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Iconic cosmic-powered hero and bold addition to the X-Men's expanded roster, Alex Summers is Havok. Embark on a journey to the stars as Havok uncovers the crushing truth about his half-brother Gabriel, the tyrannical Emperor Vulcan! As Alex forms an all-new team of spacefaring Starjammers to take Gabriel down, witness an interstellar story years in the making. Combining Havok's first appearance with one of his legendary adventures, this collection blows the doors wide open on one of the X-Men's most vital bloodlines. It's brother vs brother and the outcome will decide the fate of billions. Collects X-Men #54-55 and X-Men: Emperor Vulcan #1-5.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
44 people want to read
About the author
Arnold Drake
324 books11 followersArnold Drake was an American comic book writer and screenwriter best known for co-creating the DC Comics characters Deadman and the Doom Patrol, and the Marvel Comics characters the Guardians of the Galaxy, among others.
Drake was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
Drake was posthumously inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 8, 2021
I didn't enjoy this at all not much else to say.
January 29, 2016
2.5 stars
As expected, the first story is mediocre. We get introduced to Alex Summers aka Havok and Cyclops brother. Dialogue is taxing and storyline is so thin. Luckily, the later story is much better. We see how is as a reluctant leader and how he feels about his brother(s). It's refreshing to come across a character that's not squeaky clean. Havok is the leader of the Starjammers and travelling through space in honor of his father and fighting, amongst others, his brother Vulcan.
In all honesty, we didn't get too much back story about him at the end of the issue, but that's not a bad thing because you learn more about that in Cyclops's.
Sufficed to say, I prefer Havok over Cyclops.
As expected, the first story is mediocre. We get introduced to Alex Summers aka Havok and Cyclops brother. Dialogue is taxing and storyline is so thin. Luckily, the later story is much better. We see how is as a reluctant leader and how he feels about his brother(s). It's refreshing to come across a character that's not squeaky clean. Havok is the leader of the Starjammers and travelling through space in honor of his father and fighting, amongst others, his brother Vulcan.
In all honesty, we didn't get too much back story about him at the end of the issue, but that's not a bad thing because you learn more about that in Cyclops's.
Sufficed to say, I prefer Havok over Cyclops.
April 14, 2024
Marvel's Mightiest Heroes Book 44.
Here we get the two-part introduction of Cyclops' younger brother Alex Summers from the late 60s, in which they have to face the Living Pharaoh. Also included is the tale of Alex leading the Starjammers in an attempt to overthrow his deranged brother Gabriel, who has become the tyrannical Emperor Vulcan of the Shi'ar Empire.
The 60s stories on offer here date from a time when the X-Men as a series was in real decline and on the verge of cancellation. You can tell too, because these are not well-written, well-illustrated or even really very interesting tales. Aside from being Alex Summers' first appearance, there is really nothing worth reading about these stories.
'Emperor Vulcan' from the late 2000s is much better in overall quality but still failed to really engage me. The truth is I've never liked the X-Men stories focused around the Starjammers and the Shi'ar, and this story of an Imperial civil war and a plucky band of resistance fighters is incredibly derivative. It's interesting to see Alex confronting his vicious younger brother and comparing his own nature to that of his idolised older brother (although Scott would later prove that maybe supervillain runs in the genes...) but beyond that not terribly engaging.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
Here we get the two-part introduction of Cyclops' younger brother Alex Summers from the late 60s, in which they have to face the Living Pharaoh. Also included is the tale of Alex leading the Starjammers in an attempt to overthrow his deranged brother Gabriel, who has become the tyrannical Emperor Vulcan of the Shi'ar Empire.
The 60s stories on offer here date from a time when the X-Men as a series was in real decline and on the verge of cancellation. You can tell too, because these are not well-written, well-illustrated or even really very interesting tales. Aside from being Alex Summers' first appearance, there is really nothing worth reading about these stories.
'Emperor Vulcan' from the late 2000s is much better in overall quality but still failed to really engage me. The truth is I've never liked the X-Men stories focused around the Starjammers and the Shi'ar, and this story of an Imperial civil war and a plucky band of resistance fighters is incredibly derivative. It's interesting to see Alex confronting his vicious younger brother and comparing his own nature to that of his idolised older brother (although Scott would later prove that maybe supervillain runs in the genes...) but beyond that not terribly engaging.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
January 7, 2022
60s style is clapped but the rest was good
July 2, 2015
(This review may contain spoilers).
