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Summary: No exaggeration: the best X-Men story ever
Review: This book reprints the "Dark Phoenix" saga from X-Men 129-137 (circa 1980). This is the story that moved the X-Men from a very good comic book to something truly remarkable. The story was so significant that the original ending had to be changed (the original was later published separately). The Claremont/Byrne combination is phenomenal. The book features a new introduction by Stan Lee. A must read for any X-Men fan.
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Summary: An extremely important X-Men story
Review: This book reprints Uncanny X-Men 141 and 142 (from 1981), which featured the first appearance of the X-Men from the future -- an alternate future, in which certain key events happened differently. One of those future X-Men has gone into the past to try to prevent her future from becoming a reality. Features the first appearance of Rachel Summers, and sets the groundwork for the sequel "Days of Future Present" several years later. It is remarkable that such a short story (only 44 pages of text) could become so significant. The Chris Claremont and John Byrne combination is, as always, a winner. Highly recommended.
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Summary: A wonderful trip into the past...
Review: This graphic novel reprints one of the classic X-Men stories of old -- the Dark Phoenix saga. For those who might not be up on their comic history, the Dark Phoenix Saga told the story of how Jean Grey -- one of the original X-Men -- found herself cruelly manipulated by the evil mutant Mastermind until she finally lost control of her own powers and became a threat to the very future of the universe. In the end, it falls to the X-Men (led by Jean's lover, Cyclops) to either bring her back to sanity or destroy her. This was perhaps the pinnacle of the Chris Claremont/John Byrne creative team and certainly very few subsequent X-Men stories have come close to touching the quality of the Dark Phoenix Saga. Chris Claremont's secret as a comic book writer was that he never wrote down to his audience. While some others might have simply said, "Hey, it's only a comic book," and cashed in their paycheck, Chris Claremont approached his X-Men stories with a sincerity and integrity that elavated the best of his work out of the super hero genre. As always the characterization of the individual X-Men is strong with Wolverine truly coming into his own. Even the usually somewhat dull Cyclops is given one of his few chances to shine in this story and Claremont manages to present a multifaceted view of this sometimes overly upright figure. The dialogue, especially Cyclops' final monolouge on the moon, is also far more powerful (and at times genuinely witty) than what is generally expected from a "comic book." Over the course of this story, Claremont and Byrne introduced several characters that would later become key ingrediants to the X-Men's success -- the Hellfire Club, Dazzler, Kitty Pryde, and all of them show their future promise from their very first appearances.I was a kid when these issues first came out and I can remember what an impact they had on me at the time. Not to be overdramatic but back in 1980, the fate of Jean Grey affected me much the same way the fate of Jay Gatsby affects me now. Now, some might scoff at that or say that its easier to please children but that's not true. Even more so than adults, children and young teens can spot when someone's just going through the motions. Every year, hundreds of new comic books are released. Most cease publication after less than six issues. X-Men survived. It takes a lot to make an impact on you when you're young and that was what made Claremont and Byrne's X-Men so popular. Unlike future writers and artists, they never took their audience for granted. With the Dark Phoenix Sage, they crafted one of the great legends of my youth. When I recently reread it, I do so for the sake of nostalgia but I was overjoyed to discover that even though I'd gotten older and subsequent events in the X-Men had cheapened a lot of what those earlier issues were about, the story hadn't suffered. As both a piece of childhood nostalgia and as a story held up on its own considerable terms, the Dark Phoenix Saga is a powerful piece of work and it is a must-have for all comic book fans -- past, present, and future.
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Summary: The epitome of an X-Men saga
Review: This is a great introduction book for any reader who has just started getting into the X-Men. A tale of love and disaster, this tragic story was what brought the X-Men to the forefront of the comics industry. Simple enough for a first grader to understand, yet, as an adult if you look beyond the action you get the deep sense of what true power can mean in the wrong hands. Newer readers, who have read the recent X-books, will be able to understand the convoluted mess that is the character Jean Grey's life, by checking out how she weilds evil as the Black Queen and as Dark Phoenix. You will also see Dazzler and Kitty Pryde in their debut appearances. Also the last chapter, "Elegy", gives a condensed version of the X-men's origin, which will enlighten any newer reader. This book should have been the basis of the X-Men movie due out in summer of 2000. Fantastic reading
Rating:
Summary: classic
Review: This is another one of those classic comic storylines: The Dark Phoenix Saga and the death of Jean Grey. There really isn't much more you can say than that. If you are familiar with it you know how great it is. And for you recent X-fans, those that aren't familiar with it, it is one of the classic stories and one that if you haven't read yet, you're not really that much of a fan.
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Summary: The Ultimate Comic Book Storyline
Review: This is it. Look no further. No comic book storyline will ever encompass what Chris Claremont and John Byrne were able to do with the Dark Phoenix Saga. As any true X-fan knows, the Claremont/Byrne era is what truly defined the X-Men we know today. Wolverine alone never would have been such a popular character without these storylines. If there is one trade paperback you buy in your lifetime, this is it. Give it a try, and I guarantee you'll be hooked. I own over 10,000 comics, and these are my favorites, bar none.
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Summary: The X-Men at their best
Review: This is simply one of the definitive Marvel comic stories, nearly perfect in every aspect. For me, much of the appeal to this lies in that is simply a super-hero story, capturing the essence of the genre like nothing else. So many of the critically acclaimed comics are heavy on the emotional philosophizing that at many points they cease to become entertaining. The Dark Phoenix Saga never quits, throwing harrowing action and life and death drama at you throughout. A reader can't help but wonder what he or she would do placed in any of the character's shoes. There is no "right" or "wrong", but simple necessity and loyalty which drives the characters. Chris Claremont pulls out all the stops; it really appears that he is trying to write the X-Men to their peak. He most probably does, and John Byrne's work never looked better. There are simply no faults to be found. Had this been a stand alone series, it would surely be placed alongside DC's timeless classics. But the story fits perfectly in the trade; the reader never wondering what had previously happened in earlier issues. This story is great for everyone, young and old. Fans of heavy-duty stuff like Watchmen may snub their noses at this, but they would be foolish to do so. If you want a reminder of why super hero comics are so engaging, read this.
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Summary: A MAGNIFICENT tale of triumph and tragedy.
Review: This shocking(then) story of Jean Grey becoming a godess and her eventual fall from grace is magnificent. When Jean's dark side destroys an entire star system the X-Men know she's got to be taken out. But which X-Men has the heart to kill Jean? In the end Jean must choose to live as a godess or die human. Beutifully written and drawn. This is the Quintessential X-Men story.
Rating: 
Summary: It's way over-rated!
Review: This was actually the first story that marked the begining of Chris Claremont's trend of trying to do four or five different little stories all in one over-blown crossover. The theme of Jean grey being transformed into a vastly powerful being that sets out to destroy the universe was repeated 16 years later with Charles Xavier becoming Onslaught (please). It also started the trend of dead characters later coming back to life, but that's another story in of itself. The X-Men animated series recently did an adaptation of this story for television, and it wasn't much better. You want to read a good Marvel story, try the Fantastic Four; Coming of Galactus saga, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
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Summary: Overrated and Dull
Review: Time travel has really messed up the X-Men series continunity and we have characters like Cable, Bishop, and X-man all coming from alternatime times. It can all be traced to Days of Future Past, a story that has haunted the X-Men and it;s readers with all sorts of time travel stories that have never made sense, and they still don't make sense in the current books today.
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