X-Men

X-Men: Mutant Massacre Prelude Omnibus gathers the material that makes the later disaster land harder, showing the X-Men world before the tunnels become a wound. Chris Claremont, Barry Windsor-Smith and John Romita Jr. give the prelude its tension: relationships, threats and unease gathering before the line changes shape. It is useful because it lets the reader feel the world before impact. The tension is quieter than the massacre itself, but that quiet makes the later violence harder to dismiss as just another crossover.

Chris Claremont assembles a dream team of artists — John Romita Jr., Arthur Adams, Barry Windsor-Smith and Dave Cockrum — for this massive fifth omnibus collecting issues #194-209 plus the complete Longshot and Nightcrawler limited series. The Juggernaut makes an earthshaking return, the second Lifedeath story explores Storm's journey without powers, and the Asgardian Wars crossover sends the X-Men and New Mutants into Norse mythology. Nathan Summers is born and Rachel Summers grapples with the Phoenix Force, while Barry Windsor-Smith crafts the defining Wolverine solo tale Wounded Wolf. This volume also introduces Longshot, the lucky six-fingered warrior from the Mojoverse, in Arthur Adams' career-making limited series that became an instant classic.