Joe Casey's Uncanny X-Men Appreciation

[James Hunter]

The subject title basically says it all, this is a thread for those who can appreciate the awesomeness that is Joe Casey's run in UNCANNY

Casey was the last person to make Iceman interesting, he also introduced Chamber to the main team (something I will always be grateful for!) and he made use of Warren's business connections so well (its something most writers forget about).

I just loved the compact team he had (with just Kurt (who I still miss!), Bobby, Warren, Chamber and Stacy X and he didn't over-use Wolverine!)

Under Casey Stacy was actually a very interesting character, it was Austen who ruined her!

Just had to give Casey's run a shout-out! :biggrin:

Cheers.

James.

[nontoxic]

Loved this team. Hated that the run was so short, though.

[James Hunter]

Loved this team. Hated that the run was so short, though.

It does suck that it was so short, but Casey was able to give us some excellent stories in the time he did have :) (I would have liked him to stick around longer too though!)

Cheers.

James.

[ElementalKing]

The subject title basically says it all, this is a thread for those who can appreciate the awesomeness that is Joe Casey's run in UNCANNY

Casey was the last person to make Iceman interesting, he also introduced Chamber to the main team (something I will always be grateful for!) and he made use of Warren's business connections so well (its something most writers forget about).

I just loved the compact team he had (with just Kurt (who I still miss!), Bobby, Warren, Chamber and Stacy X and he didn't over-use Wolverine!)

Under Casey Stacy was actually a very interesting character, it was Austen who ruined her!

Just had to give Casey's run a shout-out! :biggrin:

Cheers.

James.

I've heard some really good things about the Morrison-Casey-Claremont trinity at the time...I'm very familiar with Morrison and I had the oppurtunity to read Claremont's firsthand but I haven't had the oppurtunity to acquaint myself with Casey's Uncanny run. I wish I could forget some of things that I read while Austen was running the show...

I'll make sure to look into it, though.

Carey made Iceman interesting too...not as interesting perhaps but he certainly gave the character new life.

[Colinp42]

Never read it since it's not traded! This run was immediately before all X-books started getting trades. But there are some random trades of stuff leading up to his run. So it's a glaring hole in my collection.

[RonG]

an underrated gem.

fits right alongside Morrison's NXM, Milligan/Allerd X-force/X-Statix and Cable/Soldier X as an example of the best and most original takes on X-titles

[Filthy Mutie]

Joe Casey's run was great. It wasn't perfect and it wasn't on the same level as Morrison and Quietly's New X-Men, but it worked very well in the same sandbox, contributed some of its own good ideas, and had a great new X-Man in X-Stacy. It's a shame it's not collected.

[James Hunter]

an underrated gem.

fits right alongside Morrison's NXM, Milligan/Allerd X-force/X-Statix and Cable/Soldier X as an example of the best and most original takes on X-titles

I don't want to de-rail my own thread, but I never *could* get into Milligan's X-STATIX (just wasn't my cup of tea, maybe if I'd been high... :tongue: ).

I am still shocked to hear this one has never been collected in TPB though (other then, obviously, Poptopia which is an excellent arc!)

To this day, I'd love to see Casey come back to the X-men titles (IMO he'd do a lot of good for the franchise)

Cheers.

James.

[Jake V]

I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again - Casey's Uncanny run was the last time Uncanny was good, and the last time the book was relevant. The book has been a disaster of varying sizes ever since he left it.

[summers88]

To be fair, we're only missing 400-409 that's not collected in tpb. I do wish we had them though. I wasn't a fan of Stacy but it did introduce the X-Corps and we had that wicked moment where Mystique slit Banshee's throat. Good stuff!

All in all, he was a good writer for the team. No real complaints. I really don't have any complaints on Austen's run either. (starts running as I type this) He made Warren white again, brought Havok back from the Mutant X reality, killed Skin and made Warren a bit cool with the healing blood and I did love his uniform. Not bad in my book. (although I really didn't like "She Lies with Angels" but you can't be perfect)

[Filthy Mutie]

To be fair, we're only missing 400-409 that's not collected in tpb.

To be fair, that's a large chunk of his run.

[Jake V]

To be fair, that's a large chunk of his run.

And (arguably) the best part of it.

I mean, any time you get Casey and Sean Phillips on a book, it's gold.

[Filthy Mutie]

And (arguably) the best part of it.

I mean, any time you get Casey and Sean Phillips on a book, it's gold.

X-Corps and the Vanisher vs. Archangel story, right?

[Jake V]

X-Corps and the Vanisher vs. Archangel story, right?

Yeah, with some other single issue stories in there for good measure.

[Filthy Mutie]

Yeah, with some other single issue stories in there for good measure.

Right, right. You are correct, sir.

