X-Men: Prelude to Schism

X-Men: Schism

by Paul Jenkins, Roberto De La Torre (Illustrator), Andrea Mutti (Illustrator)

The prelude to the X-Men event of 2011! What does it mean to be a leader? What does it do to a person? What do the choices you make mean about the person you are? This is a story that delves into these issues and will give an X-Men reader what they need to know about their favorite mutants - before everything changes!

COLLECTING: X-Men: Prelude to Schism 1-4; X-Men FIrst Class SpotlIght (JenkIns Interview)

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, X Men, Marvel, Comic Book, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2011

About the author

Paul Jenkins is a British comic book writer. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.

Reviews

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Something is coming to Utopia to wipe out the last of mutant kind. The X-Men wait and contemplate what to do.

So I think I needed to read the prelude to The Prelude to Schism because I don't know what's coming and they don't mention it once in the volume. Everyone is sitting around impatiently waiting for Cyclops decision on what to do.


The volume has three mini flashbacks about Magneto, Cyclops, and Wolverine. Even though I know each of their histories well, I'm always emotional considering Magneto's time in the Holocaust and it is so easy to see why he behaves the way he does.

Although little happens in X-Men Prelude to Schism I enjoyed it and found myself feeling a little bit emotional.

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a waste. I thought this might have some essential plot that contributes to the Schism event so I gave it a read. Why the hell did we need another book of origin stories of the X-men? Especially when most of them were just summarized versions of OTHER origin stories.

Don't bother with this if you haven't read it. Skip to the main event.

[Sesana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this was really super pointless. It's an entire miniseries where literally nothing happens. It's just the X-Men sitting around Utopia waiting for some unnamed threat (presumably the one from Schism) approaches the island. And they reflect. And that's about it. It's not like you get any new insights here, and I couldn't help but notice that Wolverine's internal monologue fails to bring in any of the tension that had already been defining his relationship with Cyclops. Skip it.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The threat that will wipe them out is rarely spoken of but the X-Men have to decide upon leaving or fighting.

Most of this book is soul searching with origin tales tossed in and a setup for later.

Interview with the author in back as well as some early sketch work.

OVERALL GRADE: B minus to B.

[Alex Sarll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sometimes, I read badly-reviewed comics just to see if they're as bad as I've heard (with a prose novel this takes hours; with a miniseries like this, maybe 20 minutes?). But this one was even more abysmal than the reviews suggested. As a terrible, nameless menace - apparently the deadliest the X-Men have ever fought - approaches their island, the X-Men, and in particular Cyclops, wonder what to do. Except - this menace isn't the one seen in Schism. So apparently the biggest fight of the X-Men's career takes place off camera. That's funny in something oblique and indie like Too Much Coffee Man, but rather a gyp here. So what are we left with? A character piece. Fine, except that Jenkins (the one writer ever to do a Hellblazer run that wasn't worth reading) doesn't get a single one of the characters right. Xavier comes across as a paedo, Magneto as repentant, Wolverine as the annoying little git from Origin.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't a bad read but seemed a little unnecessary. I know it's odd to call a book unnecessary, but in the comic book world it happens a lot. The X-Men are all standing around Utopia waiting for something that's going to attack them and could possibly wipe them out. Not sure yet what the something is, but Cyclops is supposed to tell them whether to flee or fight. The story is four issues, with each issue being the viewpoint of a different character: Professor X, Magneto, Cyclops, and Wolverine. The individual stories were all past events of the characters. The stories were cool enough in their own right, but they didn't seem to fit into the bigger Schism event and felt like filler.

If you are a completist such as myself it's worth picking up, but if you are the type that just like to read the main issues you don't need to read this one.

[Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story makes me want to read the actual story of Schism. I love that the readers sees the thoughts and opinions of Cyclops, Magneto, Professor X, and Wolverine. It really gives you a different perspective of each character.

[salomé · Rating 2 out of 5]

Une menace arrive sur Utopia, Cyclope doit prendre une décision pour des centaines de vies en jeu.

On se concentre sur les flashback de la vie de Magneto, Wolverine et Cyclope pendant 4 chapitres sauf qu’à ce stade de l’histoire on connaît déjà leurs vies. Bref, je ne vois pas trop l’intérêt de ce livre: ça aurait pu être réglé un seul chapitres au lieu de quatre. En plus l’art est pas incroyable.

Je pense qu’on peut passer à Schism directement…

[zxvasdf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't help but be impressed with Jenkins' treatment of Cyclops' decision making. I have no idea of the very imminent threat about to overtake Utopia, but the perspectives offered in each character's legacy of experiences and the position of Scott Summers in each. What results is a thoughtful analysis of each character, contrasting and reflecting Scott's character with their own. Beautiful images are provoked--a field of barley--and tragedy summons the expected sorrow. Keeping an eye out for Jenkins.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Paul Jenkins scripting on this origin-review sort of rearrangement/capsule review in GN form... His interior monologues of the four chosen characters (Prof. X, Magneto, Cyclops, Wolverine) are worthwhile. I thought Storm was a leader of a faction before Wolverine, but that shows how little I've read of Marvel continuity (or Marvel films) in last nine years of parenting. More than half worthwhile, but glad I waited for the used GN copy.

[TJ Shelby · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know how TV shows, when they come back from commercial repeat brief highlights from the previous segment? Yeah, that's what this felt like. I know it was filler/build up story leading the the actual Schism event but man...it dragged a bit. Still, there was some great dialogue and you really felt the pressure that Cyclops was feeling as he weighed this momentous decision.

