X-Men Grand Design #1 Review: Blueprint of a Dynasty

By Nolan P. Smith

When I first glanced at the cover of X-Men Grand Design, I thought: hey, original X-Men costume, might be interesting. What I didn’t expect was a masterful retelling of the important life events in the lives of Marvel’s merry mutants, the X-Men.

When you think about the X-Men and their long history, it can be a bit daunting for a new reader. So much history, continuity, connections- it is a lot to take in. Thanks to Ed Piskor (Hip Hop Family Tree), readers new and old can enjoy an amazing retelling, right from the beginning. The first book in the series, this issue is a lot to take in, and well worth it. We see how the hatred for mutants started, back with Namor, the Sub Mariner, to when the original X-Men started coming together. We also see the relationship between Professor X and his infamous step brother, Cain Marko, also known as the Juggernaut. Not to mention the sad past of Magneto, which turned a boy into a maniac.

Done in a yellow toned classic feel, this book is so fantastic. To be able to relive the history of the X-Men in such a concise format is a great feeling. Piskor hits a home run with issue #1, leaving me waiting for the second issue to drop. X-Men Grand Design is the blueprint of the Marvel mutant verse, there is no better way to be introduced to it than right here.

Rating: 10 out of 10.