Should I read Earth X?

[PercussionMasta]

I really enjoyed Kingdom Come, and I've heard a little about the Earth X series. Was it good? Should I pick up the trades? It looks interesting...

[Fireball]

I say pick it up, I enjoyed it alot, though it may be difficult to read if you don't know your Marvel history and characters.

[PercussionMasta]

I've been reading since 1995, and I'm pretty well versed. Do you think that's good enough?

[Matt K]

Should be since that's when i started. Really though Earth-X explains alot of what's being referenced so knowledge isn't such a big deal.

[agrich]

I liked Earth X a lot.

I didn't care for Universe X and didn't even pick up the third one (Paradise maybe?).

[muggerblade]

Read Earth, Universe and Paradise. Thye explain the whole marvel universe and the artwork is Alex Ross which is as good as youd expect.
Read them! you must....plus check out Marvels...fantastic

[abyss]

Pick it up its really good the whole triology is good....one of marvel epic storytelling master pieces.

[GreatLakesAvengers]

truly great stuff. a giant sweeping epic story that (if you follow all three parts) spans over 60 issues! bear in mind that you will be inundated with marvel history (events and characters both big AND small). so, if you're a fan of comics steeped in continuity, this will really appeal to you.

[Crash-Man]

It's a great read, but I agree with the others. If you want to truly enjoy it, have your Wikipedia handy.

I'm still a bit disappointed that it wasn't canon. I liked a lot of its revelations. Not all...but a lot.

[agrich]

I'm still a bit disappointed that it wasn't canon.

I guess I don't understand how anyone, including Marvel, can say it's not canon.

It's set in the future. Not only is it set in the future, but it's set in a future that the Marvel Universe will never get to. Twenty years from now, Peter Parker STILL won't be the Peter Parker in Earth X, just like 20 years ago he was still roughly the same age he is right now.

I'm sure some canon police can explain how it can't be canon or find the quote from Marvel saying it's not, but I can't see why, or why it can't be. It's the future. The present will never get there - it will always be in the future. So why can't it be a possible future for the present?

[Shellhead]

Read Earth, Universe and Paradise. Thye explain the whole marvel universe and the artwork is Alex Ross which is as good as youd expect.
Read them! you must....plus check out Marvels...fantastic

I think the covers were by Ross, but the interiors were somebody else. Ross did the character concept sketches, too, so he did influence the visual style of this series.

The original Earth X series was excellent, though not quite as good as Kingdom Come. Universe X was interesting, though not as good as Earth X. Paradise X lost some momentum and seemed to flounder as the series went on and on.

[Expletive Deleted]

I guess I don't understand how anyone, including Marvel, can say it's not canon.I wouldn't have a problem with EARTH X being in continuity, but UNIVERSE X and PARADISE X just went way too far.It's set in the future.I could be mistaken (it's been a while since I've read the later two volumes), but I don't think it's actually set in the future. PARADISE X establishes it as an alternate present.

And besides which, even if the three series are set in the future, there's a lot of continuity shenanigans going on which affect the "present." The origins of the Norse gods, the villain-is-really-time-traveling-hero reveals, the links between cosmic beings, the origin stories, and so on and so forth.

It's a Grand Unified Theory of the MU. It can't be confined, even if it isn't set in an alternate present.

[Expletive Deleted]

I think the covers were by Ross, but the interiors were somebody else. Ross did the character concept sketches, too, so he did influence the visual style of this series.John Paul Leon on EARTH X and Dougie Braithwaite on the other two. I really liked Leon's work, but Braithwaite's work didn't do much for me.

[agrich]

ED - Yeah, I didn't read Paradise X, so I just assumed it was the future. But also, weren't most of the characters older? Peter Parker, Stephen Strange, etc.?

I guess the version of the Hulk would argue for an alternate present.

My feeling on the future is always that it can be changed. Maybe Marvel doesn't want that to be the case. But I thought that was always the premise of something like Days of Future Past - that the future could be changed. And if it can, ANY future is possible.

But if they actually said it was an alternate present, I guess that's that.

I agree on Leon. Probably it was the Braithwaite art that I liked least about the later series.

