Customer Reviews

X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills (Marvel Premiere Classic)

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

 

 

There are items in the media that everyone should read/see/listen experience in their lifetime. Listening to U2's Joshua Tree, reading Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, watching Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, or read Art Spiegelman's Maus. These items, are, in my opinion, essential to opening ones mind to a richer life and experiences. If you want to drill down in one particular category, go ahead, be my guest. Not everyone enjoys music or films or even (heaven forbid) graphic novels. If someone liked Maus and they wanted to read more, the next graphic novel I would suggest you pick up the classic and highly influential X-Men story God Loves, Man Kills by Chris Claremont and Brent Eric Anderson.

The graphic novel is a stand alone in the X-Men universe and really doesn't have anything that happens before it or after it that you need to know going into reading it. The story follows the beginning of a genocide of mutants, lead by fanatical religious leader William Stryker. Stryker is leading a fanatical group of people who kill without sympathy anyone, man, woman and child, for being a mutant. After we see a brutal killing in the opening panels, Magneto, leader of a mutant resistance group in the regular comic series, decides it is best to join forces with his nemesis, Charles Xavier and his X-Men, in order to stop this burgeoning holocaust. After Stryker kidnaps the two of the X-Men and Xavier, the rest of the team follows Magneto to stop this bandwagon's momentum in its tracks by any means necessary.

Many people will probably recognize this story line and characters from the movie X2. This story has been admitted favorite of Director Bryan Singer who directed the first two X-men films. This story is a classic tale of one group trying to enforce its will on another group of people and the consequences of that action. Really to read this story, you can easily substitute any real group of people the role of the mutants in this graphic novel and see similarities in their struggles. In fact, Magnetos driving force for being who he is and what he stands for is the Nazi atrocities the holocaust, and this new holocaust, is something that Magneto will not stand by and let happen again.

The graphic novel by itself is powerful without the lighting rod story by Chris Claremont. The art in this graphic are some of the most surprising of a graphic novel containing popular characters in a while. The one series of images that could easily shake anyone is the pictures of Xavier being crucified on the roof of one of the World Trade Center towers by his own students, or the murder of and lynching of two young black children who are supposedly mutants.

As I mentioned before, this graphic novel is the basis of X2, which is easily one of the top comic book and/or action movie in the past 8 years. The story telling is tight and well done and it only borrows loosely from the Claremont story. Singer, an openly gay director in Hollywood, has succeeded in the mutant saga by associating their persecution with the ones done by the homosexual community here in America. To anyone who knows about the X-Men and their trials and tribulations, know that mutants are heavily persecuted and targets in the Marvel Universe. Their trials extended to near extinction on several occasions and massacres on truly unprecedented scales, are all set up by the story in God Loves, Man Kills.

This graphic novel is not only a read, but a 100% buy and to treasure it often. Once you read this graphic, you will never look at comics the same way again.

There was a time when Chris Claremont could do no wrong during his legendary run on X-Men, and this is a prime example. X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills finds Professor Xavier and his team (Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Kitty Pryde) beseiged by William Stryker: a religious zealot who believes that mutants are created by the devil himself. What really helps God Loves, Man Kills take off even more, is that Claremont humanizes Stryker to a point, as we the reader see his point of view and even begin to sympathize with him as it is revealed why he is doing what it is that he does. Without giving too much away, Claremont crafts one of the most socially relevant cautionary tales that underlines the overall story in which Xavier and his X-Men face prejudice, fear, and hatred from a differing point of view. Combined with the stark and excellent artwork of Brent Anderson, God Loves, Man Kills remains a landmark of the X-Men mythos, which is only furthered by the fact that the story would be derived by director Bryan Singer and his crew for X2: X-Men United; which remains one of, if not the, best superhero films ever made, and the best Marvel film to date. All in all, saying that God Loves, Man Kills is an essential pick up is saying it lightly if you're an X-Men fan, Marvel fan, or just classic comic fan; any way you slice it this is more than worth your time.

Too many of the newer X-Books deal too heavily with time travel & alternate futures and a lot of BS. This book, written before all of 'those' story lines is the staple of what Stan Lee & Jack Kirby set out to do since day one. The overall theme was that mutants are human too.

