Book Description

The return of the Canadian super team Alpha Flight... but do they return as friends or foes? The hunt for the mysterious religious sect known as the Church of Humanity concludes, but what secrets will they have in store for one of the X-Men? Plus: A wedding between two of the X-Men's longtime members! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Beware, true X-men fans!
The character of Sammy is one of the highlights of this story arc, but any REAL X-men fan should RUN! QUICKLY! at any sign of the name Chuck Austen on an X-men comic... See other reviews for additional details, I can't bear the memory of having paid money for this...

Uneven art, Poor Story
Since Austen's run on the book started, it has gotten steadily worse, so it shouldn't be a surprise that this, the third collection gets a one-star rating. The artists are Ron Garney, who's capable of some good work, but is not at all at his best here, and Philip Tan, who might be good with more practice. As usual, the plots are contrived, the characterization randomly changes to fit these plots and the dialogue is some of the worst I've read.

There Are Several Storylines in this Book
Their titles in the original issues were "Rules of Engagement" [421-422], "Holy War" [423-424], "Sacred Vows" [425-426], and "The Dead Have No Rights" [427]. The Lorna-Alex-Annie triangle takes up more of the book than anything else, so I guess "Holy War" made the title because its issues were the only ones with Wolverine on the cover. It certainly isn't the best story.

My preference is for the ongoing reformation of the Juggernaut subplot [see UNCANNY X-MEN: HOPE and UXM: DOMINANT SPECIES]. Cain Marko takes a big step in the opening story. I know from early back issues that Professor Xavier has long wished that he and his stepbrother could truly be brothers. Their scene together has a really nice ending. I'm happy for both of them.

Alpha Flight was at a disadvantage in their fight with the X-Men. I think on some level they figured out that their deal with the Governor of New York wasn't as clean as they thought. (The Governor wants to use the riot [see NEW X-MEN: RIOT AT XAVIER'S] to shut down the school.) Unfortunately for Alpha Flight and the cops, the Juggernaut is an extremely loyal friend -- and he considers some of the people at Xavier's to be his friends. (Can you say, I sure hope Prof. X has his checkbook handy? I thought you could.)

Speaking of Prof. X, Sage has suggested that Xavier, Jean, and Emma are too powerful to be trusted [see X-TREME X-MEN: SCHISM]. Perhaps that's why Prof. X doesn't use his telepathy at all during this crisis. Instead, he spends most of it on the phone with his lawyer. (At one point, the tone of X's politely understated request to Mr. White reminded me of CPT Kirk's famous suggestion when he's about to be sucked into the Doomsday Machine.)

Because I'm Catholic, I expected to be deeply offended by "Holy War". I found myself laughing instead. Besides the "The Rapture" error, Mr. Austen has Catholic characters quoting from THE NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION BIBLE, which is Protestant. The Church of Humanity's discarded plan, which involved Nightcrawler, demonstrates no understanding of how our Pope gets elected. (Not to mention that it would have been more likely that people would have recognized Nightcrawler and wondered what the X-Men were doing than to have had the effect the C of H wanted). The facts that Mr. Austen needed are readily available on the Internet, so there's no excuse for his lack of research.
Not even the aftermath of a sickening attack on the school at "Holy War's" beginning can save it from being the stupidest story in the book.

The runnerup for that title is "Sacred Vows". Even though there's no indication that Cyclops told Prof. X about the way Lorna was acting in "Holy War", her behavior in NEW X-MEN: NEW WORLDS and UNCANNY X-MEN: DOMINANT SPECIES should have made Xavier suspect that Lorna might need therapy before getting married. Alex's spectacularly bad timing didn't help.

Except for the very unsubtle last panel, "The Dead Have No Rights" is a pretty good story. Jubilee has to deal with a bigoted cemetery manager while Husk guards their late mutant friend's grave. I'm assuming that the bigot believes that bodies must remain intact for the Resurrection of the Dead at the Second Coming of Christ. Otherwise, his refusal to wait to see if Xavier will pay doesn't make sense. Archangel gets to do a noble deed that I don't think was very wise, considering the way his power works.

