Essential Classic X-Men, Vol. 3 (Marvel Essentials) [Paperback]

Roy Thomas (Author), Arnold Drake (Author), Dennis O'Neil (Author), Linda Fite (Author), Gerry Conway (Author), Steve Englehart (Author), Archie Goodwin (Author), Neal Adams (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

1969: The X-Men, Marvel's poorest selling title, flagging in sales and on the verge of cancellation, was in dire need of a shot in the arm. Enter Roy Thomas and Neal Adams, and True Believer, you had better grab onto your hat and get ready for one of the most amazing evolutions in Marvel history! Prepare yourself for the introduction of mutant mainstay Havok, the vampiric villain Sauron, the Mutates, and X-Man-to-be Sunfire! Not to mention, the Living Pharaoh, a classic team-up with Ka-Zar in the Savage Land, as well as the return of Magneto and Professor X! Plus: Hank P. McCoy tries a stint as mad scientist and ends up creating - and BEING - his own monster! And while the Beast gets furried and hurried, his former teammates are fighting the likes of Morbius and the Hulk! Guest-starring Spider-Man and Iron Man! Collects X-Men #54-66, #67-80 (covers only); Amazing Adventures #11-17; Marvel Team-Up #4; Incredible Hulk #150 and #161.

Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: Marvel (March 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785130608
• ISBN-13: 978-0785130604
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #392,273 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars All the Neal Adams/Roy Thomas Stories, May 18, 2009

By 

Mr. Tammany Hall (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Essential Classic X-Men, Vol. 3 (Marvel Essentials) (Paperback)

This is the one you've been waiting for. It includes all of the classic Adams/Thomas stories as well as a couple of issues before, and some issues after. This collection is fleshed out with other books like "Amazing Adventures" starring the Beast when he first got blue and furry, and X-Men appearances in "The Incredible Hulk" and "Marvel Team Up" which were published after the X-Men book was essentially canceled (they just reprinted earlier issues with new covers from issues 66 through 93).

If you're not familiar with these issues, this volume is a great, inexpensive way to get your hands on these classics and see what all the fuss is about.

The artwork is still eye-popping and revolutionary, nearly four decades later. Neal Adams' beautiful pencils under Tom Palmer's superb inks are still the high-water-mark for comic art. And more, it's just plain FUN.

Marvel had already decided that this book was headed for cancellation when Adams came on board; the pressure was off and he could do what he liked on the book with Roy Thomas as a willing (eager!) collaborator. They took a listless book with a miserable rogues gallery and turned it into a run for the ages.

There is a story (probably apocryphal) that when Neal handed in the pencilled pages for issue 54, one of the Marvel Bullpen stalwarts was so astonished by them he dropped the pages on the floor. I don't know if that story is true, but these are definitely jaw dropping, if not page dropping.

If you're a Neal Adams fan, you'll definitely want to get your hands on this book.

The stories without Adams are okay, but nothing to brag about. This book also suffers from the ongoing problem with all the Marvel "Essential" books: no color at all, which is a shame. Adams colored his own stuff in his run, and it's a shame to lose that.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great art, but got really pretentious towards the end, April 23, 2009

By 

David Mcrobie "David" (L77) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Classic X-Men, Vol. 3 (Marvel Essentials) (Paperback)

I really enjoyed Essential X-Men v. 2, but this volume was a disappointment. oddly enough, it starts getting overdone when Roy Thomas and Neal Adams hop on board, to make it an "important" title. the "anti-mutant" hysteria has always been a bit overdone in these X-comics and they sure let us know it here, too. Adams is a phenomenal artist, and has a great layout sense. the best thing he did was re-design the Angel's awfully colored costume.
these stories are not meant to be read one after the other. Angel uses the phrase "... one who used to be known as The AVENGING Angel" in about 4-5 issues in a row, which wouldn't be so noticeable at one a month.
so it's good, but you can see Marvel knew it was pulling the plug. the X-Men were eventually revived, but it's funny to think it was cancelled more than once in the day.
David

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Essential X-History, October 28, 2010

By 

Hwy61Joe (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Classic X-Men, Vol. 3 (Marvel Essentials) (Paperback)

I recommend this volume and think it is important reading in terms of the history of everyone's favorite band of mutant heroes. ESSENTIAL X-MEN volume 3 reprints such pivotal events as the introduction of Havok, the return of the believed to be dead Professor X, the debut of Sunfire and the stories that introduced us to the further mutated, furry Beast. Without question the highlights are the stories drawn by Neal Adams which rank among the best X-Men comics from any era. Other than that the stories and art are average at best but still interesting in terms of the evolution of the X-Men. The cover gallery at the back is a nice bonus addition as well. I recommend reading John Byrne's underrated X-Men: The Hidden Years series in conjunction with this volume.