Rating: 
Summary: THIRTY - ODD YEARS FROM NOW . . . . .
Review: "Many" stories are told in the epic that is "Earth X" and the volumes
that were to follow. So many in fact that one is easily lost in the back alleys
that form a most formidable network of Marvel lore. But you know what? For
the Marvel fan - that's the FUN of it! You also get a story that can be read
and enjoyed over and over and over again because of its relative `complexity'.Earth X:
One of the greatest - if not the Ultimate "What If" - stories I've ever read.
Many readers were no doubt daunted by the prodigious length and complexity
of this epic venture in Marvel lore (I was, at first!); but patience bears sweet fruit. Synopsis:
Welcome to a grim future - a future in which the Terrigen Mists, developed
by a race known as the Kree, have been unleashed upon an unsuspecting
humanity - resulting in the mutation of all the humans on Earth, even its heroes!
Who did it - and why? And can humanity be saved?
Do you know who the Celestials are? Earth X explores their role in the Cosmos
as never explored before, and places our beloved Earth square into the conflict.
What is the purpose of evolution - what lies beyond mutation - and whose ends are
served?
Join earth's greatest heroes as they fight on two fronts: One front is led by
Captain America, who struggles to keep the nations of the Earth together in the midst
of a food shortage; as well as a struggle against The Skull - now the worlds greatest
psychic and telepath - who seeks the subjugation of all mankind. Cap's mission is
further complicated by the devious drones of Hydra, who leach onto a human host
in order to control the mind.
The second front is led by former Machine Man, "X-51", Reed Richards, and the
Inhumans, who attempt to bring some order to the chaos resulting from the empending
threat of the Celestials - a struggle entailing man's future, a struggle to ensure that destiny
is writ not by the gods - but by man himself. Everything ties back into the Celestials
and their ultimate plans for mother Earth. In short, Earth X is a tour de Force of Marvel Universe history. Nary a stone
(character) is left unturned as our much-beloved characters and their well-known
origins are re-examined and shown to contain more than a few novel twists in their
re-telling: What was the purpose of the Vibranium guarded by Black Panther
and his Wakandian people; what is the difference between a mutant and an
Inhuman; what happened to several heroes the day The Skull's celestial seed
manifested in him; what is the real purpose of the Watchers? The true function
of Galactus? Heavy weights like the Eternals, the Asgardians, the Kree, and Infinity
Himself are also part of the mystery revolving around mankind. Some heroes still
live, some have died, yet all still exist - their realities still interpenetrate one other,
and each works from its respective side to confront the threat of the Celestials. We
also learn what happens to the X-Men, the Avengers, Fantastic Four and all the
other heroes.
This is not whimsical writing: Kim Krueger and Alex Ross placed a great deal of
effort into re-imagining the Marvel U. Not only that, but the issues are very philosophical
and presented in a way that any reader who's ever pondered the meaning of life and
the place of mankind in the universe will be given plenty of food-for-thought. I've read the other reviews here and can't help but think many of those who
`read' the series didn't actually have the stamina or willingness to try to understand
or appreciate it. Perhaps they weren't long-term readers (admittedly, that helps)
and were simply lost in the wealth of material and the breadth of storytelling - they
should perhaps try again. This is not some little jaunt to the grocery store, not
your run-of-the-mill monthly title - its a project with all the ambition of Dante's Divine
Comedy told in three parts, so strap your seat-belts on (or don't bother) - this is for fans
of the Marvel Universe and not weekend warriors (sorry, but that's my opinion). I took
the time and money to investigate the whole (over 1,800 pages in toto!) and found it quite
worthy. I can't have been alone: Marvel allowed Jim Krueger et al some 70 issues
(five trades) to tell his story! The artists chosen could have been better `at times', but that's not to detract from
the brilliant work we did get, esp. by Leon and Ross. I applaud the efforts of all
those involved for giving us one of the most potent and interesting entries into the
canon of comicbook-dom I've ever come across. Here's to the Future!
Rating:
Summary: THIRTY - ODD YEARS FROM NOW . . . . .
