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X-Men/Alpha Flight (1985) #1-2
X-Men: The Asgardian Wars
Otherworldly wonder at the top of one world and the heart of another! In the Arctic Circle, the X-Men and Alpha Flight find a power that could save the world at the cost of destroying...what? But cost is no object when the power is revealed as a gift from Loki, who doesn't like it when his gifts are returned! When the God of Lies loses his own prize, he decides one bad turn deserves another and sets his magic against the X-Men, only for the New Mutants to take the fall...and rise to Asgard! The X-Men ride to the rescue, but can even the mightiest mutants survive the multiple magics of myth?
Collects X-Men and Alpha Flight #1-2, New Mutants Special Edition, and X-Men Annual #9.
224 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1990
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439 people want to read
About the author
Chris Claremont
3,276 books888 followersChris Claremont is a writer of American comic books, best known for his 16-year (1975-1991) stint on Uncanny X-Men, during which the series became one of the comic book industry's most successful properties.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
Claremont has written many stories for other publishers including the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel, his creator-owned Sovereign Seven for DC Comics and Aliens vs Predator for Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote a few issues of the series WildC.A.T.s (volume 1, issues #10-13) at Image Comics, which introduced his creator-owned character, Huntsman.
Outside of comics, Claremont co-wrote the Chronicles of the Shadow War trilogy, Shadow Moon (1995), Shadow Dawn (1996), and Shadow Star (1999), with George Lucas. This trilogy continues the story of Elora Danan from the movie Willow. In the 1980s, he also wrote a science fiction trilogy about female starship pilot Nicole Shea, consisting of First Flight (1987), Grounded! (1991), and Sundowner (1994). Claremont was also a contributor to the Wild Cards anthology series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
June 29, 2019
X-Men: The Asgardian Wars collects X-Men and Alpha Flight #1-2, New Mutants Special Edition and X-Men Annual #9.
This was another $5 find at MightyCon. I picked it up because my wife is a fan of Storm and I knew she wielded a Uru hammer in it at some point.
This trade contains two storylines. In one story, the X-Men and Alpha Flight go up against Loki in a paradise somewhere in the Arctic Circle. In the other, Loki brings the New Mutants to Asgard in an effort to gain his revenge upon the X-Men.
Both stories are fun but neither are earth-shatteringly good. Loki is true to form and the artwork is top notch for the time period. You can't go wrong with Arthur Adams or Paul Smith. It's weird how many of the characters aren't in regular use anymore, like most of the New Mutants, for instance.
There are also some terrible costume, like Rachel Summers in her leg-warmers and both of Colossus' outfits. Why mess with the Dave Cockrum original? I actually liked Wolverine in these stories since he wasn't the center of attention or chronically over-exposed. Warlock would have made a great Micronauts member. It's bizarre seeing Madelyne Prior married to Cyclops.
The highlights of this collection for me were Storm wielding the Uru hammer and Warlock shapeshifting into the Enterprise to save the day.
It's an odd collection but X-Men: The Asgardian Wars was easily worth the $5. It's an interesting look at an odd time in the history of the X-Men. Three out of five stars.
This was another $5 find at MightyCon. I picked it up because my wife is a fan of Storm and I knew she wielded a Uru hammer in it at some point.
This trade contains two storylines. In one story, the X-Men and Alpha Flight go up against Loki in a paradise somewhere in the Arctic Circle. In the other, Loki brings the New Mutants to Asgard in an effort to gain his revenge upon the X-Men.
Both stories are fun but neither are earth-shatteringly good. Loki is true to form and the artwork is top notch for the time period. You can't go wrong with Arthur Adams or Paul Smith. It's weird how many of the characters aren't in regular use anymore, like most of the New Mutants, for instance.
There are also some terrible costume, like Rachel Summers in her leg-warmers and both of Colossus' outfits. Why mess with the Dave Cockrum original? I actually liked Wolverine in these stories since he wasn't the center of attention or chronically over-exposed. Warlock would have made a great Micronauts member. It's bizarre seeing Madelyne Prior married to Cyclops.
The highlights of this collection for me were Storm wielding the Uru hammer and Warlock shapeshifting into the Enterprise to save the day.
It's an odd collection but X-Men: The Asgardian Wars was easily worth the $5. It's an interesting look at an odd time in the history of the X-Men. Three out of five stars.
July 17, 2025
So much happens in this collection. Firstly, the art by Paul Smith. Then the art gets even better with Art Adams' manga-inspired style beginning the tradition of X-Men his annuals during the mid- to late-80s. (The immediate followup, The Trial of Magneto, also has good art by JR JR but it was more of a standard monthly level. Still, this was my favorite era.)
Chris Claremont played around a lot with genres in his legendary run, and this is when he got to do a high fantasy take as the X-Men and New Mutants are taken to Asgard. Loki is the villain, although Thor doesn't show up, and there are faeries and dwarves and the 9 realms never looked better. Storm becoming the Goddess of Thunder--from when she was powerless--fit so well.
This was when they came up with the very good idea that Dani Moonstar was to be a Valkyrie. With a winged horse and everything.
Also, on the subject of Art Adams art, it must be said how good Warlock looked. Created by Bill Sienkiewicz, the strange techno-organic character was never illustrated well by other artists until New Mutants Special Edition # 1 when Adams really made it his own. And the shapeshifting was a fun way to put in various Easter Eggs. Lastly, this was also when the special relationship between Doug Ramsey and Warlock was getting developed which works so well as he's a major play in the X-mythos these days.
The Asgardian Wars is definitely essential reading for fans.
