Customer Reviews

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (Marvel Graphic Novel, No 5)

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

 

 

This is a comic book with heroes and villians, but these villians are ones you're likely to see in the real world. These villians hate anyone who is different. Thematically, then this is an ugly story that serves as an allegory on human hate and prejudice. It's a worthy read. In dealing with this topic, "God Loves, Man Kills" transcends a comic book and serves as a commentary and an indictment on how we treat one another.

This graphic novel shows just how seriously predjudice and simple ignorance can cause serious harm. In this case, they cause the death of two young children, for being "Born different". It is refreshing to see one of the earlier times when Magneto aids the X-Men, even if his methods are unorthodox and ruthless. It show that there is some good in him, for doing the right thing. Also in this book, Professor Xavier's dark side is seen. Even if not voluntarily. This is the type of book that anyone, whether or not an X-Men fan, can see the meaning to.

Wow, do I remember what an uproar this caused when it first came out! As the murderous villian presented himself as a man of God, many incorrectly saw this graphic novel (and, in regards to complex characters, a compelling plot, and thematic depth, this does indeed deserve to be called a novel) as being an attack on religion. Its nothing of the sort. Instead, this is an attack on racism and intolerance in all its forms -- even the kindly-looking forms that speak words of love while thinking only thoughts of hate.

The plot deals with the anti-mutant crusade of a televangelist whose followers back up his sermons with murderous violence. (The opening scenes in which two mutant children are ruthlessly gunned down is powerful and haunting.) The X-Men (mutants themselves for those who, for whatever reason, might not know) join forces with their usual nemesis, Magneto, and, in the course of battling the nominal villians, they must decide for themselves whether to follow a path of peace or to give into Magneto's call for violent revolution.

Its a strong story and one of the best to come out of what, in my opinion at least, was the X-Men's strongest creative period. Considering the violence, sex, and sadism that's become almost common place in all forms of "entertainment" nowadays, the violence in God Loves, Man Kills seems almost quaint. Unlike so many others in his field, Claremont takes no joy from creating violence and never sinks so low as to cheapen the suffering found within this graphic novel's pages. For that he is to be comended. Hopefully, other aspiring comic book writers will take his lesson to heart and return the industry back to where it truly deserves to be.

This book plays wonderfully on the one thing that unites Charles Xavier and Magneto - their love for their fellow mutants. A right-wing extremist believes that Xavier is the anti-Christ, and his phrases only too often remind us of similar personages in America. The philosphy and theory is supported by necessary action, not the other way around as is the case in so many lower quality comic books. Overall, an excellent work.

THere are reviews for two books on this page. One is apparently a low-quality collection of stories from different X-Men titles. THe other one is one of the three best stories about the X-Men, alone wiht the Dark Phoenix arc and "Days of Future Past".

This later, I have read, albeit in a greyscale, low-quality edition. The art suffered from not being colored. Even so, it was really, really good. IT looked painted more than drawn, and I would describe it as art, not just "illustrations". It was really gorgeous.

The characters are all believable. As believable as anything is within the Marvel continuum, anyway... whcih is to say they are real people with or without superpowers. Some of them are truly evil people, but they still come across as real.

The X-Men, their closeness, adn their personalities come across. The only character-bit that was wrong, so far as I could tell, was that when someone was shot, Kitty/Ariel tended to him, rather htan Nightcrawler, who was the one with medical training. But that was the only thing. Their personalities and actiosn were right, although Magneto showed a different, positive side, as events force him to become the ally of the X-Men. He comes across as a hard, harsh man wiht hte same take-over-the world intentions, but more or less believable reasons to be hostile. You get the idea that he is hard and evil because he was hurt too badly to heal, and didnt' have Xavier's courage to reach out to his enemies. His parting line, "I have wept over too many graves, X-Men. I will not weep over yours" drove home both that hardness and that pain. I didn't like him, exactly, but I understood him better.

The villains- Reverend Stryker, the evil preacher, and Anne, one of his Purifier assassins, are really evil without realising that htey are. Both of them believe that htey are serving God. They are the definition of "fanatic".

The end- when Cyclops realizes that this foe must be confronted in a different manner than the others- is quite good. Cyclops's speach left soemthign to be desired, but Ariel's verbal defence of Nightcrawler was wonderful.

All around, this was a really good story. Most comic books and msot graphic novels are just fun, no substance, but some of them are really good. This is one of hte best. It's fun, but it has something to think about,too.

This story is as moving to me today as it was when it first came out long ago. As a long-time fan of the "new" X-men (the first one I bought was 105 straight off the rack) it pleases me to see that the long-awaited movie seems to have been based on this book. The themes of prejudice and hatred based on fear of the different or the unknown are just as timely now as they were then. The courage, "humanity", and compassion shown by the mutants in this book are poignant counterpoints to the aggression and fear of the "normal" people.

For people (like me) who read X-Men for the parts on mutant prejudice, this is one must read! The plot is based on a group trying to eliminate mutants. They develop a machine harnessing Professor X's telepathic abilities with which they can weed out mutants from humans. The X-Men are forced to stop the plan, and ally with Magneto. The book is definitely aimed at a slightly mature audience. There isn't as much action as a comic, but there is lots of fighting for mutant equality through talking and encounters. Also, the illustrations are touching. Anderson catches the darker side of the X-Men that works well with the story. If you find this, it's a good buy.

I've been a fan of the X-Men for some time and I was glad I picked this up. It's nice to read the true origin of the story found in the X-Men 2 movie. The art isn't as flashy as it now but it is still an enjoyable story with a good message.

The problem with this books is theres no actual repurcussions. It had all the makings of the greatest X-Men story ever told, and comes close to succeeding, but never quite attains the pure emotion that it could if not for poor coincidences and good luck,

I just watched the first X-Men movie last night and while it was fun enough, I was quite annoyed that Claremont and Anderson got ZERO credit for the fact that their graphic novel "God Loves, Man Kills" is undeniably the inspiration for the movie.
Well, no one ever said Hollywood was fair.