Review: "Many" stories are told in the epic that is "Earth X" and the volumes
that were to follow. So many in fact that one is easily lost in the back alleys
that form a most formidable network of Marvel lore. But you know what? For
the Marvel fan - that's the FUN of it! You also get a story that can be read
and enjoyed over and over and over again because of its relative 'complexity'. Earth X:
One of the greatest - if not the Ultimate "What If" - stories I've ever read.
Many readers were no doubt daunted by the prodigious length and complexity
of this epic venture in Marvel lore (I was, at first!); but patience bears sweet fruit. Synopsis:
Welcome to a grim future - a future in which the Terrigen Mists, developed
by a race known as the Kree, have been unleashed upon an unsuspecting
humanity - resulting in the mutation of all the humans on Earth, even its heroes!
Who did it - and why? And can humanity be saved?
Do you know who the Celestials are? Earth X explores their role in the Cosmos
as never explored before, and places our beloved Earth square into the conflict.
What is the purpose of evolution - what lies beyond mutation - and whose ends are
served?
Join earth's greatest heroes as they fight on two fronts: One front is led by
Captain America, who struggles to keep the nations of the Earth together in the midst
of a food shortage; as well as a struggle against The Skull - now the worlds greatest
psychic and telepath - who seeks the subjugation of all mankind. Cap's mission is
further complicated by the devious drones of Hydra, who leach onto a human host
in order to control the mind.
The second front is led by former Machine Man, "X-51", Reed Richards, and the
Inhumans, who attempt to bring some order to the chaos resulting from the empending
threat of the Celestials - a struggle entailing man's future, a struggle to ensure that destiny
is writ not by the gods - but by man himself. Everything ties back into the Celestials
and their ultimate plans for mother Earth. In short, Earth X is a tour de Force of Marvel Universe history. Nary a stone
(character) is left unturned as our much-beloved characters and their well-known
origins are re-examined and shown to contain more than a few novel twists in their
re-telling: What was the purpose of the Vibranium guarded by Black Panther
and his Wakandian people; what is the difference between a mutant and an
Inhuman; what happened to several heroes the day The Skull's celestial seed
manifested in him; what is the real purpose of the Watchers? The true function
of Galactus? Heavy weights like the Eternals, the Asgardians, the Kree, and Infinity
Himself are also part of the mystery revolving around mankind. Some heroes still
live, some have died, yet all still exist - their realities still interpenetrate one other,
and each works from its respective side to confront the threat of the Celestials. We
also learn what happens to the X-Men, the Avengers, Fantastic Four and all the
other heroes.
This is not whimsical writing: Kim Krueger and Alex Ross placed a great deal of
effort into re-imagining the Marvel U. Not only that, but the issues are very philosophical
and presented in a way that any reader who's ever pondered the meaning of life and
the place of mankind in the universe will be given plenty of food-for-thought. I've read the other reviews here and can't help but think many of those who
'read' the series didn't actually have the stamina or willingness to try to understand
or appreciate it. Perhaps they weren't long-term readers (admittedly, that helps)
and were simply lost in the wealth of material and the breadth of storytelling - they
should perhaps try again. This is not some little jaunt to the grocery store, not
your run-of-the-mill monthly title - its a project with all the ambition of Dante's Divine
Comedy told in three parts, so strap your seat-belts on (or don't bother) - this is for fans
of the Marvel Universe and not weekend warriors (sorry, but that's my opinion). I took
the time and money to investigate the whole (over 1,800 pages in toto!) and found it quite
worthy. I can't have been alone: Marvel allowed Jim Krueger et al some 70 issues
(five trades) to tell his story! The artists chosen could have been better 'at times', but that's not to detract from
the brilliant work we did get, esp. by Leon and Ross. I applaud the efforts of all
those involved for giving us one of the most potent and interesting entries into the
canon of comicbook-dom I've ever come across. Here's to the Future!