[Boozier]

I LOVED CASEY'S RUN!!!! It was glorious. It wonderful, well-written, compact, intense, and full of surprises that didn't kill people solely for shock value. Yeah, Mystique slashing Banshees throat was pure awesomeness. Poptopia was brilliant. I mean, come on, it used Chamber and Stacy X before she became trashy and unlikeable in Austen's run. She was mysterious and intriguing before Austen. And I like that X-Corps was used. Let's have more X-Corps appearances or Angel and Husk's Mutantes Sans Frontières (rather than a mention). There are many possibilities for more storylines here.

[Goggindowner]

I think if Casey had gotten the longevity on Uncanny that Morrison had on X-Men, it would be regarded as a shining moment in the franchise.

As it stands, it was a great run that got cut short, which is too bad. I really was loving the book under Casey's guidance. Other than Brubaker *duck* there hasn't been anyone in the last decade who did as good a job on Uncanny.

[Washout]

He needs to come back and rejuvenate his run. It was so nice. So nice.

[Deus ex Chris]

Loved it. It's definitely one of my favorite runs. He was just hitting his stride with the series and with Sean Phillips, when he left. I'd love to see him come back.

[PanzerMega]

It was overshadowed by Morrison's New X-Men at the time, but anything would have been.

I thought it was a very good secondary title at the time. Poptopia and X-Corps especially. I liked his take on Angel too.

[viperstorm]

i enjoyed his run. it was really new. i didn't like the way the team was treating nightcrawler tho, but his talk with wolverine on the roof of angel place was amazing. so i excepted it

[ElementalKing]

I think if Casey had gotten the longevity on Uncanny that Morrison had on X-Men, it would be regarded as a shining moment in the franchise.

As it stands, it was a great run that got cut short, which is too bad. I really was loving the book under Casey's guidance. Other than Brubaker *duck* there hasn't been anyone in the last decade who did as good a job on Uncanny.

Mike Carey has expressed a desire to do UXM...maybe he can pick up the pieces it has been left in ever since You Know Who

I'm hearing really good things about this...do you know if his run is on TPB?

[otipep_90]

I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again - Casey's Uncanny run was the last time Uncanny was good, and the last time the book was relevant. The book has been a disaster of varying sizes ever since he left it.

This is so true. Aside from what ever problems he was facing at the time it was a solid run that could campare in concept to some of the things Morrison was establishing, plus bringing back religious zealots as mutant threats. I seriously think that is it wasn't for his work with the Church of Humanity there wouldn't have been an intrest in bringing back the Purifiers and then we wouldn't have had Messiah Complex or Uncanny X-Force.

Plus X-Stacy was an amazing character.

[James Hunter]

He needs to come back and rejuvenate his run. It was so nice. So nice.

Quoted for truth, and no other reason :smile:


I think if Casey had gotten the longevity on Uncanny that Morrison had on X-Men, it would be regarded as a shining moment in the franchise.

As it stands, it was a great run that got cut short, which is too bad. I really was loving the book under Casey's guidance. Other than Brubaker *duck* there hasn't been anyone in the last decade who did as good a job on Uncanny.

No need to duck, I enjoyed Brubaker's UNCANNY too (I actually *liked* the "Rise and Fall of the Shi-ar" arc!). I have to agree with you that had Casey had more longevity it would be considered a shining moment of the franchise, just look at how excellent what we *did* get is (and it stands up to re-reading more then Morrison's NEW X-MEN IMHO, I had to drop that half-way through!)


Mike Carey has expressed a desire to do UXM...maybe he can pick up the pieces it has been left in ever since You Know Who

I'm hearing really good things about this...do you know if his run is on TPB?

I can see that Carey could be good on UXM, but I'd rather Remender who I personally consider a worthy successor to the Casey school of excellence :tongue:

As to TPBs, I'm afraid there's only one, namely "Poptopia"which re-prints UNCANNY X-MEN #394-399 (and is awesome, heck looking back I realize it was almost the last time I could tolerate Cyclops when he had brief appearances!)


I LOVED CASEY'S RUN!!!! It was glorious. It wonderful, well-written, compact, intense, and full of surprises that didn't kill people solely for shock value. Yeah, Mystique slashing Banshees throat was pure awesomeness. Poptopia was brilliant. I mean, come on, it used Chamber and Stacy X before she became trashy and unlikeable in Austen's run. She was mysterious and intriguing before Austen. And I like that X-Corps was used. Let's have more X-Corps appearances or Angel and Husk's Mutantes Sans Frontières (rather than a mention). There are many possibilities for more storylines here.

Your not going to get any arguments from me, well-written and compact it most definitely was!. I'm glad *most* people realise that Stacy was actually an interesting character, until Austen got hold of her and made her a s**t (heck she was a virgin under Casey!) I halso have to agree that it would be nice to actually *see* (not just hear of) more of Mutantes Sans Frontiers.


