X-Men: Shadows of the Past

a novel for professor x fans and fans of classic x-men, featuring core team members and ultracool steranko cover...friedman is an old hand at star trek and knows his way around the marvel universe...not fannish , not voguish, but solid story-telling from a pro

When Dr. Xavier and Bobby "Iceman" Drake are attacked along a deserted country road, it is just the start of an adventure. Unknown to Bobby, Dr. Xavier has been kidnapped to an alternate dimension, and a duplicate has been placed in the X-men's midst. The X-men's old nemesis, Lucifer, has planned his revenge for a long time, and his plans include using the X-men to free him. Can Dr. Xavier foil Lucifer's plans? He will need help on this one, help from beyond the X-men.

My eleven-year-old son and I are avid superhero fans, and were glad to come across this novel (NOT graphic novel, by the way). Overall, we found this to be an interesting story, with a great plot that kept you on the edge of your seat, right through to the end. We enjoyed the way the different characters went through their paces, and even liked the villains. Yes, the writing is a bit light for the adult reader, but I still found this to be an enjoyable read. My son and I both loved this book, and both highly recommend it!

IF YOU'RE OUT OF TOUCH WITH CURRENT COMICS CONITUNITY, THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU--LOTS OF CLASSIC X-MEN RELATIONSHIPS AND COOL STERANKO COVER! VIVE LA 70S!

Well, I wasn't sure what to expect when I first spotted this book, but the great Steranko cover sure caught my attention, and I knew that Michael Jan Friedman certainly knew his way around the STAR TREK universe. But after reading it, I can definitely say it's a great book! Alien invasions, superheroics, and the guy who crippled Professor X in the first place? Outstanding work all around!

This is a very good X-Men novel, even if it may not be what current fans are expecting. It revolves mainly around Professor Xavier, not focusing nearly as much on his band of superhero mutants. The plot was predictible, with only one notable twist in the entire story, but it was enjoyable none-the-less. Even the X-Team in the book is not who was expected, as it reunites the five original X-Men who have not worked together in quite some time. It is a joy to read, , however, making it a staple in any fans collection.