What do you think?
Rate this book
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men #4
Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 4
Collects The X-Men #122-131 and Annual #3.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published May 6, 2009
38 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Chris Claremont
3,277 books888 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 16, 2022
One of the good things about the Masterworks series is its lack of respect for later collection conventions. Is there such a thing as "The Dark Phoenix Saga"? Yes, comics history tells us, and it happens in X-Men 129-137. But also no: the inciting incident - Mastermind's seduction of Jean Grey - has been a long-running subplot for well over a dozen issues, and some of its most famous and disturbing scenes, like Jean's 18th century "human hunt", aren't part of the 'Saga' at all. At the end of this volume (issue 131) that plot is clearly about to come to a head, with Jean's friends noticing how quickly she's changing, but there's no indication that we're in the middle of a "saga" rather than at the end of a three-part story introducing Dazzler* and Kitty Pryde.
Isn't this just being pedantic? Well, maybe. But the impact of these comics - and the thing that won them such incredibly loyal fans - was precisely that they weren't neatly divided into stories and sagas, they flowed and built month by month letting arcs build but also resolving not just plots but emotional tangles. One of the most crucial scenes in this volume - the fight between Cyclops and Wolverine after the latter's traumatising encounter with Proteus - works as a beat in the Proteus story but for regular readers it more importantly draws a satisfying line under stuff that's been building for four years of stories and leaves you feeling both characters have grown while you've been reading about them. Thrill-power you could get elsewhere (if you were lucky) - no other superhero comic was doing that.
Claremont and Byrne's slow-burn approach means that stories which would be heinous throwaways anywhere else are actually worth reading. You never know what you'll miss if you decide (not unfairly) to skip Colossus' transformation into The Proletarian. The only real makeweight in this collection is - inevitably - the Annual, which shows how trite Claremont's approach to emotional plotting can be when he has to shove an entire arc (Storm misses being a goddess) into a done in one story. Thankfully it's drawn by George Perez, so the mutton really is dressed as lamb.
Fortunately right after this we get Proteus, the high point so far of the Byrne run and some of the most memorable superhero comics of the 70s: a dangerous and exceptionally visual enemy, some very hard-hitting material around Moira's then-background, and a relentless sense of threat. The Proteus issues are honestly better than the White Queen story, which absolutely has its moments - Kitty Pryde actually feels like a kid; the return of Professor X is hilarious; and it's Claremont starting to work that very Claremontian vein of the X-Men just hanging out in normal human spaces like the "Malt Shoppe" - but is elevated by knowing what's coming next.
*Dazzler, the Tom Bombadil of the 'Dark Phoenix Saga', is the biggest tell that no, you are not in fact reading a discrete 9 part story. If you were, then the sudden introduction and departure of a mouthy disco diva who has nothing to do with the rest of it would be an extremely weird storytelling choice. As it is, it's just the X-Men being the X-Men.
Isn't this just being pedantic? Well, maybe. But the impact of these comics - and the thing that won them such incredibly loyal fans - was precisely that they weren't neatly divided into stories and sagas, they flowed and built month by month letting arcs build but also resolving not just plots but emotional tangles. One of the most crucial scenes in this volume - the fight between Cyclops and Wolverine after the latter's traumatising encounter with Proteus - works as a beat in the Proteus story but for regular readers it more importantly draws a satisfying line under stuff that's been building for four years of stories and leaves you feeling both characters have grown while you've been reading about them. Thrill-power you could get elsewhere (if you were lucky) - no other superhero comic was doing that.
Claremont and Byrne's slow-burn approach means that stories which would be heinous throwaways anywhere else are actually worth reading. You never know what you'll miss if you decide (not unfairly) to skip Colossus' transformation into The Proletarian. The only real makeweight in this collection is - inevitably - the Annual, which shows how trite Claremont's approach to emotional plotting can be when he has to shove an entire arc (Storm misses being a goddess) into a done in one story. Thankfully it's drawn by George Perez, so the mutton really is dressed as lamb.
Fortunately right after this we get Proteus, the high point so far of the Byrne run and some of the most memorable superhero comics of the 70s: a dangerous and exceptionally visual enemy, some very hard-hitting material around Moira's then-background, and a relentless sense of threat. The Proteus issues are honestly better than the White Queen story, which absolutely has its moments - Kitty Pryde actually feels like a kid; the return of Professor X is hilarious; and it's Claremont starting to work that very Claremontian vein of the X-Men just hanging out in normal human spaces like the "Malt Shoppe" - but is elevated by knowing what's coming next.
