Review: X-Men Blue & Gold – Mutant Genesis Omnibus

By Kyle at Hobby Haul • Updated October 8, 2025 • Score: 9.5/10

It’s finally here! My copy of the X-Men: Blue & Gold – Mutant Genesis Omnibus just landed, and I’ve been counting the days for this release. As someone who already owns the X-Men by Chris Claremont and Jim Lee Vol. 2 Omnibus and the Shattershot Omnibus, I’ll admit I was a little concerned about overlap. But upon cracking open Mutant Genesis, that fear was mostly washed away — this one’s a heavyweight celebration of the entire early-’90s mutant boom, clocking in at a massive 1,360 pages and retailing for $150 USD.

The book ships with two Jim Lee covers — a direct-market edition featuring art from X-Men #3 and a standard edition from X-Men Annual #1. The yellow spine with bold blue lettering and a striking Cyclops/Colossus image ties the whole presentation together. On the shelf, it absolutely pops.

Overview & Team Setup

This era picks up right after the Muir Island Saga, with the X-Men reorganized into two squads:

• Blue Team, led by Cyclops — featuring Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Psylocke, and Beast.
• Gold Team, led by Storm — joined by Jean Grey, Iceman, Colossus, and Archangel.

That division allowed Marvel to tell multiple storylines at once while keeping the franchise united — an ingenious move that reflected the sprawling mutant world of the time.

The omnibus kicks off with Mutant Genesis, a true modern-age classic that reintroduces Magneto in one of his most nuanced portrayals — a Holocaust survivor torn between vengeance and redemption. From there, it dives into Omega Red’s first full appearance, Bishop’s debut, and the sprawling X-Cutioner’s Song crossover featuring Strife, Cable, and Apocalypse.

If you grew up on the ’90s X-Men animated series, trading cards, or video games, this is the blueprint. These are the stories and designs that defined that era — the slick Jim Lee costumes, the over-the-top team shots, and the perfect mix of melodrama and mutant heroics.

Contents

Collected in this omnibus:

• X-Men (1991) #1–6
• Uncanny X-Men (1981) #281–297
• X-Men Annual #1 and Uncanny X-Men Annual #16
• Ghost Rider #26–27 • X-Factor #84–86 • X-Force #16–18 • Strife Strike File #1
• Material from X-Factor Annual #7, X-Force Annual #1, Marvel Comics Presents #89, and X-Men: Odd Men Out

Art & Creative Team

This is a creative powerhouse: Chris Claremont, Jim Lee, John Byrne, Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza, Whilce Portacio, John Romita Jr., Joe Madureira, Joe Quesada, Tom Raney, Art Thibert, and Brandon Peterson.

Every page bursts with early-’90s energy — detailed line work, kinetic layouts, and unforgettable costume designs. The Jim Lee artwork alone makes this worth owning: his Magneto, Psylocke, Gambit, and Wolverine remain definitive. Many issues reprint the original connecting and gatefold covers for that full poster-sized impact.

Extras & Presentation

Expect roughly 120 pages of bonus material, including creator interviews (Jim Lee!), variant & collected-edition covers, promo pieces, trading cards, sketches, and design sheets. The binding is sturdy, print is crisp, and colors pop. Written commentary is light, but the visual extras deliver the nostalgia hit.

Double-Dipping & Continuity

If you already own X-Men by Chris Claremont & Jim Lee Vol. 2, there’s overlap (notably X-Men #1–11). But Mutant Genesis goes well beyond that: it folds in the Uncanny arcs, Bishop’s Crossing, X-Cutioner’s Song, and key side material to function as a complete era collection rather than a single creative-team spotlight.

My Take

Nostalgia hit hard with this one. Even though I knew much of the X-Men side, the Uncanny issues were a fresh treat — and experiencing both teams’ threads in one place makes the era feel bigger and more alive.

It’s probably my favorite omnibus of all time — definitely top 3. The pacing, the art, the character beats — it’s everything that made the 90s mutant boom so addictive. Now I’m just hoping for a Volume 2 that carries through Fatal Attractions and beyond.

Final Verdict

Rating: 9.5 / 10 — A must-own for mutant fans and a perfect time capsule of the 90s boom.