X-Men: Phoenix Rising

Rating:
Summary: I felt cheated!
Review: Jean should have stayed dead. If you read the original stories after she became Phoenix there were many things that she still did as Jean Grey that meant a great deal. Her and Wolverine had an odd relationship together as he grew to love her and she grew closer to Scott (Cyclops). She formed a psionic rapport with Scott where they could keep in constant touch and share their love for one another. They had adventures and the newer team members (at the time) became closer to Jean and fought side by side with her. She sacrificed herself in issue #137 of the Uncanny X-Men and the readers really felt an emotional loss. She had been someone we and the new X-Men came to know and care about. The whole Phoenix Rising storyline and Jean coming back just cheated everyone of that investment in her character. It wasn't really her that we were caring for and blah blah blah. That's a bunch of crap because some of those stories from issue #101 (1st Phoenix) to issue #137 (death of Phoenix) were the best in Marvel history. Jean, the person, was a big part of those stories and saying that it was not really her is just the biggest farce that a comic series has ever pulled. I know that a lot of characters die and then come back but her death was so well done and played out and led to many other things (Scott leaving, team remorse, etc...) that bringing her back just really left me feeling cheated. Basically it means Wolverine didn't really love Jean, but some clone or piece of her or whatever. That's just dumb. This all leads up to the Inferno storyline that was dismal. A very weak conclusion to Mr. Sinister/Jean Grey/Madelyne Pryor storyline. It was a poor poor poor (have i mentioned poor?) decision to raise Jean from the dead. We had all moved on and had our memories of her and the glory days of the X-Men title. The decline of the X-Men as a title is a whole other story. The book stayed good for a few more years after (prob up to the early #200s), and had splashes of brillance here and there (Jim Lee art), but after Claremont and Byrne parted ways there was definitely a decline in the title culminating in the horrible Inferno storyline and the eventual splitting into 2 teams (another bad idea). So are Captain America's original sidekick Bucky and Spidey's old flame Gwen Stacy coming back too? Jean Grey coming back to life was/is a BAD IDEA!! A bunch of baloney! I still call myself an X-Men fan, but I am a fan of the large box full of back-issues I have. All you younger fans out there (I'm 27) need to read up on the old school and see how great this series used to be.

Rating:
Summary: I felt cheated!
Review: Jean should have stayed dead. If you read the original stories after she became Phoenix there were many things that she still did as Jean Grey that meant a great deal. Her and Wolverine had an odd relationship together as he grew to love her and she grew closer to Scott (Cyclops). She formed a psionic rapport with Scott where they could keep in constant touch and share their love for one another. They had adventures and the newer team members (at the time) became closer to Jean and fought side by side with her. She sacrificed herself in issue #137 of the Uncanny X-Men and the readers really felt an emotional loss. She had been someone we and the new X-Men came to know and care about. The whole Phoenix Rising storyline and Jean coming back just cheated everyone of that investment in her character. It wasn't really her that we were caring for and blah blah blah. That's a bunch of crap because some of those stories from issue #101 (1st Phoenix) to issue #137 (death of Phoenix) were the best in Marvel history. Jean, the person, was a big part of those stories and saying that it was not really her is just the biggest farce that a comic series has ever pulled. I know that a lot of characters die and then come back but her death was so well done and played out and led to many other things (Scott leaving, team remorse, etc...) that bringing her back just really left me feeling cheated. Basically it means Wolverine didn't really love Jean, but some clone or piece of her or whatever. That's just dumb. This all leads up to the Inferno storyline that was dismal. A very weak conclusion to Mr. Sinister/Jean Grey/Madelyne Pryor storyline. It was a poor poor poor (have i mentioned poor?) decision to raise Jean from the dead. We had all moved on and had our memories of her and the glory days of the X-Men title. The decline of the X-Men as a title is a whole other story. The book stayed good for a few more years after (prob up to the early #200s), and had splashes of brillance here and there (Jim Lee art), but after Claremont and Byrne parted ways there was definitely a decline in the title culminating in the horrible Inferno storyline and the eventual splitting into 2 teams (another bad idea). So are Captain America's original sidekick Bucky and Spidey's old flame Gwen Stacy coming back too? Jean Grey coming back to life was/is a BAD IDEA!! A bunch of baloney! I still call myself an X-Men fan, but I am a fan of the large box full of back-issues I have. All you younger fans out there (I'm 27) need to read up on the old school and see how great this series used to be.

Rating:
Summary: A few things missing, but still good.
Review: Short and to the point, this novel depicts the return of Jean Grey and the creation of X-Factor by the original X-Men. It is a very well done story, but it was definitely missing a few cogs. It should have included X-Men #201, which depicts why Cyclops left the X-men. A few segments from Defenders #152, which show why Angel, Beast, and Iceman were ready to retire would have been a huge plus. (Not the entire issue, however, as most of the comic was not that good.) Still, a nice job.

Rating:
Summary: A few things missing, but still good.
Review: Short and to the point, this novel depicts the return of Jean Grey and the creation of X-Factor by the original X-Men. It is a very well done story, but it was definitely missing a few cogs. It should have included X-Men #201, which depicts why Cyclops left the X-men. A few segments from Defenders #152, which show why Angel, Beast, and Iceman were ready to retire would have been a huge plus. (Not the entire issue, however, as most of the comic was not that good.) Still, a nice job.

Rating:
Summary: Essential
Review: The entire Phoenix Saga is by far the most compelling story line in Marvel's history. This graphic novel is unfortunately missing several issues that follow the supposed death of Jean Grey (which would leave some newbie readers a little lost). It also does not end with any sense of closure as "The Dark Phoenix Saga" and "Inferno" graphic novels did.

