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Rating:  - Great Comics Great Buy
I just want to say that the essential are the best and this a great price because the comic book stores want $16.00 plus tax and online they are only 9.72; great deal
Rating: - The retooled X-men come on line
For less than $14 plus shipping you can get introduced to the essential Uncanny X-men. This is a five star deal. Yes, the comics are not in color. Also, the comics are printed on plain paper, little better in quality than news print. However, you're getting a graphic novel that would cost over four times as much if you got it in color and on good paper. This is a nice way to get into the X-men universe at an inexpensive cost.
The reader is introduced to the new X-men. It's over 31 years since the "retool" date and many of these characters are going strong. There are Wolverine, Storm, Cyclops, and Nightcrawler in this comic. All have been in the recent X-men movies. It gives great praise to Chris Claremont that his writing has stood the test of time.
The comics go from the inception of the new X-men to the start of the Phoenix saga. The X-men annual of 1975 introduces us to the new X-men. Some of the mutants have been around, like Cyclops, and some were the bad guys, like Banshee. They form a new team to save the old X-men from a new evil.
Where the comic books gets real good is in the new Uncanny X-men comics. At that time this reviewer was a kid and really enjoyed the "James Bond" like setting in the comic Warhunt. The X-men must save America from nuclear war. The result is the X-men win but at terrible costs.
After a rather slow single story the retooled Sentinels return. Dave Cockrum's art work is second to none during this time. This is the time the buyer of the book wishes it was color. However, this is where you get what you pay for.
The end of the Sentinel story goes straight to the beginning of the Phoenix saga. What is really strange is Marvel's X-men comics were putting out stories that were years ahead of any thing science fiction books were doing. Indeed, it's a wonder that a special Nebula award was not given to Chris and Dave for the wonderful work on the uncanny X-men.
The Dark Chrystal and "end-of-the-universe" stories take up the bulk of this book. However, there is an very good comic on the re-introduced Magneto. Only one X-man can "check" Magneto, not beat him.
Now, on it's "debit" side there is a poor story on "Warhawk". This was when Marvel was having producting problems in 1977 and Dave Cockrum was unable to make a production deadline.
John Byrne takes over the art from Dave Cockrum at the end of the Starjammers/Crystal story line.
I highly encourage any Amazon.com buyer to get the Essentials X-men Vol. II for the Phoenix saga.
This comic series is a sample of the "art" form in the late 1970s. The X-men under Dave Cockrum, John Byrne, and Chris Claremont was as good as any comic ever written. Now the X-men have fame the equal of Batman and Superman. It was all due to the work of those three individuals.
This graphic novel is worth five stars. It deserves six.
Rating: - Old School Rocks!
This is a must read for anyone. Although the volume could have been printed better (COLOR!) it is still a very enjoyable graphic novel. Like all old Marvel it's a bit corny at times, but aside from that 5 stars. This is Marvel at it's best!*****!
Rating:  - BEWARE... POOP QUALITY! Glorified coloring book.
Aparently, all of the Marvel "Essential" books/TPBs are in black and white, on cheap newsprint, and bound poorly. They resemble coloring books more than comics. So if you just wan't a cheap way to read the these old comic stories (and don't care about durability and/or quality) go for it, but I would recomend going for something a little higher quality.
Rating:  - Do buy this... if you want backstory for cheap
These are not collector's items. The Essential series is a cheap alternative to the collector's items such as Marvel Masterworks. The editors wanted a way to get these stories into the hearts and minds of readers who either couldn't afford or didn't want to pay for those volumes or to track down the back issues. You get cheap stock paper and no color, pure story and pencil/ink artwork drive these. Bravo Marvel for printing this series.
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