Rating: 
Summary: Postmodern comics - how not to do them
Review: (3 stars for the effort. Only for the effort) Here's your typical Watchmen progeny. Dark, dark, dark - and intelligent. Oh, so intelligent that the writer has to remind us how damn intelligent he is every other page. Really. He's got religion in there, you see? And sociology. History. The American way against all other ways. Conformism. The throes of old age. The loss of loved ones. The dangers of self indulgence. Love going bad. The insufficience of the common man compared to events larger than him. How very intellectual... No, wait. The Universe is right there - and smartguy here does actually explain it to us. Not even refraining from saving us the part BEFORE the big bang. How intelligent. And, since he needed to top Marvels and Kingdom Come, he just felt the need to put *every single one* superhero in there somewhere. ...that at least explains the awful mess of cosmologies in the original Marvel universe. Really. Unfortunately, after the first dozens of "please hand me that hammer, Thor: I've got to smash my ...even harder than this" bleak, involved, self-indulgent, redundant and autoreferential pages, you'll feel like closing the book and go find that old "Spiderman Vs. The Dragon" ...kung fu movie of years past. Hell, at the least that was *fun*. But seriously. This is something only the most devoted and convoluted Marvel fans can find entertaining. Yet a few moments are really memorable. Sorry to spoil it for you, but when Captain America is assaulted by *the whole world*, even by his friends crying how sorry they are for what they're doing... Oh. And the ending is forgettable.
Rating: 
Summary: An epic in every sense of the word...
Review: As someone who has only recently returned to reading comics, after about 20 years away, I have been pleasantly surprised by the overall maturity of art and writing. Consider the 60's and 70's era stuff, such as can be found in compilations like "Essential Avengers" and you'll know exactly what I mean. Earth X is a dark, gritty story that attempts to explain the whole psuedo-science basis for superhero powers, that they are all derived from a common source. The story is set in a future where everyone is endowed with super-powers and the anarchy that ensues - after all, who would want to be a trashman when you can fly? I found the writing to be both intelligent and articulate - though it does wander. The end of chapter narratives really help tie everything together, but I found myself re-reading passages to help some things make sense - the premise gets really meaty and assumes quite a bit of pre-knowledge of the Marvel Comics universe. At times there are way too many characters, many of which are barely explained, while other well-known heroes are nowhere to be found, some said to have been killed in the years before Earth X begins. Once the story gets rolling (about 3 chapters in) then it is hard to put down. The art is, for the most part, effective. The inking is a bit heavy handed, which is a shame since the underlying pencils are so obviously compelling. Unfortunately, there is not a great deal of action conveyed in the art, but it doesn't drag the story down too much. Alex Ross' covers, leading off each chapter, are just astounding and defy comparison. There is also a wealth of preliminary sketch work to found at the end of each chapter too. Bottom line: A big, exciting and altogether rewarding read. If you are new to Graphic Novels try "Marvels" also by Alex Ross.
Rating:
Summary: Profound
Review: As someone with a history as comic reader that runs into decades, I can only marvel (pardon the pun) at this spectacular piece of work. Continuities like Marvel and DC cover such vast and varied terrain of time, space, and dimension that conceiving of a unifying story seems almost impossible. Indeed previous efforts, like the sophomoric Secret Wars series in Marvel or the rather more effective yet still limited Crisis in DC seemed to demonstrate nothing so much as the impossibility of the task. Alex Ross and company in this work prove that with tremendous talent and effort one can truly bring together the entirety of Marvel's complex continuity. Some readers complain about the occasionally serpentine plot of this work and I must agree I found it rather hard to follow when I read it as individual issues. However, when brought together and read as a single work, one realizes the depth of Earth X. Moreover, despite the story's Homeric quality it never looses sight of the basic theme that runs through the Marvel Universe, the basic humanity of all its characters. One has to be impressed as some of the more diverse and often forgotten characters such as Rom the Space Knight (here carefully and cleverly presented for reasons of trade mark) play a role in the epic story. What I like most however is how in this work Ross, as in Marvels and Kingdom Come, captures the essences of the heroes both in image and story. Spiderman's humanity, Captain America's idealism, Scott Summer's desire to live up to a father figure's exacting standards all appear as these much loved characters face a world much changed yet still familiar. It goes without saying that as with all of Ross's other work, the painted pages jump out at the reader brining the story to life. Here we have a graphic novel that brings an entire universe to a whole new adult level.
