X-Men: Emperor Vulcan
It’s brother versus brother and the outcome could decide the fate of billions. Uncanny X-Men’s “Rise and Fall of the Shi’Ar Empire” continues here! Vulcan is the Shi’Ar Emperor and Havok is leading the revellious Starjammers. But who is really right and whi is really wrong? Collects X-Men: Emperor Vulcan #1-5
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Stars Boring
Sorry Mister Yost but i’ve know way better from you.
I won’t say it’s your fault since the initial situation was already a trap. You managed to make this readable but we only see this as a uninteresting transition : all this story could have been a summary of two pages next time we’ll see the characters. You know this kind of “does this story exist somewhere? I want to read it!” feeling instead of the actual truth. For all the respect that i have for you, you deserved a better story to tell.
The drawing is boring too, but this is just me not liking it. The cover was a trap 
Good point.
But, as we can say, respect a comic books penciller or do it yourself!
4 Stars Strong follow up to “Rise and Fall…”
First thing you should know before considering this is that you HAVE to have read Brubakers “Rise and fall…” to know whats going on here. Having said that i really feel like this was a satisfying follow up. It seems as though this is going to be a bridge to a 3rd and larger chapter because it does leave you hanging at the end. (same way “rise and fall…” did)
This story centers around Havok and the starjammers and their quest to bring down the insidious Vulcan who now happens to rule the Shia’r empire. (who mostly hate him and want him dead) A new race of aliens is introduced and the weapon they wield is pretty staggering. Forcing Vulcan and his elite guard to join forces with the starjammers. It gets pretty interesting from there, and how this ends really caught me by suprise. So if you liked Brubakers uncanny run, you’ll enjoy this. If you didn’t like it then i’d save my money if i were you.
3 Stars Where is this going?
While I usually love the X-men in space story lines, I think sometimes the writers and editors of these books put too many pots on the stove. The events in the Shi’ar Empire will have immediate and seriously detrimental affects on the earth in the very near future. And those X-men and Starjammers who were returned to Earth are well aware of that. So, why didn’t they immediately undertake to find a way to get back there? It seems to me there was time enough before the Skrull invasion became obvious. I know the aftermath of the Civil War, then WWH, and still coping with HOM, and the Decimation, blah, blah, blah…but come on, enough drama already, let’s go kick some butt!
That being said, the overall story was interesting, but the whole the enemy of my enemy always seems too convenient for me. I was very interested in the exploration of the limits of Havok’s power, though I assume it would be a tad inconvenient to strap a star to his back for a power boost. And I really want to see Rachel unleashed on the Shi’ar. Between her and Blackbolt, I think “War of KIngs” will make this story little more than a footnote.
3 Stars Vulcan vs the X-men
This is a follow-up to the year long Uncanny X-men story of following the forgotten Summers brother into space to prevent him from destroying the Shi’ar Empire.
Alex Summers, Lorna Dane and Rachel Grey with the rest of the Starjammers fight against Emperor Vulcan with the help of Empress Lilandra and Shi’ar forces that are loyal to her. The story could have had more - it’s in space and in a totally set alone story line. The authors could have gone wild, but we get a religious sub story that was foretold from the time it was introduced, loyal Shi’ar forces that ‘turn’ at the last minute in the most mundane way possible, and no follow-up to Rachel’s romance. Space is big - go for the big epic adventures. The story drags, then ends suddenly with no resolution whatsoever.
I don’t know when the sequel to this will start coming out to show how Alex, Lorna and Rachel end up on Earth again. Maybe they’ll just show up saying the doors to their cells were left open.
3 Stars Snoozefest
Another pointless space drama that leaves us right where we started. More of the same old rehashed X-men plot threads. The third summers brother, another phoenix, Polaris back from the crazy-house again. Non-stop space battles, energy bolts left right and centre, dramatic poses. YAWN!
Does anyone really care about Vulcan? I don’t. He’s a bit like a hack version of Tetsuo from Akira but only a fraction as interesting.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if Vulcan died at the end, but all you get is an anti-climax and a desire to reclaim the time you wasted reading this pointless book.
Filed under: Top X-Men Comics