Reviews (5)

Horrific Goodness
The saga continues with this third volume in the collected works of Alan Moore's helming of the Swamp Thing comic series spanning issues 35 through 42. Although this middle arc is seemingly lacking in a grand storyline of sorts - important ground is covered with the Swamp Thing discovering new abilities (mainly his ability to abandon his physical body and re-generate a new one), introducing some new characters, espousing on social issues and oodles of horror mainstays (vampires, werewolves, zombies) doing battle with ol' Swampy himself. As far as contributing to the overall story arc this volume is somewhat lacking, but nonetheless makes for a very entertaining read all the way through.

The Elemental Awakens
In this third collection of Alan Moore's important and groundbreaking run on the Swamp Thing series, both character development and sheer gothic American horror become the keys. During this period (original issues #35-42), Swamp Thing learns that he is an elemental spirit in true communion with the plant kingdom. This would become monumentally important to the further development of the character. Moore was tackling both social issues and horror devices at this point, and he was delivering tremendous plotlines in all areas. There are werewolves, vampires, and zombies appearing in the series during this stretch, but this is not cheap slasher fare but strong and innovative literary horror writing. On the social commentary side, the first two installments here, "The Nukeface Papers Parts I and II" tackle chemical and nuclear dumping. Moore dives into women's issues quite believably in "The Curse" (an extreme rarity in comics even today), while "Southern Change" and "Strange Fruit" are very disturbing examinations of slavery and racism in the Deep South. This edition of the Swamp Thing series does not contain any written introductions, but there is a gallery of individual covers featuring the always amazing art of Stephen Bissette and John Totleben. For some reason only four of the eight relevant covers are included, and the withholding of cover art is an overall disappointment in this series of graphic novels. However, that is ultimately a minor concern as the incredible work of Moore, Bissette, Totleben, and their other important colleagues has the power to blow the minds of readers of any kind of fiction.

The Best of Swamp Thing
This collection reprints the best issues of Swamp Thing. For those not at all familier with the character, it is an excellently written and drawn comic about a good swamp monster battling evil (and is much better than that description makes it sound).

Notable in this third volume of the series, which reprints the beginning of the "American Gothic" story arc, is Moore's greater use of social critique, elevating these stories above mere entertaining, well-written horror stories. By combining fantastic horrors to such real-life horrors as racism and sexism, these stories are far more effective than any in the earlier collections at terrifying the reader.

In "American Gothic", Swamp Thing is sent scurrying to different parts of the U.S. by a manipulative figure (Jon Constantine) to battle all of the classic horror figures (vampires, werewolves, zombies, etc.), but each are handled in an absolutely brilliantly unique and new manner. For example, there is a whole town of vampires living underwater, completely shielded from the sun, in the process of, for the first time, living communally and cooperating to breed a second generation of vampires that are more powerful and horrific (the dedication of the vampires to family is contrasted by the dysfunctional families of the normal humans). The title story, "The Curse", is a unique Werewolf story, tying in the monthly transformation according to the phases of the moon to the menstrual cycle. The Curse was controversial due to its misinterpretation by illiterate readers as being a sexist comment on PMS when in reality it is an extremely feminist story condemning society for its male-driven fear and shunning of the feminine, and the subjugation of women into sexual objects or housewives.

The American Gothic story arc does not conclude in this issue (although the individual stories can be enjoyed on their own) so hopefully a volume 4 will follow.

By this point, Moore was also using word games in his text more frequently (read carefully) adding an extra level of enjoyment. This collection also contains the first appearance of Jon Constantine, and it is a period I miss. Here Constantine is a totally mysterious, manipulative character whose only real power is his mysteriously obtained knowledge and who always adds an element of dark humour (he is still a great character, but far less mysterious, and he now has magical skills, the extent of which appear to change from appearance to appearance).

This collection represents, if not Moore's best, then the best of Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing in Transition
Alan Moore, one of the legends of comics writers, made his mark on mainstream comics during his long run in the 1980s on the "Swamp Thing" title. His work on the title transformed it from a more-or-less straightforward superhero title into a mythic saga, unafraid to tackle adult topics and themes.

