Reviews (15)

Very disapointing
I used to be a huge X-Men/Chris Clairmont/Jim Lee fan and bought this because it came out right after I had stopped collecting. I was very disapointed. The story is weak, and the art is even weaker, except for the Jim Lee issues. The whole thing seems rushed and thrown together, with a very contrived plot, as if they needed a cross over story arc to sell more New Mutants and X-Factor books. Not recommended

One Of The Worst X-Stories Ever Written
I didn't come into this story expecting it to be great, but it was a whole lot worse than I thought. With the exception of the issues featuring Jim Lee, the art is horrible. The coloring is atrocious, some of the worst I have ever seen in a comic book story. Even though some of the writers are quite good, here they all collectively sucked, even Chris Claremont. Claremont's dialogue has never been his strong suit, but here it's just rediculous. The scripting by the rest of the crew is even worse. The only thing I could think about while reading this was how much money I wasted on it. Even the title is stupid. Avoid "X-Tinction Agenda" at all costs. If your looking for a good X-men crossover, pick up "Bloodties", which is kinda/sorta the same story as this, but much better. Hell, pick up anything as long as it's not this.

Not bad as far as crossovers go
Good:
-Jim Lee's Art
-The crossover has lasting impact to the X-Men mythology
-Plenty of action
-It's good to see our heroes hit the lowest level and beaten to the ground in a mutant hostile territory and somehow come out on top in the end.

Bad:
-The New Mutants and X-Factor artists
-If Cable didn't spell the end for the New Mutants as we knew them, then this crossover surely destroyed them.
-This fast paced type of crossover would become the model for all other crappy crossovers in the future. Mutant Massacre was classic. Inferno complicated, but I liked it. I enjoyed X-tinction Agenda, but Marvel got out of hand with the crossovers after this.

The perfect X-over!
If you know nothing of the X-men, buy this book and read it. If you know everything about the X-men, buy this book and read it! This is one of the quinessential storylines of the X-men, featuring: Their first commando mission against Genosha, the return of Cameron Hodge, the mystrtious whereabouts of Havok, the re-introduction of the original Marvel Girl (Jean Grey), the heated battle between Archeangel and Woverine, and the death of one of Marvel's most popular characters! Nine books long (3 X-men, 3 New Mutants, 3 X-factor) it is presented in full color and the X-men books are all pencilled my Jim Lee, the greastest X-men artist of all time! Cartoon and movie fans may be little thrown off by the absence of Professor X, but cameo's include Mr. Fantastic, The Punisher, and She-Hulk! You'll feel for Storm and Wolvesbane as they are changed forvever and you'll enjoy the lighthearted Jubilee as she babysits a powerless Boob-boom and Rictor. Although the original print included Cable in Lee's cover art, this new reprint has replaced him with Cyclops but it's the best X-men TBP still availble!

Xmen's Golden Era
I have been an Xmen fan for years... in my opinion, the XTinction agenda is the best written crossover story ever. Credit should go to Jim Lee, the best writer, artist of XMen's history. The story line is consistent and characters were properly written. ... Read more

Book Description

According to legend, the Sith are always two - A master and anapprentice. It was not always this way. A thousand years ago the Sith were many andthey battled endlessly with the Jedi Army of Light. Lord Kaan ruled the Sith Brotherhoodof Darkness and sought the destruction of Lord Hoth and his Jedi followers. Recruitedinto the war by a scout, three friends venture onto the battleground and march intodestinies far greater and different than any of them could have ever imagined... ... Read more

Reviews (10)

not so great
"Jedi vs. Sith" seemed pretty cool to me at first. It gives a little background on why there are only 2 sith, and why one is a master and the other an apprentice. But the story doesn't really fit with other Star Wars series', especiall the "Tales of the Jedi," and this makes it confusing. Darth Bane was pretty cool, but his character wasn't utilized enough. The artwork is anime style, which isn't typical of the Dark Horse that put out "Grendel" or even the other "Star Wars" series. And this made things a little bit more cartoony than a Star Wars story should be. Plus, the battles are pathetic and most characters are stupid. The ending was great, but aside from that, this was a little disappointing mostly due to the fact that the story doesn't really work if you follow Star Wars. I heavily recommend all "Tales of the Jedi" stories. These mesh well not only with each other, but with the rest of the expanded universe and even with the movies.

This darko Comic is not for the children.
This reviews Star Wars: Jedi vs Sith. Issues 1 through 6 TPB collected, published March, 2002. Following the SW Timeline we are at 1000 before NH.

art a 2, story a 1, inking and production a 4 avg = 2. Binding, made in singapore, is very good.

On the time line, this comic continues the new astounding Art and ink production getting a grade of C for the art but a B. The art work itself is uneven. Some is excellent, but some is childlike, as if they were making a comic for very young children. The style also resembled the manga art style.

The story is awful. The cover picture, the style of the art and the fact that the lead characters are children suggest that the target market for this comic was children. This is not a childs comic. The story starts with the mindless execution of children. There is a difference in 'action' vs 'grotesque violence'.

George Lucas himself set the tone in Episode II when he needlessly beheaded humans. The problem of graphic deaths and the highly improved digital imagery is one that Lucasfilm may have grappled with but the dark side won the day. It is the same mindset that was evident in some of the NJO books, particularly Star By Star. The producers of that series of books created a very dark environment with tremendous dread. A lot of readers loved it. But it was not as welcomed by older fans like myself.
Back to the comic, the odd art work may indicate that the editors wanted to 'cartoonize' the characters to minimize the reaction to the violence. The artwork is unlike anything I have seen in the SW galaxy. Because this has little to offer to the expanded universe, you can skip it.

One of the worst Star Wars story
This is supposed to relate the tale of how the Sith evolved into a one-master and one-disciple system. But frankly, it [wasn't good] even though the graphics were passable.

In this story, the distinction between the Jedi and the Sith became blurred. The stage was set for the showdown between the Jedi and the Sith, except that readers can't really tell the Jedi from the Sith. The Sith seemed to have diminished greatly in their dark stature from Tales of the Sith etc, while the Jedi were little better than lightsaber-wielding adventurers. The writers reduced both side to engage in purely physical combats without regards to their creeds. The Jedi-Sith showdown became a brawl in the mud.

Jedis were also depicted to be indiscriminate in who they kill, and even more foolish in bringing in untrained and undisciplined children who had little sense of right and wrong into the thick of battles, exposing them to anger, hatred and fear, fuels for the dark side.

This is one of the worst Star Wars story, totally unfit to be part of a critical tale of the Star Wars history.

