X-Men Battle of the Atom kicks off this week with mutants from the past, present and future in a time twisting tale to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Children of the Atom.
After years of reading (the X-Men was my first comic book ever) and a lot of thinking about the great epics of mutant past here are my top ten picks for the best X-Men storylines.
Here is our #10-#6: Continue reading Top 10 X-MEN Stories (10 to 6)
Here’s a first look at James McAvoy on the set of X-Men: Days of Future Past courtesy director Bryan Singer via Twitter. Singer’s reveal comes with the reference of the 1970’s Al Pacino film Serpico and it fits given McAvoy’s long hair and shirt!
McAvoy is reprising his role as the younger Professor Charles Xavier. Sir Patrick Stewart is reprising his role as Professor X too. The upcoming film unites the cast of the original X-Men films and X-Men: First Class.
The new film is set in the 1970’s and an dark future ruled by Sentinels. No word on if McAvoy and Stewart will appear in scenes together.
By Editor
Professor Xavier is dead but the X-Men founder is back in New Avengers #3. The new series by Jonathan Hickman and Steve Epting stars a new version of Marvel’s biggest brains – the Illuminati. The late Charles Xavier was a member of the original gathering of Marvel’s most powerful leaders. The new brotherhood is gathering the Infinity Gems in an effort to stop alternate universes from crushing ours.
Is this a secret the telepath buried in the Beast’s mind or is Henry McCoy engaging in more time travel like he did in the first arc of All-New X-Men? (Just in case you missed it – Beast brought back the original five X-Men into the present Marvel Now!)
I wanted to share some of this Comics Newsarama exclusive preview of the next issue.
As the pages reveal – the Professor has left a trail for Beast to follow. Could this be the key to saving the Earth? Could this lead to the resurrection of Professor X?
If you haven’t checked it out yet- you should definitely jump on the new New Avengers – a must for Marvel fans.
Beast, Cap, Black Panther, Namor, Black Bolt and the potential reunion of the Infinity Gems? This is a can’t miss book!
By Editor
A new X-Men book starring Legion? Seriously?
This may be the biggest surprise announcement in the Marvel Now relaunch.
X-Men Legacy #1 takes a complete 180 in terms of concept but it’s never been more appropriate.
Who is Legion:
One the most frighteningly powerful and unstable mutants ever. David is the son of Professor Xavier and Gabrielle Haller and was raised on Muir Island.
He was born with multiple mutant powers.
He suffers from multiple personalities each controlling a different power.
He has the worst haircut and costumes (if you call pajamas a costume) in comics. You think one of his personalities could be a stylish gay man saying ‘oh we’re getting a haircut and makeover!”
David has victimized the New Mutants and X-Men over the years.
David caused major dimensional rifts: Age of Apocalypse and Age of X.
Simon Spurrier and Tan Eng Huat and the X-Editors have a huge challenge. How did they do?
X-Men Legacy #1 begins with Legion in therapy and unaware that his father has been killed by Cyclops. David’s interactions with this guru are at times bizarre and moving as he questions his father’s motive for leaving him alone. There is a whole other therapy session going on in this issue! This “complex” may or may not be in Legion’s mind or minds with visuals that reminded me of Prometheus and Casanova Quinn series. There is a key moment back at the Jean Grey School that could be a scary omen from Blindfold, who will be a supporting character in the series.
This is definitely different from every other X-book out there. It’s a bold move to take minor character and give him the spotlight but I’m intrigued. David will try to succeed his father and continue his dream in a way only he could. How that will affect the factions of X-Men and Marvel Universe will make for the drama, fun and wonder of this series.
I’m rooting for you David!
Now if only they would get ride of that dried paintbrush hair!
By Editor
A brand new X-Men Legacy series starring Legion? This is one of the most surprising titles of the Marvel NOW relaunch. Writer Simon Spurrier and artist Tan Eng Huat create this week’s X-Men Legacy #1 starring one of the most powerful and dangerously unstable mutants in the Marvel Universe – the son of Professor X.
