Rating: 
Summary: More of the best!
Review: Ok, first of all, "only" 4 stars, and that's based on the packaging (black'n'white + cheap paper), not on the quality of the material.These are more of the classic X-men stories that turned Chris Claremont into a comic-book superstar. Found within are some of the best stories ever written, the "Dark Phoenix Saga" and "Days of Future Past", stories that by far and wide supercedes anything else written in those early days of the "modern" comic-book. John Byrnes art is flawless, and manages to almost look as good in black and white as it does in it's original glorious coloring. Quite simply, buy this if you are at all remotely interested in the X-Men. There are 4 issues in this series of "Essential" X-Men, but this one is probably the one that has the most to offer for a new fan. Heck, buy 2 and give one to a friend!
Rating: 
Summary: excellent collection
Review: the good: picking up from where vol. 1 left off, this offers another 20+ issues of continuity. And what a collection of stories!! chronicled within are x-men battles with Alpha flight, Arcade, Proteus, Hellfire Club, Wendigo, Sentinels. This collection is significant because it includes epics such as the "dark phoenix saga" and "days of future past". IMHO, the most moving story was "Elegy" in which Cyclops recounts his memories in the aftermath of Jean Grey's death. A bonus is the introduction of Kitty Pryde - who eventually proves her mettle in her encounter with the Ngarai demon. FYI, you can purchase the "dark phoenix saga" and "days of future past" stories separately (F/C graphic novels) but you should still also buy this volume. Claremont's writing and Byrne's artwork is outstanding! the bad: wish it was in colour!!!
Rating:
Summary: dark phoenix saga + days of future past =essential x-men
Review: the story of Proteus,the Dark Phoenix Saga,and Days Of Future Past are not only the best X-Men stories but are also 3 of the greatest stories evertold in comic book history.All 3 are classics.The last page of the Dark Phoenix Saga and the fierst 3 pages of Days Of Future Past are enough to make you teary-eyed.Wolverine vs. the Hellfire Club was one of amazing.Buy this stuff .I had to buy 2 trade paperbacks and some X-Men Classics for these stories.I wish I'd known about this collection.
Rating:
Summary: Great stories, Low Price
Review: These are some of the best X-Men stories. Included is the Dark Phoenix Saga, Days of Future Past and Proteus. This is a better selection of stories, than Essential X-Men 1, but read that first. This is a must have for all X-Fans.
Rating:
Summary: Can't Get Any Better Than This-Unless You Add Color!
Review: This black and white collection is the best comics has to offer. Featuring over 20 consecutive issues, "Essential X-men Vol. 2" is the crux of the Byrne/Claremont magnificent run on the X-men. It features:
*The greatest line-up of X-men ever: Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler. *Guest appearances by Alpha Flight, Spider-Man, Havoc and Swamp-Thing. *Death/Loss - the death of Jean Grey; Cyclops and Banshee leave the X-men. *Villains galore - Proteus, Hell-fire Club, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Sentinals, Wendigo. *The 2 Greatest X-men storylines ever: Dark Phoenix and Days of Future Past! Even colorless, this is a phenomenal value. Maximum recommendation.
Also recommended: "Dark Phoenix" and "Days of Future Past" (in color!).
Rating:
Summary: Can't Get Any Better Than This-Unless You Add Color!
Review: This black and white collection is the best comics has to offer. Featuring over 20 consecutive issues, "Essential X-men Vol. 2" is the crux of the Byrne/Claremont magnificent run on the X-men. It features:
*The greatest line-up of X-men ever: Cyclops, Phoenix, Wolverine, Storm, Colossus and Nightcrawler. *Guest appearances by Alpha Flight, Spider-Man, Havoc and Swamp-Thing. *Death/Loss - the death of Jean Grey; Cyclops and Banshee leave the X-men. *Villains galore - Proteus, Hell-fire Club, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Sentinals, Wendigo. *The 2 Greatest X-men storylines ever: Dark Phoenix and Days of Future Past! Even colorless, this is a phenomenal value. Maximum recommendation.
Also recommended: "Dark Phoenix" and "Days of Future Past" (in color!).
Rating:
Summary: Issues # 120 - 144
Review: This Book contains issues # 120 - 144 and features Cyclops, Storm, Banshee, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, Colossus, Kitty Pryde and Dark Phoenix.
Rating:
Summary: Just one the best ever
Review: This book has everything you ever liked and wanted to know about the X-men from the past. From stories like Proteus and the ever surprising Dark Phoenix Saga and the Days of the Future Past, this book is great and exciting to read. If I were you I would purchase this in a heartbeat.
Rating:
Summary: Great storytelling
Review: This books collects some great X-Men stories including two of the greatest...The Dark Pheonix Saga and Days of Future Past. Also included are the first appearances of Alpha Flight and Proteus, as well as great battles against Arcade and Wendigo. The true gold of this volume are hte little character moments that Claremont was so good at. THe danger room scenes, the wolverine-cyclops interplay, and of course Kitty Pryde! The cute girl's few appearances were show-stealers! My only gripe was the black and white art...wish it was in color! Great stuff.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Important Claremont/Byrne Stories
Review: This is where the two (along with Terry Austin) really hit their stride. When these first came out, I couldn't wait for each issue to reach the newsstand each month. There are some incredible stories in this budget volume, including the Dark Phoenix saga, the Hellfire Club, Days of Future Past... Some of these stories laid the groundwork for major storylines that have affected this series' continuity for decades! If you are an X-Men fan, this is one volume worth picking up, if only for the fact that you can read over twenty issues of continuity in a single volume! It is because of stories such as these that the X-Men are among the most popular comics around today.
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