Goofy graphics and flying green puff-balls
This style of drawing is all wrong for the SW universe, especially for the important comic chronicling the final defeat of the ancient Sith. (Doesn't it seem like people ALWAYS thought they were defeated, and they came back about three times?) Round, cutesy faces with trembling eyes and strange facial expressions may be fine for weirdo Japanese cartoons, but they don't cut it for the high standard set by Star Wars. Anyway, the story centers around three sideline characters (kids) who have no bearing on the future galaxy. Why must we read about them, then? The Jedi recruit these three scrawny kids into their army of light. How hard up must they be for help? The young girl turns to the dark side. Why? Because a few Jedi accidentally kill this useless green puff-ball that's been following her around the comic book pages. I need not even comment on that. Darth Bane and Lord Hoth, the only two men relevant to anything, make this comic worth buying. I would buy this simply to own a critical piece of SW history, but its presentation is severely lacking.

Contradictory And Mindlessly Violent
This particular graphic book is a good example of why this summer's Star Wars film has done so poorly compared to its predecessors. The movie will still make an exceptional amount of money, but as it was far superior to Episode I it should have done better.

This installment features Darth Bane who is one of the darkest of all of the Sith Lords. He makes his entrance by a multiple killing of children in front of their father for no other reason other than they are there. Graphically the deaths are minimized but it does not detract from the mindless violence. The book continues on with the maiming and destruction of anyone and anything that is at hand.

Mr. Lucas had several deaths via decapitation in this summer's Episode II. There was nothing in the storyline that required this, and despite the attempt to dehumanize the victims; it unquestionably cost the film tens of millions of dollars. One victim was dispatched in front of his young son who subsequently retrieved his father's helmet, and an empty helmet at that for the film is rated PG.

Beheading a droid for humor, and then using the same violent act on a human who is helmeted or a group that live with their faces covered, is not only a lame attempt to minimize violence, it dehumanizes the victims, and creates a movie that should never have garnered a PG rating.

Graphic novels like this are pointless, and I would expect Mr. Lucas to monitor work based on his saga more closely, and also look at what his astounding special effects can do. What could have once looked like comic book violence now is as realistic as it can be. ... Read more

Book Description

Mace Windu leads an elite Jedi strikeforce against an army of trained killers in a demonstration of Jedi power and resolve... Aayla Secura must confront her former Master in an effort to retrieve the plans for a weapon that has already destroyed one world... Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker must joins forces with a renegade Jedi to prevent a fleet of warships from falling into the hands of the enemy...On whatever field of battle the Jedi find themselves, their greatest challenge is to remain true to their teachings and to the ways of the Force! ... Read more

Amazon.com

One might think that the climax of the 10-volume Sandman series would come in the last book, or even the second to last. But indeed the heart and soul of Neil Gaiman's magnum opus lies here in Brief Lives. It could be because one of the most central mysteries--that of the Sandman's missing brother--is revealed here (in fact, the plot of this volume is the search for this member of the Endless). It could be because everything that comes after this volume, however surprising or unexpected, is inevitable. But it's more because this is a story about mortality and loss, the difficulty of change, the purpose of remembering, the purpose of forgetting, and the importance of humanity. If you have wanted to find out what all the good buzz on this great comic book series is about and haven't read any Gaiman before, don't be turned off by this volume's pivotal position in the larger story of the Sandman series. This book might actually operate better as a stand-alone story, in that its depth and compassion are more condensed, pure, and brief. --Jim Pascoe ... Read more

Reviews (28)

The Best of the Sandman
The only reason I gave this story 5 stars is because there wasn't six, or ten, or a hundred available as choices.

Simply put, the Sandman is one of the greatest, most involving, most touching, (even for a hard to touch person such as myself) work of literature (yes, despite being a mere comic book it is literature, or as Peter Stuab says, nothing is) in the past century, perhaps in the past several centuries.

And Brief Lives is the best volume in the Sandman series, hands down.

The story, plot wise, is about a quest to find a missing brother.

The story is really about so many things more; about death, fate, redemption, mercy, terrible kindness, the meddling of gods and endless in human affairs, what happens to a family when the person that is its glue leaves, what it means to have a conscience, pride, honor, and much more.

Brief Lives is, even more than the other Sandman volumes, rich with beauty, imagery, imagination, and scenes that fire the imagination and touch the heart. Who cannot be moved by the anguish of Delirium and Despair, who is not awestruck by the scenes in the garden of Destiny or the conversation with Destruction, who is not genuinely saddened by the death of Orpheus and at Dream's terrible grief after the act, and who cannot be uplifted by the ending and the bond of love between Orpheus and his servant.

As an aspiring writer, I can honestly say that Brief Lives is both an inspiration and a goal; I hope that I may be able to write a single work that compares to it.

I will admit to being initially reluctant to pick up Brief Lives, perhaps because I sensed where Gaiman would take the Sandman in the last four issues, the inevitable turn to tragedy. Brief Lives is like the last warm day before winter or the last flash of light and color at sunset. The course of the Sandman was always destined to be a tragic one, and Brief Lives is the beginning of the end, the movement from dreamy stories to true tragedy, and watching it happen to an incredible character like Dream only makes it that much more affecting. Towards the end of the story, Desire, foretelling the future, says that Dream was wreck waiting to happen, and that has been true. Dream has been a wreck waiting to happen since he escaped his captivity, or maybe since Orpheus went down to Hades, or maybe before that. Up till now, though, there was always the chance that things would go another way, that there was a way around that destiny, but after Brief Lives, that is no longer the case. There is only one possible outcome, and it is only a matter of time.

That knowledge, heart wrenching as it is, is what makes this the best of all the Sandman series, and the best story, of any type or genre that I've read in quite some time.

THE BEST SANDMAN
This is the best Sandman story, without a doubt. I have read each of the ten volumes many times, and have come safely to this conclusion. Brief Lives has more meaning, heart and humanity than any comic book ever produced. This is It. This is the Big One. There are no substitutes. There is no comic book better than this; there is no comic book that means this much. This is also the volume of the series in which all the various past threads begin to converge, forming one tight whole, leading into the last three volumes, World's End, The Kindly Ones and finally, The Wake. If this book doesn't move you, you have problems.

This is definitely one of the best of the Sandman series...
I am steadily working my way through the entire series, in rough chronlogical order, and I must say that I am most impressed with 'Brief Lives'.

The artwork is varied, humourous and colourful, yet unintrusive. The oddly charming character of Delirum is truly fascinating and Dream is finally revealed to have somewhat of a soft side. Additionally, it has the coherance the earlier volumes lack.