*Dazzler, the Tom Bombadil of the 'Dark Phoenix Saga', is the biggest tell that no, you are not in fact reading a discrete 9 part story. If you were, then the sudden introduction and departure of a mouthy disco diva who has nothing to do with the rest of it would be an extremely weird storytelling choice. As it is, it's just the X-Men being the X-Men.
January 1, 2021
I read most or all of these issues when they came out originally (I had a subscription), but it's good to read them again :)
July 10, 2021
The X-Men (who are now friends :.)…) meet up with with their lame dad and get a new friend!
September 15, 2016
Enfrentar o mundo assassino de Arcade, descobrir a história da evolução dos mutantes em combate contra o imbatível Proteus, embater com o insidioso Clube do Inferno enquanto descobrem novos jovens que manifestam poderes, são alguns dos desafios que a equipa liderada por Scott Summers/Cyclop supera. Entre acção imparável, Claremont explora a coesão crescente do grupo, cada vez mais capaz de se coordenar apesar das suas diferenças. Humaniza os personagens, explorando tensões interpessoais, criando atrações e romances complexos que constrói de forma medida, denotando a visão abrangente de longo prazo que foi uma das suas características da longa temporada a escrever Uncanny X-Men.
January 24, 2022
This volume contains the Proteus arc, and the beginning of the Dark Phoenix saga. (It also contains Arcade's Murderworld but the less said about that the better). Proteus is one of the darker of Claremont's storylines. The son of Moira MacTaggert, an ally of the X-Men, is a body-stealing reality-warping mutant who has escaped containment and is on a rampage.
Proteus is really good, but the following issues, which introduce the evil Hellfire Club ands set up the Dark Phoenix saga, are simply excellent. Suddenly Claremont and Byrne seem more competent than ever before, with excellent storytelling and characterization. These issues also introduce Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost, two of the all-time best X-Men characters.
Proteus is really good, but the following issues, which introduce the evil Hellfire Club ands set up the Dark Phoenix saga, are simply excellent. Suddenly Claremont and Byrne seem more competent than ever before, with excellent storytelling and characterization. These issues also introduce Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost, two of the all-time best X-Men characters.
May 21, 2020
Working my way thru the classic years of this series, when it was firing on all cylinders: it's amazing how packed these issues are with plot, art, character development, etc.
And more than with any other comic at the time, each issue builds on the last and leads to the next, telling one long story in discreet episodes. If only modern comics sought to do this.
And more than with any other comic at the time, each issue builds on the last and leads to the next, telling one long story in discreet episodes. If only modern comics sought to do this.
December 23, 2021
This is the good stuff right here.
October 15, 2020
The X-Men face a variety of enemies in this collection. They also get reunited with Professor X and other associates. Moira MacTaggert summons the X-Men to her island lab just off Scotland's shores. A powerful mutant (who happens to be her son) manages to escape confinement. The X-Men reunite with Jean Grey, who came to Scotland after the volcano erupted in Antarctica. Jean is being stalked by Jason Wyngarde, who psychically makes Jean have odd flashbacks to a life in the 1800s. In the fantasy he's created, she's enamored with him and plans to marry him. Jean becomes more confused as readers' understanding becomes more clear--Wyngarde is a member of the Hellfire Club, a gentleman's club in New York City full of powerful people who want more power. They are behind a lot of shenanigans and are clearly on their way to being the next big problem for the X-Men.
This series also sees the introduction of Kitty Pryde, Dazzler, and Emma Frost as well as the exit of Banshee, who seems to have permanently lost his powers. He stays behind in Scotland to comfort Moira after that story ends. The story is exciting, especially the ongoing Jean Grey plot. Her powers are only growing while her mind is deteriorating. Dark Phoenix is on the horizon!
Highly recommended.
This series also sees the introduction of Kitty Pryde, Dazzler, and Emma Frost as well as the exit of Banshee, who seems to have permanently lost his powers. He stays behind in Scotland to comfort Moira after that story ends. The story is exciting, especially the ongoing Jean Grey plot. Her powers are only growing while her mind is deteriorating. Dark Phoenix is on the horizon!
Highly recommended.
Read
December 2, 2025kitty pryde, dazzler, AND emma frost this is what gay heaven feels like
October 12, 2025
ohhhhhh my god i am never gonna be normal about the x-men. i think. oh my god!!!!!
May 27, 2022
I'm glad to be returning to late 70s X-Men after a few months away from the series. This volume of the Masterworks series sees the X-Men fighting carney assassins, kidnapped by alien warriors and hunted by homicidal mutants. We also get introduced to new mutants as the shady Hellfire club works in the shadows to take down the team.
