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The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus
The Uncanny X-Men Omnibus, Vol. 4
Chris Claremont teams with a new series artist, Marvel legend John Romita Jr., in this massive Omnibus collection of the X-Men's uncanniest adventures! Milestones abound, including the introduction of Rachel Summers, Cyclops' daughter from "Days of Future Past"; a bruising battle between Colossus and Juggernaut; and a descent into the Morlocks' mutant underground. Rogue emerges as a featured player as Mystique menaces the team, while Selene and the Hellfi re Club make their move. This is all set against a rising tide of anti-mutant hysteria that threatens to strip every mutant in the United States of their rights. All this plus a double-sized anniversary issue, the Kitty Pryde & Wolverine miniseries and timeless work by Paul Smith and Barry Windsor-Smith!
COLLECTING: UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) 176-193, UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL (1970) 8, KITTY PRYDE AND WOLVERINE (1984) 1-6, X-MEN AND ALPHA FLIGHT (1985) 1-2, material from MARVEL FANFARE (1982) 40
COLLECTING: UNCANNY X-MEN (1981) 176-193, UNCANNY X-MEN ANNUAL (1970) 8, KITTY PRYDE AND WOLVERINE (1984) 1-6, X-MEN AND ALPHA FLIGHT (1985) 1-2, material from MARVEL FANFARE (1982) 40
848 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1985
29 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Chris Claremont
3,282 books890 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 30 reviews
July 10, 2024
7-10-2024
Reread. This still holds up as one of my favorites out of these four Uncanny omnibus. Claremont was really taking these people through some character growth. Looking forward to now hitting the stuff I haven’t read with Uncanny X-men omnibus vol 5.
Another great entry in the world of the Uncanny X-men. So much stuff goes down in here. Battles with the Brotherhood of Evil mutants. The battle between Mystique and the X-men over Rogue, Kitty Pryde dealing with the promise she made to Caliban and the Morlocks and plus Storm really had some things going on with her. The issue “Lifedeath” was really good. Storm dealing with a tragedy and the first appearance of Forge. The Kitty Pryde & Wolverine story was petty cool as well. Even Loki makes an appearance with some “gift”. Of course there’s some nonsense that comes along with that. Can’t believe Colossus was ready to let his sister die to take this “gift” Loki was offering. Man I’ll always look at Colossus differently now. John Romita JR’s art looks so much better here in this era than it does nowadays. I wonder why he decided to start giving everyone square faces all of a sudden? He definitely needs to go back this style. So now I’m waiting and hoping Marvel makes an Uncanny X-men omnibus vol 5!! C’mon Marvel, get it done!!
Reread. This still holds up as one of my favorites out of these four Uncanny omnibus. Claremont was really taking these people through some character growth. Looking forward to now hitting the stuff I haven’t read with Uncanny X-men omnibus vol 5.
Another great entry in the world of the Uncanny X-men. So much stuff goes down in here. Battles with the Brotherhood of Evil mutants. The battle between Mystique and the X-men over Rogue, Kitty Pryde dealing with the promise she made to Caliban and the Morlocks and plus Storm really had some things going on with her. The issue “Lifedeath” was really good. Storm dealing with a tragedy and the first appearance of Forge. The Kitty Pryde & Wolverine story was petty cool as well. Even Loki makes an appearance with some “gift”. Of course there’s some nonsense that comes along with that. Can’t believe Colossus was ready to let his sister die to take this “gift” Loki was offering. Man I’ll always look at Colossus differently now. John Romita JR’s art looks so much better here in this era than it does nowadays. I wonder why he decided to start giving everyone square faces all of a sudden? He definitely needs to go back this style. So now I’m waiting and hoping Marvel makes an Uncanny X-men omnibus vol 5!! C’mon Marvel, get it done!!
February 23, 2022
Not my favorite part of Claremont’s run, though rereading all of these issues did give me a greater appreciation for JR Jr.’s early-days art than I’d previously had. And, for my money, this is still the best superhero comic of all time when it comes to intense personal drama.
On a completely unrelated note, we learn in these issues that Professor X has the all-time worst three-point shooting form, and not being able to use his legs for several years is no excuse for that pseudo-hook shot monstrosity. It’s like Bill Cartwright’s broken jumper made vigorous love to Kareem’s skyhook and ol’ Chuck thought that baby would be the key to nailing 25-footers.
On a completely unrelated note, we learn in these issues that Professor X has the all-time worst three-point shooting form, and not being able to use his legs for several years is no excuse for that pseudo-hook shot monstrosity. It’s like Bill Cartwright’s broken jumper made vigorous love to Kareem’s skyhook and ol’ Chuck thought that baby would be the key to nailing 25-footers.
August 11, 2021
Claremont is off of his height by this point, but there still are a good smattering of great stories in this volume.
Decisions (176). Ah, the days when X-Men was all subplot, with focuses here on both the Marauders and the Government. The main plot, of Scott and Madelyne fighting off comically dangerous sea creatures, actually isn't that good [3/5].
Brotherhood (177-178). A really lovely story of the Brotherhood's no-holds barred attack on the X-Men, but it's still all about character: Mystique and Rogue. We also get some shocking, but entirely fair, apparent problems for both Petter and Kitty. All around, enthralling and enjoyable [5/5].
What Happened to Kitty? (179). A continuation of the Morlock saga that treats everyone as characters with hard choices [4+/5].
Whose Life Is It? (180). Another subplot issue. This one focuses on Kitty dealing with Ororo's changes, and shows how much a character comic X-Men was at its height. But we get Peter pouting and the intro of Douglas Ramsey (already a supporting character for a few issues in New Mutants) and the lead-in to Secret Wars. Somehow, despite being a comic with so few endings, it's intriguing [4+/5].
Dragons in Love (181). The return of the X-Men. They fight a dragon in Tokyo [3/5].
Madness (182). A magnificent story of Rogue overcome by Carol's memories and temporarily living her life. Great depth for the character and a great reminder of what she's done [5/5].
He'll Never Make Me Cry (183). A full issue about the repercussions of Peter falling in love during the Secret Wars. Wow. They don't make them like this any more [4+/5].
The Past of Future Days (184). The introduction of Forge! The appearance of Rachel in the modern-day X-Men! The return of Selene! It's truly impressive how many great characters Claremont stuffed in a single issue. And we get a tragic little mini-story about Rachel's arrival. Another fine comic [5/5].
Public Enemy (185). The story of the government's assault on Rogue gains weight because of the touching personal connection between Rogue and Storm [5/5].
Lifedeath (186). An amazing story about Storm coping with the loss of her powers and about Forge coping with his complicity therein (as well as his past). We also get the brutal intro of the wraiths who will take up the next few issues, to give it all some action and space [5+/5].
Wraith (187-188). Pretty much the finale of the storylines begun in Lifedeath, as Forge and Storm solidify the shape of their relationship and the wraiths strike at least. There's some exciting danger and some great kick-ass-edness from Storm, but the story begins dragging in the second issue, when we have a long fight against something supernatural whose only good bit is seeing the X-Men's magical allies come to the rescue, reminding us of the larger world [4/5].
Kitty Pryde & Wolverine. This miniseries is one of Claremont's best stories. It's a great return to Wolverine's Japan, but much more than that it's a wonderful coming of age story for Kitty. Both characters get attention and Kitty really grows up. (Is it creepy that Claremont later told the same story with Psylocke being mind-controlled and turned into a ninja girl? Maybe. But here, in its first instance, where Claremont doesn't leave Kitty as an Asian fetish object, it's terrific.) [5/5].
Two Girls Out to Have Fun (189). This confrontation with Selene is definitely a piece of continuity, but it's very inconclusive, making it feel like wheel-spinning before the Kulan Gath epic. [3/5].