'Brief Lives' returns to or introduces a staggering amount of characters. One must admire the manner in which Gaiman introduces 'brief lives' of new characters, and later disposes of them, yet tells us just enough to build our affections. This is particularly evident in this member of the series. For example, the character of Isatar is meerly alluded to, and yet her wisdom, dance sequence (and the change in the artwork) is delightful. As is the devoted cynicism of Destruction's dog.

While it may not be the best introduction to Sandman, it is certainly one to look forward to while reading the earlier editions.

Enriching the Sandman's world
I'm a late-comer to the Sandman, and I don't read the collections in proper narrative order. "Brief Lives" is among the first of the Sandman books I've read, and it gives me a much better appreciation of the mythology behind this series.

The artwork is what usually attracts me first. This volume's artwork carries the story in a very capable way. It's consistent enough for continuity but varied enough to express the dreaminess that pervades the series. I like the art in this volume, but it's the story that dominates.

How does an immortal quit his job? I won't tell, but it's hard on the mortals who become involved - those are the "brief lives." This book also makes an interesting point: an infinite life may have a definite beginning, then go on eternally. Likewise, an infinite life with an infinite past may have a definite end.

I'm not sure what to make of a main character in this book, Delirium. Her former role (not depicted here) was Desire. That clue helps me distinguish Delirium from madness, and Despair has clearly different character. Perhaps, as I work my way through the series, I'll learn more. For now, I'll just enjoy the character's ambiguity. This title certainly gives me reason to read the rest of the seies.

Gaiman raises the bar yet again
A rather simple premise: for all her muddled state, Dream's younger sister, Delirium, demonstrates a surprising amount of constancy in determining to find her errant brother, Destruction. Although Dream had agreed to help her find Destruction (after Delirium has been rejected by two of her other siblings, Desire and Despair), he initially lacks much of Delirium's resolve. The narrative that ensues takes a surprising amount of twists and turns before it settles on an ending in tune with the tenor of the book.

Not surprisingly, this collection is generally esteemed as the best of all the Sandman books: not only are the central characters (Delirium, Destruction- who is possibly the most likeable and paradoxical of the Endless) exceptionally well constructed here, Gaiman reaches a high point in his abilities as a storyteller where each of the stories fit perfectly well within the book as a whole. Without revealing too much, Gaiman resolves several important questions in this collection that had been previously lingering. There are no 'filler' pages or plotlines here: each of the stories contribute to the book's meditations on change (note Gaiman's pun on the various meanings of 'change' throughout) and death, including the frailty and brevity of life. While Gaiman's at his most philosophic and raises some particularly thought-provoking questions (is having all knowledge a burden; need we continue with our responsibilities once we realize our roles in life are replaceable?), never does he sacrifice the quality of the stories by soapboxing. Peter Straub's Afterword is well written and ably discusses the various themes of Brief Lives.

I'm not a big fan of Jill Thompson's artwork; I didn't like her sparse style in Fables and Reflections and I generally don't like it here, either. However, because there is only one artist in Brief Lives, there is a continuity that lacked in some of the previous Sandman titles that often had four or five artists. Thompson does have her moments, though: I enjoyed the change in inking style she employed in Chapter 5 when the events of the story shift to a strip club (yes, Gaiman's quirky imagination runs the full gamut).

One can see with Brief Lives that Gaiman is starting to wind the series up and this is rather bittersweet. While Gaiman is clearly reaching his zenith as a writer, one realizes that the ride that created the greatest graphic novel series ever will be over soon. Nonetheless, I'll take such mixed emotions anytime. Well done, Neil. ... Read more

Book Description

Following exciting new developments in the XMen universe, this revised edition of Ultimate XMen includes the best of the two feature films and the animated television series. Watch the evolution of the XMen superheroes from their conception in the 1960s to what they are today. Each chapter focuses on a different decade in XMen history, revealing new characters and their powers, the major stories and their settings. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Outstanding book for the money
This book is a must for anyone who ever read the X-men and saw the movie an wanted to learn more about the characters and history. True...it does have everything a die hard X-men ( Comic book) would want, but covers enough the story line and characters that it will not confuse the newer reader.

I'm sure the author and publisher struggled with the fact that they wanted a complete history of the X-men but also wanted the book to be affordable for the average consumer.

Yes, I fan of the X-men would pay $50-100 for a complete history, but would a young child? Would you Mom and Dad fork over $50 dollars when you were a kid for a comic book based book?

They also made the book very user friendly for people of all ages. The children in my life will be fasinated with the images in the book and its is my hope that this will prompt them to attempt to read the book.

I think they made a great comprise and created a Must have book for any X-men fan.

Not everything if you are a fan.
If you like nice big pictures without going to the full details of the x-men, this book is for you. If you are a long time fan, I would recommend get the previous edition, it still includes the annoying "behind the scenes" of the first movie (as if there were not enough DVD's with such feature) but includes more about the characters of the comics.. This updated edition includes just a few more pages but, some mutants don't appear or are not fully well described as in the previous edition, which you can still get here in Amazon. It's a nice book indeed, the cover and the quality of the paper and great illustrations, but they really need to get in touch with the fans to meet their needs. There is the need of a REAL X-men guide to all the characters, organized alphabetically prefferably.

Incompetence
I picked up the original edition of this book because the "updated" version isn't updated at all and actually contains less information. Anyway, it ended up not mattering since both versions are crap. Like others have mentioned, there are all sorts of problems with the poor layout and incorrect information in this book. In addition to that, most of the art is pretty bad, and there are tons of omissions that kinda defeat the purpose of an "Ultimate guide" (and are not corrected in the "updated" version). The book is slim. The Updated verion is only 8 pages longer (it's not 192 pages as listed here, it's 184 pages.) and those pages are dedicated to the new X-Men movie and lame stuff like X-Statix (which no one likes and doesn't sell, not that that matters to those geniuses at Marvel). To make things worse, each profile of X-Men characters featured in the movies contains a sidebar giving a history of the MOVIE version of that character! That's a complete waste of space and goes against the continuity of the X-Men mythos for a cheap commercial (when you can already buy books and endless DVDs with info on the movies). I can see the feature on the movies at the end of the book, but to interrupt profiles which were (way) too small to begin with for even more advertisements for the movie was too much and ruined this book. Another wasted opportunity, another failure for DK. You guys - and the current powers that be at Marvel - are utterly incompetent and clearly couldn't care any less about the fans. The best guide so far has been the Spider-Man one, which had major problems of its own, but stuck to the COMIC BOOK continuity, not a bunch of stuff about the movies.

great for the X-fans
There isn't a whole lot to say about this book. It's an 'encyclopedia' of the X-Men. It covers them and their history pretty well and also delves into some of the alternate X-Men. If you are an X-Fan, I'd definitely get this book, otherwise, go to something else.