Writer Simon Spurrier (X-Club) and Editor Daniel Ketchum shared their vision and plans for this new series on Marvel.com.
“It’s kind of the black sheep of the X-Men family,”Spurrier says of the book and star, “is he going to step up and try to fill his father’s shoes? Is he going to go in a completely opposite direction? At the same time, how are the X-Men going to feel about this?”
“How do you feel when you’ve grown up in the shadow of a great man?” Legion is someone who has largely defined himself by who his father was,” Spurrier said of Professor X’s son.”
You could call Legion an enemy of the X-Men because of the evil personalities that took over David but Spurrier plans on giving him his own voice.
“It was wonderful to give Legion a voice & get into the nittygritty about what he is all about.”
Legion will confront the X-Men in issue #4 and questions their decision to keep mutants closed away at a school.
How will Legion react to meeting Cyclops – the man who murdered his father?
“I haven’t written Cyclops yet, let’s just say that,” Spurrier replied.
Since Legion grew up on a small island off Scotland Spurrier said he will give him a slight Scottish accent. Spurrier said he’s a fan of Chamber and Blindfold is a “brilliant and broken character” who will have a big part to play. Wolverine, Storm and Frenzy will appear in the series.
What about Legion’s famous hairstyle?
As you can see from the interior art by Tan Eng Huat, Daniel’s classic hair is staying.
Op/Ed: Professor X’s son has been central to many storylines but as a supporting character but now he’s the leading man. In the aftermath of AvX it makes more sense that Legion assume a greater role in mutant affrairs except that Daniel Haller isn’t the most stable guy. Legion’s mental instability and drastic actions created the Age of Apocalypse and Age of X. Professor X’s son will struggle with his psychic demons while trying to save his father’s dream. It may seem very unorthodox but this new X-Men Legacy #1 really takes on a personal and literal meaning.
By Editor
SPOILER WARNING
THIS POST CONTAINS MAJOR PLOT POINTS FROM AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #11
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ AVX#11 YET PLEASE NO READ MORE
SERIOUSLY
HERE IT COMES
Avengers vs. X-Men #11 is an epic and heartbreaking chapter that brings the complicated lives of Scott Summers, Professor Charles Xavier and in a way Jean Grey full circle. I don’t mean to offend any religious sensibilities with my next point. Professor X, Cyclops and the Phoenix Force are the mutant father, son and cosmic spirit.
Cyclops has been driven his entire life. Driven to lead by Professor X. Driven to extreme measures to save his fellow mutants. Now the Phoenix Force has driven Scott to nearly destroy the woman he loves and kill his mentor.
Brian Michael Bendis tells Marvel.com why this story led to the Professor’s death.
“When I joined the X-Men office I was quite surprised what a polarizing figure Charles Xavier had become among the editors, creators, and readers. Maybe it’s because he’s bald but I never have a problem with him. Analyzing it, it is clear that the franchise just simply outgrew him. All of the characters had moved on to a place where Charles himself wasn’t really needed anymore. I don’t think anyone did it on purpose; it was just one of those organic storytelling things.
I spent a lot of time championing his place in Avengers Vs. X-Men only to find that I was really one of the only [people] who cared how he felt about the whole thing. After one of our retreat days a small group of us got together and the question was brought up that maybe he would be more interesting dead post-AvX than he was in life pre-AvX.
Knowing what my plans were post AvX [with ALL-NEW X-MEN], the death of Charles Xavier made every scene I have coming up for the next year more passionate, more interesting and more controversial. I was very happy that we voted to whack the man.
A small group of us getting together to decide to murder Charles Xavier is all sounding very Godfather-ish. [Laughs]
Bendis reveals the consequences of this death.
“Charles Xavier is a founding father of the pro-mutant movement. If there is a mutant living by that manifesto, he or she is living a manifesto invented by Charles Xavier. The other mutants all around the Marvel Universe will have very strong feelings about his death. Some will try to carry on his message, others will decide that the dream is dead, and others will never forget Scott Summers for what he has done and will do everything in their power to make every day of his life a nightmare.”