An Age Undreamed Of (190-191). I remember being amazed by this story when it first came out. En Media Res storytelling! The X-Men transformed! The Avengers and Spider-Man along for the ride! Death and destruction! Sadly, it doesn't hold up as well because it's a fight heavy story with a big reset button and just a little bit of characterization. Still, kinda neat if slow. [3/5].
Fun 'n Games (192). The main conflict in this issue is the long-promised arrival of Magus, but the heart of the issue is the interactions between several main cast members, really showing what made Claremont's X-Men shine back in the day [4/5].
Warhunt 2 (193). This is a story that I didn't entirely appreciate at the time, but which I can moreso now, because it touches upon the original sin of the New X-Men: the sacrifice of Thunderbird. I may also appreciate this story more because it focuses on Thunderbird 2, a character that we'd later get to know much better courtesy of X-Force. This is the first really deep dive into his character, and it's a terrific one [4/5].
Illyana's Fairy Tale (A #8). Claremont's attempt to repeat the success of "Kitty's Fairy Tale" doesn't exactly fall flat, but it just doesn't have the charm of the original. The only thing going for this loooooong annual story is the turning point for Kitty [3/5].
The Gift (X/AF #1-2). One of Claremont's best stories. It's great to see a team-up between X-Men and Alpha Flight in this era, and also great to see not only the return of Scott and Madelyne but also Scott's meeting with Rachel. The juxtaposition of the X-Men with a Norse god is also intriguing. But it's the whole story that's intriguing. There's questions about the price of power, about sacrifice. There's a mystery. There's the possibility of big changes ... and some changes that actually do result, mostly on the Alpha Flight side. Plus, we'd get the setup for delightful future stories [5/5].
Deal with the Devil (MF #40). This feels like one of Claremont's Classic X-Men stories: a small interstitial that offers a tiny bit of character depth to the main affair [3/5].
Decisions (176). Ah, the days when X-Men was all subplot, with focuses here on both the Marauders and the Government. The main plot, of Scott and Madelyne fighting off comically dangerous sea creatures, actually isn't that good [3/5].
Brotherhood (177-178). A really lovely story of the Brotherhood's no-holds barred attack on the X-Men, but it's still all about character: Mystique and Rogue. We also get some shocking, but entirely fair, apparent problems for both Petter and Kitty. All around, enthralling and enjoyable [5/5].
What Happened to Kitty? (179). A continuation of the Morlock saga that treats everyone as characters with hard choices [4+/5].
Whose Life Is It? (180). Another subplot issue. This one focuses on Kitty dealing with Ororo's changes, and shows how much a character comic X-Men was at its height. But we get Peter pouting and the intro of Douglas Ramsey (already a supporting character for a few issues in New Mutants) and the lead-in to Secret Wars. Somehow, despite being a comic with so few endings, it's intriguing [4+/5].
Dragons in Love (181). The return of the X-Men. They fight a dragon in Tokyo [3/5].
Madness (182). A magnificent story of Rogue overcome by Carol's memories and temporarily living her life. Great depth for the character and a great reminder of what she's done [5/5].
He'll Never Make Me Cry (183). A full issue about the repercussions of Peter falling in love during the Secret Wars. Wow. They don't make them like this any more [4+/5].
The Past of Future Days (184). The introduction of Forge! The appearance of Rachel in the modern-day X-Men! The return of Selene! It's truly impressive how many great characters Claremont stuffed in a single issue. And we get a tragic little mini-story about Rachel's arrival. Another fine comic [5/5].
Public Enemy (185). The story of the government's assault on Rogue gains weight because of the touching personal connection between Rogue and Storm [5/5].
Lifedeath (186). An amazing story about Storm coping with the loss of her powers and about Forge coping with his complicity therein (as well as his past). We also get the brutal intro of the wraiths who will take up the next few issues, to give it all some action and space [5+/5].
Wraith (187-188). Pretty much the finale of the storylines begun in Lifedeath, as Forge and Storm solidify the shape of their relationship and the wraiths strike at least. There's some exciting danger and some great kick-ass-edness from Storm, but the story begins dragging in the second issue, when we have a long fight against something supernatural whose only good bit is seeing the X-Men's magical allies come to the rescue, reminding us of the larger world [4/5].
Kitty Pryde & Wolverine. This miniseries is one of Claremont's best stories. It's a great return to Wolverine's Japan, but much more than that it's a wonderful coming of age story for Kitty. Both characters get attention and Kitty really grows up. (Is it creepy that Claremont later told the same story with Psylocke being mind-controlled and turned into a ninja girl? Maybe. But here, in its first instance, where Claremont doesn't leave Kitty as an Asian fetish object, it's terrific.) [5/5].
Two Girls Out to Have Fun (189). This confrontation with Selene is definitely a piece of continuity, but it's very inconclusive, making it feel like wheel-spinning before the Kulan Gath epic. [3/5].
An Age Undreamed Of (190-191). I remember being amazed by this story when it first came out. En Media Res storytelling! The X-Men transformed! The Avengers and Spider-Man along for the ride! Death and destruction! Sadly, it doesn't hold up as well because it's a fight heavy story with a big reset button and just a little bit of characterization. Still, kinda neat if slow. [3/5].
Fun 'n Games (192). The main conflict in this issue is the long-promised arrival of Magus, but the heart of the issue is the interactions between several main cast members, really showing what made Claremont's X-Men shine back in the day [4/5].
Warhunt 2 (193). This is a story that I didn't entirely appreciate at the time, but which I can moreso now, because it touches upon the original sin of the New X-Men: the sacrifice of Thunderbird. I may also appreciate this story more because it focuses on Thunderbird 2, a character that we'd later get to know much better courtesy of X-Force. This is the first really deep dive into his character, and it's a terrific one [4/5].
Illyana's Fairy Tale (A #8). Claremont's attempt to repeat the success of "Kitty's Fairy Tale" doesn't exactly fall flat, but it just doesn't have the charm of the original. The only thing going for this loooooong annual story is the turning point for Kitty [3/5].
The Gift (X/AF #1-2). One of Claremont's best stories. It's great to see a team-up between X-Men and Alpha Flight in this era, and also great to see not only the return of Scott and Madelyne but also Scott's meeting with Rachel. The juxtaposition of the X-Men with a Norse god is also intriguing. But it's the whole story that's intriguing. There's questions about the price of power, about sacrifice. There's a mystery. There's the possibility of big changes ... and some changes that actually do result, mostly on the Alpha Flight side. Plus, we'd get the setup for delightful future stories [5/5].
Deal with the Devil (MF #40). This feels like one of Claremont's Classic X-Men stories: a small interstitial that offers a tiny bit of character depth to the main affair [3/5].
November 22, 2021
It's hard to reach the heights that the Uncanny X-Men Omnibus, Vol. 3 reached, but Vol. 4 is a lot of fun too. There's a lot to love here -- the introduction of Rogue as a proper member of the team is a highlight, and the introduction of camp icon Selene (well she might have been introduced technically in New Mutants first but regardless); the all-time classic story "Lifeblood" and Storm's progression as a character after the events of the Japan arc in Vol. 3. The Storm/Mystique story included here that was originally printed in Marvel Fanfare #40 is a delight as well. The Kitty Pryde/Wolverine series and X-Men/Alpha Flight are a bit odd (but not bad!) -- and how can I forget the Kulan Gath arc?! Ok, a LOT goes on in here and fans of our favorite superhero soap opera MIGHT feel a bit of whiplash, but they will not be disappointed.
