X-men and me

The above is the cover to the first issue of Uncanny X-men I ever read. Was on a trip to some relatives. Had just learned how to read recently. Dad grabbed me a copy of comics from Stuckies. And for the  next 20+ years I didn't miss an issue. Sadly my original copy of the issue disappeared in  a fire years ago. But earlier this year I got a decent shape copy for a buck.

Well it was around issue 150 that I finally realized it was better to subscribe to the comic instead of hoping the local drug store would get in the next issue. And from then till issue 300 I kept subscribing. Of course the brown paper mailers the comics came in meant they were usually racked up pretty good by the time I got a copy. But not having to get a ride to town every week was worth the damage.

Found the trade of the Phoenix saga and enjoyed it. But still wanted to read more earlier X-men stories. Someone I knew got the Masterworks,but really at that time the 60s X-men stuff was beyond corny to me. But I am not a big fan of much 60s Marvel stuff. So when Classic X-men started in 86 I quickly subscribed to it.

I had discovered 4 comic shops by this time. But it was mid 80s and X-men back issues were way the hell outta my price range. So thanks to Classic X-men I ended up reading up to where I had first started.

As the X-men line of comics expanded I for quite a few years got everything. And titles like New Mutants,X-factor and Wolverine had good runs. But most of the time the spinoffs were kind of bland. Excalibur was the one stand out.

Well fall of 92 the Fox kids X-men cartoon premiered. And looking back on it now the animation is an eyesore. But the stories and voice acting are good. This is also when the X-men toy line exploded. I at one time had most of the first 5 or 6 waves of figures. But sold off all that stuff years ago.

I was still reading the comic,even though I hadn't enjoyed it that much for about 3 years. My current subscription was  ending at issue 300. Figured that would make a great jumping off point.

Now I am not the biggest JRjr fan,but that cover is just but ugly. The holofoil doesn't help. Plus the almost $4 cover price. I think I still have this issue buried somewhere's in a longbox.

After 2 seasons of the cartoon I stopped watching. Had stopped reading the comic. And the toys,hadn't bought any in years. Even with the movies coming out,something I had waited 15 years on,I wasn't excited enough about the X-men franchise to buy anything outside a dvd of the film and cartoons.

Then in 2008 I am looking on Ebay for cheap comic trades. Was working a job with lots of down time. So would read various stuff to pass the time. Found the first Essential X-men volume for cheap. Ordered it and re-discovered why I had loved the X-men for so many years. Actually loved the art more in b/w than color. But so far have read 6 of the Essential volumes and will be getting more soon.

Now there has been 2 more X-men cartoons. The late 90s one,that I saw maybe 4 episodes of. And then the Wolverine and the X-men show that lasted one season. It was actually pretty good. But got fucked over.

So since I was a kid reading the X-men they have exploded. 3 cartoons,well 4 if you count the Wolverine anime like show,4 films and bunch of merchandise. Too bad so much of the merchandise focuses on Wolverine. He is interesting sure,but I want more Nightcrawler,Racheal Summers and Colossus merch.