X-Men: First Class – Tomorrow’s Brightest by Jeff Parker

Parker, Jeff. Pencilers, Roger Cruz with Paul Smith. X-Men: First Class – Tomorrow’s Brightest Marvel Publishing Inc., 2007 ISBN 0-7851-2426-8
Plot
Before they became the X-Men they were your ordinary group of teenage mutants. Being a teenager is hard enough but with super powers it is easier…not! Before Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast and Iceman became teachers at Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters they were its first teenage students dealing with ordinary teen situations with an added twist of understanding and using there powers. They explore and learn to control there abilities through many difficult situations they find themselves in. This eight part sage tells the story of the original X-Men growing and learning through experiences that made them the superheroes of today.
Critical evaluation
It goes into depth of the main characters, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast and Iceman, each having there own story. There personalities shine through and are a great mix filled with diversity, with distinct voices. The situations that they find themselves are laughable, giant lizard, man eating plants, etc. but the main plot of the story is to show there teamwork. Parker invites the reader into the teenage student world before they became the superhero X-Men that many know them as now. It is easy to read and follow, which is always a plus! Parker and Cruz give a fresh take on the X-Men, capturing there innocence.
Readers annotation
Before they became X-Men, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel, Beast and Iceman had to learn about there superhuman powers at Xaviers School for Gifted Children through many interesting situations.
Information About the Author
With X-Men: First class Parker was not afraid to embrace the Old Marvel Comic books and made it more accessible than most superhero comics of today,
Genre
Graphic Novel - Superhero

Curriculum Ties
English
Booktalking ideas
1) A first person talk from all 5 characters
a. Being a teenager with superpowers
Reading level/interest age
A: For ages 9 and up
Why book included?
It is the beginning of the great X-Men series, had to check it out.