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Inhumans in Chronological Order #3
The Inhumans: By Right of Birth
Witness the secret tragedies of Marvel's most secretive society: the Inhumans! Hidden from the eyes of the ancient Inhuman leaders, Queen Medusa gives secret birth to King Black Bolt's son, Ahura -- but will the newborn heir apparent be a blessing or a curse? Then: be privy to the revolt of the Inhumans' genetically bred servitors, the Alpha Primitives, and the creation of the god-like Trikon in the untold story that led to the Fantastic Four's discovery of the Inhuman race. How was Medusa lost to the world of man, and how did Black Bolt's insane brother Maximus the Mad usurp the throne? If you've read the Inhumans' classic Silver Age debut, you only know half the story! Guest starring Quicksilver and the Fantastic Four! COLLECTING: Marvel Graphic Novel: The Inhumans, Inhumans: The Untold Saga
118 pages, Paperback
First published November 12, 2013
About the author
Ann Nocenti
743 books120 followersAnn Nocenti is most noted as an editor for Marvel Comics, for whom she edited New Mutants and The Uncanny X-Men. She made her comics writing debut on a brief run of Spider-Woman (#47-50) and subsequently wrote a long run of Daredevil (1st series) #236-291 (minus #237) from 1986 to 1991, directly following on from Frank Miller's definitive Born Again storyline. She also wrote the 1986 Longshot limited series for Marvel, and in the same year produced the Someplace Strange graphic novel in collaboration with artist John Bolton. She wrote "the Inhumans Graphic Novel" in 1988. In 1993, she wrote the 16-issue run of Kid Eternity for the DC Comics imprint Vertigo.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
In Incredible Hulk #291, published in September 1983 (cover date January 1984), Ann Nocenti made a cameo appearance, talking to Dr. Bruce Banner, in a history written by Bill Mantlo, drawn by Sal Buscema and inked by Carlos Garzón and Joe Sinnot. That time Ann Nocenti was Assistant Editor for Larry Hama on Incredible Hulk and X-Men.
She is noted for her left-wing political views which, particularly during her run on Daredevil, caused some controversy among some fans who didn't agree with her politics.
She created several popular characters, including Typhoid Mary, Blackheart, Longshot and Mojo, and wrote the 1998 X-Men novel Prisoner X.
Although Nocenti left comic books in the '90s after the industry sales collapsed, she later returned to the field, penning stories such as 2004's Batman & Poison Ivy: Cast Shadows.
In Ultimate X-Men, a reimagination of the X-Men comic, the character Longshot, who was invented by her, has the civil name Arthur Centino. His last name, Centino, is an anagram of Nocenti and a homage to Nocenti. The name Arthur is for the co-creator of Longshot Arthur Adams who was Ann Nocenti's artist on the Longshot Mini Series.
She edited High Times magazine for one year (2004) under the name Annie Nocenti and is the former editor of the screenwriting magazine Scenario.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 27, 2015
By Right of Birth features two of the Inhumans tragedies. One is the pregnancy of Medusa and the trouble it brought and the other covers the time the Royal Family goes into exile.
The pregnancy of Medusa was the better of the two stories. Medusa tells Black Bolt she's pregnant.
In most cultures knowing the King will have an heir is a good thing, but for the Inhumans this is a problem. The Genetic Council decides who can get married and who can have children...the King and Queen are no exception. They fear Black Bolt's child will have Maximus' insanity or Black Bolt's voice and they demand the pregnancy be terminated which results in Medusa fleeing to Earth. The whole thing is kind of crazy considering the Genetic Council are a bunch of old people and Black Bolt is not only the strongest living Inhuman, but also the King. The Genetic Council seem to be making the entire civilization miserable.
The exile of the Inhuman Royal Family revolves around Maximus getting the Alpha Primitives to revolt and then he uses the distraction to secure the leverage needed to gain the throne. This story was pretty weak starting first and foremost with the dated dialogue. There really wasn't much to like about this story.
