Customer Reviews

Dark Mirror (X-Men)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I would never have purchased this book if the author wasn't Marjorie Liu. It's not that I don't like the X-Men but I generally prefer my superheroes in the graphic novel/comic book format. Having said that, I greatly enjoyed this novel. The premise is an intriguing one. Logan (Wolverine), Scott (Cyclops), Jean, Rogue, and Kurt (Nightcrawler) are sent to investigate the Belldonne mental hospital after reports have trickled back that mutants are being arrested on false charges and held in mental hospitals. While investigating, all five are captured and wake up to find themselves trapped, powerless in other bodies. Wolverine, interestingly enough, is in the body of a cute blonde woman named Patty. A doctor at Belldonne, Dr. Jonas Maguire, has left specific instructions on how all five are to be handled (straitjackets and isolation are part of his prescription) but luckily not all of his instructions were followed. The X-Men must escape from Belldonne and contact Storm to stop Dr. Maguire's plan and to regain their own bodies. As usually is the case with novelizations of superheroes, those unfamiliar with the X-Men series may be a little confused by the characters as well as the way in which the X-Men regain their powers. However, Liu is an excellent writer with a gift for combining humor with action which made this a very enjoyable read.

Finally, a comic book-based novel that is actually readable; meaning that it has something more to offer than just endless fights and explosions. Instead we get *gasp* characterization and plot! Hurray!

It's amazing that it took this long for someone to truly explore what can happen when one removes a superhero's powers, without resorting to the "Oh, look! A really big gun!" method of storytelling.

Here's to hoping that Marvel wises up and gets Ms. Liu to continue writing for them; I, for one, would buy more of the X-Men novels if this was the quality that I could expect.

I have to say that I was pleased with the direction Marjorie Liu took the characters in this book. It could have easily been just another smash'em up super hero story, where the conflict was so familliar that any reader could easily guess what will happen after reading just the first few pages.

In Dark Mirror, many of the situations were entirely new and it's great to see the characters of Scott, Logan,and Jean(in particular) stretch and adapt. They are doing things in this story that they have never done in any comic book. I loved the different ways that the characters coped with their relative powerlessness as well as their "physical challanges". Logan had some real potential as a Feme Fatale! (haha) Despite the strange circumstances, the characters always remained true to themselves.

And most importantly the book was FUN to read. I tore through it in an afternoon. I laughed a lot and also got choked up more than once.

I would recommend this book to any X-Men fan, (particularly some one with a sense of humor). I hope to read more from Marjorie Liu soon!

I love this book.

The premise, which you presumably already know, is that five of the X-Men (Phoenix, Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, and Nightcrawler) have been switched into the bodies of other people, who just happen to be inmates of a mental institution. Meanwhile, a group of people wearing their bodies return to the Mansion, and the three X-Men left behind there (Storm, Gambit, and Jubilee) slowly figure out what's going on.

So what's new? Mind-switching isn't original for this universe; I can remember a fairly ancient story in which Storm is mindswitched with the White Queen. What make this special is _how_ it's done.

Other X-Men books I've read have read like transcribed comic books- all action, no anyhing else. Which is fine in comic books, but lousy for regular-type books. THis is not like that at all. It deals with the X-Men as people, not as powers, and takes time to explore their personalities and their reactions to being deprived of their powers, and (in some cases)living in a body that's teh wrong sex.

It also manages to touch on "regular" mutants, ones whose powers aren't that powerful, some of whom manage to live fairly normal lives. THe book also touches on prejudice and the ways it does or does not influence people.

The five X-Men were fairly believable in their reactions to their new circmstances, although I was rather surprised that Nightcrawler, who'd always been the most physically different X-Man, found it so easy to adjust to a regular human body. THe ways their transformations affect them- Rogue and Nightcrawler are injured because the aren't as quick as they're used to being, Rogue kills someone because she assums she wouldn't be strong enough to do serious damage- are well handled.

I can't say how good the charicteristizations of Jubilee and Gambit were, as this is my first encounter with them. However, they were very fun. Especially Jubilee, whose attitude, and relationhip with Wolverine, were very well drawn. I don't know if it was accurate, but she seemed like a really neat person. Storm was true to my idea of her; very calm and very powerful. Their detective work at hte Mansion- as small things add up, and the fake X-Men act more and more weird- occupies a fairly small part of the book, but it is quite interesting.

The other five X-Men were well handled too. My only complaint there is that I would've liked more about Nightcrawler, my favorite character, and Rogue, who's my favorite after him and Storm. Phoenix (also a favorite, although I wish they would observe a seemly moderation of reserections) had more time; she had the hardest time adjusting, since she is suddenly not a telepath.

There were a few references to stories I've never heard of- Nightcrawler at two points refers to Rogue as his sister, which confused me since until then I hadn't realized Mystique was his mom; Gambit remembers meeting Storm when she was a child; Phoenix's constnat reserections are mentioend in passing; so is SHIELD- but these were handled well and kept to a minimum.

All in all this is a great book. It takes an easy subject to mess up and gets a working, very good novel out of it.

I bought this book because I usually enjoy body swap stories. This book didn't disappoint. The X-Men felt true to their comic book counter-parts and everything felt in character. I enjoyed the setting and the premise but I was a little let down that not much time was spent on the villains. The biggest weakness in the book was that I didn't feel the villains had a strong enough motivation for their actions.

The book kept me turning pages which is good but it fell a little flat for me overall. Those looking for hyper super-hero action will be disappointed. The book is more of a character study.

Dark Mirror was the only X-Men novel I have ever read, aside from the movie novelizations of Chris Claremont, that actually suceeds as a novel. It is well-written, with only a few cheesy lines (extremely rare in a comic book novel). Flashes of deeper thought and emotion are often seen; the novel skips from hilarity to violence to bittersweet. Definitely recommended, and most definitely a marvelous read.

This X-Men book was fantastic, I like X-Men the x-men stories from the comics and the movies. This book was funny, interesting and I couldn't put it down. My favourite parts were about Logan in the woman's body, the way he talked and the things he did was like Logan would do but being described as him coming from her body was so funny. I felt for Rogue who has wanted to touch but it being forced on her, it not being what she wanted. The way this book is written is great, hearing what the characters think and feel, I love how the author has described what they do and say is amazing, you get so much more from the book then you can you can get from the comics.
I can't wait to read more X-Men books like this.

this is my first and only xmen novel that wasnt a graphic novel i love the book i also read x23 by liu she gets the xmen i love her take on jean grey and scott summers espicaaly she made jean a black man and scott a white woman it was awesome but i love the xmen so what

I have all of Marjorie Liu's books and I think she is up there with Feehan, Kenyan, Sands, Bangs and a host of other well known authors that I read and can't get enough of. Her books are entertaining and keep you rooting for the good guys and wishing one of them lived at your house. I'll purchase every book she writes because she is now on my list of "Favorites". If you like this type of reading I would urge you to read her books.

I love this book.

The premise, which you presumably already know, is that five of the X-Men (Phoenix, Cyclops, Wolverine, Rogue, and Nightcrawler) have been switched into the bodies of other people, who just happen to be inmates of a mental institution. Meanwhile, a group of people wearing their bodies return to the Mansion, and the three X-Men left behind there (Storm, Gambit, and Jubilee) slowly figure out what's going on.

So what's new? Mind-switching isn't original for this universe; I can remember a fairly ancient story in which Storm is mindswitched with the White Queen. What make this special is _how_ it's done.

Other X-Men books I've read have read like transcribed comic books- all action, no anyhing else. Which is fine in comic books, but lousy for regular-type books. THis is not like that at all. It deals with the X-Men as people, not as powers, and takes time to explore their personalities and their reactions to being deprived of their powers, and (in some cases)living in a body that's teh wrong sex.

It also manages to touch on "regular" mutants, ones whose powers aren't that powerful, some of whom manage to live fairly normal lives. THe book also touches on prejudice and the ways it does or does not influence people.

The five X-Men were fairly believable in their reactions to their new circmstances, although I was rather surprised that Nightcrawler, who'd always been the most physically different X-Man, found it so easy to adjust to a regular human body. THe ways their transformations affect them- Rogue and Nightcrawler are injured because the aren't as quick as they're used to being, Rogue kills someone because she assums she wouldn't be strong enough to do serious damage- are well handled.

I can't say how good the charicteristizations of Jubilee and Gambit were, as this is my first encounter with them. However, they were very fun. Especially Jubilee, whose attitude, and relationhip with Wolverine, were very well drawn. I don't know if it was accurate, but she seemed like a really neat person. Storm was true to my idea of her; very calm and very powerful. Their detective work at hte Mansion- as small things add up, and the fake X-Men act more and more weird- occupies a fairly small part of the book, but it is quite interesting.

The other five X-Men were well handled too. My only complaint there is that I would've liked more about Nightcrawler, my favorite character, and Rogue, who's my favorite after him and Storm. Phoenix (also a favorite, although I wish they would observe a seemly moderation of reserections) had more time; she had the hardest time adjusting, since she is suddenly not a telepath.

There were a few references to stories I've never heard of- Nightcrawler at two points refers to Rogue as his sister, which confused me since until then I hadn't realized Mystique was his mom; Gambit remembers meeting Storm when she was a child; Phoenix's constnat reserections are mentioend in passing; so is SHIELD- but these were handled well and kept to a minimum.

All in all this is a great book. It takes an easy subject to mess up and gets a working, very good novel out of it.