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X-Men Forever Volume 1 TPB

by Chris Claremont, Tom Grummett

3.21 · rating details · 61 ratings · 12 reviews

Comics icon and New York Times bestselling writer Chris Claremont returns to his legendary run with X-Men: Forever The shockwaves after the death of Magneto are still reverberating all over the world. Attempting to heal the rift between man and mutant kind, Professor Xavier volunteers his X-Men to go on a mission to capture Magneto's sole remaining Acolyte, Fabien Cortez ...more

Paperback, 120 pages

Published October 21st 2009 by Marvel Comics

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Oct 28, 2011

Craig rated it

So, I've been inexplicably nostalgic lately for the x-stories of my youth... Figured the best place to start was claremonts continuation of his run from x-men #3. It isn't canon, but I would get it instead of being lost by current continuity.

First problem... It isn't a true continuation from his leaving point. Certain characters disappear without a mention. Others are just as inexplicably part of the team... It's sloppy writing....

And the thing with Claremont... When ...more

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Jan 24, 2011

Ryan Alford rated it

Recommends it for: any X-Men fan, animated series or movie

Shelves: comics

Nearly two decades ago, author Chris Claremont left his historically ionic run on Uncanny X-Men due to creative differences with Marvel editorial (and to a lesser extent X-Men artist Jim Lee). Unfortunately, this event would be the start of the X-Men’s downward spiral into the proverbial crapper. Despite a few bright spots, such as the Age of Apocalypse storyline in the mid nineties, or Joss Weldon’s short lived run on Astonishing X-Men, there hasn’t been much to write home about concerning our ...moreNearly two decades ago, author Chris Claremont left his historically ionic run on Uncanny X-Men due to creative differences with Marvel editorial (and to a lesser extent X-Men artist Jim Lee). Unfortunately, this event would be the start of the X-Men’s downward spiral into the proverbial crapper. Despite a few bright spots, such as the Age of Apocalypse storyline in the mid nineties, or Joss Weldon’s short lived run on Astonishing X-Men, there hasn’t been much to write home about concerning our favorite band of merry mutants. The closet the franchise has ever gotten to becoming important again was Grant Morrison’s critically acclaimed run on New X-Men. But of course, like anything else successful at Marvel, then Editor-in-Chief and Spider-Man marriage killer Joe Quesada ret-conned all the progress Morrison made with the controversial House of M. Nevertheless, the mistreatment of the X-Men franchise has over the years has always raised a question.

Just what would have happened if Chris Claremont had never left the book?

Well now that question, and much more, can be answered within the first volume of the new series entitled, fittingly enough, X-Men Forever. Chris Claremont returns to the helm of things and literally picks up right where he left off at the end of X-Men #3. Asteroid M is destroyed, along with Magneto dead. The X-men find themselves under operational control by S.H.I.E.L.D, headed by Nick Fury, on a mission to capture the last known acolyte of Magneto, Fabian Cortez. With the opening page depicting Jean Grey fantasizing about kissing Wolverine on a sunny beach—only to be stirred awake by Cyclops on the Blackbird, Claremont waste no time in setting the tone and foreshadowing in his opening X-Men Forever arch entitled, “Love—and Loss!”

So, does X-Men Forever live up to its potential?

Well, yes and no.

First off, anyone expecting that X-Men Forever is a decelerated promise that Forever follows a specific master plan Claremont had laid out almost twenty years in advance, is setting themselves up for disappointment. Too much time has passed, and any writer worth their weight would certainly develop new ideas or plots over the years. The only true way to have known what Claremont would have done back in 1990, would have been if Marvel had been smart enough to keep him in the first place. There’s also the fact that Forever, not falling under the main Marvel 616 canon universe like the other X-books and the rest of Marvel’s major heroes, is free of the cumbersome editorial mandates that handcuff writers and cause many comics to be nothing more than trite experiences. This would have not been the case back in 1990 with Claremont writing Uncanny. Which leaves Forever being more of a Frankenstein-ish mish-mash of a creation than true intended “purity” of what could have been(and in my opinion should have been). Also, not everything is exactly the same as Claremont left it in X-Men #3. For example, there is apparently only one active team(no divided “gold and blue”), Xavier is minus the yellow hover wheel chair, and several X-Men featured in X-Men #1-#3 are nowhere to be seen(Psylocke, Archangel, Colossus, Iceman, Forge).

Despite those facts, the reasons listed above honestly work in X-Men Forever’s favor , and Forever is all the better for it. With no editorial interference or continuity to follow other than Claremont’s own, “Love—and Lost!” is an action pack extravaganza filled with surprises, drama, and great characterization bits sprinkled throughout. If one thing Forever delivers on, it’s the X-Men themselves. From fan-favorites like Gambit, Rouge, Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Kitty Pyrde, to other iconic members such as Storm, Beast, Nightcrawler, Xavier—you never doubt that what you’re reading feels like the authentic thing. And that’s because it is. Claremont’s talent with giving most of the X-Men specific speech patterns or accents, such as Gambit’s Cajun slang, Rouge’s southern belle, Beast’s punctual and sophisticated vocabulary, Wolverine’s ‘hickish” no nonsense style of speakin’, and even more smaller, subtle touches to other characters, all help to create fluid dialogue and flow between character’s interactions. But that is just icing on the cake considering the plot itself is no slouch. Claremont manages to further develop his canon for the X-verse with references to his past works, weaving new threads among old, that help further create the illusion of a living, breathing world.

