X-Men solo books

The Mountjoy Crisis (4-issue mini; w John Ostrander; a Carlos Pacheco).

Dream's End (16; w Scott Lobdell, Joe Pruett; a Thomas Derenick). [See X-Men Cross-Overs page for full contents of this volume.]

District X

1 Mr. M (1-6; w David Hine; a David Yardin, Lan Medina). [From Marvel Comics: Welcome to Mutant Town, the dark corner of New York City where the long arm of the law has been severed clean. Here, the mutant population doesn’t sport GQ-style or champagne dreams. They eke out each day in squalid tenement rows and filthy streets where only one man and one law can be trusted: the X-Man Bishop.]

2 Underground (7-14, story from X-Men Unlimited 2; w David Hine; a David Yardin, Lan Medina, Adi Granov). [From Marvel Comics: Something lives under District X, something that loves the dark…and it’s leaving a trail of murders in its wake. In a world that’s rarely black-and-white, can the X-Man called Bishop and his partner Ismael make the right calls that save people’s lives? Or will they be helpless against this predator under the streets?]

God's Country (Marvel Comics Presents 10-17; w Ann Nocenti; a Rick Leonardi).

Bloodline (5-issue mini; w David Hine; a Jorge Lucas). [From Marvel Comics: Colossus has returned from the dead, only to find his relatives are being killed in his homeland! Peter must travel to Russia to face a shadowy villain whose origin lies in Peter’s past. Will this foe lead Colossus down the path of darkness, and will defeating him cost Peter his soul?!]

Cyclops: Retribution (Marvel Comics Presents 17-24; w Bob Harras; a Ron Lim). [Reprints only Cyclops stories from these issues.]

The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (4-issue mini; w Scott Lobdell; a Gene Ha). Scott and Jean travel to the future and raise Cable. [Lettering dropped out of word balloons and narration captions on pp.1, 4, 10, 16 and 21 of issue #3, and p.4 of issue #4.—JY]

The Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (4-issue mini; w Peter Milligan; a John Paul Leon). [From Marvel Comics: Witness the awakening of an ages-old evil… the birth of a twisted genius… the darkest hour in the millenia-spanning history of the X-Men! The year is 1859… and the modern world is consumed in an age of enlightenment. But as humanity marches toward an era of undreamed of science and technology, the dawn of a new race draws near; a divergent species possessed of powers and abilities that will lead mankind into a new epoch - or doom it for all time! On the outskirts of London, one lone, outcast geneticist forsees this evolutionary leap forward. While Nathaniel Essex's theories are mocked by his colleagues, they have also drawn the interest of a being who has existed since the dawn of civilization - the ancient despot known as Apocalypse! The time-tossed X-Men Cyclops and Phoenix are the only barriers standing between this unholy alliance and global cataclysm! Now, trapped more than a century in the past, they will fight in a last, desperate conflict against their greatest enemies... with the battlefield being one man's soul!] Old Book of the Week 6/29/05: [Cyclops and Phoenix time travel to participate in the origin of Mr. Sinister. OK, it sounds high-concept in the worst 90s way, but this is an early work by the often brilliant Peter Milligan and the godlike John Paul Leon (from back when he still seemed to be channeling Walt Simonson). And sure enough, the story is deeper and more intelligent than you would expect from its description. Or hell, just from the fact that it has Mr. Sinister! Milligan and Leon would both go on to do much better and more important work, but this one still pleases, and shows sparks of what they would later become.]

Askani'son (4-issue mini; w Scott Lobdell & Jeph Loeb; a Gene Ha). Does not directly involve Cyclops and Phoenix, but is a sequel to the first C&P mini.

X-Man: All-Saints Day (1-shot; w Ben Raab; a Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson). [Adventures of Nate Grey, the Age of Apocalypse Cable. From Marvel Comics: Nate Grey is a survivor. When the alternate reality he once called home was destroyed, he miraculously escaped certain doom to begin his life anew here on our Earth. Yet, despite his flight from the Reaper, Nate knows no escape is forever. For the very powers that granted him a second chance at life -- the genetic engineering that was his godlike birthright -- now threaten to consume him! Yes, this "X-Man" is a survivor -- but no one lives forever. Or so it seems... Enter: ABSYNTHIA -- the mysterious woman whose eyes have gazed upon two centuries! Could the secrets of her prolonged existence be Nate's ultimate salvation? Is she evidence that Death's icy touch can be denied? Or is she eternally cursed proof that the price of immortality -- the price of survival -- is one's own mortal soul...and a fate worse than death itself?!?]

