X-Men: Emperor Vulcan by Christopher Yost

Yost, Christopher. Penciler: Paco Diaz Luque. X-Men: Emperor Vulcan, Marvel Publishing Inc., 2008 ISBN 978-0-7851-2551-8
Plot
Gabriel and Alex Summers are brothers who are fighting against each other for the fate of billions in the Shi’Ar. Gabriel is Vulcan the Shi’ar emperor while Alex is Havok who is leading the rebellious Starjammers against his brothers rule. While there is internal turmoil from the brothers as well as in there world there is an outside force who is willing to destroy both of them. A new power emerges, known as the Scy'ar Tal, a race of aliens who were driven from their home world by the Shi'ar centuries earlier, and are now seeking revenge. Havok along with his band of Starjammers are forces to join forces with Vulcan to fight the war against the enemies. Throughout the fight, Havok is aware that his brother might turn on him so is always waiting to see when his brother will betray him.
Critical evaluation
In order to really understand this graphic novel the reader must read the collection of comics before this. The book does not give a lot of background information on Vulcan or Havok beginnings of internal conflicts. Besides the lack of character development the plot of the story is well done. Two brothers joining together to fight against a common enemy but one is still waiting for the other to attack. The Scy’ar Tal secret is the most interesting part of the story because it makes way for the other story to continue. It is not your ordinary X-Men tale because it takes place in a different planet but none the less it still holds vital characters of the X-Men series.
Readers annotation
Its brother vs. brother in the Shi’ar Empire but when an outside force appears out of nowhere both brothers must band together to fight against the enemy.
Information About the Auothor
Yost took over this X-Men series after Ed Brubaker switched to Vertigo.
Genre
Graphic Novel - Superhero
Curriculum Ties
English
Booktalking ideas
1) read the story of the Shi’Ar-there displacement and revenge- pg 31-34
Reading level/interest age
13 and up
Why book included?
Ed Brubaker worked well with X-Men wanted to see how Yost would hold it up.