This volume helps reinforce my theory that the Inhumans have had little development since their inception. They generally rely on the same storylines that just aren't that enticing. The Inhuman Royal Family isn't bad, but they tend to just fight Maximus and bicker with one another. It would have been intriguing to see them have other people groups to fight against, but isolation is the name of the Inhuman game it seems. I can see why Marvel has recently decided to expand them because they really aren't much more than a few good/decent characters, an interesting idea, and a back story. The Inhumans are wide open to do just about anything Marvel could want.
The pregnancy of Medusa was the better of the two stories. Medusa tells Black Bolt she's pregnant.
In most cultures knowing the King will have an heir is a good thing, but for the Inhumans this is a problem. The Genetic Council decides who can get married and who can have children...the King and Queen are no exception. They fear Black Bolt's child will have Maximus' insanity or Black Bolt's voice and they demand the pregnancy be terminated which results in Medusa fleeing to Earth. The whole thing is kind of crazy considering the Genetic Council are a bunch of old people and Black Bolt is not only the strongest living Inhuman, but also the King. The Genetic Council seem to be making the entire civilization miserable.
The exile of the Inhuman Royal Family revolves around Maximus getting the Alpha Primitives to revolt and then he uses the distraction to secure the leverage needed to gain the throne. This story was pretty weak starting first and foremost with the dated dialogue. There really wasn't much to like about this story.
This volume helps reinforce my theory that the Inhumans have had little development since their inception. They generally rely on the same storylines that just aren't that enticing. The Inhuman Royal Family isn't bad, but they tend to just fight Maximus and bicker with one another. It would have been intriguing to see them have other people groups to fight against, but isolation is the name of the Inhuman game it seems. I can see why Marvel has recently decided to expand them because they really aren't much more than a few good/decent characters, an interesting idea, and a back story. The Inhumans are wide open to do just about anything Marvel could want.
December 15, 2025
Actual rating 3.7 stars.
This contains two distinct stories.
The first is Marvel Graphic Novel #39 ‘The Inhumans’ (which I reviewed separately).
It was about the Inhumans present situation. And their future.
The second story was Inhumans Special #1.
It was all about the Inhumans past, starting from before their first appearance in the Fantastic Four series and leads into Medusa joining the Frightful Four and ends when the society is trapped within the barrier.
It focused more on Medusa and Gorgon which I found interesting. The framing for the story was funny. It was Black Bolt remembering things he hadn't even experienced!
Overall, a pretty good look at the Inhumans story, up until the late 80s.
This contains two distinct stories.
The first is Marvel Graphic Novel #39 ‘The Inhumans’ (which I reviewed separately).
It was about the Inhumans present situation. And their future.
The second story was Inhumans Special #1.
It was all about the Inhumans past, starting from before their first appearance in the Fantastic Four series and leads into Medusa joining the Frightful Four and ends when the society is trapped within the barrier.
It focused more on Medusa and Gorgon which I found interesting. The framing for the story was funny. It was Black Bolt remembering things he hadn't even experienced!
Overall, a pretty good look at the Inhumans story, up until the late 80s.
September 22, 2017
3.5 stars.
I love Ann Nocenti's stuff, and am having a kinder view of the "Classic" Inhumans than ever before.
(Though I'll confess to not liking what the MU is doing with them currently: the Inhumans should be the Royal Family, not this "Anyone could be an Inhuman" garbage.)
I love Ann Nocenti's stuff, and am having a kinder view of the "Classic" Inhumans than ever before.
(Though I'll confess to not liking what the MU is doing with them currently: the Inhumans should be the Royal Family, not this "Anyone could be an Inhuman" garbage.)
May 26, 2021
3.5
The first story about Medusa's pregnancy was great, and the art was amazing! The second was okay, it made me see some of the "behind the scenes" of The Origin of the Inhumans comic compendium by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, but wasn't mind blowing.
The first story about Medusa's pregnancy was great, and the art was amazing! The second was okay, it made me see some of the "behind the scenes" of The Origin of the Inhumans comic compendium by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, but wasn't mind blowing.
