Help me, Obi-Wan!
Yes, I'm asking our excellent readers for help again.
In Previews for April, two X-Men books are solicited. I'm waffling. I beg for your expertise.
First is the hardcover of Astonishing X-Men by Whedon and Cassaday. 30 bucks for 12 issues of gorgeous art. I know the art is purty. I basically know what happens. Is it worth it, good readers of this fine graphically rendered periodical?
On the very next page, we have the monster Uncanny X-Men Omnibus. It collects Uncanny X-Men #94-131, Uncanny X-Men Annual #3, and Giant-Size X-Men #1. Newly colored, original letter pages, other groovy "extras." I own every issue except #120-122. But I don't own issues #94-119 in single form, so I don't have the letters (not that I care that much, but it would be kind of cool). 100 dollars. I'm leaning toward getting it, just because I often don't feel like tracking down those few issues I have and the single issues I do own (#123-131) are, of course, printed on that crappy paper from back in the day. What say you, fine readers of classic comics everywhere?
Thank you for your assistance.
In Previews for April, two X-Men books are solicited. I'm waffling. I beg for your expertise.
First is the hardcover of Astonishing X-Men by Whedon and Cassaday. 30 bucks for 12 issues of gorgeous art. I know the art is purty. I basically know what happens. Is it worth it, good readers of this fine graphically rendered periodical?
On the very next page, we have the monster Uncanny X-Men Omnibus. It collects Uncanny X-Men #94-131, Uncanny X-Men Annual #3, and Giant-Size X-Men #1. Newly colored, original letter pages, other groovy "extras." I own every issue except #120-122. But I don't own issues #94-119 in single form, so I don't have the letters (not that I care that much, but it would be kind of cool). 100 dollars. I'm leaning toward getting it, just because I often don't feel like tracking down those few issues I have and the single issues I do own (#123-131) are, of course, printed on that crappy paper from back in the day. What say you, fine readers of classic comics everywhere?
Thank you for your assistance.
posted by Greg at 2/20/2006 07:41:00 PM
24 Comments:
Yikes.
Tough question.
I say, if you can afford it, go with the Omnibus.
If you buy the Omnibus, eventually, the binding WILL LET YOU DOWN.
It might happen with, well, anything you buy in hardback, of course. But a book that big,with that many pages?
Asking for trouble.
Go with the Aston-o-men. I'm shopping around for the best price, but I'm sure it'll be worth the long, long wait.
//\Oo/\\
Isn't the Astonishing stuff recent enough that you can see all the pretty art online?
If you can afford it, I say go for the Omnibus.
You won't want my advice, but I'll give it anyway.
Pass.
All right, all right, get the omnibus. It's not as well drawn, but the stories are more fun, back when Claremont could be fun.
go for the classics.
eventually you can get the new stuff in someones sale bin.
Whedon-mania is not immortal to the ravages of market economics
I'd go with the Omnibus. Really I'd pick the 40 years of X-men Online but that's not achoise so...
Oh, if "pass on both" was an option, I'd take that one, too!
I didn't know "pass on both" was an option!!!
The solicit for the Omnibus lists a page count that is woefully short for the number of issues it's suspposed to contain. It's one of those things where I am interested but would need to see the actual object to find the truth.
Astonishing, well, I like Joss Whedon, but I couldn't work up enough interest to pay for the stuff. So I read it in the store. (note: I work in a comic store, twice a week.)
The solicit for the Omnibus is wrong, so an acquaintance in the comic shop biz tells me. It has all the pages it should, based on the issues collected.
I'll echo Trebbers here and say that while the AXM book will look nice, that second story arc is a stinker and a half, and you're going to hate to have spent money on it.
So I'd go for the Omnibus out of the two coices you propose. Otherwise, I'd buy neither and perhaps get Absolute Authority, Absolute Planetary, or Absolute Watchmen.
"Oh, if "pass on both" was an option, I'd take that one, too!
I didn't know "pass on both" was an option!!!"
I'll third this sentiment.
I'd go with the Omnibus as well. Why read the rehash when you can go straight to the source?
Agree on "pass on both" and if you really must, get the Omnibus. If you really need a Whedon fix, get a trade of the first six issues.
ASTONISHING is beautiful but the second arc is really quite bad. The Omnibus represents better value for money, in my book.
On matters of the X, I'll trust Paul O'Brien any day. In this case, I also think the Omnibus is the better deal. Paul's right about the second arc of Astonishing -- if you really need to satisfy your Whedon itch, get the trade with the first arc, and leave it at that.
I happen to have the "40 Years of X-Men" DVD, and I just read through the issues that are covered in the Omnibus -- it's amazing how well the stories hold up, even after all this time.
Damn it, you made me think Marvel was only solicitating two X-books in April.
Astonishing and Uncanny indeed.
I feel mislead.
I'm getting the Omnibus. The comics hold up better and you can probably find it online for much cheaper than $100, so while it ain't cheap, it won't necessarily murder your bank account.
I think the second Whedon story is underappreciated, it's not as wham-bam as the first, and it's too long, but it does have the danger-vs-Professor fight, which has the great Whedon trick of expecting one type of fight (Professor X wins the day using the power of his mind) and producing another (Professor X jerry-rigs a truck and drives Danger over with it)
I'd say a good 2/3 of the Astonishing book is damn good comics, and the art is nice throughout.
Would by the Omnibus if a volume 2 were guaranteed, but otherwise I will just stick with the masterworks.
You gotta go Omnibus. Nothing like having a nice on hand resource for books one can't just casually flip through in a nice (though heavy) format. Two trades on Astonishing X-Men should do you fine.
Maybe nothing, but if you must choose one of them: the Omnibus.
Astonishing 1-12 is a nice story, (but I'm aware that not all readers are happy with it) but the Old X-Men are the basic history (how many plots in the X-Men books after Uncanny 200 do you recognize as similar to the period Uncanny X-Men #94-131?)
I actually think Claremont only started to really get into his groove on X-Men right around the end of the issues the Omnibus is collecting - around the 120s and 130s. And Craig's got what sounds suspiciously like a good point about the binding.
But the second arc of Astonishing was not that good.
I personally think that collections of more than about 8 comics are too heavy. So...now you know how incredibly tough I am. Fear me!
Pass on both.
"I actually think Claremont only started to really get into his groove on X-Men right around the end of the issues the Omnibus is collecting - around the 120s and 130s."
That was the same problem the FF Ombnibus had. The best stuff was directly after the issues in the first omnibus. Which is Essential FF vol. 3. I debated buying it, but I couldn't justify even $60 for stuff that was so widely reprinted. I'm okay with the Essentials, despite the fact that they're literally the bare bones.
Yes, it was quite unexpected to see Prof X use a truck as a weapon, considering he doesn't have the use of his legs...
My vote goes the Omnibus as well.
That is all.
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