It was overshadowed by Morrison's New X-Men at the time, but anything would have been.

I thought it was a very good secondary title at the time. Poptopia and X-Corps especially. I liked his take on Angel too.

I would actually argue that Casey's UNCANNY catered to a different reading core then Morrison's NEW X-MEN rather then one over-shadowing the other.

Cheers.

James.

[Nate Dayspring]

i loved it- why was it so short?

[ImpulseUCF]

I've heard some really good things about the Morrison-Casey-Claremont trinity at the time.This time was, in my opinion, the best the X-books had ever been since the height of Claremont's original run and better than anything following the trinity. Morrison drove the big epic wide new ideas, Casey took the grounded, gritty side of the same sandbox, and Claremont told mostly good classic superheroics and acknowledged the new status quo without succumbing to it. It was a great balance. Plus, the sattelite books. Cable/Soldier X, X-Statix (if that's your thing), Winnick Exiles...it was my favorite time in X-history.

I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again - Casey's Uncanny run was the last time Uncanny was good, and the last time the book was relevant. The book has been a disaster of varying sizes ever since he left it.QFT with a few exceptions. I think Brubaker was pretty good in parts, and Claremont's 3rd run was really starting to kick ass after a mixed start when they yanked him off (he and Bachalo had a shockingly great artistic chemistry). I'd say Casey's run was the last time Uncanny was GREAT for sure.

I'd love to see Casey finish Uncanny and Wildcats 3.0, but it will never happen,. :(

[James Hunter]

i loved it- why was it so short?

I am going from memory, and I haven't done a search on this, but if memory serves Casey was renowned for being on drugs at this time, and that caused bad blood with Marvel (in fact, I do not believe it effected his story telling but that's just me).

Also, the messageboards and some retailers got nasty and personally insulted Casey.

If I am wrong then please, someone correct me :)

Cheers.

James.

[Nimrod's Son]

Bear in mind I only read the Poptopia trade (his run after this is supposed to get better).
I thought it was ok. Some fun, clever stuff in it. nothing to have me shouting from the rooftops about though.

[Keith_Martineau]

I've said it elsewhere, but I'll say it again - Casey's Uncanny run was the last time Uncanny was good, and the last time the book was relevant. The book has been a disaster of varying sizes ever since he left it.

I kind of disagree on both counts. I believe Uncanny has been good since then, and I believe it has been relevant since then, even examining what exactly you mean by relevant.

If you mean relevant to the X-books and the MU at large, then I actually have to say that it was NOT relevant. It was a side car to Morrison's work, which was the flagship at the time and rightfully so. Practically nothing done in that run was ever reflected in the greater MU.

If you mean relevant as far as culture is concerned...I dunno man. It tried to examine pop culture, socio-economics, sex and religion but Joe Casey himself has stated that he was pretty heavy on drugs at the time, and his execution of ideas suffered greatly for it. It tried to be relevant, but missed the mark.

I thought the run started off really well. He had some great ideas, including the work he was doing with Chamber, but I also think he was trying too hard, and the stuff with Nightcrawler and his opening issue with Logan kissing Jean, that stuff wasn't so good.

I actually think it's interesting. Joe Casey and Chuck Austen were the writers of Uncanny while Morrison was writing New X-Men, and both of their runs started with things I really liked, and then took bad turns and became pretty lousy. Morrison actually used stuff from Claremont's X-Treme X-Men more than he used anything from either Uncanny writer.

[James Hunter]

Bear in mind I only read the Poptopia trade (his run after this is supposed to get better).
I thought it was ok. Some fun, clever stuff in it. nothing to have me shouting from the rooftops about though.

It did get better after Poptopia (look at the X-corps stuff from #400-407 or so!) but Poptopia was far from bad (I actually wouldn't mind seeing what happened to all the mutants who were living in the Underground in London).

The stories after "Poptopia" *are* better but casey's first issue (with the kiss between Logan and Jean mentioned below) is actually one of my favourite X-Men issues *of ALL time*!

Cheers.

James.

[ImpulseUCF]

I liked Casey's first issue; Poptopia was okay, but the X-Corps story had me riveted. That an Morrison's NXM had me stoked to be reading comics. I was enthralled, and I loved this run.

[James Hunter]

I liked Casey's first issue; Poptopia was okay, but the X-Corps story had me riveted. That an Morrison's NXM had me stoked to be reading comics. I was enthralled, and I loved this run.

IMHO, X-Corps is where Casey really found his stride, and I liked seeing some GENERATION X and ALPHA FLIGHT allumini in that arc, I also thought Banshee had the right idea, being pro-active!

