Status Updates From X-Men Epic Collection, Vol....

I read a little bit of this biography/interview thing on Jim Lee and he says something really funny.

That he wants stories to have ‘a beginning, middle and end’. Something wrapped up in 5 or 10 issues, you don’t need to have read the entire series to understand what’s going on.
And I can’t help but think that’s maybe a slight dig at Claremont’s story telling.

The EC ends with lots of Lee art!

X-Men V2 #3
Claremont’s actual last issue…

The gold team are greeted by their ‘brainwashed’ teammates, but the process only lasts until a mutant uses their powers.

Moira also exposes Cortez as a liar. As he flees, he ensures Asteroid M’s destruction…
With Magneto still on it?

Saddened, Xavier tells his students everyone must try to leave the world better than how they found it.

X-Men V2 #2
SO. WORDY.

His Acolyte’s save Magneto but he scolds Cortez for his rash actions… Cortez tells his ‘lord’ that he found a discrepancy in his DNA!

Magneto kidnaps Moira and Xavier to learn the truth…

When he was an infant, Moira thought to change his brain chemistry. In an attempt to find a cure for her son.

The ‘gold’ team are warned by Fury that Russia is enacting the ‘Magneto Protocol’...

Pin-up gallery!

The overall art is quite good. I just hate the way all of the women have to have a hip popping out.
So unnatural and hyperbolized.

I did like the very last one, with all the hero mutants (so far)!

X-Men V2 #1
Xavier’s mansion is back - no explanation how it's rebuilt so quickly - and the X-Men are training, of course.

Russia becomes nervous about Magneto and his asteroid floating above them.

These 'Acolytes' have been worming their views into Magneto’s mind, and the X-Men a little too gung-ho about fighting...

So once again Magneto becomes what he was…

Basically resetting things to status-quo.

That cover gallery was so cool!

I’m not a huge fan of the over-use of variant covers but seeing them all make one big image was pretty sweet.

I geeked out a little because the art and the costumes reminded me so much of the 90’s animated show.
Even the freaking theme song started playing in my head!

I do wonder why they made a new series but also continued the old one…

X-Factor #70 -
After what he’s been through, Xavier is determined to help his son, David.

Meanwhile, Val and Mystique explain to Rogue what happened between them and their plan.

Speaking of Val, she wants to create another Freedom Force…

Jean finally convinces Xavier that David is gone… And the others remind him they need their ‘centre’.

With renewed purpose, Xavier questions what to do with 14 X-Men…

UXM #2789-
Why was the only uniform almost completely ruined in the blast Rogues?? Everyone else doesn't have so much of a tear!

Also, that huge blast didn’t hurt or kill anyone…

Their plan was to attack the Shadow King in both the physical and astral plane…. They all ended up in the astral.

Though, Xavier’s physical body was very much wounded.

Legion ended up in a coma, but Lorna made it out alive!

X-Factor #69 -
Forge gives Rogue and Banshee back their minds.

Meanwhile, the Shadow King - in his host - hides among Xavier, Val and X-Factor as they head to Muir Island.

XF does well against the X-Men they come against. But are surprised by Legion…

The ‘King’ thought he’d fooled Xavier but Val was really Mystique!

Indecision makes the heroes slow, the Shadow King gets a new host… Legion!

UXM #2789-
Last ish of Chris Claremont’s 16-year run!

Colossus follows Xavier and Stevie underground and into the Danger Room!

Seems X kinda used Stevie as bait but it ends up working, he got into Peter’s mind.
And unlocked his true memories! Freeing him from Shadow King’s influence.

Not freed is the town of Salem.

Xavier determines it's time for his original students to enter the fray!

UXM #278 -
Shadow King revels in humanity's hate for each other…

Meanwhile, Rogue wins against Guido in Moira's brutal training ground Arena.

Xavier and Storm steal back Blackbird and the team goes to Muir Island, to their downfall…

The villain makes himself known to Xavier, and the fate of his X-Men…

This story has been a long time coming!

X-Factor #68 -
Wow, I did not know this was when Nathan was taken away!

Natahn pulls Jean into his mind, trying to save himself from the virus given by Apocalypse.

Jean pulls in Scott as her champion and he blasts the great villain…

It is not enough to save his son and allows Askani to take Nate away. Never to be seen again…

It doesn’t say what happened to the souls twisted by Apocalypse.

X-Factor #67 -
Ship and the team survived!

Hank downloaded Ship’s core personality in a survival module.

They are then found by the Inhumans, who have their own problems…

Apocalypse has taken over their settlement and has captured most everyone!
The new foes are twisted Inhumans…

X-Factor and the Royal Family lead a charge to free the prisoners and confront Apocalypse.

Whose syphoning Nathan’s energy?!

X-Factor #66 -
Ship is attacking New York!

Hank got a hardwire link into the real Ship. Who refuses to become a slave of Apocalypse again.
So it launches itself into space, along with the team and Charlotte, to self-destruct!

An unnamed woman, who calls Nathan ‘little brother’, watches as Ship explodes.

She swears to save the kidnapped child, as atonement for causing this to the family of ‘The Chosen’.

X-Factor #65 -
A new group under the leadership of Apocalypse targets Ship!

There’s a couple of life updates; Warren has a new love interest?

But the villains invade the X-Factor home and after an encounter with the psychic attack, Jean knows things about their opponents…

A fatal virus has been injected into Ship…

Skipped New Mutants Annual #7, New Warriors Annual #1 and X-Factor Annual #6. And most of Uncanny X-Men Annual #15.
So the ‘Kings of Pain’ and ‘The Killing Stroke’ stories.

The frame for ‘The Origin of the X-Men’ was funny.
It was being told in Mojoverse. Mojo didn’t want his disbelief changed through facts.

I really liked the Wolverine short. Just more depth to his character.