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty well done for what it is, but it's almost completely pointless. Nothing that happens across these 4 issues has any impact on Schism (since nothing really happens at all), and nothing it says or shows about the 4 characters it focuses on hasn't been said or shown countless times in previous X-Men stories.

[Colin Moon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prelude was a bit of a boring and unneeded affair in which a handful of characters think at Cyclops as he prepares for some huge terrible thing that, as far as I remember, never actually happens in Schism itself.

[Mekki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not at all interesting enough to be made into a graphic novel.

Mostly inner monologue about Where or not the x men should defend utopia or flee from the unnamed enemy forces.

No action and no drama....

[Vinayakam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice read - this showcases Cyclops' leadership among the weight of his responsibility and how he has grown as a leader of the X-Men and capable of making the big decisions for his species.

[Jolene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. Skippable. Doesn't really provide anything essential before getting into Schism (which was incredible.) A lot of Cyclops pontificating and only a little of Wolverine being awesome.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice character portraits, but very literally, nothing happens, resulting in the whole book being a big tease.

[Yaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked hearing the back stories of cyclops and Magneto. Hearing about Magneto's father was a perspective. that I hadn't had before. The build up makes me want find an actual schism.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

It fit me today. Haven't read any X-series for awhile. But it fit the mood I'm in today

[Alex E · Rating 3 out of 5]

An oncoming threat, an impossible choice, a division of ideals? Those are the themes that are (kind of) explored in this volume.

This is a quick introduction to the Schism event that follows, and its basically a lot of discussion and retrospection based around a situation that can prove deadly to the entire mutant race. Each issue centers around one character, Professor X, Magneto, Cylops, and Wolverine, and how they view the situation. It also delves into each of their respective origins, and retells them. I did like the new updated look at these histories, and Paul Jenkins did a good job of giving them a fresh feel for a more modern sensibility.

As much as I liked those aspects of the book, I can say that this hit the mark entirely though. There is a sense that it's frivolous and not really crucial to the Schism story. Couple that with the fact that they never address what the threat they are evaluating is, and you have yourself an obtuse and kind of meandering story.

I think this would've been better as a standalone and not tied into Schism. Because while you are waiting for it to introduce the situation, it never really does, so it leaves you wanting. However, I would still recommend it for fans of the X-Men.

[Judah Radd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this. It got my blood pumping and made me stoked for Schism.

What we have here are mostly flashbacks of things we’ve already seen; little snap shots of Magneto, Xavier, Cyclops and Wolverine’s pasts. If that sounds boring to you, you’re wrong. It’s awesome. It’s incredibly well drawn, the writing is top notch, and these well known moments are reframed in context of the now. This book makes a solid case for why this history matters.

We also have very poignant character moments; beloved characters steeling themselves for what’s to come. The subtle displays of true courage are thrilling.

I really cannot wait to crack into Schism. People told me to skip this, and I’m grateful that I didn’t. It’s excellent.

[Brad McKenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up because I thought it would have relevant info for Schism. It really didn't.

It was just Scott coming to the decision to fight. Each of the four issues had some early year reminiscing from a major player; Prof X, Magneto, Cyclops, and Wolverine.

Hardly worth being its own collection. The very definition of a money grab. The only thing that saved it was the good stories it told. They were good but should have been included in the Schism collection.

[Nathan Guetteville · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beaucoup de blabla, alors que les X-Men se préparent à affronter une terrible menace, qui ne pointe malheureusement pas le bout de son nez dans ce volume. Rempli d'introspection et de flashbacks, ne vous attendez pas à beaucoup d'action.

Edit : après avoir lu Schism, ce prélude n'a en fait rien à voir avec l'évènement, ce qui le rend assez inutile au final...

L'équipe artistique change à chaque issue, donc les illustrations sont inégales

[Eduardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eu fiquei chocado quando vi algumas pessoas dando notas baixas pra esse volume??? Prelude to Schism é um trabalho muito complexo sobre Magneto, Charles, Ciclope e Wolverine. Realmente, do ponto de vista do “plot” não acontece muita coisa, mas quando se trata do do desenvolvimento de personagens, esse volume me pegou COMPLETAMENTE. Scott escuta as duas maiores lideranças do mundo mutante e a partir disso, monta uma estratégia para enfrentar uma ameaça iminente.

Simplesmente espetacular

[Gerald Jr. · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is absolutely no point to this series unless you don't know the origin stories of Xavier, Magneto, Cyclops, and Wolverine, and you can get better versions of those stories elsewhere. This was a total, lazy cash-grab that doesn't set up anything other than Scott Summers needs to think for four issues and get advice from his closest advisors.

Total garbage!

[luciddreamer99 · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the chapters about Cyclops and Wolverine are slightly interesting, the series as a whole seems like useless filler. It doesn't advance the Schism story any and nothing really happens in it. A retrospective of X-Men history at best, a five minute scene repeated 4 times at worst. Skippable.

[MannyLikesPie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do like this book, it’s a recap on Mag, Charles, and Logan with a monologue from Scott himself. We don’t know what is coming but it’s still good. Depends on how schism is will be the determining factor whether you need to read this book or not once I read it

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a very action-packed item. It was mostly people doing inner monologues about Cyclops/Scott.

[J. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate what this is trying to do, but it is extremely boring.

[Buntaeiji · Rating 3 out of 5]

跟着Paul Jenkins一起苏射射！