Post by sps1000 on Jul 2, 2005 2:14:35 GMT
Column 1: X-Men
S Marks the spot is a column about whatever crosses my mind at the time. So basically the world of comic books, movies and video games with a dash of other stuff thrown in. Now my first column is a biggie where I’ll give you a glimpse into what I would do to re-invigorate the X-Men line so hold on tight:
The current state of the X-Men:
The current status of the X-Men books is bad. After progressing forward for almost 3 years under Morrison’s run the X-Men were in an interesting position. Magneto had been brutally decapitated by Wolverine after Magneto had killed Jean. Now Magneto had gone crazy after using a drug called Kick which was actually the sentient bacteria called Sublime, thus leaving Emma Frost and Cyclops to be headmasters at the school when Professor X left to rebuild Genosha. Sounds good so far right?
So what went wrong? Here are just some of the many things:
1. Chuck Austen handled the first post Morrison issues: was *bleeping* up Uncanny and Avengers at the time so why hand the issues that are supposed to set the new direction up to a writer who would make George Bush Jr. look intelligent and witty? Here’s how the meeting probably went:
Joe Q: Hey Chuck the kids love you right? How would you like to write the X-Men stories that define the next couple of years?
Chuck: *Drools incompetently*
Joe Q: Great!
Now I’m not saying that the first post-Morrison X-Men issues were particularly bad but Austen just didn’t have a good enough reputation with the X-Men.
2. Editorial interference: Yes this will always be here but this time it seems the Editors were given an edict by Joe Quesada and they followed through with it.
3. Order 66! Err Order destroy Morrison: There is a rumor that’s floating around about why Morrison’s run was so completely destroyed. The rumor is that when Morrison ditched X-Men to be DC exclusive (which has worked out great for him if you’re reading the recent news) Joe Q gave the order to destroy/discredit Morrison’s run by any means possible. So that means Magneto never died and it was Xorn II’s evil twin brother who happened to look exactly like Magneto and have his exact same powers.
4. Chris Claremont still writes an X-men title! CC’s writing skills have fallen tremendously since he left X-Men in the 90’s. While they haven’t been at Revolution levels they still aren’t good enough to be on a mainstream X-Men title. I’m sorry but the core X-Men books should showcase the best the industry has to offer, not the best from 20 years ago.
5. Odd Couple: Genosha err Excalibur: An out of character magneto and Xavier plus some new mutants team to rebuild Genosha. That has nothing to do with the Excalibur I know and love, and New Excalibur doesn’t look quite as good (No Meggan! How could you!)
6. Austen still on an X-Men book: Don’t have much to say here, aside from Austen moving to a 3rd tier book actually being a good decision.
7. Bastardization of the characters: Alright read Rachel’s portrayal in classic Excalibur now read recent Uncanny issues. Case closed. Also read Generation X and the beginning of Morrison’s run then read how she’s portrayed now. Again case closed. Though with Emma since Joss is writing the main book that she’s in it doesn’t matter.
8. Wolverine in every frickin’ book! I can see Wolverine in his solo title and ONE X-Men book but every team and every book! This is ridiculous! Plus Wolverine going toe to toe and defeating people like Namor and Magneto is equally ridiculous.
Now the good things:
1. Whedon on Astonishing: Joe Q made the right choice with Astonishing, Whedon has written one of the best stories almost since dare I say it: CC and Bryne’s run with Gifted.
2. Exiles: Tony Bedard has revived this lacking title, and made it interesting.
3. Ultimate X-Men: Though not a true X-Men title around Reloaded Brian K. Vaughan has started Ultimate off with a bang the introduction of Ultimate Sinister. This title has been revived and has potential to be a sleeper hit one day.
4. Cable and Deadpool: Fabian Niceza writing the characters he made famous. He couldn’t be a better choice.
Now for the new direction if I were to decide it…
One day Joe Quesada calls me up and says: “SPS1000 the X-Men books are in poor shape I want you to revitalize this line and make it viable again, to do this you have access to every writer and artist, and you will decide the teams and the writer artist teams. You also decide the directions. Good luck and make the X-Men shine once more!”