Originally, the Swamp Thing was a man killed in a lab accident in the Louisiana Swamps, somehow resurrected as a living plant, who battled the usual assortment of villains. Moore's Swamp Thing became a plant elemental, an aspect of a worldwide, Gaian web of plant life called The Green. Moore emphasized Swamp Thing's continued connection to humanity by giving him a human lover, Abigail, and a quest for self-knowledge that Joseph Campbell would have recognized instantly.

DC Comics is republishing Moore's work on Swamp Thing under their Vertigo imprint, as a series of collected graphic novels. This is the third in the series, and probably won't make much sense without having read the first two. It continues the changes in Swamp Thing's character and brings new complexity to the plot and themes of the Swamp Thing's story.

It says a great deal for Moore that even his minor characters can take on a life of their own. In one of the issues reprinted here, Moore and the artists created legendary Vertigo character John Constantine, as a mysterious young Englishman (revealed later as a magician, although that's not explicitly stated in this book) who travels the world, knows a great deal about the Swamp Thing, and is willing to share that knowledge for a price. Constantine proved so popular that DC Comics later made him the star of his own long-running comic book, called "Hellblazer."

Fans of "Hellblazer" will find Constantine's introduction most amusing in retrospect, both for his appearance and his attitude. As originally drawn, Constantine looks a great deal like Sting in the "Synchronicity" days, and his character lacks the blood-bought wisdom and ghosts of his failures that are the hallmark of the later series.

Constantine's appearance signals the start of one of Moore's longest and most mythic sagas, as a Lovecraftian evil arises to challenge all Creation. Only hints of the tale to come appear here, but the introduction itself is worth the price of admission.

If you've never read Moore's work before, start with "V For Vendetta" or "Watchmen," which are self-contained stories (and masterpieces.) If you know Moore's work, but not on the "Swamp Thing" title, start with "Saga of the Swamp Thing" and buy all three collected editions currently in print, including this one. These are classics, and worth the price.

Note: As of the time I wrote this review, Amazon.com listed Moore, Rick Veitch, and Ron Randall as "creators" of this book. Moore was sole writer of these comics when they were first published, but he worked with many artists, some of whom aren't properly credited here.

The birth of a legend
The third volume in the Alan Moore Swamp Thing collection, this one may not be the best, but it's certainly one of the more memorable. The stories are amazing, as can be expected, but the true star of this graphic novel isn't the creature in the Louisiana swamps, but a chain-smoking, trench coat-clad Brit with a sharp wit by the name of John Constantine.

Who would have thought that a simple request of a character who looked like Sting would have birthed perhaps the most important character of the entire Vertigo line of comics from DC? Probably no one. But there's certainly something magical about his scenes in this trade, which can't be denied from any "Hellblazer" or "Swamp Thing" fan. At the very least, it gives us wonderful stories with that kind of addictive pace that only makes us want to read more. Perhaps rummaging through the back issues at your local comic shop would be a good idea after this read, if you can't wait until the next volume to be published. ... 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

The pwerhouse creative team of Mark Millar and Terry Dodson bring you a hyper-realistic, action-packed look at Spider-Man - as you've never seen him before!A mysterious villain has discovered Spider-Man's secret identity... and is using the information to slowly destroy everything and everyone that Peter Parker cares about.But how far will Spider-Man go to protect the people he loves?Is he willing to cross a boundary we thought we'd never see him cross?Featuring Spider-Man's most fearsome foes and avenging allies! ... Read more

Book Description

Everybody knows the story of Spider-Man... but what if things had happened differently? What if it wasn't a New Yorker named Peter Parker, but an Indian teenager named Pavitr Prabhakar who was gifted with the abilities of the spider?Collects Spider-Man: India #1-4! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Just good story telling and good art
I've heard alot of criticism of Morrison's run on X-man. Having purchased and read TPB 1-7, I can safely say I'm glad I spend the time and the money. Morrison's more modern take on the X-men has been at time confusing but always fascinating. This is not a comic for people who don't want to think - Morrison's addresses alot of real life issues- drug addiction, infidelity, loneliness, betrayal, death and rebirth. Honestly, in the same way Chris Claremont addressed issues of racism in revolutionary run in X-men, so to does Morrison- in his own style and fashion.

