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X-Treme X-Men (2001) (Collected Editions)
X-Treme X-Men, Vol. 5: God Loves, Man Kills
Collecting the classic graphic novel that inspired the blockbuster X2 along with a brand new sequel to that legendary story! The Anti-Mutant Movement leader Stryker has returned and it's up to the X-Treme team to make sure his hatred of mutants does not lead to more deaths. But what happens when their goals are one and the same? Ages 12+
216 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2003
3 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Chris Claremont
3,275 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 26, 2022
Written to coincide with the release of X2, this is Claremont's bizarre sequel to God Loves, Man Kills. It's not good.
January 10, 2024
2.5/5.0
July 15, 2024
Battle of the Atom ep.1
2 men face off, and both have God on their side. That’s sure to end well!
Read for a good story with a very of-it’s-time (no offense) script and art.
2 men face off, and both have God on their side. That’s sure to end well!
Read for a good story with a very of-it’s-time (no offense) script and art.
January 26, 2023
The original God Loves, Man Kills OGN, reprinted in this TPB, is good for 4 stars, maybe more. With the proliferation of right wing evangelical zealots in the real world over the past 40 years who have embraced the language of violence and are more than willing to dehumanize their political opponents, this story seems more prescient than ever.
The sequel is somewhat less inspired. Stryker has escaped from prison, but whatever his plans were, they were disrupted by a third party, which results in a much different ending than the original. One I think is much less poignant and overly optimistic in a deathbed conversion sort of way.
Anderson's artwork for the OGN is classic, moody and expressive but still realistic. Kordey is not in Anderson's class, but his work here is miles above his more infamous New X-Men issues.
God Loves, Man Kills 2 was released to capitalize on X2 coming out, but I think it fails because book Stryker and movie Stryker are too different and because it is too detached from both the movie plot and the OGN. Claremont's voice in X-treme X-Men was a bit dated to begin with, and the book had by this point completed its original mission and was meandering in search of a new direction. And, I'm speculating here, but I expect the editorial pressure on Claremont to ape his own superior work led to an ultimately forgettable sequel. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't call it good either.
One great story; one forgettable sequel. Adds up to a 3 star average for me.
The sequel is somewhat less inspired. Stryker has escaped from prison, but whatever his plans were, they were disrupted by a third party, which results in a much different ending than the original. One I think is much less poignant and overly optimistic in a deathbed conversion sort of way.
Anderson's artwork for the OGN is classic, moody and expressive but still realistic. Kordey is not in Anderson's class, but his work here is miles above his more infamous New X-Men issues.
God Loves, Man Kills 2 was released to capitalize on X2 coming out, but I think it fails because book Stryker and movie Stryker are too different and because it is too detached from both the movie plot and the OGN. Claremont's voice in X-treme X-Men was a bit dated to begin with, and the book had by this point completed its original mission and was meandering in search of a new direction. And, I'm speculating here, but I expect the editorial pressure on Claremont to ape his own superior work led to an ultimately forgettable sequel. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't call it good either.
One great story; one forgettable sequel. Adds up to a 3 star average for me.
August 31, 2023
Does God Loves, Man Kills 2 suck? Pretty much. Does it feel like Marvel made Chris Claremont write this to cash in on the movie X2: X-Men United which also came out in 2003? You bet it does! Claremont writes this sequel like it's homework where the original is probably the best example of what an X-Men story can be. All of that is true and I have a hard time imagining a comic reader out there clamoring for the continuing adventures of William Stryker, especially one that seems like a hybrid between the televangelist from the original story and Brian Cox's character from X2 with a fresh, post jail, new, swole character design. I would love to read an update of this story, maybe where Stryker has picked as a YouTube bigot or Infowars asshole and pit the X-Men against modern extremism in the evangelical movement of 2003 or 2023 unfortunately.
All that said, the editors of this collection did something smart that I'd like to point out. They present this collection with the sequel issues first and the original God Loves, Man Kills graphic novel at the end. Normally I hate having issues presented out of order but it really works here. If I had reread the original, then dove into the sequel I would have been even more bummed out than I am. Instead, immediately after the disappointment of the weak story and meh art of sequel I could drown my sorrows in the greatest, and unfortunately most timeless, X-Men story ever told by artists and a writer at the absolute peak of their powers.
