved, and most feared crime-fighting team and get prepared for the release of "X-Men 3" in May 2006. "Ultimate X-Men" fills you in on all your favourite characters' powers, their history, and what they're going to do next. Each chapter tell you about a different decade in the "X-Men's" history, from their creation in the 1960's to the amazing films they star in today. Enter the "X-Men" universe and be blown away by this essential guide.
A Great Gift! ^ I purchased this as my grandson's 11th birthday gift in July and I am still getting thank you hugs. He said it was the best thing I had ever given him. A book over a bicycle...who would have known, eh? I'm happy because he's so happy.
Gorgeously imaginative in it's fantasy and perfect, big size ^ The X-Men are arguably the most popular and enduring superhero team in comics book and myth history. The group also has a complex history that spans more than four decades. The convoluted continuity of this storied group of strange mutants can be difficult for new readers to understand or interpret fully.But it still is and was designed for the mainstream market, targeting readers who need, to understand the history of the X-Men without having to read through several hundred comic books. The Ultimate Guide offers an overview of the entire timeline of X-Men comic books through to the end of 2005.Fantastic big pictures perfect layout simple to read and understand. I have been a follower for many years of this book and, it did not disappoint me, as a fan because it was and still is a great thorough book to read in about a strange group of mutants been persecuted for there body appearance and superpowers that are against mankind when there not supposed to be against us.
Comic Book ^ I liked reading about the evalution of the X-Men. I got interested in them after watching the three movies.
X-men fans get this! ^ First off I'm a HUGE X-men fan, so this book is great for newbies or someone whom has read the comics since they came out. The info in this book is very well explained. Such as the Ultimates and the original story lines are kept separate so there's no confusion. It's well written when explaining, characters backgrounds and history, the X-mansion layout, the layout of the jet (which I can't think of the name right now), and to name four things, the history of the comics themselves. As for the illustrations, BEAUTIFUL, showing many pics from the first comics with some of the new Ultimates and others. Also in this amazingly awesome guide, all THREE movies, and the animated show from the nineties (which I LOVED!!!!!!!). And you're going to have to buy it to see how truly wonderful this guide is.
As always, hope this helps you in, hopefully, purchasing this book. :P
Better than some, but not quite "Ultimate". ^ Less a critical analysis of the various works of fiction depicting the X-Men, this book serves as more of an introduction to the most significant characters and their storylines. While far from exhaustive, Peter Sanderson's book still gives the X-Men better treatment than they receive in DK's error-strewn "Marvel Encyclopedia" (also, it's worth noting there's a great deal of repetition of illustrations between the two).
Unlike some in this series of "Ultimate Guides" (Scott Beatty's book on Batman, for example), this book gives some credit to the various artists and writers who have made significant contributions to the X-Men canon over the years. Space is also given to adaptations, especially the three recent movies and- where possible- treatment of characters on screen and in print are contrasted. However there are no judgements made; as far as Sanderson is concerned, all the X-Men characters are equally entertaining and all storylines equally valid.
The quality of illustrations is generally high, the text is clear and the book is largely free of the weird annotations that blight other DK books (their Star Wars Visual Guides especially). However the definitive X-Men reference book has yet to be written.
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