This is a really fun little graphic novel, loaded with great artwork and a decent storyline. I wouldn't recommend it as a first-time read for anyone unfamiliar with the X-Men - taken out of context from the overall series - it might be a somewhat confusing introduction. But for those who know the characters and have a general idea of what is going on, believe me, this one delivers the goods.

In the past, I have generally hated the X-Men's adventures in the Savage Land, or whenever they would go to outer space or get into really super sci-fi type situations. I always felt the X-Men stories worked much better when they were grounded in very normal, down-to-earth settings, because it made the X-Men themselves stand out and seem that much weirder. But this book is an exception to the rule. It's a big, crazy, larger-than-life adventure, part of which takes place in the prehistoric Savage Land, and part of which gets hyper technological, and it works out OK.

The artwork is tough and gritty. Jim Lee draws a mean, shadowy, ugly Wolverine who kills lots of villains and looks like he needs to take a shower very badly.

And Lee's women - whoa. This book contains more gratuitous cheescake shots than any X-Men graphic novel I've seen, but it's all very pleasing to the eye. Especially the scenes with Rogue, whose bare skin can kill anyone she touches and thus, understandably, was always the one major female character who kept herself completely covered at all times. This was the first storyline in the series where they finally drew her as a scantily-clad, sexy heroine. A real treat for male Rogue-fans who'd been reading the series patiently for years.

This storyline also chronicles the transformation of innocent young Psylocke into a mature woman trained in the art of Ninjitsu, and she becomes an ultra-violent, sexy bad girl. And then there are cameo appearances by other Marvel superheroes, namely Captain America (from the Avengers series) and The Black Widow (from the Daredevil series). All in all, it's a satisfying, action-packed, well-drawn, crowd-pleasing comic book in trade-paperback format.

X-Men Visionaries Jim Lee trade paperback Is a great X-Men graphic Novel by Jim Lee! the book reprints Uncanny X-Men issues #248,#256-258,#268-269,#273-277 are reprinted together in this wonderful Marvel book collection! This book contains the early Uncanny X-Men issues that made Jim Lee famous! All the issues are written by Chris Claremont with artwork by Jim Lee. These issues lead to the popular Claremont/Lee colaboration on X-Men#1 in 1991. Most of the artwork was done by Jim Lee. Uncanny X-Men #273 was done by various artists. Buy this book if your fan of X-Men and Jim Lee. Highest Possible Recommendation!

This is a great X-Men: Visionaries Jim Lee graphic Novel! This is Jim Lee's early work on the Uncanny X-Men series! This Marvel Tradepaperback reprints Jim Lee's early years when he was the comic book artist on Uncanny X-Men. In this book reprints Uncanny X-Men#248,#256-258,#268-269, #273-277. His early work on the Uncanny X-Men in the early 1990s, lead to to the critically aclaimed Clarmont/Lee work on X-Men #1 in 1991. All the Uncanny X-Men issues are written by Chris Claremont. Most of the artwork is drawn by Jim Lee. Unncany X-Men#273 is drawn by various artist. Buy this book if your a big fan of X-Men and Jim Lee. Highest Possible Recommendation.

This wonderful book takes you out of the box! "Impossible cases might no longer be a luxury we can afford," the authors begin, because of Managed Care, they continue, but when COULD we afford "impossible cases"? We're talking about people and their lives after all.

"Historically," they continue, "impossibility has been located in the client." And the self-fulfillingness of the diagnosis of "impossible" is also discussed. You can see they aren't afraid to take on sacred elephants!

In case after actual case, they show how optimism, flexibility and meeting client's needs can bring success, giving such obvious-and-therefore-overlooked advice as "What the client wants from treatment may be the single most important piece of information that can be obtained."

Full of optimisim and fresh approaches ("It is the unpredictability of client methods and accomplishments that makes this work fun.") that rather go against traditional methods -- well these cases are considered "impossible" because others have tried and failed -- they encourage the practitioner to be different and try new things. And it isn't just theory _ they give plenty of concrete examples of how-to.

But to me the best thing about the book is their deep, abiding respect for people as individuals, not cases. As one client wrote after therapy, "...it was your believing in me, that I was a person and not a patient ... a person with potential and worth."

"Looking beyond labels and giving clients the benefit of a doubt is critical with psychotherapy veterans," say the authors. They challenge helpers to move beyond labels, to replace history with a "competing experience of acceptance and validation" and "watch what clients can really do."

If you're a beginner, this book is for you. If you're a worn-down veteran, this book is especially for you. And if you're in between, it is also for you.

Psychotherapy with "Impossible" Cases is a book that makes a therapist feel like he or she has the best possible occupation. It is a call to remember both the resources all human beings bring to their life experiences, and the potential pitfalls of getting mired solely in the medical model perspective of change. Duncan et al., give inspiring case examples to portray the importance of sincerely reflecting all persons' dignity back to them in the therapy process, regardless of the complaint/diagnosis. In addition, the authors weave in research and relevant literature that clearly outline the need for more careful scrutiny of the mental health professional community, particulary the views practitioners and organizations hold and propogate about the role adversity plays in human lives, and how healing occurs.

This book clearly expressed the passions that the authors have for doing good therapy. The cases were described with such richness, great detail. Once again, the authors challenge the everyday thinking of how to do therapy and lend some inspiration for tackling challenges.

I thought it would be good, by the looks of it, the compelling cover, interesting artwork, and art spiegelman's name on the cover. I don't know how much spiegelman had to do with the story itself, but I didn't see any sign of his level of intelligence and creative vision here. Mostly, I was disappointed by the writing; the dialog seemed *too* bleak, without sufficient justification from the story line. What we got here are some disaffected hardasses who are gonna show how tough and calloused they are--but mostly through their brutal actions, not through any sort of articulate speech. It was impossible to feel any affection or even respect or pity for any character in the book, especially the main character Perdita. Maybe that's the point--look how hard the world is, what a cold, cruel world it is, etc. I don't know who's to blame for that pessimistic vision, but even with my avid interest in comics and graphic novels and literature of the US/Mexico border (like Charles Bowden's *Blue Desert* which is bleak but amazingly compelling, or Aristeo Brito's *The Devil in Texas* or Ted Conover's *Coyotes*) I have to say that this book was a big disappointment. Much of the art is good, but the writing drags it down. I really did want to like it! I hunted for it for months! I can't help it!

Scot Gillis' artwork is tremendous in what should become a pulp lit classic. Barry Gifford's story of the venomous, sinewy Perdita Durango is a dusty ride through cheap fiction. The story is spartan but the artwork is rich and unrivaled.

Scott Ian Barry is a very well respected photographer. His first book "Kingdom of Wolves" has some truly outstanding photos. Unfortunately, his excellence in that area does not cross over in this novel. While its overall theme is original, the plot is sadly predictable. It's climax is at best, something straight out of a Junior High creative writing class. I would not recommend this book to anyone.