X-Men Classic

Readthrough: Classic X-Men 16

2019-06-05T21:46:46Z

Posted by: sheliak

A return to the readthrough and to Classic X-Men! This time, a story from Banshee's past.

( Dearest Friend )

( Thoughts )

View Poll: #22143

I made icons of this one!

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 109

2019-05-06T20:15:07Z

Posted by: sheliak

Hi again!

( Home are the Heroes! )
( Classic Edits )
( Thoughts )

View Poll: #21978

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Community Memories &c

2019-05-01T23:48:46Z

Posted by: sheliak

It's been a while. I'm sorry about that! The readthrough will resume next week, although I may not keep up the same schedule I used to. My apologies for the gap.

In the meantime: memories!

I've saved a couple of icon posts (with the authors' permission) in the community memories. If you'd like anything else added (fanworks, meta, reviews, anything about the X-Men in this period that's on DW but not in this comm) I'll add it also, provided that the author of the post doesn't mind.

And I would like to clarify that posting in this comm is open; if you have anything you want to say, please go ahead and do so!

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 15

2019-04-19T07:28:48Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Starjammers Aloft! )

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 108

2019-04-15T07:02:39Z

Posted by: sheliak

With this issue, Dave Cockrum is off the book (although he'll be back) and John Byrne is replacing him as the regular artist. I have mixed feelings about that--I actually started with Byrne's stuff (and his uncolored inks are gorgeous; in the Essential collections), but as time goes on I've gotten more and more fond of Cockrum. I'll miss him.

(As a random side note, because I keep forgetting to mention it: the editor on this one is Archie Goodwin. A past editor was named Marv Wolfman. I just want to mention that I really appreciate those names.)

( Armageddon Now! )

View Poll: #21815

Next: Starjammer origin story!
After that: Vindicator interrupts a picnic.

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Readthrough: X-Men Classic 14

2019-04-12T07:47:28Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Frontispiece art )
( What Stuff our Dreams are Made Of... )

View Poll: #21793

Next: Universe-saving shenanigans.
After that: Starjammers!

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 107

2019-04-08T06:56:24Z

Posted by: sheliak

Since 106 was left out of the Classic reprints (entirely fairly), this is two Uncanny posts in a row. Next up is Classic again (Lilandra!) and then we're back to Uncanny with John Byrne's first issue.

Speaking of, this is Dave Cockrum's last for a while, and it has some great pages...
( Where No X-Man Has Gone Before! )

View Poll: #21768

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 106 (and a note on 105)

2019-04-05T07:08:32Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Dark Shroud of the Past! )

( Phoenix Unleashed! - Classic edits )

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 13

2019-04-01T06:40:57Z

Posted by: sheliak

No pictures today--my scanner wasn't cooperating; all of the scans I took had large blurry edges. From now on I may be at the mercy of Marvel Unlimited.

In this one, Misty Knight guest stars. She punches a shark!

( Lifesigns )

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 105

2019-03-29T06:46:48Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Phoenix Unleashed! )

View Poll: #21688

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 12

2019-03-25T06:38:51Z

Posted by: sheliak

This is one of my favorite X-Men stories. It’s also the darkest one so far, concerning Magneto’s backstory.

( A Fire in the Night! )

Tell me about your favorite Magneto stories, and which takes on Magneto you like best?

And, in stories where Anya survives (fanfic, What Ifs), do you prefer her to be a mutant or baseline human?

Next Thursday: Phoenix vs. Firelord
Next Sunday: Jean has a heart-to-heart with Misty Knight.

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 104

2019-03-22T06:58:11Z

Posted by: sheliak

( The Gentleman's Name is Magneto )

View Poll: #21639

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 11

2019-03-18T06:48:04Z

Posted by: sheliak

Sorry in advance for the lack of images and poll this time around.

( Hope )

Next Thursday: The X-Men face off against an angry purveyor of rented hovercraft, and also Magneto.
Next Sunday: Magneto's backstory.

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 103

2019-03-15T06:27:25Z

Posted by: sheliak

First, a bit of art, because the Classic fronstispiece for this story was great:

( Frontispiece by Mike Mignola, feat. Black Tom & the Juggernaut )

Onward to the story (and the promised leprechaun rescue)...

( The Fall of the Tower )

View Poll:

...for "Kurt stands up for Ororo" obviously read Piotr; I can't fix that because I only noticed it after I clicked post. Sorry!

Any other thoughts on this issue, or Black Tom and the Juggernaut as characters (since we won't be seeing them for a bit)?

And, in honor of the leprechauns of Cassidy Keep: are there any creatures from mythology or folklore that you'd like to see in the X-Men? Favorite canonical examples?

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Classic X-Men 10

2019-03-11T06:33:49Z

Posted by: sheliak

I remembered this as a story about Logan's terrible birthday. I am not sure where I got the part about it being his birthday, in retrospect; on reading the story, it doesn't seem to be mentioned. (Although in my defense, Logan probably doesn't know what day his birthday is. It could be today! He wouldn't know to mention it!)

( Tag, Sucker! )

View Poll: #21554

Any thoughts on this issue? Favorite depictions of Wolverine's powers? Favorite uses of Sabretooth?