Chris Claremont played around a lot with genres in his legendary run, and this is when he got to do a high fantasy take as the X-Men and New Mutants are taken to Asgard. Loki is the villain, although Thor doesn't show up, and there are faeries and dwarves and the 9 realms never looked better. Storm becoming the Goddess of Thunder--from when she was powerless--fit so well.
This was when they came up with the very good idea that Dani Moonstar was to be a Valkyrie. With a winged horse and everything.
Also, on the subject of Art Adams art, it must be said how good Warlock looked. Created by Bill Sienkiewicz, the strange techno-organic character was never illustrated well by other artists until New Mutants Special Edition # 1 when Adams really made it his own. And the shapeshifting was a fun way to put in various Easter Eggs. Lastly, this was also when the special relationship between Doug Ramsey and Warlock was getting developed which works so well as he's a major play in the X-mythos these days.
The Asgardian Wars is definitely essential reading for fans.
February 18, 2016
I love this hardcover. Not only was this a bargain find with minimal defects but it collects a couple of related storylines featuring Chris Claremont at the height of his powers as X-Men overlord and two great artist in Paul Smith and Art Adams. The Adams part of this books is especially awesome since I'm a big fan of his work. It is safe to say that every X-fan should have this on their bookshelf.
July 26, 2020
Every now and then, in comic books, a writer and and artist or two are able to come together and produce a story that transcends any of the individual components. This is one such story. Opening with the two issue mini-series X-Men & Alpha Flight writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith create a remarkable tale in which Loki, Asgardian God of Lies, Mischief & Trickery, provides a method to give humans all they desire, a utopia on earth. But the cost? No more creativity. The heroes find themselves split down the middle of both teams as to whether Loki's Gift is worth the price.
But Loki is not done. Claremont collaporates with artist Arthur Adams, to finish off this sprawling tale as Loki kidnaps the X-Men's younger counterparts, the New Mutants and the X-Men's own Storm and offers them places and positions in Asgard which sorely tempt them to stay in the Realm Eternal. The problem is, of course, not all of Loki's charms result in gifts, some find themselves cursed and unable to ever leave. But Loki's magics and mayhem does have a way of catching up with him, or was that his plan all along?
The Asgardian Wars is a masterpiece from Claremont, Smith and Adams that collects into one volume one of the best X-Men story arcs of all time. Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime.
But Loki is not done. Claremont collaporates with artist Arthur Adams, to finish off this sprawling tale as Loki kidnaps the X-Men's younger counterparts, the New Mutants and the X-Men's own Storm and offers them places and positions in Asgard which sorely tempt them to stay in the Realm Eternal. The problem is, of course, not all of Loki's charms result in gifts, some find themselves cursed and unable to ever leave. But Loki's magics and mayhem does have a way of catching up with him, or was that his plan all along?
The Asgardian Wars is a masterpiece from Claremont, Smith and Adams that collects into one volume one of the best X-Men story arcs of all time. Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime.
May 28, 2013
The first X-Men comic I ever read, or at least parts of it. Rereading the whole thing puts together a very fun trilogy of mutants vs. Norse gods, or at least Loki. The X-Men, Alpha Flight, and the New Mutants clash with Loki's on going machinations. The science fiction world of X-Men doesn't always mesh well with fantasy but here it works amazingly, with both a sense of ludicrous fun of the clash and tying in Asgard as a wonderful fantasy land for some of the weary of bigotry mutants, while also as a solid world tied into all the other elements of the the Marvel universe that co-exist. Storm taking on the mantle of Thor is something I wish they would have returned to, and the usual X-Men familial drama is given added weight throughout these stories as Phoenix (Rachel Summers) deals with getting to know Cyclops-she's his daughter with Jean Grey from an alternate time, while in the present reality Cyclops is married and going to have a baby with Madelyne Pryor. (Not that anyone knew it at the time but Pryor would end up being an evil clone of Jean Grey and the baby to be born would be curmudgeonly future warrior Cable.) Hooray for non-normal families!
June 20, 2021
Esse é um daqueles não-eventos da Marvel, alguns personagens meio aleatórios, um fiapo de história, um ou outro momento de reflexão, mas eu acho uma das aventuras noventeiras mais divertidas dos mutantes marvelianos.
Na primeria parte, edições especiais do X-Men/Tropa Alfa, um avião viaja pelo norte canadense e é atingido por uma tempestade, até aí tudo bem, porém o piloto é um tal de Scott Summers e um "gemido psíquico" é ouvido pela sua filha desconhecida de um futuro alternativo - é um gibi dos X-men, né? - e uma má interpretação coloca os mutantes em confronto com a Tropa Alfa, depois todo mundo faz as pazes e seguem juntos para o Norte do Canadá. Lá chegando, encontram uma espécie de utopia. Claro, que as coisas não são bem assim e, aparentemente, há um preço muito alto a pagar pelo paraíso. No geral, a história é bem legal, tem aquelas costumeiras coincidências e dramalhices dos mutantes e um monte de ponta solta, a arte também é bem legal.
Contudo, a segunda parte é muito mais tri, os Novos Mutantes e a Ororo são sequestrados pelo Loki e cada um deles acaba em uma parte de Asgard. Claro, todo mundo tem que primeiro se encontrar, enquanto os X-Men tentam resgatá-los. Há muita coisa que acontece aqui de legal; o Macha Solar de gostosão da praça; a Rahne apaixonada pelo príncipe dos lobos; a Dani Moonstar de valquíria; o Sam como o eterno caipirão no meio dos anões; até a Illyana como demônio do mal ficou tri; e, algo bem interessante, vários dos elementos apresentados nessa história vão ecoar pelos próximos anos nas histórias dos mutantes. A arte dessas edições é muito boa, a Encantor nunca esteve tão linda.
