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Ororo: Before The Storm #1-4
Astonishing X-Men: Ororo - Before The Storm
Celebrating 30 years of Storm! The back alleys of Cairo's thieves quarter are no place for a child to grow up - unless that child is destined to be one of the greatest Marvel heroines of all time! Long before she became the X-Man known as Storm, a young orphan named Ororo Munroe stalked the streets of Cairo picking pockets and scraping to survive. Get ready for some awesome Egyptian action and adventure as Ororo leads her fellow street urchins on the adventure of a lifetime! This is a history lesson you won't want to miss! Collects Ororo: Before the Storm #1-4.
96 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 39 reviews
July 24, 2021
yES, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, ORORO MUNROE IS HERE.
she's my fave now. her background is pretty cool, tho i wish i could have seen a little bit more of her power, i hope the prophecy brings her good stuff! i already love her
she's my fave now. her background is pretty cool, tho i wish i could have seen a little bit more of her power, i hope the prophecy brings her good stuff! i already love her
May 29, 2012
Storm (along with Cyclops) is my all-time favorite superhero. She’s hands down one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. This backstory is a fun romp that I highly recommend. Before the Storm, is also a reminder that this extraordinary heroine is yet another character who needs her ongoing series like yesterday.
May 24, 2025
Great story about Storm's childhood and how she uncovered secrets while stealing to get by in Cairo, Egypt. Nice artwork that fits the story and the theme.
September 3, 2015
This was a fun little origin Story for Storm of the X-Men and it was nice they showed her as a child in Cairo and we got a glimpse of Apocalypse. The art was OK but this was made more for kids and that's fine the overall story was really well done and the adventure was nice.
December 4, 2017
Storm has always been my favorite mutant on the X-Men team, so I was obviously curious to find out her background story. The wisdom she often flaunts seems to be a trait she featured from a young age and her wellknown morals are not lacking either. The mini series was cute however I wasn't overly fond of the artwork and lack of superpowers.
January 10, 2019
This was a pretty good story, focused on Storm and friends as pre-teens in Egypt, getting sucked into a plot to resurrect Apocalypse. It’s not a super heavy story but after a lot of the darker stories it was nice to read something with multiple female characters, none of whom died.
December 24, 2021
Este es uno de los comics que más ganas tenía de leer, porque me daba curiosidad la historia de origen de Storm.
No puedo decir que haya sido de mis favoritas hasta ahora, pero si me gustó mucho. Me hubiese gustado ver más de su poder, no solo ese estallido y nada más.
No puedo decir que haya sido de mis favoritas hasta ahora, pero si me gustó mucho. Me hubiese gustado ver más de su poder, no solo ese estallido y nada más.
October 3, 2024
Several writers and artists mostly take on the origin story of Storm (or some version of it...one is oddly more of a Rogue origin story). Uneven and a bit repetitious, but I liked some of the art. The first story was the best and the most fleshed out.
July 4, 2015
I graded it for the audience for which it was intended-which is children. I think an adult picking this up would find the plot pretty predictable but for a kid it's a pretty allright Disneyfied story set in Ororo's Cairo days. As an adult reading this I'd also nitpick that it didn't make sense to make her language so formal-when the character is an adult using english for the first time in ages it might make sense but when she's a little kid who learned the local language from other street kids it seems really weird to depict her speech that way and not ever let her use contractions instead of talking the way they do.
But anyways as a kids book it's totally fine and the art totally suits it for an adult X-Men fan it's not really essential.
But anyways as a kids book it's totally fine and the art totally suits it for an adult X-Men fan it's not really essential.
February 21, 2007
Yes, I do love the X-Men. This little story of Storm as an egyptian street urchin is pretty entertaining.
April 15, 2013
Even though this series is made for a young audience, it was nice seeing a background story arc for Storm--since she's one of my all-time favs. The art work was nicely done as well.
April 25, 2024
After two or three pages of an Indiana Jones scene, we get to see Storm as Aladdin.
There are a variety of takes on Storm's origin in this collection, the worst of them being Mark Sumerak's take, which fill the first third of this collection. It's all action movie dialogue that rarely fits any of the characters in the book.
