Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 16

by Chris Claremont

Chris Claremont, the man who made Marvel's mutants an industry unto themselves, takes the X-Men to hell and back - and damnation couldn't look any better than with legends Marc Silvestri and Walter Simonson behind the art boards! The "Inferno" saga brings together the many threads Mister Sinister has been weaving, the machinations of the demon N'astirh, and the lives of X-Men past and present. In one of Marvel's most devastatingly personal epics, the startling secret of Madelyne Pryor is revealed - and the X-Men and X-Factor will face each other for the first time! This newly restored edition also features the return of the alien Brood, the introduction of Genosha and a Savage Land adventure drawn by Arthur Adams! Collecting UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) #232-243, X-MEN ANNUAL (1970) #12 and X-FACTOR (1986) #37-39.

Genres: X Men, Comics

504 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2024

About the author

Chris 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.

Reviews

[J.J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Claremont’s best stories, but (with Inferno) perhaps the best display of his storytelling skills. He mines diamonds out of the Madelyn Prior/Jean Grey gestalt (with help from Louise Simonson), while simultaneously spearheading a crossover event that (sadly) is too big to include a lot of relevant portions within this 450 page book. This book’s release is also timely in relation to the corresponding plot line in the new Disney+ X-men ‘97 series.

Silvestri’s art is great. Dan Green (as inker) makes it pop—even better than P. Craig Russell. And while Walt Simonson is unquestionably an icon, legend and was a visionary bridge post Kirby (especially on Thor), his Wolverine is so noteworthily bad in here that Al Milgrom has to just ink his whole face solid black in most panels.

[John Peel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This latest collection includes the "Brood" and "Inferno" series of stories, written by Chris Claremont and illustrated brilliantly by Marc Silvestri. (Though the "X-Factor" issues are by the Simonsons.) Lots of action, and even more introspection. Too much, in fact. Cyclops' history is rewritten in a major way that the villain, Mr. Sinister, stops all the ongoing action to explain in great detail. And when you see the Inferno plot in one volume, you can clearly see the repetition. Sinister tells his underlings to kill the X-Men several times - and, for various reasons, they don't. Well, the comic would be over if they did, of course, but that's not really enough excuse.

On the whole, solid enough, but the endless explanations get tiring.

[Adam Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best Claremont stuff here -- the Brood touch down in New Mexico; the X-Men discover the horror of Genosha; and the crimes against Madelyne Pryor come to a devastating conclusion in Inferno. Chris Claremont is really at the height of his narrative power here, with fantastic collaborators like Marc Silvestri firing on all cylinders. The Simonson/Simonson X-Factor issues are about as strong here as X-Factor ever really is for me, too, so that's a nice bonus.