The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans #1

X-Men: One-Shots

by Chris Claremont (Writer), Walter Simonson (Illustrator), Terry Austin (Inker)

Apokolips Now, buen estado general, primera edicion 1989

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, X Men, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Comic Book, Marvel

64 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1983

About the author

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 for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.

Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scarcely more than simple spectacle that serves to bring together two of the most iconic teams of that time. It looks great and screams comic, but with a story that struggles to stick, it can feel sluggish and slow with dated and drawn out dialogue. Bringing together two of my favourite teams and a fantastic creative team, it's one that I wish I could enjoy more...

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans crossover!
I went into this story full of anticipation and excitement and it did not disappoint.

It did have some moments where I was slightly confused on what was happening but overall, the story flowed well and the characters were interesting and engaging.
I feel like we got a good hint of the way each team usually works and it was really cool when both teams worked together.

Something I would've liked to have seen more of was the partnership between the two villains or even a real fight between them. I wonder if Darkseid even had a chance against Dark Phoenix. In this story, he just stood there and did nothing to stop her attack.

[gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

i need another storm x starfire meetup SO BAD

[Pranay · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does a blockbuster look like? What would happen when Darkseid and Dark Phoneix team up?

Imagine a battle between Deathstroke and Wolverine. In the 1980's X-men and Teen Titans were the most popular superheros and in a few months out-selling the big names like Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Captain America, Batman and Superman. So when Two of the most popular superheros teams team up against two of the biggest and most powerful bad guys there can be only Carnage.

Enjoyed the hell out of this book.
I just feel that it could have been even better with some unexpected twists but of course Chris Claremont had to tread carefully.

First appearance of the Source Wall.

[Bertazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

O que eu gosto genuinamente nessa edição é que ela tem uma história e não só um encontro, simplesmente porque Claremont parte do pressuposto que os dois grupos convivem permanentemente no mesmo universo.

[Utena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review can be found at The Book Review

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOD THIS IS THE GREATEST COMIX CROSSOVER I'VE EVER READ IN MY LIFE! Ever wondered about teaming up two comics' best known superhero teams with an amazing premise? Then this ish is the choice for you. DC and Marvel are the leading names in the comix industry for serious comic book guys like me. The plot is very interesting as it has both the newer Teen Titans and the Uncanny X-Men have raised the bar - making it a crossover with both the DC and Marvel Universes, often with some humorous moments. Some of the inventions made and in use here look impressive and very cool. One awesome franchise is really extraordinary. But when two franchises collaborate, things become beyond extraordinary. Sometimes these work but can result into poor mixing due to difference in genres or style. If you want an amazing crossover comic book with two teams of superheroes in different universes, then make it this one.

[Tony Calder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another crossover graphic novel from the early 80s when Marvel and DC were releasing quite a few of these. This one was written by Chris Claremont, who was the regular X-Men writer, with art by Walt Simonson, who was also working at Marvel, doing comic adaptations such as Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars.

Unusually for these inter-company crossovers, the story doesn't feature the two teams fighting each other. Claremont, as would be expected, writes the X-Men well and he also does a good job with the Titans, and overall the plot is pretty good. Simonson does an excellent job with the artwork on both of the teams.

This is one of the better of the Marvel-DC crossovers from the period.

[B. Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than what I remember as a kid. The art is sharp and the writing stays true to the X storyline without dwelling on the cliches of most crossovers- distrust between the teams, weak excuses for the merging of universes. Not a gamechanging comic by any means, but a fun meeting of the two powerhouse super teams of the eighties and their best foes.

[Eric Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I was picking up the latest issue of The Walking Dead, I came across a rather ratty, but readable copy of this for $2. I honestly forgot just how AMAZING this book is. Chris Claremont and Walt Simonson crafted a book that was so far ahead of its time and far better than anything since. If only comic books were THIS good again.

[Aaron Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very few Marvel/DC crossovers that delivers on all levels. It was also the first to introduce the Source Wall into the DCU.

