So I'm sure the first thing you're thinking is, Attack ON the Franchise? What the hell does that mean? Simply put, aside from being an obvious Star War reference, this is where the entire X-Men franchise changes. In these next two Ages we saw the X-Men come to theaters in live-action movies, and set the status quo for X-Men. The costumes, the writers, the characters, it's all different and it starts with the Film Age.
COMIC TITLE INDEX
A= Astonishing X-Men
AN= All-New X-Men
AV= Avengers
Fac= X-Factor
For= X-Force
FF= Fantastic Four
L= X-Men: Legacy
N= New X-Men
U= Uncanny X-Men
UF= Uncanny X-Force
Film Age
Almost thirty years after the creation of the X-Men the mighty mutants finally got adapted for the big screen in their first movie. Given that X-Men was THEE biggest comic book property(along with Batman)in the 1990's it was only fitting that it lead the charge in ushering in this new era for cinema. Most credit X-Men with jump starting the superhero film craze. I personally think Blade started it, X-Men made it known, and Spider-Man blew it up! In any event, the films creeps over into the comics with line-up and costume changes. We also see the emergence of new, bold, writers looking to modify the way we see the X-Men.
DREAM'S END
After the events of The Twelve the X-Men change things up by breaking into two very different teams and also make their outfits a little more edgy. The cure for the Legacy Virus is near thanks to the work of Moria McTaggert and Dr. Hank McCoy, but it's still needing one last piece; a mutant sacrifice to start the spread of the cure. Who is the X-Man that takes their life to stop this disease?
THE SEARCH FOR CYCLOPS
A psychic tremor leads Jean to thinking that Cyclops is alive, and not destroyed by Apocalypse. She and Cable travel around the world in search for their loved one, but they're not the only ones looking for Scott Summers.
EVE OF DESTRUCTION
The short story at the beginning of this graphic novel is one my favorites. A recently reanimated Cyclops goes on a camping trip with his father, the space pirate, and Scott ends up letting out all his anger towards his dad in a few pages. Later, we see Magneto building an army of mutants on Genosha to attack the rest of the world. He's captured Xavier and it's up to a small band of X-Men to try and stop the Master of Magnetism before he starts World War III.
E IS FOR EXTINCTION(N)
Grant Morrison takes over as the head X-Men writer and the effects of the recent X-film is in full swing. We see a new villain, Cassandra Nova, using a giant sentinel to erradicate the small nation of Genosha and the many mutants that inhabit it. Their are few survivors. One of them being Emma Frost, The White Queen, who reluctantly joins the new X-team. I'm not a fan of Morrison's but his run on New X-Men is fabulous!
IMPERIAL(N)
When we last saw Professor X he was leaving for the stars to spend some time with his wife; Lilandra. However, it wasn't Xavier behind the wheel of his car. Cassandra Nova has returned after wreaking havok in the cosmos and the Shi'ar Empire. If she can destroy her body, with Xavier's mind inside, she'll stay powerful forever. Can the X-Men stop Nova with an entire intergalactic empire behind her?
NEW WORLDS(N)
Jean and Charles go on a little road trip around the world to see what difference their X-Corporation is making. But while the cat's away the Queen will play. Emma continues her pursuit of Scott Summers. Meanwhile, Jean and Charles meet Fantomex, a mutant criminal who has a close connection to Wolverine.
RIOT AT XAVIER'S(N)
There is a new drug making the rounds at the school, and it makes the students more powerful and angrier. Soon the faculty at Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters is going to face-off against their jacked-up students. Jean Grey returns home just in time to help stop this riot, and catch her husband in a very bad position.
ASSAULT ON WEAPON PLUS(N)
The White Queen is dead and the number one suspect is a missing Cyclops. But Scott is too busy getting drunk at a bar, trying to forgot his issues. That is until Wolverine and Fantomex recruit him for a mission to take down the entire Weapon's programs; the origin place for both Logan and Jean-Phillipe.
PLANET X(N)
Magneto has returned, again. He's been posing as an X-Man for months right under their noses. With his new 'students' Magneto is looking to take out all the X-Men and all of New York with them. It takes the death of an X-Man to bring down Magneto this time. Who will it be?
GIFTED(A)
Acclaimed TV show creator and geek god, Joss Whedon, begins his writing run with X-Men by finding a cure for the mutant gene, and creates tension for all the X-Men. If I were to recommend any X-Men book to you, this would be it! It's go Whedon's classic style all over it from the improper jokes at improper times, to a central female lead; Kitty Pryde. Whedon also finds a way to bring back a long dead X-Man!
DANGEROUS(A)
Joss Whedon continues his epic X-Men run by turning the Danger Room against the X-Men. Can the team take down the computer that trained them, and can predict their every move? And what happens when 'Danger' decides she wants to kill the man that kept her imprisoned all those years; Professor Charles Xavier?