Other bits of this book that I also liked were Lorna's wedding plans phone call with her mom, a joke about Kurt's tail, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, Cain and young Sammy's disagreement over who's the best-looking lady at Xavier's, Alex's kindness to Cain and Cain's repayment, Cain's reaction when Chamber and Husk have an argument while Husk is trying to unbury the big guy, and Cain's gentleness with Carter and Sammy. Some fans might enjoy Stacy X's farewell video to Warren.

I'd recommend buying this book for the Juggernaut reformation subplot. If you enjoy reading jaw-droppingly stupid stories that you have to wonder how they ever got past an editor, you might want to buy it for "Holy War". I'm a little surprised that Marvel allowed those issues to be reprinted without adding a page apologizing for that story's errors of fact as well as the implicit assumption that we Catholics are blithering idiots.

Austen's writing is offensively bad
In this storyline, we not only see Austen's inability to write convincing dialogue or understand a character's personality (especially Havok and Nightcrawler), but also his incredible anti-Catholic bias and his complete refusal to do even the most basic research. In this story, Nightcrawler essentially loses his Catholic faith and ends up in the "messy middle," with a vague belief in something good out there that kind of hopes we'll be nice. Meanwhile, a villainess gets her driving motivation from having formerly been a nun who was raped by a priest, then forced to get an abortion. Add in references to the Crusades and the Inquisition, and we're right in the middle of a huge anti-Catholic rant.

The story hinges on a fringe group's desire to take advantage of the Catholic dogma relating to the rapture. Surprise! To the Catholic Church, all forms of millenarianism (such as the rapture) are not dogma, but heresy! Pretty big plot hole. Keep this one in the warehouses, where it belongs.

not bad, but definately not the best
I agree that the whole plot with Lorna was a bit over the top and kinda shallow. Plus Nightcrawler, my fav character btw, is shown as kinda a whimp, which is absolutely not his character. The only good plot i can say is the one with Sammy. He's a really cool and interesting addition. It's worth a read bc it leads up to the current story line "Draco", which has been pretty good so far, along with some excellent artistry. So go to borders and read the book, then start collecting the current issues. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An Excellent Compendum
This Masterworks edition features The original X-Men series (later titled 'The Uncanny X-Men' numbers 22-31. For $35, it is definately a great buy. Although Stan Lee ends his run as writer with issue 22 (taken over by Roy Thomas), the stories remain great and Jack Kirby's artwork is impressive, even for 30 years ago.

Unlike the Essential X-Men series, these Masterwork editions are in full color with glossy covers. If you're looking to elarn the histroy of the X-Men or are new to the series and can'ty afford spending the money to buy all the old issues, this is the place to start. I definately recommend getting the first three Masterwork editions and then following up with the Clarement "Essential" books later to learn all the important storylines. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Batman Saved
Believe the 5 star reviews, this is an incredible book. The artwork is some of the best. So many comics have expressionistic style drawings, this one is drawn the way, as Joe Queseda says in his introduction, that makes a comic a collectible. The story is very good; Azrael is an interesting character, and this helps set the rest of the story. I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone.

One of Denny O'Neil's Finest
THE SWORD OF AZRAEL really plays out more as an unintended prequel to the events of Batman's KNIGHTFALL, and it's a far superior work of art. Jean-Paul Valley is troubled by his inability to master the control over his superhero impulses to become an avenging angel, until Bruce Wayne enters his life. This four-issue collected trade paperback is a must for any serious fan of the Bat, and, even today, stands as an example of one of the best works of Batfiction available. (As well, there was a BBC adaptation of KNIGHTFALL that covered some of the events of AZRAEL that's absolutely breathtaking!)

Not great
This book features the first appearance of Azrael, who later went on to be Batman for about a year. The story is slow and unintriguing, and Batman is way too slow-witted just to build up Azrael.