As I've mentioned in my previous reviews of this series, what's so standout about these comics is the focus on our heroes emotionally throughout. While some may find Claremont's writing heavy-handed I always appreciate the time taken to reflect on the inner lives of his characters. Throughout this volume, we reflect on Colossus' doubts about leaving his family and country to join the X-Men and Cyclops's insecurities as a leader. These asides exist both as internal monologues and are woven into plot points throughout and it further highlights Claremont's skill at blending action with character drama. These character moments and especially the emphasis on the friendship between X-Men are central to why the Uncanny X-Men series is an engaging read.
I also liked the occasional reflection on the political climate of the time with scenes like Storm revisiting the Harlem apartment she was raised in and discovering its transformation into a sad drug den. Storm's overwhelming sympathy for the children succumbing to drugs because of failed infrastructure was heartwarming to see and it would be great to see her explore more as the series continues.
The plotting in this volume was solid as always. My favourite storyline in this volume was the three-issue arc seeing the X-Men hunted by Mutant X or Proteus. Proteus is by far my favourite antagonist in this run. Not only are his possession and reality-bending powers absolutely terrifying and a legitimate threat to the X-Men but his personal connection to mutant researcher and friend of the gang Moria McTaggert made his terrorizing all the more intimate and horrific. This arc was really personal in contrast to the alien empires and government agents the X-Men have fought before and I felt the impact of that intimacy.
I again also have to praise just how much I love Claremont's macro-plotting. While this entire series has been building to the Dark Phoenix arc this volume in particular weaves in a lot more hits at what's to come. Claremont's restraint and dedication to the slow build continue to be incredibly satisfying.
I continue to adore the art in this series. I'm always blown away but how brilliantly John Byrne captures the scale of each X-Man's powers' Phoenix, Storm and Cyclops have pages upon pages of just fantastic moments in battle. I particularly adore the way Byrne with letter Tom Orzechowski capture Cyclops's optic beams towards the end of the series. The combination of great design with the merging of onomatopoetic lettering really shows the impact of his powers in a creative way. I also want to take a moment to shout out colourist Glynis Wein whose work has been featured semi-consistently throughout the run and in almost every issue of this volume. I love how vibrant every panel in this series is and Wein's bold, in-your-face colouring is central to the feel of these stories.
As always, I enjoyed this installment of Uncanny X-Men and I can't wait to dive into the next volume of this series in the coming weeks.
As I've mentioned in my previous reviews of this series, what's so standout about these comics is the focus on our heroes emotionally throughout. While some may find Claremont's writing heavy-handed I always appreciate the time taken to reflect on the inner lives of his characters. Throughout this volume, we reflect on Colossus' doubts about leaving his family and country to join the X-Men and Cyclops's insecurities as a leader. These asides exist both as internal monologues and are woven into plot points throughout and it further highlights Claremont's skill at blending action with character drama. These character moments and especially the emphasis on the friendship between X-Men are central to why the Uncanny X-Men series is an engaging read.
I also liked the occasional reflection on the political climate of the time with scenes like Storm revisiting the Harlem apartment she was raised in and discovering its transformation into a sad drug den. Storm's overwhelming sympathy for the children succumbing to drugs because of failed infrastructure was heartwarming to see and it would be great to see her explore more as the series continues.
The plotting in this volume was solid as always. My favourite storyline in this volume was the three-issue arc seeing the X-Men hunted by Mutant X or Proteus. Proteus is by far my favourite antagonist in this run. Not only are his possession and reality-bending powers absolutely terrifying and a legitimate threat to the X-Men but his personal connection to mutant researcher and friend of the gang Moria McTaggert made his terrorizing all the more intimate and horrific. This arc was really personal in contrast to the alien empires and government agents the X-Men have fought before and I felt the impact of that intimacy.
I again also have to praise just how much I love Claremont's macro-plotting. While this entire series has been building to the Dark Phoenix arc this volume in particular weaves in a lot more hits at what's to come. Claremont's restraint and dedication to the slow build continue to be incredibly satisfying.
I continue to adore the art in this series. I'm always blown away but how brilliantly John Byrne captures the scale of each X-Man's powers' Phoenix, Storm and Cyclops have pages upon pages of just fantastic moments in battle. I particularly adore the way Byrne with letter Tom Orzechowski capture Cyclops's optic beams towards the end of the series. The combination of great design with the merging of onomatopoetic lettering really shows the impact of his powers in a creative way. I also want to take a moment to shout out colourist Glynis Wein whose work has been featured semi-consistently throughout the run and in almost every issue of this volume. I love how vibrant every panel in this series is and Wein's bold, in-your-face colouring is central to the feel of these stories.