Phoenix: Endsong (5-issue mini; w Greg Pak; a Greg Land). [From Marvel Comics: The mysterious and powerful Phoenix Force is life incarnate, and yet it consumes whole worlds in a moment. Its long history with the X-Men is fraught with tragedy…especially concerning one of the most beloved of their number, Jean Grey. What will happen when the Phoenix returns to Earth in search of the one mortal who could ever contain its power…only to find her dead?] Book of the Week 6/29/05: [It was hoped that Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men would pick up the mantle of Grant Morrison, but while (unlike most of Marvel) Whedon acknowledged and respected Morrison's run, he really seems more interested in recapturing and revitalizing the Claremont-Byrne X-Men of his youth. Suprisingly, the real Morrison sequel came from last year's next big thing, Greg Pak, whose Phoenix: Endsong picked up and built on some of Morrison's themes. In a sense, he mainstreams Morrison's somewhat out-there take on the nature of the Phoenix, with a nifty tale that incoporates many elements of the Morrison New X-Men with the deeper appreciatiation of characterization that is Pak's (and not Morrison's) forte. And the art by Greg Land is unexpectedly good; I'm usually not impressed when painterly cover artists go inside, but Land is a better storyteller than I realized—and of course his rendering is stunning. Perhaps Pak should be given one of the big X-books... ]

Phoenix: Warsong (5-issue mini; w Greg Pak; a Tyler Kirkham). [From Marvel Comics: The Phoenix is back! But where has it been reborn? Fire and pain await the X-Men. Can they handle what’s to come?!]

1 House of Cards (1-6; w John Layman; a Georges Jeanty). [From Marvel Comics: The Ragin’ Cajun is back with a vengeance in his very own ongoing series! Ever wonder what Gambit gets up to when he’s not out saving the world with the X-Men? Welcome to the exciting but treacherous terrain of the New Orleans underworld, where Gambit’s skills and mastery are unquestioned…but this time, his confidence might be his downfall! Join writer John Layman and artist Georges Jeanty for the breakneck adventures of the smoothest, most charming devil ever to wear the X!]

2 Hath No Fury (7-12; w John Layman; a Georges Jeanty, Roger Robinson). [From Marvel Comics: It's voodoo chaos in the Big Easy as the reanimated dead are crawling out of their graves and overrunning the streets. Gambit may be the only person who can save the city from an undead apocalypse, but he’s got bigger problems at the moment: two women, both heartbroken, both angry and both demanding his head on a platter. Plus: As a thief, Gambit has faced some risky jobs, but this may be his most dangerous yet: He'll have to infiltrate the heavily-fortified home of the world's most powerful mutants. That's right…Gambit’s got to swipe something right from under the noses of his teammates, the X-Men.]

Wolverine/Gambit: Victims (4-issue mini; w Jeph Loeb; a Tim Sale). [From Marvel Comics: The feral X-Man and the ragin' Cajun - as interpreted by the award-winning creators of Daredevil: Yellow and Batman: The Long Halloween! Warrior. Ronin. Solider. Logan knows little of his past, save that it was fraught with pain and loss. Long ago, he was trained as a samurai in Japan; later, he became Weapon X, a covert operative for the Canadian government. Today, Wolverine is an X-Man - using his animal-keen senses, accelerated healing factor and razor-sharp claws to help protect a world that fears and hates mutants! Always an outsider, Gambit was shunned as a youth because of his strange, burning-red eyes. Eventually, Remy LeBeau realized he was a mutant, possessed of the ability to charge inanimate objects with explosively released biokinetic energy. A reformed thief and charming scoundrel, the ragin' Cajun always has a card up his sleeve! Now, these two outlaw heroes have been drawn together by a string of brutal slayings that may mark the return of the 19th-century serial killer called Jack the Ripper! And lurking in the shadows, an even deadlier threat looms... one that will leave only victims in its wake!]

X-Treme X-Men 4: Mekanix (6-issue mini, X-Men Unlimited 36 [Kitty Pride story only]; w Chris Claremont; a Juan Bobillo & Marcelo Sosa, Salvadore Larroca). [Originally published as an independent mini-series featuring Kitty Pride of the X-Men at college, it is being collected as part of X-Treme X-Men. From Marvel Comics:Once called Shadowcat, the youngest member of the X-Men, Kitty Pryde is now grown and in college. After experiencing the tragic loss of friends and family as a costumed hero, Kitty has made a decision to leave her former superhero life and forge a new one, on her own terms. Unfortunately, the same bigotry and hatred that killed her loved ones continues to haunt her, threatening new and old friends alike. Kitty must now take what she learned as an X-Man and once again fight to save the lives of those around her.]