In some respects the fact that this is called "Ororo" and not "Storm" lets you know that this character you're familiar with is still in their growth phase, and hasn't even adopted the superhero name she will be known by. That's fine. But there is nothing recognizable about her here except that she is claustrophobic.
The artwork is also not great. The anatomy is all over the place, limbs bending the wrong way, proportions all out of whack. It's definitely a stylistic choice but it didn't work for me.
Once Sumerak's chapter is over, we get other takes on Storm's origin, all of them similar but better written and more engaging. There's also the two-part X-Men story where Gambit first appeared.
I had been thinking about putting this book and some of the First Class books and mixing them in with the original X-Men run just to get some modern writing breaking up the 60s-era storytelling but this book isn't really worth it so I'm going to shelve it with the Ultimate Universe/Earth X/Secret Wars stuff and pretend it's the story of a Storm from a different Marvel Universe.
This is a perfectly mediocre all-ages book if you're looking to get a young reader interested in the X-Men, but if you're already a fan and have read some of the better books involving Storm, I think this collection will be a disappointment.
There are a variety of takes on Storm's origin in this collection, the worst of them being Mark Sumerak's take, which fill the first third of this collection. It's all action movie dialogue that rarely fits any of the characters in the book.
In some respects the fact that this is called "Ororo" and not "Storm" lets you know that this character you're familiar with is still in their growth phase, and hasn't even adopted the superhero name she will be known by. That's fine. But there is nothing recognizable about her here except that she is claustrophobic.
The artwork is also not great. The anatomy is all over the place, limbs bending the wrong way, proportions all out of whack. It's definitely a stylistic choice but it didn't work for me.
Once Sumerak's chapter is over, we get other takes on Storm's origin, all of them similar but better written and more engaging. There's also the two-part X-Men story where Gambit first appeared.
I had been thinking about putting this book and some of the First Class books and mixing them in with the original X-Men run just to get some modern writing breaking up the 60s-era storytelling but this book isn't really worth it so I'm going to shelve it with the Ultimate Universe/Earth X/Secret Wars stuff and pretend it's the story of a Storm from a different Marvel Universe.
This is a perfectly mediocre all-ages book if you're looking to get a young reader interested in the X-Men, but if you're already a fan and have read some of the better books involving Storm, I think this collection will be a disappointment.
February 14, 2025
“Ororo: Before the Storm" is a captivating graphic novel that delves into the formative years of one of Marvel's most iconic characters, Storm. This isn't just a superhero story; it's a personal journey of a young woman discovering her powers, her heritage, and her place in the world. Christopher Yost crafts a compelling narrative that explores Ororo's resilience, her compassion, and the complex choices she faces as she navigates a world filled with both wonder and hardship.
The artwork is stunning, almost manga-like, bringing the vibrant landscapes of El Cairo and the raw emotions of the characters to life. The visual storytelling complements the narrative, making for a immersive reading experience. From the bustling markets to the quiet moments of reflection, each panel is beautifully rendered and contributes to the overall emotional impact of the story.
What I loved most about "Before the Storm" is its focus on Ororo's humanity. It's not just about her weather-controlling abilities, but about the strength of her spirit and her unwavering commitment to justice. This graphic novel provides a rich and nuanced portrayal of a character who is often defined by her powers, showing us the woman behind the storm.
Whether you're a long-time fan of Storm or new to the world of X-Men, this GN is a must-read. It's a moving story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Highly recommended.
The artwork is stunning, almost manga-like, bringing the vibrant landscapes of El Cairo and the raw emotions of the characters to life. The visual storytelling complements the narrative, making for a immersive reading experience. From the bustling markets to the quiet moments of reflection, each panel is beautifully rendered and contributes to the overall emotional impact of the story.
What I loved most about "Before the Storm" is its focus on Ororo's humanity. It's not just about her weather-controlling abilities, but about the strength of her spirit and her unwavering commitment to justice. This graphic novel provides a rich and nuanced portrayal of a character who is often defined by her powers, showing us the woman behind the storm.
Whether you're a long-time fan of Storm or new to the world of X-Men, this GN is a must-read. It's a moving story that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page. Highly recommended.
December 12, 2022
After recently being surprised by and enjoying Storm's 2006 mini-series I decided to continue to indulge my fascination with the character and read Ororo: Before The Storm.
Being published a year before the 2006 mini-series, this obviously feels somewhat like a precursor to those events, however, it both lacks the magic and is aimed, I feel, at a very different audience.
This feels perfect for younger readers and is clearly aimed at that demographic - if you're wanting to introduce your children to the X-Men or more particularly Storm, then this is absolutely ideal!
The art is wonderful here though - with an almost Disney look and feel it reads like an archaeological adventure with sprinkles of Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.
Overall, although it lacks substance this was an enjoyable enough read, however, I never felt like I was the targeted audience here. It's simplistic, but that makes it perfect for those younger readers out there.
*It's worth noting there is a 2022 reprinting of this that collects a lot more content than just the 4 issues of the Before The Storm mini-series.
___________________
My Score: 5/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐
___________________
Being published a year before the 2006 mini-series, this obviously feels somewhat like a precursor to those events, however, it both lacks the magic and is aimed, I feel, at a very different audience.
This feels perfect for younger readers and is clearly aimed at that demographic - if you're wanting to introduce your children to the X-Men or more particularly Storm, then this is absolutely ideal!
The art is wonderful here though - with an almost Disney look and feel it reads like an archaeological adventure with sprinkles of Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider.
Overall, although it lacks substance this was an enjoyable enough read, however, I never felt like I was the targeted audience here. It's simplistic, but that makes it perfect for those younger readers out there.
*It's worth noting there is a 2022 reprinting of this that collects a lot more content than just the 4 issues of the Before The Storm mini-series.
___________________
My Score: 5/10
My Goodreads: ⭐⭐⭐
___________________
October 25, 2022
I wasn’t expecting much so I was pleasantly surprised. I found this enjoyable and a good story that kids would like. Hakiim is adorable! Tooo adorable. Ororo even at a young age is self assured with her beliefs and her morals. Her leadership comes through because of that. You get to see how she interacts with those that respect her and with those who clearly do not like her. She treats even those who are self-serving (cough Nari) with compassion. You read this and think…yeah I can see a glimmer of what we all know she will become. This is a short read. An Indiana Jones adventure with Ororo as the leading star. I couldn’t help but think that I would’ve loved this as an animated series on tv.
February 25, 2020
I really, really enjoyed reading about young Storm, though the story was a fairly uncomplicated one. I'm on the fence as to whether or not I'd have liked to see her use her power a little more before the end or if the small taste we got was enough. Students of mutant lore will appreciate the hint at what's to come, but readers new to the character may not know what exactly happened. I was puzzled (and a little disappointed) that Storm was so light-skinned since she isn't pretty much anywhere else.
I would LOVE more stories about young Storm!
I would LOVE more stories about young Storm!
January 20, 2019
This was great, it could have even been an ongoing series targeted at younger readers. It's much better than the usual attempts at attracting a younger audience. Had kindof a classic Disney meets X-Men feel
May 26, 2021
Felt derivative of pulp movies set in old Cairo...like, I got the impression that this was set in the 50's or something. The art is representative of the late 90's/2000's with ugly proportions of the characters. The writing often seemed out of place when it came to pre-teen children speaking.
August 16, 2023
As a longtime Storm fan, I think this collection is a perfect way to showcase different aspects of her life and relationships with others. It’s a great way to introduce her as a character to new fans and is one that I will require as essential reading to start off with discovering Storm’s origins.
August 30, 2019
Fun to read with decent art. The book explores early days of Ororo, otherwise known as Storm. The plot is cute and excellent for children but is quite predictable.
February 1, 2021
Storyline is so basic...
July 30, 2021
This was really good! Thrilled to see what becomes of Storm.
August 14, 2021
This just missed the mark for me and didn't feel like Storm at all.
September 16, 2021
Too childish, average background story.
January 18, 2023
Good Story/Deep Dive into Storms past. Fun Read.
January 23, 2025
Lord, I love Storm sooooo much ⚡️🩵
April 8, 2025
even though it feels like it was aimed for children, i still like it. ororo is one of my all-time favorites
Displaying 1 - 29 of 39 reviews