Expert: Kellen Tyler - 8/27/2008

Question
So here is my question. I have been an x-man fan since i was a kid but never
really started following it till (collecting the comic books) till about junior year
in highschool. I always wanted to collect them all, but have since them come
to realize that starting from the original xmen comics might be a little hard,
just because they go for SO MUCH MONEY. Now getting to my question. I
know that after the xmen comics they came out with classic xmen which then
eventually turned into Uncanny xmen. Can you please tell me the rest that
have come out up to current. It seems like a lot to ask, but i recently checked
out the xmen annuals from my library, but was kinda disappointed because
they were not in order, and seemed to skip every now and then and i want to
read them all starting from classic xmen to now. So if you could please help
me that would be great ! .Thanks

Answer
Hi JJ,

Let me see if I can help.

The X-Men (vol. 1) started in Sept. 1963.  The series became "Uncanny X-Men" at issue 142, but its the same volume.  Naturally, the original issues are going to be very expensive because they are old and very rare.  

Marvel began printing "Classic X-Men" in the late 80's/early 90's to capitalize on the success of the X-Men during that time.  The series was basically just reprints of classic X-Men stories. The first issue was a reprint of Giant-Size X-Men #1 (with the All-New All-Different X-Men) that was originally published in 1975, and the other issues reprinted Uncanny X-Men #94 through #206. Classic X-Men often printed additional back-up stories further delving into and explaining the original stories. The series lasted 110 issues.

In 1991, X-Men (vol. 2) launched.  So, at the time, there were 2 books focused on just the X-Men.  Both books are still running now... "Uncanny X-Men" just reached its milestone issue #500 a couple months ago and "X-Men" reached its milestone issue #200 around the fall of last year.

Those are not the only 2 books in the X-Men Universe though.  There have been tons of spin-offs, splinter groups, and teams that have been part of the X-franchise... including the New Mutants, X-Factor, Excalibur, X-Force, Generation X, New X-Men, just to name a few.  Check out these links:

Uncanny X-Men page on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_X-men

uncannyxmen.net (the best X-Men site on the web... actual writers/artists refer to it often to get information as well):
http://www.uncannyxmen.net/

Hope that helps,

K