X-Men Epic Collection: It’s Always Darkest Before The Dawn (Uncanny X-Men (1963-2011))

While this is part of the X-Men Epic Collection series, there aren't any stories in here from the X-Men BOOK series. That's because the X-Men title went into reprints in 1971 after issue #66 (featured in the last X-Men Epic Collection). With their own title not producing any new stories, the X-Men went slumming from 1971 all the way to 1975 when their book got out of reprints and started brand new (some would say All-New) adventures with Giant-Sized X-Men #1 and X-Men #94.So what you're getting here are all of the X-Men's appearances in this period. Or, at least I THINK these are all their appearances. I haven't done extensive research but it looks like if an X-Man or Professor Xavier appeared in another book, that story is here. That means any of the original five, like Iceman showing up in Amazing Spider-Man #92, or even Lorna Dane and Havok who had joined the team before the end of their original adventures, like Incredible Hulk #150. Along with all of those appearances, the Epic Collection gives us the covers for all those reprint issues of X-Men (#'s 67-93 and the first two Annuals). Even better, they aren't just thrown in at the end but are placed throughout the collection as they would have chronological been released between all those guest appearances. This really works for me.What DOESN'T work is the disjointed nature of all these stories. Since we're getting guest appearances from other books, we get little bits of a bunch of other heroes' stories as they interact with the X-Men. In some cases, like with the Hulk books, continuity isn't hard to figure out. Hulk is being chased by the military and just wants to be alone and for some reason he ends up in Canada a LOT. In others, we get thrown in the deep end, like with the Secret Empire story in Captain America and the Falcon. None of it is insurmountable, or course. In fact, it's refreshing to see the writers in books taking the time to tell new readers what was going on in previous issues so that they could follow along without a whole lot of confusion. In the internet age, readers are expected to do most of this heavy lifting on their own, making reading titles in the middle a lot more daunting NOW than it was THEN.The only real continuous story in here is Amazing Adventures #'s 11-17, a VERY light horror tinged Beast solo series where Hank McCoy takes on his more familiar bestial look. These are fun, ridiculous stories, started under writer Gerry Conway and continued in the second issue by Steve Englehart. Beast evolves over the series from his original grey look to the blue/ black look we love today, at the same time evolving out of the X-Men series and into the greater Marvel Universe. The art in here is mostly by Tom Sutton. He starts strong and his depiction of Beast is actually pretty great, especially as we see him changing more and more into his classic look (there's a splash page of Beast in the rain that is REALLY cool). However, the rest of the characters within are less impressive looking and by the end of this short series, things are looking pretty messy.I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that Beast wears a "Hank McCoy" costume to pass himself off as human. This includes a head mask and hand gloves made from latex and a harness to straighten his back as well as darker tinted glasses to obscure his eyes. It's insane and something that couldn't work in live action. Or could it!?No. No, it couldn't. Comics are amazing.This series is also where Steve Englehart originates his Secret Empire story that would eventually culminate in Captain America and the Falcon so you get a little more details added to that than you would if you just had the Cap/ Falc issues. Nothing HUGE but a little added depth just shows how rich the Marvel Universe was getting.Towards the end of this collection, they even throw in the first appearance of Wolverine (Incredible Hulk #'s 180, 181, and a LITTLE bit of 182). Logan won't REALLY be an X-Man until Giant-Sized X-Men #1 but since he becomes completely connected to the team, his appearances here are appreciated.There's some good stuff in here. If you're an X-Men fan, there's very little continuity, here, though. We get some major goings on with Beast, the X-Men reverting to their original costumes (to better match their reprint appearances), Magneto and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants being reverted to babies (which would have major repercussions for Mags as the X-Men book continued), and Wolverine's first appearance. Otherwise, it feels very much like a team that's spinning its wheels and waiting for their time to shine. Soon, guys, soon.But for now, guest appearances. If you skipped volume four of the X-Men Epic Collection, you'd be perfectly fine. The next book, volume five, is a pretty fresh start for the team with the biggest bit of continuity being Wolverine. As a completionist, this volume is great. It's fun to see what the X-Men were up to when their own book wasn't doing much... even if the X-Men themselves weren't doing much...If I were to have one more thing with this collection, it would have been the inclusion of not just all the X-Men's appearances between 1971 and 1975 but also X-Men THEMES. This book misses Magneto's fight with the Fantastic Four that happened at the very end of Jack Kirby's run on FF and it would have been great to have that in here even though the X-Men weren't involved. Likewise, the Avengers battled the Sentinels in a story just before the Avengers story in this book. Again, no X-Men but still!I can appreciate that this book stays on theme, though. These are the appearances of the X-Men cast between X-Men #66 and Giant-Sized X-Men #1. And also Wolverine. That is totally fine. However, the thought of getting a little Jack Kirby thrown in there is... well, it's a tempting thought.X-Men Epic Collection volume 4: It's Always Darkest Before the Dawn is a disjointed collection of stories guest starring the X-Men. It has some good stories and... some less good stories. That title is super appropriate, though. Because after this, the X-Men come back, big time.