Well me being a great humanitarian I decide to take him up on his offer. I’m going to run through all the titles and then say either cancelled or not. If they’re cancelled I just say cancelled and give a reason why, otherwise I’ll give the new team and what could happen: First we’ll start with the core titles:
Astonishing X-Men: Stays the same
Why: It just couldn’t get better; keep the direction and the team it works.
Uncanny X-Men
New Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
New Artist: Salvador Larocca
Covers: Salvador Larocca
The team: Bishop, Gambit, Rogue, Juggernaut, Psylocke, Chamber, Evangeline Whedon
Supporting characters: Storm, Sage, and Iceman
Why Vaughan: If you’ve read Ultimate X-Men you’d know that Vaughan has a good grasp of the X-Men, and what they’re about. Now if he could just bring that over to mainstream X-Men it would be great.
Why Larocca: Larocca is a great artist when they aren’t using the watercolor coloring style. I think it’s time that he went back to Uncanny.
The direction: Xavier decides to take a page from African American civil rights and decides that the best way to get equality for mutants is through litigation. Using his powers and Sage’s he gives Rogue the necessary law experience and credentials, and with Evangeline Whedon they try to get equal rights for mutants. The rest of the team is there to provide riot control, and if certain evidence is needed Bishop and Gambit are there to get it through legal or illegal means.
Satellite books:
Wolverine
New Writer: Warren Ellis
New Artist: Darrick Robertson
Why Ellis: He wrote one of the best Wolverine stories of the 90’s with Not Dead Yet, I’m sure he could do more amazing things with the book.
Why Robertson: He did great work on Wolverine before I’m sure he can do so again.
The direction: Wolverine is the best there is at what he does but what he does may not be good enough when an old and powerful enemy puts a 100 million dollar bounty on Wolverine’s head which draws all sorts of scum out against Wolverine, appearances by Sabretooth, Bullseye and the Taskmaster would be a must.
Nightcrawler
Cancelled
Why: I don’t feel Nightcrawler can hold a solo title that well.
Academy X
Cancelled
Why: None of the characters are all that interesting, yes I realize that the soap opera style story is it’s main appeal but that can’t hold interest that well as evidenced by it being one of the lowest selling X-Men books.
District X
Cancelled
Why: Yes this has an interesting concept and I fought with myself long and hard to not get rid of it but it will make room for a new title that I think everyone would like.
Cable and Deadpool
Same team
Why: This book is just too good of a sleeper hit to not get cancelled. Only thing I’d change is that I’d promote the heck out of this book
Ultimate X-Men
New writer: Tony Bedard
Returning artist: Stuart Immonen
Why Tony: The Ultimate line is running out of steam and quick. Tony could shake up the book enough for the end.
Why Immonen: I just like his art. ‘Nuff said
The team: Iceman, Kitty, Cyclops, Jean, Storm, Wolverine, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Colossus
Supporting characters: Professor X
The direction: Ultimate Apocalypse is coming, and he’s got his four Horsemen to back him up Ultimate Archangel or War, Ultimate Omega Red or Pestilence, Ultimate Sunfire or Famine, and Ultimate Selene or Death. Apocalypse is the embodiment of the Apocalypse and the young and fresh Ultimate X-Men have to stop them along with a cyborg super-soldier Ultimate Cable. Guest appearances aplenty as Ultimate Gambit, Rogue, Emma Frost, Havok, Polaris, Magneto, Juggernaut and others try to stop Apocalypse once and for all, but at what cost?
Exiles
Stays the same
Why: Bedard and the current artist (name escapes me at the moment) were good at Crossgen together I hear and I would sign them for exclusive contracts.
Unlimited X-Men
Cancelled
Why: The quality of this comic is sporadically good at best, and doesn’t sell that well I’d cancel it as quietly as possible though so possible writers don’t get pissed.
New titles:
Excalibur:
Artist/Writer: Alan Davis
Team: Captain Britain, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Rachel Summers, Warlock
Why Davis: Since Alan Moore only does projects he wants to do, Davis is the ONLY choice due to CC’s writing quality dipping since his first run.
Direction: Classic Excalibur wackiness. Magic use is also a must. Kitty not being there is a minus but she can always pop in for guest visits every once in awhile.
