Exiles: Ultimate Collection, Book 1

Exiles (2001) (Collected Editions) #1-3

by Judd Winick, Mike McKone (Illustrator), Jim Calafiore (Illustrator)

Led by Blink, who hails from the wildly popular X-Men storyline "Age of Apocolypse," the Exiles consist of heroes pulled from alternate times and universes who are sent to correct problems in the multiverse. Their adventures span hundreds of different worlds, setting events and characters back on their proper course - or else risk having them "blink" out of existence!

Collects Exiles #1-19.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, X Men, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

465 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 29, 2009

About the author

Judd Winick is an American cartoonist, comic book writer, screenwriter, and former reality television personality known for his diverse contributions to storytelling across multiple media. He first entered the public eye in 1994 as a cast member on The Real World: San Francisco, where he formed a close friendship with AIDS educator Pedro Zamora, an experience that deeply influenced his later work. Winick memorialized their bond in Pedro and Me, a critically acclaimed autobiographical graphic novel that earned several literary awards and became a staple in school curricula.

Winick's career in comics took off with The Adventures of Barry Ween, Boy Genius and continued with major runs at DC Comics, including Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and Batman. His stories often explored socially relevant themes, such as HIV, homophobia, and identity. He was recognized for introducing gay characters and tackling difficult subjects with empathy and clarity. His work on Batman notably included resurrecting the character Jason Todd as the Red Hood, a storyline later adapted into the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood, for which Winick wrote the screenplay.

Beyond comics, he created The Life and Times of Juniper Lee for Cartoon Network and served as head writer for Hulu's The Awesomes. In 2015, he launched the Hilo series, an all-ages sci-fi adventure inspired by his own children. The bestselling series has been widely praised and is expected to reach its eleventh volume in 2025.

Winick lives in San Francisco with his wife, Pam Ling, also a Real World alum, and their two children. He continues to create heartfelt and imaginative stories for audiences of all ages.

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morph! Blink! Mimic! A lesbian Sunfire and more. A Marvel multiverse book that brings together Marvel fandom's favourite alternate and Age of Apocalypse mutants and heroes in an ongoing series. A supposedly fan-fave inspired idea, that works pretty well. The Exiles are a group of random heroes collected together to fix irregularities in time lines of other realities in an ongoing long-form multiverse conspiracy thriller. Another compelling Marvel read of the Noughties, a clean 7 out of 12 Three Stars from me :)

2018 read

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down the Rabbit Hole (1-2). The first arc nicely sets up the comic, its goals, and its stakes. This is generally a workmanlike combination of those elements but (at the time), it’s fresh and thus enjoyable [7/10].

Old Wounds, New Battles (3-4). The Phoenix story is a nice historical that touches upon the emotions and the difficulty of the tasks that the Exiles are given. The shattering fight against the Phoenix is especially great [7/10].

Up North and in the Green (5-6). Alpha Flight offers up another nice variant look on the X-Men mythos, and the insight into John Proudstar is great. However, it’s the introduction of Weapon X that knocks this story out of the park [8/10].

A Chance to Dream (7). I found all of these ‘Nuff Said stories very gimmicky, but at least Winnick makes good use of it with his dreams, which give insight to several of the characters [7/10].

A World Apart (8-10). This story’s main strength is how it steps away from standard X stories and instead paints on a larger canvas. The result would be a sort of OK story, but it also has an ending which is great [7/10].

Play Date (11). This is a great character piece for Mariko and Morph [8/10].

Another Rooster in the Henhouse (12-13). A great introduction to Weapon X, a good comparison of the teams, and some nice moral quandaries [7/10].

I Cover the Waterfront (14-15). This story is just an excuse to focus on Calvin. Fortunately, that focus is very nice, and the shallowness of the rest of the story fades away [7.5/10].

Nocturne & Evensong (16). This is a great bit of continuity, delving into the details of past adventures and also a beautiful character piece for both Nocturne and Thunderbird [8+/10].

Wildlife Reserve (17). This Lizard story is pretty shallow, but has some good character insight in it for Morph and for Calvin [6/10].

