X-MEN GOLD VOL. 2: EVIL EMPIRES

Collecting:---X-Men Gold #7-12This book continues from the inaugural  X-Men Gold Vol. 1: Back to the Basics . The Central Park based team of X-Men treads some familiar ground in this book as writer Marc Guggenheim gives readers the "classic team with a twist" theme that Marvel aimed for when the X-teams got rebooted.Classic romantic pair Kitty and Colossus furtively explore the possibilities of a romance or something more while explicitly suggesting that this time around the relationship has to be something "different". Another pair of teammates, former Excalibur members, also explore the possibility of a romantic spark. These apprehensive steps towards relationships are set against the familiar back drop of a world that hates and fears mutants. There is pending "mutant deportation" legislation that Kitty travels to Washington to argue against...however things never go according to plan! Meanwhile back at the X-Mansion the students and staff have a killer with a grudge stalking the hallways.The strength of the book is the cast. I really enjoy these characters who have a rich backstory, and I felt that Guggenheim walked the the line between carrying that backstory and keeping it fresh rather well. The artwork in these issues wasn't especially noteworthy.This book ends on a cliffhanger as the Gold team is scheduled for a crossover with the Blue team in  X-Men Gold Vol. 3: Mojo Worldwide

I'm still catching up on the x-men after years of not reading comic books. Lot of the new team members are new to me. So far i'm enjoying playing catch up.

Marc Guggenhiem has the dubious distinction of capturing the spirit of Chris Claremont-lite. The characterization is better here than the first volume, but the plots just don't feel new or original. Part of the problem is the weight of all the cannon Guggenhiem appears to be respecting, which other X-titles have largely cleared out in from a new focus or a plot constraint (time displaced original X-men) which removes some of the four decades of plot baggage. This saddens me because of this mixture of my favorite characters from Claremont and Alan Davis era Excalibur and early 90s X-men should really speak to me, but the appeal does seem to be mostly nostalgia. Guggenhiem almost seems aware of the repetition: . Kitty how her with Peter again is old ground and not progressing, and this mirrored by the mutant decoration bill, Russian occultists resurrecting Omega Red, and Nightcrawler and Rachel Summers rekindling a possible old connection. All of these plots could be so much more than they are if they were allowed to have some space and develop into new and original ways. I feel like Guggenhiem is aware of this though and is almost commenting on the editorial control's limitations. This has a similar feel to the problems of the X-books around the time of Jim Lee took the mantel as Chris Claremont left out. This saddens me because the attempts to bring life back into X-men titles since it looked like Marvel was trying to have Inhumans replace them. It seems to take a name larger than even Jeff Lemire to breathe life into these books, and Marvel seems to cancel the ones with promise. There are some hints with the Demon plot line that could be VERY interesting if and only if it doesn't end up being an Inferno re-thread. While I didn't love all the Joss Whedon and Grant Morrison level arcs, but they did seem to attempt to do what late Claremont did, which is push the status quo ahead and breathe new life into the books. Guggenheim seems like he is not allowed to do that here.

I thought it kept building and I loved how personal it got with the character growth. Not everything needs to be about action

The second volume of X-men Gold loses some of it's luster from the first volume. The art is still what makes the book but the stories are short and adds nothing to the overall scheme of things. The first two chapters introduces a new X-Cutioner, a concept character from the nineties. A fill in chapter has Kate testifying before Congress followed by two chapters resurrecting the nineties villain Omega Red. The final chapter is another filler looking at the background of an alien mutant that was a minor character from the first volume.This review is for the kindle edition and truthfully it's hard to recommend even the five dollars for it, but better than purchasing the paperback for more. For X-Men fans only, otherwise skip it.

I liked the book all right it had a good plot line that it followed. I just want to see more of the characters. It’s super Kitty Pryde heavy which is fine she’s one of my fav characters but it felt like this book was all her and Colossus with a bit of Rachel & Night crawler thrown in and a brief appearance of Old Man Logan and Storm. Also no current Marvel events are mentioned like in X-men blue where we see the time displaced younger Xmen trying to take on the White Queen who Hydra gave San Francisco since they’ve completely taken over how does that not effect the Gold team?

interesting read. like how they're dealing with inner relationships

He read it and enjoyed it

Bought as a Xmas gift and the boyfriend loved it.

Great series so far

Actually it came faster then expect. The Comic book is still good! hope that Kitty Pride wot destroy everything But the team makes a good X-men team!