Young mutants on the run and rebelling against the X-Men?
In Once and Future Mutants we pondered the fate of the most current class of mutants students (Tempus, Triage, Goldballs, Hijack and Morph) and past “new” mutants that didn’t make it to front burner fandom.
With Marvel‘s November previews we know one Generation Hope graduate and a Jean Grey School alum are officially part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel Now this Fall.
Oya and Evan is on the run with the All-New X-Men (young Iceman, Beast, Angel and X-23) in issue three.
The wedding of Jean-Paul Beaubier and Kyle Jinadu in Astonishing X-Men#51 this week is the latest reason to celebrate our love of mutant super heroes. The X-Men represent diversity and overcoming differences. These heroes don’t just fight bad guys. They fight discrimination and intolerance.
When Stan Lee created X-Men #1 his young heroes had powers because of genetics. You might say Stan the Man came up with “Born This Way” before Lady Gaga made it a pop anthem. Professor Xavier taught his students how to use their powers for the good of all humanity. Erik Lensherr was a Jew and his horrific experiences in World War II brought him into direct conflict with Xavier’s teachings and he became the X-Men’s number one enemy: Magneto.
In the 1970’s Len Wein and Dave Cockrum helped introduce the “all new, all different” X-Men. The team’s new additions reflected the changing world. Ororo Munroe aka Storm was an African (later revealed to be African-American) woman. John Proudstar/Thunderbird was an Apache Native American. His brother James would eventually take the code name Warpath and become an X-Man. Shiro Yoshida was the first Asian X-Man called Sunfire. The Japanese hero who later lead his own team and title: Big Hero Six.
German Kurt Wager is still my favorite X-Man. Nightcrawler lived the ultimate in irony. Kurt was a compassionate, devoted Catholic. Kurt had a sweet soul but genetics gave him the appearance of a demon. My other favorite is Kitty Pryde, a Jewish girl from Chicago who joined the X-Men as a teenager. Kitty was frightened of Kurt for years and their evolving friendship was one of my favorite ongoing storylines.
Bishop & Storm from X-treme X-Men #30 courtesy Marvel
Writer Chris Claremont was the creative force behind the X-Men for nearly two decades. Claremont made Storm leader of the team. In the early 1980’s having an African-American female in charge of the team was a breakthrough moment. Storm would fall in love with Forge, a Native American mutant and Vietnam veteran. Storm would later become leader of X-Treme X-Men, the Queen of Wakanda (she married the Black Panther) and became an Avenger. Storm is currently leads the security team in X-Men.
Claremont explored the issue of apartheid with the creation of Genosha. On this island nation off the African coast mutants were enslaved and considered natural resources not equal citizens. The X-Men were involved in liberating the mutants of the nation over several storylines.
Claremont was creator of the future generation of X-Men. The New Mutants continued the legacy of creating diversity. Danielle Moonstar was a Cheyenne Native American and became team leader. Karma was a devout Catholic from Vietnam. Karma is now a lesbian and part of the Astonishing X-Men team. Sunspot was Brazilian. An attack and racial remark on the soccer field is what first triggered Roberto DaCosta’s mutant power. Danielle and Roberto are part of a team living in San Fransisco.
The New Mutants graphic novel cover courtesy Marvel.com
John Byrne was a co-plotter and artist on the early Claremont era. Byrne created the Canadian team Alpha Flight including Northstar. Byrne said he intended to have Jean Paul come out back in the 1980’s but it was against editorial policy at the time and the comics code authority. In 1992 Northstar came out in Alpha Flight #106 under writer Scott Lobdell.
The 1990’s saw a new explosion of diverse characters. Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza were the primary writers of the X-Men in this decade. Lobdell co-created Generation X which included Skin, a Hispanic American who escaped from gang life in Los Angeles to join the team. M (Monet St. Croix) is Algerian, Muslim and is now a popular member of X-Factor. The X-Men welcomed Bishop, an African-American X-Man from the future. Dr. Cecilia Reyes is a doctor of Puerto Rican background. She reluctantly joined the team but focused on her career as a surgeon instead of being a superhero. Neal Shaara is a Hindi from India who joined the X-treme team. Jubilee is an Asian-American “mall rat” who joined the X-Men and Generation X. Wolverine’s former sidekick is now a vampire. This is yet another example of how X-writers explore differences while telling a compelling action story as Jubilee fights to control her vampire hunger and hold on to her humanity.