"Poptopia" was fun, without a doubt, but, to me the X-Corps story is the best arc UNCANNY has had in the last 150 issues (some of the early 300s had good stories)

Cheers.

James.

[ImpulseUCF]

the X-Corps story is the best arc UNCANNY has had in the last 150 issues (some of the early 300s had good stories)I can't disagree.

[Fatguy]

I enjoyed it more than Morrison's corner of the X-verse at the time. Although, his run was over in a minute and a half.

[Jack Flash]

i hated the early art. and I think that made it stumble, but I enjoyed the run and it really got completely awesome with Sean Phillips took over art duties. The annual was also brilliant.

[James Hunter]

i hated the early art. and I think that made it stumble, but I enjoyed the run and it really got completely awesome with Sean Phillips took over art duties. The annual was also brilliant.

See I actually quite like the early art, except for the depiction of Wolverine and Chamber (who looked far better when Sean Phillips came on!), it was unique but worked well,I thought.

I certainly felt he drew a good Iceman and Angel though.

Cheers.

James.

[ImpulseUCF]

I really liked Churchill's art, so I can't imagine saying it stumbled. Phillips was AWESOME, though. I was particularly impressed with the 'Nuff Said silent issue (and Quitely's over in NXM, too). What a great time for the X books.

[Jack Flash]

I thought the Churchill stuff was off and a bad fit for X-Art at the time. It didn't fit the tone of Casey's story at all and it was way too posed and stiff. but art is subjective. I felt like it hampered Casey's ability to get his groove going.

[motherofpearl1]

Joe Casey on drugs?:eek:

Imagine if Disney had been in charge at the time - he probably would have been burned at the stake.

Carey on Uncanny? Like the thought - but I wish he hadn't brought back Rogneto.:mad:

[James Hunter]

Joe Casey on drugs?:eek:

Imagine if Disney had been in charge at the time - he probably would have been burned at the stake.

Carey on Uncanny? Like the thought - but I wish he hadn't brought back Rogneto.:mad:

I don't know, look at some of the early Disney cartoons and you have to wonder! :tongue:

I don't despise the idea of Carey on UNCANNY but I just need to know who I need to bribe to get Casey back! I'd love to have in do a stint again.

Cheers.

James.

[Jota]

Casey had a fantastic and criminaly underrated run in Uncanny X-Men. Hell, it's the last time I remember enjoying that book!
It's a shame he left so early and just when, IMO he was producing his best stories. I trully believe that a longer run would have made a great impact and we would be discussin it on par with the best runs in the x-books.

[Emerald_616]

I'm so happy this thread exists. I thought I was alone in enjoying this run. Honestly, the first issue or trade of Uncanny that I've wanted to pick up since this run is Gillen's relaunch with Uncanny Vol. 2.

Austen's run is just :X
Claremont's return was ok and not necessary to the overall X-Men story (f***ing Dino-Rachel)
Brubaker's only became good after Messiah Complex
Fraction's is also :X

Gillen's work on #534.1-544 make me hopeful, but I feel like his run has so far been bogged down by wiping away old cobwebs like making Kitty Pryde solid and tying up Fraction plot threads.

[Faded]

X-Corps and the Vanisher vs. Archangel story, right?

Those arcs were amazzzzzing. Joe Casey needs to come back and just write some cooky adventures for Angel and the X-Corps.

[Boozier]

Those arcs were amazzzzzing. Joe Casey needs to come back and just write some cooky adventures for Angel and the X-Corps.

I wish he'd so SOMETHING with the X-Men. He can revive X-Men Unlimited or something. Anything X-related! Show a story with Stacy X and Sugar Kane clubbing and having threesomes.

[Emerald_616]

He should write a Street Team X-Men and X-Men-in-Training recruits book. The Utopia side needs some help.

[ImpulseUCF]

Sadly, as much as I loved his run, I think the time has passed. The tone and ethos of the X-books is in such a different place now than it was then that I'm afraid it would stick out. The current series he is writing with villains kinda shows this to some extent, and it features Beak and Angel, though that might just be that particular book. Casey's run is among my favorite on Uncanny ever. His X-Corp arc is one of my favorite X-arcs ever.

[Boozier]

Sadly, as much as I loved his run, I think the time has passed. The tone and ethos of the X-books is in such a different place now than it was then that I'm afraid it would stick out. The current series he is writing with villains kinda shows this to some extent, and it features Beak and Angel, though that might just be that particular book. Casey's run is among my favorite on Uncanny ever. His X-Corp arc is one of my favorite X-arcs ever.

Which is why he'd be perfect for the Blue Side.

[ImpulseUCF]

What is blue side??

[Emerald_616]

The Utopia-based half of the X-Men after the Schism is the Blue Side.

The mutants at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning are on the Gold Side.

The colors refer to the ReGenesis banners across the titles on each side.