So Lame (18-19). The Mojo story that ends things off is a nice change of pace, since it’s not just another mission. It also gives some nice background on Morph. Beyond that, it’sjust an OK story without a lot happening. [5/10]

Overall, Winnick really proves himself in this volume, offering a great premise and a lot of variety, though I have some concerns with the weakness of the last few issues.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great! It has a similar premise to the What If? books that Marvel used to run. It takes a group of characters from alternate realities and throws them into situations that sometimes require non-intuitive solutions. The early volumes have much of the heart that I found in other Judd Winick comics (namely, his long run on Green Arrow) and each of the characters introduced has a unique voice and set of motivations. (Re)Reading this instead of the currently running events has renewed my appreciation for the richness of the marvel universe. I am already cruising through the second Ultimate volume and should have it finished before lunch.

[Ekenedilichukwu Ikegwuani · Rating 4 out of 5]

this collection is really really really good. i enjoy these a lot and already care about the characters

[TK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exiles feels like a reward for reading every other comic. I could live in alternate realities forever.

[John Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read some issues in the early 00s and I remember liking it. So, on that impression, I picked this volume last year.

I can't say i liked it. I gave it 3 stars because it was tolerable. It is mostly episodic in its nature, with almost no development forward in each issue. Feels like those tv shows with fillers. And its very mainstream comicbooky, by the numbers I mean. I was thinking while reading that if i picked this issue by issue i wouldn't be satisfied. There is not enough in one issue to be content you bought it. But neither in volume format is not satisfying, because it doesn't work as a overarching story. It feels episodic, as i said. Feels like Smallville.

And they way it presents itself, it is old timeish. First pages presenting you with the team (a way for new readers to get a grip with the series, but annoying in long format when it keeps repeating issue by issue), villain of the week, lets go gang, blabering while fighting, corny jokes, childish dialogue, trying to be edgy (by 00s standards - they are looking at porn omg :)), or going to a nude beach).

For these 19 issues there are 2 pencillers and 8 inkers. Mike McKone is ok, standard superhero book art, nothing exceptional, but Jim Calafiore, oh boy. Squarish, wide and flat faces, with wide small eyes. In every single face. Everytime i wanted to get back to McKone's art.

But the characters are likable overall (when they are not brooding or Morph gets annoying), and overall it is tolerable as a read. So I gave it 3 stars, which might seem above average but it is average.

[Drew Woodworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun to revisit, but it definitely feels like a book of it's time. The banter and characterization definitely evoke that early 2000's vibe. The basic premise is we have a group of superheroes plucked out of their own reality and they are forced to jump between alternate realities and "Fix" them before they move on. Supposedly, if they do this long enough, they get to return to their own reality and save the multiverse, in the process.
The characterization isn't bad. Winick does a good job giving each character a voice and a distinct personality and uses the inter-personal relationships to bring it all to fruition. The different realities and worlds they visit start to kind of run together. We really don't spend more than an issue or two at each reality and none are especially mind-blowing. It's kind of the same issue reading a bunch of issues of "What If?" in a row is like. The lack of stakes and general same-ness gets a little stale.

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Szóstka mutantów zostaje wyrwanych ze swoich rzeczywistości i zmuszonych naprawiać różne warianty multiwersum. Takie "What If...?", ale z innej strony. Świetna seria, w sumie czuję się zachęcony, żeby czytać dalsze tomy. Z postaciami można szybko się związać, a niektóre z problemów, które mają do rozwiązania, są naprawdę sztos.

Poza Blink, która jest częścią ekipy z Age of Apocalypse, nie znałem żadnej z postaci - no, może poza Johnem Proudstarem, który w głównym uniwersum 616 ginie chwilę po pojawieniu się. Wersja z Exiles ma wiele lat doświadczenia i traum, których "nasz" John nie miał zdążył przeżyć.

