Customer Reviews

X-Men: Supernovas

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

 

 

The X-Men seem to have been drifting along without a rudder, recycling familiar plots, Phoenix again and again, something about the stepford cuccoos or something but they've missed their mark, even the potentially interesting M-Day event didn't culminate into something greater then a really good idea. Now we have this series, I think that it's made great leaps forward, by inviting characters from all different places within the X-Men world to form a team led by Rogue. By not reusing Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm etc. but by focusing on some surprising characters such as Omega Sentinel and Lady Mastermind we're given the chance to experience the X-Men as they were originally concieved as a world in and of itself the continually evolves and adapts to dramatic changes in the world around the characters.
Also the artwork is top-notch in this series an interesting choice that nonetheless works for the series.

I picked up Supernovas on the recommendation of a clerk at my local comic shop, and I wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out to be one of the better X-men stories I've read. This was one of those books where I got halfway done and felt like I had already gotten my money's worth. Maybe it was because I've read so much with Cyclops, Emma, and Wolverine that it was a nice change up to see Rogue, Mystique, Iceman, and some really interesting B characters take center stage. The relationship between Rogue and Mystique is well written, providing some melodrama to compliment all the action. There are several villains in Supernovas including the introduction of the fairly unconventional Children of the Vault. The Children of the Vault are an interesting creation, though I didn't quite follow the explanation for their existence. The art in Supernovas is pretty good, but it can be hard to follow the action in some of the busier panels.

As a final note, I read Messiah Complex a while back and this really filled in some gaps for me. I'd recommend getting this before MC.

"Supernovas," collecting "X-Men" #188-199 and the 2007 Annual, marks the beginning of Mike Carey's run on "X-Men." He takes what's left of the X-Men after Ed Brubaker took half of them into space in "Uncanny X-Men" and Joss Whedon ran off with the other half in "Astonishing X-Men," and does the best that he can with the pieces. So that means that there's very little Cyclops, Wolverine, Emma Frost, Professor X, etc. here. Not that you'll miss them, as Carey gets to play with Sabretooth, Mastermind, Iceman, Mystique, and, most importantly, Cable, setting up the next big X-Men event, "Messiah CompleX."

Both the first and the second story arcs here are reminiscient of Grant Morrison's "New X-Men" from a few years back, even down to the inclusion of a Cassandra Nova-like psychic parasite. When Chris Bachalo's illustrating the title, the book is fun and stylish. While Humberto Ramos is a good artist in his own right, his cartoonish style contrasts unfavorably with Mike Carey's darker take on the X-Men mythos.

After several years of changing creative teams, changing line ups and poor quality, it finally seems something has gone right. Mike Carey and Ed brubaker came onto the X-titles around the same time and have both worked hard to fix the problems bogging down the series. This is Mike Carey's first story arc, drawn (mostly) by Chris Bachalo. The art is generally good, however Bachalo's art is stylish but sometimes hard to follow. The fill in issue by Clay Henry is solid but lacks flair.
The story is fairly simple, a race of superhumans, but not mutants start attacking the x-men, for some reason or another. Okay they do have motive but you have to read it. Sure enough the x-men win out, shock horror.
What seperates this from other recent x-books is the pace and Careys handle of the characters. Not only does Carey know his characters but he actually makes interesting use of thier powers. Carey has chosen an intersting line up, Rogue, Cable, Cannonball, Iceman, Mystique and Cannonball. He handles most of the characters pretty well, those that don't seem to be he soon gets a hold on them. Also some bits seem a little forced, but later stories make sense of them, Carey lays plot threads down for later arcs very early on.

now most of us x-fans remember when grant morrison took over this title at the turn of the century, breaking the x-men out of the costumes, making them darker, and grittier, which in turn became the astonishing x men. but out of the reload event after he left(yes folks, this book during his run was THE center of the x-universe) most of the books underwent many changes. there really havent been that many trades from this book since morrison's run, and marvel decided to collect the trades from both x titles this summer and made the best. this book shows what is left of the adult x men(which there arent that many) and cyclops designates rouge to lead a strike force taking out many of the remaining threats for mutants on earth. xavier on the other side of things in uncanny(he appears in supernovas, but isnt seen again because of the uncanny arc) while those x-men are in space leaving like 12 mutants in all to carry the x. while many peopeconsider both of these books to be subpar, they are actually some of the best books since morrison's run. bringing in a team of b league mutants not heard from in years, and collecting them in a beautiful hardcover leading up to the milestone 200th issue(ends at 199), this book is full of action and wit which many x-fans have been wanting for many years!

I really enjoyed this story. Supernovas was a great story, with some of my favorite characters (Rogue, Sabertooth, Mystique, Cable and Iceman). Very character driven story with art that draws you in and keeps you enjoying every frame. I've read this story over and over, it's one of my favorites!

This a ten issue book, I couldn't put it down. This book starts the events that lead to the end of the X-Men. I don't want to spoil any of the cliff hangers in the book, but it details the actions of Rogue and her handpicked team and leads up to the Messiah Complex.

It's kind of filler story, only not really because there are consequences to what happens in the book.

New villains, new team. if you like the team, like Bachalo's art, buy it. Writing is good.

Cable and Mystique are X-men, Sabertooth is a prisoner throughout. 2 new recruits. There's There's 4 stories:

Supernovas: New villains, new species Children of the Vault, very cool

Covenant: Babysitting Northstar and Aurora. Exodus and his Marauders attack. One issue long, shorter than the others, skip it.

Primary Infection: Pandemic, new villain, doing some stuff. Rogue is kidnapped.

Red data: a mummudrai and a new alien weapon/threat

This is the beginning of what is so far a successful run on Mike Carey's part. Most X-Men scribes get harsh treatment and some rightfully so. However, Carey has a great handle on this cast which includes Rogue, Iceman, Cannonball and a bunch of unlikely teammates.

Chris Bachalo's rendering of the high speed battle between of Northstar and Rogue in the first few issues shows what he's capable of. The X-Men veteran is known for his crazy manga-esque style; his accomplishments include co-creating Generation X and several runs on Uncanny X-Men. However, the chapters with Humberto Ramos on art suffer. Most comic book artists are known for their disregard of anatomy drawn exactly as it should be. Ramos goes much further and his work matches the craziness of Bachalo's without the creativity and fun.

Carey's use of Sabretooth, Mystique, and the venomous(but fun) Lady Mastermind on the X-team does not seem contrived. They all have ulterior motives and are not presented in a righteous light. Their contrast is great with goody-two-shoes teammates Cannonball and Ice Man. Rogue and Cable play the anti-heroes; Rogue's alternative way to run the X-Men is exciting and a great characterization for her.

Carey creates several new villians here including the mutant like Children of the Vault and mad geneticist Pan. In the future, these villians might make their place in the X-universe. However, it's the villians on the X-team that really steal the spotlight.

This is, overall, a quite interesting TPB.I'm an X-Men fanatic, but I usually read the spin-offs, as the writing for the mainstream ones has gone down-hill since the New X-Men title was changed back. The drawing for this story was generally quite good (one guest artist who didn't do so well), but otherwise great. Th story launched a nicely constructed new team, lining up a balance of rogues (sorry, goodn't resist the pun)in Cable and Rogue, two straight laced heroes in Cannonball and Iceman, and three anti-heroes who might (in one case, abretooth, definetly) stab the team in the back. Featured several well done characterizations, and an intriguing new villain team in the Children of the Vault. Highly recommended for new and long time X-team readers.