I usually like Grant Morrison a lot, but this one just didn't do it for me. The Cassandra Nova stuff drags where it should be passing right over stuff, and blows right through events that need more breathing room. The Xorn "Man from Room X" stuff could be really creepy and cool, but just ends up feeling nastily "over the top". (And whoever they brought in to pinch-hit for Frank Quitely...is no Frank Quitely). Overall, just not really something I'm interested in pursuing further (unless Rachel and Miles end up selling me on tracking down the rest of this, which could happen) ( )

This is issue 17 (Volume 23) in Marvel’s “Ultimate Graphic Novels Collection” and brings together the first story arc from Grant Morrison’s revamping of the monthly X-Men title in 2001. The storyline ran in New X-Men (the title being renamed from X-Men at Morrison’s request) issues 114 through 116 and sees the mysterious Cassandra Nova uncovering and taking over a Sentinel production facility hidden in the Ecuadorian jungle. Gaining control of the Sentinels, she uses them to destoy the mutant nation of Genosha. Nova is, however, detected on the new Cerebra machine created by Beast and Wolverine and Cyclops are sent to capture her. Emma Frost survives the attack on Genosha, after undergoing a secondray mutation, and travels to the X-Mansion where she kills Cassandra Nova. Unfortunately Nova has swapped bodies with Professor X who soon afterwards turns up on TV where he “outs” himself as a mutant.

Grant Morrison’s approach to long-established characters is to take them back to the core idea of what made them popular, so here the X-Men are returned to their position as feared outsiders, trying their best to work for the benefit of those who fear and hate them. This element works well, but Morrison’s writing can at times get too caught up in his own metaphysics, as it does here, thus making for a difficult and at times confused story. Morrison’s philosophical approach and writing style works well on his self-generated projects such as “The Invisibles” or “The Filth”, but I’m not sure it’s the required approach for a popular mainstream title such as The X-Men. With a bit of hard work, however, the tale does come into focus but, as ever, Morrison isn’t one to make things easy for his readers. On the plus side is Frank Quitely’s superb artwork. Quitely’s work is highly distinctive and therefore has a love it or loathe it quality to it. I love it – it has a beautifully clean line, is incredibly spacious and cleverly captures the epic scope of the storyline. Like the rest of the series the book is hardcover and printed on nice glossy paper, making for a bright, colourful read. The extras include pieces on Morrison and Quitely’s careers, plus a Quitely sketchbook. Far from the best story in the series, it is, however, a nice (but challenging) read made worthwhile by Frank Quitely’s artwork. ( )

I love everything Marvel. The storylines are incredible! They have everything you could want: action, adventure, comedy, romance, political intrigue, allegories, metaphors, etc. Some stories drag, some end too soon. ( )