Rating:
Summary: Profound
Review: As someone with a history as comic reader that runs into decades, I can only marvel (pardon the pun) at this spectacular piece of work. Continuities like Marvel and DC cover such vast and varied terrain of time, space, and dimension that conceiving of a unifying story seems almost impossible. Indeed previous efforts, like the sophomoric Secret Wars series in Marvel or the rather more effective yet still limited Crisis in DC seemed to demonstrate nothing so much as the impossibility of the task. Alex Ross and company in this work prove that with tremendous talent and effort one can truly bring together the entirety of Marvel's complex continuity. Some readers complain about the occasionally serpentine plot of this work and I must agree I found it rather hard to follow when I read it as individual issues. However, when brought together and read as a single work, one realizes the depth of Earth X. Moreover, despite the story's Homeric quality it never looses sight of the basic theme that runs through the Marvel Universe, the basic humanity of all its characters. One has to be impressed as some of the more diverse and often forgotten characters such as Rom the Space Knight (here carefully and cleverly presented for reasons of trade mark) play a role in the epic story. What I like most however is how in this work Ross, as in Marvels and Kingdom Come, captures the essences of the heroes both in image and story. Spiderman's humanity, Captain America's idealism, Scott Summer's desire to live up to a father figure's exacting standards all appear as these much loved characters face a world much changed yet still familiar. It goes without saying that as with all of Ross's other work, the painted pages jump out at the reader brining the story to life. Here we have a graphic novel that brings an entire universe to a whole new adult level.
Rating:
Summary: Masterpiece
Review: Don't let the negative reviews fool you! The people who wrote them obviously have no taste! This is a fantastic story about the possible fate of the beloved heroes of the Marvel universe, although admittedly, if you aren't familiar with the characters you probably won't enjoy this work as much, perhaps not even at all. But if you are this is an absolute must read. The one thing that I feel is a weak point here is the art. Leon's art can be described in one word: [horrible]. I realize Ross and Krueger were going for dark and depressing and that Ross could not paint a 14 issue Series, but jeeze Leon's art is hard to muddle through, (which is why the book lost a star.) It's worth the muddle though, because underneath his mess lay a fantastic story about the mythic world of the Marvel Universe. Buy it Now!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent alternate future-history to Marvel Universe
Review: Earth X is a dark and intriguing look at the future of the Marvel Universe. Those who are familiar with the comics will see many of the characters they are familiar with in a completely different light. Here we find out what happens to the likes of Spider-Man, the X-Men and Captain America in a world where everyone suddenly develops super-powers. The story deals with issues like 'what makes someone special' while entertaining the reader with a conspiracy laden story that is bound to keep you reading until the work is finished. The art is very old-school, and was a nice shout out to the original artists of some of these characters. This was an excellent work, a definate milestone in comics.
Rating: 
Summary: Earth X is not worth your time or youe money.
Review: Earth X is a poorly told story, that had the potential to be a great one. The writing is substandard, the artwork muddled, and the plot rather aimless up until about the last quarter of it. There are some clever ideas, but really the whole thing just doesn't hold together. Alex Ross as a writer puts me in mind of those Image lads from the early 90's: Best to leave it to the Pros and stick to art.
Rating:
Summary: Earth X
Review: Earth x is a rendition of the future in which the entire universe has super powers. The story is entirely told by UATU the watcher who has suddenly become blind. the story has two main conflicts, the first is Captain America against a new Super Villian, the SKULL. The Skull is a teenager who has been given the power to control peoples minds and intends to take over the world. The second is the return of the celestials, the omni-potent rulers of the universe. This series is incredibly indepth and is facinating. This is some of the best work I've seen on a limited series since Kingdom Come.
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