Uncanny X-men's most memorable storylines

Karma

Karma

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Wizard magazine did a top 10 list just several years ago listing Marvel's most memorable storylines. "The Dark Phoenix saga" was number 2...sadly, I can't remember what number 1 was..but ANYHOW, there were several storylines that defined comics for MY generation who grew up in the 80's and matured in the 90's..God loves, Man Kills, Mutant Massacre, Fall of the Mutants, The Inferno, The Day of the other lights/The Light that failed (in this story arc...Chris Claremont and his writing team began the shocking, upsetting process of destroying their Uncanny X-men roster...beginning with Rogue's SURPRISE "Demise") , X-tinction Agenda, and fast forwarding to Apocolypse and the 12..which was the LAST storyline that really appealed to ME as a comic collector.

Dark Phoenix Saga originally occurred JUST after i was born...but 12 years later in 1989, i was VERY fortunate to have already been in the comic collecting game and was able to catch the entire storyline in reprints in the "Classic X-men" comics...when Phoenix's death came...i was like "WOW" and i was so sad. the year 1990 started RIGHT AFTER the issue of featuring Phoenix's death...and i didnt look at the X-men the same ever again....and of course The Inferno's prologue was just ending and THAT storyline was beginning...it was such an exciting time to be reading the Uncanny X-men....but there is one thing that has always annoyed me.

bringing Jean Grey back in 1986 was one of the biggest blunders that Marvel ever made..it CHEAPENED the impact of the Dark Phoenix Saga...and the most recent "sequel" to that...along with the fact that Jean Grey is NOTHING without the presence of Phoenix (powers, personality character...anything) ....its really SAD to see how a classic, owerfull moment in X-men's history has now become a CRUTCH for a character that is more HYPE Than actual worth.
 
Wow those are some harsh words directed at Jean there. I personally didn't think she was all that bad a character although she lacked in spirit when compared to the other X-Ladies.

My favourite stroylines of that particular comic are God Loves Man Kills and Day's of Future Past. But I have to say that I also loved X-cutioners song.
 
In responce to Spells comments about Jean Grey, I believe the reason why she was nothing without the Phoenix is because she was traumatized by her best friend dying when she was young, this same event is what triggered her mutant powers, so the first time she used her power she experianced her best friends extreamly painful death. I dont think she ever got over that, because of that she was allways hesitant to use her full powers and her personality was also damaged in the process. When the pheonix took over her place in life, it didnt take into account the mental blocks her mind placed over her powers or her personality. It took her as what she would have been if that event wouldnt have happened. She was much more outspoken, she didnt hesitate with her powers, and within her burned a fire that no man or woman could extinguish.
 
Greatness said:
In responce to Spells comments about Jean Grey, I believe the reason why she was nothing without the Phoenix is because she was traumatized by her best friend dying when she was young, this same event is what triggered her mutant powers, so the first time she used her power she experianced her best friends extreamly painful death. I dont think she ever got over that, because of that she was allways hesitant to use her full powers and her personality was also damaged in the process. When the pheonix took over her place in life, it didnt take into account the mental blocks her mind placed over her powers or her personality. It took her as what she would have been if that event wouldnt have happened. She was much more outspoken, she didnt hesitate with her powers, and within her burned a fire that no man or woman could extinguish.
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thats a very sensible and fair analysis of the WHY, but still doesnt change the outcome or the present status of her being more "HYPE" than actual worth. its a shame when your "spin offs" or "alternates" [ Phoenix , Madelynne Pryor] have more power and better personalities and stories than you do.

MEANWHILE, Greatness....DO YOU have any storylines from Uncanny X-men that YOU consider to be MEMORABLE? :D
 
I agree with Farrah on the whole Jean thing.. I feel like they only brought her back because she had been such a staple of the Marvel Community, because telepaths are a dime a dozen now in comic books.. I MUCH rather like the stories and personalities of Sage/Emma Frost/etc. I just feel with the Phoenix Force, she was just DAMN..

And you ARE right Farrah, Madelyne and Phoenix were MUCH more powerful than Jean ever was or will be lol.
 
For me, I loved the Uncanny X-Men story arc which led directly to the creation of the series entitled simply X-Men. It was around Uncanny X-Men 276, and just as all X-teams came back to reunite under the banner of "X-Men", the warrior core were whisked away to the far side of a distant galaxy by Lila Cheney to save Xavier from a terrible fate.

There, a plot of mystery and intrigue unfolded and grew, as trusted friends and allies began acting strangely, and loyalties were called into question in the harsh light of that which is right. Soon, a War-Skrull plot to usurp the entire Shi'ar Empire was discovered, as X-Man was pitted against X-Man, and unlikely partners were sought.

The drama and suspension were absolutely superb, whilst the characterisation, dialogue and plot showed Claremont at his absolute peak performance. The artwork of Jim Lee brought Claremont's characters to life in a beautiful manner, providing tension when needed, and mind-blowing action sequences.

All in all, this arc of Uncanny X-Men was, for me, a masterwork. It is not hailed as one of the "classic" arcs, and was not character-defining in the manner of Inferno, or Dark Phoenix. But what it was, was epoch-making, as it brought Charles Xavier back to Earth, and saw the formation of a newer, stronger X-Men, greatest of mutant heroes, and brighter lights for a darker day.
 
the story arc your referring to encompassed the caper in shi'ar involving the skrulls infiltration of the empire and the deposing of Lilandra. Lila and DEATHBIRDhad returned to earth to get some help from the X-men...and THEN with Xavier freed and Lilandra restored, Xavier and the x-men (most of whom he admitted he didnt recognize) went back to earth and freed Muir Isle from the Shadow king's hold. that WAS a very nice story arc..because as you said, Xavier came back to earth and was finally able to see the many new members that had joined his team, he saw the changes that storm and others had gone through, the after math of the Inferno and more...and that was a long overdue thing, given he had been absent for most of the groud breaking storylines and changes in the characters/teams during the 80s.

i agree with you that the art work/writing synergy of claremont and jim lee was fantastic. the characters looked so robust and sexy. many characters like cyclops got a much needed update in his look as did several other characters.
 
He also got a much-needed make-over in character an attitude. Claremont went quite a way to removing the rod from his ass, and making him a halfway decent character. There had been few times that I had actually liked Cyclops as a character before that point, and few times since.
 
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