X-Men: The Classic Collection, the story of the mutants in a box

X-Men

When you have decades of publications behind you, it becomes complex to offer your readers, especially those with a few years less, the possibility of recovering stories from the past in which some of the fixed points of the myth of the protagonists have settled. Recoveries in the flea markets, hunting for used cars online and the hope of running into luck become the obsession of voracious readers, a passion that is rewarded by operations such as X-Men: The Classic Collection, a recent edition signed by Panini of two central moments in the myth of the X-Men: God loves, man kills and Second Genes I.

For X-fans these two stories are an integral part of the myth of the mutants of House Marvel. For a cartoon saga launched in the early 1960s, it is almost impossible because it does not boast dozens of stories that should be read to have a full view of the essential traits of the mutants. The Black Phoenix Saga, the Age of Apocalypse or dramatic moments like the destruction of Genosha are integral to the heart of being mutants, yet Panini rightly focuses on God loves, man kills and Second Genesis as pillars of a collector's edition.

X-Men: The Classic Collection, the story of the mutant world

It is this awareness that led to the birth of X-Men: The Classic Collection. Finding two pillars within the multi-year history of mutants like the two stories included in this beautiful box set was not easy, yet, in hindsight, these two chapters of the X-Me n saga were almost an obligatory choice. But limiting itself to a simple re-edition, as happened in the past, would have been a simple and unappetizing operation for a demanding public, which is always looking for background, anecdotes and secrets never revealed before. Reason why X-Men: The Classic Collection is not limited to being a simple reprint, but is presented as a journey to discover these two milestones of mutant history, thanks to a concept that combines nostalgia with disclosure, enriching these two volumes of a series of compelling and unmissable extras.

If we think of Second Genesis, we are turning our attention to the second chance for the X-Men to become a true cult phenomenon in the world of comics. After years of absence from American newsstands, the Sons of the Atom had this new chance, born from a commercial need but which gave new life to the myth of mutants. Contained in Giant Size X-Men # 1, this story with the prophetic title bears the signature of Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, who managed, with their plot, to give new vigor to the mutants before they were entrusted to the author who more than any another brought the mutants to be the fulcrum of the Marvel universe: Chris Claremont.

It is no coincidence that within the extra contents of the celebratory volume of Second Genesis, there is also the good X-Chris, which pays a heartfelt tribute to the role of this story in the life of mutants. It is a gesture of affection towards two authors who have given a second winning chance to the X-Men, deserving this tribute volume that recognizes their importance for the mutant world, as evidenced by the rereading of Second Genesis, presented in its original form inside of the first of the two volumes of X-Men: The Classic Collection and flanked by a new modern version, where the Cockrum tables are respectfully reinterpreted by a large artistic team of designers.

This celebratory intent is combined with a cultural enhancement of the Second Genesis. The work of Wein and Cockrum has not only influenced the narrative evolution of the mutants, but with its strong visual impact has entered the imagination of future artists who would have ventured into the myth of mutants, as demonstrated by the splendid gallery of covers that , in the following decades, they reproduced the graphic intuition of Cockrum that gave life to the cover of Giant Size X-Men # 1.

No less important is God loves, man kills, story present in the second volume of X-Men: The Classic Collection and from which X-Men 2 was based. Signed by Claremont and Brent Eric Anderson, this graphic novel was born after the success of The Death of Captain Marvel, which in Marvel was taken as a starting point to start a creative path that allowed the authors to tell stories with more mature tones, which they did not find space within the titular series.

On the other hand, as Claremont himself recalls within the extra contents of the volume of X-Men: The Classic Collection, the validity of the plot of this story apparently gloomy and son of an America permeated by social tensions that have never subsided, he has his own unique personality, still valid and current today:

"The irony of God loves, man kills is that, although he is a history deeply rooted in his time and in his environment, his feelings - and the inspiration that gave rise to it - retain their relevance almost forty years later "

This vision of Claremont is confirmed by reading by X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills - Extended Cut, the re-edition of this graphic novel released last year in America and which is published as part of the volume of X-Men: The Classic Collection. In fact, the original narrative system includes an opening and an epilogue that link the story of forty years ago to modern times, making the tragic adventure a memory of Kitty Pryde. This little trick only confirms Claremont's assumption, the heart of God loves, man killed and has not lost its importance and his narrative vision is sadly confirmed as current.

To embellish this wonderful re-edition of God loves man, kills are, as in the first volume of X-Men: The Classic Collection, the rich extr a. In addition to a nice interview with the two authors, lovers of the mutant world have the opportunity to see the sketches made by Neal Adams, the designer initially contacted to make the graphic novel, but who gave up the job due to contractual differences.

X-Men: The Classic Collection is an unmissable publication, dedicated expressly to fans of the mutant world. Longtime readers can deepen their knowledge of these two historic X-Men moments with a range of extra valuable content, while those who have recently approached the mutant world can enrich their collection with two milestones. of the epic of the Sons of the Atom.

Cultura Pop Award

The editorial team has decided to assign the "Cultura Pop Award" to X-Men: The Classic Collection.

X-Men: The Classic Collection is not a simple re-release of two fundamental stories from the mutant Marvel world, but it is a real act of love for the X-Men. The care with which this box was made has meant that all readers, loyal or neophytes of the Sons of the Atom, can enjoy God loves, man kills and Second Genesis to the fullest, adding a rich sector to the original version of these stories. of extras, which deepen their creation and the value that they still preserve today, as works of art and as food for thought on our current events.

Panini has been able to present these two cornerstones of comic book fiction in the best possible way, creating a box set that in every respect pays due honor to two great stories that made the world of the X-Men great.