Righting the Romance and Loving the Love: Mr. and Mrs. X #1

The following is my review of Mr. and Mrs. X #1, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

These are difficult times in the history of superhero romance and for a history that includes marrying clones, spousal abuse, and deals with Mephisto, that's saying something. The summer of 2018 will go down as the summer of failed weddings. Marvel spent months hyping up the marriage of Kitty Pryde and Colossus in X-men Gold #30. DC also got into the spirit by promising to finally tie the knot with Batman and Catwoman in Batman #50. In both cases, though, the ceremonies don't go as planned and not because Magneto or the Joker crashed the party.

There is, however, one sliver of hope. Through the broken hearts and wasted wedding cake, one notable romance did manage to make their relationship official, tax benefits and all. Rogue and Gambit, a love story that will never be mistaken for a classic fairy tale, is now among the few superhero romances to make through the wedding.

Their journey to this point is somewhat sudden in how quickly it unfolded. Rogue and Gambit's romantic history is full of drama, complete with moments where they part ways, hook up with others, and generally avoid each other. Then, comics writer Kelly Thompson gets them back on track with Rogue and Gambit. Almost overnight, in the context of comic book time, their relationship is serious and now it's venturing into territory that few outside Reed and Sue Richards have ever gone.

As the one who brought them together, it's fitting that Thompson is the one to continue the story of Rogue and Gambit's unique love story in Mr. and Mrs. X #1. Having come so far so fast, it's easy to forget how much emotional baggage these two still have. Thompson doesn't avoid that baggage. If anything, she confronts it head-on before the happy couple get to the sexier parts of married life. By doing so, it doesn't just make the wedding seem like some reckless impulse on which every Las Vegas wedding chapel is built upon. It feels like a genuine evolution of a convoluted, but genuine romance.

The most important thing Mr. and Mrs. X #1 does is expand on disappointing outcome of X-men Gold #30. This ends up being critical because without that added context, Rogue and Gambit's wedding comes off as something they just do on a whim and don't really think about. While good impulse control have never been a defining trait for Rogue or Gambit, a little extra effort goes a long way towards giving weight to their wedding.

The fact that Thompson dedicates so much of the story to setting up the ceremony that already plays out in another issue shows that this marriage is serious. This isn't something that's going to get undone or overridden by time travelers or Mephisto, at least not yet. The fruits of that effort show in some of the sincere moments that Rogue has with Magik and Mystique, who makes a surprise appearance and doesn't attempt to shoot or seduce anyone for a change. It provides further proof that the Marvel universe is willing to give this marriage a chance.

Rogue and Gambit's is allowed to happen without something blowing up. They're also allowed to go on their honeymoon without someone getting abducted. They're even allowed to get frisky in bed, making for some sexy scenes that give Oscar Bazaldua a chance to craft some R-rated content. There's nothing subtle about it, but it never gets too crude either. It makes for a solid balance of sincerity and sex appeal, a rare combination in any comic book romance that doesn't involve Catwoman.

The majority of Mr. and Mrs. X #1 is lacking in typical X-men conflict. From the beginning, Thompson and Bazaldua make clear that the purpose of the issue is to establish how serious the Rogue/Gambit marriage is. This isn't a gimmick. It's the next step for these two characters and the quirky romance that they've had since the mid-1990s. Eventually, a more standard X-men style conflict does enter the picture, but by that point, the romance is already easy to root for.

The particulars of the conflict that interrupts the honeymoon, though, are somewhat generic. It involves the Shi'ar and requires that Rogue and Gambit squeeze a space battle in between their romantic sexy time. It's understandable that they're reluctant, but their willingness to accept the mission reveals something else that's important for any robust superhero marriage. Even after the wedding, they're still committed to being superheroes.

That is probably the most important take-away from Mr. and Mrs. X #1. The heroism doesn't have to end once a couple ties the knot. Their status among heroes isn't diminished. The potential for new and intriguing conflicts isn't undercut, either. Contrary to many bad sitcoms, marriage doesn't have to be an endpoint. It can just as easily be a catalyst for something new.

Mr. and Mrs. X #1 only offers a hint about what that something can be. With so much of the content dedicated to solidifying Rogue and Gambit's status as married superheroes, there's not much room for them forward in this issue. That's not a flaw, though. That's just a byproduct of insufficient ink and not enough pages. Even though the conflict with the Shi'ar isn't fleshed out, it does plenty to build intrigue for the rest of the series. The arrival of another unexpected, but relevant character in Rogue's life at the end only adds to it.