Shadow and Flame (5-issue mini; w Akira Yoshida; a Paul Smith). [From Marvel Comics: A deadly mystery draws Kitty Pryde and her fire-breathing friend Lockheed from Astonishing X-Men to the shores of Japan. Ninjas and dragons will be the least of their worries!]

Multiple Choice (1-5; w Peter David; a Pablo Raimondi). [From Marvel Comics: Jamie Madrox, stabbed, staggering off a bus. Jamie Madrox, setting up a detective agency in the heart of Mutant Town. Jamie Madrox, a peaceful Shaolin priest. Which is the real Jamie Madrox? In this noir-esque thriller of a limited series, it's possible that even Madrox doesn't know anymore. Peter David, acclaimed for his run on X-FACTOR, reunites several of that title's most popular and whimsical characters — Jamie Madrox, Wolfsbane, and the aptly named Strong Guy — and sends them on an adventure of light and darkness. Featuring the incredibly moody pencils of Pablo Raimondi.]

The Devil Inside (1-6; w Robert Aguirre-Sacasa; a Darick Robertson). [From Marvel Comics: The X-Man known as Nightcrawler is a man with a foot in two worlds - one the daylight world of super heroes and super-villains; the other a netherworld of demons and angels, ghosts and monsters…human and otherwise. With the looks of a devil and the soul of a kind, ordinary man, Nightcrawler is used to being pulled in both directions, but now he might be asked to go where the other X-Men won't - into the shadows that have always called to him! Does he have what it takes to get to the bottom of the strange deaths of thirteen children - and more important, is he strong enough to take on the sinister forces behind it once he does?]

The Winding Way (7-12; w Robert Aguirre-Sacasa; a Darick Robertson). [From Marvel Comics: BAMF! Nightcrawler’s back, but for how long?! As a badly injured Kurt lies on the brink of death, moments of his life flash before his eyes. Unfortunately, these memories are not how he remembered. Is his past a lie? Could the sins of his murderous brother be paid for by Nightcrawler? Or is Kurt actually responsible for atrocities even he finds unspeakable?!]

Rogue (4-issue mini; w Howard Mackie; a Mark Wieringo & Terry Austin).

Ongoing series (2004)

1 Going Rogue (1-6; w Rob Rodi; a Cliff Richards). [From Marvel Comics: During her time as part of the X-Men, the woman known as Rogue has been many things: fighter, friend, soldier, lover…and now, daughter. When an X-Men mission brings Rogue back to her childhood home in Mississippi, she comes face-to-face with the demons in her past…and a terrible secret that has haunted her family since her birth!]

2 Forget-Me-Not (7-12; w Tony Bedard; a Karl Moline, Derec Donovan). [From Marvel Comics: A bold new direction for the Southern Belle! Rogue may be a hero now, but once upon a time she wasn't so sweet...and that criminal past may just come back to haunt her! A traumatic encounter will leave her drastically changed...permanently!]

Ororo: Before the Storm (Digest; 4-issue mini; w Mark Sumerak; a Carlos Barberi). [From Marvel Comics: Celebrating 30 years of Storm. The back alleys of Cairo's thieves quarters are no place for a child to grow up -- unless that child is destined to be one of the greatest Marvel heroines of all time. Long before she became known as Storm, a young orphan named Ororo Munroe stalked the streets of Cairo picking pockets and scraping to survive. Get ready for some awesome Egyptian action and adventures as Ororo leads her fellow street urchins on the adventures of a lifetime.]

Storm (6-issue mini; w Eric Jerome Dickey; a David Yardin & Lan Medina). [From Marvel Comics: The epic, untold love story between Marvel’s two pre-eminent black super heroes – Storm and the Black Panther – is finally told, as only New York Times best-selling author Eric Jerome Dickey can do it! An orphaned street urchin, living by her wits on the unforgiving plains of Africa as she struggles to harness her slowly developing mutant powers. A warrior Prince, embarking on his rite of passage as he ponders the great responsibility in his future. And a crew of ruthless mercenaries who’ll stop at nothing to capture an elusive creature of legend: the fabled wind-rider. What sparks occur when their paths intersect? Don’t miss out on this prelude to the wedding of Storm and the Black Panther!]