There isn't a lot of action here as you would find with most other X-Men graphic novels. However, this is an important link in the chain of Phoenix-related events. The development of the characters and the twisting of the plot is unmatched. No true fan can deny that this paricular era of Marvel's history was the finest in comic story-telling. The art is superb and the depth of the characters is what REALLY makes this worth reading.

Discover the complexity of Jean's revival. Watch the unravelling of Scott and Madelyn's marriage. See the forming of a new superhero team. Witness a woman's descent into madness... "Phoenix Rising" is an essential part of any worth-while collection.

Rating:
Summary: The Rebirth of Jean Grey
Review: These were a series of stories that not only saw the return of Jean Grey but also the birth of the Goverment backed-mutant team X-FACTOR. The manner which Jea is brought back is about as far fetched as anything the X-Men comics have ever attempted and the formation of X-Factor was just a marketig attempt to get a new mutant title going, as if we need anymore.

Rating:
Summary: Phoenix's First Resurrection
Review: To many, this is the story that ruined the X-Men. That is understandable. To many, the classic death of Jean Grey/Phoenix on the moon at the end of the "Dark Phoenix Saga" is not something to be tampered with. Therefore, when Marvel decided to resurrect Jean for the formation of X-Factor in the mid-1980s, many felt cheated. They felt that this story cheapened the original "death". For me, I'm glad that Jean is alive again (although she's dead again in the recent Grant Morrison X-Men run, I was told!). I felt that this story opened up so many story possibilities - especially the emotional tug-of-war that Cyclops, then married to Jean-lookalike, Madelyne Pryor, had to face.

The problem with many comic fans is that they can't seem to see beyond the "scandal" or "controversy". For example, the Batman story, "A Death in the Family". Everytime you hear fans discussing that storyline, they have to bring in the controversial decision that D.C. made at that time to set up a 1-800 number for people to call in voting whether to let Robin live or die. Seeing beyond that little piece of marketing ploy, the story by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo is pretty tight and solid. Same thing here. Jean Grey lives. The Phoenix entity that died on the moon was a different person altogether (therefore, Jean is not guilty of the crimes committed by Dark Phoenix). If the fans would just take time to examine the story carefully, they would find this a solid book to begin with.

Firstly, we have the issue from Avengers wherein the cocoon holding Jean underwater is found. The fans also screamed when they discovered this - Jean's resurrection taking place in "Avengers" rather than "Uncanny X-Men". But then that was the time when Jim Shooter was head at Marvel and continuity BETWEEN the books was very tight (unlike the current no-continuity nu-Marvel). I, for one, do not see a problem with that. And I'm thankful to see again the work of Roger Stern, John Buscema and Tom Palmer, whom I consider the best Avengers creators ever (check out their work on "Avengers: Under Siege" to see what I mean). The second part of the storyline takes place in "Fantastic Four" and it's largely written and drawn by John Byrne. Great flashback scenes here explain in detail what really happened to Jean and Phoenix in "X-Men #101". I was told that Chris Claremont tampered a little with this story and some panels were redrawn by Jackson Guice. This, of course, contributed to Byrne's finally leaving the FF soon after. The best part of the book, and also the part that packs the most emotional punch is the last chapter - a reprint of X-Factor #1. Bob Layton writes and Jackson Guice pencils this tale of how Jean's closest pals/lovers, namely, the original X-Men, react to her being alive again.

Reading this carefully, one can see the seeds being planted for future storylines in the X-books like "Inferno" and "X-cutioner's Song". Scott is pushed to the limit emotionally and ends up a wreck, abandoning his wife Madelyne and son, Nathan. The original five X-Men, including Jean, forms X-Factor. The last panel with Madelyne discovering Scott's "unfaithfulness" on TV (in an X-Factor ad) is priceless.

Lastly, this book comes with an Introduction by Kurt Busiek, who had the guts to claim credit for coming up with the idea of Jean's resurrection in the first place. Overall solid writing and art throughout. Long live Jean...

Rating:
Summary: Jean Grey returns from the dead!
Review: X-Men : Phoenix Rising ressurects one of the most important characters in the Marvel Universe, Jean Grey! the book features the Avengers,Fantastic Four, and X-Factor.the graphic novel features art by John Buscema, John Byrne, and Jackson Guice. the story was written by Rogern Stern, John Byrne, and Bob Layton. the book tells you the explanation on how Jean Grey was ressurected and how she formed X-Factor with the Original X-Men! Jean Grey is my favorite character in the Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, and X-Factor comics. The introduction is written by Kurt Busiek, he was the writer responsible for Jean Grey's return to the Marvel Universe! Highest Possible Reconmmendation!

Rating:
Summary: A Milestone in the Lives of the X-Men
Review: You know, Jean Grey was never MEANT to die. The X-Men's editor at the time insisted Phoenix die for her actions as Dark Phoenix. This story, in a way, sets things right by bringing her back in a way much less contrived than many superhero resurrections. Far-fetched, yes, for the real world; but let's face it, these are comic book superheroes we're dealing with.

This collection features the (almost too) dramatic reunion of the original X-Men from X-Factor #1, as well as guest appearances by the Fantastic Four and Avengers. It sets up many more great moments later down the road (in X-Men: Inferno for instance), not to mention all the year of stories featuring Jean Grey since then. That alone makes me excited about it. A great follow-up to the Dark Phoenix Saga and From the Ashes.