The currently “adjectiveless” X-Men series is among the newest of the X-titles and has had what many consider a dubious publication history in it’s short lifetime. The book has focused on the team facing vampires and teaming with both Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four under the pen of writer Victor Gischler, with a brief interlude for Chris Yost’s X-Men: First to Last. Most of these stories seem a bit outside the narrative of the other monthlies and the series even launched seemingly out of nowhere, particularly when compared to the recent launches of the new Uncanny and Wolverine and the X-Men. After weathering a haphazard first year, I like the way this title has started utilizing a smaller cast and tightened its focus entering the X-Men: Regenesis era.

Spoilers for X-Men #20 will follow.

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There are a lot of good things happening with this book both inside and out. All of the X-titles have new logos on their covers as part of X-Men: Regenesis courtesy of designer Jared Fletcher. This was the first time I’d really looked at his New Mutants logo and I like it a lot, particularly the alignment of the “W” and “M” and the incorporation of an “X.” I also appreciated the “moving” theme of Jason Pearson’s cover image coming out of X-Men: Schism and its slight misdirection.

Spoilers for New Mutants #33 will follow.

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Kieron Gillen and Carlos Pacheco’s introduction to the new volume of Uncanny X-Men is a solid first issue that gives a good idea of what to expect from the series: universe class threats, incredible displays of power and the X-Men striving to become Earth’s mightiest heroes. This comes along with their interpersonal struggles as Cyclops has assembled a team of former (and perhaps future) super-villains each powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with teams of heroes on their own if they chose. Much like last week’s Wolverine and the X-Men #1, there is some silliness, but here it is coupled with a lot more action and the reemergence of an old threat with some new tricks.

Spoilers for Uncanny X-Men Volume 2 #1 will follow.

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Let me start by saying I’m not a fan of the cancellation and renumbering of long standing series, but I understand it from a business standpoint. I’ve had the luxury of seeing the title I’m most invested in maintain a continuous run since I began collecting, but that ended two weeks ago. Marvel Comics published the final issue of Uncanny X-Men to make way for a new post-Schism relaunch to go along with Wolverine and the X-Men as part of this Fall’s X-Men: Regenesis. Putting the renumbering and relaunch aside, the series’ conclusion was remarkably sentimental and left me with a genuine sense of loss.

Spoilers for Uncanny X-Men #544 will follow.

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I am an unabashed fan and reader of Marvel Comics’ X-Men, but I am also a collector. As a consequence, I’ll go out of my way to track down variant covers of issues from most titles in the X-franchise. A quick disclaimer before we go on, I know the interior pages are identical, I know the book will not command the price I’ll pay for it going forward, and I know I can get a high resolution digital version of the cover image on my computer that will be far more accessible long term. I seek this stuff out because I want it in my collection. It’s OK if you want to consider it a disorder, disease or other malady; synonyms are really just variant covers for words.

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