Sunday 29 May 2011

The 10 X-Men Stories You Should Read

10. House of M
Writer - Brian Michael Bendis
Artist - Olivier Coipel
Collects: House of M #1-8
This story is really a sequel to the Avengers event, "Disassembled," in which their teammate, the Scarlet Witch, single-handedly destroyed most of the team. Being Magneto's daughter, though, the X-Men are brought in for this story, which involves her creating a parallel reality where mutants rule over humans - Wolverine is the only one who remembers the truth and sets about trying to rally the superheroes together to battle Magneto (who has become ruler of this universe) and get the world back to the way it was. The ramifications of this story are still felt now, thanks to the Scarlet Witch's final, damning, act.


9. Second Coming
Writers - Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost, Matt Fraction, Zeb Wells & Mike Carey
Artists - David Finch, Terry Dodson, Ibraim Roberson, Greg Land & Mike Choi
Collects: Cable #25, New Mutants #12-14, Uncanny X-Men #523-525, X-Force #26-28, X-Men: Legacy #235-237, X-Men: Second Coming #1-2
This event follows on from various X-Men events of the last few years, but also happens to be the most accessible. Basically, after years of running from the X-Men and the X-Men villains, Cable returns to the present day, along with the now teenage Hope - the first mutant to be born after the events of "House of M." The story develops into a war between the X-Men and their enemy, Bastion, and also serves as the pivotal moment for modern X-Men.


8. Fatal Attractions
Writers - Fabian Nicieza & Scott Lodbell
Artists - Andy Kubert, Adam Kubert, Greg Capullo, Joe Quesada, Ken Lashley & John Romita Jr.
Collects: Excalibur #71, Uncanny X-Men #304, Wolverine #75, X-Factor #92, X-Force #25, X-Men #25
The 1990s were a dark time for comic books, in particular the X-Men, but even through all that darkness and the horrendous run of Scott Lobdell there is a gem to be found. This arc concerns the final showdown of the X-Men and Magneto, and also served as a pivotal moment for the character of Wolverine throughout the decade. In the final showdown, Magneto removes the metal from Wolverine's skeleton, leaving him with bone claws and a more feral attitude; what followed may have been abysmal, but the arc itself is a great example of decent ideas.


7. E is for Extinction
Writer - Grant Morrison
Artist - Frank Quitely
Collects: New X-Men #114-116
Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely are a team known for churning out quality work in both story and art; this collaboration, on Morrison's first arc of redefining the X-Men for the 21st century, was absolutely phenomenal. There was brutality, character development and the introduction of a villain who was subsequently mishandled by everyone bar Morrison; Cassandra Nova, Professor Xavier's miscarried twin, who in the second issue launches a Sentinel attack on Magneto's nation, Genosha, and wipes out the population. Morrison's run as a whole may have devolved into monotony before long, but these initial issues were truly wonderful.


6. First Class
Writer - Jeff Parker
Artist - Roger Cruz
Collects: X-Men: First Class #1-8
The inspiration for the new motion picture, this mini-series featured the original line-up of X-Men from the premiere issue - Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, Beast and Iceman - and deals with their early adventures as well as their lives as superpowered teenagers. It's perfectly executed by Parker and Cruz, and features a ton of guest stars from early Marvel continuity; the fact that only one of the book's cast is actually set to appear in the film version doesn't really matter, it's the concept that's genius.


5. God Loves, Man Kills
Writer - Chris Claremont
Artist - Brent Anderson
Collects: Marvel Graphic Novel #5
An Original Graphic Novel featuring the X-Men was a guaranteed hit, but when it's also penned by acclaimed X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, you know there's at least a slight chance it'll be good. The story inspired parts of the film, X2, primarily the character of William Stryker, who uses his sway as a Reverend to stir up anti-mutant feelings and orchestrates the kidnapping of Professor Xavier. Stryker is so evil that even Magneto teams up with the X-Men to take him down, making this unique in that the X-Men don't fight any costumed villains at all.


4. X-Tinction Agenda
Writers - Chris Claremont & Louise Simonson
Artists - Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Jon Bogdanove & Guang Yap
Collects: New Mutants #95-97, Uncanny X-Men #270-272, X-Factor #60-62
The event that, for many, cemented their love of the X-Men (despite featuring the godawful Rob Liefeld on a handful of issues) this story featured the X-Men at odds with the government of Genosha, a mutant-hating nation that would eventually end up being ruled by Magneto. Characters are killed, battles are fought, and fan-favourite character Havok even helps the bad guys for the most part due to amnesia. It's also the story that brought the X-Men back together after they were fractured in a previous arc.


3. Gifted
Writer - Joss Whedon
Artist - John Cassaday
Collects: Astonishing X-Men #1-6
"Astonishing X-Men" is the best X-Men series of the last decade. With the exception of one arc it was flawless, but despite that, the first storyline brought back a long-dead character, twisted our expectations throughout and established the overall arc of the series for readers. The plot was bastardised in the third X-Men film, as it relates to the development of a cure to mutation; it also introduced us to the villainous Ord, whose involvement in the story relates to the apparent destruction of his planet at the hands of one of the X-Men. It's gripping stuff and feels just like a story from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon's brainchild, particularly as Kitty Pryde is given centre-stage and developed as the chief protagonist, becoming more like Buffy Summers with every page.


2. Day of Future Past
Writer - Chris Claremont
Artist - John Byrne
Collects: Uncanny X-Men #141-142
This is the arc that many X-Men fans remember as the big one, and it's only two issues, to boot. It features a horrific future where most of the X-Men are dead thanks to a political assassination in the present at the hands of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Kitty Pryde travels back in time to prevent this atrocity and save her future; while the mission itself is a success, the bleakness of the story becomes apparent when we learn that her future remains, as an alternate reality. The arc itself introduced the character of Rachel Summers, who would become a prominent member of the team in later years.


1. The Dark Phoenix Saga
Writers- Chris Claremont & John Byrne
Artist - John Byrne
Collects: Uncanny X-Men #129-138
The definitive X-Men arc will always be the "Dark Phoenix Saga." It transformed Jean Grey into a villain, featured intergalactic space battles and also boasted the most emotionally crushing finale of an X-Men story; one that has been copied by numerous others over the years, which some would argue has drained it's impact. The Hellfire Club kick off the story, before it moves from the mystical into the other-worldly, and when the Shi'ar race of aliens become involved the story takes a more space-opera style turn. To be honest, though, if you haven't read this story you aren't really an X-Men fan. So if you haven't: go and find it, you'll love every moment of it.

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