[Reyel2107 · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the bests from my past !!!!!

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Youngster Teams Together!


I haven’t bought this particular comic book per se, but I did buy the “DC vrs Marvel” Omnibus Vol 1, and this story is featured there. I’ll do a review of the omnibus later, but I want to make individual reviews of each crossover stories contained there.


Creative Team

Writer: Chris Claremont

Illustrator: Walt Simonson

Special Liaison between DC and Marvel: Len Wein (current Editor for The New Teen Titans, at the moment)


OF TITANS & MUTANTS

So far, the crossovers of the biggest comic book houses had been about single characters (not matter that sometimes there were some guest chracters coming along), so the bets got higher this time choosing the hottest teams that DC and Marvel can offer…

…The Uncanny X-Men!…

…AND…

…The New Teen Titans!

In 1982, there weren’t coolest and best written comic books than those two titles, there were the top sales titles of each house, therefore putting them together, it was the greatest idea ever!

And the bet paid off since it was a success in sales, critique and still nowadays, it’s considered one the most memorable crossover ever done by DC and Marvel.

It was clear that they want…

…Dark Phoenix…

…as the villain for the side of Marvel, but if so, what can DC can choose to be up to the task?...

…Darkseid!!!

Definitely this comic book would be a hit and it was indeed!

Yes, Darkseid isn't a New Teen Titans' villain, but when you have Darkseid in a comic book, you just don't complain about and give thanks for it.

In this occasion, the dimensional separation between DC and Marvel worlds wasn’t established yet, so like the three previous times, the New Teen Titans and the X-Men were co-existing in the same universe, not only that…

…in the same New York City!

Darkseid wants to tap into the knowledge and power of the Source (a galactic entity, a force of creation and ruler of the omniverse (but as I said, at that moment, both bunch of characters were just living all along together in the same universe), and first Darkseid manipulated Metron to do the dirty work, but it wasn’t enough, so the god of Apokolips decided that he needed a force of nature to acomplish his desire, hence, Enter: Dark Phoenix.

While Metron was out of comission, he was able to alert Starfire, and she was aware of the Dark Phoenix, since while she was traveling to Earth, she was told by LIlandra, empress of the Shi’ar, about the astronomical power of the Phoenix Force (how cool is that, ah?!)

Since the New Teen Titans are snooping around, Darkseid sent Deathtroke and an army of Para-Demons to stop them! The X-Men aren’t far behind (Wolverine is wearing the Brown suit! When you think that the comic couldn’t be cooler!)

Both teams are trapped and the X-Men memories of Dark Phoenix are used to engage a new activation of the Dark Phoenix, and while that occurs (obvious, we all want to see Dark Phoenix again!) they are free again and the meeting of all meetings take place with both team shaking hands.

Of course, you’ll get what you pay for…

Darkseid vs Dark Phoenix!!! YES!!!

Since Darkseid may be a god, but Dark Phoenix is a force of nature, and you can’t control a force of nature! So, maybe Darkseid should think better before messing with forces beyond his own power.

This comic book was a sales success and there were plans to do a sequel, this time done by the creative team of The New Teen Titans, Marv Wolfman and George Perez, but disputes at the highest levels of both companies stopped all crossover for almost a decade! Even there were some advanced work for a JLA/Avengers crossover drawn by George Perez that it was stopped too (however eventually it was done, but that was curiously the last crossover done so far (currently there are new talks for new crossover due the success of sales of the new Omnibuses of DC vrs Marvel and The Amalgam Age of Comics (that I bought too)).

´Nuff Said!

[Philmore Olazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years back I was looking for the DC/Marvels in physical. The shop owner told me it would be hard to get, especially this book due to how incredibly popular these teams were at the time.

And for their first line of crossovers, they surely did go all in with this particular crossover. Taking the beat elements from both worlds and mashing them in incredible ways.

Darkseid is trying another scheme to take over earth, and the way he does it is creating a facsimile of the Dark Phoenix using the residual emotional energies from the X-Men.