Enfim, uma história muito bem feita e divertida que não precisa ter um entendimento muito grande dos mutantes e, ainda que existam consequências, não precisa continuar lendo todos os outros gibis para entender o final.
Na primeria parte, edições especiais do X-Men/Tropa Alfa, um avião viaja pelo norte canadense e é atingido por uma tempestade, até aí tudo bem, porém o piloto é um tal de Scott Summers e um "gemido psíquico" é ouvido pela sua filha desconhecida de um futuro alternativo - é um gibi dos X-men, né? - e uma má interpretação coloca os mutantes em confronto com a Tropa Alfa, depois todo mundo faz as pazes e seguem juntos para o Norte do Canadá. Lá chegando, encontram uma espécie de utopia. Claro, que as coisas não são bem assim e, aparentemente, há um preço muito alto a pagar pelo paraíso. No geral, a história é bem legal, tem aquelas costumeiras coincidências e dramalhices dos mutantes e um monte de ponta solta, a arte também é bem legal.
Contudo, a segunda parte é muito mais tri, os Novos Mutantes e a Ororo são sequestrados pelo Loki e cada um deles acaba em uma parte de Asgard. Claro, todo mundo tem que primeiro se encontrar, enquanto os X-Men tentam resgatá-los. Há muita coisa que acontece aqui de legal; o Macha Solar de gostosão da praça; a Rahne apaixonada pelo príncipe dos lobos; a Dani Moonstar de valquíria; o Sam como o eterno caipirão no meio dos anões; até a Illyana como demônio do mal ficou tri; e, algo bem interessante, vários dos elementos apresentados nessa história vão ecoar pelos próximos anos nas histórias dos mutantes. A arte dessas edições é muito boa, a Encantor nunca esteve tão linda.
Enfim, uma história muito bem feita e divertida que não precisa ter um entendimento muito grande dos mutantes e, ainda que existam consequências, não precisa continuar lendo todos os outros gibis para entender o final.
October 25, 2021
Estou relendo X-Men: Guerras Asgardianas, agora no formato original e sem cortes de páginas. Ela foi publicada na década de 1990 pela Editora Abril no Brasil, mas toda picotada. Guerras Asgardianas é um importante capítulo na cronologia dos X-Men porque traz algumas mudanças para os personagens da equipe principal, dos Novos Mutantes e da Tropa Alfa que são importantes. Como por exemplo a transformação de Danielle Moonstar em uma Valquíria de Hela. Essa mudança reverbera no Universo Marvel até hoje. Claremont desenvolve uma história gostosa de ler tanto na minissérie de encontro da Tropa Alfa e dos X-Men que se defrontam contra Loki, que é desenhada pelo ótimo Paul Smith, quanto nos especiais de muitas páginas de X-Men e de Novos Mutantes em que a arte fica a cargo do sensacional Arthur Adams. Em uma época que em as histórias do Thor estavam em uma superpopularidade (ver a fase de Walter Simonson no deus do trovão), os editores, roteiristas e artistas dão uma pirueta nos quadrinhos feitos hoje para aproveitar a popularidade de filmes do MCU. X-Men: Guerras Asgardianas deixou um legado importante para o universo Marvel nos quadrinhos, mas também é uma leitura prazerosa, divertida e bem estruturada.
September 23, 2025
Loved this as much on this reading as I did when I first read it. The art work is spectacular and the story line is fantastic!
March 10, 2011
Asgardian's and X-men in the same book? I think I just went to comic book nerd heaven. Amazing art by two different artist Paul Smith and Arthur Adams. This is an extremely fun X-men romp. Don't get me wrong its got some serious stuff in it, and some of the plot points in this book echo down the history of these characters (Mirage becoming a Valkyrie, Karma being possessed by the Shadow King, Wolfsbane's trouble with her wolf nature, etc), but its the little jokes that really make me love this story. Now part of that is from Arthur Adams I would think as its mostly the art that gives me a laugh. Lets see, you got a giant that looks like Ed gruberman, Poppy, Bluto, and Olive Oil tormenting Cypher, Warlock turning into the Starship Enterprise AND a Mech, not to mention my favorite The characters from Remington Steele (the tv show, thats right) showing up to say hi in passing to Storm. Check this book out if you are at all a fan of marvel's Asgard and the X-men. You won't be sorry. If you are already a fan of this book, then go out and pick up this HC edition, its excellently made and well worth the price.
August 26, 2013
The first trade paperback I had the pleasure to read; Nick Stahl introduced me to the x-men and this book in particular. Art Adams despite his penchant for giving his ladies huge 80's bouffants remains one of my favorite artists and Chris Claremont is the definitive x-men scribe.
July 15, 2021
Planar Mayhem & Mischief
Love this story arc and title crossover. Getting a glimpse of Asgardian life through the lens of mortal mutants really is a treat. Well written story and fantastic art. Don't miss this TPB!
Love this story arc and title crossover. Getting a glimpse of Asgardian life through the lens of mortal mutants really is a treat. Well written story and fantastic art. Don't miss this TPB!
July 11, 2016
Loved it. Arthur Adams draws half the book so what's not to love? It's a bit 80's, yeah. Get over it.
August 22, 2012
I really like this graphic novel. It is a great story with excellent twists and suspense.
July 27, 2014
One of my favorite series mostly due to the amazing artwork of Art Adams.
July 9, 2023
Recent posts of some of the artwork done in this collection from Arthur Adams is what persuaded me after all this time to dig it out and finally read it. This trade paperback collects X-Men and Alpha Flight #1-2, New Mutants Special Edition and X-Men Annual #9. The Norse god of mischief, Loki is the villain behind all of these stories.