All that said, the editors of this collection did something smart that I'd like to point out. They present this collection with the sequel issues first and the original God Loves, Man Kills graphic novel at the end. Normally I hate having issues presented out of order but it really works here. If I had reread the original, then dove into the sequel I would have been even more bummed out than I am. Instead, immediately after the disappointment of the weak story and meh art of sequel I could drown my sorrows in the greatest, and unfortunately most timeless, X-Men story ever told by artists and a writer at the absolute peak of their powers.
September 27, 2012
Well, a vast improvement over the previous volumes, but this one still suffers from some problems. First, the overly-religious theme only works if your characters are actually saying something. Having your characters go around randomly quoting scriptures out of context doesn't make the story deep, it actually makes it shallow. Don't misunderstand: I love religious overtones, and I think comics generally make a huge misstep by ignoring religious matters. But this is more silly than serious. Second, the ending is very cheesy. Third, the art is sometimes off-putting. Characters randomly don't look like themselves. Anyway, I consider this series to be pretty terrible, but this book is actually fairly solid.
April 4, 2022
There is a lot going on in this story, but it does not come together well enough to make it especially memorable. William Stryker escapes federal custody and kidnaps Kitty Pryde. The X-Treme X-Men track him to an isolated enclave of mutant children in the Rocky Mountains protected by a mysterious Reverend Paul.
I won't spoil the ending, but it is an interesting premise. We have not seen William Stryker since the well-regarded 1982 graphic novel X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills. He is a very pious man who truly believes that mutants are an abomination to God, so it was interesting to watch him, Kitty, and Reverend Paul each reference religion to justify their actions.
The devil is in the details, and in this case, it is the lack of editing attention. To advance the plot, for example, Wolverine actually dies and is resurrected without explanation. Stryker is able to use Kitty to phase them both and stay in place while the Earth revolves around them (and this somehow hurts Storm from across the country). Even something minor such as the name of the mutant child that the X-Men are attempting to save throughout this run changes in each issue.
Perhaps the biggest unanswered question is why Lady Deathstrike serves William Stryker. She is normally depicted as a fiercely independent woman, but she suddenly appears to be an underling. William Stryker, Lady Deathstrike, and their unusual relationship are key elements in the second X-Men movie X2. This was unnecessary and disappointing.
I won't spoil the ending, but it is an interesting premise. We have not seen William Stryker since the well-regarded 1982 graphic novel X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills. He is a very pious man who truly believes that mutants are an abomination to God, so it was interesting to watch him, Kitty, and Reverend Paul each reference religion to justify their actions.
The devil is in the details, and in this case, it is the lack of editing attention. To advance the plot, for example, Wolverine actually dies and is resurrected without explanation. Stryker is able to use Kitty to phase them both and stay in place while the Earth revolves around them (and this somehow hurts Storm from across the country). Even something minor such as the name of the mutant child that the X-Men are attempting to save throughout this run changes in each issue.
Perhaps the biggest unanswered question is why Lady Deathstrike serves William Stryker. She is normally depicted as a fiercely independent woman, but she suddenly appears to be an underling. William Stryker, Lady Deathstrike, and their unusual relationship are key elements in the second X-Men movie X2. This was unnecessary and disappointing.
July 7, 2017
Continuing the x-read of 2017...
2-2 ½ stars to the new story, 4-5 for the original.
I loved the original God Loves, Man Kills storyline – it’s really Claremont at the top of his X-men game. And it is truly awesome that Marvel went above and beyond, including the original here.
The sequel, though, just leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a subdued, mixed up version of the earlier story with a whole lot less of a message and no real depth to it. All in all, it is entirely forgettable – which is just disappointing as the followup to such a memorable classic comics tale.
The short Claremont interview at the end was a cool inclusion.
2-2 ½ stars to the new story, 4-5 for the original.
I loved the original God Loves, Man Kills storyline – it’s really Claremont at the top of his X-men game. And it is truly awesome that Marvel went above and beyond, including the original here.
The sequel, though, just leaves a lot to be desired. It’s a subdued, mixed up version of the earlier story with a whole lot less of a message and no real depth to it. All in all, it is entirely forgettable – which is just disappointing as the followup to such a memorable classic comics tale.
