Boring
I bought this book because I heard it's one of the best stories ever in comic book history and boy was I disappointed. This seems like a great buy given that it is one story in one book by itself. But the best story ever? Hardly. I do not understand why something is so great just because it deals with the bible or has religious overtones. Basically a religious fanatic believes mutants are not God's creatures since they were never mentioned in the bible and because of something that happened in his past now calls for the extermination of all mutants. For those who saw X-men 2, the movie, would recall similar themes since the movie was partially based on this book. Anyway, story is very simple and there are really no twists or anything deep to think about. Yes, some of this can be paralleled with the Holocaust or racism or current problems but so what? The artwork is horrible since Anderson admits he used this book to hone his signature style wherein previous works he really had no distinquished style. What a way to hone one's style - in this supposely milestone in comics history. The mediocre story might have been elevated if Neal Adams had continue doing the artwork for this book but unfortunately due to contractual problems he had to quit. Some of his unpublished artwork is reprinted in the back and one can see what might have been - a really great book! Andersons' artwork is just unsightly and worsened the story if at all possible.
Excellent classic X men
This is a must have for anyone that considers themself an X men fan. It's one of the first comic book graphic novel, so it won't leave you unsatisfied, with any unanswer questions like some collections. Plus the story is the partial basis for X2 (my favorite X men movie). Also the art work and imagary is extremly powerful and moving.
God Loves, Man Kills is probably the most effective storyline about mankind fearing mutants. Many have come since, but in my mind none have been as realistic. Reverend William Stryker starts a crusade against mutants. What was really interesting to me was how Stryker amassed such a huge following through religious fears. One of the images in this book that will stick with you is Stryker pointing at Nightcrawler and saying "Human...You dare call that human!" You got to admit, if your a bible fearing christian, you would agree with his point. Anyways, Stryker sends assassins after Charles Xavier, Storm and Cyclops. With Prof. X out of the picture Magneto joins forces to lead the X men. I won't give away any of the rest of the story, but take it from me you won't be disappointed.
This is one of Claremont's most influential and powerful stories. The only down side I can think of is Stryker does get a little long winded in his anti-mutant speeches towards the end. But what really impresses me is the element of Stryker setting out to achieve his deadly goal through christian fear. A story that was written twenty five years ago has themes that still have relivance in todays twisted society. A great read.
Classic Material
Too many of the newer X-Books deal too heavily with time travel & alternate futures and a lot of BS. This book, written before all of 'those' story lines is the staple of what Stan Lee & Jack Kirby set out to do since day one. The overall theme was that mutants are human too.
There is a dialog between the African-American dancer instructor Stevie Hunter & the youngster X-Men Kitty Pryde that hits home so hard that it made me cheer and cry at the same time.
If you're a original fan of the X-Men, you need this.
Great Storyline. Great Behind the scenes!
"Good Loves" tells a great story even if you've seen x-men 2. The story has it's own time and place while still having parallels to the film. The thing that surprised me a little was the art. It's not something I would call natural beauty. That being said it does have something to offer. Be sure to read the "making of" stuff at the end of the book. That's where I found most of my appreciation for the art and learned a bit about what it was like to make a graphic novel back then.
Possibly Claremont's best during the golden age of X-Men stories
There was a time when Chris Claremont could do no wrong during his legendary run on X-Men, and this is a prime example. X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills finds Professor Xavier and his team (Wolverine, Cyclops, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Kitty Pryde) beseiged by William Stryker: a religious zealot who believes that mutants are created by the devil himself. What really helps God Loves, Man Kills take off even more, is that Claremont humanizes Stryker to a point, as we the reader see his point of view and even begin to sympathize with him as it is revealed why he is doing what it is that he does. Without giving too much away, Claremont crafts one of the most socially relevant cautionary tales that underlines the overall story in which Xavier and his X-Men face prejudice, fear, and hatred from a differing point of view. Combined with the stark and excellent artwork of Brent Anderson, God Loves, Man Kills remains a landmark of the X-Men mythos, which is only furthered by the fact that the story would be derived by director Bryan Singer and his crew for X2: X-Men United; which remains one of, if not the, best superhero films ever made, and the best Marvel film to date. All in all, saying that God Loves, Man Kills is an essential pick up is saying it lightly if you're an X-Men fan, Marvel fan, or just classic comic fan; any way you slice it this is more than worth your time.