June 28, 2022
(Zero spoiler review)
Whether this one suffered a tad because it followed the outstanding (and probably my favourite) Uncanny omnibus 3, I don't really know. The fact that I only finished that one about a month or so ago, and such greatness was fresh in my mind might not have helped either. Hell, there were quite a few changes from the formula from omnibus 3. Likely it all played a part. First off, this was my first taste of JRj's art, and I wasn't the biggest fan of it. He was always likely to come up short when compared with Byrne, Buscema or Cockrum, but even Paul Smith's artwork that finished off omnibus 3 was much better than his. I actually quite liked Smith's art in general. The inkwork seemed far weaker here too, although that might have simply been the best they could do with JRJ's pencils. Regardless, it wasn't just Romita Jr who didn't quite live up to expectations here, but for the firs time ever, Claremont went a little bit backwards. There was still the odd highlight issue here and there, but for the most part, having the X-men all over the place and rarely together didn't quite work for me. Not to mention there were quite a lot of tie in's through this part of the run, and they weren't terribly well mapped here, so it wasn't always the most structured and narratively sound of reads. I could further remonstrate as to a few changes here or there that weren't really to my liking, but I don't do the spoiler thing.
I can't really hold it against Claremont. He really is a victim of his own success here. If the previous 100 or so issues hadn't been so great, this wouldn't seem a touch paltry by comparison. And in all honesty, this one was heading for a 3.5, until the final two arcs, that being the Alpha Flight tie in and the little Storm number at the end didn't go and give me all of the feels and remind me just what Claremont can do when he is firing on all (or most) cylinders.
hopefully volume doesn't continue the downward trend and we get a wonderful return to form. That said, Claremont on an average day still butchers modern X-men. God help anyone reading current X comics. 4/5
OmniBen.
Whether this one suffered a tad because it followed the outstanding (and probably my favourite) Uncanny omnibus 3, I don't really know. The fact that I only finished that one about a month or so ago, and such greatness was fresh in my mind might not have helped either. Hell, there were quite a few changes from the formula from omnibus 3. Likely it all played a part. First off, this was my first taste of JRj's art, and I wasn't the biggest fan of it. He was always likely to come up short when compared with Byrne, Buscema or Cockrum, but even Paul Smith's artwork that finished off omnibus 3 was much better than his. I actually quite liked Smith's art in general. The inkwork seemed far weaker here too, although that might have simply been the best they could do with JRJ's pencils. Regardless, it wasn't just Romita Jr who didn't quite live up to expectations here, but for the firs time ever, Claremont went a little bit backwards. There was still the odd highlight issue here and there, but for the most part, having the X-men all over the place and rarely together didn't quite work for me. Not to mention there were quite a lot of tie in's through this part of the run, and they weren't terribly well mapped here, so it wasn't always the most structured and narratively sound of reads. I could further remonstrate as to a few changes here or there that weren't really to my liking, but I don't do the spoiler thing.
I can't really hold it against Claremont. He really is a victim of his own success here. If the previous 100 or so issues hadn't been so great, this wouldn't seem a touch paltry by comparison. And in all honesty, this one was heading for a 3.5, until the final two arcs, that being the Alpha Flight tie in and the little Storm number at the end didn't go and give me all of the feels and remind me just what Claremont can do when he is firing on all (or most) cylinders.
hopefully volume doesn't continue the downward trend and we get a wonderful return to form. That said, Claremont on an average day still butchers modern X-men. God help anyone reading current X comics. 4/5
OmniBen.
January 14, 2025
On the main Uncanny X-Men series, Claremont can’t miss. However, some of the one-off side stories are hit or miss. Overall I enjoyed this volume though.
March 6, 2022
Uncanny X-Men vol 4. Classic Claremont stuff, awesome, but also kind of a mess storywise. We had the original team leaving to become X-Factor, and have the All New, All Different X-Men with one of the coolest X rosters out there, a team of Storm with Mohawk! Colossus, Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, Nightcrawler, Rogue and Lockheed! But we also have The New Mutants, X-Factor, and Alpha Flight. And the mini series Wolverine and Kitty Pryde. It starts off with Cyclops on his honeymoon with Madeline Pryor, it has the fight with the Brotherhood of Evil, The Morlocks and Callisto, Rachel Summers from the Future (Days of Future Past) Forge makes his appearance, Lockheed has his own space adventure, Charles Xavier can walk again and plays Basketball, we see Mystique, the impact of Secret Wars, its quite alot.. This omnibus also does not have a clear villain, and is this the beggining of the convoluted X-Men? A little bit, but still this is great X stuff, we have the epic fight between Colossus and The Blob, The X-Men fight a Dragon, the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine mini series is super solid, and we see John Romita JR. on artwork for the first time on the X-Men in a different style then he does now. We have the return of Paul Smith, and we see the great Barry Windsor-Smith on a big arc, this is lovely stuff if your an seasoned Xmen fan, if you read this standalone your brains will probably melt.
Its very hard to rate this book, i think its a 3.5 star book and if you have the nostalgia factor you can add a half star.
Its very hard to rate this book, i think its a 3.5 star book and if you have the nostalgia factor you can add a half star.
October 23, 2024
Definitely this one is way better than the last one. The artwork is really amazing and the story line is really cool. I’m really excited to be able to get the next one.
May 14, 2024
I completely forgot how much phenomenal Kitty, Rogue, and Storm stuff happens in the first bunch of these issues. Honestly, this is a second peak for the series, alongside the New Mutants stuff, some of the highest highs of the series with great art! The second half is more mixed. Some big ideas, but the miniseries don’t quite hit the highs of the main series. Still, this is an outstanding omnibus that contains another peak from the legendary Claremont run.
Uncanny X-Men #176 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Decisions”
Wolverine and Mariko have a talk that should have happened a few issues ago, Callisto plots her return to power, and Gyrich meets his match as he seeks government sanction for his mutant projects. This one has some great stuff, but it shows how much is going on right now, and that’s not even including the New Mutants. The main plot is about Scott and Madelyne making the decision to leave the book for a while, and it’s fine.
Uncanny X-Men #177 ⧫ 4 Stars “Sanction”
This one picks up on Mystique and her revenge plot with an interlude by Scott and Madelyne. It ends on a great cliffhanger. Also, I guess I should comment on John Romita Jr. 's art, which is good, but he’s still developing it, and it’s not quite at the Paul Smith level. Still, the book looks good!
Uncanny X-Men #178 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Hell Hath No Fury...”
A genuinely cool fight with a race against time, and Rogue Vs. Mystique. I just like pretty much everything about this issue, even though the cliffhanger isn’t as impactful if you’ve been paying attention.
Uncanny X-Men #179 ⧫ 5 Stars “What Happened to Kitty?”
I forgot how this one ended. Beautiful!
Uncanny X-Men #180 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?”
Doug Ramsey tells Kitty about Massachusetts Academy… again? It’s a weird oversight given that both books were written by the same person. Kitty and Ororo have a very unsatisfying conversation. I do like the Colossus, and the rest of the Kitty and Doug stuff is good, but it’s another issue where the Claremont overwork seems to strike.
Uncanny X-Men #181 ⧫ 3 Stars “Tokyo Story”
The X-Men return from Secret Wars, and it’s a very fine issue. I think it was mostly made to promote the Marvel Godzilla comics. The best stuff involves Wolverine in Japan, but it remains somewhat awkward to watch Japan get destroyed again.
Uncanny X-Men #182 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Madness”
A genuinely great Rogue issue that gets at all the things that have made her a fan favorite over the years.
Uncanny X-Men #183 ⧫ 5 Stars “He'll Never Make Me Cry”
Yeah, Kitty and Peter stuff explodes into a lecture to a dumb young man, perhaps all dumb young men. Also, more Rogue! It’s just a strong downtime issue that connects to the Juggernaut stuff from Amazing Spider-Man #230, one of the best issues of that series. Too much great stuff!
Uncanny X-Men #184 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “The Past of Future Days”
So, the Rachel Summers stuff can be a little confusing, but I really love her. Tragically, she’s been eclipsed by her overrated younger brother, Cable. However, Rachel has way more empathy and far more interesting connections, being literally from the “Days of Future Past” timeline.
Uncanny X-Men #185 ⧫ 5 Stars “Public Enemy”
Rogue’s issues come to a head as the government seeks to make an example of the “evil mutant.” Storm ends up going after her, which she doesn’t know is a big mistake. The conversation between Rogue and Storm is A+. The end is great and leads into one of the greatest issues of X-Men ever.
