Friday, February 5, 2016

Ending Era #5: X-Tinction

Era #5: B-

Era #3 and Era #4 introduced and then hooked me, but I started collecting the X-Men titles in Era #5. I've reread 96 issues over the last six months (which delayed due to a short hiatus). Chris Claremont continues to provide solid stories, but a wave of new talent begins to change the direction of each title. We will talk briefly about some of those big names -- Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld ,Whilce Portacio and even Marc Silvestri -- later. Notable first appearances in this Era include Jubilee, Gambit, Cable, Shatterstar, Domino, Feral, Deadpool, Matsu'o Tsurayaba, Stryfe, MLF, and a completely different Psylocke. 

New Mutants #77-100 (B): Things pick up from the last era starting with students returning to Asgard and ending with soldiers preparing for war. 
Louise Simonson & Bret Blevins (B): It may seem odd, but the New Mutants in Asgard makes for some pretty fun tales.  
Louise Simonson & Rob Liefeld (B): Enter Cable, a new headmaster with a different interpretation of Xavier's Dream.
Rob Liefeld & Fabian Nicieza (A-): Without Louise's sensible approach, Rob and Fabian completely reshape the team both in roster and mission. They create what I can only categorize as a "guilty pleasure".

Uncanny X-Men #244-280 (B): Another great run by Chris Claremont.
Chris Claremont & Marc Silvestri (B): It is the final 12 issues of Marc Silvestri's historic run.
Chris Claremont & Jim Lee (B+): This run is one of the primary reasons Jim Lee has such a huge fan base.

X-Factor #41-70 (C): It might start slow, but X-Factor ends exceptionally well!
Louise Simonson & Paul Smith (F+): I do not like Paul Smith's art. It reminds me more of a throwback to earlier Marvel comics during the current age of distinctive styles are sought by more readers.
Louise Simonson & Terry Shoemaker (D): I am also not a big fan of Terry Shoemaker's adequate art or the stories he seems to take.
Louise Simonson & Jon Bogdanove (B): A continued collaboration (remember X-Terminators?). 
Jim Lee & Whilce Portacio (A+): Jim Lee and Whilce Portacio!  'Nuff Said.

X-Force #1-4 (B+):  Rob Liefeld & Fabian Nicieza continue their journey into everything bad about comics of this period: big guns, over-the-top violence, and inauthentic dialog. It caters to the fanboy, and I loved every minute of it. 


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