Batman at his best.
This is an excellent mini-series that intoduced Bruce Wayne's would-be successor to the mantle of the Bat. I have always loved Denny O'Neill's take on the exploits of the Batman family and the characters he has introduced in these pages are extremely well considered. This is a tale of a globe hopping adventuring Batman that very much brings to mind O'Neill and Neal Adams Ra's Al Ghul epics. The Azrael character and the order of St Dumas are also very interesting and mysterious. Some of the best Batman stuff of the last decade, and I didn't even mention the art which is breathtaking.

Actually, a full mini-series of comics in one
Batman: Sword of Azrael was originally a four-part mini-series. Somehow I ended up with two copies of part four, but zero copies of one through three. This book was an easy way to get the rest of the comics, much less expensively than buying three back orders. ... Read more

Book Description

During her time as part of the X-Men, the woman known as Rogue has been many things: fighter, friend, soldier, lover...and now, daughter. When an X-Men mission brings Rogue back to her childhood home in Mississippi, she comes face to face with the demons in her past...and a terrible secret that has haunted her family since her birth! Only available in North America. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

A Truimph of the Human spirit! A magnificent read!
Printed in an oversized format, Peace on Earth is an awe-inspiring look at how Superman attempts to thwart world hunger. Alex Ross' breathtaking art is unbelievable. His paintings escpecially those of the U.S. Congress are exalting. The writing is an illustrious and creative account of how Superman expericenes opposition to his attempts in stopping starvation. Overall the book is a compliment to the human spirit, and an agonizing glance at world hunger. This graphic novel is a 1000 times better than any "comic book" I have ever read and I highly encourage you to pick this book up. Also if you enjoy this book, try Batman: War on Crime, another great read by the same creative team.

A coffee table Superman book...
...and I mean that in the best way possible. ;-)

Nice timeless story by Paul Dini wherein Superman confronts the fact that he can't save the world by himself, but let's face it: the reason to buy this book are the amazing full-page painted illustrations from Alex Ross. Beyond his trademark realism, Ross really conveys the essense of Superman's power and dignity here.

This oversized format is a terrific forum for his talents and fans of his work will be thrilled to own it.

Fosters a spirit of hope and faith in humanity
Good comic books give us escapist fantasy. The *best* comic books hold a mirror on humanity and force us to confront certain truths about ourselves.

In the current Modern Age of comics, it's easy to buy into the myth that these characters are god-like and the paramount force for good (The Dark Knight Strikes Again, Kingdom Come, JLA, Miracleman).

And so it's with a certain cynicism that certain comic-book writers and fans have asked, "Well, if Superman really existed, if he were really that mighty, couldn't he control just about everything happening on Earth and turn it into paradise?"

Dini and Ross remind us why even the Man of Steel can't solve all of Earth's problems (and gently hint that it's wish fulfillment on the part of fans to pray for deliverance from a Superman in the real world). They even suggest why Superman *shouldn't* solve all the issues affecting humanity. You'll need to read it to find out why.

It's graphic novels like these that make me proud to be a fan and not ashamed of this great hobby of ours.

Good, easy read for people who have either never picked up a comic book before or haven't picked one up in years as the story doesn't rely on continuity (although it would spoil them for better stuff rather than the pap the big publishers churn out weekly).

Highest possible recommendation.

great artwork!!!!!!
i thought superman peace on earth is a great story and the artwork is even better!

Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day...
Teach a man to fish and he'll spend all day in a boat with a funny hat on. Okay, so that's not how it's supposed to be.

Superman: Peace on Earth is a great story, the tale is heartwarming, the artwork of Alex Ross is fantastic and I think makes a great effort to be much more then a comic book. I think that Paul Dini and Alex Ross are trying to help elevate the characters (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel) of these oversized books from just being characters and helping them deal with actual situations in real life. What if Superman was real? Would people just accept handouts from him even if he was working toward a selfless goal. Or would people see him as a symbol of imperialism or think that he has some hidden agenda?