Awesome Book on the History of X-Men
This book and the series gives good in depeth look at the X-Men and all its characters, friends, enemies, homes, and everything else. Anything you wanted to know of the X-Men. Hopefully they'll make more books like these. ... Read more

Book Description

As the Clone Wars continue to rock the Star Wars universe, the Republic's forces, led by the Jedi, find themselves drawn ever-deeper into Darth Sidious' evil web. With stories covering all aspects of the Clone Wars - from the trials of the revered Jedi Master Yoda, to the tribulations of the lowliest Clone Troopers fighting on the front lines, to the wicked machinations of the dreaded Count Dooku and General Grievous - these fast-paced tales feature a unique look into the world of Star Wars and at the events that shook the galaxy far, far away... ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Bargain Purchase, Thick Volume Of Classics In One Place
This series is a great buy for those who want to read classic stories but do not want to shell out the big bucks for Masterworks editions or originals. Each book offers about 20 issues of continuity in a single volume. This is a great book detailing the original X-Men, how they came to be, and their earliest encounters with some of their deadliest foes. The characters are developed nicely early on, especially the intellectual Beast and moody Cyclops. The Juggernaut, third Magneto, and Sentinal storylines are quite exciting, especially with the X-Men on the ropes. These stories are from a simpler time but they are a lot of fun. Hopefully, Marvel will continue this series and explore more of the original X-Men, and possibly the Frank Miller Daredevil run, the Simonson Thor series, and more Avengers.

Going back to the basics
Marvel gets lots of flak for the format of their Essential editions: I can agree with the mid-stream format change - just like the Masterworks, you have to start over if you want a uniform set. I can also agree with the flimsy paper, to a degree, as it tears easily during the binding process. The ink bleed results in ghost images on facing pages. And the lack of color leaves out some of the visual appeal. Yet, with all of this, I still LOVE this line, as it is hands-down the cheapest way to educate yourself on the Silver Age of Marvel Comics. I will gladly pay the low price for these 500-page books!

Anyway, on to the meat of this volume: Uncanny X-Men #1 - 24, by Lee, Kirby, Thomas, Gavin, et al. I guess most folks today prefer post-Giant-Size-X-Men, but whatever your preference, check out this book, as this is where it all began! These stories are from the early '60s, so of course the dialogue is cheesy; of course the characterizations are stereotyped; but by gum, you just can't get innovative stories like this anymore. Here we have the original X-Men, as kids no less, setting the stage for the uneasy coexistence of humanity and mutants. It's super-hero action combined with teen angst, and some little oddities that, to my knowledge, were not carried into later issues (Professor X loves teen-age Jean Grey? Eeeugh!). Featured villains include, in their first appearances, Magneto, the Blob, the Vanisher, Unus, the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Juggernaut, the Sentinels, Lucifer, Mimic, and the Stranger, plus a few others I won't mention. Plus, you get a great Kirbyesque cover by Bruce Timm (this guy should do all of the covers for Kirby's reprints).

The Marvel Essentials line is one of the best bargains in comics. Why not fill your shelves with them?

Graphic novels are great, but...
I love graphic novels as much as the next collector and have just about everything listed by Amazon. Not exactly everything, but a great percentage. This graphic novels should actually be rated and listed the same as regular novels, because the dynamics of their stories, not just the fantastic artwork, takes you away to places that novels, such as STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND, CHILDHOOD'S END, FOUNDATION, RINGWORLD, STAR TREK novels, DARKEYE: CYBER HUNTER and so forth, take you. All are extremely imaginative and have visually-gratifying narrative/dialogue not too far removed from graphic novels such as this or any other. Broaden your minds, but hang on to the graphic novels as well!

The First and Original X-MEN
I am a newcomer to the X-Men mythology, having discovered these unforgettable mutants through the Hugh Jackson films. The films incorporate (and take many liberties with) the 25+ years of the X-Men which has made reading the comics a vastly different (but enjoyable) experience. Here follows a summary of what to expect in volume 1 of THE UNCANNY X-MEN. (Possible spoilers.)

Our superheroes and their lives and powers are varied:

~Robert (Bobby) Drake, Iceman. The youngest member of the group with a sense of humor that compliments that of Hank McCoy's.

~Hank McCoy, Beast. The most intellectual, humorous, and athletic.

~Warren Worthington III, Angel. Wealthy, charismatic, and in love with Jean Grey. He is the one with wings.

~Scott Summers, Cyclops. The most tragic (because of the intense power of his eyes) and the most respected (the deputy leader of the X-Men) and in love with Jean.

~Jean Grey, Marvel Girl. Telekinetic (also telepathic, but that is not revealed in this volume), the only female member, and forced to choose between Scott and Warren.

~Charles Xavier, Professor X. A wheelchair-bound mutant whose telepathic powers make him one of the most formidable and most powerful of all mutants. He not only founded the X-Men and leads them, but created the school Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (where mutants go to learn to control and refine their powers and abilities).

Volume 1 contains issues 1-24. The X-Men fight several of their memorable villians:

~Magneto (The X-Men's archenemy, enough said.)

~Brotherhood of Evil Mutants (Mastermind, Toad, and siblings Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver) who work for Magneto.

~Juggernaut

~the Sentinels

~Lucifer

~Mimic (who will later become an X-Man)

Other lesser villians include the Stranger, the Vanisher, the Blob, Unus, the Locust and the Submariner.

The X-MEN comics are excellent and thrilling reads, however, the series isn't without its faults (written in the 1960s, the sexism is quite obvious, even if it isn't offensive). However, after reading this, you'll be wanting more---much more.

The Essential series is published only in black and white. There is another series, Marvel Masterworks, which reprints the series in color.

Marvel has yet to publish a follow-up to volume 1 of the Essentials, which is sorely needed as one is left with many unresolved issues that begged to be answered (How do Jean-Scott-Warrren resolve the love triangle? What is Magneto planning next? Will the Locust be back? What happened to Unus and the Blob?)

Whether one is a newcomer to comics or a longtime reader, the X-MEN should not be missed out by anyone!

