A major casualty of the latest AvX chapter: the marriage of one of Marvel’s premiere power couples. This ending means new beginnings for the two iconic heroes.
Spoiler Warning!!!
This Op/Ed reveals a major plot point of Avengers vs. X-Men #9
If you have NOT read AvX #9 stop reading.
Seriously
OK – Here it comes
Storm and Black Panther are over. Ororo fought with her fellow mutants but is switching sides now that she’s seeing how the Phoenix Force has taken over her fellow X-Men. It’s too late. Black Panther gave the Avengers refuge in Wakanda and now his country and people are paying the price after a Phoenix fueled Namor attacked. The relationship was already on shaky ground and the Wakanda tragedy was the final hit. T’Challa annulled their marriage. As the High Priest he can do that.
Storm has always been divided and torn between her love and duty to T’Challa and to her fellow mutants. I believe Storm is being set up to take over the X-Men. Brian Michael Bendis will take over the mutant franchise with All New X-Men starring the original five students but I have to believe there will be another book featuring the current X-favorites.
X-Men #30 courtesy Marvel
I believe the era of Cyclops and Emma Frost will be over after AvX and it’s time for Storm to assume leadership of the mutant family again. There’s no better team to chronicle that than Brian Wood and David Lopez. The X-Men creative team just wrapped their first arc and I can’t rave enough about how Wood and Lopez write and draw Storm as the cool, commanding yet compassionate leader. Storm is one of my favorite characters ever and she’s a challenge to write but Brian Wood has succeeded beautifully and should continue in the Marvel NOW! era.
Avengers vs. X-Men #9 is a dramatic, action packed epic with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on the run, heroes switching sides, chilling hints of what’s to come and….heart and humor?
The truth nature of the Phoenix Force is being revealed…and it’s scary as hell. But the true nature of a hero is what makes this issue a standout and a testament to why I love comic books. Jason Aaron successfully balances personal drama with big screen spectacle.
The Phoenix Four are more powerful than ever after last issue’s shocking battle. Tony Stark’s genius is stalled. Thor’s might is crushed. It’s hard for the remaining Avengers to be inspired by Captain America’s leadership. Who knew your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man could be a crucial factor in a cosmic level clash?
Peter Parker takes on the Phoenix fueled Colossus and Magik! Spidey sacrifices himself to save his fellow heroes. Peter takes a beating and uses his wit…and that may drive a wedge that may be lead to the final undoing of the Phoenix Four. Jason Aaron nails Peter Parker as the “everyman on the ground” in this epic conflict.
Avengers vs. X-Men #11 courtesy Marvel.com
As that bloody battle plays out two of Marvel’s signature couples are being shattered. Black Panther and Storm stop fighting long enough to finally talk in the aftermath of the devastating battle in Wakanda but is may be too late. Emma Frost is trying to warn Cyclops about the danger from within but it maybe too late. Emma Frost may on the way to causing a cosmic carnage worse than the Dark Phoenix Saga. The seeds may be planted for an Avenging Emma and for the final act: there can be only one!
This new X-Treme X-Men #1 variant revealed on Marvel.com inspires great X-memories for me. Salvador Larroca is one of my favorite artists and this marks a homecoming of sorts for the Spanish creator. The new X-Treme X-Men debuting in July is a team of mutants from various dimensions by Greg Pak and Stephen Segovia. Dazzler, Kid Nightcrawler, Emmiline Frost and Captain Howlett (an alternate version of Wolverine) will venture through time and space to save the multiverse. This series is a spinoff of Pak’s Astonishing X-Men run.
X-Treme X-Men #1 Vol 1 courtesy Marvel
Larroca teamed with legendary Chris Claremont on the first incarnation of X-Treme X-Men featuring Storm, Gambit, Rogue, Psylocke, Sage, Bishop as globetrotting team in search of Destiny’s Diaries. I have this #1 issue in a frame on my mantle. Larroca later joined Peter Milligan on X-Men with weird tales like Golgotha, The Blood of Apocalypse and Bizarre Love Triangle: Mystique’s “foxxy” infiltration of the team. Larroca even worked on Chuck Austen’s X-Men’s run.
Uncanny X-Men #174 courtesy Marvel
Ed Brubaker welcomes Larroca back on Uncanny X-Men for his Morlock storyline. Larroca always seems to be evolving his style. His interpretation of Storm in particular.
Since 2008 Larroca has worked with Matt Fraction on Invincible Iron Man. I highly recommend newuniversal by Warren Ellis. With the rumored creative changes coming to Marvel’s main books perhaps Larroca will return to an X-Men book but until then let’s Marvel at this gorgeous cover.
Colossus crushed. Psylocke driven to tears or is that panic sweat?. Storm keeping secrets. Brian Wood and David Lopez’s X-Men #31 is tight, tense and clean storytelling about a nasty secrets coming to light.
After investigating a monster attack Storm’s covert security force encounters a bigger behemoth. Using her own secret network of human scientists – Storm discovers a genetic secret so scary she hides it from Cyclops. Ororo’s team even fears the truth could cause an even more violent rift that the events in the Schism event.
This book is a refreshing change from the other titles but it’s focused on a small team where everyone gets screen time and every character is part of the story.
I have to again state how this book reminds me of the Chris Claremont/Paul Smith in terms of tone, storytelling and art. David Lopez is an excellent fit for Wood’s crisp clean pacing and the expressions. Instead of a big screen action stuffed with characters on top of characters, we have a small cast uncovering a scientific mystery, burdened by the knowledge and tactically moving at the small covert unit their set up to be. You might call this a Torchwood (minus the sex but it’s only their second issue) X-Men team?
If you love the old school Storm when she was a confident, commanding, tactical and thoughtful leader then you’ll enjoy this book for that reason alone. Lopez conveys her powerful presence and steely looks perfectly.
Giant monster, strong women, freaky scientific mysteries makes this one badass X-book.
After a mind warping miniseries (Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega) Brian Wood is now chronicling two X-Books in two different universes. X-Men #30 saw Storm’s security team investigate a new race of mutants and what might be the start of a schism between Ororo and Scott. Kitty Pryde is taking charge of Ultimate Comics: X-Men as the mutants struggle to survive in a nation overrun with Sentinels.
X-Men #32 courtesy Marvel.com
Brian Wood revealed how he writes two different X-teams in two different worlds on Marvel.com. Jim Beard asked about writing a small team of mutants versus the huge cast populating the other X-books.
“It’s funny you ask that because to me, this is not a small team! I don’t have much of a history of writing team books; most of what I’ve done has been non-super hero creator-owned, with single character POVs or small casts. So to me, right now, a five-person primary cast is big, and I’m still getting the hang of it.”
Wood was asked if the characters are telling the direction they want to go and elaborated on the security team leader.
X-Men #33 courtesy Marvel.com
“I’ve found this to be true, since these characters have so much history and written experience that helps guide what they say and do, at least in a reactionary way. Unless something really specific is going on, we all know how a certain character is likely to react to something. So yeah, this has happened and I’ve found myself pleasantly surprised by writing Storm. She’s become more than I thought she would be in this story.”
Over in the Ultimate-verse Kitty Pryde is getting a new look (no more Shroud?) and assuming a leadership role.
Ultimate Comics: X-Men #14 courtesy Marvel.com
“Kitty’s new costume was an idea of mine that Jorge Molina kindly made into reality, and it’s entirely about supporting events in the story. It’s part of Kitty’s new no-hiding, no-label, no-codename philosophy—almost an anti-costume. For her to have anything else would be in opposition to the story. I generally like costumes when they feel real and are practical, that look like human hands made them. I don’t have total control over them, of course, these aren’t my characters, but whenever possible that’s the approach I’ll take.”
“She makes herself a good leader. At first, she decides this is what she wants and then goes out and literally takes it; she aggressively becomes this mutant revolutionary, this freedom fighter. And I’m using those terms in an old school, 20th century way, shades of Che [Guevara] and of Malcolm X—people out to reclaim power from the occupiers, nothing more. And before anyone starts getting alarmed at those references, they’re not meant to be literal.”
Ultimate Comics: X-Men #16 courtesy Marvel.com
Wood and Kitty take command in time for the Divided We Fall crossover with the rest of the Ultimate books. For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link. Here’s my review of X-Men #30X-Men #31 is out this week.
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.
Brian Wood took over X-Men #30 with a new mission and mystery for Storm’s team. This issue felt so good because it took me back to the Chris Claremont and Paul Smith era. As much as I love the mutants and creative teams all the X-books can seem too big with too many characters tied to way to many plot threads.
Cyclops has made Storm leader of a security task force to defend mutants. Ororo leads a small team where everyone has a purpose, every mutant’s power fits into making them an effective unit and everyone gets screen time. Wood definitely demonstrates this team is under Storm’s authority.
Blank Generation begins with the discovery of what might be a new mutant race, a murder, two monsters and Storm defiantly keeping secrets from Scott. Wood sets a strong tone and pace. The art reminds me of Paul Smith but more nuanced. David Lopez draws the X-Women feminine yet strong without the typical cheese. This book reminded me of when there was just one book – and it felt nostalgic and exciting but with a dark tone.
X-Men preview art by David Lopez courtesy Marvel, a Comic Book Resources exclusive
Brian Wood is taking over two X-Men titles in June. Wood kicked off 2012 with his Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha and Omega limited series. If that series is an indicator of what he has planned for X-Men and Ultimate Comics: X-Men then prepare your mind to be mutated.
My big question for Wood when I met him at Emerald City Comicon was is his plan was to keep Storm as team of X-Men. He responded with a cool “yes, you kind of have to keep her.”
Fans asked Wood plenty of questions on X-Position on Comic Book Resources, which featured new art from his two X series.
When asked about Storm’s team’s mission:
“The mission statement is to really play up the fact they are a “security team” — really take that to an elevated level they aren’t really at now. I made them mobile, global, and with a mission mandate that will see them doing less of what Victor was doing and more along the lines of something like “The Authority” or “Planetary” — investigating weird stuff that has a tendency to go epic and cause a lot of property damage. And it involves a lot of gray area morality, Storm and the rest of them out in the field having to make decisions on the spot without the benefit of consulting with Scott first. Well, perhaps it’s a blessing to not have to consult with Scott?”
Wood went to confirm Warpath is out, Pixie is in, and he’s created new bad guys.
Ultimate Comics: X-Men preview art by Paco Medina courtesy Marvel, a Comic Book Resources exclusive
Over to the Ultimate-verse:
Personally, I love Kitty Pryde/The Shroud in Ultimate Comics X-Men and Wood promised the addition the Ultimate Jean Grey aka Karen Grant.
“Absolutely, and in a major, major way. But not for a while. This trajectory I’ve put Kitty and her team on needs to play out a bit, and once we’re past the “Divided We Fall” event and are into the next phase of the story, Jean’ll be back. And she’ll be coming back to a very different America and a very different Kitty Pryde.”
For the entire Q & A plus more images here’s the link.