I think that the overall moral of the story is great, even if you can do great things for other people, sometimes the best thing you can do is help other people do great things. In this case, Clark Kent, farmboy from Kansas helping teach some kids to grow things. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Nice reading, though mostly for fans of the super-mythos
Normally I don't read much superfamily-related books, but since this was written by Peter David and I could get my hands on it cheap I was willing to try it. Never judge before you know, right ? I came out, not overly impressed but entertained more than enough. This is not the book (which collects Showcase '96 #12 and Supergirl #1-9) that will get me into super-titles but it was worth the read. No regrets.

It's about:
First of all it's very vital for new-to-supermythos readers like me to pay attention to the written intro. It tells about who Supergirl was, is, and how she came to be what she is now.
The actual illustrated story starts off with Supergirl being in a major indentity crisis. It turns out she is somehow in the body of a woman named Linda Danvers. Not only is that utterly confusing because she is in someone elses body, but also because this is the first ever time Supergirl is in a fully valid human body. She is now trying out to find out what exactly she is now. Also, her powers are changing.
All the while there's a man appearing on and off who is responsible for Supergirls current state of being. He 'murdered' Linda Danvers in order to force Supergirl into her body, and former Linda Danvers isn't exactly that innocent herself (sounds confusing but it's all explained).
A big part in the second half of the book is about how Linda, who started off as an innocent girl, grew into the person she was just before she 'died', and how. For me that is also the most interesting part.

Overall storywise it's nice to read, although for non-superpeople-interns a little hard to relate too. An up-point for me is that Supergirl is less noble-hearted than Superman. She doesn't fear to use harsh ways in getting what she wants. The art in the Supergirl issues is clear and nicely styled, although I think it could have been a little more powerfull. This being a (hyper) superhero-title. It's a little in between the styles of Moebius and David Mazzucchelli (in his 'Batman Year One' days). The art in the Showcase issue with which the trade starts is better, in my taste. More contrasting and colorfull.
I'd recommend it to 'Super-fans' and overall fans of Peter David (who's hand is clearly seen). But I would steer clear of it if you're not. Not because it's bad but more because there is so much better stuff out there.

Finally....the Girl of Steel as she should be!
Supergirl was always been a misunderstood comics character, not only with the public, but with many creators over the years who unjustly made her out to be a lightweight. But acclaimed writer Peter David not only brings back the Girl of Steel's long lost essence, he thrusts her into a contemporary setting that's as mysterious as it is thought-provoking. Gary Frank and Cam Smith's art compliment with a dark landscape that sparkles with surreal energy.

Interesting but choppy story
I bought the book because I enjoy the work of Peter David, but was surprised to see the story was somewhat choppy, and a little difficult to follow. What I could follow was interesting, though. The story gives a good background on the current Supergirl. I just have memories of the original Supergirl comics from the 1960's, and I liked those stories.

Hated It!
I recently purchased several graphic novels (DC and Marvel). First major disappointment. The story jumps, and is kind of stupid. This is a flawed character and storyline that should just be shut down and forgotten.

Super Collection
This is a great introduction to the current Supergirl. It includes an issue of Showcase (the title that spotlights members of the supporting cast) and the first 9 issues of Supergirl's own series. Plus, for those readers who haven't read the Superman books that deal with Supergirl before she got her own series, this collection provides a nice written introduction to her character, so you'll know what's happened to her up to that point. I love how Supergirl and Linda Danvers (the girl that she's merged with) are so different. Supergirl tries to be righteous and sometimes fails. Linda used to be righteous and turned to evil. Now, a superhero and a murderer are physically melded into one being, and the result is a fabulous character. "Who is Linda Danvers?" She's Supergirl! Introduce yourself to her with this collection! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good book. Lots of humer and spleen.
I really liked this book. It contains Wolverine issues 24 through 47 and a lot of heart. Like the first Essential Wolverine, it really showcases Wolverine's personality. This book made me laugh and got my blood flowing. No Wolverine fan should be without it. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Planetary kicks in to a whole new gear
I was somewhat disappointed with the previous volume of Planetary. I felt that Ellis just kind of dropped us into the action without much set up, especially in character development. The Fourth Man really improves upon the earlier premise. Ellis starts to unwind a much larger plot, while Cassaday's skills mature into true excellence.