And what can I say about the art- its gorgeous, really. I'm ready a couple of others TPB's at the moment and I'd pick the art in new X-men over anybody else I'm looking at. I'm a big story guy myself, with art being a secondary consideration in deciding what to read - however, the art really jumps out at you - I love the way Jiminez draws his characters- and I've enjoyed watching the characters evolve in his art (look no further then Esme- who goes from one of the generic Stepford Cukoos to a femme fatale of the highest order). You've simply got to check out Jiminez's art- its fantastic and his run on New X-men, like MOrrison's, has been of the highest quality.

For the record, this is NOT the book you want to pick up to sample Morrison's new X-men - one of the major surprises in the series is revealed in this issue and the surprise will literally be ruined if you know its coming- my suggestion is, start with book one (or at worst, start with book 4) and work your way forward. You'll be glad you did.

Next Up....
...oh. This again. The simple, yet awe-inspiring arrival of yet another MasterPiece, thanks to the very strange and talented mind of Grant Morrison, and several extremely well talented artists. This is the same man who has, over the past 20 years, crafted industry changing pieces of art such as Animal Man, Doom Patrol, & JLA, and the least of these is nothing less than a brilliant forray into why comic books should be taken more seriously by the general literary community as actual works of art, meant, more often than not by the writers and artists, to be taken seriously and with a point at hand. Planet X is the last story arc in Mr. Morrison's run on New X-men, at least, the last continuity based, within the regular bounderies of the Marvel Universe, story arc. In this five part tale, Mr. Xorn is revealed in a brilliant stroke of shock and storytelling as none other Magneto, the X-men's arch nemises.....and to the regular readers of this title, that's just the start of the revelations and strange ideas, come to frutition in this arc, and the following arc, 'Here Comes Tomorrow',....think of it, a man in an iron mask, decieving and slowly taking the Institute apart, one mutant at a time, one idea at a time, one allegiance at a time, for the better part of three years...all while staying within the confines of an already very well known and well established character's bounderies...This is apparently the ending that Mr. Morrison had had in mind for the entire duration of his run, which more than anything, comes off, upon secoundary reading, as one gigantic,majestically thought out, statues quo smashing, very adult themed three year story. The strings of continuity and plot point are hauled together in this arc, or at least, the beginnings of this massive 'finishing up' begins with this arc. Kick. The School Riots. The Phoenix. The Xavier/Magneto ideology theme and why neither will survive beyond a certain point in time. The Jean/Cyclops/White Queen story. Wolverine. The students and their drives, intentions, and the eventual culmination of why there had to be students, actual students, introduced to the Institute at all. The E-gene subplot.Cassandra Nova. John Sublime and his U-men. The disintegration of the Xavier Institute and its values, points, traditions,relationships and characters. Going over the entire run up to this point, i realize that Morrison has had a reason for every spoken word, every situation, every character that came up as he wrote the title for these past three years. I won't spoil anything else, but i will say this;...once you've read 'Here Comes Tomorrow', the story arc following this one, go back and reread the entire 43 issue run, all at once. I promise that it all will make much more sense this time around. This is without any doubt, one of the very BEST runs that this tile has ever seen. Think of Morrison's work on this title, by and large, as a tree All the plots and storylines representing the roots as they spread out and feed the tree. Now imagine these roots, singular, yet very important aspects of this tree, running their course towards their final climax and purpose...feeding the tree. Growing the tree. In the end, no matter how far these roots, these mouths, strayed from their epicenter, their Whole, they all draw back together, making for one hellova tale.......Planet X is the start of this Great Unification. Far more adult, these mutants have dared to become...by leagues, far meaningful and poinant, too.
Hawksmoor...From The Bleed.

