Infinite Satellite

Summary: This comic compendium details Max Eisenhardt's childhood and adolescence as he tries to escape the Nazi regime, only to end up in a concentration camp where he will witness horror upon horror before escaping to one day become Magneto, the X-Men's greatest foe.

Verdict: Great as a history lesson, but not as a superhero tale.

Yay!: The beautiful art brings the heart-rending story to life. As a pure Holocaust tale, this comic definitely works. It's horrifying, saddening, and eye-opening. It could have a place on the shelf in a history classroom.

Nay!: Why connect this book to the X-Men if it isn't really going to have anything to do with mutants? Magneto's powers haven't manifested yet and are only foreshadowed two or three times. I felt like this story could have been about any Holocaust victim and doesn't do much to show how Max became Magneto. Don't go into this book expecting anything but Holocaust history.

Suggestion: For equally poignant but more original slants on the Holocaust, check out The Book Thief, which has a slight graphic novel element, or the Italian movie "Life Is Beautiful."