The Essential X-Men vol 1

I've heard complaints of the fact this is the cheap version of the comics since its on common paper and not colored but I didn't really see it as a serious problem to enjoying the comics. What did bother me is that the essential line runs directly up into the giant sized x-men books that introduce the new team of X-Men that is seventy some odd issues forward in time (granted 30+ of which is reprints).

The only way to get the issues inbetween said reprints and the end of the vol 1 EUX is to pick up the mostly out-of-print Marvel Masterworks series. Did I meantion they only have about ten issues per volume and cost from 20-50 dollars apiece? Vol 5 is out of print/being released in mid-july and can only be found on ebay/preorders. Volume 3 of masterworks begins to pick up where EUX picks off. However, volume 5 stops at #53, leaving out three issues before the start of the Uncanny X-Men (issues 94 +). Which are coincedentally printed in the essential line for at least 3 volumes. Weird publication scheduling, Marvel.

All the formalities aside- I'm glad I started from the beginning, I easily got over the cheese factor that someone of my generation can fall in love with something from the mid-sixties (some of the expressions are nothing less than quaint). Seeing the genesis of the X-Men gives much appreciation for the work that Lee and Kirby put into these ideas. Each comic has a new plot and story arc, and doesn't fall on the villian of the issue syndrome that many comic readers are familiar with.

Highly recommened for all ages! Buy or borrow ASAP!