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Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men - Volume 2
(Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men #2)
by
Born with extraordinary talents and abilities, five teenage mutants gathered together under Professor Xavier to protect a world that fears and hates them. Ever expanding their ranks, these children of the atom combat the evils threatening both humans and mutants. They are the strangest super heroes of all - the X-Men!
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Paperback, 240 pages
Published
August 12th 2009
by Marvel
(first published 1988)
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Start your review of Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men - Volume 2
I really enjoyed these adventures and how different the first stories were. They made me excited for each next one.
It was only in the last quarter of this volume that I became kind of disappointed at the stories. Some of them were still interesting but things happened that was just too convenient or it was a recycled story that left me feeling a bit bored.
Although, I did enjoy the first appearance of a couple of awesome villains and the reintroduction of another!
Plus, we learn the origins of ...more
It was only in the last quarter of this volume that I became kind of disappointed at the stories. Some of them were still interesting but things happened that was just too convenient or it was a recycled story that left me feeling a bit bored.
Although, I did enjoy the first appearance of a couple of awesome villains and the reintroduction of another!
Plus, we learn the origins of ...more
Jun 24, 2011
Cassie
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
comic-graphic-novel,
superheroes
I'm new to the X-Men comics, so I figured I'd start at the beginning, and perhaps not really knowing a whole lot about old school comics, I probably didn't appreciate this the way others would. Comics have certainly come a long way since then, and it's nice to get some perspective on a veteran series like this one, but the scripting leaves something to be desired.
Also, Beast is insufferable. I eventually just started skipping his lines altogether. ...more
Also, Beast is insufferable. I eventually just started skipping his lines altogether. ...more
In many ways this collection is even better than the previous one. There's heaps of backstory in here--from the origin of Professor X and Beast to the debut of plenty of memorable baddies. These 11 issues are really pretty stellar. First we see the downfall of Magneto thanks to The Stranger (who is sort of like X-Men's version of F.F.'s The Watcher), then we have the fantastic introduction to The Juggernaut, the epic Sentinel trilogy, the impressive return of Magneto, the debut of Mimic, and the
...more
This contains issues 11-21 of the original run. I really enjoyed these as a kid, and decided to revisit them. The original X-Men consisted of Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, and Marvel Girl (Jean Grey). As ever, the team is lead by Professor Charles Xavier and his superhuman brain. These issues introduce the Juggernaut and the Sentinels. Magneto, the Blob, Unus and Lucifer also make return appearances.
These issues were published between 1965-66, and can feel pretty dated at times. The dialogue is ...more
These issues were published between 1965-66, and can feel pretty dated at times. The dialogue is ...more
This collects the original run of the X-Men from issues 11 through 21. Number 11 was the last Stan Lee/Jack Kirby collaboration, introducing yet another new character (as they did in most of the first ten issues), the Stranger, and ending the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants storyline that had lurked in the background of the book for a long time.
Number 12, with Toth illustrating over Kirby lay-outs, is among the best comic books of its time, a tense tale of danger from another classic new villain, t ...more
Number 12, with Toth illustrating over Kirby lay-outs, is among the best comic books of its time, a tense tale of danger from another classic new villain, t ...more
This volume consists of issues 11-21 of the original X-Men comics.
This volume was more enjoyable than volume 1 if only because you can clearly see where come classic and still common X-Men tropes first took root.
These issues have also allowed for character development and themes to occur that any X-Men fan can identify if they're familiar with these characters at all. It makes the stories here feel more like X-Men stories and less like cartoony, basic superhero stories that was the case for th ...more
This volume was more enjoyable than volume 1 if only because you can clearly see where come classic and still common X-Men tropes first took root.
These issues have also allowed for character development and themes to occur that any X-Men fan can identify if they're familiar with these characters at all. It makes the stories here feel more like X-Men stories and less like cartoony, basic superhero stories that was the case for th ...more
After reading this volume, it's very clear that X-men didn't get good until Chris Claremont took over. In this volume, Magneto is a walking villain cliche having no depth or true personality. The Sentinels are embarrassingly weak and somehow vulnerable to mind control? The lineup also isn't really that great: beast is nowhere near as interesting as he later becomes (under future writers) , Angel is mediocre, Iceman is sometimes useless and it just seems hollow. Even for 1960s comics, (which I do
...more
These early works by Lee, Kirby, Gavin and Thomas may have a bit of dated 60s sensibilities, they hold up remarkably well. Character development is strong throughout. It’s worth visiting this foundational material as it is here that the groundwork that all other X-Men writers will use.
It's ok, but the origin stories are thin, the love story is lame, the plots are formulaic, and the dialogue is super cheesy. I think I like it more because I know what they become than for what they actually are. Roy Thomas took over the script for the 20th and 21st issues and the stories were definitely better.
...more
Fun
A weaker volume this, with more lows than highs. The highest high is Xavier's backstory and the introduction of the Juggernaut, which is simply brilliant.
...more
Boring, really really boring. There's a reason why it got cancelled: over exposition, bland stories and plot holes all over the place.
...more
Good set of issues
These 10 kept me as interested, if not not more so, than the first 10. Maybe too much Magneto without it getting much of anywhere, but also: Sentinels!
These 10 kept me as interested, if not not more so, than the first 10. Maybe too much Magneto without it getting much of anywhere, but also: Sentinels!
The best part was Stan Lee's comments
...more
- These comics just keep getting better! The geeky side of me is just ecstatic while reading these!
- I like that Juggernaut is introduced in this volume! He is one of my favorite baddies!
- I loved that there is some of Professor X's history in these issues. We learn about his family, and how he loses the use of his legs.
- I don't understand why Johnny Storm was really needed, but it was fun to see him in an X-Men comic.
- There is still that old 60's humor. It is cheesy, but I still find it funny ...more
- I like that Juggernaut is introduced in this volume! He is one of my favorite baddies!
- I loved that there is some of Professor X's history in these issues. We learn about his family, and how he loses the use of his legs.
- I don't understand why Johnny Storm was really needed, but it was fun to see him in an X-Men comic.
- There is still that old 60's humor. It is cheesy, but I still find it funny ...more
I read this across two sittings this morning and over my lunch break. In one sentence, it was better than volume 1, but Uncanny X-Men volume 1 is probably a much better place to start.
I'll start with the bad. Werner Roth is no Jack Kirby. He isn't bad by any stretch, but he really doesn't do anything to set himself apart with these issues. It also felt like Stan Lee was treading water with these stories. They don't really go anywhere or do anything too interesting with the characters. It was ni ...more
I'll start with the bad. Werner Roth is no Jack Kirby. He isn't bad by any stretch, but he really doesn't do anything to set himself apart with these issues. It also felt like Stan Lee was treading water with these stories. They don't really go anywhere or do anything too interesting with the characters. It was ni ...more
The X-Men have done it again! When I started Volume Two (which consists of issues 11-21) I was a little concerned. Volume one, while it had been entertaing and good, was a little all over the place. There was no continuing story line, just a different villian for every issue, minus Magneto.
This volume was compeltely different! Every villian was no deffeated in just one issue. In fact, sometimes it took three or four issues to finally defeat the bad guy. The story continues on for our brave X-Me ...more
This volume was compeltely different! Every villian was no deffeated in just one issue. In fact, sometimes it took three or four issues to finally defeat the bad guy. The story continues on for our brave X-Me ...more
Jan 23, 2014
Kelly Lynn Thomas
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
comics,
super-hero
Ditto my comments on volume 1. Overwrought prose, annoying villain/evil mutant of the week, silly training exercises. Ka-Zar, really? Silly. (I know, superheros are kind of silly to begin with.)
This volume has the first appearance of Bolivar Trask and the Sentinels, which is the first time that I felt like, hey, there's actually some meat to this thing.
I'd feel a little better about these Masterworks volumes if a. they didn't go out of print so quickly and b. the introductions were better. The i ...more
This volume has the first appearance of Bolivar Trask and the Sentinels, which is the first time that I felt like, hey, there's actually some meat to this thing.