It's all come to this
If you want proof that Grant Morrison is the best writer to pen X-Men since Chris Claremont, look no further than Planet X. Collecting the five part storyarc which drops the biggest bombshell in comics of 2003. Xorn; a mutant healer that has lived among the X-Men for months, is Magneto. When Magneto reveals himself while all of the X-Men are effectively neutralized, he cripples Professor X again, destroys the school, and completely decimates New York City christening it New Genosha; all the while the Phoenix force continues to grow in Jean Grey, all concluding with a shocking climax and epilogue that sets the stage for Morrison's final New X-Men storyarc: Here Comes Tomorrow. Planet X proves that Morrison is still a brilliant writer, and his new turns on characters we have known and loved continues to impress. The art by Phil Jimenez is nothing short of beautiful, with Magneto looking absolutely fearsome. It's a shame that Morrison's run on New X-Men is over, so hopefully Marvel will find another high caliber scribe to take on the merry mutants. All in all, this is the best X-Men read in years. ... Read more

Amazon.com

What Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben accomplished during their time on the comic book series Swamp Thing shouldn't be underestimated in the history of comics and, specifically, the history of horror comics. The modern comics landscape has been changed by the Vertigo line of books--an imprint that traces its roots back to this version of Swamp Thing. By taking a horror character fully entrenched in a superhero world (as silly as that might seem), this creative team put a new face on horror comics and on horror in general. Swamp Thing: Love and Death is the second collection of the team's work on the series, presented here in full color. Don't let the mediocre Swamp Thing movies fool you, this book is filled with sophisticated suspense and terror. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Worth it just for, 'The Rite of Spring'
Vol. 2 of Alan Moore and Steve Bissette's, 'Swamp Thing,' collaboration continues the 30 issue horror epic in excellent fashion. Readers are treated to 200+ pages of horrific goodness encompassing everything from the Swamp Thing's backstory, to his descent into a highly imaginative realization of Hell to a whimsical homage of Walt Kelly's, 'Pogo,' comic strips. As good as these bits are the absolute strength in Vol. 2 is found in its final chapter - "The Rite of Spring.' Published originally in 1985 as issue #34 of, 'The Swamp Thing,' this episode from start to finish deals with the physical/metaphysical consummation of love between the Swamp Thing and Abigail that will blow your mind. Forget all that you've heard that this episode is nothing but 'sex with a vegetable.' At its base, 'The Rite of Spring,' recreates the swooning emotions of love and passion in comic book form more effectively then 99.99% of every page of published prose out there on that matter. At its original time of publishing it was a watershed moment in comics history and reading that chapter some 20 years later it still retains every bit of its artistic strength.

Shush Your Cyanicisms
I can't take credit for the title of this review. That's a line uttered by the incongruously adorable guest character Pog in this volume of the Swamp Thing series. This is the second collection of the brilliant run by Alan Moore. This edition is a little bigger than the others in the series, as it contains seven original Swamp Thing issues (#28-34) but also the double-sized 1985 Annual issue. Due to the very high quality of the Swamp Thing series, especially in terms of art, the plotlines got a little jumbled during this period. As described in the very cool introduction by Neil Gaiman, regular artists Stephen Bissette and John Totleben were unable to complete all the intricate artwork for each issue on time, especially with the addition of the Annual. So "fill-in" stories had to be used to relieve the deadline pressure, and guest artists were utilized. Much credit goes to Shawn McManus for contributing two issues during this period, including the bizarre and whimsical "Pog," which is Moore's very unusual tribute to Walt Kelly's original swamp denizen Pogo. In this run of Swamp Thing installments we are still learning more about Swamp Thing's origins and abilities (as he is himself), and getting much closer to the Abby character, who is surely one of the most intriguing and bewitching women in comics history. Moore even brilliantly incorporates a reprint of Swamp Thing's first appearance in the House of Secrets series from back in 1972, deftly clearing up some kinks in the character's continuity. The most amazing story here appears as the last installment, "Rites of Spring" from issue #34, a tremendous poetic composition made all the more incredible by the art of Bissette and Totleben, in which Swampy and Abby find true earthly love. And impossible as it might be to believe, the series got even better after this.

Flawed Collection of an Excellent Story
First, let me just say that, along with its companion piece (Saga of the Swamp Thing), this is one of the best horror stories ever written in any medium and it's also a definitive work in the history of comics. Saga is the setup, and Love and Death is the payoff, so be sure to read the ond before the other. That said, a few minor issues need to be addressed - first, this is part of the patented Irritating Collection Scheme that DC does so well. This book does not contain an entire story; it has the end of the Saga of the Swamp Thing story and the beginning of American Gothic (which is very long and comprises the next two trades). Another bizarre choice (or perhaps a mistake) on DC's part is the fact that there is a page missing. That's right, in the middle of the chapter called "The Brimstone Ballet," Moore segues into a scene with the Monitor with the words, "No celestial force that watches over us..." For those of us that read Moore, this is an obvious transition, but the entire scene is inexplicably cut, which feels more than a little jarring. All this aside, this is one of the most beautifully illustrated, tightly plotted, and simply elegant stories in the medium. Buy it, but if you want it complete, you'll have to have the originals.

FAR OUT!!!!
A great storyline, beautiful art, surprise cameos. The section where the girl trips on Swamp Thing's "fruit" is strange and delightful. BUY IT!!!!

The title says it all
This book is some of the best story telling I've ever read...even for Alan Moore. The drawing is top notch too, having a very grim and bleak feel to it, that fits the comic horror genre perfectly. I'd say more, but I don't wanna spoil anything. I will say however, that all the loose ends from the last volume are delt with. If you liked the last book, you'll worship this one. Thanks again, Alan. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Very Cool
I'm more into manga but when I read about this a year ago in Newtype I was interested. I searched and searched for it but couldn't find it. I stumbled upon it again and had to buy it. Is great, the story moves along at a steady pace and the characters are fun and interesting. The writing is well scripted and has a few witty comments. The art is spiffy and I recommend it to anyone that was once and is a teenager.

Fantastic!
This great new series follows the story of six teenagers as they go from being normal kids to learning that their parents are more than they seem, and frankly, evil. One of the key elements that makes this story click is one word: fun. While maintaining a fairly serious tone, the story is full of humor and amusment. The whole books just has a freshness and sense of fun that really makes it not only work, but is good reading for people of all ages; similar to the appeal of "Ultimate Spider-Man" but even moreso because of the diversity of the cast.

Brian Vaughn continues to impress with his writing that also makes "Y: The Last Man" so good: great dialogue and characterization, humor, action, and an unpredictable plot full of twists and turns; his writing here is even better because it has more appeal than "Y's" mature, post apocalypse story.

Newcomer Adrian Alphona supplies very good artwork that really adds to the story and Brian Reber's colors are also great for conveying the vibrant characters as well as the dark settings.

With fantastic writing and good artwork, "Runaways" is one of the best new series of the year.
At such a good price, there is no reason why anyone should not miss this great new series.

The BEST trade I've read all year
I'm an avid comic book reader who's switched over to purchasing most books in collected trades in the last year, and I have to say this is the BEST trade I've read all year. It's such a fantastic premise, but reading how it all plays out is even better. The dialogue is the best I've read. It made me laugh out loud several times. The cast of teenagers is so fleshed out from the begining, and they're all so authentic and believable. I read a lot of great praise for this book on the web, but I was even more impressed with the book once I finally read it. It is definitely my favorite trade book this year, and I think I'm going to be forced to start buying it every month in single issues.

Excellent, fun book
This is not only one of the best books being published by Marvel, but one of the best reads in the comic industry, heck it's one of the best stories in the entire entertainment industry right now. Although it has great dialogue, characterization, and plotting, it is far from realistic--it's a SUPERHERO book; it's not supposed to be realistic. And it is about teenagers; it is not dark and serious like a lot of comics published today. But it is a ton of fun, from start to finish, if you want an entertaining read, you won't regret reading RUNAWAYS. So, realize what kind of an audience the book is trying to reach; if this does not sound like you, still buy it; it did not sound like a book for me, but I am now hooked. Help keep the series alive and buy it!

Action, comedy, and drama for all ages!
God, what else is there to say?

Alex Wilder, Nico Minoru, Gertrude Yorkes, Karolina Dean, Chase Stein, and Molly Hayes are all children of privelege. Unbeknownst to them however, this privelege comes from the fact that their parents are all members of a secret criminal organization called the Pride that has its hands in everything dirty to be had in LA. When they discover this, the kids must go on the run, discover the truth about their parents, and decide what to do with the new knowledge and abilities the journey grants them.

The kicker of this book is the wonderful storytelling and characterization. Brian Vaughan, writer of the acclaimed Y: The Last Man, turns in taut and suspenseful scripts; reading this story in single issues, I couldn't wait for the next chapter to come out. The ideas come at a fast pace, but the story is kept manageable by the great cast. Each of the kids is a unique, believable individual, and cliched like so many teens written by adults these days. Very few can pull of writing young characters in a way that will appeal to young readers, but Vaughan is one of them. Kids and adults alike will fall in love with these characters. If nothing else, there's a dinosaur.

So, in closing, buy this trade, and then rush down to your local comic store to seek out the following issues. 14 have been published to date; the first six are reprinted in this volume. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One of the best super team books of all time
This "re-launch" of the Justice League is one of the high points of any team book in comics history and is essential reading for any JLA fan. Giffen and DeMatteis took the book in an entirely new direction where they focused as much on the characters and their interaction with each other as action involving super villains and world threatening disasters. The petty bickering, insecurities, and borderline psychotic tendencies of Earth's mightiest heroes is highly enjoyable reading to comics fans who are often given only cardboard stereotypes in place of real characterization. DeMatteis mastery of facial expressions is a real plus, Justice League is still the only comic I have ever read where I have laughed out loud just for the look on a character's face in reaction to a situation or a line of dialogue. Giffen and DeMatteis also handle the typical superheroic derring-do very well, although always with a light touch. The "Grey Man" storyline collected here is one of the all time classic Justice League stories and touches on the tragic as effectively as the comic. Giffen and DeMatteis' Justice League is perhaps the best incarnation of the best team book in comic history, I couldn't recommend it more strongly.

BRILLIANT! NO OTHER WORD CAN DESCRIBE IT
This collection collects some of my favourite comics. Its a fresh take on what was starting to become tired and cliched. This is still my favourite version of the Justice League. These first issues introduce the humerous Justice League created by Kieth Giffen and JM DeMaties. The stories in this collection still have a somewhat serious tone when compared to the later stories but they are still hillarious. The first few issues of JL include an absolute classic showdown between Guy Garder and Batman (which was unfortunately written out of continuity by Zero Hour), Dr Fate the way he is supposed to be written and an excellent battle against the Grey Man, who was never written better. The lineup at the time also included Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Blue Beetle and Captain Marvel. Although never officially a leaguer, Maxwell Lord is also a classic character.

Excellent writing, great storytelling- made me a DC fan!
The combination of Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMattias were extrordinary. The stories kept you captivated, but the wisecracks, in-fighting, and verbal jabs were hilarious! Many times I'd be reading then burst out laughing because these guys had comic timing down cold. It's also great that they had artists that could work with them!

If these guys ever pair up again, buy it in a heartbeat!

Relaunch of JLA is entertaining though somewhat dated
This book compiles the first seven issues of the Justice League relaunch from 1987, following the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths which completely changed the DC Universe during the previous year. Successful at the time and noted for bringing humor and a dose of reality into the superhero realm, it still holds its entertainment value yet can't help but feel a little dated -- check out Black Canary's hairdo on the cover! One should note that Batman and Martian Manhunter are the only two of the traditional "Big 7" to appear in this version of the team, though Superman and the Hal Jordan Green Lantern make cameo appearances. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

"To me my X-Men"
After a series of convolted and plain old lame storylines (The Twelve, Operation: Zero Tolerance), Marvel finally had the good sense to get an acclaimed and truly gifted writer to take on everyone's favorite merry mutants. The great Grant Morrison, along with artist Frank Quitely began they're now classic run on X-Men (re-titled New X-Men) with E is for Extinction. Introducing us to Professor Xavier's evil twin sister Cassandra Nova and the mass genocide of the mutant populated island of Genosha was just the beginning of Morrison's brilliant run as the X-Men themselves are given a makeover. The spandex multi-colored suits are gone in place of practical black leather, and the attitude and tone of the book has become more adult as well. Many different themes are presented in this first collected volume: Cyclops and Jean Grey's marriage is under strain now more than ever, with Emma "White Queen" Frost in the middle of it. Beast grows more disenchanted, and Wolverine is at his berserker, claw popping best. We are also introduced to the mysterious mutant healer called Xorn; a character who would have a never even thought of impact before Morrison's run ended. Quitely's artwork is great and suits the book, no over muscled, cleavage busting (except for Emma that is) character models that were so apparent throughout various X-books during the 90's. All in all, if you were turned off by the X-Men a few years back after all the lame storylines, you should pick this book up and discover that Grant Morrison is the best writer to ever hit the X-Men since Chris Claremont.

The Atypical X-Men
Yeah this is the X-Men, there's no need to adjust the set. Yeah, they aren't wearing spandex, this is a good thing, believe me. Grant Morrison does the X-Men a good service and decides to take them in a surprising new direction. Gone are the overly complicated and boring stories of the last few years that leave dangling plot threads that get resolved years afterward.
So what do we get? A smaller, more manageable team, better characterzation (Emma Frost, written by Morrison is probably one of the most fun characters out there in comics), and then there's the actual story. E is for Extinction packs a good punch, especially the ending of the second issue (I'm not gonna give that away but it's a stunner of an ending). An X-Men story hasn't been this bold in ages.
I didn't use to like X-Men much, but now, it feels worth a look finally.
Oh and no matter what anyone says, the new costumes are better than the old. Would you rather wear skin tight spandex or something that can pass off as clothing?

A "NEW" beginning
E is for extinction is a good jump-on point for readers old and new. The X-universe is notorously complex but with a little patience it's a ride worth taking. Professor X has created a school were he helps young mutants learn to control their powers and abilities, unfortunatly mutantkind is curently under siege. Cassandra Nova, Professor X's evil twin sister, has aquired a dangerous new type of sentinel technology and is looking to destroy the mutant race. It's up to the X-men to stop her. The team consists of:1-Scott/Cyclops:Team Leader/resident hunk and husband to 2-Jean/Phoenix:The incredibly powerful girl next door and all around goody two shoes. 3-Emma/The White Queen:Conniving, ruthless, brilliant and beautiful. 4-Hank/Beast:The brilliant scientist that looks like a monster but has a heart of gold and 5-Logan/Wolverine:the other special man in Jeans a forbidden romance with the "wild and crazy overrated bad boy". The art in this first volume is pretty good, the storytelling is very good.Highly recommended. EP

I was very satisfied
Though I usually read hardcore sci-fi or cyberpunk books, such as "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Broken Angels", "Altered Carbon", "Childhood's End", "Neuromancer", "Cryptonomicon", "Cyber Hunter", and so forth, I still love graphic novels, especially when they are about such wonderfully rounded and believable characters, which have lasted for decades, as the X-Men. Highly recommended.

well done
This is a really well done book. I've been away from the comics for some time now, so I'm not sure what's been going on, but it is easy to pick this volume up and be back into it just that easy. They have a great new look and I love the uniforms. It's all very well written and the art is great as well. They keep you interested in the story. ... Read more

Book Description

The world's deadliest mutant Wolverine embarks on a dangerous mission of revenge, seeking justice for a young neighbor who was murdered in her sleep.Logan must use all of his lethal skills to take on a mysterious organization hell-bent on keeping its dark secrets hidden from the world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A great read!!!
Wolverine, as the editorial review previously stated, is the best X-Man. This graphic novel portrays him very well and is very accurate to his character. Old fans and new fans will see everything they love about Wolverine if they pick up this book. We see softy Logan, the animal Logan, and the deep Logan over the course of this book. The story of revenge and the animal within is really faithful to the over-all story of Wolverine that we follow each month when we buy his comic. This is a must-have for Wolverine fans. The only thing better than this is the Wolverine Saga.

Babe and berserker, not that there's anything wrong w/ that.
As a fan of Greg Rucka's novels and comics, I've come to expect a few things: lean, punchy writing; attention to operational detail in depicting assorted spies, assassins, bodyguards, etc.; and women. In most of the books I can think of, Rucka prominently features, not just females, but larger-than-life Amazons who are often tougher than their male counterparts. Wolverine:The Brotherhood is no exception, giving the reader a rootin'-tootin', suspect-slappin', stereotype-bustin' female ATF agent who could probably eat nails and crap tacks. While this obsessive commitment to feminist ideals could be off-putting to some readers, it's a small price to pay for the quality stories Rucka consistently spins. He skillfully references aspects of Wolverine's character, such as his military/intelligence background and animalistic tendencies, weaving them into the story with a commendable lack of clunky exposition. Rucka crafts an oppressively gritty setting, filled with the kind of twisted villains a character like Wolverine was born to fight.
Someone once said that art could be defined as the selective interpretation of reality according to the artist's values. Judging from his characters, it seems that Rucka has a fairly large sexual axe to grind. Taken individually, his characters are quirky and engaging. However, after the third or fourth story, a pattern becomes apparent, and I begin to feel like what I'm reading is a well-disguised sermon or morality tale.
As good as Wolverine: The Brotherhood is, I find myself looking fondly back on the writing of Chris Claremont. In his classic and definitive X-men run, he introduced me at a very early age to strong female characters, such as Storm and Callisto. Without a whiff of preachiness, he made them both likable and believable. Their actions and attitudes arose naturally from character and situation, and never seemed to be part of some program on Claremont's part. ... Read more

Book Description

In celebration of its 65th anniversary, the House of Ideas proudly presents a timeless testament to a true Marvel visionary!Comics' premier storyteller for more than 40 years, Jack "King" Kirby brought new vitality and imagination to the medium, and set the standard for every artist to follow.This deluxe keepsake edition collects some of the most monumental moments, created in concert with the likes of legendary writers such as Joe Simon and Stan Lee - some never before reprinted: "Mercury in the 20th Century," RED RAVEN COMICS #1, Kirby's first work for Marvel; "The Vision," MARVEL MYSTERY COMICS #13, Kirby's first regular Marvel series; "Meet Captain America," CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS #1, the first Captain America story; "UFO the Lightning Man," YELLOW CLAW #3, from a strip Kirby wrote and drew during the '50s; "I Defied Pildorr, the Plunderer from Outer Space!," STRANGE TALES #94, from the moster era; the first time Joe Sinnott inked the King; "I Am the Amazing Dr. Droom!," AMAZING ADVENTURES #1, the origin of Stan and Jack's first super-heroic character of the '60s; "Beware the RawhideKid!," RAWHIDE KID #17, the first revamped Rawhide Kid story and the beginnings of the Marvel style;Plus: "The Origin of the Hulk," HULK #3; "Spidey Tackles the Torch," AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #8; "Captain America Joins the Avengers!," AVENGERS #4; "The Fangs of the Fox,"SGT. FURY #6; "The Coming of Galactus," FANTASTIC FOUR #48-50; "This Man. This Monster," FANTASTIC FOUR #51; "The People Breeders," THOR #134-135; "To Become an Immortal," THOR #136; "This Is A Plot?," FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #5; "The Inhumans!" AMAZING ADVENTURES v.2 #1-2' "America Will Die!," CAPTAIN AMERICA #200; "The Fourth Host," ETERNALS #7 and "What If the Original Marvel Bullpen Was the Fantastic Four?," WHAT IF #11. ... 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

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