X-Men Classic: The Complete Collection, Vol. 2

Classic X-Men #24-44

by Chris Claremont (Writer), Ann Nocenti (Contributor), Tom Orzechowski (Contributor)

The perfect companion piece to your UNCANNY X-MEN collection! In 1986, Marvel launched CLASSIC X-MEN, a series that reprinted the “All-New, All-Different X-Men” era — with a twist! All-new backup stories fleshed out the 1970s tales and delved deeper into the characters’ lives — and new story pages were even inserted into the reprints, expanding on key moments and sowing the seeds for future storylines! Now, all this newly created material has been collected together — allowing fans to explore the early lives of Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, Professor X, Havok, Polaris, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, Banshee, Dazzler, Rogue and Mystique like never before! Friendships are forged, losses are mourned and lives are transformed in these rare tales that dance between the raindrops of some of the most revered X-Men comics of all time!

Collects Classic X-Men (1986) #24-44 and material from Marvel Fanfare (1982) #60.

Genres: X Men, Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Adventure

519 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2019

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

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume finishes up collecting all of the new stories and material from the Classic X-Men reprint title. The stories just weren't as good as the stories in the first volume, as we start to get new creative teams and the lack of consistency hurt. Completists will love this volume as it reprints the covers and extra pages, and even features some new pages and covers from the "Amazing Adventures" X-Men reprint series.

Overall these collections were great because they collect such obscure material, but I was reading for the new back up stories, and in this collection the stories just weren't that strong.

[Chaitra · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Joint review of Vol. 1 & Vol. 2*

I initially thought it was worth reading despite being a slightly modified version of #94 - #137. Yes it has the extra story, but most are written by Ann Nocenti, a couple by Fabian Nicienza. They're fine, as far as deeper explorations of characters go, but I just wasn't sure where they got their base characters from. They felt different. I get it if it was a new run, but these are supposed to be Claremont's x-men. They come across as slightly distorted versions of themselves and that's damned odd and off putting. And this goes for the extras written by Claremont himself.

I liked one early Wolverine story and one with Rogue, as she's not yet made an appearance in the flagship x-men series I'm reading on the side (I'm on #144). And maybe Magneto's origin story. And it was interesting to see Apocalypse appear in the Moses Magnum origin. Beyond that this was a waste of time.

[Sophia]

Similarly with the first volume, I didn't know this existed until I almost don't need it anymore.

What makes this bit worse, this volume is not available on KU!

Anyway, here is the list of the issues I read:

Classic X-Men #27
Classic X-Men #32
Classic X-Men #36
Classic X-Men #39

Maybe I would've read more of the stories if I had these volumes but I don't want to go backwards right now.

[Matt Aukamp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hate to say it, because she was such a superstar editor, but I really don't like Ann Nocenti's writing on X-Men titles. The dialogue is so stilted and awkward and unnatural and the metaphors are like lead bricks, smashing you over the head.

The collection is INCREDIBLY well curated, though. The editorial team did a fantastic job digging up little gems and curios that are just awesome to see and have in a collection.

[Chris W · Rating 2 out of 5]

X-men classic incomplete collection is more accurate. You get fractions of stories, some cover art. But nothing complete or full. Entire storylines are glossed over. This is best a companion piece to the X-men Masterworks

[Jefferson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The quality takes a major nosedive in this second volume, with mediocre stories and poor artwork, even from artists who normally turn in much better work.

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars.

There were a couple of decent stories in here but for the most part they were dreamlike, weird and surprisingly bad.

[Maxoel Costa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuando as

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

ann nocenti you've saved my life