I'd feel a little better about these Masterworks volumes if a. they didn't go out of print so quickly and b. the introductions were better. The i ...more
The Sentinals. Juggernaut. A backstory that explains Xavier's true intent when forming the X-Men- the future of mutantkind? No! Alien invasion!!
Okay, sure, these comics are cheesy like all old comics. Kirby was great, but like Stan Lee you have to try and read these comics as though Marvel was still a ground breaking phenomenon instead of a flimsy outline of what other writers and artists would do in the following decades.
But if you can swallow that pill of cynical suspension, these stories rea ...more
Okay, sure, these comics are cheesy like all old comics. Kirby was great, but like Stan Lee you have to try and read these comics as though Marvel was still a ground breaking phenomenon instead of a flimsy outline of what other writers and artists would do in the following decades.
But if you can swallow that pill of cynical suspension, these stories rea ...more
Breaking it down by story arc:
1) The Stranger - 4 stars. Reads like a sci-fi Mark Twain short story with a twist.
2) Juggernaut - 4 stars. A great origin story and really suspenseful. Even I (who knows what Juggy looks like) was waiting eagerly to see him through the shadows.
3) Sentinels - 3.5 stars. The sentinels have come a long way since this time, this is a good intro.
4) Magneto Returns - 3 stars. A little gimmicky, but Iceman gets time to shine.
5) Mimic - 3 stars. Cool to see one opponent ...more
1) The Stranger - 4 stars. Reads like a sci-fi Mark Twain short story with a twist.
2) Juggernaut - 4 stars. A great origin story and really suspenseful. Even I (who knows what Juggy looks like) was waiting eagerly to see him through the shadows.
3) Sentinels - 3.5 stars. The sentinels have come a long way since this time, this is a good intro.
4) Magneto Returns - 3 stars. A little gimmicky, but Iceman gets time to shine.
5) Mimic - 3 stars. Cool to see one opponent ...more
You can tell that the people writing this just did not have long-term plans and thought they could get away with a lot.
Perhaps the most exciting part is when the winged Angel takes flight in a hospital and the nurses gape:
NURSE 1: What's he doing?
NURSE 2: He must be calling the mansion. They have an AUTOMATIC MACHINE that takes MESSAGES!
Also, miracle sulfa drug.
And what's with the character designs of Magneto, Lucifer, and the Sentinels? All exceedingly similar. ...more
Perhaps the most exciting part is when the winged Angel takes flight in a hospital and the nurses gape:
NURSE 1: What's he doing?
NURSE 2: He must be calling the mansion. They have an AUTOMATIC MACHINE that takes MESSAGES!
Also, miracle sulfa drug.
And what's with the character designs of Magneto, Lucifer, and the Sentinels? All exceedingly similar. ...more
This second volume of original X-Men tales starts off slow, but I have a fondness for the Juggernaut story as it was among one of the first X-Men stories I remember reading. Plus, with the first appearance of The Sentinels and The Mimic, this is filled with some stories that have proven very important as the years have passed.
Classic stuff. More character development, some pretty big villains. My only complaint: why do two different villains wear the same colors? What's so great about red and purple, hmm, Magneto and Lucifer?
...more
This is one of the only Stan Lee 60s creations where the stories do not age well. Or at all.
Unreadable.
Read my whole review of this and more books on The Book Closet website ...more
Unreadable.
Read my whole review of this and more books on The Book Closet website ...more
As with Vol. 1, these issues did not age well.
While it's interesting to read the origin stories of the X-Men, these earliest titles have a way to go before reaching their peak.
...more
An improvement over the first 10 issues. Not a giant improvement, but an improvement. The original Sentinels story is pretty solid. Ditto for Juggernaut.
The twists are nice.
Some people think these are cheesy. I don't care. They're great!!!!
...more
Good one in general, some better than the other, but a good 4 stars to most of them! If you like the x-men serie this far, it just keep going in the same direction and style,
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Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber) was an American writer, editor, creator of comic book superheroes, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics.
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, and many other characters, introducing complex ...more
With several artist co-creators, most notably Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, he co-created Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Hulk, Daredevil, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, and many other characters, introducing complex ...more
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