Alternately, want to talk about your favorite Wolverine solo stories? I generally say I'm not a fan, but in all honesty, I haven't read many. Maybe I just haven't read the good ones?

Thursday: Wolverine does not believe in leprechauns, and the leprechauns do not believe in talking wolverines.
Sunday: Storm and a writer.

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 102

2019-03-08T07:31:02Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Who Will Stop the Juggernaut? )

As well as adding new pages and dialogue, Classic X-Men had new front and back covers (usually, the front cover was related to the reprint Uncanny story, while the back cover was related to the new backup), and even illustrated tables of contents. So far I've ignored these (aside from the Erik the Red one), but some of them are pretty.

( Frontispieces )

View Poll: #21542

How do you like Black Tom and the Juggernaut as antagonists? And what did you think of Ororo's backstory as presented here?

Next Sunday: Wolverine has a terrible birthday, courtesy of Sabertooth.
Next Thursday: Leprechauns! (I mean it this time!)

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 9

2019-03-04T07:31:00Z

Posted by: sheliak

( The Gift )

View Poll: #21492

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 101

2019-03-01T07:06:32Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Like a Phoenix, From the Ashes! )

View Poll: #21472

Sunday: While waiting for news of Jean, Kurt makes a friend.
Next Thursday: Nightcrawler must save his teammates from Black Tom Cassidy and the Juggernaut!

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 8

2019-02-25T07:19:54Z

Posted by: sheliak

Twenty-seven minutes to Earth's atmosphere.

Not long at all.

Just the rest of my life.

Nothing like going out in a blaze of glory.

So long as I don't take the X-Men with me.

Keep it up with the jokes, girl. Anything to keep from screaming.

( Phoenix )

View Poll: That Retcon

Next Thursday: Another view of the Phoenix. Also, Cassidy family drama.
Next Sunday: A ghost story.

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 100

2019-02-22T07:50:32Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Greater Love Hath No X-Man... )

View Poll: #21428

Any other thoughts about this issue?

As a head's up, this is the last Uncanny X-Men issue I've got collected in a color hardcover, so later posts may be rather less image-heavy--I don't want to wreck my poor Essentials, and I don't think they'd scan well anyway.

Next Sunday: Retcon damage control. Alternately, a dance with the devil within.
Next Thursday: The X-Men return to Earth.

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 7

2019-02-18T07:47:01Z

Posted by: sheliak

Today we leave our heroes (in dire peril, of course) for a villainous interlude at the Hellfire Club.

( Out With the Old )

Two members of the later Hellfire Club are conspicuous by their absence in this story. Jason Wyngarde presumably hasn't joined yet, but what about the other one?

View Poll: #21403

And any other thoughts on this story?

Next Thursday: A very different sacrifice.
Next Sunday: An attempt to reconcile a retcon with what came before.

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 99

2019-02-15T06:30:05Z

Posted by: sheliak

( Deathstar, Rising! )

View Poll: #21388

Any thoughts on this issue?

Next Sunday: Betrayal at the Hellfire Club!
Next Thursday: X-Man vs. X-Man... sort of.

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 6

2019-02-11T07:00:43Z

Posted by: sheliak

For me, Classic X-Men's quiet stories were always its strong point; this one is quieter than most. Chris Claremont called it a story without words; it's not quite that, but it's a story told primarily through the art, without dialogue or narrative captions.

( A Love Story )

View Poll: #21352

What did you think of this issue? Would you like to see other X-Men stories told without dialogue? Is there an artist you'd like to see draw one?

(Also, how much do you think Jean and Misty know about each other at this point?)

Next Thursday: The X-Men mount a rescue mission in space!
Next Sunday: Skullduggery at the Hellfire Club.

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Readthrough: Uncanny X-Men 98

2019-02-08T03:36:35Z

Posted by: sheliak

This issue opens with the X-Men celebrating Christmas! They’ve gone out in a group to the city, and are about to split up, largely along romantic lines: Jean and Scott together, Sean with Moira, and Piotr and Kurt off with some ladies they just met. (Or in Kurt’s case, “just met”. But we’ll get into that later.)

Wolverine is not onboard with the festive spirit of the day. Before going off to be grumpy alone, he responds to Jean's polite inquiry about his plans with, “What about me, Miss Grey--? I got no use for Christmas.” That line amuses me way more than it has a right to.

There’s a new page added in Classic, in which Amanda Sefton’s thought bubbles reveal that she knows way more about Kurt than he does about her, and Piotr thinks wistfully of Anya Marakova. Apparently, this issue marks the point when Dave Cockrum was no longer able to draw the add-ons; instead, they’re done by James Fry. (I didn't end up scanning anything from his pages, but still wanted to mention it.)

( Merry Christmas, X-Men--The Sentinels Have Returned! )

View Poll: #21328

Next Sunday: Jean was really looking forward to that date, damnit.
Next Thursday: Space adventures! Although alas, not the fun kind.

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Readthrough: Classic X-Men 5

2019-02-04T02:06:26Z

Posted by: sheliak

Today: Colossus's complicated feelings about leaving his homeland, and a doomed romance.

( Prison of the Heart )

View Poll: #21278

What did you think about this story?

Alternately, any thoughts on Colossus in this era?

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