Both the Teen Titans and the X-men are called together to face this incredibly dangerous combination, the Titans in particular move into action due to Raven detecting great danger and Starfire being afraid of the Phoenix, as she reveals she’s seen its destructive powers before.

Both teams have incredible synergy, they know they’re way out of their league with the threats they’re facing. Heck, the Titans even consider just stalling until they can get the help of the Justice League, but they’re all they have at the moment.

This is the kind of book that leaves you wanting much more.

[Rizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun little crossover. It's about what you'd expect, but it's competently done. Thankfully it's written by Claremont, not Wolfman, so the dialogue isn't as cringey and overwrought as it could've been. The real star though, is of course Walt Simonson's art. It's just as beautiful and energetic as expected. Simonson is on the very short list of artists to really "get" Jack Kirby's Fourth World and its particular aesthetic energy, and this is yet another example of that.

While it's nothing mindblowing, fans of either series will get what they came for. Probably one of the better Marvel/DC meetups.

[Carlos Solis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated it at around 3.5
Watching Titans on HBOMAX sparks my intrest in reading more about the Titans. I've never read anything of them.
But I can see some of the characteristics from the show in this book. Starfires blind rage & Ravens inner struggle she has. I am familiar with the x-men.

Anyhow the coolest things are the interactions with the Marvel characters.
Wolverine vs Deathstroke. Both teams interactions with each other.
I still want to read some Teen Titans stuff, just don't know which run is new reader friendly. Nonetheless
Fun read, nothing mind blowing here.

[Francesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vicenda emozionante che riguarda i Giovani Titani e gli X-Men. Molto avvincente, ma anche emozionante quando è entrata in gioco Jean Grey, una ferita ancora aperra per tutti i fan dei mutanti e per Ciclope stesso. Bel crossover.

[Butt Coffee · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a dry slog to get through. Nothing interesting happens for over half the comic except filler dialog. There's nothing that hooked me in and I had to force myself to finish it. For some reason, the Teen Titans and X-Men know of each others existence, but nowhere is it explained how.

[Rohith Chandramouli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the kind of book that needs to be reprinted if not for corporate rivalry. A great showcase for both teams and some incredible Walt Simonson pages. Highly recommended

[Michael Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of the most beloved comic book teams unite for the first time in a story that is appropriately epic and shows plenty of aspects of what makes both teams and the individual members special.

[awe_flaw_some · Rating 3 out of 5]

All was good except I don’t understand how teen titans and x-men were aware of each others existence

[Andrew Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a fun story. I think the partnership between the X-Men and Teen Titans could have been longer, but I'm satisfied with the story.

[Scott A. Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great blend of both sides of the lore to make a compelling, fun, action-packed adventure!

[Marianella · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW jean y raven en el mismo comic ,mis chicas juntas💕

[Devero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tra tutti i cross-over che coinvolgono personaggi di più case editrici, dopo Avengers/JLA, questo è il migliore. Claremont era nel suo periodo d'oro come scrittore e il Muro dei Giganti Prometeici è una sua creazione perfettamente in linea con il Quarto Mondo di Kirby, come l'uso che fa della Fenice Nera e di Darkseid.
Walt Simonson da parte sua è realmente grandioso nei disegni, riesce a richiamare lo stile di Kirby senza per questo essere kirbyano, ed è chinato dallo straordinario Terry Austin.
Veramente una grande lettura per chi ama il fumetto di Super eroi con risvolto fantascientifico.

[Tiamatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The truth is, this is more gimmick than good. Claremont's a solid writer, no question there. And Walter Simonson does a great job on the art. The characterization is good, and there's some really good action. But ultimately, this still ends up feeling really, really gimmicky, and that holds it back a bit. Still, it's a pretty enjoyable read.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simonson's art is incredible, especially his Darkseid and Apokalips. The story is fun if a bit inscrutable.

[Kenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A functional script with great Simonson art. The appearance of Darkseid.... I dunno.