June 1, 2015
I've been getting more interested in the Inhumans, due entirely to their taking on more of a role within the MCU. I've been a lifelong Marvel comics fan, so I was aware of them before, but they were off in a corner of the universe that I didn't really venture into all that often.
This reprint collection ended up being a mixture of the utterly fantastic (Ann Nocenti's graphic novel, Colleen Doran's Medusa/BB pinup, and the Marvel Handbook enteries) and the utterly mediocre (the "Untold Story" special). Fun, interesting characters with a unique dynamic that sets them aside from the rest of the Marvel universe.
This reprint collection ended up being a mixture of the utterly fantastic (Ann Nocenti's graphic novel, Colleen Doran's Medusa/BB pinup, and the Marvel Handbook enteries) and the utterly mediocre (the "Untold Story" special). Fun, interesting characters with a unique dynamic that sets them aside from the rest of the Marvel universe.
August 19, 2018
Plot holes abound.
Inconsistent art.
Karnak acts like a whiny bitch through the whole story.
Removing pollution from an area creates an ecological monster.
Turn a page and its two years later... with no moving forward of the story.
Just an all-around bad book.
Inconsistent art.
Karnak acts like a whiny bitch through the whole story.
Removing pollution from an area creates an ecological monster.
Turn a page and its two years later... with no moving forward of the story.
Just an all-around bad book.
May 29, 2017
By Right of Birth was so good I will overlook a bit the second story, Untold Saga, which did its best to make sense of the Inhumans convoluted continuity. But if you ask me, that explanation was not that necessary.
The first story, on the other hand, was delightful and embraced everything the Inhumans should stand for.
They're a Royal Family and their stories should deal with royalty, lineages and hierarchy. it's the Court with superpowers. What can go wrong with it?
The first story, on the other hand, was delightful and embraced everything the Inhumans should stand for.
They're a Royal Family and their stories should deal with royalty, lineages and hierarchy. it's the Court with superpowers. What can go wrong with it?
June 23, 2021
Un poco inconsistente la historia o quizá para fanes de Los Inhumanos. Excepto por algún momento, poca tensión o carisma en los personajes, y todo bastante predecible y normativo.
December 16, 2016
The royal family of Attilan are back and fighting. The council of old men decide on marriages and births of the Inhumans. They have been deciding in such a manner that the youths start to kill themselves instead of marrying their assigned spouse. Medusa is pregnant and they will kill the child. She runs away to Earth (Crystal leaves her family and gathers everyone to find and stay with Medusa) and is followed by her family, except for Black Bolt, her husband. She gives birth to the child and it is revealed that the reasons for the council being afraid of the child are real. They fear that he will be like Black Bolt and he does, but it gets rid of a creation that is formed when Crystal tries to clear the Earth, in their area, and it all masses together.
July 3, 2015
I recently saw some Bret Blevins artwork online and wanted to check out some of his comics work, so I gave this book a try. I didn't love the artwork (it looks to have been early in Blevins' career), and the stories were just okay. That said, it was good to catch up on some of the Inhumans' back-story, as they have been recently featured on the Marvel's Agents of Shield tv show.
December 24, 2021
This is excellent. The Marvel Graphic Novel, as a sub-genre, really lends itself to use superhero as metaphor. Nocenti explores birth, eugenics, and abortion in a well-crafted story. Blevins’s pencils (which are strange and cartoonish) are perfectly matched. Rated down a star because the second collected book (‘Inhumans: The Untold Saga’) is pretty standard superheroing.
September 9, 2015
The Nocenti story was okay, but the other one was so bad I put it down seven times and forced myself to finish.
I have never gotten The Inhumans. They've always been boring to me, and the women incredibly passive even up to the 90s. Hope the new stuff is better.
I have never gotten The Inhumans. They've always been boring to me, and the women incredibly passive even up to the 90s. Hope the new stuff is better.
March 17, 2018
I enjoyed this edition, will definitely continue reading the graphic novels. One story was definitely stronger than the other.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews