Comics Review: THE FIRST X-MEN by Adams and Gage

THE FIRST X-MEN by Neal Adams & Christos Gage,writers and Neal Adams, artist (Marvel, September 2013) Trade paperback. 112 pages. ISBN # 0785164960 / 9780785164968  

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

X-Men legend Neal Adams returns to Marvel's mutants to reveal the secret history of the X-Men...BEFORE Xavier's team! 

What terrifying threat led the solitary secret agent nicknamed Wolverine to form a mutant strike force decades in the past? As the government solidifies its plans for the new subspecies known as mutants, Wolverine and his ally Sabretooth recruit a certain Master of Magnetism and Prince of Atlantis to their cause.COLLECTING: First X-Men 1-5.

My Three-Star Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

     I’m not sure if writers Adams and Gage really intended to re-write the beginnings of the X-Men by placing the first group earlier in X-Men chronology than Professor X's assembling of mutant teenagers. 

     Whether this is a "What If?" mini-series or not, it shouldn't matter. The X-Men continuity and canon has been violated so many times over the years that readers should just go along with the ride and enjoy it. I did, as the three star rating reflects my opinion that this is good story-telling and an engaging adventure but not enough to propel it to a four-star (exceeds expectations) or five-star (a classic of the genre) rating. 

     In this tale, individual with special abilities were already being labeled as "mutants" and discriminated against and abused in the even earlier '60's before the establishment of Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters. The pre-Wolverine and immortal Logan with the bone claws and healing factor

decides to do something about it, and recruits Victor Creed (Sabertooth) to help find people like themselves and rescue those who might be experimented on like lab rats. 

     Some recruits join them, others do not. Turning them down were a young Professor Xavier, Magneto and Namor. So, the germ of an idea for a special school may have come to Xavier during this encounter with Logan. The hatred that Creed has for Logan gets a possible explanation here for the first time (I think). The beginnings of The Sentinels ( a false start) is also detailed, along with a new and intriguing mutant villain (Virus). 

     Neal Adams' art doesn't wow me the way it used to, but it still remains great. I know his scripting skills are suspect so the addition of Christos Gage as co-writer is very welcome. A fun read, but not essential if you're not an X-Men collector. (I used to be).