FCBD 2020: X-Men/Dark Ages #1

by Jonathan Hickman, Tom Taylor, Pepe Larraz (Artist)

FCBD is headlined by a brand new X-Men story by Jonathan Hickman and Pepe Larraz that will lead into a game-changing summer for all of X! Plus: a secret second story foreshadowing an upcoming epic tale by Tom Taylor and Iban Coello.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, X Men, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Fantasy

23 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2020

About the author

Jonathan Hickman is an American comic book writer and artist. He is known for creating the Image Comics series The Nightly News, The Manhattan Projects and East of West, as well as working on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, FF, and S.H.I.E.L.D. titles. In 2012, Hickman ended his run on the Fantastic Four titles to write The Avengers and The New Avengers, as part the "Marvel NOW!" relaunch. In 2013, Hickman wrote a six-part miniseries, Infinity, plus Avengers tie-ins for Marvel Comics. In 2015, he wrote the crossover event Secret Wars. - Wikipedia

Reviews

[Nicolo]

The first X-over for X-Men titles in the Jonathan Hickman era dropped an intriguing preview. The recent global events has caused me to cut my monthly comics pulls and it's unfortunate that I'm sitting this one out. But it really looks good and I'm just grab the trade collection later.

[heidi]

Oh. My. Whaaat.

X-Men's Ten of Swords?? and The Avengers Dark Ages? I'm properly excited for both now!!

[F. P.]

Confusing, mismanaged presentation--the titles to this freebie are different depending on where you see them. There are also zero X-Men in this. However, I looked up more info, and the first other-wordly comic inside this is supposedly related to the X-Men and an X Of Swords event or something.

Is it maybe this? (Remove the spaces.)

https:// www. amazon. com/X-Swords-Jonathan-Hickman-ebook/dp/B08LF1D3W9/

I have no frigging idea where to go to next from that first FCBD "story"--in quotes because it's more like an introduction and a teaser-prediction, but, damn, is the fantastical art beautiful!

The next comic in this is an Avengers story (!) that takes place on Earth, and Tony Stark is fucked in it.

Actually, it looks like millions of people are; the story ends on a frigging cliffhanger!

Once again I can't figure out where to continue. I think it might be this:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

But inside this FCBD one, it just says "Dark Ages" at the end. Well, which frigging Dark Ages comic? I wish comic creators would just NAME with and refer to UNIQUE titles and be EXPLICIT. It's all just such a mess too many times.

--

My original review content when I put this FCBD in my to-read, and you can see that my having finally read it hasn't yielded enough illumination....

The title of this on my Kindle is different than this one on Goodreads. This keeps happening and it gets confusing, for sure....

[Etienne]

A nice enough issue as FCBD but not sure how much relevant it's in the grand scheme. But still it was nice!

[James DeSantis]

X-men story was meh but rhe Dark Age story was really interesting. I want more of that.

[RG]

Xmen 2 *
Dark ages 5* awesome

[Oneirosophos]

Taylor >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hickman

[Sara]

Great beginning

I'm not a fan of a lot of comica, but this one has an interesting introduction to a new story.

[Jillian]

If you want either a confusing mess of a story or a teaser to an upcoming Marvel run that will bum all of us out forever, the X-Men Free Comic Book Day 2020 issue is for! I really could not follow a single thing in the first story. I had no clue who any of the characters were or what was happening. I'd maybe give it a pass since I am only somewhat versed in X-Men, but it seemed like it took place either on another planet or in medieval times (or maybe both?) with someone reading tarot cards in a way that felt cliché and not at all interesting. The second story introduced the upcoming Marvel sage Dark Age, which feels like one of the most ill-conceived Marvel sagas of all time. In the time of COVID-19, does anyone actually want to read about a world in which their superheroes struggle without power? I know I don't!

[Christopher Funk]

So confusing. I feel like I've missed 20 years of comics, despite being up to date... I like the ending though, intense!

[Nancy]

This issue had two stories- the first was an X-Men story with the second an Avengers. I had no idea what was going on in the X-Men story although it had gorgeous art. Different universes, tarot cards, and ominous warnings were all I got out of it. The next story was centered around Tony Stark (whom I dislike) but at least I understood what was happening. When Iron Man's powers are strictly based off technology, what happens when the world goes dark?

[Phoenix]

Art was gorgeous, but I peaced out mentally after “This place is the light of all universes...yet I am *blinded* by darkness.”

Something really irked me about the intro. I can’t quite put my finger on it, or maybe that’s just it. It felt vague rather than ominous. I don’t mind ominous portents, but there was no suspense.

Ah well, I guess it’s alright for a Free Comic Book Day title.

[Nayade]

Dos historias que tienen gancho y que generan cierto suspense en torno a su continuación. La de Iron man ha sido mi favorita, pero la de X-men también la he disfrutado mucho. Lo recomiendo encarecidamente.

Opinión completa en: http://elmundodenaya.blogspot.com/202...

[Papasmurfiiiviii]

Didn’t give a lot of information (in terms of the X-Men world) but I have a lot of trust with Jonathan Hickman and Tini Howard to continue their great work that they’ve done so far.

[Alex]

Didn’t understand the X-Men portion, the avengers comic was interesting. For the X-men portion it was just somebody predicting the future but none of the X-men actually were in it except in a tarot card. I thought it could have been better. The avengers comic was nice, liked the plot line of a blackout. If technology fails you what do you do? Thought it moving and liked how you can tell that he was struggling to get his armor to do what he wants it to do. Would recommend for the second comic but not the first.

[Dan]

We open with a regal lady and Quaddeus Quo.

Quaddeus summons a mysterious being from the slave star, then the lady promptly destroys the planet.

Very cool illustrative work.

Meanwhile, on Opal Luna Saturnyne, the blonde woman turns to the cards. She sees Judgment, Four Of Wands (a baptism of blood), The Hanged Man (a sacrifice), Eight of Cups (disillusionment and/or abandonment), Ten of Swords (betrayal)…

Ominous.

This one also includes a free bonus short story of Dark Ages, featuring Captain America and Iron Man in an exciting adventure.

[DOUGLAS J BERRY]

Darkness falls.

Good color artwork. Marvel comics freebie. This would be easier to review if it was 32 pages. The tarot cards giving glimpses of the story arc is an interesting aesthetic choice. Tony stark going down hard, with crippling injuries, gives rise to Dark Ages. Good preview.

[Aegelis]

The cover says X men, but the first half is a generic universe conquerer bit and the second half is Iron Man. Mmkay, but for free I suppose there's not much to complain about. Usually these previews generate excitement and deliver some sort of story. Artwork is nice.

[Eric]

Short and lame. You get what you pay for, I suppose.

[Mr N J Liptrot]

really good book 5 stars

Bit of grim from avengers part when you get to it when Tonya Clegg gets chopped of from aeroplane engine. But really good

[Neil Dunne]

Very good indeed

Can’t review now........I need the next edition of this series ASAP.......that’s just how bloody good it is.....No SERIOUSLY IS LOL

[Ben Jackson]

So far, I’m interested

It had a pretty good set up so far. A tragic one, but I was still interested. The art was pretty cool and the pacing was tight. I’d say check it out.

[Chad Bunch]

I'm really looking forward to reading X of Swords, nearly two years after release...

[Komal]

Good stuff

I like the Idea but characters sketch could be better as line look a bit blurry not as crisp as other comic art

[John Paul]

Not sure if this is a misprint, but the title says X-Men but the story ended with The Avengers? The art is great.

[Glen Pettifer]

Ok for a free comic

This was an ok read and pretty good artwork too. I'm still waiting for the hint of "buy the next issue" when I come this down.

[John Kennedy]

Not enough

The premise is not really apparent. This little shot does not intrigue me enough. They just tried to do a cliffhanger while I am sitting in a desert.

[Stephanie Sloan]

Not bad

Quick read that wasn't bad. It's not my usual genre, and I wouldn't mind trying another comic/graphic novel in the future.

[Lizzy DeMarco]

Not a huge X-Men fan, plus this is five years old, but not a terrible story.

[Fausti]

oop