Rating: 
Summary: starting point
Review: now, although the title of this is essential x-men, its not like the other 'essential' titles, it doesn't pick up at the very beginning of the series. if you want that, look for 'essential uncanny xmen'. sometime in the original run, the x-men stopped being published, then a few years later, it was picked up again, & a whole new team was formed. essential xmen starts there. these stories are great, they are what made x-men what it is today. the origin of phoenix, the introduction of the shi'ar, a battle with magneto, this book has a lot. the only reason this gets only 4 stars is because although it is good, volume 2 is even better.
Rating: 
Summary: WARNING! THIS BOOK IS IN BLACK AND WHITE!
Review: Sorry for shouting, just wanted to make sure everyone knows what they're getting. I didn't see it detailed anywhere that the insides are B&W. Because of that, I regret buying it.(By the way, if the inside was color, this would be a slam-dunk 5 stars.)
Rating: 
Summary: I love black & white !
Review: The (new) X-men always had a special place in my heart, since I was young, and thanks to these books I get to read the whole story continuously, like you read a novel. As for the newspaper paper quality, it adds to the nostalgic feeling. The best surprise was indeed the b&w edition, which I eventually love better than the old-fashioned coloring style (especially compared to nowadays deluxe comics). John Byrne's skillfull drawings stand out even more, lights, shadows, volumes... everything's there, and the boards really don't miss coloring.
Rating:
Summary: great collection
Review: The good: excellent collection of 20+ continuous issues. This features the genesis of the new x-men team - Wolverine, Banshee, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler. The artwork is excellent and the stories and characterisations are memorable. Stories include fast-paced x-men battles with Magneto, Juggernaut, Sentinels, Shiaar Imperial Guard, Mesmero, Weapon Alpha, Sauron, new x-men v/s old x-men and the fateful space shuttle journey that change Jean Grey into Phoenix. Claremont is also in top form. As a bonus, watch out for cameo appearances by author/artist duo of Claremont and Cockrum!! the bad: wish it was in colour! But I think the b&w art is much better than it sounds - in fact you get to really appreciate the remarkable pencil work of cockrum & (and towards the end) byrne.
Rating:
Summary: The relaunch of a comic series that changed everything
Review: The New X-Men became the most popular comic book series in the late Seventies and early Eighties and has continued to be so almost to this day. You can see why by looking at this reprint edition, which carries (unfortunately in black and white newsprint reproduction) the first twenty or so issues of the relaunched series. One of the most interesting things is to see how long it took for Chris Claremont, the main writer, to get the series "right." For the first ten or so issues the stories were pretty standard early Seventies Marvel cheesiness, with far too many characters and hyperdramatic posturing (there's so much going on in the Empress Lilandra story--featuring the introduction of not of two sets of heroes, the Starjammers and the Imperial guard, but also an entirely new Marvel interstellar empire--that it's very confusing to see what kind of effect Claremont and his illustrator, dave Cockrum, had in mind). With the introduction of John Byrne into the series as the artist, however, Claremont begins to take his time with his stories, and focus on subtler characterization. The superb Mesmero story, "Mind Games," is the first where you feel both the writer and the artist are doing something truly innovative. And from then on, it just gets better and better.
Rating:
Summary: Great stuff, no doubt, but...
Review: The only problem I have with these "Essential" reprints is that they are printed in black and white. I miss the color!...
Rating:
Summary: Without a doubt the greatest X-Men stories ever
Review: This beautifully written collection of comics reprints the classic team of X-Men in the stories that made them famous. Not only are these the X-Men's early years but they are also one of the best comics ever written. Once you pick this book up you wont be able to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Issues # 94 - 119 and Giant Size X-Men #1
Review: This book contains issues # 94- 119 and Giant Size # 1 and features Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus and Nightcrawler.
Rating:
Summary: Stories that are perfectly executed
Review: This book features the first giant size X-men number 1 and X-men issues 94-119. It introduces the new roster of X-men including Collosus, Nightcrawler, Storm, Wolverine and Banshee. Teaming up with Cyclops we are taken into a whirlwind of great stories. Facing off against Magneto, Juggernaut, the Sentinels, the Shi'ar, and many others. Overall this book is great and an excellent price for this many issues(though in black in white).
Rating:
Summary: A book that you won't put down until you're done!
Review: This book has many back issues that are EXTREMELY hard to find. It also has the origin of the second generation of X-Men, which include Wolverine, Storm, Collosuss, Nightcrawler, and Banshee. Since I just started reading the X-Men comics, it was a great way to find oput about their past.
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