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   Book Info

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Ultimate X-Men Comics  
Author: Peter Sanderson
ISBN: 078949258X
Format: Handover
Publish Date: June, 2005
 
     
     
   Book Review



Gorgeous, oversize, and well designed, Ultimate X-Men is also perfectly titled. It's a comprehensive overview of four decades of Marvel Comics's monstrously popular mutant superheroes--from their debut, in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's X-Men #1 (1963), to the terrific X-Men movie (2000). Ultimate X-Men includes the many major mutants who have appeared in The Uncanny X-Men and its spinoffs (Alpha Flight, New Generation, Wolverine, X-Factor, and numerous other series and miniseries). Two-page spreads detail the most important characters' origins, powers, costumes, and relationships. In addition, every superhero and supervillain appearing in the movie receives a sidebar, with stills, that describes the onscreen incarnation. Also receiving detailed coverage are nonmutants important to the X-Men, including Ka-Zar, Longshot, and Dr. Moira MacTaggert; major alien groups and races, like the Starjammers and the Shi'ar; and important locations and technology, such as the Danger Room, Dr. Xavier's estate, and the Blackbird jets. The book also covers the best Uncanny X-Men story lines, the Dark Phoenix Saga, and Days of Future Past. A Summers family tree lays out clearly a tangle of relationships (between clonal and alternate-timeline versions of Cyclops/Scott Summers and Marvel Girl/Phoenix/Jean Grey) that could drive even an experienced genealogist crazy. Ultimate X-Men opens with an entertaining foreword by X-Men creator-editor Stan Lee and concludes with a two-page overview of the X-Men animated series (1992-1997); a four-page "Making the X-Men Movie" section with many great shots; and an insightful afterword by the series' best writer, Chris Claremont.

Ultimate X-Men is a book every X-Men fan will want. It's practically a necessity for the newcomer drawn to the comics by the movie, because Marvel's mutants multiplied like superpowered rabbits in the 1990s. Art-oriented fans, however, may be disappointed by Ultimate X-Men. While it contains a hefty amount of art, the original artwork (the preliminary character sketches, a lovely Dave Cockrum sketch of Nightcrawler and Ororo, etc.) is outnumbered by panel and cover reproductions. And if you're less than enamored with the nature of endless comic-book series, Ultimate X-Men will prove that the more things change, the more they stay the same. --Cynthia Ward


From Booklist
Reviewed with Tom DeFalco's Hulk.Gr. 6-12. These excellent volumes profile two of Stan Lee's most famous creations for Marvel Comics: the persecuted mutants of the X-Men and the Frankenstein monster-inspired Incredible Hulk. Various artists who have contributed to both series during their 40 years of publication fill the oversize volumes with colorful, first-rate artwork. Every major hero and villain appearing in the series is profiled in the generous, two-page spreads--complete with a breakdown of powers and gadgets and commentary on the character's origin, first appearance, and costume changes over the years. Key locations (including some rarely seen in the pages of the comics) and events are meticulously detailed. Floor plans of Professor Xavier's mansion, the Danger Room, and Magneto's Base are sure to please hardcore fans, and storyline recaps and an exhaustive time line in each book will bring browsers up to speed. Monster enthusiasts will immediately find Hulk more appealing; the costume-ball look of X-Men quickly grows tiresome (and the only new parts are the concluding spreads on the upcoming movie). But classic illustrations blend seamlessly with more recent works, some of which were specially commissioned for the books. Buy X-Men if a new edition is needed, but both titles are essential additions to any comics collection. Carlos Orellana
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved




Ultimate X-Men Comics

ANNOTATION

Identifies the mutant heroes featured in the "X-Men" comic book and describes their super powers.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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

X-Men II is scheduled for release on May 2, 2003

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA

This cool book is for X-Men fans in particular, comics fans in general, and anyone else who liked the X-Men movie. Written by comic book historian and Marvel archivist Sanderson, the book traces the history of the X-Men from their creation in 1963 to the present. It is replete with character profiles of heroes and villains, showing their evolution through the years. Places and things important in the comics—the Xavier mansion, the island of Genosha, the jet Blackbird—are depicted with much more detail than one could ever see in the comics. Similar in format and style to James Bond: The Secret World of 007 by Alastair Dougall (DK, 2000), a 2000 Quick Picks title, this book is lots of fun to read and a feast for the eyes. A single quibble is with the title. Marvel started several comics series in early 2001 using the word "ultimate" in their titles: Ultimate X-Men and Ultimate Spider-Man among them. Casual catalog searchers might be confused. An introduction by the Marvel man himself, Stan Lee, and an afterword by longtime X-Men writer Chris Claremont add to the reading enjoyment. This book is purely for fun, and it accomplishes its purpose with aplomb. This reviewer's homegrown teen reader pronounced this book "very cool." Index. Illus. Photos. VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, DK, 176p, $19.95 Oversize. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Kat Kan SOURCE: VOYA, August 2001 (Vol. 24, No. 3)

     



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