In X-Men and Alpha Flight, Loki offers both teams of mutants the chance of a lifetime- to finally be human. Of course, both teams don't realize that it's Loki who's working behind the curtains. So at first, most of the heroes are eager at the chance at being normal; especially characters like Cyclops, Puck and Nightcrawler, whose mutant abilities and appearances make any chance at a normal life impossible. Obviously, Wolverine smells a rat and some of the Alpha Flight team don't want to lose what makes them individuals. Thus, when things don't go perfectly, Loki reveals himself and has a massive hissy fit!
New Mutants Special Edition starts off with the newest generation of gifted mutants enjoying a day at the beach. At this point in time, Storm of the X-Men, has lost her powers. Yet, she valiantly leads the New Mutants with bravery and bravado. This very much intrigues Loki who kidnaps Ororo. While under her spell, Loki offers her all the powers of a god, as long as she'll become his betrothed.
The New Mutants are dispersed all through Asgard and placed in ideal situations in hopes that the youth will enjoy their new surroundings and forget the whole thing about their teacher getting taken. It seems to work at first. But as memories of their past on earth start breaking through, the teens manage to find themselves. But the collective whole of the New Mutants just isn't enough to take on Loki and his newly juiced up bride-to-be Storm!
The New Mutants story continues in the X-Men annual. Somehow the X-Men have been alerted to Loki's plot and still angry over the Norse deity's actions with Alpha Flight, the mutants are looking for payback.
Chris Claremont penned all 3 stories. They're reflections of his skill as a writer as well as his annoying tendency to turn mutant tales into soap opera fodder. Paul Smith and Bob Wiacek were the artists on the X-Men and Alpha Flight. Adams penciled the New Mutants story and the annual. While Smith and Wiacek's art was good, Art Adams work was light years ahead. Let's face it, Adams is a master and if he only had a body of work that equalled Kirby or Ditko, he'd be a serious contender for Mount Rushmore of Artists contention.
A good collection of stories. Some of your favorite Asgardians guest stars in these pages. But no appearance from everyone's favorite. That's right; Beta Ray Bill is nowhere in sight. Neither is this golden haired impostor named Thor.
In X-Men and Alpha Flight, Loki offers both teams of mutants the chance of a lifetime- to finally be human. Of course, both teams don't realize that it's Loki who's working behind the curtains. So at first, most of the heroes are eager at the chance at being normal; especially characters like Cyclops, Puck and Nightcrawler, whose mutant abilities and appearances make any chance at a normal life impossible. Obviously, Wolverine smells a rat and some of the Alpha Flight team don't want to lose what makes them individuals. Thus, when things don't go perfectly, Loki reveals himself and has a massive hissy fit!
New Mutants Special Edition starts off with the newest generation of gifted mutants enjoying a day at the beach. At this point in time, Storm of the X-Men, has lost her powers. Yet, she valiantly leads the New Mutants with bravery and bravado. This very much intrigues Loki who kidnaps Ororo. While under her spell, Loki offers her all the powers of a god, as long as she'll become his betrothed.
The New Mutants are dispersed all through Asgard and placed in ideal situations in hopes that the youth will enjoy their new surroundings and forget the whole thing about their teacher getting taken. It seems to work at first. But as memories of their past on earth start breaking through, the teens manage to find themselves. But the collective whole of the New Mutants just isn't enough to take on Loki and his newly juiced up bride-to-be Storm!
The New Mutants story continues in the X-Men annual. Somehow the X-Men have been alerted to Loki's plot and still angry over the Norse deity's actions with Alpha Flight, the mutants are looking for payback.
Chris Claremont penned all 3 stories. They're reflections of his skill as a writer as well as his annoying tendency to turn mutant tales into soap opera fodder. Paul Smith and Bob Wiacek were the artists on the X-Men and Alpha Flight. Adams penciled the New Mutants story and the annual. While Smith and Wiacek's art was good, Art Adams work was light years ahead. Let's face it, Adams is a master and if he only had a body of work that equalled Kirby or Ditko, he'd be a serious contender for Mount Rushmore of Artists contention.
A good collection of stories. Some of your favorite Asgardians guest stars in these pages. But no appearance from everyone's favorite. That's right; Beta Ray Bill is nowhere in sight. Neither is this golden haired impostor named Thor.
June 14, 2022
This is a classic story in the X-Men franchise, often referenced, that I had never read.
It falls within the iconic Claremont run, and includes some powerhouse art from Paul Smith and Art Adams. Many comics bloggers and podcasters that I follow consistently rank this in the top 10 of X-Men stories.
And, yet, I found it just...fine. It's not bad by any means. Perhaps this was a case of expectation overpowering the reality, but I found it hard to get through at parts. It was less a pleasure read and more like I was doing homework reading for an "X-Men 101" class or something.
First, it's not an X story in a vacuum. You really have to kind of know what's occurring in the late 80s Thor books to follow the Asgardian side clearly. On the X-Men side, while I knew what was happening due to my own love of the franchise, it would be fairly inaccessible to a casual reader. Just the Madelyn Pryor stuff in the first part would cause more than a few head-scratches.
Also, there are a LOT of "Claremontisms" present. A lot of "body and soul" going on, here. It gets old after awhile for sure. I love me a dense Claremont X-Men tale as much as anyone, but I just couldn't find a groove here.
This does set up some important character work and storylines (in fact next graphic novel I will read is the New Mutants "sequel" storyline to this). And, there are some awesome parts (Storm, as always, kicks ass).