Generation Hope #10 courtesy Marvel.com
The 21st century saw the creation of more mutant heroes from diverse backgrounds. Dust is a devout Muslim girl who always wears her burka. Wolverine rescued Sooraya from Afghanistan. Oya of Generation Hope is from Kenya and her religious beliefs make her think of she and all mutants a monsters. Oya is currently in Wolverine and the X-Men as the new Jean Grey School. Frenzy is an African-American ex-villain who recently joined X-Men Legacy in her search for redemption.
X-Factor’s Shatterstar and Rictor courtesy Marvel.com
Peter David pushes boundaries in X-Factor. After years of hinting that they were attracted to each other Shatterstar (a warrior from another dimension) and Mexican mutant Rictor fell in love. It’s not all perfect for this mutant couple because they often fight because of Shatterstar’s flirting. X-Factor has been nominated by GLAAD for Outstanding Comic Book Series. Other GLBT characters in the X-family include Anole, Bling and Graymalkin.
The X-Men writers and editors have always reflected our world. Characters and storylines have been a way to directly or indirectly explore the issues of race, religion and sexual orientation. X-Men will always be a best-selling title because we can see ourselves, the conflict and the hope that we’ll learn from our differences, survive and thrive.
By Editor
I know there’s probably a favorite mutant I may have left out of this story. Please add a comment or email me who you think deserves to be added.
The Extinction Team is back on track in Uncanny X-Men #9. Kieron Gillen is rejoined by artist Carlos Pacheco. There’s an early sequence with Magik, Colossus and Danger that’s perfectly delivered with haunting visuals and the inner dialogue of the team’s AI prison guard.
Cyclops is looking for a fight. Gillen gives him one courtesy of what could become the X-Men’s version of Ultron. Unit is an eerie hybrid of C3-PO and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (I wish I could take credit for that but that belongs to Gillen.) Unit’s manipulation is the reason why the X-Men and Avengers must team up to protect Earth. The joining of forces makes logical sense and works. Generation Hope and Abigail Brand fans will be thrilled by this issue too.
Great action, a cool villain, good cliffhanger and the chance to see these super teams work together one last time makes this a great read.
Generation Hope #16 arrives today and marks the final story. I wanted to share some of this interview with former and current Generation Hope writers Kieron Gillen and James Asmus. They talk about the how Hope Summers has grown and her role in Avengers Vs X-Men.
“To state the bloody obvious, she’s had it hard. None of the futures she’s lived through have been in any way pleasant. She’s survived in some genuinely vile worlds, been chased through time and ended up coming back to Earth onto to have her Dad die in front of her. To be honest, she’d have every right to curl up in a ball and having a good old cry for the next 24 issues,” says Gillen.
“I like to think that—though she’d refuse to admit it—Cyclops has become a significant influence for her. Hope lost her father almost as soon as she made it to the present day Marvel Universe. So even though she had heard a great deal about the world she now lives in, she’s needed her fellow X-Men to actually get integrated and really start to understand her new world,” Asmus said.
“As for the tight-knit young mutants she runs with in Generation Hope, I think each one has brought something different out of our Mutant Messiah. If anyone really gets into Hope’s head and makes her think a little differently, it would have to be Laurie, aka Transonic. Kieron did a great job of setting Laurie up as an intellectual and philosophical person—in stark contrast to Hope’s more gung-ho, rough-and-tumble tendencies,” he continued.
AvX1 preview art courtesy Marvel.com
Hope’s role as the mutant messiah will make her the central role of AVX. What do expect to see happen to Hope in the event?
“I’m never anything but afraid for what could lie ahead for Hope. Even the absolute best that could happen could be pretty horrific. Her life’s an arrow, aimed at a target. Whether she hits it or misses it almost doesn’t matter. Either way, it could be the end of her,” Gillen replied.