As always, I enjoyed this installment of Uncanny X-Men and I can't wait to dive into the next volume of this series in the coming weeks.
September 1, 2011
Although this volume contains the appalling and ridiculous Murderworld storyline, I upped the rating on this volume since there's also the Proteus story, 4 volumes of pure pulp/sci-fi heaven that pit the X-Men against a ruthless bodysnatcher. There's a great build in tension over the course of those issues and for the first time it genuinely feels like there are consequences to the X-Men's failures. Sometimes it's just as exciting of a few people's lives are endangered, as opposed to the entire universe. Claremont also personalises the story and it's a brilliant idea to, not only makes Proteus Moira's child but to have him take over the body of her ex-husband as well. There's a real sense of there being so much at stake here. Certainly one of the finest X-Men stories that I've read thus far.
February 19, 2018
This Masterworks collection house issues #122-131 of UNCANNY X-MEN as well as Annual #3. These issues make up 2 distinct storyarcs and one partial storyarc (along with a one-off issue). These were all written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by John Byrne (except for George Perez doing the art for Annual). This is a powerhouse team that revolutionized not just the X-Men, but the way Marvel did comics altogether.
The first storyarc (issues #122-124) has the X-Men resting from their world traveling events of numerous previous issues (seriously, issues #122 is the first time you see them relaxing at home since issue #111) only to be thrust into one of Arcade's deadly games set in his theme park called Murderworld. It's a fun storyline, even if the premise is just really, really out there, even for an X-Men comic (seriously, Arcade has constructed an ENTIRE theme park that gets customized to killing whomever he throws into it....it's like he doesn't even have a bank account, just does whatever). Arcade is a fun villain and the idea of the USSR convincing Colossus to turn on his friends is one of the high points of this arc. Spider-Man makes a cameo appearence in one of the issues, but oddly enough never shows up to help the X-Men fight. This storyarc also spawned a pretty bad videogame in 1992 for the SNES and Sega which Spider-Man is featured pretty heavily.
The Annual is a one-off issue featuring the return of Arkon (a Thor knockoff who appeared in only a handful of issues before this) who has come to Earth looking for Thor's help. Thor ain't around, so he decides Storm will suffice and kidnaps her. The X-Men fight back in attempt to stop the kidnapping and end up transported to Arkon's world. After a bunch more fighting, they realize he kidnapped Storm in order to use her powers to save her world, but this would kill her. The X-Men figure out a way to do this without killing her and everything works out. It's harmless fun and almost purely a big fight book with an interesting story behind it. George Perez's artwork is the real standout here.
The second arc is a legendary one called Proteus (#125-128). After nonsense with Arkon the X-Men return home and run into Beast, who thought they were all dead (just as they thought Phoenix were dead even though Cerebro exists as do Professor X's powers, but that would require Professor X actually being a part of these comics (he is absent until issue #129 here). I digress, it's a great reunion scene and they immediately makes tracks for Scotland to find Jean (sans Beast who has Avengers stuff to do). When they get there a situation has arose: Mutant X (i.e Proteus) has escaped Moira MacTaggert's Mutant Research Facility on Muir Island and is leaving a large body count in his wake. The reunited X-Men along with Moira, Havok, Polaris, and Multiple Man are tasked with finding him and stopping him. It sounds simple and typical of what had been done in the previous 30 issues, but really it's something quite special and easily the best storyarc thus far in the revamped X-Men line. In fact it's one of their best in general. It's not to be missed and, to me, marks the beginning of some seriously strong storytelling in this series. Professor X returns out of nowhere at the end of this story to lead the X-Men once more.
The remaining issues (#129-131) are the beginning of the Dark Phoenix saga (#129-137), the story that basically defined this era of the X-Men and some herald as the best X-Men story of all-time. These few issues deal with the Hellfire Club (first appearance of Emma Frost aka White Queen) attempting to recruit two new mutants into their ranks: Kitty Pryde and Dazzler (first appearances as well). However, the X-Men (fresh off the Proteus mission) are also pushed into recruiting these new mutants as well by Professor X, leading to a few issues of intense confrontations with the Hellfire Club and Phoenix being pushed over her absolute limit, terrifying most of the current X-Men at her powers. By the last page of the last issue, you'll know things are about to get crazy for her and you'll being picking up the next Masterworks volume to see what happens.
I will take a moment here to point out something that bugs me: Professor X is garbage in the series thus far. If you followed his entire storyline since the first issue of the X-Men, he's just a cantankerous elderly teacher stereotype that never moves beyond that. You can see why they might have attempted to phase him out in these first few years of the New X-Men, he's quite useless beyond bitching at the X-Men for not following his orders and using his telepathic powers to find out where new mutants are to bring to him to bitch at. After he abandons the X-Men because he thinks they are dead (despite having powers and a giant effing machine that clearly could find them if they were alive) to marry some alien queen, it's almost a welcome relief to not have to read of his boring scenes. When he does come back, the first thing he does is start bossing them around again and treating them like they haven't just spent 2 years worth of issues being thrust into the craziest shit imaginable and living through it because they are a team. Cyclops barks back at him for this (because Cyclops is an actual real leader, not some old jerk in a wheelchair) and Professor X tells him to shut up, just do what he says. You can absolutely feel Scott's frustration in this moment and your heart breaks when he follows Xavier's orders despite all this.
This is a great volume of the Uncanny X-Men Masterworks series (along with volume 5) are probably the most important of the early volumes to read because they house two of best storylines in the Uncanny X-Men's history. Not to be missed, be sure to check it out.
The first storyarc (issues #122-124) has the X-Men resting from their world traveling events of numerous previous issues (seriously, issues #122 is the first time you see them relaxing at home since issue #111) only to be thrust into one of Arcade's deadly games set in his theme park called Murderworld. It's a fun storyline, even if the premise is just really, really out there, even for an X-Men comic (seriously, Arcade has constructed an ENTIRE theme park that gets customized to killing whomever he throws into it....it's like he doesn't even have a bank account, just does whatever). Arcade is a fun villain and the idea of the USSR convincing Colossus to turn on his friends is one of the high points of this arc. Spider-Man makes a cameo appearence in one of the issues, but oddly enough never shows up to help the X-Men fight. This storyarc also spawned a pretty bad videogame in 1992 for the SNES and Sega which Spider-Man is featured pretty heavily.
The Annual is a one-off issue featuring the return of Arkon (a Thor knockoff who appeared in only a handful of issues before this) who has come to Earth looking for Thor's help. Thor ain't around, so he decides Storm will suffice and kidnaps her. The X-Men fight back in attempt to stop the kidnapping and end up transported to Arkon's world. After a bunch more fighting, they realize he kidnapped Storm in order to use her powers to save her world, but this would kill her. The X-Men figure out a way to do this without killing her and everything works out. It's harmless fun and almost purely a big fight book with an interesting story behind it. George Perez's artwork is the real standout here.
The second arc is a legendary one called Proteus (#125-128). After nonsense with Arkon the X-Men return home and run into Beast, who thought they were all dead (just as they thought Phoenix were dead even though Cerebro exists as do Professor X's powers, but that would require Professor X actually being a part of these comics (he is absent until issue #129 here). I digress, it's a great reunion scene and they immediately makes tracks for Scotland to find Jean (sans Beast who has Avengers stuff to do). When they get there a situation has arose: Mutant X (i.e Proteus) has escaped Moira MacTaggert's Mutant Research Facility on Muir Island and is leaving a large body count in his wake. The reunited X-Men along with Moira, Havok, Polaris, and Multiple Man are tasked with finding him and stopping him. It sounds simple and typical of what had been done in the previous 30 issues, but really it's something quite special and easily the best storyarc thus far in the revamped X-Men line. In fact it's one of their best in general. It's not to be missed and, to me, marks the beginning of some seriously strong storytelling in this series. Professor X returns out of nowhere at the end of this story to lead the X-Men once more.
The remaining issues (#129-131) are the beginning of the Dark Phoenix saga (#129-137), the story that basically defined this era of the X-Men and some herald as the best X-Men story of all-time. These few issues deal with the Hellfire Club (first appearance of Emma Frost aka White Queen) attempting to recruit two new mutants into their ranks: Kitty Pryde and Dazzler (first appearances as well). However, the X-Men (fresh off the Proteus mission) are also pushed into recruiting these new mutants as well by Professor X, leading to a few issues of intense confrontations with the Hellfire Club and Phoenix being pushed over her absolute limit, terrifying most of the current X-Men at her powers. By the last page of the last issue, you'll know things are about to get crazy for her and you'll being picking up the next Masterworks volume to see what happens.
