For the few of you paying attention/giving a damn, so far all the Classics Corner reviews have been about DC books. I’ll admit, I prefer DC. This is not to say I dislike Marvel, though. Marvel has the ability to sustain a character for years, creating not just strong story arcs but strong runs, some of which go on for over a decade. It’s just easier for someone getting into comics to stick with short bursts of brilliance rather than, say, Brubaker’s entire Captain America run.

Considered the greatest X-Men story ever told and the peak of Chris Claremont’s record 16-year run on Uncanny X-Men, The Dark Phoenix Saga is a landmark in comic books and one of the most influential stories ever told in the medium. It’s an incredibly moving tale that incorporates personal tragedy, epic action, and strong characterizations of the entire X-Men team and not just one or two members. However, it’s not without flaws.

**spoilers and more after the jump**

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Uncanny X-Men #500 Cover

In a sudden turn that I completely did not expect (OK, I expected it a little), Uncanny X-Men has quickly become one of my favorite Marvel books and I get more and more excited each week as the release date comes closer and closer. And unlike the Mark Millar books I look forward to, that release date doesn’t move back multiple times. But that is a complaint for another post.

As for Uncanny, after my initial disappointment in #500, this book just keeps topping itself. This month, we find out more about the X-Men‘s newest foes, the Hellfire Cult. Also, we get another glance at just how dark the X-Men are getting (hint: Cyclops + torture). So, hit the jump and read my full review below, with lots of gushing over the writing and the art.

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Marvel 1985 #4 cover

I picked up this issue, dying because of last week‘s cliff-hanger, my undying love for Mark Millar (in a total “I’m a comic book nerd and I love your writing” way not any other) and because I knew I was jumping into straight madness. Millar left things at such a high suspense point I was really flying through this issue.

In this months issue, we see a skew of baddies and utter chaos ensue as things really do start to pick up even more than last month’s issue. We’re left with Toby and his dad in a van driving away with none other than The Lizard on top of their van trying to kill them. It’s simply amazing.

But the story continues and boy does it get good.

**spoilers and oh-so-much-more after the break**

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