Xtreme X Men (Extreme X Men)

Rating:
Summary: Classic Claremont
Review: If you aren't familiar with the evolution, history and norms of X-men over the last decade, this book just looks like a particularly good looking set of cliches with a somewhat confusing story. However, X-men folowers will recognize that there's almost no such thing as clighes with Claremont as he created all of them. Back in the eighties and early nineties, Claremont reinvented the X-men from the nerdy, high school rejects that Stan Lee created, into snazzy looking heroes that were feared by a non-mutant familiar society. Claremont is also credited with the creation of Rogue. In this series, the southern belle with voices in her head has gone from sassy tomboy with a streaked mane of teased hair, to a quiet loner with a cropped look that betrays a certain feeling of repentance. This reinvention of Rogue isn't 100% though, as Rogue smiles when she and Gambit are kicking Triad [behind] in Australia. The plot is a little hard to follow, and Claremont has a proclivity towards 'down-time' issues. 'Dreamtime seranade' is one of these issues, and while it gives artist Salvador Larrocca a chance to stretch his legs (an incredible visual pay-off), Claremont lays back and the plot starts to disappear. One thing that's interesting about Claremont's style is how he multi-tasks. In Australia, the team investigates charges that Gambit killed veteran X-men badguy Viceroy. To accomplish this Storm and Thunderbird go in search of Viceroy's rumored children as (if they exist) would be targets for whoever killed Viceroy. Bishop looks into the killing, pretending to be an Australian federal investigator. Bishop manages to offend Rogue who runs off, finds Gambit and the two of them search for Viceroy's real killer. Sage all the while gets into a fight with Lady Mastermind and the Hellfire Club. The stories are interesting, but can be confusing at times since they don't tie together. My real complaints, though, lie in the formatting. Claremont takes into consideration that his book may be the first X-men story ever read by someone, so he takes precautions not to lose the virgins, but the constant message boxes reiderating stuff you read two pages ago (though on original release was a month ago) can get annoying. But between Claremont's classic storytelling and Larroca's gorgeous artwork (one of the book's gimicks is a lack of an inker), the book is really a terrific read.
Something to note is that this book runs parrallel to New X-men, so buying this alongside one of 'X-men: E is for Extinction' is recommended.

Rating:
Summary: X-Treme X-Men - one of the best out there
Review: If you're an X-Men fan like myself, then you'll love this backpack collection of X-Treme X-Men #1-9. Christopher Claremont and Salvadora Lacorra deliver a jam packed adventure featuring some of Marvel's most popular characters on the quest for Irene Adler (Destiny's) diaries, which predict the future of the world. IF put into the wrong hands the world is doomed. Rogue, Storm, Bishop, Thunderbird, Psylocke, Beast, Sage,Gambit, and new recruits Slipstream, Lifeguard, and Red Lotus face off against the assasin Vargas. In an around the world adventure the team travels from Spain to Australia. But what price will they pay? Will they be willing to sacrifice their own for the sake of the cause? For the sake of the dream? Join the X-Treme X-Men in a tale filled with awesome writing and beautifully detailed art work by Claremont and Lacorra. X-Treme X-Men is the one for any true X-Men fan!

Rating:
Summary: New Stories from one of Comic's Greatest
Review: The story was slow and lacked edge. It makes no real move in the development of the X-Men's story, or potential. If you like general, run of the mill stories, go ahead and get this one.

Rating:
Summary: very average
Review: The story was slow and lacked edge. It makes no real move in the development of the X-Men's story, or potential. If you like general, run of the mill stories, go ahead and get this one.

Rating:
Summary: Nice art, average script...
Review: This book begins with some bad stories, getting better around X-Treme #3.. it also features the first appearence of Lifeguard and Slipstream. If you like Claremont, you will probably enjoy it...

Rating:
Summary: Lacking beginning to Claremont's X-Treme X-Men
Review: This first volume of X-Treme X-Men collects the first storyarc of the then newly launched X-Men series with legendary scribe Chris Claremont at the helm. Destiny finds a new branch of X-Men led by Storm, and featuring Rogue, Gambit, Psylocke, Thunderbird, Sage, and Bishop among others, looking for the diaries of the late mutant psychic Destiny. However, it's painfully obvious that Claremont's writing style isn't quite ready for the new milennium. His dialogue can be downright atrocious, and the fact that he tries to make it friendly towards new readers (by trying to include as much backstory as he can, and as X-Men fans know, that is quite a bit) leaves plenty of holes in the story. Not to mention, that when Psylocke is killed, there is little to no emotion involved; something which is quite unexpected considering she has been a part of the X-Men for well over a decade. Salvador Larroca's excellent and mouth watering art makes Destiny (along with most of the other X-Treme X-Men books he was on board for) worth checking out, and saves it from being a complete dud. Thankfully, after X-Treme X-Men bit the dust, Claremont returned to Uncanny X-Men and launched a new Excalibur book, both of which are more worth your time than this.