I will take a moment here to point out something that bugs me: Professor X is garbage in the series thus far. If you followed his entire storyline since the first issue of the X-Men, he's just a cantankerous elderly teacher stereotype that never moves beyond that. You can see why they might have attempted to phase him out in these first few years of the New X-Men, he's quite useless beyond bitching at the X-Men for not following his orders and using his telepathic powers to find out where new mutants are to bring to him to bitch at. After he abandons the X-Men because he thinks they are dead (despite having powers and a giant effing machine that clearly could find them if they were alive) to marry some alien queen, it's almost a welcome relief to not have to read of his boring scenes. When he does come back, the first thing he does is start bossing them around again and treating them like they haven't just spent 2 years worth of issues being thrust into the craziest shit imaginable and living through it because they are a team. Cyclops barks back at him for this (because Cyclops is an actual real leader, not some old jerk in a wheelchair) and Professor X tells him to shut up, just do what he says. You can absolutely feel Scott's frustration in this moment and your heart breaks when he follows Xavier's orders despite all this.
This is a great volume of the Uncanny X-Men Masterworks series (along with volume 5) are probably the most important of the early volumes to read because they house two of best storylines in the Uncanny X-Men's history. Not to be missed, be sure to check it out.
December 9, 2021
So good. SO GOOD. Arcade? Hilarious and clever. Proteus? Genuinely horrifying. The introductions of Kitty Pryde, Emma Frost, and my disco queen Dazzler? Who could ask for more! I’ve never read the Dark Phoenix saga, and watching the story develop has been so satisfying. Can’t wait to read more!
December 25, 2021
By the end we are in 5-star territory, but we’ll save that for the full book. I just… at this point this Byrne stuff is like home to me.
March 8, 2023
The Proteus Saga and the introduction the Hellfire Club are the high points here. Great comics.
November 5, 2023
Este cuarto volumen de la Patrulla-X va a recoger los números del 122 al 131, y recogen la aparición de dos enemigos que se convertirán en icónicos en el universo mutante. El primero es Arcade, personaje creado por Claremont y Byrne para el Marvel Team Up 1, donde se iba a enfrentar a Spiderman y el Capitán Britania. Este villano un tanto circense, es un rico millonario psicópata que ha construido un parque de atracciones letal llamado Mundo Asesino, lleno de trampas y peligros, y en el que la Patrulla-X se va a ver prisionera después de que Juggernaut y Black Tom Cassidy contraten al asesino para acabar con sus enemigos. Pero Arcade, por mucho carisma que pueda tener (a veces, que hay momentos en los que es muy cargante), no es más que el preludio a una de las mejores historias escritas por el tándem Claremont-Byrne: la Saga de Proteo.
A lo largo de una serie de preludios en los cómics anteriores, habíamos visto en unas secuencias dignas de una película de terror, como de una de las celdas de la Isla Muir escapaba alguien llamado Mutante-X, al que aún no habíamos visto, y en esta saga, después de una serie de viajes y compras por Escocia y de que el Profesor Xavier se marchara al espacio con los Shi'ar, Moira McTaggert, Fénix, Kaos y Polaris van a volver a Isla Muir, donde van a ser atacados por el fugado Mutante-X, y por fin, van a conseguir contactar con la Patrulla-X, de modo que por fin los dos grupos se van a encontrar, descubriendo cada uno de ellos que los otros no están muerto, justo a tiempo para hacer frente a dicho Mutante-X, que se hace llamar Proteus, y que resulta ser el propio hijo de Moira McTaggert, Kevin McTaggert, un mutante que necesita ir ocupando cuerpos vivos que "vampiriza" y que tiene el poder de alterar a propia realidad. Proteus va a iniciar un camino letal hacia Edimburgo, poniendo a la Patrulla-X en peligro en varias ocasiones, y desafiando el poder de la mismísima Fénix...
Aunque se trata solo de un puñado de números, hay que reconocer que tanto Claremont como Marvel han sabido mantener el drama y la tensión de esta saga, que no se ha diluido un ápice con repeticiones absurdas una y otra vez (hubo una pequeña saga en los últimos 80 o primeros 90, los Reyes del Dolor, donde se volvía a Proteus, pero si no me equivoco, no ha habido mucho más), y siempre que se le menciona, es como aquel enfrentamiento que estuvo a punto de acabar con la Patrulla-X... y con el mundo.
A lo largo de una serie de preludios en los cómics anteriores, habíamos visto en unas secuencias dignas de una película de terror, como de una de las celdas de la Isla Muir escapaba alguien llamado Mutante-X, al que aún no habíamos visto, y en esta saga, después de una serie de viajes y compras por Escocia y de que el Profesor Xavier se marchara al espacio con los Shi'ar, Moira McTaggert, Fénix, Kaos y Polaris van a volver a Isla Muir, donde van a ser atacados por el fugado Mutante-X, y por fin, van a conseguir contactar con la Patrulla-X, de modo que por fin los dos grupos se van a encontrar, descubriendo cada uno de ellos que los otros no están muerto, justo a tiempo para hacer frente a dicho Mutante-X, que se hace llamar Proteus, y que resulta ser el propio hijo de Moira McTaggert, Kevin McTaggert, un mutante que necesita ir ocupando cuerpos vivos que "vampiriza" y que tiene el poder de alterar a propia realidad. Proteus va a iniciar un camino letal hacia Edimburgo, poniendo a la Patrulla-X en peligro en varias ocasiones, y desafiando el poder de la mismísima Fénix...