Uncanny X-Men #186 ⧫ 7 Stars “Lifedeath”
How do you cope when you lose your sense of self? What makes you who you are? What if you lost that? Are you still you? It also explores the hesitancy to open up to someone, even to someone you love, even to save their life. This masterpiece explores all that. Oh, and there’s some cool aliens. Can’t wait for part two!
Uncanny X-Men #187 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Wraithkill!”
This is a really cool action comic that builds on the fallout between Forge and Storm. I kind of think the Wraith section should have ended here, but the next issue has some cool moments.
Uncanny X-Men #188 ⧫ 4 Stars “Legacy of the Lost”
The ending of the Wraiths isn’t quite as climactic or interesting as it could have been; however, there is still some great character interaction between Storm, Nightcrawler, and Rachel.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1 ⧫ 4 Stars “Lies”
The first issue is mostly Kitty Pryde as she tries to emotionally recover from her breakup with Colossus. Her emotional turmoil only gets worse when she discovers her father has sold the family bank to some Yakuza. I think the strongest thing about this is how much she acts like an impetuous teen. Here, she gets in way over head by just recklessly using her powers repeatedly. Milgrom’s art is serviceable, but I don’t love it, especially not right next to the other X-Series artists at the time: Romita Jr./Green on X-Men, Byrne on Alpha Fight, and especially Sienkiewicz on New Mutants. Milgrom looks more Bronze age than modern by comparison.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #2 ⧫ 3 Stars “Terror”
This is where the series goes a little off the rails with Ogun just kind of using magic to capture and indoctrinate Kitty. The premise could be interesting, but this issue is mostly just by the book training. Milgrom attempts to add a little style, but compared to the original Miller series, it all feels somewhat rote.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #3 ⧫ 4 Stars “Death”
Yukio returns from the previous Wolverine in Japan arcs, and her playfulness is a Welcome addition. I may not have been a big fan of the last issue, but this one features a fight across Tokyo as Wolverine tries to unravel what he’s gotten into. I think the way the fight is used is exceptional, showing off a ton of character for Wolverine and Yukio as well as one of the minor villains. Milgrom’s art still isn’t my favorite (Is he trying to do Romita Jr.?), but it works.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #4 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Rebirth”
A cool training issue as Wolverine tries to pull Kitty back from the edge. Yukio’s levity really helps here, and though it’s a little cliche, I enjoyed it.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #5 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Courage”
Another tense fight issue with good action. Kitty finally chooses Shadowcat, and her character growth is a highlight of this issue.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #6 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Honor”
A decent end, if a little unsatisfying. I like the idea of Wolverine needing to go berserk and shed his humanity in the place he desires to be most civilized. However, narratively, it just feels like he used a special power he had in his back pocket. I also like Cameron Pryde’s arc as well as Kitty’s return to form.
Uncanny X-Men #189 ⧫ 4 Stars “Two Girls Out to Have Fun”
This is another great character episode with Rachel and Amara, some great choices for character as they each have a shared villain and haven’t had a ton of page time. Definitely a little bit of fetish stuff, but it’s a Hellfire issue, so...
Uncanny X-Men #190 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “An Age Undreamed Of”
The series starts with some Conan craziness. I actually quite like how the situation is set up with the sides being weirdly drawn.
Uncanny X-Men #191 ⧫ 3 Stars “Raiders of the Lost Temple!”
Unfortunately, the series goes the “What If” route, well mostly. Things just keep getting crazier and crazier and become unsustainable. I like the hint that a foe from the future was only allowed to enter the timeline due to this incident, but I wish it resulted in more.
Uncanny X-Men #192 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Fun 'n' Games”
The X-Men try to restructure the team as new threats appear. I love the way the character moments come together with the friction of Kitty and Colossus mirroring that of the team and within Rachel herself.
Uncanny X-Men #193 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Warhunt 2”
Both a great issue and a great anniversary issue! This takes the All-New, All-Different team back to its second mission to face a ghost from the past. It’s also the first real mission for Nightcrawler’s team and the cracks really show. Also, this is the first appearance of the comics Firestar who will go on to some really great stuff.
Uncanny X-Men Annual #8 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Adventures of Lockheed the Space Dragon and His Pet Girl Kitty”
It’s not as good as “Kitty’s Fairy Tale” from issue 153, but it progresses the Kitty/Colossus storyline and some of Storm’s recovery. It just seems a little unfocused.
X-Men and Alpha Flight #1 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Gift” Part 1
The first half sets up the main internal conflict with Rachel and Heather’s leadership issues as well as some of the personal flaws of the various teams. The mystery is fairly compelling, though I feel like the Loki reveal could have waited until issue 2.
X-Men and Alpha Flight #2 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Gift” Part 2
The resolution is fairly good, though the issue of having too many characters strikes the hardest here. There’s two teams and new people, so it’s a lot. The resolution is right out of Thor; thus, not terribly satisfying. However, the emotional beats make up for it somewhat.
Marvel Fanfare #40 ⧫ 4 Stars “Deal with the Devil!”
A cool addition to issue 185. Just two awesome characters chatting.
Other Comics Reviews
X-Men Omnibus #1
X-Men Omnibus #2
Epic Collection Volume 4: It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn
Champions Classic Complete Collection
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #1
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #2
X-Men Classic Omnibus
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #3
Uncanny X-Men #176 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Decisions”
Wolverine and Mariko have a talk that should have happened a few issues ago, Callisto plots her return to power, and Gyrich meets his match as he seeks government sanction for his mutant projects. This one has some great stuff, but it shows how much is going on right now, and that’s not even including the New Mutants. The main plot is about Scott and Madelyne making the decision to leave the book for a while, and it’s fine.
Uncanny X-Men #177 ⧫ 4 Stars “Sanction”
This one picks up on Mystique and her revenge plot with an interlude by Scott and Madelyne. It ends on a great cliffhanger. Also, I guess I should comment on John Romita Jr. 's art, which is good, but he’s still developing it, and it’s not quite at the Paul Smith level. Still, the book looks good!
Uncanny X-Men #178 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Hell Hath No Fury...”
A genuinely cool fight with a race against time, and Rogue Vs. Mystique. I just like pretty much everything about this issue, even though the cliffhanger isn’t as impactful if you’ve been paying attention.
Uncanny X-Men #179 ⧫ 5 Stars “What Happened to Kitty?”
I forgot how this one ended. Beautiful!
Uncanny X-Men #180 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Whose Life Is It, Anyway?”
Doug Ramsey tells Kitty about Massachusetts Academy… again? It’s a weird oversight given that both books were written by the same person. Kitty and Ororo have a very unsatisfying conversation. I do like the Colossus, and the rest of the Kitty and Doug stuff is good, but it’s another issue where the Claremont overwork seems to strike.
Uncanny X-Men #181 ⧫ 3 Stars “Tokyo Story”
The X-Men return from Secret Wars, and it’s a very fine issue. I think it was mostly made to promote the Marvel Godzilla comics. The best stuff involves Wolverine in Japan, but it remains somewhat awkward to watch Japan get destroyed again.
Uncanny X-Men #182 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Madness”
A genuinely great Rogue issue that gets at all the things that have made her a fan favorite over the years.
Uncanny X-Men #183 ⧫ 5 Stars “He'll Never Make Me Cry”
Yeah, Kitty and Peter stuff explodes into a lecture to a dumb young man, perhaps all dumb young men. Also, more Rogue! It’s just a strong downtime issue that connects to the Juggernaut stuff from Amazing Spider-Man #230, one of the best issues of that series. Too much great stuff!
Uncanny X-Men #184 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “The Past of Future Days”
So, the Rachel Summers stuff can be a little confusing, but I really love her. Tragically, she’s been eclipsed by her overrated younger brother, Cable. However, Rachel has way more empathy and far more interesting connections, being literally from the “Days of Future Past” timeline.
