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How the hell can I start reading X-Men?
Ravager
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Registered User regular
Ok, I used to be a huge X-Men fan many years ago but stopped a long time ago. Is there any good way to get up to speed with the series and start reading the new issues that come out? With all the different crossovers and versions of X-Men, its really confusing. I know of Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, New X-Men, and X-Men Unlimited. I think there are others related to the X-Men that have different names. Is there any way to get up to speed on the universe by reading trades? If so, which ones are the most necessary? How far should I go back? Also, once I am up to speed, which books in the X-Men story line are the ones I need to read? I know the storylines in the various books overlap and you need to read all to get the full story. How do you know which ones to read? Which one is the main one?
BTW, I read Civil War and thought it was pretty terrible. Is the current run of X-Men better than this?
BTW, I read Civil War and thought it was pretty terrible. Is the current run of X-Men better than this?
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Anyway, on top of Astonishing, you ought to check out Grant Morrison's New X-Men (not to be confused with New X-Men with young mutants). Don't read any spoilers on it, though.
This is true. Aside from Astonishing and New X-Men, which ones are good? Ive heard House of M is good (someone told me it is directly leading into a new story arc too). Ill probably pick up the Age of Apocalypse eventually too. Anything else?
Uncanny X-Men: Don't bother till the current arc is over. It's a 12 parter and it's on 11 or so.
New X-Men: Try and get the trades after House of M... I personally love New X-Men... it has the younger generation and X-23 (who grows on you)
X-Factor: BUY THIS NOW
Astonishing: BUY THIS NOW
done.
If you like modern X-Factor, pick up Madrox: Multiple Choice.
House of M is alright, but it's really more of a Marvel Universe story than anything else.
But yes you should read all of Astonishing, from issue 1 to present.
If you like Shi'ar stuff then I would pick up the X-Men Deadly Genesis trade and the subsequent Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire trade (the storyline finishing up in Uncanny right now)
The first volumes are actually under the name X-Force, just so you know.
The current book called New X-Men is pretty much the current "New Mutants" style book, but a few years ago, the currently adjectivless "X-Men" title, was called New X-Men and was written by Grant Morrisson. Some people say it's one of the greatest X-runs ever, some people hate it. I think it had promise but ultimatley Morrisson just threw way too many ideas out there at once just to see what would stick rather than telling a focused story. There are some really good bits, but it's certainly not the perfect X-Men some would have you believe.
Amen
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I could take or leave the rest.
The current line-up in Astonishing X-Men is: Cyclops, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Beast, and Wolverine
The current line-up in Uncanny is: Xavier, Havok, Polaris, Nightcrawler, Rachael Summers, Darwin, and Warpath
The current line-up in X-Men is: Rogue, Cable, Iceman, Mystique, Lady Mastermind, Cannonball, and Omega Sentinal
Each book has its own team, with its own storylines. Back in the 90s all the damn X-teamns used to trip over each other on a daily basis so you had to buy a ton of books. Right now only Astonishing and New X-Men do that because they're both based out of the X Mansion.
Hopefully (adjectiveless) X-Men stay either in their flying boat or in Providence and the hell away from the Mansion as they've got a few of my favorite characters (Okay, pretty much just Iceman and Rogue... the others are growing on me though).
Astonishing X-Men IS very good, but I don't enjoy that team as much and especially dislike having them be in 6 places at once due to their being the "Home Team".
Uncanny X-Men has been in space dealing with the Shi'ar for a year, and seeing as how I hate the goddamned Shi'ar I have no idea what's going on in that book.
And X-Factor is by far the best X book to come along in a while and for the most part it doesn't have any crossover crap. You may want to peruse the House of M trade though because X-Factor seems to be destined to deal with the fallout from that.
Astonishing X-Men is kind of like a continuation to Grant Morrison's New X-Men. Which was a bunch of issues of "X-Men" without the adjective. They added the New so people would buy it. Now they renamed New Mutants to New X-Men: Academy X then dropped the end bit, just to confuse people.
Look for the New X-Men Omnibus. Normally, it'd be cheaper on Amazon, but it seems like it's no longer in print, and the cheapest one is $112. That's not to say it isn't worth that price. You get a lot of book for that money, and it's only 12 bucks over retail. Still check local shops.
It's the best X-Men in decades.
X-Factor does spin out of HoM though.
As does Deadly Genesis which in turns leads into Ed Brubaker's current run on Uncanny.
Yep.
Also helps that Astonishing have more members of the "classic" Xmen, theres not many characters that you have to hunt issues for their origins and all. Joss Whedon´s writing it, and the artist from Planetary´s drawing it, its worth the money.
If you want to add the Maddrox mini series which lead into XFactor, its a good read, but not essential in anything except setting him up as a detective.
And I can just say this, Maddrox could be the most powerful mutant under Peter David´s pen.
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Moves a bit too slow for me personally.
X-men at the moment is weird and out there with Kick arse art a neat team and is my second favourite Xbook.
As everyone is saying, Astonishing wins.
Satans..... hints.....
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I cannot stress enough how amazing that run was.
The harder the rain, honey, the sweeter the sun.
Well... I will as soon as Amazon fills that order I made THREE MONTHS AGO!
New X-Men: E is for Extinction
New X-Men: Imperial
New X-Men: New Worlds
New X-Men: Riot at Xavier's
New X-Men: Assault on Weapon Plus
New X-Men: Planet X
New X-Men: Here Comes Tomorrow
I listed the last one for completion's sake, but you can honestly just skip it. Not Morrison's best, and Silvestri is a relic of the 90s, and therefore an acquired taste.
Although I am not in love with it to the degree most people here are.
As for House of M, yes just read the main series. The tie ins were awful except for that one captain america issue.
Man what?
The Hulk tie-in was awesome.
HULK SMASH PUNY PAPERWORK
the fuck?
You meant
What? How could you not like House of M Spidey?
at least, i never did