Not to mention Tom Grummett’s stellar art aides in accomplishing the same as well. There’s nothing like seeing X-Men such as Rogue, Gambit, Cyclops, and Jean rendered in their early nineties getup again(the same costumes they wore in the 92 animated series) in such great detail and clarity. Cheap nostalgia, yes, but certainly effective and very much appreciated. Grummett’s art overall is vivid, colorful, and inspiring. Claremont and Grummett seemed to synch together so naturally that it’s almost, dare I say it—Uncanny? All in all, reader’s can expect some very shocking (and certainly unconventional) twists(unless they get spoiled to you as they were to me) along with new mysteries left lingering for future issues. To say the least, if you’re a real mutant fan, or even a causal X-Men fan who simply grew up on the 92 cartoon, “Love—and Loss!” will leave you satisfied by the end, and wanting more.

And why not? With Forever, Claremont leaves no doubt (no matter what the current generation of X-nerds have to say) that he is a true master at the art of storytelling. The plotting is more akin to a novel drama/thriller than a simple comic about good guys versus bad guys. “Love and Lost!” shows Claremont still has that “magic” with X-Men that made it the powerhouse it was in the eighties. Is it going to reignite mainstream interest? Most certainly not, but for an X-fan, there’s no better treat than to be reading an un-restrained Chris Claremont X-men tale. Some may think I’m being a bit too generous with the four-star rating, but all I have to say to those critics is, and I say it with a triumphant shout, is “X-MEN FOREVER!”
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Jun 22, 2011

Joshua rated it

I love many different X-men spin offs and alternate universes within the x-verse, and the lineup for this one interested me, so i bought it..I'm not going to pretend i'm an expert on all things xmen within the comics, because i'm not..I just know that i didn't enjoy this one too much..I liked that it was the x-men, but i didn't enjoy the juvenile-ish feel of the writing. Parts of this tradeback edition were really good, but then fell flat..The ongoing plot of the 5 issues could have been done w...more

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Nov 19, 2009

Tim S. rated it

Shelves: comics

What can I say beyond the fact this felt like the first real X-Men story I’ve read in a very long time? That’s in both good and bad terms. This is pretty much the same Claremont who defined these characters, but also the same Claremont whose writing can prove horribly stilted at times, particularly when it comes to tin-eared dialogue and piling on the soapy melodrama.

Nevertheless, reading this felt like going back in time to when I still bought Uncanny regularly off the stands an...more

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May 11, 2011

Jake Keyel rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: comics, marvel, x-men

I haven't read the issues from the 1990s that lead right up this collection, but it was pretty cool. It was easier to follow than the convoluted real continuity and the art was awesome. The characters look just like the ones in the Animated Series, which is one of my favorite X-men iterations.

· see review

Oct 28, 2009

Dufour rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels

Wow, a helluva trip down Nostalgia Ave. Claremont has not written a good X-Men book in a long time, but this one delivered. Go into with the expectation that you're picking up reading X-Men right where Claremont left off in the Jim Lee years and you will LOVE IT. Also, GREAT art from Tom Grummett.

· see review

Dec 14, 2009

Deirdre rated it

Shelves: fromlibrary, graphicnovel

Magneto is dead, Jean Grey is in love with Wolverine, Fabian Cortez is being hunted down and the x-men have a traitor in their midst.

Interesting but nothing exceptional

· see review

Jun 30, 2011

Angela rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels, marvel

This is set in alternative universe. It goes in a strange tangent to the etablished continuity, it has potential though.

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Nov 02, 2009

BCPL Youth Services Librarian added it

Shelves: graphic-novels

link to book in BCPL's catalog

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May 27, 2011

Jeff Cadoff rated it

Excellent artwork, but parts of story don't sit properly. No spoilers, but I think you would understand after reading.

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Jan 18, 2011

Rusty rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels, marvel, read-in-2011, x-men

Dear Marvel,

Please stop "re-imagining" shit.

Thank you

· see review

Oct 07, 2009

Jamie rated it

Shelves: graphicnovels

It's like I'm 15 or something...

· see review

Feb 10, 2012

Shawn Weaver is currently reading it

Feb 09, 2012

Drew Davis rated it

Jan 26, 2012

Howl added it

Jan 05, 2012

Nazlı Bilici rated it

Shelves: 2012, comics

Dec 26, 2011

Robyn - The Sidekick rated it

Shelves: graphic-novel-comic

Dec 08, 2011

Halifax Slasher rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels, grn-superheroes, grn-marvel

Nov 21, 2011

Stephen rated it

Nov 21, 2011

Jeffrey rated it

Shelves: graphic-novel, library-copy, super-hero

Dec 04, 2011

Jacob rated it

Nov 18, 2011

Jacinda Jones rated it

Nov 15, 2011

Brad Kankelfitz rated it

Nov 05, 2011

Travis rated it

Shelves: comic-books

Nov 04, 2011

Ben marked it as to-read

Nov 03, 2011

Hollie rated it

Jan 11, 2012

Peter rated it

Shelves: graphic-novels, science-fiction

Sep 15, 2011

Dennis rated it

Sep 17, 2011

Kevin added it

Sep 07, 2011

Stuart rated it

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About Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.

Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator f...more

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