Uncanny X-Men #185 ⧫ 5 Stars “Public Enemy”
Rogue’s issues come to a head as the government seeks to make an example of the “evil mutant.” Storm ends up going after her, which she doesn’t know is a big mistake. The conversation between Rogue and Storm is A+. The end is great and leads into one of the greatest issues of X-Men ever.
Uncanny X-Men #186 ⧫ 7 Stars “Lifedeath”
How do you cope when you lose your sense of self? What makes you who you are? What if you lost that? Are you still you? It also explores the hesitancy to open up to someone, even to someone you love, even to save their life. This masterpiece explores all that. Oh, and there’s some cool aliens. Can’t wait for part two!
Uncanny X-Men #187 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Wraithkill!”
This is a really cool action comic that builds on the fallout between Forge and Storm. I kind of think the Wraith section should have ended here, but the next issue has some cool moments.
Uncanny X-Men #188 ⧫ 4 Stars “Legacy of the Lost”
The ending of the Wraiths isn’t quite as climactic or interesting as it could have been; however, there is still some great character interaction between Storm, Nightcrawler, and Rachel.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1 ⧫ 4 Stars “Lies”
The first issue is mostly Kitty Pryde as she tries to emotionally recover from her breakup with Colossus. Her emotional turmoil only gets worse when she discovers her father has sold the family bank to some Yakuza. I think the strongest thing about this is how much she acts like an impetuous teen. Here, she gets in way over head by just recklessly using her powers repeatedly. Milgrom’s art is serviceable, but I don’t love it, especially not right next to the other X-Series artists at the time: Romita Jr./Green on X-Men, Byrne on Alpha Fight, and especially Sienkiewicz on New Mutants. Milgrom looks more Bronze age than modern by comparison.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #2 ⧫ 3 Stars “Terror”
This is where the series goes a little off the rails with Ogun just kind of using magic to capture and indoctrinate Kitty. The premise could be interesting, but this issue is mostly just by the book training. Milgrom attempts to add a little style, but compared to the original Miller series, it all feels somewhat rote.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #3 ⧫ 4 Stars “Death”
Yukio returns from the previous Wolverine in Japan arcs, and her playfulness is a Welcome addition. I may not have been a big fan of the last issue, but this one features a fight across Tokyo as Wolverine tries to unravel what he’s gotten into. I think the way the fight is used is exceptional, showing off a ton of character for Wolverine and Yukio as well as one of the minor villains. Milgrom’s art still isn’t my favorite (Is he trying to do Romita Jr.?), but it works.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #4 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Rebirth”
A cool training issue as Wolverine tries to pull Kitty back from the edge. Yukio’s levity really helps here, and though it’s a little cliche, I enjoyed it.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #5 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Courage”
Another tense fight issue with good action. Kitty finally chooses Shadowcat, and her character growth is a highlight of this issue.
Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #6 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “Honor”
A decent end, if a little unsatisfying. I like the idea of Wolverine needing to go berserk and shed his humanity in the place he desires to be most civilized. However, narratively, it just feels like he used a special power he had in his back pocket. I also like Cameron Pryde’s arc as well as Kitty’s return to form.
Uncanny X-Men #189 ⧫ 4 Stars “Two Girls Out to Have Fun”
This is another great character episode with Rachel and Amara, some great choices for character as they each have a shared villain and haven’t had a ton of page time. Definitely a little bit of fetish stuff, but it’s a Hellfire issue, so...
Uncanny X-Men #190 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “An Age Undreamed Of”
The series starts with some Conan craziness. I actually quite like how the situation is set up with the sides being weirdly drawn.
Uncanny X-Men #191 ⧫ 3 Stars “Raiders of the Lost Temple!”
Unfortunately, the series goes the “What If” route, well mostly. Things just keep getting crazier and crazier and become unsustainable. I like the hint that a foe from the future was only allowed to enter the timeline due to this incident, but I wish it resulted in more.
Uncanny X-Men #192 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Fun 'n' Games”
The X-Men try to restructure the team as new threats appear. I love the way the character moments come together with the friction of Kitty and Colossus mirroring that of the team and within Rachel herself.
Uncanny X-Men #193 ⧫ 4.5 Stars “Warhunt 2”
Both a great issue and a great anniversary issue! This takes the All-New, All-Different team back to its second mission to face a ghost from the past. It’s also the first real mission for Nightcrawler’s team and the cracks really show. Also, this is the first appearance of the comics Firestar who will go on to some really great stuff.
Uncanny X-Men Annual #8 ⧫ 3 Stars “The Adventures of Lockheed the Space Dragon and His Pet Girl Kitty”
It’s not as good as “Kitty’s Fairy Tale” from issue 153, but it progresses the Kitty/Colossus storyline and some of Storm’s recovery. It just seems a little unfocused.
X-Men and Alpha Flight #1 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Gift” Part 1
The first half sets up the main internal conflict with Rachel and Heather’s leadership issues as well as some of the personal flaws of the various teams. The mystery is fairly compelling, though I feel like the Loki reveal could have waited until issue 2.
X-Men and Alpha Flight #2 ⧫ 3.5 Stars “The Gift” Part 2
The resolution is fairly good, though the issue of having too many characters strikes the hardest here. There’s two teams and new people, so it’s a lot. The resolution is right out of Thor; thus, not terribly satisfying. However, the emotional beats make up for it somewhat.
Marvel Fanfare #40 ⧫ 4 Stars “Deal with the Devil!”
A cool addition to issue 185. Just two awesome characters chatting.
Other Comics Reviews
X-Men Omnibus #1
X-Men Omnibus #2
Epic Collection Volume 4: It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn
Champions Classic Complete Collection
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #1
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #2
X-Men Classic Omnibus
Uncanny X-Men Omnibus #3
April 11, 2021
Such good comics I bought them all again in a nice big omnibus edition... This book collects the first X-Men comics I ever bought, back in 1984, when they cost 25p each!
July 17, 2023
This is when UXM kind of goes off the rails, but in a great way. Long gone are the Byrne or Smith days of tightly plotted stories. This is the beginning of the random (sometimes dropped) subplots era: basically a fan theoriest’s dream as there’s so much here that is vague and open to interpretation. But there’s a lot of good stuff, too. Characters from New Mutants finally start to pop up here in the parent book; plots and themes crossover, too.
I won’t spoil it but there are some very iconic stories (Storm, Rogue) and gorgeous JRJR art. His costumes and stylings aren’t the best, I will say that. Worst of all is his Rat-tail Rachel. But Rachel sucks in general here. (Thank God Spiral later messes with her mind because that Rachel Summers is awesome: sexy and cool and self-assured and powerful.) This Rachel is kinda ugly and whiny and one-note. And there’s a lot of angst about her very open secret. Rough to say for a concentration camp survivor, but it’s true. Man, does she bitch a lot about her traumatic past! I guess a little of that goes a long way. I’m a big fan of the character, though. Forge is introduced here, too, and while some people have their issues with him and his introduction I like it and I like the character. Yeah he’s a Native American billionaire, mutant genius inventor, veteran, with some extra magical Indian powers to boot, and he likes to wear short shorts. Sue me, I like him. Especially when he hangs out later with Banshee.
The only part that feels homework-y, to me at least, is the Kitty Pryde miniseries. It’s got all the right names in the credits except the artist, which is Al Milgrom, and it goes to show you the difference the artist makes in the overall quality of a given book. Without Byrne, Cockrum, Smith, JRJR, Silvestri, and Lee Chris Claremont’s monumental run would not be so monumental. Facts! Anyway, I’m not the biggest Kitty fan. In real life Kitty Pryde would be a snob. A stuck up know-it-all. So I actually love the issue when Colossus dumps her. Why so many dump on Peter for dumping Kitty is beyond me. Why should this 19yo kid be punished, for falling out of love with his crush, when he was for all intents and purposes a soldier in a (secret) war? He even let her down gently and honestly. Should he have lied? Led her on? This, also, is ignoring the fact that Wolverine believed Peter’s love for the battleworld healer was a side effect of her healing ability. Peter did nothing wrong. But this is one of those issues that alleged comic-reading feminists moan about—switch the sexes and they wouldn’t bat an eye. Peter would be called an incel, “he doesn’t own Kitty,” male entitlement, male gaze, blah blah blah. Those types of people are out and out critters and creeps.