Good Find
I bought all of these to back track and read the previous things that had happened within the comic. This serves the purpose but was disapointed that they were not in color. ... Read more

Book Description

In the conclusion to the Marvel Knights Spider-Man super-story, the identity of Aunt May's abductor is finally revealed. But is that the villain who really pulls the strings? Things heat up as Spidey and the Black Cat face off against the might of the Sinister Twelve. Holy cow, True Believers! Did we say twelve? Even with the tough-as-nails Black Cat by his side, how can the web-slinger possibly defeat twelve of the most powerful super-villains on the planet? The roller-coaster ride that is Marvel Knights Spider-Man picks up speed, riding a corkscrew to its conclusion! Collects Marvel Knights Spider-Man #9-12. ... Read more

Book Description

More secrets of the world's deadliest mutant are exposed! Wolverine, Cyclops and the enigmatic Fantomex travel to the other side of the world and beyond in search of the keys to their pasts. However, what they find within the deadly Weapon Plus program may be more frightening than their worst nightmares. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Exciting!!
The second volume of Grant Morrisons X-men run cranks up the action and the drama. Morrisons storytelling skills are astounding, when Cassandra was coming back to destroy the Xmen i could feel the desperation and fear of the characters. Clever plot twists are around every corner. The only reason i gave the book 4 stars is due to the fluctuating quality of the art, sometimes its good and sometimes its bad. A good follow up to "E IS FOR EXTICTION". EP

New X-Men Vol.2 Hardcover Edition : Reprints Nos. 127-141!
Grant Morrison's New X-Men is constantly surprising me. It makes good twists in the stories. There's only one thing I don't like: the face of some characters changes too much from one number to another (check Wolverine or Emma Frost). There are diferent pencilers so there's nothing to do about it.

Note: Amazon said it includes the stories found in New X-Men book 3 (New worlds) & book 4 (Riot at Xavier's) and some behind the scenes (drawings). It also includes some stories from the book 5 (Assault on weapon plus) because it REPRINTS Nos. 127-141!

It doesn't include the New X-Men Anual 2002. New X-Men Vol.1 Hardcover edition does include the New X-Men Anual 2001

Don't get confused with the links to paperback edition. The paper cover is the same from the paperback edition of volume 3 (the one with wolverine and one claw)

I love the hardcover edition because if you need something to show in your bookshelf, you can remove the paper cover and you get a nice black book.

Unfocused.
The third installment of Grant Morrisons run on the Xmen slows down the pace slightly as it tries to expand on certain plotlines. Scott begins to have an affair with Emma, Xorn tries to help a confused mutant, a dangerous threat is unleashed in France, Fantomex is introduced (UGH) and Polaris tries to cope with her fathers (Magneto) legacy. The story is quite interesting, unfortunatly the art isn't up to snuff. The storyline where the Xmen are attacked in a subway in France is atrociously drawn, too much is going on and the hideous art made it very hard to understand what exactly is happening. I wouldn't reccommend it. EP

New X-men is great
This is the start of Grant Morrison's take on the X-men. This graphic novel reprints New X-men #114-126 and New X-men Annual 2001. This book follows the X-men Cyclops, Beast, Phoenix, Wolverine, and Emma Frost. Tey face off against Cassandra Nova, Professor X's evil twin, the U-men, and the Shi-ar Imperial Guard. This novel also introduces some new x-men (imagine that!) like Xorn and Beak. The only bad side to this book is that some of the art isn't as great as I'd like. Some art is great, like Frank Quitely but others aren't. Well I hope this helped make your decission about this novel.

level of quality still tops
Grant Morrison has bred new life into the X-Men. The stories and characters are fleshed out, fresh, and kept interesting. I love what has been done here. The art is still as good as in the previous volumes. ... Read more

Book Description

In hiding for generations, the evil Sith have waited for the precise moment to reveal themselves and take vengeance upon the Jedi Order. But in the final days before the Trade Federation blockade of the planet Naboo sets into motion the Sith plan for the overthrow of the Republic, the scheming Sith Lord Darth Sidious becomes concerned about the potential interference by the criminal syndicate Black Sun, a vast and powerful organization feared throughout the galaxy. Sidious cannot allow anything or anyone to hinder his purpose, and so he unleashes his merciless apprentice, the death-dealing destroyer, Darth Maul, to eradicate his adversaries -- as only a master of the dark side can! Star Wars: Darth Maul is the first-ever graphic-novel adventure of the ultimate Sith enforcer, an explosive tale of intrigue, mystery, and blistering action. Collecting the action-packed four-issue comic series. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

"Wipe them out...all of them" (3.5 stars)
'Darth Maul,' just to set the record straight, takes place several months before Michael Reaves' novel 'Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter,' and shortly after James Luceno's eBook 'Darth Maul: Saboteur.' While this comic is extremely impressive visually and fun to look at, in terms of plot and story it's severely lacking. There is a minimum of dialogue; the focus is on Darth Maul's killing ability.

The plot is basic: Darth Sidious sends his apprentice Darth Maul on a mission to destroy the leadership and organization of vast, galaxy-spanning criminal syndicate Black Sun, in order to minimize the possibility of any interference with his plans. Darth Maul, of course, being one to never disappoint or fail his master, embarks on his quest in his new Sith Infiltrator full of the goodies we saw in Episode I.

Even more so than most of Jan Duursema's work, this is an extremely visually impressive comic. There are plenty of imposing images of Maul standing there looking impressive and frightening, and more fight scenes than in any other Star Wars comic I believe. We get to see Maul go on killfests against tons of beings, as well as one on one fights with several others, including a Dathomiri Nightsister (one of the kind we saw in 'Infinity's End,' not the breed from 'Courtship of Princess Leia'). Unfortunately, although this book is great fun the first few times around, it loses re-readability because there is no real plot, and very little expository dialogue. In addition, by the time the end comes around, the constant "Maul against many" fights are beginning to get quite boring and predictable. To be fair, there were a few interesting scenes about the Sithly nature of the Force and how it compares to other Force users such as Jedi and Nightsisters, and there's a cool scene involving a telepath, but other than that it's just a bloodbath. In addition, there are several tie-ins to the other Darth Maul products - we see Oolth, who will later show up in the Michael Reaves novel, and are introduced to Hath Monchar, who we see in both of the other Darth Maul books. However, there is also one extremely unnecessary scene in this book which really doesn't fit the mood and detracted from my reading pleasure - a couple of pages with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan that have nothing to do with the story. I don't see why they were thrown in there, but it wasn't at all helpful to the "plot."