[Expletive Deleted]

I could be wrong about that. Like I said, it's been a while.

EDIT: I checked. In PARADISE X #11, X-51 talks to Vance Astro and explains that there are no alternate futures. Just alternate presents where time flows differently. EARTH X is what "happens" when the original '60s/'70s characters progressed in something like real time. It's an explanation (see the "Grand Unified Theory" comment) for the irregular, sliding timescale that Marvel uses.

But, also like I said, even if it is an alternate future it still mucks too much with the past and the present to be anything other than a fun little diversion.Yeah, I didn't read Paradise X.Smart man.

Krueger and Ross just went off the deep end in that series.

[Mean Mr Mustard]

Stephen Strange?

... Why would he be older?
I mean, he would be but I don't think you should be able to tell.

[Alistair]

I liked EARTH X a great deal. It was a great big overblown prog rock album of a series. UNIVERSE X was patchier - the "quest" structure was pretty episodic and stop-start. It did have one of the best scenes I've ever read in a Marvel comic, though: the "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord" scene. Heartbreaking stuff.

[agrich]

Stephen Strange?

... Why would he be older?
I mean, he would be but I don't think you should be able to tell.

More wrinkles in his face, the really long beard, I dunno. I guess it doesn't matter now.

[The Adventurer]

I love the EX trillogy from one end to the other. It really is a grand epic and it's attempt to "grand unify" the Marvel Universe was brilliant. The big reveal of the entire series not being a possible future, but an Alternate Present caught me way off guard, but it was so odvious when you thought about it.

I heartily recomend Earth X, and if you like that, check out Universe X. If you like that....you know what to do. The series isn't for everyone, particularly the current crop of "continuity lite, please. Learning the past by infuring hurts my poor head" readers. But for those with the time to pour over it, it's the greatest thing since bread.

[PercussionMasta]

Some good thoughts here. I think I'll pick it up. It sounds interesting, if not perfect. Thanks for the thoughts.

[Gargus]

Earth X was great storytelling and I really enjoyed it alot until the last 3 or 4 issues it seemed to turn into a jumbled mess and the end was just confusing. I understand it but just seem to be reaching for the finale.

Maybe its just me though.

I didnt like the art either. It wasnt bad but for a story as grand as that one it deserved a bit more, at times it was hard to tell who was doing the talking.

I will admit though it was worth the read just to find out what the purpose of earth and its heroes really are. I wont give anything away but it was a fantastic idea that given some knowledge of the marvel universe made sense.

[Doc Pirahna]

They just released that Earth X hardcover. Are they going to be releasing a Paradise X or a Universe X hardcover is the question thats really nagging at me now. I am very tempted to pick up the Earth X hardcover.

[Keith_Martineau]

I guess I don't understand how anyone, including Marvel, can say it's not canon.

It's set in the future. Not only is it set in the future, but it's set in a future that the Marvel Universe will never get to. Twenty years from now, Peter Parker STILL won't be the Peter Parker in Earth X, just like 20 years ago he was still roughly the same age he is right now.

I'm sure some canon police can explain how it can't be canon or find the quote from Marvel saying it's not, but I can't see why, or why it can't be. It's the future. The present will never get there - it will always be in the future. So why can't it be a possible future for the present?

It IS a possible future for the present. That is why it isn't canon. Thats the definition of canon. For it to be in canon, they would have to start having the regular MU have events that lead it to what Earth X would be.
Earth X is an alternate reality/future, which means by it's very definition it can't be canon.

[kalorama]

I bought the Eart-X trade when it first came out. The story was okay. I'm not real big on extended alternatate universe tales. I bought it mainly because I really like J.P. Leon's artwork. I haven't read any of the followups.

[Alistair]

They just released that Earth X hardcover. Are they going to be releasing a Paradise X or a Universe X hardcover is the question thats really nagging at me now. I am very tempted to pick up the Earth X hardcover.

David Gabriel said a while back that they won't be doing hardcovers of the other two X series, but they are bringing the tpbs of all three X series back into print.

If you want them all in the same format, I'd wait for the tpb of Earth X, it's been solicited this month. If you're tempted by the hc of Earth X, I'd get it now, as it's a one-off print run.