Marvel has just a handful of X-Men books out in this week’s collected editions, but only one you might want to pick up. Read on for a capsule review, plus the skinny on all of Marvel’s other new collected editions out this week.
If you’re looking for more X-info, head over to my Definitive Guide to Collecting X-Men Graphic Novels. Or, for a more basic approach, my Intro to X-Men (on a budget).
Uncanny X-Men: Breaking Point TPB
Collects Uncanny X-Men #534.1& 535-539.
CK Says: Consider it. Kieron Gillen takes over Uncanny full-time and quickly solidifies his A-team as Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magneto, Namor, Kitty, and Colossus and uses them to delightful effect. The .1 issue is a one-off anti-terrorist adventure intercut with Magneto’s meeting with a public relations expert trying to downplay his own terrorist history.
The Breaking Point storyline plays out a dangling plot from Whedon’s Astonishing X-Men, but it gets a little tiresome. #539 is a Wolverine and Hope one-shot, which maybe features the first likeable take on Hope we’ve seen so far. On the whole this collection is good-not-great, but it’s as enjoyable as Uncanny has been in a long while.
(Uncanny X-Men always releases direct-to-TPB except for events and crossovers.)
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Keep reading for the list of other collection editions out from Marvel this week, plus a few of their later add to last week’s list that missed the cut for my recap.
First, let’s peek at the other X-collectons of the week.
Deadpool: All in the Family TPB – A slim collection including three orphaned Deadpool one-shots, Deadpool Family, Cable #25, and Deadpool & Cable #26. Cable #25, which occurs parallel Messiah Complex, was previously collected in Cable, Vol. 4: Homecoming. However, this is only place to acquire #26 at the moment. If the Cable series is subsequently into Ultimate Collections it might appear there.
New X-Men by Grant Morrison, Book 5 Digest – One of the best arcs of Grant Morrison’s New X-Men, “Riot at Xavier’s” played with with the sociological implications of mutant being maintain. It also feature Quentin Quire, the rowdy purple-haired psychic who who kicked off the events behind Schism. Collects New X-Men #134-138 in a pocket-sized digest. (or, grab it full-size in New X-Men Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2)
Wolverine: Wolverine Goes to Hell TPB – I’ve learned that I need to recuse myself from Wolverine reviews so long as he’s written by Jason Aaron, as I harbor nothing but a seemingly boundless hatred for his faux-shocking writing. Here Wolverine’s soul is stuck in hell with his many enemies while his haunted body wreaks havoc on earth. Collects Wolverine Vol. 4 issues #1-5, plus some brief material from “The Road to Hell” one-shot. Of note, those Jae Lee covers do not reflect the interior art. (Also available in hardcover)
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Now, for the other Marvel collections out this week (and a handful from last week that didn’t crop up in my research at the time.):
Astonishing Thor Hardcover – Collects the five-issue mini-series of the same name. (Available for pre-order as a TPB)
Captain America by Dan Jurgens Vol. 2 TPB – Collects Captain America (1998) #35-44. Volume 1 was released in June; Volume 3 is due later this fall.
Stephen King’s Dark Tower Omnibus – An impressive slipcased duo of omnibus cover the first arc of the comic adaptation of King’s classic novels. Collects The Gunslinger Born #1-7, The Long Road Home #1-5, Treachery #1-6, Sorcerer #1, The Fall of Gilead #1-6, and The Battle of Jericho Hill #1-5 – plus Dark Tower: Gunslinger’s Guidebook, End-World Almanac, Guide to Gilead, and Marvel Spotlight: Dark Tower.
Essential Spider-Man Vol. 2 – A fresh printing of old-school classic Spiderman, collecting Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #21-43 & Annuals #2-3.
Essential Spider-Man Vol. 3 – A new printing of the B&W mega-collection of classics Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #44-65 and Spectacular Spider-Man Magazine (1968) #1.
Fantastic Four: The Overthrow of Doom Hardcover – Collects Fantastic Four #192-200 for the first time.
Infinity Gauntlet TPB – A new paperback version collecting the six issue 90s miniseries. (Also available in hardcover)
Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man, Volume 7 Hardcover – Collects classic issues #26-38 and Daredevil #73.
New Avengers Vol. 7 Hardcover – [Collection info TK]
Powers, Vol. 2: Roleplay Hardcover – Marvel reprints issues #8-11 of architect Brian Michael Bendis’s creator-owned title. (Previously reprinted in TPB by Image)
Punisher: Circle of Blood TPB – A new printing of 1986’s Punisher #1-5. (Also available in hardcover)
The Thanos Imperative TPB – Marvel Cosmic writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning deliver their final chapter in the ongoing space saga. Collects the six-issue mini-series, plus Thanos Imperative: Ignition and Devastation. (Also available in hardcover)