Overall, this is a very well drawn comic with minimal plot. If you are a "Mauloholic," a Star Wars fan, or just like a good fight, this comic is for you, but if you don't read it, you're not really missing anything.

A Time To Kill
This Darth Maul Trade Paper Back is a must have for Darth Maul fans, but only if you are a Maul fan. If you are only somewhat interested in this character I do not recommend buying this TPB. The art is great and the story is action packed and answers some question that Episode 1 may have left you with. However, this book provides no real information about the Star Wars Universe or Darth Maul. So if your a Maul fan pick up this TPB for the cool art work and to see Maul kill an entire army by himself, but don't expect any big suprises.

Top-Notch
I couldn't possibly praise this book enough. I've read a lot of star wars graphic novels, and very few deliver the goods. Not so with "Darth Maul". Name something, and the book delivers. Character? Dead on. Plot? Not a slow moment. Art? Perfect.

In the world of star wars, there is a severe lack of character-driven material. Almost all the promising stories fall victim to this oversight. However, Marz gets the Maul character perfectly, the dialogue is kept to a minimum, and maul is painted as even more cold, calculating and deadly than we had any idea of. Most poor or disappointing comics rely on tired dialogue and action. Marz on the other hand, uses character, plot and visuals to drive the story, and the results are amazing. Also, the series had covers by the master himself, Drew Struzan. Most star wars books are lucky to have the poor-man's Struzan, Dave Dorman. But Maul astoundingly has managed to get the worlds greatest poster artists to paint all 4 covers.

This book successfully makes you realize how dangerous and powerful maul really was, and allows you to enjoy the end duel of The Phantom Meance much, much, more. Like just about everyone, I was disappointed by TPM - This book definitely helps. So chances are you should check it out.

This is a must-own for star wars fans. Marz stays true to the character and takes you on a wild ride.

Ice cream without flavour . . . a waste of potential
This Darth Maul comic lacks the great taste it could have been had the chefs behind the scenes bothered to add even some basic flavour. Or even a title, seeing how you have to say "Darth Maul comic" to avoid confusion to the central character itself. After all, this happens just before the Shadow Hunter novel, in turn, just before The Phantom Menace movie.

And the central character in this action ride he is. Semi-attired half the time lets you see Maul's full Sith tattoos, and if he bothered to speak a bit more you'd have to add more text bubbles near him. This is when Maul receives his Infiltrator ship and his droid probes. Essentially, this is a comic that is evenly balanced: what's outstanding is eroded by its deficiencies.

And the art by Jan Duursema is outstanding. This is a comic, not a book. Comics must be as visually impressive as can be. And Jan delivers the goods, and with her recent Star Wars material showing just how better her comics are improving'in conjunction with the colouring crew, of course!'Dark Horse has struck gold with this team.

Maul hacks, wacks and slashes his way through piles of bodyguards to eliminate the Black Sun crime chiefs, which is pretty much all the storyline has to offer. But it is the little touches that save this comic. Creative tidbits like the whiney Oolth, seen in the Shadow Hunter novel; brief cameos of Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan; informing the reader that Itotchi aliens, like the Jedi Master Saesee Tiin, are actually telepathic; a monocle-wearing Dug; charismatic Black Sun leader; and a wide range of aliens.

But with the choice parts of the meal eaten, the sour portions are plenty. There really is little reason for Maul not to talk. He doesn't have to make witty or sarcastic comments; he could have thought bubbles. This is one Sith whose single-minded dedication dispenses with speech unless needed, which just brings down the comic. And after such lightsaber bloodshed, you understand why Maully chooses to kill his principle target bare handed.

The opening pages are just corny and clichéd: Maul vs duelling droids. Sound familiar? Like his opening in the Shadow Hunter book? What could have saved this was a more satisfying ending. The confrontation with the Nightsister guard was faster than lightspeed. At least give readers more of a fight. Yes, he's a powerful Sith warrior, and he'll win, but make him work for it a bit!

Overall, this comic has fantastic art but too many burps to digest well. Good for a light read, but not to be taken seriously. The discrepancies within are the sort that are easily fixed, but just weren't bothered with. There are better meals out there, but this'll suffice as an entrée.

Few words, lots of action and great art work.
Few words, lots of action and great art work. The is a story set shortly before Episode 1. I place it at 33 years before NH. Darth Sidious sends Maul to decapitate the leadership of Black Sun. And so that there is no one left to reveal that the sith has returned, he must wipe them out, all of them. Yes the story is short on words, but the story is pretty good for darkhorse.

It defineately passes with my ADHD son, who sat through two seasons of reading for me to go through the whole book. Sometimes, a comic does not hold his interest enough and it can take 4 or 5 sessions to do a 4 comic, 96 page TPB like this one. What that means is that the action was up to snuff for my son.

The art work here is of the new processes employed by darkhorse. One BIG complaint. I have never had a Darkhorse TPB comic just fall apart. This one did and I was careful. Check the spines and glue jobs before buying, if you can. The story gets a 3 and the art a 4, for an average of 3.5. Since it fell apart, I'm rounding down to a 3.

Does this comic add anything to our understanding of the SW galaxy? Not really. The story reinforces my thoughts about Maul, but adds no new insights.

This is a recommended addition to your collection. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The song sung for the last time?
This TPB reprints Uncanny X-Men #294-296, X-Force #84-86, X-Men #14-16 and X-Factor #16-18.

Cable has been framed into the assasination of Professor Charles Xavier. But nobody knows this except Cable himself. So the X-Men, X-Force and New Mutants suspect each other as they try to find Cable. And the biggest of foes join in. This is also the prologue of the release of the deadly Legacy Virus from Stryfe, which will kill some great characters on later issues of X-Men.

The story is very long, but good enough. The art is okay and differs in style from book to book. But it's nothing bad at all. And at least the characters are drawn well, opposed to some more recent issues that put the characters to shame.

A lot of the X-members feature in this arc, but it's mainly more a Cable story.

a fair story but only for x-men fans
there is a lot going on and not muh is explained, we get some good fights and nice moments but little else.

it has it's place in x-men history to be sure and if you are an x-men fan then this may be imporant since it deals with the summers family, but if your just looking for a book that you can pick up and read with not much knwoledge of the x-men.. then this is not it.

and the art goes from great to really bad, this was a crossover that went into many x-books with many different artists and the change between chapters (issues) can be striking.