I've met one incarnation of Alex Summers, in X-Men: First Class and, briefly, Days of Future Past. But it was really good to see him in his original incarnation.
Again, it was pretty cool to see two different styles of comics that Havok had been in. The first one was fairly simple, though it started off with a really interesting scene. I liked the glimpses of Alex's relationship with Scott... and it was also really cool to have the chance to see more of some of the other X-Men; like Jean Grey and Bobby. There was a good opportunity to see Jean's interactions with the rest of the team.
When I learned of Vulcan's history, I did feel some sympathy for him... but I was very confused about what was going on with him, since Havok's history indicated Vulcan (Gabriel) had been good for a while.
It was interesting to see Vulcan's relationship with the rest of his people that he was emperor of. It was also interesting to see him and Havok working together... however briefly. I'm a fan of the redemption-style arcs and it was a bit of a disappointment that there didn't seem to be one in this case.
I though that Marvel Girl and Polaris were interesting characters and I would have liked to see more of both of them. Rachel's relationship with one of the others was fairly interesting to see, but I didn't get to see as much of it as I would have liked to.
I liked seeing Havok's costume in this and how much it differed to his brother's. It was also good to get something of an idea of his leadership skills. There were also other characters I was intrigued by and who I would have liked to learn more of the history of.
The artwork in both of the sets of comics were vastly different, but still really good. Havok's one of the Marvel characters I'd like to see more of in the future. I'd be interested in seeing more of his relationship with Scott and with Rachel. And having researched Rachel's history, I'd like to see more of her. At some point in the future, I will definitely read more of the 'verse Havok is involved in.
I've met one incarnation of Alex Summers, in X-Men: First Class and, briefly, Days of Future Past. But it was really good to see him in his original incarnation.
Again, it was pretty cool to see two different styles of comics that Havok had been in. The first one was fairly simple, though it started off with a really interesting scene. I liked the glimpses of Alex's relationship with Scott... and it was also really cool to have the chance to see more of some of the other X-Men; like Jean Grey and Bobby. There was a good opportunity to see Jean's interactions with the rest of the team.
When I learned of Vulcan's history, I did feel some sympathy for him... but I was very confused about what was going on with him, since Havok's history indicated Vulcan (Gabriel) had been good for a while.
It was interesting to see Vulcan's relationship with the rest of his people that he was emperor of. It was also interesting to see him and Havok working together... however briefly. I'm a fan of the redemption-style arcs and it was a bit of a disappointment that there didn't seem to be one in this case.
I though that Marvel Girl and Polaris were interesting characters and I would have liked to see more of both of them. Rachel's relationship with one of the others was fairly interesting to see, but I didn't get to see as much of it as I would have liked to.
I liked seeing Havok's costume in this and how much it differed to his brother's. It was also good to get something of an idea of his leadership skills. There were also other characters I was intrigued by and who I would have liked to learn more of the history of.
The artwork in both of the sets of comics were vastly different, but still really good. Havok's one of the Marvel characters I'd like to see more of in the future. I'd be interested in seeing more of his relationship with Scott and with Rachel. And having researched Rachel's history, I'd like to see more of her. At some point in the future, I will definitely read more of the 'verse Havok is involved in.
September 14, 2015
First off you get Alex's introduction into the Marvel Universe where he not only finds out he is a mutant but that Scott 'Cyclops' Summers is his older brother.
Then the main part of the graphic novel the mini-series of Emperor Vulcan. Vulcan aka Gabriel Summers is the youngest brother who is just plain power hungry. This was a fun ride, very science fiction, space fights for a basically X-Men title with Vulcan reigning as the Shi'Ar emperor.
Havok and the starjammers must stop Vulcan for his past deeds but another alien race bent on destroying the Shi'ar turn up to throw a huge kink into the proceedings.
If you like your comics with a bit of a Battlestar Galactica feel then this is right for you.
Then the main part of the graphic novel the mini-series of Emperor Vulcan. Vulcan aka Gabriel Summers is the youngest brother who is just plain power hungry. This was a fun ride, very science fiction, space fights for a basically X-Men title with Vulcan reigning as the Shi'Ar emperor.
Havok and the starjammers must stop Vulcan for his past deeds but another alien race bent on destroying the Shi'ar turn up to throw a huge kink into the proceedings.
If you like your comics with a bit of a Battlestar Galactica feel then this is right for you.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews