Generation X Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Back to School

Generation X Epic Collection

by Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, Chris Bachalo (Illustrator)

Meet the new class! The techno-organic aliens known as the Phalanx have targeted the next generation of mutants — and now Banshee, Jubilee and the White Queen must rescue Synch, Husk, M, Skin and Blink! But will all of them survive to attend the newly reopened Xavier’s School? The sullen Chamber and mysterious Penance enroll as well — but who is the marrow-sucking monster called Emplate, and what is his connection to one of the students? As the Gen X kids adjust to their new lives, romance blossoms and rivalries form even as they battle Orphan-Maker, Gene Nation and more! But what can their mutant powers do against…magic? Scott Lobdell and Chris Bachalo’s ’90s sensation begins here!

COLLECTING: Uncanny X-Men (1981) 316-318, X-Men (1991) 36-37, Generation X (1994) 1-9, Wolverine (1988) 94, Generation X Collectors' Preview (1994) 1, Generation X Ashcan Edition (1994) 1

Genres: Comics, X Men, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Fantasy

480 pages, Paperback

First published July 20, 2021

About the author

Scott Lobdell (born 1960) is an American comic book writer.

He is mostly known for his work throughout the 1990s on Marvel Comics' X-Men-related titles specifically Uncanny X-Men, the main title itself, and the spin-off series that he conceived with artist Chris Bachalo, Generation X. Generation X focused on a number of young mutant students who attempted to become superheroes in their own right at a separate school with the guidance of veteran X-related characters Banshee and Emma Frost. He also had writing stints on Marvel's Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series with artist Gene Ha. He wrote the script to Stan Lee's Mosaic and an upcoming film from POW Entertainment featuring Ringo Starr. He also participated in the Marvel Comics and Image Comics (from Jim Lee's WildStorm) crossover mini-series WildC.A.T.s/X-Men.

Reviews

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Utterly absorbing despite its size, Generation X might not have the most iconic lineup, but it is a damn fun one. The characters wonderfully bounce off each other, and whilst the storylines are good enough, they are always overshadowed by the team banter and dynamics. It also marks a very important turn in Emma Frost's character, and I would go so far as to say it is a must-read for fans of her.

[Guilherme Smee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta edição Epic que traz as primeiras histórias da nova equipe adolescente mutante, a Geração X, liderada por Banshee e a Rainha Branca, tendo Jubileu como destaque pode ser dividida em três partes. Quatro se formos considerar a enormidade de extras que este exemplar contém. Mas se referindo às histórias, a primeira parte temos o crossover Aliança Falange, dos X-Men em geral. Eu acredito que não precisava ser publicado aqui ou pelo menos na íntegra, talvez apenas as histórias relacionadas com esta equipe. A segunda parte, que acho a melhor de todas, são Scott Lobdell e Chris Bachallo em sua melhor forma, trazendo quase uma publicação independente, experimental, um verdadeiro laboratório no universo mutante. A última parte, desenhada pelo brasileiro Roger Cruz é bem mais sem graça, tanto nos desenhos quanto nos roteiros de Lobdell, parece estar cumprindo tabela, com uma história relacionada com o mundo das fadas e o castelo Cassidy, da família de Banshee. Levando isso em conta, a publicação fica na média, mas isso não significa que eu não queira ler mais histórias inéditas no Brasil da Geração X. Que venham novos volumes.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books has its ups and downs, but the core of it is really strong. After the Phalanx crossover laid the groundwork for the team and characters the book was really clicking with me. Banshee and Emma Frost (which you have to credit to this book for adding her to the “good guys” side for the first time and leading her to becoming one of the most compelling X characters) have a great dynamic as teachers who can’t quite agree on the way to approach the curriculum. I was stunned how quickly characters like M, Synch, Jubilee, and Husk had their personalities down from the beginning. The Chris Bachalo art of course was the real highlight of the book. Just stunning visuals and really interesting panel ideas. The book falls sharply after his issues unfortunately, and for some reason they added a magazine promoting the series at the end. It was interesting to look at and get a 90s nostalgia buzz but would have preferred more comics. A really interesting book overall but not necessarily a must-read. Would highly recommend checking out the first few issues of Generation X, though. At least all the Bachalo drawn ones.

[Alex Sarll]

A surprisingly good nineties X-book, for saying it begins with a crossover scripted by Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell, and centred around the Phalanx Covenant. Who, OK, at least they're not Stryfe, but remain one of those elements of the mutant mythos with whom I could never quite engage. Anyway, because of some plot, they're bent on wiping out the next generation of mutants, and for some reason that's never made clear here only Banshee, Emma Frost, Jubilee and occasionally Sabertooth are available to stop them. At this juncture the art is pretty darn nineties - Joe Mad! - but not unbearably so, and despite the occasional opacity of the plot, and being written by two writers I don't generally rate, there are places in amongst the corniness and trying too hard I associate with the era where the script genuinely zings: "I don't think I've ever been in a living room with an echo before. It's such a homey touch." Hell, there's even a line nicked from Watchmen by way of acknowledging the game has changed. And once the crossover is done, and Generation X proper gets underway, we're firmly into that territory, comics' other nineties, because the art is Bachalo on pencils, Mark Buckingham on inks. Now, these days Bachalo means an incomprehensible, distorted slog, not to mention he'll be off after five issues because a monthly schedule is beyond him. And granted, even here the last three issues need other pencillers, and are markedly less good, though it doesn't help that I'm not sure there's an artist on Earth who could sell me on the little people of Cassidy Keep as an adornment to the X-Men mythos. But when he is around, this is the cute, playful Bachalo who had just made Death and Shade such delightful, almost tactile reads - the pages are enriched with marginal gags and little extras that leave the sense of an enormously good time being had. And while I usually think of Lobdell as at best a journeyman writer, he rises to the occasion, the team producing an oddball, often low-stakes book about a bunch of misfits discovering themselves in a rural mansion, which as such inevitably reminds me of my very favourite Bachalo, the scandalously still-uncollected Hotel Shade. Along the way it introduces characters who still play significant roles in the X-books to this day, like Synch, Chamber* and Monet, as well as moving along plots which have actually stuck, like the semi-rehabilitation of Emma. Granted, they can't all be winners - Banshee as a headmaster feels like a weird take from a 2023 perspective, though it works here, and whither Skin? But for the most part, a series I'd gone into half-expecting to find amusingly bad now has me keen to continue.

*Whose name, according to the extensive promotional materials included as extras here, was originally meant to be the perfectly sensible Jonathan. So why had it become the inexplicable 'Jonothon' by the time he showed up in the comic proper?

[Marcelo Soares · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essa edição começa com a Aliança Falange, um daqueles crossovers tenebrosos dos anos 90, em que a Falange tenta capturar a nova geração de mutantes para testar a absorção deles na Falange, ou coisa assim. Claro, os X-Men estão meio ocupados, então sobra para o Banshee, a Emma Frost e o Dentes de Sabre salvar a Geração X. É uma história bem daquele estilo noventeiro; não faz muito sentido, a coincidência manda em tudo, tem a verborragia do Lobdell ligada no 330V, e parece perfeitamente descartável, nas primeiras edições pós-Falange, não faz a menor diferença o que aconteceu durante o evento. Na boa, não precisava nem estar aqui.
Jás as primeiras edições da Geração X são bem divertidas, a verborragia está mais controlada, a arte do Chris Bachalo combina muito com o clima de gurizada adolescente sem noção, especialmente os panos de fundo das páginas, que é o grande "motivo" do grupo. Já as edições pós-Era do Apocalipse são mais fraquinhas, a arte por conta do Roger Cruz parece não combinar tanto assim, mas também corre no mesmo clima.
O maior problema, e talvez seja algo particular, é que nenhum desses personagens - com a exceção da Emma Frost - vai chegar a lugar nenhum no futuro próximo, acho que, inclusive, a maioria morre em mais algum cross-over descartável que muda o mundo mutante de novo e pela última vez até o próximo verão.

[Vitor Aurungo · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Rafa Araujo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 estrellas 0 objetividad.
Què más le puedo pedir a mi cómic favorito?
te amo generación X.

[Milan Konjevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lobdel/Bachalo kombinacija je prosto neodoljiva. Plus, u kolekciji ima i Madureire i Endi Kjuberta... treba li nam ista vise od zivota?

[Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read, I actually had a couple of these issues when I was a kid, so there was some surprise nostalgia there too.

The opening 5 issue story tells the "Generation Next" story from the Phalanx Covenant (for those who haven't read it, the Phalanx Covenant is made up of 3 separate stories which all deal with defeating the Phalanx). It has a horror kind of atmosphere with the X-Men being replaced with the Phalanx. The Phalanx is after the next generation of mutants and it's up to Banshee, Emma Frost, Jubilee and Sabretooth to save them. The art by Joe Mad and Andy Kubert was also a treat.

When the actual Generation X issues start, Banshee and Emma Frost are the headmasters of the school with Jubilee and the next generation kids as the students. The kids grow on you quickly, I especially liked Husk. Lobdell quickly made each character unique and engaging. Its also great seeing the beginning of Emma Frost becoming a hero.

The first few Generation X issues deal with the kids settling into the new school. They're attacked by a creepy villain named Emplate who feeds on the bone marrow of mutants. There's also an intriguing mystery surrounding a dangerous new student called Penance who showed up at the school after being a victim of Emplate.

I gotta say, I really enjoyed Jubilee's 90's speak as well. Such a sign of the times.

I was apprehensive about Chris Bachalo being on art, since I usually can't stand him, but it turns out that this is before his art got more messy and distorted, and I actually thought it was really good.

The last few issues are a bit weird. There's a Wolverine issue where he's a guest instructor for the kids which has a really strange ending which I'm not sure I understand. There's also a 2 issue story at the end which involves elves, fairies, dragons and magic. It reminded me a little bit of early Excalibur, which I love.

The last point I'll make is that the amount of extras seemed a bit excessive. A lot of it didn't seem to have much to do with Gen X. I would have preferred another issue or two.

All in all, this was a really good read and I'd definitely recommend it. Especially if you're a fan of 90's X-Men comics.

[PAUL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have fond memories of these early issues - in the UK I first came across Gen X as the back up stories in Amazing X-Men, a comic that was reprinting the stories prior to Claremont and Lee’s blue/gold team era. There was a lot of promise with the title which was later sadly lost once Lobdell left. In this volume, we get the X-Men issues of the Phalanx Covenant storyline that introduced the Gen X cast, and their first adventures. Lobdell does a great job establishing each, and beginning the teen growing pains that come with their powers (some of which present quite interesting individual difficulties, something that was lost along the way).

I didn’t like the way that Bachalo’s art began to shift to a more deformed/cartoony style and you can see that happen gradually here. I’m not sure why I still don’t like it, but even now if I see a comic and Bachalo is the artist, I don’t look any further.

I’m pleased many of these characters have broken out and are experiencing a resurgence, particularly M & Synch (who to me was always ‘Cinch’) despite the muddle that a lot of other writers put them through (I’m looking at you Husk, Chamber & Jubilee). There’s a lot of interesting additional content included here which is the benefit of these Epic Collections.

We also seem to be getting Gen X in order which is cool for those wanting to follow the ‘mystery’ of Penance, and you can see the early signs of where Lobdell intended it to go here. Check this out for a slice of X-Men nostalgia, a great comic hampered by writer changes and those wonderful (but disrupting to a storyline) crossovers that the X-Men was known for back in the day.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another volume down this time with a more modern take on the new mutants team with a team called Generation X. While I don’t think this reaches the same heights of new mutants this was an extremely enjoyable volume.

Lobdell & Bachalo bring these new characters Synch,husk,M,Skin & Blink to life coming off of the Phalanx Covenant event and I’m not sure it could work without their combined efforts. Also Im a big fan of how they folded in Banshee,Emma Frost, & Jubilee to fill the team out with leaders and newcomers. We even get a guest appearance from wolverine.

Many love to trash talk how 90s comics look but I thought the art here was on point and only occasionally over detailed. For the most part we get detailed but still easily to comprehend panels with colors that really pop.

This fist volume has the team going up against the likes of Emplate, Orphan maker, and even Dragon. You never know what to expect here though the last issue in the portal of Cassidy keep was a wacky left turn I’m excited to check out the next volume to see where the team goes next. There’s a lot to say but that’s my initial feelings 😂

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

“And *such* small portions!” The book is, for some reason, unusually short, and has a big chunk at the end devoted to a semi-guidebook and an ashcan. The groundwork for Generation X, a new bunch of young mutants (with Jubilee transplanted) is laid with part one of the Phalanx Covenant, with the first nine issues of the main title following (interrupted by a Wolverine issue), and then the extras.

The Phalanx stuff is pretty much the X-Men version of the Borg, but the story’s readable and starts the redemption tour of Emma Frost (a character I’ve come to love over the years, inexplicably, perhaps because writers keep doing interesting things with her, and giving her enjoyable quirks.) The main book, though, launches itself into quirkiness right away, despite the grim stuff going on. Writer Scott Lobdell isn’t afraid to be goofy, so the fourth issue is a dotty Christmas story while 8 and 9 do Banshee Brigadoon with added elves, fairies, trolls, and a cigar smoking dragon.

Fun, yes. But certainly not great.

[Lance Grabmiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Collects Uncanny X-Men #316-318 (September - November 1994), X-Men #36-37 (September - October 1994), Generation X #1-9 (November 1994 - November 1995), Wolverine #94 (October 1995), Generation X Collector's Preview (October 1994), Generation X Ashcan Edition (October 1994) and lots of extra material.

'A' for effort on this one. It came along when the universe was already clogged with too many X-books and this book somehow did storytelling and character development better than most at the time (X-Force, X-Factor, Wolverine, Excalibur, even the TWO main X-titles). It's really too bad the only characters from this series who continued to make big and lasting impacts on the X-Universe after this series was canned a few years later are characters who were introduced years or decades earlier (Jubilee, Banshee and Emma Frost). This reminds me of the early days of the New Mutants and what potential these ideas could have. Too bad it was all swamped by lots of mediocre material in the 1990s.

One annoying thing is that a lot of the background coloration makes the lettering hard to read (mostly the "footnotes").

[Daniel Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfatória leitura de apresentação da nova geração de mutantes.
Esse volume da epic trás a formação da equipe durante o arco da Aliança Falange e estabele Emma Frost e Banshae como seus tutores determinando assim novos papeis para velhos conhecidos da franquia X
A entrada de mutantes menos belos que os tradicionais X-men e mais problemáticos foi algo promissor aqui Escalpo, DErme e Sincro são personagens que chamam a atenção mesmo tendo que interagir com a veterana Jubileu, boa parte do encadernado tem excelente desenhsistas como Madureira, Bachallo e Kubert
para além da nostalgia GEração X foi um experimento editorial bem sucedido no caldeirão de equipes mutantes esse talvez seja a mais divertida de ser acompanhada quando comparada a seus contemporâneos

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice nostalgic trip back to the early 90's and I loved pretty much every minute of it. I wish that instead of including the Generation X promo-mag at the end that they would've included a couple of more issues instead because things were just really starting to gel with the team and the characterization, but regardless of that I still had a great time revisiting these old friends.

[Micko · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a mixed bag with fun action-packed stories about characters that read like actual teens of their time, and odd stories that either takes place in a universe that seems a bit closer to fairytale land or is lost in uninteresting melodrama.

Some of the art is great, while some of it is amateurish enough for Husk and Emma Frost to be hard to tell apart.

[Nate Deprey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Phalanx Covenant seems like a deeply strange place to launch a new ongoing mutant series out of but Lobdell really pulled it off. Generation X is really The New Mutants recast by David Cronenberg featuring a real buffet line of body horrors from the new team with Skin being the grossest to my way of thinking.

[Will Radke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. There's definitely sub-plots that rely on you having knowledge of the prior publications but it's not a big issue. The main issue is I'm having a terrible time finding the second volume. Volumes 1 and 3 are easy to find but 2 is proving difficult and expensive.

[Thomas Gryphon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts really strong, but the last few books feel disjointed from the linear story

[Nadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a hiatus from reading X-Men for a few years-I hit a wall when I got to the 90s.

This is really endearing so far. The art and characterization is pretty high quality. The Gen X comic itself is good but it reads as a teen comic aimed at a younger audience, the content is a very PG-ified X comic, while other series like New Mutants were a teen comic very much meant for adults or older teens.

3.5

[Nate Balcom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felt like I jumped back into my teenage years devouring this X-men spinoff series from the 90's!

[Ernesto Jun · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much nostalgia.