Possibly one of the finest....
this book is possibly one of the finest marvel comics books ever written. If you are an X-men fan you will enjoy it through and through. You form attactments to the character. it is well written. thoroughly enjoyable.

very good
this was a very good story, & well-done crossover. it had a lot of things going on at the same time, but it wasn't hard to follow. this is a must-read

GREAT BOOK
Strfye puts a nice developed plan pitting the Xteams against one another. Great book! ... Read more

Book Description

This deluxe hardcover collects Ultimate X-Men Volume 7: Blockbuster and Ultimate X-Men Volume 8: New Mutants, plus a hefty helping of DVD-style extras. In Blockbuster, Wolverine returns to New York after a short time away from the X-Men - with a strange strike force armed with sophisticated military technology on his tail. To survive, he's forced to rely on the Big Apple's own Spider-Man and Daredevil - not to mention a little help from his fellow X-Men! In New Mutants, the President of the United States decides in the face of growing racism and paranoia between man and mutant that Professor X - with his mysterious psychic powers and shrouded background - might be the bigger problem. The President's solution: get the U.S. Government involved in the mutant-training business. With the help of Emma Frost, the President handpicks a class of "New Mutants" to serve his political agenda - including Dazzler, Karma, Havok, and Polaris. But who is this mysterious Emma Frost and what is her connection to Xavier? ... Read more

Book Description

Mike Mignola's story notes accompany the long out-of-print stories, giving insight into their creation and inspiration. Some consider Mignola's short stories better than the full-length novels, and this collection makes a strong argument for that, especially with Mignola's masterpiece, "The Corpse." ... Read more

Reviews (8)

best short stories in comics
I recently decided to review a couple of the graphic novels that I thought were the best I had read. This one popped into my head and was one of the handful that made the short list.

Mike Mignola's character, Hellboy, is a devil who works for the BPRD, an X-Files type organization dedicated to protecting the world from the paranormal. For his stories, Mignola draws deeply on mythology, the occult and folklore from around the world. Some characters are familiar, like the villain Rasputin or the mythological Baba Yaga. I had as much fun reading about the underlying myths as I did reading the actual stories.

If you have not read any Hellboy before, you may want to start with the first collection, Seed of Destruction. That being said, you really can't go wrong with this one. I think Mignola's real strength lies in his shorter stories, rather than the 4 or 5 issue ones. Here we have some of his best shorter work and I will say a bit about my two favorites. "The Iron Shoes" is a funny little story about a goblin that lives in a tower and attacks passers-by with his iron boots. Hellboy steps in to investigate. Not a long story and not much dialogue but I like its simplicity. "Almost Colossus" is another gem and tells the second part of the origin of one of Hellboy's partners at the BPRD. Great story from Norse Myths coupled with eye-popping art makes this one a winner. The remainder of the stories are equally good; these are just my personal preferences.

This collection of stories should not be missed by anyone who enjoys comics. Mignola's art is great to look at, somewhat stylized and uses heavy shadows and blacks. His dialogue is great too. Hellboy's dry, witty lines fit him like a glove. Overall a must read.

Absolutly stunning!
The art is wonderful. The coloring is stunning. The stories are highly entertaining. There is no reason for me to go on because the preceding reviews say it best - "Hellboy" is fabulous entertainment. If you have any interest in Graphic Novels or the comic medium then "Hellboy" needs to be on your bookshelf.

"What do little babies like? I know. Iron!"
"Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others" is my favorite Hellboy compilation. As shown by HP Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe, the short story works well for horror. This book is a collection of Hellboy short stories.

Each story has roots in traditional fairy mythology combined with Lovecraftian overtones and just a splash of Nazi occultism. Magnolia has given his character Hellboy a very dry sense of humor, which works well in contrast to the talking corpses and various devils. The art is some of the finest seen in comics.

"The Corpse" and "The Iron Shoes" is a short fairy stories. Clever and fun with a nice nod to Celtic mythology.
"Christmas Underground" highlights Magnolia's wit.
"The Chained Coffin" is one of the best in the collection, showing the folly of loving the devil. It has some of the best dialog. "God? Was not I God in ancient Babylon?"
"The Baba Yaga" Always nice to see this ancient evil. Only available in this collection.
"Wolves of Saint August" is a werewolf tale, with a twist. Very good.
"Almost Colossus" adds a new member to the Hellboy cast.

I would say, if you are curious about Hellboy, this is the collection to start with. Every one a gem.

Filling in the Gaps
First, I have to begin this by saying that I am a bit bias when it comes to Mike Mignola. I do enjoy his Hellboy work, and recommend it to anyone who likes Lovecraftian influences meshed with Nazi conspiracies and other, even more bizarre, tidbits of folklore.
With The Chained Coffin and Others, I had read the reviews here and had noticed the gaps left in the questioning mind. For instance, I couldn't find a complete listing of what was compiled here, nor did the reviews truly state how good some of the stories, especially the Baba Yaga only printed here, actually were. So, here's a brief listing of the stories a few notes:
1) The Corpse: A baby goes missing and a deal has to be struck to return it. And how hard is it to bury a corpse anyway?
2) The Iron Shoes: This seemed more like filler, actually, but is still not all that bad.
3) The Baba Yaga: I like this story a lot, and had to have it. Unfortunately, it was only available in this TPB. If you read Wake the Devil, you'll want this side story, because references made are gaps to be filled in order to complete the entire Hellboy picture.
4) Christmas Underground: Spirits looming, a castle under siege by some strange curse, and Hellboy Claus? Besides being creepy, it also provides a little laughter.
5) The Chained Coffin: A true gem, presenting the origins of Hellboy (not to be confused with "how Hellboy arrive on Earth") in a most interesting format. Even people who have the original presentation of this should check it out, because the first page has been revamped a bit. Beautiful.
6) Wolves of Saint August: All the pieces of this tale needed to be collected somewhere, so I'm happy for this. As the name implies, something Lupine plagues a town and Hellboy has to investigate. The backgrounding to this story is nice, in addition to the normal Mignola features.
7) Almost Colossus: Another needed piece if you want to understand the inner workings of the BPRD. Here, an addition is made to the cast, and "he" almost ends to life of two field agents right from the get-go. It is referenced to a lot, and is definitely worth checking out.
Anyway, like I said, I am biased. Still, if you like Hellboy, even a little, this is a nice collection that is extremely inclusive. The only problem is finding a copy of it.

Spooky
Buy this book if only for THE CORPS and THE WOLVES OF SAINT AUGUST.

THE CORPSE is just downright spooky, which isn't an easy thing to pull off in a comic book.

THE WOLVES OF SAINT AUGUST are the coolest looking werewolves you've ever seen.