Zeszyty w antologii:
Exiles #1
Exiles #2
Exiles #3
Exiles #4
Exiles #5
Exiles #6
Exiles #7
Exiles #8
Exiles #9
Exiles #10
Exiles #11
Exiles #12
Exiles #13
Exiles #14
Exiles #15
Exiles #16
Exiles #17
Exiles #18
Exiles #19

[Jason Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can tell that this is some of Judd Winick's earliest mainstream comics work. He hasn't quite found his voice, and some of the earliest plots are unnecessarily edgy. That being said, the characterization gets strong very quickly, the stories are snappy, and there's a good mix of action, drama, and humor. This is fun, episodic multiverse stuff with a don't-worry-too-much-about-it-right-now McGuffin that allows us to visit alternate worlds with alternate versions of heroes that quickly become endearing.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

An X-Men series I didn’t read when it first came out. There were so many X-Men comics and still are. I don’t know why it took me this long to get around to reading, but it was a lot of fun. Nothing like reading Sliders (great old sci-fi show) in the Marvel multiverse. Plus we get Blink. I remember her being super important and not used much in the 90s. It was fun to read these adventures and see the different worlds. The only thing I’d like to see is more world building of the different worlds they go to. A great comic gem that people should pick up.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exiles Book 1 begins a classic run for an X-Men team that should be more well known. Comprised of characters ripped from their timelines similar to what we see in the TVA in Loki, the series follows these heroes as they explore realities that serve as What-Ifs to major Marvel storylines with a level of expendability that makes those adventures feel consequential.

[Christopher Gadomski · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just can't get into this. The story has no depth and all the characters just seem to leap around from place to place. I don't care for the illustrative style of the artist(s) either.

Nope, I just didn't get this one.

[Lyndis Warchesik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was tempted to give it 5 stars. But in truth, I think that's just my nostalgia kicking in. But damn this series is so great lol

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the art and the story.

[Lissibith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved comics a while, but I'd not been a huge X-Men reader, but this first Exiles ultimate collection was given me by someone who loves the X-Men and wanted to share that love with me.

Well, I can say this - it got me hooked on Exiles. :)

The premise is simple, if weird even for a comic book. Six X-men from various realities have been pulled out of their timelines because something has gone wrong with their world that changes their entire life. They will travel as a group to different worlds, fixing bits of reality that have gone awry. If they succeed, they go back to their life like nothing happened. If they fail, they go back to their new, jacked-up timeline. And if they die, they die. Sometimes this means being heroes, like they usually are. Sometimes it means acting against their nature - killing one person to save the rest. And sometimes, the things they're asked to do are simply horrendous.

The situations are diverse and the characters they chose to use are great and fun. Some of them we get a lot less time with than I'd like, for various reasons, and they provide a great canvas against which to see the differences in each reality. They are encountering people they know from their own timelines but whose worlds are so incredibly different they they're sometimes largely unrecognizable. They don't know who they can trust or what they're going to find, and they definitely end up with strange bedfellows time and time again.

This series is great. Sometimes we get the typical superhero stuff, planning and fights and punching. Sometimes we get character pieces, explorations of history or trauma or just friendships. There's one issue told entirely without dialogue, showing a series of dreams by the characters - in some cases showing their fondest hope, and in others, their deepest fear. We also visit Mojoverse, encounter the son of Franklin Richards and even get to pick sides in a fight between Latveria and Atlantis.

If you like X-men, or just superhero stories, this is worth checking out. It's a really great series, and this is an incredibly solid opening collection.

[Michael Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series was pretty much what got me reading comics again so many years ago. First and foremost, it starred Blink, one of my favorite characters. Blink was introduced during the Age of Apocalypse, but she wasn't around much after her reality ended. Just seeing that she was in the book made it a must read for me.
The Exiles are a group of heroes that have become "unhinged in time". Their job is to travel to different realities and "fix" them, so to speak. The great thing about this story concept is that it allows the writers to do just about anything they want. None of the team members are safe, in fact we have our first fatality in issue 2. Once a team member dies, a new one immediately shows up to take their place. The writer can kill Cyclops for example, because he isn't the "real" Cyclops from the main universe. It always keeps you guessing. The series went on for quite some time, this is only the first of 6 volumes.

[Shane Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best X-men books I have ever read. And I say that as a HUGE X-men fan. A unique idea that explores the near infinite variations on the Marvel Universe. Not only does it have fun stories, but this is easily some of the best character work in modern superhero comics. A must read.

[Doyle Stricker · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Love portal fantasy

I love how they make you leave reviews. I don't wanna say anything other than I enjoyed The comic. I enjoy portal fantasy and the X-Men, So it's a great combination for me.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Been meaning to read this series for years now. I like these big fat Ultimate Collections. Enjoyed this one enough to plow right into the next book in the series.