Comic Info
Comic Name: New X-Men (Volume 1)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Ethan Van Sciver/Frank Quitely/Igor Kordey
# of Issues: 5
Release Date: 2011
New X-Men (1) #114
Reprints New X-Men (1) #114-117 and Annual 2001 (July 2001-October 2001). The X-Men have a new threat in a woman named Cassandra Nova. As more and more mutants pop-up all over the globe, Cassandra plans to eliminate them once and for all by activating a new lethal breed of Sentinels…and a target that will strike right to the heart of the X-Men. Nova’s plans have consequences, and Xavier is about to make a big decision about the future of his school. Plus, the X-Men meet a mysterious new mutant who can harness the power of the sun.
Written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Frank Quitely, Ethan Van Sciver, and Leinil Francis Yu, New X-Men—Book 1 started a change in the X-Men that has had ramifications for years. The collection has been published multiple times including a digest version and previously was released as New X-Men 1: E is for Extinction.
I am a big fan of Grant Morrison. I loved his Doom Patrol and Animal Man. Morrison’s JLA showed that he could write “real” superhero stories that weren’t just weird Vertigo style comics. With New X-Men, Morrison pushed the X-Men to the limit.
New X-Men (1) #115
I have to say that I don’t always love Morrison’s take. In this volume you have essentially two stories. You have the Cassandra Nova story and the Annual 2001 which is shoehorned into the collection. I remember even as the comic was released that the Annual didn’t fit into the “big story” well.
The book introduces two big characters: Cassandra and Xorn. Cassandra is a great creation and sets up a great series of events…Xorn on the other hand poses a problem. His introduction here doesn’t end up meshing well with the end of Morrison’s run.
New X-Men—Book 1 introduces life to the X-Men but also creates problems. Morrison seems really focused at the beginning of this story, but it ends up falling apart at the end of Morrison’s run. In addition to this, those who are fans of the classic X-Men stories might find Morrison’s run quite jarring and may not enjoy his take on the heroes. Grant Morison is generally a very divisive writer. People love or hate most of his writing. New X-Men is no different in this sense. Despite this, it is a fun and unique X-Men and worth checking out.
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