All in all, a mixed bag for me!
It falls within the iconic Claremont run, and includes some powerhouse art from Paul Smith and Art Adams. Many comics bloggers and podcasters that I follow consistently rank this in the top 10 of X-Men stories.
And, yet, I found it just...fine. It's not bad by any means. Perhaps this was a case of expectation overpowering the reality, but I found it hard to get through at parts. It was less a pleasure read and more like I was doing homework reading for an "X-Men 101" class or something.
First, it's not an X story in a vacuum. You really have to kind of know what's occurring in the late 80s Thor books to follow the Asgardian side clearly. On the X-Men side, while I knew what was happening due to my own love of the franchise, it would be fairly inaccessible to a casual reader. Just the Madelyn Pryor stuff in the first part would cause more than a few head-scratches.
Also, there are a LOT of "Claremontisms" present. A lot of "body and soul" going on, here. It gets old after awhile for sure. I love me a dense Claremont X-Men tale as much as anyone, but I just couldn't find a groove here.
This does set up some important character work and storylines (in fact next graphic novel I will read is the New Mutants "sequel" storyline to this). And, there are some awesome parts (Storm, as always, kicks ass).
All in all, a mixed bag for me!
July 25, 2022
Previously, my only exposure to this storyline was encountering a write-up for it on one of those Marvel trading cards. But did not give me an idea of the true scale of this story and the sort of long-term effects it would have on the X-family side of the Marvel Universe.
Mixing up the likes of the X-Men and the New Mutants with Asgard certainly resulted in a lot on interesting tweaks ranging from Karma spending an indefinite amount of time in a wasteland until she lost all of her Farouk weight (if you get what I mean) to Dani becoming one of the Valkyrie - a role that she would be called to act on time and time again in the many years to come.
The story in itself really felt like two chapters (at least) - the first part with the X-Men getting their wishes granted all because of Loki. And then the second half involves them trying to help Illyana with the seeming influence of the Enchantress, but of course, it's still Loki. It suffers from the challenges of spanning multiple titles at the same time, but it's still a pretty solid story. And while the Asgard stuff feels a little shallow, the different spotlight moments that all the mutant characters got totally worked.
Mixing up the likes of the X-Men and the New Mutants with Asgard certainly resulted in a lot on interesting tweaks ranging from Karma spending an indefinite amount of time in a wasteland until she lost all of her Farouk weight (if you get what I mean) to Dani becoming one of the Valkyrie - a role that she would be called to act on time and time again in the many years to come.
The story in itself really felt like two chapters (at least) - the first part with the X-Men getting their wishes granted all because of Loki. And then the second half involves them trying to help Illyana with the seeming influence of the Enchantress, but of course, it's still Loki. It suffers from the challenges of spanning multiple titles at the same time, but it's still a pretty solid story. And while the Asgard stuff feels a little shallow, the different spotlight moments that all the mutant characters got totally worked.
December 30, 2019
The classic, late-80's X-Men take on Loki's manipulative plan to change the world with the help of Canadian super-team Alpha Flight... and then must rescue their student team, the New Mutants, when they fall prey to Loki's revenge plot. I probably read all of these issues dozens of times while growing up. Whenever I re-read them now, I'm amazed at how Chris Claremont could create such elaborate, fast-paced adventure stories with so many complex characters, in a way that all of them have a role to play, along with their own flaws and conflicts. Classic stories and a great read, even for anyone not familiar with all of the characters.
August 31, 2025
I found this 1990 tpb at an antique mall for $4 and couldn’t turn down the Art Adams and Chris Claremont combo. The results were a little mixed though. The art is stellar, very nostalgic for me as this was originally released shortly before I started reading comics as a kid. The first story with Alpha Flight is fine enough, but the second half with the New Mutants I honestly just found hard to follow. Characters seemed to pop in and out of nowhere. Random bits of story didn’t seem to be resolved. Worth a read but maybe just stick to the first half.
June 2, 2022
Segunda parte com os Novos Mutantes é muito mais interessante e divertida que a primeira parte, mas o arco inteiro é bastante divertido em sua totalidade. O traço de Arthur Adams também é mais expressivo que o de Paul Smith, o que torna a história progressivamente melhor a partir do momento em que um grupo chato como o Alpha Flight deixa o coprotagonismo para uma equipe mais interessante que são os Novos Mutantes. Adorei!
March 19, 2017
Combining the X-Men, New Mutants, Loki and Asgard seems like a good idea, and it essentially is, but Claremont, as lauded a writer as he is, has some pitfalls which are very apparent in this book.
If you read a lot of X-Men in the '80s, you know Claremont's love of the phrase "... as the proverbial ..." It's in nearly every comic and said here by at least two different characters on two different occasions. And let's not get started on the "mutie hate" sentiment that is hammered home. Most of the issues I have with this trade paperback collection are the cliches. Once the action gets off Earth, though, it does get better.
The idea of mutants in Asgard is an appealing one, especially when the New Mutants are scattered throughout the land and time and do their best to make it back to one another. The story takes some very unexpected turns, but ultimately resolves a bit too easily for my liking.
This is not a good place to start for those who haven't read the X-Men or New Mutants before, but for others it is a solid edition in the X-universe.
If you read a lot of X-Men in the '80s, you know Claremont's love of the phrase "... as the proverbial ..." It's in nearly every comic and said here by at least two different characters on two different occasions. And let's not get started on the "mutie hate" sentiment that is hammered home. Most of the issues I have with this trade paperback collection are the cliches. Once the action gets off Earth, though, it does get better.
The idea of mutants in Asgard is an appealing one, especially when the New Mutants are scattered throughout the land and time and do their best to make it back to one another. The story takes some very unexpected turns, but ultimately resolves a bit too easily for my liking.
This is not a good place to start for those who haven't read the X-Men or New Mutants before, but for others it is a solid edition in the X-universe.
August 19, 2025
I am a huge X-Men fan and I had never read this story before. It was great. Claremont was at the pinnacle of his X-Men mastery and the art by Paul Smith and Arthur Adams was fantastic. It is always fun seeing the X-Men interact with villains that they do not usually interact with.
The only thing that bothered me (and only minimally at that) was that this was really a New Mutants story.
The only thing that bothered me (and only minimally at that) was that this was really a New Mutants story.
October 30, 2021
Que me gusta leer a los mutantes de Claremont.
Dos historias interrelacionadas de los mutantes con el trasfondo Asgardiano. A parte de la Patrulla X tenemos a Alpha Flight y a los nuevos mutantes. Estos últimos protagonizan lo mejor para mi gusto.
Dos historias interrelacionadas de los mutantes con el trasfondo Asgardiano. A parte de la Patrulla X tenemos a Alpha Flight y a los nuevos mutantes. Estos últimos protagonizan lo mejor para mi gusto.
September 26, 2022
I could never get into. I stopped halfway through. The old school drawings were incredible, and I love the characters involved. However, the story line was super scattered, and there wasn’t much backstory. It was like I started watching in the middle of the movie.
August 15, 2020
Amazing crossover, great arts!
Highly recommend to X-Men fans.
Highly recommend to X-Men fans.
January 5, 2015
These were two of my favorite giant sized stories form the 80's so I picked up the collected edition to see how they held up. The Alpha Flight/X-Men not so much...the X-Men/New Mutants...much better.
Alpha Flight/X-Men - okay let's start with Paul Smith's art. I was quite smitten with Paul's art in my earlier years but seeing it now makes me cringe. While I still like the minimalist cartoony take and some of his design, his faces are very expressionless...his action not very fluid and his anatomy inconsistent. In the 80's I am sure he was one of the better artists but held up to today's standards he falls very short. The story...it is a simple morality tale. Loki wants to gain the favour of the uber-Gods (not sure who they were but there you have it) by granting a boon to mortals so he gives a flight of passengers, captained by Scott Summers (Cyclops on leave from the X-men) and his Jean Grey look alike bride Maddy Pryor (that was a weird storyline) incredible powers that can be used to help the world. Ah! But there is a catch...as we slowly discover. The magic used to grant the powers (and will be used to grant EVERY human powers) is being taken from humanity's magic (imagination...and...um...imagination ... I think it just robs us of imagination). So at first this is slowly discovered and then sides pair off for people who want the power and people who don't want Loki's gift. A simple little plot that isn't new...the nicest part of the story is actually the wrap up as people come to grips with losing the powers. The story is hurt by using Alpha Flight...a team I so wanted to love in the 80's (created and originally written/drawn by John Byrne) but ultimately ended up being a very boring team with no identity. As can be seen by the fact they are not used in the current Marvel Universe. Also, RAchel Summers is the daughter of Cyclops from the future and her teenage angst throughout the story is ridiculous. Can I also say "I always hated the X-Men Rogue and the fact she was the poster child for bad 80's hair and fashion"? Good.
SO the New Mutants - this one is still penned by Chris Claremont but we have the incomparable art talents of Art Adams. I drooled over his art in the 80's and it is still painfully beautiful. His attention to detail meant he was very slow and not a lot of art was produced by him so this collection is a GREAT example of his art (and more fun than his Longshot series) and is his art BEFORE he went more cartoony (I think to speed up his process - but his earlier art remains the best of the decade..or any decade). I won't go on about why I love his art too much but it is creative, exciting, dramatic, and wonderful. The first half of the story is inked by Terry Austin (best inker ever) and is the best. Ever with the odd New Mutants (another group that really has no memorable stories to go with them). I think they had some interesting characters with them but I honestly think this Annual was the most interesting story written with them. Funny to see the character of Cypher there...his power was to speak languages - so 100% useless in any action scene. Geezus! No body liked him...readers, writers, artists. Why the hell was he there? So this story is Loki trying to get revenge on the X-Men for turning down his gift by capturing Storm (who was powerless at this time) and the New Mutants (since they weren't X-Men Loki wasn't breaking his oath not to harm "X-Men"). So we have the New Mutants and eventually the X-men romping through Asgard. Each New Mutant ends up in a different place with different challenges. Very creative stuff and a satisfying story. In fact...you almost wish the New Mutants HAD stayed in Asgard :). And the story is, as I said, helped greatly by Art Adams stunning art. I think this was his best art of all time and anyone interested in him should pick up the collection for that alone.
Alpha Flight/X-Men - okay let's start with Paul Smith's art. I was quite smitten with Paul's art in my earlier years but seeing it now makes me cringe. While I still like the minimalist cartoony take and some of his design, his faces are very expressionless...his action not very fluid and his anatomy inconsistent. In the 80's I am sure he was one of the better artists but held up to today's standards he falls very short. The story...it is a simple morality tale. Loki wants to gain the favour of the uber-Gods (not sure who they were but there you have it) by granting a boon to mortals so he gives a flight of passengers, captained by Scott Summers (Cyclops on leave from the X-men) and his Jean Grey look alike bride Maddy Pryor (that was a weird storyline) incredible powers that can be used to help the world. Ah! But there is a catch...as we slowly discover. The magic used to grant the powers (and will be used to grant EVERY human powers) is being taken from humanity's magic (imagination...and...um...imagination ... I think it just robs us of imagination). So at first this is slowly discovered and then sides pair off for people who want the power and people who don't want Loki's gift. A simple little plot that isn't new...the nicest part of the story is actually the wrap up as people come to grips with losing the powers. The story is hurt by using Alpha Flight...a team I so wanted to love in the 80's (created and originally written/drawn by John Byrne) but ultimately ended up being a very boring team with no identity. As can be seen by the fact they are not used in the current Marvel Universe. Also, RAchel Summers is the daughter of Cyclops from the future and her teenage angst throughout the story is ridiculous. Can I also say "I always hated the X-Men Rogue and the fact she was the poster child for bad 80's hair and fashion"? Good.
SO the New Mutants - this one is still penned by Chris Claremont but we have the incomparable art talents of Art Adams. I drooled over his art in the 80's and it is still painfully beautiful. His attention to detail meant he was very slow and not a lot of art was produced by him so this collection is a GREAT example of his art (and more fun than his Longshot series) and is his art BEFORE he went more cartoony (I think to speed up his process - but his earlier art remains the best of the decade..or any decade). I won't go on about why I love his art too much but it is creative, exciting, dramatic, and wonderful. The first half of the story is inked by Terry Austin (best inker ever) and is the best. Ever with the odd New Mutants (another group that really has no memorable stories to go with them). I think they had some interesting characters with them but I honestly think this Annual was the most interesting story written with them. Funny to see the character of Cypher there...his power was to speak languages - so 100% useless in any action scene. Geezus! No body liked him...readers, writers, artists. Why the hell was he there? So this story is Loki trying to get revenge on the X-Men for turning down his gift by capturing Storm (who was powerless at this time) and the New Mutants (since they weren't X-Men Loki wasn't breaking his oath not to harm "X-Men"). So we have the New Mutants and eventually the X-men romping through Asgard. Each New Mutant ends up in a different place with different challenges. Very creative stuff and a satisfying story. In fact...you almost wish the New Mutants HAD stayed in Asgard :). And the story is, as I said, helped greatly by Art Adams stunning art. I think this was his best art of all time and anyone interested in him should pick up the collection for that alone.
July 26, 2025
Text: 3/5
Art: 3/5
Art: 3/5
February 16, 2009
Okay, so this is basically two different stories that involve Loki, so they packaged 'em all together and stuck Asgard on the title.
The first is an X-Men, Alpha Flight teamup mini-series. I normally don't care for these kinds of mini-series. Either they are too afraid to affect the main storylines, or they do and become required reading that takes you out of the overall series. In this case it is mostly not required. The most important content is Scott and Rachel finally meeting and having some moments. And we learn that Madelyne is pregnant. Paul Smith is back on art. Still like his art. Can't say the work in this series is especially exciting, but I still enjoyed it. More so than Romita Jr's has been doing in Uncanny. It didn't make me interested in Alpha Flight which is not good for a teamup. The concept behind the story was... alright. There were a few points that I actually had a strong desire to unravel the mystery. That's a good sign. But overall, you've seen it before.
The second story is from a New Mutants Special and Uncanny X-Men Annual #9. Basically, the New Mutants and Storm get taken to Asgard. In the annual the X-Men come to help them. Arthur Adams does the art for both. Adams is quite impressive. I like his art, but at the same time I can't fully embrace it. Oh, and he loves mullets. Not only is he responsible for the most famous mullet in comics, but he seems to give every character he can one. Gotta love the 80s.
The thing I really liked about the special is that each of the New Mutants gets their treatment. They all get split up and end up in different stories. This does two things: One it gives each character your focus at different points. Claremont usually just does this with an overabundance of thought bubbles, but here he can make them act independently of one another. This isn't to say all characters get like treatment. Two, it also makes me want to read more Thor books, because Asgard is such a fun setting. Well truth be told it isn't all in Asgard... but I am not sure how they refer to all the different parts of the Yggdrasil in Marvel. Probably just as the different branches of the Yggdrasil...
As for long term affects. The biggest affect appears to be to Dani. I am not sure how it is going to play out... I guess Karma had a fairly important change, but you knew it was going to happen somehow and it is more of a return than a change.
Anyways, the rating is more based on the later story. It probably doesn't deserve it... but I had fun, and that's the point.
The first is an X-Men, Alpha Flight teamup mini-series. I normally don't care for these kinds of mini-series. Either they are too afraid to affect the main storylines, or they do and become required reading that takes you out of the overall series. In this case it is mostly not required. The most important content is Scott and Rachel finally meeting and having some moments. And we learn that Madelyne is pregnant. Paul Smith is back on art. Still like his art. Can't say the work in this series is especially exciting, but I still enjoyed it. More so than Romita Jr's has been doing in Uncanny. It didn't make me interested in Alpha Flight which is not good for a teamup. The concept behind the story was... alright. There were a few points that I actually had a strong desire to unravel the mystery. That's a good sign. But overall, you've seen it before.
The second story is from a New Mutants Special and Uncanny X-Men Annual #9. Basically, the New Mutants and Storm get taken to Asgard. In the annual the X-Men come to help them. Arthur Adams does the art for both. Adams is quite impressive. I like his art, but at the same time I can't fully embrace it. Oh, and he loves mullets. Not only is he responsible for the most famous mullet in comics, but he seems to give every character he can one. Gotta love the 80s.
The thing I really liked about the special is that each of the New Mutants gets their treatment. They all get split up and end up in different stories. This does two things: One it gives each character your focus at different points. Claremont usually just does this with an overabundance of thought bubbles, but here he can make them act independently of one another. This isn't to say all characters get like treatment. Two, it also makes me want to read more Thor books, because Asgard is such a fun setting. Well truth be told it isn't all in Asgard... but I am not sure how they refer to all the different parts of the Yggdrasil in Marvel. Probably just as the different branches of the Yggdrasil...