“I am looking forward to [a] definitive and life-changing story for Hope. I can’t wait to see her completely confront her potential destiny, and to see her transformed by the process. I know that things are absolutely not going to unfold as people may expect and I’m thrilled to read how some of favorite creators are going to unfold it all for us,” Asmus said then had a dire prediction.
“As for my fears? I’m not sure if I’m more afraid that she’ll have her own heart broken by the events—or if she just might be the destroyer others fear her to be…”
Generation Hope #16 arrives today. AVX #0 arrives next month.
We know that Hope Summers will likely play a critical role in the upcoming Avengers Versus X-Men event but first she must survive the insane traitor on her team.
The final showdown between Hope and Kenji is coming and Asmus teased that the insane Kenji won’t be alone in his stand against his team leader.
Generation Hope #16 courtesy Marvel.com
Will the Lights join Idie at the Jean Grey School and become part of Wolverine and the X-Men? How will Hope and Cyclops resolve their conflict over the newly recovered Sebastian Shaw? How will the Laurie, Martha, Kenji triangle be resolved? Will Pixie find love with Gabriel?
Will any of these kids survive AVX and the return of the Phoenix Force? I’ve often thought that the Five Lights could have been a creation of the Scarlet Witch’s power.
Generation Hope #16 courtesy Marvel.com
For more preview art here’s the Marvel link. Generation Hope #16 hits stores February 15th.
I know Cable is back in Avengers: X-Sanction. I hope he gets to see his daughter again. The Nathan, Scott, Hope family dynamic is strange logistically but still very moving.
Following up on the news that Generation Hope is coming to an end. Writer James Asmus reveals new details about the final showdowns among team members today on Marvel.com.
“Kenji finally makes a stand against Hope, but he won’t be doing it alone,” Asmus teases the events in the final two chapter of the series beginning with issue #16.
“On top of that, I tried to confront and forward as much as I could—the love triangle between Martha, Kenji and Laurie; Hope’s decisions to control her team; Hope’s ultimate decision about Sebastian Shaw; Gabriel and Pixie’s romantic turmoil and more!”
“All the characters on Utopia that the team has been interacting with are pulled into the last two issues and I tried to create a claustrophobic, paranoid horror story for issue #16 that boils over into an all-out wrap for the series. It’s certainly not timid.”
Generation Hope #17 courtesy Marvel.com
The big question is which kids will survive the showdown and be thrown into the AVX conflict.
“I know where things are headed and let me tell you, Hope is going to be front and center,” the writer says. “People are going to be very surprised by what happens.”
Asmus has a message for the devoted readers of Generation Hope.
“I also can’t say enough about the fans of the book. This was my first real experience with a truly engaged pack of dedicated readers. I was nervous about incurring their wrath if I wrecked the book. But the fans were incredibly game and vocally excited for so much of what we’ve been doing—and I can’t fully express how happy that’s made me. I hope they’ve fallen in love with at least one of these new characters in the Marvel Universe, and [that] I’ve reminded them how great and terrible it is to be a teenager again.”
I was lucky to meet James on his first con – Emerald City Comicon. You should read his stories in the X-Men: Manifest Destiny collection. He has a Nightcrawler story that will make you sigh.
Takeshi Miyazawa will join Asmus as artist on the final arc of the series.
One of the biggest comic events of 2011 was X-Men: Schism. New villains and one misguided mutant trigger an international incident that inflames anti-mutant hatred. When all X-Men should stand together, one decision leads to the destruction of the very foundation of the team. Jason Aaron delivered shocking new villains, a global threat to mutant existence and a Cyclops/Wolverine battle for the ages. 5 of the best artists on the industry illustrated a chapter in the tale that changed the X-Men.
There is plenty of tense action but there’s heartbreak and raw emotions. From Wolverine and Cyclops reaching the breaking point to Idie’s reaction to an impossible scenario no child should have to endure, Aaron created a story that will reverberate with the divided X-family for years to come.
Generation Hope’s Idie may be the X character that defined 2011. The young mutant was responsible for schism, death and reinvention. Idie was one of the breakout characters of 2011.
