X-Men vs. Avengers/Fantastic Four

This is a review of the Trade Paperback first printed in 2011, which contains comics dated from Feb-July 1987. I would give it a 4-1/2 stars if I could, but I'll bump it to a 5 based mainly on the extras.This volume is a nice addition to the X-Men timeline collection as I slowly work my way through the 1980s. It seems like 1987 was the year of a smaller, limited-run team-ups like these, rather than the gigantic Secret Wars (1 and 2) crossovers that overwhelmed the Marvel Universe during the previous two years. I found the smaller scale of these sidebar stories, along with Wolverine vs SpiderMan (too bad it wasn't also included here) to be quite refreshing.I found the X-Men vs Fantastic Four arc, written by Chris Claremont, to be the much more interesting of the two. It continues a story-line from the recent Mutant Massacre event, which had left Nightcrawler, Colossus and Shadowcat severely injured. This story follows the team's attempts to help save Shadowcat's life, as they seek help from a strangely reluctant Reed Richards and eventually struggle with the moral issue of whether to trust Doctor Doom. While I'm not as versed in the FF, I found the team dynamics and history provided in this story to be as interesting as the X-Men's struggle.The Avengers vs X-Men arc, written by Roger Stern and Tom DeFalco, felt a bit more contrived and revisits the story of Magneto's trial, which had occurred in X-Men #200 two years earlier. The inclusion of a team of Soviet super heroes only muddles the story-line, and there is very little real substance to the Avengers as presented. The usual theme of whether Magneto should be punished or forgiven for the crimes he has committed remains, as always, the big question. The sudden and somewhat forced ending (explained in the extras) provides no suitable resolution to either that or the story line itself.The "extras" in the volume are fairly extensive and quite nice.- Fantastic Four 28 and X-Men 9. A nice dose of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, these two issues from the early 60s are included showing the first encounters between the fledgling original X-Men and the FF and Avengers, respectively. The latter includes a classic "Marvel Girl" pin-up page.- Marvel Age 46 and 48. Covers and the full text of Bill Slavicsek's "Mutant Report" column announcing these two limited run series.- X-Men vs Avengers plot synopsis. Four pages typed by Roger Stern with handwritten comments by editor Mark Gruenwald.- Magneto background notes. Stern's 3-page typewritten outline of all of Magneto's criminal actions throughout his previous appearances in the Marvel Universe.- X-Men vs Avengers unused plot. Stern's original 7-page typewritten plans for issue #4. As explained in the accompanying text, his resolution did not fit in with the overall plans for Magneto's character, so Tom DeFalco rewrote the last issue of the series.- Hardcover artwork. Four pages showing the clean front and back artwork used on the original hardcover editions of these two series when they were released in separate volumes.

Great Quality and timely arrival.

i didnot want a comic book i want real paperbook please let me know in the future i donot like comic book

Fantastic purchase I lost these comics when I was younger now I have them all in 1 purchase

This a really great deal this has both X-Men vs. Avengers and Fantastic Four vs. X-Men. If you are a fan of the 80's X-Men you will really enjoy this. If you aren't familiar with that era, I suggest reading Mutant Massacre before this. Great story and great art the only complaint is how X-Men vs. Avengers ends, due to editors changing it at the last minute.

Old school battle centered on the X-Men is never a bad thing. If you're a fan of the X-Men, Avengers or the Fantastic Four, then you have to read this beat-down.

This is just a bunch of random crossovers dating back to the 60's. There is no continuity. Not very enjoyable

Better stories and characters than the stupid mega-series AvsX. And it has a great X-men FF story as well. They need to bring their writing back to this level of quality.