X-Factor:
Writer: PAD
Artist: the artist who did the MadroX mini
Team: Multiple Man, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy
Supporting cast: Izzy Ortega from District X
Why PAD: He took X-Factor in the early 90’s and made it shine. Can’t go wrong here.
Why MadroX artist guy: His art fits with the stories that would be told.
Direction: Private Investigation in Mutant Town. A continuation from the MadroX mini.
Mini-series:
Corporation X
Writer:
Artist:
Main Character: Archangel
Supporting characters: Husk, Stacy X
Story: What’s it like running a corporation as a known mutant and pedophile? Watch as Warren’s life comes crumbling down and then he has to put his life back together again!
New Mutants/ Generation X: Reunion
Writer (NM): Chris Claremont
Artist (NM): Rick Leonardi
Writer (GX): Scott Lobdell
Artist (GX): Terry and Rachel Dodson
Team (NM): Sunspot, Cannonball, Mirage, Karma, Wolfsbane, Warlock, surprise return of Magik!
Team (GX): Chamber, Husk, M, Jubilee, Banshee, Emma Frost
Story: NM/GX: R isn’t a crossover in the strictest sense where both teams get caught by Mojo and are forced to fight each other to the death. NM: R would tell the NM’s side, and GX: R would tell it from their side while NM/GX: R would finish the story off.
Conclusion of X-Men titles:
Well I came, I saw, I cancelled 5 titles to replace them with 2 new ongoing and two minis leaving the X-Men line at a trimmed 10 titles without the minis that’s 2 titles a week. Just for fun here’s how I think the shipping schedule would work:
1st week: Uncanny, Cable and Deadpool
2nd week: Ultimate, Corporation X, and X-Factor
3rd week Wolverine, Excalibur, NM: R
4th week Astonishing, GX: R, Exiles
They’ve talked about streamlining the titles, but I believe this lineup is streamlined with a little bit of something for everyone: Super heroics, politics, humor, nostalgia, crime, drama, and chaos. Marvel has one of the best lines in comics and it’s a shame they’re wasting it like they have been. This line would have something for everyone and the new directions for some of the books would please people.
Next time: Lemme get back you on that though in future columns I’ll compare the next gen consoles and do an article on Gambit and Rogue’s relationship.
S Marks the spot is a column about whatever crosses my mind at the time. So basically the world of comic books, movies and video games with a dash of other stuff thrown in. Now my first column is a biggie where I’ll give you a glimpse into what I would do to re-invigorate the X-Men line so hold on tight:
The current state of the X-Men:
The current status of the X-Men books is bad. After progressing forward for almost 3 years under Morrison’s run the X-Men were in an interesting position. Magneto had been brutally decapitated by Wolverine after Magneto had killed Jean. Now Magneto had gone crazy after using a drug called Kick which was actually the sentient bacteria called Sublime, thus leaving Emma Frost and Cyclops to be headmasters at the school when Professor X left to rebuild Genosha. Sounds good so far right?
So what went wrong? Here are just some of the many things:
1. Chuck Austen handled the first post Morrison issues: was *bleeping* up Uncanny and Avengers at the time so why hand the issues that are supposed to set the new direction up to a writer who would make George Bush Jr. look intelligent and witty? Here’s how the meeting probably went:
Joe Q: Hey Chuck the kids love you right? How would you like to write the X-Men stories that define the next couple of years?
Chuck: *Drools incompetently*
Joe Q: Great!
Now I’m not saying that the first post-Morrison X-Men issues were particularly bad but Austen just didn’t have a good enough reputation with the X-Men.
2. Editorial interference: Yes this will always be here but this time it seems the Editors were given an edict by Joe Quesada and they followed through with it.
3. Order 66! Err Order destroy Morrison: There is a rumor that’s floating around about why Morrison’s run was so completely destroyed. The rumor is that when Morrison ditched X-Men to be DC exclusive (which has worked out great for him if you’re reading the recent news) Joe Q gave the order to destroy/discredit Morrison’s run by any means possible. So that means Magneto never died and it was Xorn II’s evil twin brother who happened to look exactly like Magneto and have his exact same powers.
4. Chris Claremont still writes an X-men title! CC’s writing skills have fallen tremendously since he left X-Men in the 90’s. While they haven’t been at Revolution levels they still aren’t good enough to be on a mainstream X-Men title. I’m sorry but the core X-Men books should showcase the best the industry has to offer, not the best from 20 years ago.
5. Odd Couple: Genosha err Excalibur: An out of character magneto and Xavier plus some new mutants team to rebuild Genosha. That has nothing to do with the Excalibur I know and love, and New Excalibur doesn’t look quite as good (No Meggan! How could you!)
6. Austen still on an X-Men book: Don’t have much to say here, aside from Austen moving to a 3rd tier book actually being a good decision.
7. Bastardization of the characters: Alright read Rachel’s portrayal in classic Excalibur now read recent Uncanny issues. Case closed. Also read Generation X and the beginning of Morrison’s run then read how she’s portrayed now. Again case closed. Though with Emma since Joss is writing the main book that she’s in it doesn’t matter.
8. Wolverine in every frickin’ book! I can see Wolverine in his solo title and ONE X-Men book but every team and every book! This is ridiculous! Plus Wolverine going toe to toe and defeating people like Namor and Magneto is equally ridiculous.
Now the good things:
1. Whedon on Astonishing: Joe Q made the right choice with Astonishing, Whedon has written one of the best stories almost since dare I say it: CC and Bryne’s run with Gifted.
2. Exiles: Tony Bedard has revived this lacking title, and made it interesting.
3. Ultimate X-Men: Though not a true X-Men title around Reloaded Brian K. Vaughan has started Ultimate off with a bang the introduction of Ultimate Sinister. This title has been revived and has potential to be a sleeper hit one day.
4. Cable and Deadpool: Fabian Niceza writing the characters he made famous. He couldn’t be a better choice.
Now for the new direction if I were to decide it…
One day Joe Quesada calls me up and says: “SPS1000 the X-Men books are in poor shape I want you to revitalize this line and make it viable again, to do this you have access to every writer and artist, and you will decide the teams and the writer artist teams. You also decide the directions. Good luck and make the X-Men shine once more!”
Well me being a great humanitarian I decide to take him up on his offer. I’m going to run through all the titles and then say either cancelled or not. If they’re cancelled I just say cancelled and give a reason why, otherwise I’ll give the new team and what could happen: First we’ll start with the core titles:
Astonishing X-Men: Stays the same
Why: It just couldn’t get better; keep the direction and the team it works.
Uncanny X-Men
New Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
New Artist: Salvador Larocca
Covers: Salvador Larocca
The team: Bishop, Gambit, Rogue, Juggernaut, Psylocke, Chamber, Evangeline Whedon
Supporting characters: Storm, Sage, and Iceman
Why Vaughan: If you’ve read Ultimate X-Men you’d know that Vaughan has a good grasp of the X-Men, and what they’re about. Now if he could just bring that over to mainstream X-Men it would be great.
Why Larocca: Larocca is a great artist when they aren’t using the watercolor coloring style. I think it’s time that he went back to Uncanny.
The direction: Xavier decides to take a page from African American civil rights and decides that the best way to get equality for mutants is through litigation. Using his powers and Sage’s he gives Rogue the necessary law experience and credentials, and with Evangeline Whedon they try to get equal rights for mutants. The rest of the team is there to provide riot control, and if certain evidence is needed Bishop and Gambit are there to get it through legal or illegal means.
Satellite books:
Wolverine
New Writer: Warren Ellis
New Artist: Darrick Robertson
Why Ellis: He wrote one of the best Wolverine stories of the 90’s with Not Dead Yet, I’m sure he could do more amazing things with the book.
Why Robertson: He did great work on Wolverine before I’m sure he can do so again.
The direction: Wolverine is the best there is at what he does but what he does may not be good enough when an old and powerful enemy puts a 100 million dollar bounty on Wolverine’s head which draws all sorts of scum out against Wolverine, appearances by Sabretooth, Bullseye and the Taskmaster would be a must.
Nightcrawler
Cancelled
Why: I don’t feel Nightcrawler can hold a solo title that well.
Academy X
Cancelled
Why: None of the characters are all that interesting, yes I realize that the soap opera style story is it’s main appeal but that can’t hold interest that well as evidenced by it being one of the lowest selling X-Men books.
District X
Cancelled
Why: Yes this has an interesting concept and I fought with myself long and hard to not get rid of it but it will make room for a new title that I think everyone would like.
Cable and Deadpool
Same team
Why: This book is just too good of a sleeper hit to not get cancelled. Only thing I’d change is that I’d promote the heck out of this book
Ultimate X-Men
New writer: Tony Bedard
Returning artist: Stuart Immonen
Why Tony: The Ultimate line is running out of steam and quick. Tony could shake up the book enough for the end.
Why Immonen: I just like his art. ‘Nuff said
The team: Iceman, Kitty, Cyclops, Jean, Storm, Wolverine, Dazzler, Nightcrawler, Colossus
Supporting characters: Professor X
The direction: Ultimate Apocalypse is coming, and he’s got his four Horsemen to back him up Ultimate Archangel or War, Ultimate Omega Red or Pestilence, Ultimate Sunfire or Famine, and Ultimate Selene or Death. Apocalypse is the embodiment of the Apocalypse and the young and fresh Ultimate X-Men have to stop them along with a cyborg super-soldier Ultimate Cable. Guest appearances aplenty as Ultimate Gambit, Rogue, Emma Frost, Havok, Polaris, Magneto, Juggernaut and others try to stop Apocalypse once and for all, but at what cost?
Exiles
Stays the same
Why: Bedard and the current artist (name escapes me at the moment) were good at Crossgen together I hear and I would sign them for exclusive contracts.
Unlimited X-Men
Cancelled
Why: The quality of this comic is sporadically good at best, and doesn’t sell that well I’d cancel it as quietly as possible though so possible writers don’t get pissed.
New titles:
Excalibur:
Artist/Writer: Alan Davis
Team: Captain Britain, Meggan, Nightcrawler, Rachel Summers, Warlock
Why Davis: Since Alan Moore only does projects he wants to do, Davis is the ONLY choice due to CC’s writing quality dipping since his first run.
Direction: Classic Excalibur wackiness. Magic use is also a must. Kitty not being there is a minus but she can always pop in for guest visits every once in awhile.
X-Factor:
Writer: PAD
Artist: the artist who did the MadroX mini
Team: Multiple Man, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy
Supporting cast: Izzy Ortega from District X
Why PAD: He took X-Factor in the early 90’s and made it shine. Can’t go wrong here.
Why MadroX artist guy: His art fits with the stories that would be told.
Direction: Private Investigation in Mutant Town. A continuation from the MadroX mini.
Mini-series:
Corporation X
Writer:
Artist:
Main Character: Archangel
Supporting characters: Husk, Stacy X
Story: What’s it like running a corporation as a known mutant and pedophile? Watch as Warren’s life comes crumbling down and then he has to put his life back together again!
New Mutants/ Generation X: Reunion
Writer (NM): Chris Claremont
Artist (NM): Rick Leonardi
Writer (GX): Scott Lobdell
Artist (GX): Terry and Rachel Dodson
Team (NM): Sunspot, Cannonball, Mirage, Karma, Wolfsbane, Warlock, surprise return of Magik!
Team (GX): Chamber, Husk, M, Jubilee, Banshee, Emma Frost
Story: NM/GX: R isn’t a crossover in the strictest sense where both teams get caught by Mojo and are forced to fight each other to the death. NM: R would tell the NM’s side, and GX: R would tell it from their side while NM/GX: R would finish the story off.
Conclusion of X-Men titles:
Well I came, I saw, I cancelled 5 titles to replace them with 2 new ongoing and two minis leaving the X-Men line at a trimmed 10 titles without the minis that’s 2 titles a week. Just for fun here’s how I think the shipping schedule would work:
1st week: Uncanny, Cable and Deadpool
2nd week: Ultimate, Corporation X, and X-Factor
3rd week Wolverine, Excalibur, NM: R
4th week Astonishing, GX: R, Exiles
They’ve talked about streamlining the titles, but I believe this lineup is streamlined with a little bit of something for everyone: Super heroics, politics, humor, nostalgia, crime, drama, and chaos. Marvel has one of the best lines in comics and it’s a shame they’re wasting it like they have been. This line would have something for everyone and the new directions for some of the books would please people.
Next time: Lemme get back you on that though in future columns I’ll compare the next gen consoles and do an article on Gambit and Rogue’s relationship.