DISASSEMBLED(AV)
This story line actually does not have any X-Men in it, but is crucial to what follows it; House of M. The Avengers are under attack by every enemy they've ever had. The team can't understand what is happening until it's too late. One of their own is planning on taking them out one by one. Can the Avengers figure who the traitor is before it's too late?
HOUSE OF M
After months of trying to help the Scarlet Witch gain her sanity back Professor X has brought the X-Men and the Avengers together to decide her fate. But Wanda's family has other plans. Soon our heroes are immersed in a reality where everyone has their deepest desires fulfilled. Peter Parker is married to Gwen Stacy and his Uncle Ben never died. Steve Rogers was never frozen during WWII and grew to become an old man. And mutants are no longer hunted, but celebrated. The only person who realizes something is wrong is Wolverine. Remember the phrase, 'No More Mutants'. This story line will change the X-Men forever!
Extinction Age
This is a dark time in X-Men history. In one blink the mutant race went from being the next stage in human evolution to an endangered species. The drama it adds to the X-Men books made it so great to read. A lot happens in this Age that shakes the entire foundation of X-Men.
DECIMATION
There were once millions of mutants on the planet, now there are only a few hundred. The fallout of House of M is felt as the X-Men open their doors to every mutant; creating a sanctuary to save what few are left. The government has also sent their own protective plan to help; Sentinels.
THE END OF THE GREYS(U)
With most of the mutant race under marshal law at the Xavier mansion now seems like a good time for a massacre. In hopes of bonding with her family Rachel Summers goes to a reunion where the Shi'ar have sent their deadliest assassins. They plan on eradicating the Grey bloodline in order to stop another Dark Phoenix from ever happening. In the process they end up becoming the worst enemy of the Dark Phoenix's daughter. Big mistake.
DEADLY GENESIS
Someone has begun digging up secrets from the past and it costs Banshee his life. Scott and Alex Summers discover they have a brother and he is pissed at Charles Xavier and the X-Men. Gabriel Summers reveals a secret so deep it goes all the way back to Second Genesis and will have some losing their faith in Professor X forever.
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SHI'AR EMPIRE(U)
After the events of Deadly Genesis Xavier is looking to right his wrongs by take a small team into space to hunt down Gabriel, aka Vulcan. When the X-Men locate Vulcan he's already taken control of the Shi'ar Empire and it's up to X-Men and the Starjammers to save the galaxy from Vulcan's vengeance. This is one the most epic X-Men stories I've ever read.
EMPEROR VULCAN
In the third installment to what I call the 'Vulcan Saga' Havok, Polaris, and Rachel are leading the Starjammers against Vulcan's intergalactic terror. But is Alex strong enough to take down his little brother before the galaxy feels Gabriel's wrath?
KINGBREAKER
The Starjammers are captured by Vulcan, but the war is not won yet. Soon Vulcan will over extend his reach to the rest of the galaxy, but Havok is still determined to stop Vulcan before he gets that far. If you haven't learned by now, X-Men is all about Summers and Greys despite what the movies tell you.
WAR OF KINGS
In the final installment of the 'Vulcan Saga' the rest of the galaxy ban together to take down Vulcan and the Shi'ar from the Inhumans to the Guardians of the Galaxy. There is actually very little X-Men in this story line, but still good stuff.
TORN(A)
While Havok is out trying to take out one brother his other brother has been put into coma by his own girlfriend! The White Queen has turned against the X-Men and it's up to Kitty to take down the women who 'taught her about evil'. But not everything is as it seems, and Emma isn't attacking her teammates alone.
UNSTOPPABLE(A)
Joss Whedon wraps up his legendary X-Men run with a bang, or bullet I guess. Breakworld has a giant bullet pointed at Earth and it's up to the X-Men to stop this alien race from wiping out the planet. Any Whedon fan will see his fingerprints all over the ending of this story.
ENDANGERED SPECIES
There are 198 mutants left in the world, and that number is dwindling every day. Hank McCoy is desperate to save his people so he seeks the help of everyone he can to try and revive the mutant race. Hank travels the world seeking the High Evolutionary, Dr. Strange, and anyone who may help him. He also finds the woman responsible for mutant kinds demise; the Scarlet Witch.
MESSIAH COMPLEX
The first mutant in years is born, and she's just a baby. It's a scramble to try and reach this child. The X-Men want to protect her, Mr. Sinister wants to experiment on her, and the human Purifiers want to kill her. Cyclops finds out his own son, Cable, is on the run with the child and wants to make sure no one can catch him. How far will Scott go to protect this new hope? Is this child the mutant savior or their damnation?
No comments:
Post a Comment