The short Claremont interview at the end was a cool inclusion.
June 7, 2021
This was was some pretty heavy stuff, especially the original comics that they included. The new story has 2 preachers, both with the same prejudice problem, one was anti-mutant and the other anti-non-mutant. I like that Kitty was the main character, but all the bible verses got really boring after a while I just started ignoring them. I really liked Claremont's afterword too. He was really trying to send a message with this story and it may have actually worked for some people.
March 1, 2018
God Loves Man Kills
PLOT: In this issue, William Stryker the man who tried to have all mutants wiped out of existence is going around ministering. When a plane goes down, he's saved by a mutant but pronounced to the world as dead. Some of the Mutants take a nature excursion and find the remains of the plane crash. After being announced on the news that the mutants are the main suspects in the plane crash someone comes after them. Kitty Pride has a talk with her therapist and discusses why she left the X-Men.
MY THOUGHTS:
Not a lot of thoughts on this issue. It was surprising to see William Stryker ministering. It was a little off character from what I've seen of him, but then I've only ever seen him portrayed in the movies. But then again it fits perfectly that he would try to use being a preacher to administer for the cause of ridding the world of mutants. I was also surprised to learn that Kitty Pride quit the X-Men. Other than that I didn't have anymore.
RATING: 5 It was so-so. Actually, it was kind of lackluster. The plot just didn't grab or wow me. And I can see why on my Goodread's look at the year it was the least popular thing I read. Doesn't exactly inspire me to want to read the rest of it. This can be the last.
PLOT: In this issue, William Stryker the man who tried to have all mutants wiped out of existence is going around ministering. When a plane goes down, he's saved by a mutant but pronounced to the world as dead. Some of the Mutants take a nature excursion and find the remains of the plane crash. After being announced on the news that the mutants are the main suspects in the plane crash someone comes after them. Kitty Pride has a talk with her therapist and discusses why she left the X-Men.
MY THOUGHTS:
Not a lot of thoughts on this issue. It was surprising to see William Stryker ministering. It was a little off character from what I've seen of him, but then I've only ever seen him portrayed in the movies. But then again it fits perfectly that he would try to use being a preacher to administer for the cause of ridding the world of mutants. I was also surprised to learn that Kitty Pride quit the X-Men. Other than that I didn't have anymore.
RATING: 5 It was so-so. Actually, it was kind of lackluster. The plot just didn't grab or wow me. And I can see why on my Goodread's look at the year it was the least popular thing I read. Doesn't exactly inspire me to want to read the rest of it. This can be the last.
June 27, 2025
Updated Review For 2025 Readthrough:
I stand by the equation presented below but I'd fell remiss not to mention that, while I didn't enjoy this volume, it is miles better than the X-Treme X-Men volumes that precede it. It's not so much bad as it's just not actually good, which was maybe an intentional parallel to every character in this story.
***
Religion
+ psychoanalysis
+ Claremont over-narration
+ quoting scripture almost at random
= feeling your fingernails grow as you read this
= three haircuts per issue
= wondering what font to put on your wedding invitation, even though you're not even currently interested in anyone
This was a plodding read that I don't recommend. It's not terribly written, it's just not that interesting, and a massive let down after the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, though that is reprinted in the back, which is also editorially misplaced. If you felt the need to include the original in this collection, it should clearly go first.
I stand by the equation presented below but I'd fell remiss not to mention that, while I didn't enjoy this volume, it is miles better than the X-Treme X-Men volumes that precede it. It's not so much bad as it's just not actually good, which was maybe an intentional parallel to every character in this story.
***
Religion
+ psychoanalysis
+ Claremont over-narration
+ quoting scripture almost at random
= feeling your fingernails grow as you read this
= three haircuts per issue
= wondering what font to put on your wedding invitation, even though you're not even currently interested in anyone
This was a plodding read that I don't recommend. It's not terribly written, it's just not that interesting, and a massive let down after the original X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, though that is reprinted in the back, which is also editorially misplaced. If you felt the need to include the original in this collection, it should clearly go first.
October 10, 2009
For stars for the old 80s graphical novel part.
June 9, 2017
The x-treme X-men faces William Stryker and Deathstroke and a town where everyone is "happy".
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews