X-men Supreme Issue 148: New Divide is LIVE!

Today marks a pivotal moment in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. What happens today will have major ramifications for the past and present for the X-men, their allies, and even their enemies. Given all the conflicts they’ve faced, the X-men have had plenty of defining moments. The Phoenix Saga, the Overlord story, the Cambrian Explosion, and the election of Robert Kelly all impacted the X-men in a profound way. However, what they’ll face at this point in X-men Supreme will hit them in a way they’ve never experienced before.

It’s a moment that has been building since the beginning of X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation. When the Mutant Liberation Front began their attacks, and especially after their major victory in X-men Supreme Issue 127: Terror Sell, they forced Charles Xavier and his X-men to rethink their tactics. It wasn’t enough to just take down their enemies, as they had done with Magneto on multiple occasions, going all the way back to the initial recruitment of the Brotherhood of Mutants. The world, including President Kelly and General Grimshaw, demanded a different kind of X-men.

With Charles Xavier stepping down for a time to deal with his crippling addiction to pain killers, Cyclops took over. For a time, he tried to lead the X-men in a way that would meet these new demands. His efforts had mixed results, but he did have his share of successes. The Impossible Odds arc demonstrated that the X-men could function in this chaotic new world that the Mutant Liberation Front had created. Then, the Outer Limits arc happened. The events of this story didn’t just heal Charles Xavier. It gave him back the use of his legs. Now stronger, bolder, and more determined than ever before, Xavier is determined to lead his X-men in a new way. This, however, has put him at odds with his first and most dedicated student.

For nearly the entire history of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, Cyclops has been Charles Xavier’s most loyal student. Even in the X-men comic, Cyclops often defines himself as being the one most dedicated to realizing Charles Xavier’s dream of peace and understanding between mutants. However, recent events in X-men Supreme have caused a rift between teacher and student. For the first time, Cyclops is genuinely doubting his mentor’s ability to lead the X-men into this new era. The Mutant Liberation Front may be defeated, but the impact of their attacks, coupled with the destruction of the Xavier Institute, has led Xavier to make a difficult decision.

The X-men, as many know them, will never be the same. Charles Xavier’s dream will never be the same. He’s taken bold steps, moving the X-men’s base of operations to Washington DC where he intends to work with President Kelly and General Grimshaw on the Mutant Monitoring Initiative. This initiative is meant to be the foundation for a new era of cooperation between the X-men and the authorities. In many respects, it’s a necessary reaction to the chaos caused by the Mutant Liberation Front. In others, it’s a gross departure from what the X-men stand for.

At around the same time when I began working on X-men Supreme, the X-men were undergoing a major schism in the comics. That schism was for the future of the X-men. It played out between Cyclops and Wolverine. The ongoing division in X-men Supreme is very different. This time, it’s Cyclops and Charles Xavier who are at odds. The very concept of what it means to be X-men are at odds. In this monumental issue, the last of X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation, that division will forever change the future of the X-men.

X-men Supreme Issue 148: New Divide

This marks the end of another era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. As has been the case at various other times in X-men Supreme’s history, the end of a volume marks a major transition point for his fanfiction series. For some, it’ll be a jumping on point. For others, it’ll be a major shake-up. I don’t doubt that the events of this issue will cause great concern among certain X-men fans. Some may even be turned off by these events. To those X-men fans, I say trust in the story. There is a plan in place. What I do in this issue, and what I intend to do in future issues of X-men Supreme, is all meant to make for a more awesome X-men story.

These are tough times, both for X-men Supreme and the X-men comics. I still want X-men Supreme to be a viable outlet for X-men fans who are dissatisfied with time travelers, sterilization, and extinction plots. I know this issue is still going to worry many readers, but that’s exactly why providing feedback is so important. Please tell me what you think so I can be sure that this vision for X-men Supreme is the right one. Either contact me directly or post your comments in the issue. Either way is fine and I’m always happy to chat. Stay tuned for more announcements about the future of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Xcelsior!

Jack