As for long term affects. The biggest affect appears to be to Dani. I am not sure how it is going to play out... I guess Karma had a fairly important change, but you knew it was going to happen somehow and it is more of a return than a change.
Anyways, the rating is more based on the later story. It probably doesn't deserve it... but I had fun, and that's the point.
November 25, 2016
X-Men: The Asgardian Wars was one of the very first trade paperbacks I purchased when I started collecting comics, and to this day remains one of my all-time favorite X-Men sagas. The 1985 series brought the X-Men, Alpha Flight, and the New Mutants together, both on Earth and in Asgard, against the trickster god Loki, whose sinister plans will push our heroes to the absolute limit.
The saga starts off with the 2-issue X-Men/Alpha Flight limited series by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith. Claremont of course pretty much single-handedly saved the X-Men from extinction in the 70's, and was THE X-Men authority throughout the 80's. Smith's previous run on the Uncanny X-Men was amazing, and his artwork here is just as impressive. In this series the X-Men and Alpha Flight are drawn north to discover the answer to all humanity's problems...courtesy of Loki himself. Loki's gift couldn't have strings attached, could it?
The second half of the story spanned the New Mutants Special #1 and the Uncanny X-Men Annual #9, again written by Claremont with unforgettable artwork by Arthur Adams. This is vintage Adams, back before his style got so cartoonish. In this story, a ticked-off Loki exacts his revenge against the X-Men, but his minions instead fetch him the New Mutants, who are all radically changed by their time in Asgard. The X-Men come to the rescue eventually, but will their students even want to go back to Earth after these events?
This is about as much fun as a superhero comic can get. You get gods, monsters, mutants, elves, dwarves, Valkyries, and plenty of action, page after gorgeously illustrated page. Claremont has a tendency to let his characters monologue things no one would ever say, but the story as a whole is so much fun you can overlook that. If you love the classic X-Men lineup, Marvel's version of Asgard, or just enjoy fun, over the top superheroics, you'll love X-Men: The Asgardian Wars.
It's a shame this trade paperback is out of print. I know the X-Men and New Mutants of 1985 don't exactly fit in with today's movie-driven X-image, but this is still a bright spot in the X-Men's history.
The saga starts off with the 2-issue X-Men/Alpha Flight limited series by Chris Claremont and Paul Smith. Claremont of course pretty much single-handedly saved the X-Men from extinction in the 70's, and was THE X-Men authority throughout the 80's. Smith's previous run on the Uncanny X-Men was amazing, and his artwork here is just as impressive. In this series the X-Men and Alpha Flight are drawn north to discover the answer to all humanity's problems...courtesy of Loki himself. Loki's gift couldn't have strings attached, could it?
The second half of the story spanned the New Mutants Special #1 and the Uncanny X-Men Annual #9, again written by Claremont with unforgettable artwork by Arthur Adams. This is vintage Adams, back before his style got so cartoonish. In this story, a ticked-off Loki exacts his revenge against the X-Men, but his minions instead fetch him the New Mutants, who are all radically changed by their time in Asgard. The X-Men come to the rescue eventually, but will their students even want to go back to Earth after these events?
This is about as much fun as a superhero comic can get. You get gods, monsters, mutants, elves, dwarves, Valkyries, and plenty of action, page after gorgeously illustrated page. Claremont has a tendency to let his characters monologue things no one would ever say, but the story as a whole is so much fun you can overlook that. If you love the classic X-Men lineup, Marvel's version of Asgard, or just enjoy fun, over the top superheroics, you'll love X-Men: The Asgardian Wars.
It's a shame this trade paperback is out of print. I know the X-Men and New Mutants of 1985 don't exactly fit in with today's movie-driven X-image, but this is still a bright spot in the X-Men's history.
July 4, 2015
So, the last two installments of Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men have been spent covering the stories reprinted in this volume, and it made me nostalgic. Fortunately, there are libraries for me to indulge that nostalgia in.
When I first started reading comics, the latter two stories in this volume - featuring assorted New Mutants and X-Men battling Loki in Asgard - were among the first I read. They still hold up pretty well - Claremont is clearly having a ball writing Asgardian dialogue and Art Adams' art has aged very well indeed. (He is, bar none, the single best artist to draw Warlock. Check out the top panel on page 164 if thou dost doubt my words.)
Alas, the other story is not nearly so good, being one of the more crashingly unsubtle of Claremont's career, which is why this book rates only four stars, not five. That said, read with a knowledge of later plot developments, the first half positively drips with foreshadowing (at least for the members of Alpha Flight).
All in all, a fun sampler of Claremont at his creative peak, and a nice little side story for Simonson's epic run on Thor that it paralleled.
When I first started reading comics, the latter two stories in this volume - featuring assorted New Mutants and X-Men battling Loki in Asgard - were among the first I read. They still hold up pretty well - Claremont is clearly having a ball writing Asgardian dialogue and Art Adams' art has aged very well indeed. (He is, bar none, the single best artist to draw Warlock. Check out the top panel on page 164 if thou dost doubt my words.)
Alas, the other story is not nearly so good, being one of the more crashingly unsubtle of Claremont's career, which is why this book rates only four stars, not five. That said, read with a knowledge of later plot developments, the first half positively drips with foreshadowing (at least for the members of Alpha Flight).
All in all, a fun sampler of Claremont at his creative peak, and a nice little side story for Simonson's epic run on Thor that it paralleled.
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