And, who knows, maybe Peter didn’t fall for the alien healer, maybe that was an excuse and the real reason was Kitty’s fugly JRJR mom-hairdo that killed his libido! Whoops, wait, that was a wig as revealed in the Kitty miniseries. Which, by the way, has a superhero one-on-one fight that’s somehow even less believable and more ridiculous than powerless Storm vs peak Cyclops. At least there you can say the Goblin Queen handicapped Cyke. Here, there’s no such reasoning. Unless you want to say Wolverine’s intuition suspected all along that he was fighting Kitty and so handicapped him? There’s nothing in the text to support that, however, when there is evidence for the latter theory. Kitty punches Wolverine in his throat? He doesn’t realize he’s fighting a little girl? Come on, now.
The saving grace of the Kitty/Wolverine mini is the trivia. 1) How Yukio deals with Kitty’s fat slob of a father is satisfying. Although Carmen Pryde is made out to be some kind of monster and he’s really not. How the hell would he know that helping out his customers during the recession would lead to this ninja tomfoolery?! Yukio can be pretty one-note character but in small doses she’s fun. Although I never liked her and Storm’s friendship—Storm loses her identity and embarrassingly tries to hijack Yukio’s shtick. 2) How it reflects and parallels the Magik limited series (young mutant—Illyana/Kitty—is mentored by senior X-Man—Storm/Wolverine—and comes away with a power upgrade) and Betsy Braddock’s own oriental re-orientation (mutants with defensive powers—Psylocke/Kitty—get an upgrade to their offensive profile, aka master ninja skills.) 3) Issue 5 sees Kitty in the first iteration of her best costume, the blue-sky blue Shadowcat one. Too bad they couldn’t have landed on the name and the costume sooner. 4) How Mariko is raising Amiko/Akiko, too bad that’s summarily forgotten again, though. I love the scene where Mariko does some mental gymnastics to justify why she wears high heels to the office… it’s because men, um, respect female bosses but only if they wear high heels… she must be “more of a true man than they.” Mmm hm. Sure, Mariko. True men wear high heels. Would it really be so egregious for women—and men writing women—to admit they like wearing dresses, make up, and high heels?
Would ya look at that, I spent most of the review griping about the only weak pages! Anyway, this omnibus is a must read. Superhero comics continue to go through puberty… but these growing pains are a good time. Recommended!
NOTE TO SELF:
Started my 3rd massive X-Men omni re-read March 2021 when I ordered this. (Stupidly forgot to update my pre-order shipping address, and forgot that I pre-ordered it at all, so MD got one and so did FL. Gave extra away. Finished this omnibus for the first time in June 2023. 2022 doesn’t count as a reading year because broken neck!)
I won’t spoil it but there are some very iconic stories (Storm, Rogue) and gorgeous JRJR art. His costumes and stylings aren’t the best, I will say that. Worst of all is his Rat-tail Rachel. But Rachel sucks in general here. (Thank God Spiral later messes with her mind because that Rachel Summers is awesome: sexy and cool and self-assured and powerful.) This Rachel is kinda ugly and whiny and one-note. And there’s a lot of angst about her very open secret. Rough to say for a concentration camp survivor, but it’s true. Man, does she bitch a lot about her traumatic past! I guess a little of that goes a long way. I’m a big fan of the character, though. Forge is introduced here, too, and while some people have their issues with him and his introduction I like it and I like the character. Yeah he’s a Native American billionaire, mutant genius inventor, veteran, with some extra magical Indian powers to boot, and he likes to wear short shorts. Sue me, I like him. Especially when he hangs out later with Banshee.
The only part that feels homework-y, to me at least, is the Kitty Pryde miniseries. It’s got all the right names in the credits except the artist, which is Al Milgrom, and it goes to show you the difference the artist makes in the overall quality of a given book. Without Byrne, Cockrum, Smith, JRJR, Silvestri, and Lee Chris Claremont’s monumental run would not be so monumental. Facts! Anyway, I’m not the biggest Kitty fan. In real life Kitty Pryde would be a snob. A stuck up know-it-all. So I actually love the issue when Colossus dumps her. Why so many dump on Peter for dumping Kitty is beyond me. Why should this 19yo kid be punished, for falling out of love with his crush, when he was for all intents and purposes a soldier in a (secret) war? He even let her down gently and honestly. Should he have lied? Led her on? This, also, is ignoring the fact that Wolverine believed Peter’s love for the battleworld healer was a side effect of her healing ability. Peter did nothing wrong. But this is one of those issues that alleged comic-reading feminists moan about—switch the sexes and they wouldn’t bat an eye. Peter would be called an incel, “he doesn’t own Kitty,” male entitlement, male gaze, blah blah blah. Those types of people are out and out critters and creeps.
And, who knows, maybe Peter didn’t fall for the alien healer, maybe that was an excuse and the real reason was Kitty’s fugly JRJR mom-hairdo that killed his libido! Whoops, wait, that was a wig as revealed in the Kitty miniseries. Which, by the way, has a superhero one-on-one fight that’s somehow even less believable and more ridiculous than powerless Storm vs peak Cyclops. At least there you can say the Goblin Queen handicapped Cyke. Here, there’s no such reasoning. Unless you want to say Wolverine’s intuition suspected all along that he was fighting Kitty and so handicapped him? There’s nothing in the text to support that, however, when there is evidence for the latter theory. Kitty punches Wolverine in his throat? He doesn’t realize he’s fighting a little girl? Come on, now.
The saving grace of the Kitty/Wolverine mini is the trivia. 1) How Yukio deals with Kitty’s fat slob of a father is satisfying. Although Carmen Pryde is made out to be some kind of monster and he’s really not. How the hell would he know that helping out his customers during the recession would lead to this ninja tomfoolery?! Yukio can be pretty one-note character but in small doses she’s fun. Although I never liked her and Storm’s friendship—Storm loses her identity and embarrassingly tries to hijack Yukio’s shtick. 2) How it reflects and parallels the Magik limited series (young mutant—Illyana/Kitty—is mentored by senior X-Man—Storm/Wolverine—and comes away with a power upgrade) and Betsy Braddock’s own oriental re-orientation (mutants with defensive powers—Psylocke/Kitty—get an upgrade to their offensive profile, aka master ninja skills.) 3) Issue 5 sees Kitty in the first iteration of her best costume, the blue-sky blue Shadowcat one. Too bad they couldn’t have landed on the name and the costume sooner. 4) How Mariko is raising Amiko/Akiko, too bad that’s summarily forgotten again, though. I love the scene where Mariko does some mental gymnastics to justify why she wears high heels to the office… it’s because men, um, respect female bosses but only if they wear high heels… she must be “more of a true man than they.” Mmm hm. Sure, Mariko. True men wear high heels. Would it really be so egregious for women—and men writing women—to admit they like wearing dresses, make up, and high heels?
Would ya look at that, I spent most of the review griping about the only weak pages! Anyway, this omnibus is a must read. Superhero comics continue to go through puberty… but these growing pains are a good time. Recommended!
NOTE TO SELF:
Started my 3rd massive X-Men omni re-read March 2021 when I ordered this. (Stupidly forgot to update my pre-order shipping address, and forgot that I pre-ordered it at all, so MD got one and so did FL. Gave extra away. Finished this omnibus for the first time in June 2023. 2022 doesn’t count as a reading year because broken neck!)