Some of the essentially single issue tales presented here are stronger than others, but each one, while still a distinctly separate story, winds in threads of intriguing future developments. Ellis also effortlessly manipulates time, seamlessly showing us past events while leading up to future revelations. Elijah Snow is a captivating character, deeply enigmatic, charasmatic, yet conflcted. His search for his missing blocks of memory is extremely well handled and really has me hooked and looking forward to the next volume of the TPB series.

Cassaday's art, and the rich colors supporting it, is magnificent throughout. His detailed, stylish illustration pairs very nicely with the vibrant, stylish colors. He is one of the very best artists in comics, and this is a perfect example of his best work.

Ultimately, Planetary succeeds in updating traditional Science Fiction themes and melding it with Superheros. The result is a fresh exciting look and feel for modern comics. Because of the way the bigger story develops, you don't necessarily have to start with the prior TPB volume. It's certainly worth your while, but if you can only get one of the two volumes right now, get this one. After reading it, you can get the first volume, while you anxiously await the arrival of future Planetary releases. This is some of Ellis' and Cassaday's best work, and great stuff over all from one of the most talented teams in the business.

Great! Great! Great!
I'm already a huge mark for Warren Ellis after the Authority, Stormwatch and the first Planetary Collection. This book just put the nail in the coffin of any doubts I had about his talents: as a stroyteller, an artist in the field and a fellow comic lover. Filled with great refrences to, and some hidden jabs at some comic staples and other not so well known comic characters. This is the best trade paperback I bought so far this year. Buy it NOW!.

Good writing; Excelent Art
This is the second work of Ellis I've read. The first was the previous Planetary volume. In this one, aside from crafting a tale of espinoge and intrigue that reads like the X-files meet the X-men, Ellis continues to reinturrpet pop culture archetypes. Here he brings in analogues to John Constantine, James Bond, Marilyn Monroe, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and even Morpheus from the Matrix. Even more than that he explores and developes these ideas and uses them to create a strange and compelling universe.
If I have one complaint, it's that Ellis doesn't get into the psyches and background of the characters as much as I'd like to see. We do get into the territory by the end of the book, though,

There is originality in comics. Planetary is.
The other reviewers on this page are right. This is a great collection of stories that just bubble over with imagination and originality. It goes without saying that you must read the first volume before reading this one, but it is here that you start to see a much larger tapestry being woven from the stories in the first set. These tales continue to fascinate the reader with pop culture references (comic super heroes, 50's science fiction, many more), and the way in which art imitates life, and vice versa. After reading the fourth man, I am also excited to get my hands on the third volume, and continue travelling all over the world with Planetary. If you liked Grant Morrison's The Invisibles, then these stories will also entertain you. If you like to be introduced to something completely new when reading a graphic novel, then this is for you. I cannot praise this enough.

Buy this book
I have often been asked by many of my friends about why a man of my age would even bother to spend time reading a comic book. Usually, my response is to lend them a copy of something by Warren Ellis.

In my opinion, this book and the one that precedes it are great examples of the very best that western adventure comics have to offer. Ellis skilfully constructs a hidden history and slowly draws the reader along, often leaving us gasping for more. He satisfies the comic lover with his exploration of some of the genre stereotypes, while, At the same time, giving us a great thriller/mystery that the not-so-comic-versed can also enjoy.

All this and great art too. Cassaday really adds immeasurably to the words on the page.

This is a strong piece of work that you should really look into. ... Read more

Book Description

The year is 1971.With mounting casualties and a rising anti-war sentiment, America's time in Vietnam is coming to a close.Yet in the isolated Valley Forge Firebase on the Cambodian border, Captain Frank Castle is one of the few soldiers still committed to the fight against the enemy.With dwindling reserves, Castle must stand against an impending Viet Cong attack that threatens to wipe out the entire American platoon.To survive the battle, what grim decision must he make that will forever alter the course of his life?In this acclaimed tale, superstar Garth Ennis reveals the never-before-told story of the horrors Castle was forced to face to come home fromVietnam alive, ending in a shocking twist that will forever change how readers see Marvel Comics' most famous urban vigilante. Collecting BORN #1-4. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Yeah , it's that good.
Despite having heard good things about this, I waited until a week before the Punisher movie release to pick this up. I'm a tough critic so for me to give something 5 stars, it has to be special. This one is. I've been a fan of Ennis's work on the Punisher and think that its the best Marvel currently offers. And this is among the best of that lot. From all that I heard about this before reading, I must say that I expected to be shocked, floored and left with my jaw open. I was all of those things and one very unexpected thing. The end gave me the CREEPS! I totally did not see that coming. After you read it you will understand.
I place this alongside "Welcome Back Frank" as Ennis's finest moment on Punisher. But be warned. This is extremely graphic and made for adults that enjoy being shocked and disturbed. That's what Ennis does best.

Heart of Darkness
The war brings the worst in people. War is the failure of civilization. It is the fall of humanity's and the great inadequacy of the human mind. It is a regression to the basic simplicity of animals. It is the loss of the divine power in each and every one of us.

In Garth Ennis's rendition and retelling of what might have been the driving force of the Punisher. War is the main driving force that makes the character who he is and not a certain aspect of his life. The Punisher is born when his family is gunned down by the mob, but the character was truly born when he was in Vietnam, living through the horrors of death and survival. Ennis is able to bring that into mind that the death of Frank Castle's family simply triggers what he has always been, a hellbent, murdering soldier. An aftereffct of the war. A survivor.

The story is very well done and actually makes the character more believable. If your family were gunned down, would you just exact revenge or go on a rampage against each and every killer in the world? You would definitely have your revenge and call it quits, but if you've been at war and tasted death and killed. Only then, would you want to generalize and start killing all the murderers and drug traffickers.

Garth Ennis has grabbed the essence of the character and knows what makes him tick. He makes him more believable. And in the story, he does just that.

Ennis writes another crucial story for any Punisher fan
An amazing look at how Frank Castle evolves from man to soldier of fortune during the Vietnam conflict.
Worth at least two readings for anyone that enjoys war stories or especially the Punisher

Brilliant, Ennis' best in years
In the tradition of the smash hit Origin: The True Story of Wolverine, Punisher scribe Garth Ennis has crafted Born; telling the never before seen story of a pre-Punisher Frank Castle during his third tour of Vietnam. While Born may start out as average, it quickly evolves into one of the bloodiest, most shocking, and expertly written stories that has ever come from the pen of Garth Ennis. This is by far Ennis' best work since his acclaimed Preacher saga, and he is without a doubt the best writer to ever pen the Punisher. The art by Darick Robertson illustrates all the graphic and gritty detail as he and Ennis both strike gold again as they did earlier with the Fury mini-series. The twist ending will actually make you look at the character of the Punisher much differently than before, and the unexpected impact will leave your jaw on the floor. Born is nothing short of brilliant, and deserves to be in every comic fan's library, even if you aren't a fan of the super hero genre of comics.

WOW doesn't even begin to describe this book.
Amazing story. Great art. Garth Ennis. Need I say more? A touching and great look into the mind of Frank Castle like only Garth Ennis can provide. The book also has really cool "special features" at the back including a storyline overview written by Garth Ennis, thoughts about the story by Darick Robertson, Vietnam photo references, page layouts, and character designs.

Get this book! ... Read more

Book Description

It's the terrifying debut of the Ultimate Hobgoblin as Harry Osborn returns to Midtown High harboring a dark secret that will affect the lives of all those around him - especially his best friend, Peter Parker. And where does Harry's father - Norman Osborn, a.k.a. the Green Goblin - fit into all this? Collects Ultimate Spider-Man #72-78. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

pretty good. beginning of chuck austen's run.
this collection includes UXM#410-415. the first three (and also the fourth) form a story arc involving juggernaut soliciting the help of the x-men and a nurse named annie caring for the catatonic havok and joining the staff at the institute to care for him. the fifth issue focuses on northstar, who joins the the institute also. the issue w/ northstar is extremely well-done and makes the whole book worth reading, in my opinion. the last issue focuses on iceman and northstar.

Pretty Good Book
This is the first x-men book I've ever read besides the comic adaptions of X-men the movie and the X2 adaption. I think its pretty entertaining. My favorite part is the first section where a young aquatic mutant gets a ride on the X-jet and then realizes his true potencial when rescuing Juggernaut from drowning. Jean-Paul's attempt to save a young boy reminds me of Captain America dealing with the death of his sidekick Bucky.

uncanny x-men #410-415
I liked this story. There's a good tension that runs through it as well as a thread of hope (which explains the title). It's got some interesting twists in it. And the art is good.

A great read
This is a great book, it sets up all the characters ready for Chucks arc to begin. we get a refreshing new look at young mutants from Sammy and just from a misunderstanding we see the X-Men end up in a very dangerous situation.

Starts off with promise then goes downhill.
Chuck Austen's run on the book starts off looking like a classic, fun superhero story. Sure there are a few kinks, but they can be ironed out as time goes on. Unfortunately, that's not what happens. These kinks grow to be major problems and start to overshadow any good that there is in the writing. The characters start to act less and less like themselves, the dialogue gets worse and worse, and sexula themes are just clumsily thrown on en masse in unnecessary and uncreative ways, in hopes that just their presence will be enough to entertain. ... Read more

Book Description

Mark Grayson is just like most everyone else his age, except for the fact that his father is the most powerful superhero on the planet. And now he's begun to inherit his father's powers. In this second volume, the "Invicible Family" finally starts to get a handle on this whole superhero thing, while Mark plans for college and the oft-mentioned Guardians of the Globe are finally introduced! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Kirkman is great!
I first picked this series up for the artwork, but then became captivated by the story. I bought the trades to catch up on what I missed, wow I was missing one of the best stories in comics today. Kirkman does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life with twists and turns around every corner. Ottley's artwork fits it perfectly grade A stuff on both parts. This trade also comes with pages of neat extra sketches and writings.
This is well worth the money, if your not reading Invincible I would HIGHLY recommend picking it up, it's amazing! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

It took you three days to read this?
I mean, its 180 pages with nothing but word bubbles and pictures! O.k. well, since I think the message of Mantis marrying one of the cotati is sort of hard to grasp, I can spell it out. She was destined to marry this cotati, and so the Swordsman is ressurrected but with this cotati's consciousness to facilitate the mechanics of making the prophecy of the Celestial Madonna work.

As for Kang, stories that feature him as the main villian are the most often purchased, most well-reviewed, most memorable Avengers stories. Peruse Amazon for an hour and you'll see this. Convoluted? If you're anyhting of a Marvel historian, you'll see that this story actually ties up a lot of questions posed in other stories; "The Last Avengers Story," and "Avengers Forever" come to mind.

"Did he just tell her to marry a tree?" If you wanted, you could see all comics as this. Captain america has cloth wings on his face. Batman dresses in horns and tights and swings around with minors. Its not the specifics that give comics their appeal, its the story being told, often through metaphoric device.

As for all of those extra characters showing up in the story, that's what Marvel does. They make up characters and then use them. In stories. Like this one.

Did He Just Tell Her To Marry A Tree....?
Ever since I was a kid in the late '70's, I've heard comic fans speak in hushed, reverential whispers about the classic "Celestial Madonna" storyline in The Avengers. So of course, I couldn't buy this book fast enough. In the agonizingly long three days it took me to read the book, I learned a very valuable lesson that I will carry with me for the rest of my life: You really CAN'T go home again. Or, more precisely, just because something was good almost thirty years ago, that doesn't mean it'll stand the test of time.....

