Customer Reviews

Generation X: Crossroads

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Somehow, seeing the Generation X kids acting, well, like kids makes them even more endearing. Adult mentors Banshee and the White Queen boldly go where no X-chaperone has gone before, hearding teenagers on a cross country journey of discovery.

Just being ouside the bounds of the normal super-hero genra allows the characters to streach out. This book also brings back M.O.N.S.T.E.R., for those of us old enough to remember the six-fingered hand, and introduces three M.O.N.S.T.E.R. members, Chill, Recall, and Dog Pound. (I can't wait until Dog Pound meets up with Danile Moonstar, they're both telepathic with animals, so are they telepathic with each other?)

For me, the high point of the book was the sonic attack that even Banshee's ears could not endure, but there is enough characterization, action, and humor here for every X-Fan.

Okay, I'm a Generation X fan, but I've never read acomics-based novel until this one. I actually decided to read the thing because it featured Mount Rushmore and Idaho prominently (long story... well, maybe not such a long story, but I'm not going into it anyway). Anyway, it's a very quick read, and fairly painless. There are many genuinely funny scenes. Should definitely appeal to young people, but if a person isn't a fan of the "Generation X" comic book series, I don't think there would be much point in reading this.

Plot: Briefly, the young mutants from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (Skin, Synch, Jubilee, Husk, Chamber and M), along with their teachers Sean "Banshee" Cassidy and Emma "White Queen" Frost, buy a couple of RVs in Seattle and embark on a road trip back to New York. En route, they stop a few remaining chapters of M.O.N.S.T.E.R., a college campus-based support group for mutants.

They inadvertantly get embroiled in a terrorist plot and end up going against a group of evil arms dealers, one of whom is in control of a mutant-bashing talk radio show.

There are a lot parallels in all this to tolerance issues (racial, GLBT, etc.), some of which are handled well and some of which are handled somewhat clumsily. The scene where the GenX gals used TEAMWORK to decide which RV to buy made me gag. The last chapter kind of hits you over the head with the idea that mutants should come out of the closet. Overall, it's not an overly preachy book, but a simplistic "moral of the story" is definitely there.

Aside from its brevity, humor, and fast pace, another strong point is the book's characterization. While not vastly deep, the book does get under the skin of its characters (no pun intended), without being tedious or overwrought about it. Even the minor characters and bad guys are surprisingly three-dimensional and realistic for a comic book-based novel.

I thought this was a very supurb book. I mean it was a clever idea to make road trip with the gang. I mean it gives a good look of the {hopefully} future X-Men.

I bought this book during my Christmas vacation, and enjoyed it very much. It's fun, the characters are well drawn out, there's action, romance ... What more could you want?

On the other hand, welcome to fascist America. These kids don't just have to face midwestern bigotry; their problem is a lot larger than that. Their entire world is turning on them, especially when they try to help. The obvious parallel is with Jews and Naziism. I would dearly love to see how those who cried out, "Never again!" treat these mutants. This calls for thought. Contact me if you'd like to respond to this.

This book manages to capture perfectly what it's like to be a teenager. Then on top of that, some superpowers are thrown in, and as our heroes struggle to understand themselves and their bodies, they also have to contend with the prevelence of Mid-West bigotry, and what it means to be an unappreciated hero.

I have too say for the newest group of mutants, this was a wonderfully put together book. I enjoyed very much. Keep them coming, oh and by the way, Skin kicks some major rumpage. He was my favorite character.

The book was good with lots of real character insights and laughter. I would have prefered to see a little more of romance in there but hey, why complain when the book was so well plotted. Kind of teach you a little human emotions and behaviors, definitely a good reader.

This book was great! I couldn't put it down. I like the way that this book touches on the political side of the Marvel universe. All of the characters were written excellently and the art for each chapter is amazing. The new characters were also very interesting.

I'm first? Yay! Ok, this book is _Super Fantastic_! I loved it! The Character descriptions were excellent and the other/introduced mutants weren't totally super powered. I like Recall, his powers I wish I had. Tres Excellent!

This is the best of the best if you are looking for a book that is just fun.