All the stories are great. Hellboy should be read by everyone, particularly fans of the supernatural. If you've never read Hellboy, check out the first graphic book (compilation) entitled SEED OF DESTRUCTION. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Last Morrison New Xmen
Planet X was a story about everything that could possibly go wrong, going wrong. It was the incredibly sad, morbid, and sometimes redundant feeling that old ghosts won't die and that the problems that follow you around may never really cease. It squashed out many old ideas that had been persisting in the x-books once and for all. Most importantly, it was about X-Men's hearts breaking. From Charles' "This isn't happening" to Scott's "why are there always people like you?", it was less about the opponent than the somber realization that hope is an illusion and that things never really change. It was a depressing way to end a long run on X-men. Here Comes Tomorrow, then, asks the next logical question: "How do you fix a broken heart?" The story takes place 150 years in the future and shows the repurcussions of Planet X's heartbreak, as well as revealing some of the less transparent aspects of Morrison's run on New X-Men, such as who really was supplying the mutant-power enhancing drug known as Kick, and what it really was that the X-Men had been fighting all these years. The story is slow paced and enigmatic at first, but the last few pages are some of the most surreal and beautiful to enter a Marvel Universe book. How do you fix a broken heart? Nurture it. Sometimes I think all of our decisions boil down to denials and affirmations. It's not what information we're presented with, but whether we deny or affirm it. New X-Men ends with one huge affirmation, a resounding, Joycian "yes."

Grant Morrison's stunning swan song to the X-Men
Collecting the final four issues of Grant Morrison's already legendary run on New X-Men, Here Comes Tomorrow brings everything that Morrison has set up over the past couple years to a close. Taking place 150 years after the events of Planet X, this storyarc finds Wolverine, E.V.A., a new Beak, Cassandra Nova, and a young human named Tom Skylark and his giant robot Sentinel named Rover battling over control of the Phoenix egg from the Beast. Everything meticulous detail of Morrison's run comes full circle here, and Here Comes Tomorrow is made all the more special by featuring art by the legendary Marc Silvestri who made a name for himself drawing Marvel's merry mutants. If you missed out on Morrison's run, go back to the beginning and read all seven volumes for proof alone that Grant Morrison is the best thing to happen to the X-Men since Chris Claremont. ... Read more

Book Description

Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is a seminal tale of the Star Wars mythos, unlocking some of the history and events that laid the foundation for the Rebel Alliance’s epic struggle against the Empire as chronicled in the original Star Wars film trilogy. Featuring familiar characters as never- seen-before and introducing new players destined to become Star Wars icons, Episode II is a must-see film, and this graphic novel is a must-read for all Star Wars enthusiasts. Adapted by Henry Gilroy from the original screenplay by George Lucas and Jonathan Hales, and illustrated by Jan Duursema and Ray Kryssing. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Graphic Novel of the Movie.
This is a graphic novel of the movie THE ATTACK OF THE CLONES. That pretty much sums everything up. However, being a graphic novel there are two major elements the book can be judged upon, art and story.

The art is very photorealistic and cinematic. There is a lot of detail and color. I must admit, I like the artistic style of the Marvel comics of the original trilogy much better than the photorealistic style of this book. However, for the style it is illustrated in, it is done quite well.

Story wise, the book stays pretty faithful to the movie. There are a few omissions from the film here, but there are also a few added scenes here that are not in the movie. A lot of the dialogue is taken directly from the film's script and though cheesy, reminds one of the language of the original trilogy.

This is something that most Star Wars fans will enjoy having and reading and works well as a memento to someone who hasn't seen ATTACK OF THE CLONES to perhaps get them excited enough to do so.

Excellently produced Star Wars comic
This comic is one of the best examples of the kind of work Darkhorse is now doing. I think that Jan Duursema is the A team penciler - artist they have. I like the fact that Jan draws in a near photo graphic way. It is very annoying to be reading a comic and you know what the characters look like, but you can't recognize them because of some creative license the artist took. I starting buying star wars comics because I could sit and read them with my small children. With one exception, star wars comics are always family friendly books. The artwork reinforcing the visual part of the story and I add creative license to help them enjoy the story. For that purpose, this comic works beautifully.

Clones Comic Clones Movie...almost
I realize that comic adapters have a lot of handicaps when doing comic books based on a movie that is not quite finished yet. And of course, the artists and writers do their best to catch the spirit, if not the letter, of a movie. This is hard to accomplish, yet Henry Gilroy and his crew manage to catch Episode II's spirit very well, if imperfectly. I subtracted one star for minor gripes here and there.....but otherwise, worth having in one's Star Wars library.

Similar to the movie, maybe too much
This comic book nowadays called graphic novels, is quite similar to the movie, maybe too much. While it leaves out key spoiler scenes it does recreate the feel and sequences of the movie quite well. The dialogs are of course adapted to the medium and the drawings are quite simple and straightforward, yet beautiful. One of the flaws of this graphic novel is that it does not add much to the plot or the pciture itself, while it could have been used to tell the unseen part of the movie, it just recreates it the most faithfully and accurately possible. I think it's more a souvenir or collectible than a real comic book. Worth getting if you collect SW stuff.

Superior to the Novelization of Episode One
I received the novelizations of Episode One and Two as gifts. I read Episode One, and was a little disappointed with the story telling and art. I was expecting more of the same for Episode Two, but was pleasantly surprised.

First off, the story telling is vastly superior. The action flows much more smoothly from panel to panel and makes much more sense. In addition, they have included written narrative in some panels to tell the reader where the action is taking place, or describe transitions that might not make sense otherwise. The lack of a good narrative really hurt the novelization of Episode One.

Second, the art is vastly superior to that in the novelization of Episode One. The climatic Jedi battle in the arena looks fantastic with large, nearly page consuming pictures in some cases. The action scenes look much better with more dynamic poses from the characters. Not to mention, the artists for Episode Two seem to do a better job at drawing facial expressions.

I'm guessing the novel was drawn before the final version of the film was complete. There are some minor scenes omitted (such as some events that occurred during the last third of the movie), and some action sequences that come off differently (a key light sabre duel comes to mind). However, the spirit of the film is still in the graphic novel.

Personally, I prefer R. A. Salvatore's novelization to the Graphic novel, but I tend to read more novels than comic books. I'd recommend this as a visual reference and supplement to the novelization or to any Star Wars fan or collector. ... Read more

Book Description

After reuniting with his childhood friend Eddie Brock, Peter Parker discovers a terrible secret about their fathers' past a secret which quickly results in a confrontation with Venom, Spider-Man's evil, dark twin. ... Read more

Reviews (5)