Aunque se trata solo de un puñado de números, hay que reconocer que tanto Claremont como Marvel han sabido mantener el drama y la tensión de esta saga, que no se ha diluido un ápice con repeticiones absurdas una y otra vez (hubo una pequeña saga en los últimos 80 o primeros 90, los Reyes del Dolor, donde se volvía a Proteus, pero si no me equivoco, no ha habido mucho más), y siempre que se le menciona, es como aquel enfrentamiento que estuvo a punto de acabar con la Patrulla-X... y con el mundo.
December 28, 2020
Chris Claremont's legendary run on the Uncanny X-Men is largely collected in a 12-volume (and counting) set in the Marvel Masterworks series that takes us through some of the most pivotal stories in X-Men lore. (As of volume 12, it gets up to Uncanny X-Men #200.) Here we see the launch of a new X-Men team that includes, over time, Cyclops, Jean Grey/Phoenix, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, Rogue and many others. The stories include some of the most iconic in X-Men history, including the Hellfire Club saga, the Dark Phoenix saga and the Trial of Magneto. All told, the Marvel Masterworks - Uncanny X-Men series is must-read material for anyone who wishes to dive deeply into the rich (and often difficult to navigate) history of the X-Men. It is must-read material for anyone who wants to get a taste for what it was like during a period of time when the X-Men grew from an also-ran Marvel title into one of the greatest superhero tentpole franchises of all time. And if all that isn't enough, within these volumes are some of the most enjoyable writer/artist pairings you'll find from this era of Marvel comics, including Claremont's epic collaborations with John Byrne, Dan Green and John Romita, Jr. Within these volumes are stories that continue to resonate today, tales that beyond beyond people in colorful tights punching each other out and into an ongoing commentary on what it means to be hated for one's nature, on what it means to protect those who see you as an enemy, and what it means to live with heroic dignity in a world committed to stripping that very thing from you. These are some of the finest comic book stories ever published. They are deeply fun to read, and most of all, they are an important chapter of a beloved medium.
September 11, 2020
The first half of the volume is essentially made up of filler issues that barely progress the extended story, with the exception of Jean Grey's secondary plot laying the groundwork for her tragic transformation. The best example for this is the King-Size Annual with Arkon and the realm of Polemachus, which features gorgeous art from George Perez, yet has zero connection to the overarching plot. In turn, the second half of the volume is where the Claremont-era finally starts to take off and reach the level that made it legendary in retrospect: enter Proteus and then, the prologue to the Dark Phoenix saga! Aside from the anachronism of mundane fashion portrayed in the book (bottomed trousers, turtlenecks and humongous shirt-collars were already in their way out by the end of the 70s) and the uncomfortable, thinly veiled fetish imagery (the design of the Hellfire Club leaders, BDSM references, basically anything about Storm) I found John Byrne's and Terry Austin's art truly exceptional.
April 30, 2024
More of the peak Claremont-era. While still building to The Dark Phoenix Saga in the background, the separated X-Men are slowly reunited just in time for a showdown with Moira Mactaggert's insanely powerful mutant son. The Animated Series fleshed out this story really wellbut the source material here is also pretty great for late 70s/early 80s superhero comics.
There's even an adventure featuring Spider-Man where there is a ridiculously spelled out sound effect on the page, and Spider-Man says "(ridiculous sound effect)! I remember what that is!" It's precisely the right level of cheesy comic writing for me.
If you love The Animated Series, this will be fun and familiar. But it's great for pretty much any X-fan.
There's even an adventure featuring Spider-Man where there is a ridiculously spelled out sound effect on the page, and Spider-Man says "(ridiculous sound effect)! I remember what that is!" It's precisely the right level of cheesy comic writing for me.
If you love The Animated Series, this will be fun and familiar. But it's great for pretty much any X-fan.
July 14, 2024
Number of times Wolverine says "bub" in this volume: 11 (I appreciated how they were spread out throughout the issues!)