March 28, 2022
Collects The Uncanny X-Men #176 - 193 (December 1983 - May 1985), Kitty Pryde and Wolverine #1-6 (November 1984 - April 1985), The X-Men Annual #8 (September 1984), X-Men and Alpha Flight #1-2 (December 1985 - January 1986), a story from Marvel Fanfare #40 (October 1988) and other supplementary material.
Chris Claremont at the height of his powers and its all very good, but the collection here in particular is strangely weak. This section of Claremont's run really shows why some people might accuse him of being too wordy. It's all about interpersonal problems and individual stories rather than a grand story arc. I think that's great, but it also feels like a lull or a pause in the grand storytelling Claremont was also capable of. Lots of very important things are introduced, but their import isn't fully understood until after this collection. And there is a lot of wrapping up of things that happened before, such as Kitty coming to terms with Storm's transformation during the previous Wolverine solo series. There is also a coming to terms with things outside of this collection, such as Kitty and Peter's break-up after he fell in love with an alien during the first Secret Wars. As such, it all feels sometimes like the action is elsewhere and this is just the inner turmoil of individuals dealing with that elsewhere.
Also, a real weak point here is the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine miniseries. Though it is supposed to be integral to the development of Kitty Pryde, it really doesn't feel like it. It's also woefully inadequate when compared to the Wolverine solo miniseries which came before it and which wrapped up within the regular X-men story. It just feels like a tossed off aside that takes up too much room. Likewise, the Alpha Flight miniseries isn't as good as the Alpha Flight interactions with the X-Men that came before it and is more in line with Asgardian Thor related mythology (which I've never really been into).
And then there is the sad reminder that Claremont was trying to give Scott Summers a happily ever after story here and finally let him go. That was all ruined later so where he pops up here feels so bitter and not as sweet as intended.
Chris Claremont at the height of his powers and its all very good, but the collection here in particular is strangely weak. This section of Claremont's run really shows why some people might accuse him of being too wordy. It's all about interpersonal problems and individual stories rather than a grand story arc. I think that's great, but it also feels like a lull or a pause in the grand storytelling Claremont was also capable of. Lots of very important things are introduced, but their import isn't fully understood until after this collection. And there is a lot of wrapping up of things that happened before, such as Kitty coming to terms with Storm's transformation during the previous Wolverine solo series. There is also a coming to terms with things outside of this collection, such as Kitty and Peter's break-up after he fell in love with an alien during the first Secret Wars. As such, it all feels sometimes like the action is elsewhere and this is just the inner turmoil of individuals dealing with that elsewhere.
Also, a real weak point here is the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine miniseries. Though it is supposed to be integral to the development of Kitty Pryde, it really doesn't feel like it. It's also woefully inadequate when compared to the Wolverine solo miniseries which came before it and which wrapped up within the regular X-men story. It just feels like a tossed off aside that takes up too much room. Likewise, the Alpha Flight miniseries isn't as good as the Alpha Flight interactions with the X-Men that came before it and is more in line with Asgardian Thor related mythology (which I've never really been into).
And then there is the sad reminder that Claremont was trying to give Scott Summers a happily ever after story here and finally let him go. That was all ruined later so where he pops up here feels so bitter and not as sweet as intended.
December 23, 2025
I finished reading Uncanny X-Men Omnibus vol. 4 by Chris Claremont with art by John Romita Jr., Al Milgrom, and Paul Smith among others. It collected issues of Uncanny X-Men #176-193 (spanning from 1981-1984) as well as a spattering of other issues outside of the main title including the iconic (though, in my opinion overrated) 6 issue Kitty Pryde and Wolverine mini-series that cemented their mentor/mentee relationship.
This included the first appearances of Forge and Leech. It did see further development of secondary characters like the Morlocks, Madelyn Pryor, and Selene.
It also includes the story in which Storm loses her powers and issue #186 ("Lifedeath")--a stunning story of the fallout from this as Storm battles with her worth and the loss of her connection to the earth.
This along with Rogue's development from villain to hero were the highlights for me. I never much care for Wolverine's samurai history (or Wolverine stories in general), so a 6-issue deviation focusing on this was not something I was keen on rereading. Even though Kitty Pryde is technically the main character, its rings so much of my least favorite Wolverine stories that I just can't get into it.
We also see Rachel Summers (Cyclops and Jean's daughter from the Days of Future Past storyline some 30 issues prior) make a return in the 616 timeline. Rachel is another character I've never much cared about. I'm hoping that as she grows to prominence in the next volume, I'll feel differently.
This volume also covered the strange quasi-crossover in which the villain Kulan Gath transformed New York into a barbarian-centric sword and sorcery fantasy land. I enjoyed those issues, but felt it needed a bit more to really stick the landing.
Overall, these issues were good, but outside of Lifedeath and a few others, they don't really have the truly iconic level of stories that the prior volumes offered. I'd still give it a 4 out of 5.
This included the first appearances of Forge and Leech. It did see further development of secondary characters like the Morlocks, Madelyn Pryor, and Selene.
It also includes the story in which Storm loses her powers and issue #186 ("Lifedeath")--a stunning story of the fallout from this as Storm battles with her worth and the loss of her connection to the earth.
This along with Rogue's development from villain to hero were the highlights for me. I never much care for Wolverine's samurai history (or Wolverine stories in general), so a 6-issue deviation focusing on this was not something I was keen on rereading. Even though Kitty Pryde is technically the main character, its rings so much of my least favorite Wolverine stories that I just can't get into it.
We also see Rachel Summers (Cyclops and Jean's daughter from the Days of Future Past storyline some 30 issues prior) make a return in the 616 timeline. Rachel is another character I've never much cared about. I'm hoping that as she grows to prominence in the next volume, I'll feel differently.
This volume also covered the strange quasi-crossover in which the villain Kulan Gath transformed New York into a barbarian-centric sword and sorcery fantasy land. I enjoyed those issues, but felt it needed a bit more to really stick the landing.
Overall, these issues were good, but outside of Lifedeath and a few others, they don't really have the truly iconic level of stories that the prior volumes offered. I'd still give it a 4 out of 5.
March 26, 2021
The John Romita Jr. run of X-Men gets better every time I read it. You can see why Grant Morrison, in his survey of comics, chooses this era to praise: every issue has juicy character development and the status quo actually changes, which is very rare for mainstream comics. It's no Cockrum, Byrne or Smith in terms of sheer quality per issue, due to the absence of a strong-willed collaborator to check Claremont's self-indulgence, but the crazy ideas in this era are legitimately new and interesting. Storm gets a mohawk, loses her powers, and flirts with someone. Mystique graduates to full A-list villain, dances with Destiny (as a man!) and teases being Nightcrawler's mother. Kitty breaks up with Colossus, goes to Japan, and grows up about 5 years in 5 issues. Rogue has actual trauma due to her super powers. Juggernaut goes blue-collar. Rachel has PTSD (although it's not executed very well). The villains are more forgettable - Selene and Loki don't even belong in the X-Men, while Nimrod goes nowhere fast - but there's a ton of character here, made possible by a radical idea in superhero comics, the forced exit of the team leaders. I only wish this era had lasted longer, because Claremont's effort to recapture the unpredictable magic in the Outback era didn't go over nearly as well.
I haven't mentioned the art, because it's totally fine. Paul Smith knocks it out of the park as usual, but Romita and Milgrom's most notable contribution is the absence of the male gaze, which you don't notice until it's gone. This is an X-book where the women are front and center for 700 pages, and Professor X has the innuendo and the sexy outfits.
I haven't mentioned the art, because it's totally fine. Paul Smith knocks it out of the park as usual, but Romita and Milgrom's most notable contribution is the absence of the male gaze, which you don't notice until it's gone. This is an X-book where the women are front and center for 700 pages, and Professor X has the innuendo and the sexy outfits.
July 10, 2024
This was probably the lowest point of this run and took me forever to read as you can see it was over a month while the other vols were quick finishes.