Not gonna lie. Bronze age comics were made to a lower standard.I did appreciate Tom Sutton's almost campy approach to the Beast more than when I first collected them. There is one Beast story here which actually features Len Wein, Gerry Conway, and Steve Englehart as characters, and secretly crossed over with an issue of JLA. Then there is some very early Jim Starlin art for the Beast's last solo story.Gil Kane, who drew some of the Spider-Man/X-Men stories (and some great covers) was always a pro.Then you get Sal Buscema, Herb Trimpe, and Don Heck.I love that Marvel collected every X-Men appearance between 66 and 94, and made that collection a part of the X-Men epic. Five stars for the concept, which I was on board for at 13, and kind of done with by 18.Hey, if Magneto can get turned into a kid again (Defenders 16), so can I.

Absolutely love this compilation! Definitely set between the end of the end and all those reprints and the historic Giant Size X-men which launched the new team Storm , Wolverine , NightCrawler etc. An amazing cast of Marvel characters interact with the X-Men in some very imaginative ways and the stories themselves expand from previous threads across the pantheon ! My personal favorite being The Beast- The Defenders - Captain America - Fantastic Four portions !

Even the reprint covers are chronological. Dream come true, these Epic Collection books.

This collection is like being really hungry and opening Tupperware containers in the fridge. The common element to each meal is old X-Men. But most of them are solid stories.

Item arrived promptly and in excellent condition

This is a really odd collection. That’s because it’s not really about the X-Men, but rather various members appearing in other comics. The reason was X-Men #67-93 were all re-prints of earlier X-Men issues, and the covers are included. Instead you get Amazing Adventures, The Incredible Hulk, Marvel Team Up, Avengers, Captain America and Defenders comics.Amazing Adventures #11-17 cover Hank McCoy’s transformation into the blue, hairy version of himself seen on the cover. That happened when he took a serum he created that pushed his mutation into overdrive. First, he doesn’t know how to adapt, and gets manipulated by the Mastermind and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Eventually he regains his senses and goes off on his own. The problem is the art is horrible. Tom Sutton did #11-15 and the look of the Beast is just ridiculous.Other comics included are just random. In Hulk #150 for instance, has a really bad story that starts off with the green guy getting chased by the military as usual. He then comes across Alex Summers and Lorna Dane. Hulk #161 has the Beast running into the big guy. Marvel Team Up #4 on the other hand has the X-Men hunting down Spider-Man and Morbius is involved. Avengers #110-111 had the two teams joining up to face Magneto, which might be two of the best comics in the entire book. Captain America #172 features Banshee, then Professor Xavier, Cyclops and Marvel Girl show up to help Cap and the Falcon battle the Secret Empire. I’m not even sure why Defenders #15-16 are included because it has Dr. Strange and company fighting the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. I guess one mutant is as good as another. Despite that the two comics are actually very goodBasically most of the comics are really filler, with only a few really standing out.

X-Men Volume 4 is one of those editions that shows the advantages of the Epic Collection line, specifically its attempt at completeness. Far from their later position as global pop culture icons, back in the day the X-Men were cancelled after 66 issues due to poor sales - although the title would continue to be published, it was as a reprint title, just re-releasing the earlier stories. That, of course, changed in 1975 with the introduction of the new X-Men team and new adventures for Marvel's merry mutants.Volume 4, then, covers the time period from 1971 to 1975, between these two events, collecting in one handy book the guest appearances that the uncanniest teens of all made in Marvel's other titles until they got their second shot. Presented in chronological order we have issues of Amazing Spider-Man, Incredible Hulk, Marvel Team-Up, Avengers, Captain America, Defenders and Fantastic Four, all with guest spots from members of the X-Men. Now of course, if you're collecting all the other Epics as well, that means that everything I've just mentioned will be appearing in the other titles anyway, which may make this particular volume seem slightly redundant. However, if you're just an X-Men fan, it's great to have everything in one place without having to go hunting for the scattered stories in a dozen other comicbooks.More importantly, the book also includes Amazing Adventures 11-17, issues that almost certainly WILL be exclusive to the X-Men Epics, meaning there is value even for Epic completists. In these issues, the Beast takes centre stage, and makes his transformation into the blue-furred monstrous form that he will be most famous for. These are pretty essential for fans of the X-mythos.Collected in one place, the various comics DO form a sort of story through-line as well, largely due to the efforts of writer Steve Englehart, who continues plot threads from one title over to another, making sure that no subplots are dropped or left hanging. Fans will find a lot to like here, from the introductions of Wolverine and Multiple Man to battles with Magneto and the Secret Empire.Extras - a house ad and the Incredible Hulk and Wolverine reprint cover - would seem scant if not for the fact that the volume also happily includes the new covers produced for the reprint era - that's issues 67-93 plus the first two annuals, all reproduced in full-size and in release-date order, making this book pretty darned comprehensive. Essential for X-Men readers, and still recommended for everyone else; that's the mark of a great collected edition.

Esta colección de Epic, hecha por Marvel, aborda las historias de X-Men durante el tiempo que transcurre del número 66 de su propio título, cuando fue cancelado, y la revitalización con nuevos integrantes en 1975. Hay apariciones de Iceman en el título de Amazing Spider-Man y la transformación de Beast en el monstruo azul que conocemos. Además, en Marvel Team-Up, el equipo se reúne con Spider-Man y combaten a Morbius. Avengers contra X-Men y muchas más.

The Stories aren't Great....but they are important fillers before the CC era starts

Great book but people should know that #67-93 aren't in the book, only the covers are present, 67-93 were reprints from earlier issues

Maravilloso tomo. Si alguna vez vemos algo parecido en España, será dentro de mucho tiempo (oportunidad perdida con la edición Omnigold) y a un precio seguro que mayor. Pedazo de compra la de este tomo Epic.