One of the most important stories any X-Men fan can read
Note on this collection:
‘Modern Era Epic Collections’ are Marvel’s way of collecting every issue of their comics from the 2000’s onwards in trade paperback. Unlike curated collections that might exclude specific issues for the sake of focusing on a specific story arc or character, Modern Era Epic Collections aim to collect every single issue of a series.
The X-Men have endured many changes over the years. Jonathan Hickman’s 2019 House of X/Powers of X is one of the most recent successful and drastic refreshes in the mutants’ status quo, but before that, one of the most well-regarded was Grant Morrison’s New X-Men run that began in 2001.
Superhero comics in general—and X-Men comics especially—are tough to get into. Between the multiple similar-sounding series that release at the same time, the numerous relaunches, and the decades upon decades of history, things get convoluted really easily, which can make discussing older runs challenging. New X-Men is no exception, but I’m here to provide some context for this collection without giving away spoilers.
E Is For Explanations
This collection, E Is For Extinction collects issues #114 to #126, and the 2001 Annual issue (Annuals are just another chapter in the story; don’t worry about it). Yes, this collection is given ‘Volume 1’ status but starts at issue #114. Confusing, I know.
Issues #1 to #113 were released under the title ‘X-Men’, which began as a spin-off title from the primary ‘X’ book, ‘Uncanny X-Men’, but eventually became the flagship title. When Grant Morrison came on board the series, the title was changed to ‘New X-Men’ in an attempt to revamp the series. Characters were given new looks to match the look of the mutants in the X-Men (2000) movie, and the tone and story were taken in brand-new directions.
This is ostensibly a jumping-on point for anybody looking to get into X-Men comics. The events of the prior one-hundred-and-thirteen issues are only referenced offhand a couple of times in the early issues of this collection—they are by no means required reading. If you’re familiar with the general premise of the X-Men, you can jump on in with E Is For Extinction.
“That Aint Chuck”
The release of this collection is timely, as the plot strongly revolves around Cassandra Nova, who appeared in the recent Deadpool & Wolverine, played by Emma Corrin. This is Cassandra’s first appearance in the comics, making it quite accessible. Her motivations and the specifics of her character differ from that of her on-screen counterpart, but she’s still unhinged, and a lot of fun to read.
The magnitude of her plots and the scope of her ambition are treated with the right amount of gravitas. The X-Men are very much on the backfoot against her, which is great to read. Ultimately though, it’s the core cast of the X-Men themselves that make the book worth reading. Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Professor X, Emma Frost, and Wolverine are given the most page-time, but Morisson also introduces several younger mutants.
After all, Xavier’s is a school for mutants. These characters aren’t the well-known kind from the movies, but they’re characterised well and play important roles in the development of the plot. The mix of new and established mutants keeps the dynamics fresh; the interactions between Wolverine and Angel are particularly fun. Morisson also pays special attention to X-Men regular Beast, as he struggles with his new feline form.
Lore Problems
If I was to criticise one element of the collection, it’s that the artwork can be a bit hit or miss. Frank Quitely simply has a funny way of drawing faces sometimes, which, combined with some costume redesigns, can make things look a little ugly. The pacing and flow of the art works well, but the specifics can leave a little to be desired.
There are also a few plot elements in the fourteen-issue collection that might leave some newer fans a little confused. If you’ve read a lot of Marvel comics or watched X-Men: The Animated Series or even the recent and excellent X-Men ’97, you’ll have an easier time, but if your only familiarity with the X-Men is the movies, you might be a little confused by a few institutions that crop up in the story.
If the words ‘Genosha’ or ‘The Shi’ar Empire’ mean nothing to you, feel free to look them to familiarise yourself with them beforehand, but beware spoilers. I always recommend just diving in and learning as you read—it’s more fun, even if you don’t have the context to fully appreciate every aspect of the story.
Conclusion
There’s lots to enjoy in E Is For Extinction, and if you’re a big X-Men fan, this is borderline required reading for its major plot developments. Grant Morrison takes the mutant plight extremely seriously. They’ve always fought against hate and prejudice, but can they fight extinction? The story is rich with subtext. The pages are vibrant and colourful, and the characters feel distinct.
The reason I prefer collections like this over single issues is that it’s easier to get a feel for the creators’ vision for the series. It also gives the reader the chance to experience the full breadth of a story arc in one go, and I’m happy to say that E Is For Extinction tells a completely satisfying tale by itself. Volume 2 won’t be collected for a while, but even if it never came out for some reason, I’d be happy keeping this collection on my shelf.
***
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