Just a lot of filler sadly, the team is so much smaller without Cyclops, Storm leaving and Wolverine having his own series with Kitty (which was pretty mid, Wolverine has an evil teacher? Huh? The whole Japan thing is getting repetitive at this point)
And the dialogue/word bubbles are outrageously bad this vol. Just too much.
And lastly I didn’t care for any of the plotlines. Wraiths start off cool even though they feel Brood 2.0 and that storyline fizzles out.
Then canonizing that Days of Future Past future never got changed only a new past was created and Rachel herself are total buzzkills.
But like I said it feels like a lot of filler and drags on. However happy for Cyclops leaving the team & having his happy ending, sad to read it with the editorial bullshit that starts in 2 vols of bringing him back & making him miserable/asshole again.
Just a lot of filler sadly, the team is so much smaller without Cyclops, Storm leaving and Wolverine having his own series with Kitty (which was pretty mid, Wolverine has an evil teacher? Huh? The whole Japan thing is getting repetitive at this point)
And the dialogue/word bubbles are outrageously bad this vol. Just too much.
And lastly I didn’t care for any of the plotlines. Wraiths start off cool even though they feel Brood 2.0 and that storyline fizzles out.
Then canonizing that Days of Future Past future never got changed only a new past was created and Rachel herself are total buzzkills.
But like I said it feels like a lot of filler and drags on. However happy for Cyclops leaving the team & having his happy ending, sad to read it with the editorial bullshit that starts in 2 vols of bringing him back & making him miserable/asshole again.
March 5, 2025
This is a good example of why I decided to read straight through rather than skipping around. The stories might not be as iconic as some, but there are so many good ones here that it's hard to argue for skipping them.
The big one here is LifeDeath, a very crucial story for Storm, and one that has a large impact on the team for a long while afterwards. I'd also say that the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine miniseries is also pretty epic. These two were just made for each other in a very student and master sort of way, which plays well with the Japanese setting.
The crossover mini with Alpha Flight is also pretty good, and for anyone that saw my review of volume 2 and it's inclusion of issue #153, well, Annual 8 is a sort of sequel to that with the roles reversed, and I absolutely love it as well. It's charming, fun and just a nice break from the usual comic book action.
So yeah, while some will say skip ahead to the next good bit, I say stay the course and enjoy the ride. It's more than I expected, and that might be true for you too.
The big one here is LifeDeath, a very crucial story for Storm, and one that has a large impact on the team for a long while afterwards. I'd also say that the Kitty Pryde and Wolverine miniseries is also pretty epic. These two were just made for each other in a very student and master sort of way, which plays well with the Japanese setting.
The crossover mini with Alpha Flight is also pretty good, and for anyone that saw my review of volume 2 and it's inclusion of issue #153, well, Annual 8 is a sort of sequel to that with the roles reversed, and I absolutely love it as well. It's charming, fun and just a nice break from the usual comic book action.
So yeah, while some will say skip ahead to the next good bit, I say stay the course and enjoy the ride. It's more than I expected, and that might be true for you too.
August 5, 2024
More Claremont goodness. This volume doesn’t contain any of the heavy hitters like the Dark Phoenix Saga or God Loves, Man Kills, but it has a lot of really good character work.
There’s a comfort to reading the X-Men run with Claremont having written it for so long. His characters aren’t hokey heroes and the villains are mustache twirling stereotypes. Secret Wars happens during this part of the continuity and I’m reading that separately but concurrent to this volume. It’s taking a long time to get through. Its feel is so much different and that’s the beauty of Uncanny X-Men. Don’t start with this one if you want to know about the mutants, but read it if you want to dive in really deep after you’ve gotten to know the team a little.
There’s a comfort to reading the X-Men run with Claremont having written it for so long. His characters aren’t hokey heroes and the villains are mustache twirling stereotypes. Secret Wars happens during this part of the continuity and I’m reading that separately but concurrent to this volume. It’s taking a long time to get through. Its feel is so much different and that’s the beauty of Uncanny X-Men. Don’t start with this one if you want to know about the mutants, but read it if you want to dive in really deep after you’ve gotten to know the team a little.
September 4, 2023
A bit of a mixed bag this collection.
On the great side we get: 1. Storm’s struggles with her own personal changes including losing her powers; 2. Kitty Pryde coming of age through a trial by fire in Japan with Wolverine; and 3. the terrific Alpha Flight / X-Men team up to confront the gift of Loki.
On the not so great side, we get: 1. Wraiths (what is it with people’s fascination with body snatcher aliens. While these tied into the poorly conceived ROM comics the aliens were just another version of the Brood or vice versa not sure which came first); 2. Kulan Gath; and 3. Illyana’s Fairy Tale. Well they can’t all be winners.
On the great side we get: 1. Storm’s struggles with her own personal changes including losing her powers; 2. Kitty Pryde coming of age through a trial by fire in Japan with Wolverine; and 3. the terrific Alpha Flight / X-Men team up to confront the gift of Loki.
On the not so great side, we get: 1. Wraiths (what is it with people’s fascination with body snatcher aliens. While these tied into the poorly conceived ROM comics the aliens were just another version of the Brood or vice versa not sure which came first); 2. Kulan Gath; and 3. Illyana’s Fairy Tale. Well they can’t all be winners.
February 23, 2025
I was a little worried because this Omnibus had a lot more miniseries then I typically care for but luckily they all held up really well. The main series of course is still phenomenal and I really enjoyed the Wolverine and Kitty Pryde miniseries, helps that they're both some of my favorite characters. The Alpha Flight crossover was also very entertaining but that's also just because I am partial to Canada's superteam (Sasquatch is great). It's truly amazing how well Claremont's X-Men still holds up and how consistently great it is.
July 27, 2025
Cada número en este volumen va de mejor a mejor, además de la participación de muchos buenos artistas, que si bien no me gusta el arte de Jhon Romita Jr en la actualidad, su arte aquí y en el volumen anterior siento que pega demasiado.
Muchos de los personajes aquí pasan por un gran desarrollo, en especial Storm que obviamente sigue manteniéndose como uno de los mejores personajes de esta etapa.
Muchos de los personajes aquí pasan por un gran desarrollo, en especial Storm que obviamente sigue manteniéndose como uno de los mejores personajes de esta etapa.
July 26, 2021
Claremont’s epic run continues, though many of the plot lines here feel like exceptionally slow burns. As the X-Universe grew, more characters and spin-offs tended to water down the stories. Still a great dose of nostalgia in a beautiful format.
May 13, 2024
Flew through the first half to two thirds, but the Kulan Gath story, Annual 8 and 193 were slogs.
Art is at the lowest it's been in this run. I don't mind RomitaJunior's Wolverine or Colossus, but the rest aren't particularly drawn to my liking.
I'll skip some issues on a re-read.
Art is at the lowest it's been in this run. I don't mind RomitaJunior's Wolverine or Colossus, but the rest aren't particularly drawn to my liking.
I'll skip some issues on a re-read.
May 9, 2025
The X Men are my friends, even though they say everything they’re thinking and feeling out loud and it makes for walls of texts in between the punching bad guys.
The Kitty Pryde and Wolverine issues are awesome
The Kitty Pryde and Wolverine issues are awesome
June 26, 2022
Some of the best writing by Claremont
July 12, 2023
3.5 stars
April 24, 2024
A great entry in the run and a lot of fun, but not as strong as Vol. 3
September 29, 2024
nunca pense que iba a necesitar tanto la relacion padre e hija de logan y kitty me hace emociona posho
July 28, 2025
2025 - Days of Future Past: 365 Days of The X-Men
Day 181 - 208 (6/30 - 7/27)
Day 181 - 208 (6/30 - 7/27)
October 26, 2025
Minus one star for including the Confederate flag in the bonus pinups.
January 4, 2026
A solid 4/5 for me on vol 4. I absolutely loved they put issues of the kitty and wolverine mini series.
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