Celestial Madonna is awful. Just awful. I can't say enough bad things about it. The book is tremendously overwritten, in typical '70's Marvel style, by Steve Englehart & Roy Thomas, with art by some true Marvel greats, that is unfortunately marred by Marvel's tendency of the time to match pencillers with inkers that didn't compliment their style. The Don Heck art in the last chapter is particularly atrocious looking. The story, such as it is, revolves around the character who, to me, is the kiss of death to any Avengers story: Kang the Conquerer. Where Kang goes, convoluted storytelling follows. He attempts to abduct the female Avenger who will become the fabled "Celestial Madonna" so he can mate with her and conquer the universe. Too bad for him he doesn't know which lady Avenger the Madonna IS, so he abducts Mantis, The Scarlet Witch, and the 80-something-year-old Agatha Harkness(!)........Ewwwwwww. From there, the writers throw in averything but the kitchen sink, as the waters are made more and more muddy by the inclusion of The Frankenstein Monster, The Kree, The Skrulls, living plant-people, The Flying Dutchman, Rama-Tut, Immortus, Ultron, The Original Human Torch, Dormammu, Quasimodo The Living Computer, I could go on and on. I consider myself pretty well-versed in Marvel Universe history, and not only did I find myself reeling under all the references to past stories, but after a while, I just stopped caring. As I said, the book is waaaaayy too text-heavy, and it's just a chore to read. The end is a big anti-climax, as we learn nothing about the true role of the Celestial Madonna......But I give the book 1 star anyway, since I've never seen anyone tell a woman she had to marry a tree before.........

Don't Get Your Hopes Up
I love the character Mantis (featured on the cover). She was different from the average girlfriend-motif superhero in comics at the time. She could beat up the most powerful Avenger, and still flirt with the whole team. She was confusing and conflicted, and still came through when she was needed. I thought I was going to love this collection.

It was ok.

The stories in this collection are difficult to come by (I had been trying for years). It's a great price to be able to read these stories. But, like other collections of older works, comics from the 40s-70s were meant as disposable monthlies, so the writing tends to be overly expository and a bit contrived. The art is cool though.

Pick it up if you're interested in older Avengers stories. This particular collection holds up better and is more consistent than some of the other Marvel trades of 'classic' works. If you're looking for stories where Mantis gets more action, you'll have to, like me, try to find earlier appearances of the character (unless Marvel decides to put them together).

awesome from cover to cover. buy this.
This tpb collects Avengers Volume 1 issues 129-135 as well as Giant Sized Avengers issues 2-4. It is filled with origins tales (The Kree, The Cotati, Moondragon, Mantis, The Vision, The Original Human Torch, etc.), and a few good brawls. As another reviewer noted, there are many plot threads going on throughout, but they all converge at the end to form a cohesive whole. There are better Avengers tales out there, but this trade reeks of Marvel History and is necessary for any true Avengers fan. 5...

An Enjoyable and Nostalgic Trip
An excellent and nostalgic trip though Avengers past, with stories by Eaglehart and beatiful artwork by Sal Buscema. While centering around the enigmatic character of Mantis, there are numerous pearls in this collection such as the origin of the Vision (and his relationship to a certain fiery android from the Golden Age), as well as origin tales of Moondragon and Mantis. The collection also includes the death of a certain sword-wielding Avenger. The story lines wander and converge, yet in the end all come together in an issue including the weddings of not one, but two Avenger's couples. Numerous villians appear, the central being Kang which of course means lots of cosmic time travelling tales. All in all, an excellent and enjoyable collection for Avengers' fans.. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great end
A great end to a great series. The art takes getting use to but soon you feel strange and comfortable like Opal City. I did not follow this comic until it was in graphic novel format. It is the best way to enjoy the series. Collect all ten volumes if they are available. ... Read more