Since I've literally begun reading Uncanny Xmen from the very beginning(my plan is to read the most important/best issues from now all the way up to the Marvel NOW release of Uncanny) I decided to write up some impressions of what I've read so far.
Claremont era Uncanny Xmen impressions:
Giant Size Xmen #1 + Unncanny #94 - #99 - Most definitely the weakest in the series. Although it's cool seeing how the second generation of Xmen came to be, many of the issues inbetween aren't that great as it's just the xmen facing random non-memorable foe after random non-memorable foe. Issue 98 is the exception with the banter between Xmen and fighting the sentinels for the first time as a team being a highlight. 6/10
#100 - 114(AKA phoenix saga) - This is where uncanny begins to pick up steam and Claremont shows his skills as a writer. The team becomes more fleshed out(wolverine actually begins to have a personality) and enemies start to become more interesting. Of course the introduction of Phoenix is great and seeing her tear shit up, but at the same time be scared of her powers was a great read. 7.5/10
#115 - 121 - Once again uncanny falls a bit. These issues aren't too special, with xavier thinking the Xmen are dead when they have really gone to the savage land. I was really into the Savage Land as a kid, simply because of the 90's Xmen cartoon, but these issues showed how dull the Savage Land really is. Garrok isn't that good of a villain and isn't fleshed out that well. Outside of that you got some more Sunfire stuff, that isn't that interesting to read and you end up with an average at best collection of issues. 6.5/10
122 - 128 - (skipped)
#129 - 138(AKA Dark Phoenix Saga) - Here Is where Uncanny really shows its fangs and doesn't let up. Dark Phoenix saga is great with great dialogue between characters and further fleshing out of the new Xmen. The solo Wolverine issue is awesome and of course the unleashing of Dark Phoenix is great as well. The end sorta brings up amoral dilemma with the reader as you think whether to condemn Jean for her actions she caused or dismiss them.(as much as I love Phoenix, Jean had to pay for that shit) Absolutely not to be missed. 10/10
#139 - 143(Days of Future Past) - err, well, really only issues 141 - 142 are part of Days of Future Past, but since the TPB's contian these issues this is what im gonna roll with.(and it means less writing for me) As good as DPS is, DFP is better to me. Straightforward, dark and gritty. Both issues dont let up and paint a pretty damning picture of what could have happened to mutant last year.(2013 is when it takes place heheh) 142 especially is a highlight with the last few xmen trying for one last time to bring the fight to their oppressors....only to fail. Great, great stuff. 10/10
144 - 153(skipped)
#154 - 167(Brood Saga) - Another great collection of issues featuring intergalactic earwigs trying to take over the universe. These things can speak English for whatever reason, but who the fuck cares? xmen get infected, people go crazy, and everyone fights in the inside of giant space whales. What's not to like? Claremont brings his A game here again, with great dialogue and another great solo wolverine issue. Only low to this would be the annoying moral battle Cyclops, Storm, and the rest of the Xmen(sans Wolverine, because hes the only motherfucker that actually has common sense) have toward killing giant space bigs that want nothing more than to kill everyone and implant your ass with an egg so it can hatch inside you Alien style. (well not really, but imma just say that anyway). 9/10
#168 - 173(including Wolverine #1 - 4) - Xmen go to Japan, Rogue joins the team, and Wolverine does some badass samurai shit in his solo limited series. These issues are tight once again, with plenty of action, dialogue and solo character fleshing out done masterfully by Claremont. Nothing really more to say here other than Ninjas, ninjas, ninjas. Oh, and, of course Wolverine can never get the girl. 10/10
#174 - 176(Return of Phoenix) - Alright. Reading this for the first time I was downright disappointed because of what is constantly teased. Just when you think it's gonna be delivered, you find out it was never there at all. It may be decent, do not be fooled, this aint Phoenix coming back from the dead. 6.5/10
177 - 185 (skipped)
187 - 197(skipped)
#186, 198(Lifedeath I + II) - some of my favourite issues so far, Lifedeath I and II features no fighting and all dialogue. This is a solo storm story about her lost powers, coping, and the man that helped take them away. There actually isnt much justice I can give to these issues without you reading them for yourself, it's just beautifully done. Add in the absolutely amazing art and you got a complete keeper 10/10
#199 - 209 - another great run of issues by Claremont. Here we see the introduction of Lady Deathstrike(complete with awesome artwork by Barry Windsor-Smith), Wolverine layin down the law to Rachel Summers and Nimrod goin HAM on every mutant he sees. issues 205 and 207 are definitely the highlights here and should not be missed. Only low part to this collection is Claremonts rather odd fascination with pairing up the adult Colossus with the 14 year old Kitty. Seems like Colossus secretly wants to get hit with that stat rape charge, and all the xmen want him to as well.(they legit hate on him for saying no to going out with her....dafuk) 8.5/10
#210 - 214(mutant massacre) - great run of issues(except 214). You get to see Sabretooth for the first time and man is it good. The fight between him and wolverine is epic as hell and not to be missed. You also see Claremont finally stop it with the moral dilemmas the xmen(sans wolverine again) keep having with killing pieces of shit that want nothing more than to kill as many people as possible. This event pretty much forces the stupid out of most of the Xmen, and makes one of them finally take matters into his own hands. Uncanny also begins to turn rather dark like DFP with scores of people being killed left and right. 8/10
#220 - 227(Fall of the Mutants) *Currently reading
#232 - 234(Brood Saga II) - The second brood saga is not only much shorter, it's also much weaker than the first. Although I liked the fact that the whole moral dilemma over killing space bugs was removed, it was a little odd that the Xmen were completely fine with killing civilians in the process. I would have thought that even with Mutant Massacre behind them, they would still try and see if there was some way to sure the people that were infected, but they gut em anyway. All in all, it was decent and you got two rad covers (232 and 234) to boot. 7/10
Claremont era Uncanny Xmen impressions:
Giant Size Xmen #1 + Unncanny #94 - #99 - Most definitely the weakest in the series. Although it's cool seeing how the second generation of Xmen came to be, many of the issues inbetween aren't that great as it's just the xmen facing random non-memorable foe after random non-memorable foe. Issue 98 is the exception with the banter between Xmen and fighting the sentinels for the first time as a team being a highlight. 6/10
#100 - 114(AKA phoenix saga) - This is where uncanny begins to pick up steam and Claremont shows his skills as a writer. The team becomes more fleshed out(wolverine actually begins to have a personality) and enemies start to become more interesting. Of course the introduction of Phoenix is great and seeing her tear shit up, but at the same time be scared of her powers was a great read. 7.5/10
#115 - 121 - Once again uncanny falls a bit. These issues aren't too special, with xavier thinking the Xmen are dead when they have really gone to the savage land. I was really into the Savage Land as a kid, simply because of the 90's Xmen cartoon, but these issues showed how dull the Savage Land really is. Garrok isn't that good of a villain and isn't fleshed out that well. Outside of that you got some more Sunfire stuff, that isn't that interesting to read and you end up with an average at best collection of issues. 6.5/10
122 - 128 - (skipped)
#129 - 138(AKA Dark Phoenix Saga) - Here Is where Uncanny really shows its fangs and doesn't let up. Dark Phoenix saga is great with great dialogue between characters and further fleshing out of the new Xmen. The solo Wolverine issue is awesome and of course the unleashing of Dark Phoenix is great as well. The end sorta brings up amoral dilemma with the reader as you think whether to condemn Jean for her actions she caused or dismiss them.(as much as I love Phoenix, Jean had to pay for that shit) Absolutely not to be missed. 10/10
#139 - 143(Days of Future Past) - err, well, really only issues 141 - 142 are part of Days of Future Past, but since the TPB's contian these issues this is what im gonna roll with.(and it means less writing for me) As good as DPS is, DFP is better to me. Straightforward, dark and gritty. Both issues dont let up and paint a pretty damning picture of what could have happened to mutant last year.(2013 is when it takes place heheh) 142 especially is a highlight with the last few xmen trying for one last time to bring the fight to their oppressors....only to fail. Great, great stuff. 10/10
144 - 153(skipped)
#154 - 167(Brood Saga) - Another great collection of issues featuring intergalactic earwigs trying to take over the universe. These things can speak English for whatever reason, but who the fuck cares? xmen get infected, people go crazy, and everyone fights in the inside of giant space whales. What's not to like? Claremont brings his A game here again, with great dialogue and another great solo wolverine issue. Only low to this would be the annoying moral battle Cyclops, Storm, and the rest of the Xmen(sans Wolverine, because hes the only motherfucker that actually has common sense) have toward killing giant space bigs that want nothing more than to kill everyone and implant your ass with an egg so it can hatch inside you Alien style. (well not really, but imma just say that anyway). 9/10
#168 - 173(including Wolverine #1 - 4) - Xmen go to Japan, Rogue joins the team, and Wolverine does some badass samurai shit in his solo limited series. These issues are tight once again, with plenty of action, dialogue and solo character fleshing out done masterfully by Claremont. Nothing really more to say here other than Ninjas, ninjas, ninjas. Oh, and, of course Wolverine can never get the girl. 10/10
#174 - 176(Return of Phoenix) - Alright. Reading this for the first time I was downright disappointed because of what is constantly teased. Just when you think it's gonna be delivered, you find out it was never there at all. It may be decent, do not be fooled, this aint Phoenix coming back from the dead. 6.5/10
177 - 185 (skipped)
187 - 197(skipped)
#186, 198(Lifedeath I + II) - some of my favourite issues so far, Lifedeath I and II features no fighting and all dialogue. This is a solo storm story about her lost powers, coping, and the man that helped take them away. There actually isnt much justice I can give to these issues without you reading them for yourself, it's just beautifully done. Add in the absolutely amazing art and you got a complete keeper 10/10
#199 - 209 - another great run of issues by Claremont. Here we see the introduction of Lady Deathstrike(complete with awesome artwork by Barry Windsor-Smith), Wolverine layin down the law to Rachel Summers and Nimrod goin HAM on every mutant he sees. issues 205 and 207 are definitely the highlights here and should not be missed. Only low part to this collection is Claremonts rather odd fascination with pairing up the adult Colossus with the 14 year old Kitty. Seems like Colossus secretly wants to get hit with that stat rape charge, and all the xmen want him to as well.(they legit hate on him for saying no to going out with her....dafuk) 8.5/10
#210 - 214(mutant massacre) - great run of issues(except 214). You get to see Sabretooth for the first time and man is it good. The fight between him and wolverine is epic as hell and not to be missed. You also see Claremont finally stop it with the moral dilemmas the xmen(sans wolverine again) keep having with killing pieces of shit that want nothing more than to kill as many people as possible. This event pretty much forces the stupid out of most of the Xmen, and makes one of them finally take matters into his own hands. Uncanny also begins to turn rather dark like DFP with scores of people being killed left and right. 8/10
#220 - 227(Fall of the Mutants) *Currently reading
#232 - 234(Brood Saga II) - The second brood saga is not only much shorter, it's also much weaker than the first. Although I liked the fact that the whole moral dilemma over killing space bugs was removed, it was a little odd that the Xmen were completely fine with killing civilians in the process. I would have thought that even with Mutant Massacre behind them, they would still try and see if there was some way to sure the people that were infected, but they gut em anyway. All in all, it was decent and you got two rad covers (232 and 234) to boot. 7/10