Bendis is not just a writer. He’s a fan. Bendis explains how it feels to kill an icon in such a dramatic confrontation?
“It felt very Shakespearean. I don’t always write in a very Shakespearean way but as I was putting the final touches on the scene and then when I saw the pencils I was quite surprised how large the tragedy truly felt. Not only does Cyclops, who is arguably not in control of his own actions, [to] murder his father, for lack of a better word, but he does it in front of every major player in the Marvel Universe. This isn’t some rumor that’s been spread around. Everyone saw him do it. Scott knows what he has done.
And then I was struck with the feeling that as the new writer of X-Men I was walking into the franchise as the man who murdered Charles Xavier, gave Wolverine his memories back, and decimated the mutant population without even being on an X-Men book. And then I thought I may need to unplug my computer once and for all. [Laughs]
How does a lifelong X-Men fan like myself feel? I write this review while it’s still pretty raw.
This book is brilliant. Even as I saw what was building I still felt the shock and awe as each powerful moment happened.
Captain America’s plea and the Hulk’s answer – perfection.
Olivier Coipel has drawn one of the most beauitful images of Rogue ever created.
The cover promised a massive fight but I love how Emma and Scott’s conflict slowly burned into that shocking moment when Cyclops seized Emma’s share of the force.
I’m so impressed that Bendis used Bobby as the voice against Scott instead of Logan, again.
“This is what it felt like for Jean” was the moment that just nailed me in the heart. As a guy who still might cry while reading the original Dark Phoenix Saga seeing Scott possessed by the entity was as scary and saddening.
The nightmare comes full circle: Scott is now the Dark Phoenix.
By Editor
Professor Charles Xavier is a refined badass. He’s been patient. He’s tried to support and understood the actions of this prize student. It’s time for Professor X to get into the war. Time to go all psi-war on the Phoenix Force!
Comics Newsarama has a first look at interior art for Avengers vs. X-Men #11 by Olivier Coipel. Professor X and Storm join forces with Captain America, the Avengers and Hope against the Phoenix Two: Cyclops and Emma Frost.
Brian Michael Bendis will script this penultimate issue of the epic conflict. I felt Bendis really captured Professor X’s anguish and anger in last week’s New Avengers #29 and this week’s Avengers #29.
With the announcement of a new X-Men Legacy relaunch starring the Professor’s son, Legion, could this mean Charles will make the ultimate sacrifice to stop the student who is more like a son?
What if Charles must destroy Scott? Here’s my theory of what might happen to Miss Emma Frost after AvX!
By Editor
Captain America (under the guidance of writer Brian Michael Bendis) attempts to reconvene the Illuminati in order to stop the Phoenix Force in New Avengers #29. A secret group (Tony Stark, Namor, Doctor Strange, Reed Richards, Professor X and Black Bolt. Black Panther declined) went on covert missions. Bendis revealed the secret history of his this covert team had saved Earth in critical points of Marvel history. The group eventually disbanded.
Cap hopes this Illuminati reunion might lead to the end of Avengers vs. X-Men. What I love about this tie-in issue is how it goes right into the minds and weary hearts of the heroes caught up in this epic battle. Bendis really captures what I expected Professor Xavier to be feeling. This a father figure anguishing over what his children are doing and what he must do to stop them. Bendis creates great moments for Professor X and Reed Richards who questions Cap’s desire to stop the “good work” of the Phoenix Five.
The heart of the story is Cap and his relationship with Namor. Will the Phoenix possessed ally show up and poses a great moment: can a lifelong friendship hope to defeat the cosmic power of the entity?
Artist Mike Deodato paints a somber portraits of beleaguered heroes. His shadowy art is perfect for the covert proceedings and the dark places these characters must go.
This issue takes me back to the first story featuring the secret group of heroes. Here’s a link to New Avengers: The Illuminati if you’d like to check it out.
By Editor