So how do you feel about the X-Men in space? I'm currently reading one of the old Claremont tales with the Shi'ar, Starjammers, etc. To me, it always seemed a little unusual for the X-Men to go into space as often as they do. It feels like they should stay a more earth based team. Their members are not really that "cosmic"... aside from the whole Dark Phoenix mess I suppose.

Anyway, your thoughts on the X-Men and their space adventures?

They are ok, but I recently read the hardcover of The Rise and Fall of the Shiar Empire, and thought it was excellent. Playing off of Deadly Genesis helped though.

They do have multiple ties to space, though... Corsair, Lilandra, Phoenix, etc. I do enjoy the title more when they stay a bit more grounded, though...

I always hated the "X-Men in outer space" stories. Especially when they ran into so many alien races! Hell, for that matter, I hated the Silver Surfer series from the 90's, for the same reason. I want to see the Surfer on Earth.

Having characters who were somewhat realistic, personality-wise, is kind of stretched thin by "SNIKT! in space".

I wasn't big on the whole thing with the Brood (seeing that they were wanna be rip offs of alien.) Although is does help to change Ms Marvel to Binary.

The Surfer series of the 90's, the Ron Lim one, at least, was pretty much superheroes in space... I remember they banded together all the old heralds of Galactus to go after the new, evil herald of Galactus, Morg. They might as well have been on Earth. I like the way he's been depicted in Annihilation, and I do prefer him to not be confined to Earth, where he's pretty much too powerful. He's someone that belongs in space.

They changed Ms. Marvel to Binary, and then we lost her for years to the Starjammers...

I've never been a fan of Marvel cosmic stuff, but I don't mind them being in space. They work better on the ground, but all that Shi'ar and Phoenix stuff seemed to work out.

Also...correct me if I'm wrong here, but are the X-Men the only Marvel characters to have had a crossover with STAR TREK? That's just bizarre. Like the world was demanding a Spock/Wolverine team-up.

They sure did didn't they? The Spock/Beast chess match was a cool bit of fanboy-gasm worthy business though if I remember correctly.