Earth X TPB cover

Well if you didn’t know this you do now. I love Alex Ross. I buy comics that he did the cover of just because his painting is amazing. The comic Marvels is my favorite book ever. But Marvels has enough praise, this review is of something else he was involved in. Earth X is Ross’s theory of the end of the marvel universe. This was inspired by DC’s Kingdom Come at Ross painted for. Ross was asked in 1997, in Wizard, what his vision for the end of Marvel would look like when everyone had super powers. What will the characters be like when everyone has superpowers?

Based of Ross’s notes and sketches Jim Krueger wrote Earth X (first issue came out in 2000), a 14 issue series (12 issues, a 0 issue and one issue numbered X). Earth X is a compelling story that whips around from the beginning of earth, to WWII, to the beginning of the Fantastic Four, and to the present–years into the future from the present Marvel universe. The story explains everything from why people have powers, to how Galactus chooses which planets to devour. My favorite part of the story is how it ties everything together from the beginning of time, to the end. It makes this world, where all these characters are invincible and all powerful, quite believable.

After the break I’m going to divulge some of the plot so beware. (more…)

Well I just read Uncanny X-Men #500 and Brubraker and Fraction never cease to amaze me. That team up is got to be the best writer team out there. It all started with Immortal Iron Fist. Those two revolutionized the boring stagnate character of Danny Rand and made him an accessible flawed character of the 21^st century and I have a feeling they are going to make their run in Uncanny X-Men unforgettable.

With cover art by the great painter Alex Ross (Marvels) this is a “can’t lose” book. The art for this issue is by Greg Land and Terry Dodson. In my opinion, Greg Land has got to be one of the most underrated artists in the business. This guy drew Ultimate Fantastic Four with Mark Millar. He covered, my favorite arc of the series: Tomb of Namor. I love this guy’s art and I really think you will too.

Back to the comic. Uncanny X-Men #500 was a double, 40 page issue with 2 prologues and 2 epilogues. A doozie of a story. It starts off with the mutants moving to San Fransisco where they are accepted. That really makes sense in that city. Granted I have never been there but I feel like anyone and everyone is welcome there.

**spoilers after the break**

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Now I know what most of you think. You don’t like Chris Claremont because he writes to many words. He doesn’t let the pictures tell the story, and I full-heartedly agree, but he still tells some of the best stories of all time. Think of an X-Men story that took place before 2000 that was really popular…. I can almost guarantee he wrote it. Did any of you watch the 90’s animated X-Men cartoon? Well almost all those stories are contrived, in some form, from a Claremont story. the Dark Phoenix Saga, the Brood, the Hellfire Club, the famous Days of Future Past and of course my favorite God Loves, Man Kills. All these are original stories that Chris Claremont created.

Not only did he create the marvelous aforementioned stories that we die-hard X-Men fans have at least heard of, but he also created some of the most timeless characters in X-Men history (Rogue, Gambit and Kitty Pryde just to name a few). Yes even I get annoyed when every time Colossus’s armor is donned he rambles about what is happening and yes I wish he would stop but even with that, I might not agree all the time with the way he tells his stories, but damn he has some of the best plots and characters. So next time you enjoy Astonishing X-Men just remember that 4 of those 5 characters were Chris Claremont being the bad ass no one gives credit too.