I had no idea that Kitty Pride was from Deerfield, IL. Go figure! She is less annoying that she is in the film adaptations. Also, Dazzler is um..something. Not sure what her significance is in introducing her. Good for her to reach her dream of a disco queen. For me the strength of this volume is in the X-men learning to work as a team though they each have expressed doubt in joining the coalition. I also thought the issues with Proteus were the strongest. I'm curious about the Hellfire club and particularly Jason Wyngarde, who is clearly a person not to trifle with. The dark descent of Phoenix has begun!
I had no idea that Kitty Pride was from Deerfield, IL. Go figure! She is less annoying that she is in the film adaptations. Also, Dazzler is um..something. Not sure what her significance is in introducing her. Good for her to reach her dream of a disco queen. For me the strength of this volume is in the X-men learning to work as a team though they each have expressed doubt in joining the coalition. I also thought the issues with Proteus were the strongest. I'm curious about the Hellfire club and particularly Jason Wyngarde, who is clearly a person not to trifle with. The dark descent of Phoenix has begun!
December 4, 2017
Masterfully crafted
This book collects the Phoenix Saga. Not to be confused with the Dark Phoenix Saga, which is in the next book. The Phoenix Saga is the build up that takes place over the course of a year. Both sagas together become an epic story that masterfully crafts a slow build up to a proper exciting conclusion. This is the story arc that put the X-Men on top for over a decade.
This book collects the Phoenix Saga. Not to be confused with the Dark Phoenix Saga, which is in the next book. The Phoenix Saga is the build up that takes place over the course of a year. Both sagas together become an epic story that masterfully crafts a slow build up to a proper exciting conclusion. This is the story arc that put the X-Men on top for over a decade.
February 4, 2018
This entire volume might have all been Chris Claremont, John Byrne, Terry Austin and Tom Orzechowski. (Who's distinct lettering style I always associated with the Claremont X-books). This volume ends with the first early appearances of Kitty Pryde and the the beginnings of the Hellfire Club and Dark Phoenix storylines.
June 26, 2019
This was really really good, I loved almost every issue I can’t choose a favorite. The story about proteus was so engaging you can actually fear for them to die or something.
Of course I’m loving more and more Ororo and Jean, the Phoenix storyline is so good.
I really liked reading Kitty and Emma’s first appearances. Also, how cute is Ororo and Kitty’s friendship, I love them.
Of course I’m loving more and more Ororo and Jean, the Phoenix storyline is so good.
I really liked reading Kitty and Emma’s first appearances. Also, how cute is Ororo and Kitty’s friendship, I love them.
January 27, 2022
The combination of Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Terry Austin is at its peak in the issues of this collection as the Phoenix saga rises. The riveting character arcs and natural dialogue combined with the extremely tight artwork makes for the finest comics of their time. The introduction of Dazzler and Kitty Pride proves to be a welcome bonus to the major plots of the series.
January 14, 2024
Another great volume of X-Men. Even while these issues are somewhat a slog to read and a bit dated I still find myself enjoying pretty much every moment I'm reading. The proteus story was a highlight especially since its partially set in my city. It was also delightful having George Pérez for the annual.
7/10
7/10
March 27, 2025
This was so good! We have Proteus, and an intro to The Hellfire Club with Emma Frost and Jason Wyngarde/Mastermind infiltrating Jean's mind for several issues! So some of this is very dark!
Also Arcade's Murderworld, but we'll forget about that one.
Banshee leaves to heal his voice and be with Moira, but we're introduced to Dazzler and Kitty Pryde.
Also Arcade's Murderworld, but we'll forget about that one.
Banshee leaves to heal his voice and be with Moira, but we're introduced to Dazzler and Kitty Pryde.
December 29, 2018
Doesn't age too well. There are some cool and even insanely fun ideas but oftentimes the dialogue is a chore to endure and detracts from what it could be. Compared to most comics of it's era it's fairly strong but for modern readers it just doesn't fully work
February 10, 2023
The series loses its aimlessness with the excellent Proteus and part of the Hellfire arc that is the opening of Dark Phoenix Saga, one of the best string of issues of all the Bronze Age of comics begins…
May 23, 2023
(Ed. 118-128)
Nota 8,5.
Pegou o desenvolvimento anterior e implementou nisso.
O arco de Proteus é épico, apresentando um perigo real não visto antes pela mensal dos X-Men. Demais histórias são legais. A do Canadá é divertida na ação.
Enfim, a fase vai ficando cada vez mais gostosa de se ler.
Nota 8,5.
Pegou o desenvolvimento anterior e implementou nisso.
O arco de Proteus é épico, apresentando um perigo real não visto antes pela mensal dos X-Men. Demais histórias são legais. A do Canadá é divertida na ação.
Enfim, a fase vai ficando cada vez mais gostosa de se ler.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews