X-Men Epic Collection: The Gift (New Printing) Paperback – 11 Jun. 2024

Not pixelated as other reviewer states. Good quality reproduction

Reading this book was a delightfull trip down nostalgy lane that nets it 5 stars. Somewhat dated by 2019 standards, but if you like the old marvel look and the way they told superhero stories back from before the internet was a thing, this one book is a treasure. Collects much of the X-men material released 85-86 and the cover has absolutely nothing to do with the stories inside.

Mostly, when people talk about eighties X-Men comics, they are quick to mention the real masterpieces such as the Dark Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Past or the graphic novel God Loves Man Kills. However, long-standing X-scribe Chris Claremont produced so much more quality work during the decade than these justifiably famous storylines. This Epic, Volume 12 in the overall chronology (Volume 1 is already available) covers some of these, from the years 1985 and 1986.It's an interesting time for the mutant team - Cyclops taking a marital retirement and Storm losing her powers has left fuzzy blue teleporter Nightcrawler in charge, and the newly arrived Rachel Summers (from the aforementioned Days of Future Past) is still adjusting to finding herself in what is to her the past.The regular artist at this point was the wonderful John Romita jr., and he provides plenty of great-looking images, with hectic fight scenes and expressive characters; he is especially talented at showing the team in civilian clothes. He and Claremont shoot out plenty of short, snappy stories, including a quite brilliant two-parter where the sorcerer Kulan Gath transforms Manhattan and its inhabitants into an oppressive fantasy kingdom. We also see the arrival of deadly future Sentinel Nimrod, the return of unstoppable menace the Juggernaut, tangles with the underground Morlocks and shenanigans with ridiculous assassin Arcade, as well as the ever-present spectre of human hatred (which has dire consequences for Professor X).Also included in this thick volume are two miniseries; X-Men and Alpha Flight and Nightcrawler. The former sees the X-Men team up with their Canadian counterparts to face an ethical dilemma surrounding the gifting of miraculous powers to humankind. It's a great story, and shows Claremont doing some of his best character work. The latter sees Nightcrawler embark on a lighthearted romp across dimensions, written and drawn by Dave Cockrum. It's good fun, but seems very lightweight compared to the regular book.As an added bonus, there are Marvel Age articles about the two miniseries, but the real draw are the issues from the ongoing book itself; they really showcase that even when the eighties X-Men weren't being SPECTACULAR, they were still very, very good.

I'd not read any of these tales before but in my effort to catch up on the last 30 years or so of the Marvel universe I knew a lot of the background characters and that helped a lot.The tales here are all from 1985-1986 and feature 10 issues and 1 annual of the main Uncanny X-Men title along with two complete mini-series.There are some great tales here and plenty off the wall humour, it opens with a tale featuring The Hellfire Club but kicks off properly when a wizard Kulan Gath takes over Manhattan and turns the area and people back to medieval times and the heroes trapped inside into parodies of themselves, also starring Dr Strange, Spider-Man and The Avengers.The team are largely without Storm who has lost her powers and Cyclops who is enjoying married life, in their absence the team is led by Nightcrawler.Other tales gathered here feature Magus, Nimrod, Thunderbird, Firestar, Juggernaut, Arcade and the main title's stories end with a now powerless Storm going back to her homeland in Africa. The appearance of Dr Doom on the cover will become clear as you readThe two mini series include the X-Men and Alpha Flight in The Gift which sees them being offered a chance from a very unlikely source to bridge the gap between humans and mutants and the brilliantly mad 4 part Nightcrawler series where he is transported to a series of alternate realities, it is in stark contrast to most of the other tales.It's not among the best collection of X-Men tales I have read but once I have more of these full colour Epic collection series I will be reading these again in proper date order.There are a few extra Marvel Age articles as a small bonus.

This is a fantastic collection we see storm (depowered) starting journey to understanding who she is now with out her powers at the same time we have a young Rachel summers learning how to fit in to this time and trying to understand how her memories might fit and might not fit into her new daily life. Also the young brash rouge who truly becomes not only a main stay powerhouse on this team, but seems to at-last be growing in comfort as a woman and a mutant and mostly and x-man.. this is the next step in her journey to what she will be.

at their best. Tolle alte Geschichten aus der Glanzzeit der Mutanten, geschrieben natürlich zum Großteil von Meister Chris Claremont, gezeichnet von JRJR, damals auch schon einer der Besten. Jede Menge Fantasy-Elemente, Sword & Sorcery, Loki, Asgard und so weiter! Ein Riesenspaß!Und zum krönenden Abschluss noch eine extrem unterhaltsame Nightcrawler Mini-Serie, geschrieben und gezeichnet von Dave Cockrum. Jedem old-school-X-Fan und auch solchen die es werden wollen nur zu empfehlen!

Love the book. Has a lot of good old school X-men stories. Item was as described & was delivered very quick. Definitely recommend this seller.

I usually give all of the Marvel's 5 stars, however, although the art is just fantastic, for it's time, X-Men was decidedly past it's glorious prime at this point in the book's history. The greatest X-Men stories are in the first 25 or so issues in the run, and then, of course, the amazing run of first Cockrum and then Byrne starting from Giant Sized X-Men on to about issues 150-160 or so....after that, you have this, which , although still high quality, just lacked the true heart of previous heights of glory.

This one I got for my son and he is really enjoying it.