There is a dialog between the African-American dancer instructor Stevie Hunter & the youngster X-Men Kitty Pryde that hits home so hard that it made me cheer and cry at the same time.

If you're a original fan of the X-Men, you need this.

I'm a recent convert to graphic novels and this one is one reason I'll continue to develop the habit.



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Very rarely is there a book, much less a comic book, that is as universally received like God Loves, Man Kills. I got this used in oversized Paperback for $8, and it was the best eight dollars I've ever spent on a comic so far. To be honest, I would have spent $30 on this. It's that good.
The story is the basis for the movie X2 - X-Men United (Collector's Edition Steelbook). And considering the fact that X2 is such an amazingly popular comic book movies to date, it says a lot about the story it was based on. God Loves, Man Kills is a story about Reverend William Stryker attempting to raise a holy war against mutants. The best thing about this novel is that it doesn't feel like a normal superhero story. Mutants have long been persecuted, and this book is a fine example of that. You don't really have to read anything before or after this.
The art is classic, as is the dialogue. Overall, this book gets a 5/5 out of me.

Okay, I'm probably gonna end up sound like the cranky old man of the bunch here (nothing new, I assure you), but this one just didn't do it for me. Yes, I'm an X-Men fan from way back in the day. Yes, I am as cognizant as anyone (perhaps more than most) that religious fundamentalism has been poisoning the well for a while now, and that the problem is getting worse rather than better. Yes, I agree that prejudice and intolerance were and are amongst the most insidious evils in the history of civilization. But you know you have a problem when the introduction to the graphic novel articulates these issues much more profoundly than the work itself does. I think the themes of GOD LOVES, MAN KILLS have been handled well in works of art (Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale (Everyman's Library) and Bob Dylan's "With God On Our Side" (from The Times They Are a-Changin') are two examples of this that spring to mind), but I don't think they are particularly well-handled here; Chris Claremont is an excellent storyteller, but as a polemicist he comes perilously close to displaying the self-righteousness he so fervently decries. In conclusion - your mileage may vary, of course, but this one just wasn't my cup of tea.

This is a must have for anyone that considers themself an X men fan. It's one of the first comic book graphic novel, so it won't leave you unsatisfied, with any unanswer questions like some collections. Plus the story is the partial basis for X2 (my favorite X men movie). Also the art work and imagary is extremly powerful and moving.
God Loves, Man Kills is probably the most effective storyline about mankind fearing mutants. Many have come since, but in my mind none have been as realistic. Reverend William Stryker starts a crusade against mutants. What was really interesting to me was how Stryker amassed such a huge following through religious fears. One of the images in this book that will stick with you is Stryker pointing at Nightcrawler and saying "Human...You dare call that human!" You got to admit, if your a bible fearing christian, you would agree with his point. Anyways, Stryker sends assassins after Charles Xavier, Storm and Cyclops. With Prof. X out of the picture Magneto joins forces to lead the X men. I won't give away any of the rest of the story, but take it from me you won't be disappointed.
This is one of Claremont's most influential and powerful stories. The only down side I can think of is Stryker does get a little long winded in his anti-mutant speeches towards the end. But what really impresses me is the element of Stryker setting out to achieve his deadly goal through christian fear. A story that was written twenty five years ago has themes that still have relivance in todays twisted society. A great read.

"Good Loves" tells a great story even if you've seen x-men 2. The story has it's own time and place while still having parallels to the film. The thing that surprised me a little was the art. It's not something I would call natural beauty. That being said it does have something to offer. Be sure to read the "making of" stuff at the end of the book. That's where I found most of my appreciation for the art and learned a bit about what it was like to make a graphic novel back then.

Awesome. Just awesome! The artistry takes a little getting used to because it is very different from the comics I am used to. The storyline is incredible. It really adds depth and new dynamic to Magneto's character.

Great old school classic X-men. Written and drawn with great skill that brings you back to the times when the X-men stories were the best. I first read this in 1990 when I borrowed it from my friend. I was blown away and read it many times. Now almost 20 years later, I went and bought it and it is still a good read .