Mr. and Mrs. X #1 isn't just a comic about Rogue and Gambit getting married. There is a ceremony and it's plenty romantic, but that's only a small part of a much larger story that has been unfolding under Thompson since her Rogue and Gambit series. She dares to take a long-running romance that has never quite attained the iconic status of a Superman/Lois Lane and makes it more than just a colorful a sub-plot.

The idea of putting a romance at the forefront of a plot is not new. Doing it in a way that doesn't feel like a gimmick or forced melodrama is something that superhero comics, and even superhero movies to some extent, have been struggling with for years. Mr. and Mrs. X #1 may not start a trend, but it definitively proves that it can be done and the results can be both romantic and sexy.

Final Score: 8 out of 10

The Pressing Pitfalls of Powerful Minds: Astonishing X-men #6

The following is my review of Astonishing X-men #6, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

While death tends to be a revolving door with well-oiled gears in comics, there are many ways in which characters cheat it. Some are more compelling than others. By and large, clones and time travel are akin to overused cheat codes. They essentially circumvent the agency of a character and all those around them by forcing that character into a situation. It's akin to Photoshopping wherein the contrivances can be cropped, but not removed entirely.

That's why when a character cheats death in a way that doesn't involve time travel or clones, there's a greater sense of intrigue. It's more akin to watching an escape artist survive a death-defying stunt in broad daylight. If they can do it without the aid of cosmic power or a deal with Mephisto, that makes it all the more impressive. In that context, it says a lot about Charles Soule and his work on Astonishing X-men in that he's resisted the temptation.

The death of Charles Xavier at the hands of Cyclops in Avengers vs. X-men remains one of the most impactful moments for the X-men that doesn't involve movie rights. That death is what shaped the course of the X-men for the past several years, from the arrival of the original five X-men from the past to the mutant/Inhuman war. His return to the world of the living is not unexpected since he has come back from the dead before, but his presence is such a powerful force in the overall X-men mythos that it's bound to have an impact.

Soule and Michael Del Mundo are laying the foundation for that impact and Astonishing X-men #6 acts as the final layer of bedrock. The substance of that bedrock is build around another epic psychic battle between Charles Xavier and the Shadowking. While it's a battle that has played out many times before, it's still more compelling than one involve clones or time travelers. For this particular battle, though, the stakes feel even higher than usual.

Every psionic attack, psychic illusion, and telepathic trash talk counts in this battle. It doesn't just play out on the astral plane either. Some of it manifests in the non-psychic world as well, with Shadowking taking over the likes of Gambit and Old Man Logan. It creates battles on multiple fronts, which also creates multiple opportunities for Del Mundo to craft brutal, visceral struggles that take on a very psychedelic ambience. In terms of psychic battles, it's the perfect combination.

Even though a psychic battle between Charles Xavier and Shadowking is something that has played out many times before with the X-men, as a rivalry on par with that of Wolverine and Sabretooth, Soule finds a way to make this one feel more meaningful. It isn't billed as the final psychic showdown between two bitter rivals. It doesn't even try to be some sort of over-hyped, pay-per-view style event either. What makes it and the story around it work so well is how it brings out the more cunning aspects of Charles Xavier.

From the first issue of Astonishing X-men, Soule establishes the battle between Xavier and Shadowking as one driven by wit as much as psychic prowess. In a sense, Xavier dying at the hands of Cyclops finally levels the playing field between him and Shadowking. They're both disembodied spirits now. They're both stuck in a state of limbo, having limited influence on the physical world. Like having Iron Man fight without his armor, both powerful minds must now rely on other skills.

As a result, Xavier ends up relying on tactics that Shadowking has a history of exploiting. He  has to fight for the hearts and minds of his X-men in a very literal sense. He can't just flash his "world's most powerful mind" card and win the battle by default. He has to reduce himself to his enemy's level, which usually gives someone like Shadowking the edge. Up until Astonishing X-men #6, he seemed to have that edge every step of the way.

This is where the true extent of Charles Xavier's cunning reveals itself. It's also what makes Astonishing X-men #6 a major addition to Xavier's resume as Marvel's most powerful mind. Even when he's stuck playing by Shadowking's rules, having next to no advantages from the beginning of the battle, he finds a way to one-up him. He's able to blend his tactics with that of his enemy to win the day in a way that never feels cheap or contrived. Soule makes it clear that Xavier earns this triumph over his greatest psychic rival and Del Mundo helps make it a sight to behold.

It's the kind of triumph that Charles Xavier hasn't had in quite some time, going back to the Grant Morrison era in New X-men. For years, it seems, Xavier's greatest enemy is his declining credibility in the eyes of his fellow X-men. From keeping secrets to battling his own students, he's had few opportunities to be the mind and the mentor that only the likes of Patrick Stewart can hope to embody.

Xavier's inglorious death in Avengers vs. X-men further limits his ability to be the character that the X-men need him to be. Like the charm of Patrick Stewart, though, certain characters have traits that give them the ability to forge new opportunities out of rough situations. Between Shadowking and dying at the hands of his first student, the situation is pretty bad for Charles Xavier. That only makes watching him and his assortment of A-list X-men beat the odds feel that much more satisfying.

That satisfying victory, along with the profound implications revealed at the end, helps put Astonishing X-men #6 in a special category in terms of quality. From the first issue of the series, this latest psychic clash between Xavier and Shadowking carries the risk of being another generic battle with stakes no higher than that of an arm-wrestling match between the Hulk and Squirrel Girl. That's the challenge of any rivalry. Everyone knows that Captain America will beat the Red Skull, Batman will defeat the Joker, and Deadpool will make a dirty joke. It's giving those battles real stakes and nuanced circumstances that give them impact.

Soule and Del Mundo put in the necessary time, effort, and psychic mind games to make Round 616 of Charles Xavier versus Shadowking feel like the telepathic equivalent of a heavyweight prize fight. Each round feels brutal and bloody, but the style and substance behind it make it more than just a spectacle. It's a testament to mind and will of Charles Xavier. There's a reason why he's the visionary behind the X-men, as well as the perfect medium for Patrick Stewart's charm.

Final Score: 9 out of 10

Alpha and Omega Mutant Narrative: Astonishing X-men #1

The following is my review of Astonishing X-men #1, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

Even in a mythos as vast and diverse as the X-men, there's still a place for a definitive A-team of sorts. The makeup and purpose of that team may change over time, but its presence still carries a special impact. Whatever happens to them or whatever path they chart tends to affect the X-men mythos as a whole. Like a major summer blockbuster or the premier of a new Vince Gilligan show, it's an event that sets the bar for others to achieve.

Astonishing X-men has an established history of being that A-team. Under Joss Whedon and John Cassaday, it acts as the gold standard by which all other X-men comics were measured. In other eras, Chris Clarmeont's work on Uncanny X-men or or Scott Lobdell's work on X-men carry the same weight. Creating a series with such an impact is difficult to achieve, but the ingredients are fairly simple. It needs only a cast of top-tier, well-known characters. If they've been played by major actors in an X-men movie or get fans talking about more than who can lift Thor's hammer, they're a candidate.

After the latest round of relaunches that spun out of Marvel's ResurrXion effort, the X-men comics still lack that definitive A-list book. X-men Blue and X-men Gold contain major characters and prominent stories for the greater X-men narrative. However, they still lack a lead blocker of sorts to pave the way for the future of X-men.

Now, Charles Soule and Jim Chung, two of Marvel's most prominent talents, attempt to create that book with Astonishing X-men #1. They have all the ingredients, namely a strong cast full of familiar and prominent faces. They even have major stakes already in play with Marvel Legacy just on the horizon. It's not unreasonable to say that Astonishing X-men is the most critical X-men comic to come along since Secret Wars. The stakes are high and the margin for error is low, but Astonishing X-men #1 really rises to the occasion.

The story hits the ground running like a summer blockbuster movie, complete with a monster attack, random explosions, and snarky remarks from beautiful women. Short of including transforming robots, it's hard to imagine a series beginning with more style. That's not to say it's lacking of substance though. Soule and Chung don't rely too much on spectacle. The structure of the story is built on establishing the stakes and that's where Astonishing X-men #1 shines brightest.

The story doesn't try too hard to build off the events of another book. It does mention some recent events in the X-men comics, but it doesn't try too hard to act as a connecting point. If anything, it avoids the kinds of complicated tie-ins that tend to make some books too confusing. It's presented as a story that anyone can pick up, not be too lost, and be entertained. It's a simple formula, but one that proves potent.

Even those who haven't kept up with X-men comics in recent years won't be too confused. So long as they know that attacks by Shadowking are bad and giant psychic monsters in the middle of London are dangerous, they'll be able to follow the story. So long as they also like fast-paced action, high stakes, and Chung's colorful art, they'll enjoy that story as well.

On the surface, the plot isn't very groundbreaking. Shadowking, a well-known X-men enemy who has been while the mutant race overcame their latest extinction plot, is back in action and attacking psychics. With Charles Xavier dead, he doesn't go for the biggest, most powerful mind first. Instead, he attacks psychics who are isolated and ill-prepared, using them as preseason games, of sorts, to get himself ready for prime time. Then, he gets a little bolder and attacks Psylocke. The spectacle only escalates from there.

It's the kind of plot that can easily fall flat. With Chung's artwork, the visual appeal alone is usually enough to give it value. Soule, however, never lets the story become too devoid of substance. From the first few pages, he uses every opportunity to provide context and depth. He does this primarily through a mystery narrator who provides insight early on, helping to establish the setting and identify the characters involved. The identity of that narrator isn't revealed until the end, but he still serves an important purpose that helps make Astonishing X-men #1 feel like more than just a generic summer blockbuster.

Despite all the action, explosions, and snooty remarks made by Fantomex and Gambit, there's a sense that there's a larger vision for the story and the series. It's not just throwing together all these A-list X-men characters and expecting it to sell itself. That's a tempting trap that many X-men comics have fallen into over the years. Soule makes a clear effort to avoid that by setting up a larger conflict for the characters to take on.

That's not to say those efforts are entirely seamless. There's not a lot of rhyme or reason as to how and why these particular X-men characters are where they are when explosions start going off. There are some small connections between characters here and there. However, the story never tries to overthink certain details. It provides just enough to make the more explosive, action-oriented elements more meaningful than a typical Sentinel attack on a Tuesday afternoon.

Soule and Chung have an rich batch of ingredients to work with in Astonishing X-men #1. They have plenty of chances to overuse one at the cost of the other, but they don't. They still manage to take each element, mold it into a story, and let it cook until it has the look, taste, and feel of an A-list blockbuster. The final result couldn't be more potent without casting Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart.

Even in an age where superhero blockbusters capture a huge chunk of the pop culture market, there's still a place for Astonishing X-men. The story is still unfolding, but if the final page is any indication, there's plenty of potential for astonishment.

Final Score: 9 out of 10

X-men Supreme Issue 128: Pain Tolerance is LIVE!

The holidays are upon us. The X-men Supreme fanfiction series is about to complete another year of awesome. It started on New Years Day on January 1, 2010. It's about to complete its fifth year. It's amazing to think that this fanfiction series has come so far. It's amazing to contemplate just how much farther it can go, especially as the X-men face so many unique challenges in the comics. But as the rest of us celebrate this festive time, the world of X-men Supreme continues and it's anything but festive.

The X-men suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Mutant Liberation Front. In X-men Supreme Issue 127: Terror Sell, Toad of all mutants humbled the X-men while carrying out an attack in Switzerland that left the entire world more vulnerable. Any defeat leaves its share of scars. It's easy to forget that the X-men also lost their first battle against Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants in X-men Supreme Issue 3: Competition. It forced the X-men to grow and adapt to new challenges. However, the challenges this time are much more personal and many times more daunting.

At least when they suffered defeat at the hands of the Brotherhood of Mutants, Charles Xavier and the rest of the team was in relatively good health. The same can't be said anymore. It's an issue that emerged at the end of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. Having already beat cancer a second time in the Starcrossed arc, Charles Xavier is now dealing with a new ailment. His reckless disregard for himself and his health finally caught up with him and he finds himself addicted to potent pain medicine. It's an issue that affects real people. And in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, even the world's most powerful mind isn't immune to it.

It's an issue that I feel has been lacking in the X-men comics lately, the X-men dealing with real issues that real people face. Charles Xavier may be a powerful mind, but in both the comics and this fanfiction series, he's painfully human. And being human, he's capable of becoming addicted to pain pills. It's an addiction that, in the real world, kills more people than hard drugs. And it's an addiction that promises to affect him and his X-men at the worst possible time.

So what do the X-men do when their mentor is no longer capable of being their mentor? How do the X-men function during a time of crisis when the Mutant Liberation Front is running rampant and both President Kelly and General Grimshaw are losing faith in the X-men? That's what this next issue will explore. It's an issue where a defeated team of X-men must adapt while new threats continue to evolve. It's not a threat that involves sterilization or time travel either so rest assured, you won't get this anywhere else.

X-men Supreme Issue 128: Pain Tolerance

I know I've been mentioning the X-men comics a lot lately. As an avid comic book fan and X-men fan, I feel compelled to address this situation and relate it to the continued evolution of X-men Supreme. As it stands, there is no other medium for X-men fans to follow. There's no Ultimate X-men. There's no X-men cartoon. As it stands, the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is the only game in town for X-men fans who are dissatisfied with the current state of the comics. That means my efforts to make it awesome are all the more important.

As such, it's vital that X-men fans of all stripes continue to provide feedback for this and any other issue of X-men Supreme. Feedback ensures I can keep making this fanfiction series better and better. Either contact me directly or post your comments directly in the issue. Either way is fine and I'm always happy to chat. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 128: Pain Tolerance PREVIEW!

Since the Onslaught Saga of the late 90s, Marvel has done a lot to undermine and discredit the character of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-men comics. From having secret feelings for Jean Grey to keeping secrets about Cyclops’ long lost brother form him, he’s not just the paragon of peace and understanding that inspired the X-men. He’s a flawed individual and that’s fine. It’s perfectly reasonable to humanize a character like Charles Xavier. However, the X-men comics blurred the line between humanizing and denigrating. I hope to keep those lines clearer in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series.

Since this fanfiction series began, I’ve taken a very specific approach to Professor Charles Xavier. He has no secret attractions to his students. He hasn’t wiped the memories of others behind their backs. In X-men Supreme, he does have strong morals. However, he’s also painfully human in the sense that his personal weaknesses often overwhelm him. And I’m not talking about being in a wheelchair either. I made Charles Xavier a cancer survivor in X-men Supreme. There are real people in this world who have been ravaged by cancer and its effects can be felt, even for those who are in remission.

These effects have been plaguing Charles Xavier since the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. While his cancer was effectively cured with the help of the Starjammers in the Starcrossed arc, the effects of all the medications he took to manage his pain have once again caught up to him. Just as he did before, he tried to hide his ailments so he could continue to lead the X-men. And just as before, it ended up hurting him and his X-men.

The events of X-men Supreme Issue 127: Terror Sell marked a dangerous turning point for Charles Xavier. This was the X-men’s first major clash with the Mutant Liberation Front, a dangerous group of mutant terrorists led by former Brotherhood of Mutants member, Toad. And the X-men lost and lost badly because Xavier’s inability to manage his condition caught up with him. It’s one thing to suffer alone, but when that suffering affects his X-men, then Charles Xavier understands that it’s time to make some difficult choices.

These choices will mark the next big shift in X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation. The X-men can’t afford to lose to keep losing to the Mutant Liberation Front. Charles Xavier understands this. His X-men understand this. So what will they do? How will the X-men cope with their mentor’s latest ailments? It marks a dramatic shift in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and one that’ll make the challenges ahead even more difficult. As always, I’ve prepared a brief preview here on this website and an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.

‘The pain…it’s too much. I failed. My X-men…all those people…it’s all my fault. I need my pills. I can’t take this anymore!’

‘Sorry Professor, not this time. You don’t get to take the easy way out.’

Charles Xavier was shocked to hear another telepathic voice in his head. As the world’s most powerful telepath, his mind was always heavily shielded. It was so startling that it jarred him from his semi-conscious state. He was still in a great deal of agony. His head was throbbing just as it had before he passed out. Everything after that was a blur. When he opened his eyes, he realized he wasn’t in Cerebrum anymore. He also realized he had two very disgruntled figures standing by his bed.

Jean Grey had a lot of reasons to be in a foul mood. She had to fly all the way back from Australia while discovering that the Mutant Liberation Front had succeeded along the way. Then when she arrived at the mansion, she discovered Professor Xavier in a very defeated state. This time it wasn’t because he pushed himself too hard. There was a much less noble reason for such failure, which led her and Betsy to call Dr. Cecilia Reyes, who was standing next to her holding the bottle of pills they found Xavier grasping. When he saw her disappointed gaze, the Professor could barely look at her.

“Jean I…” he began.

“Don’t attempt to explain yourself, sir. Dr. Reyes told us everything,” said Jean, not hiding her disappointment in the slightest.

“I’m sorry, Charles. But the whole doctor/patient confidentiality agreement goes out the window when it’s overly abused,” said Cecilia with equal scorn, “I covered for you. I lied for you. I treated you for wounds you inflicted upon yourself. Now you’ve taken it too far!”

“The X-men…are they okay?” asked the Professor, still avoiding eye-contact.

“They’re okay…for the most part,” said Dr. Reyes, “They couldn’t stop the Mutant Liberation Front. Not after they lost their psychic shielding and failed to uncover Toad’s trap.”

“My God,” gasped Xavier, “That means they succeeded! They destroyed the data center! Now the infrastructure of every country in the world is at…”

“Forget the mission for a moment! Forget the damage that’s been done to human/mutant relations or all the ways President Kelly is pissed off at us!” said Jean in a harsh tone, “Let’s talk about what you did to yourself! And this time, no more lies!”

The powerful psychic used her telekinesis to rip the pill bottle out of Dr. Reyes’s hands and retrieve it. Jean was not going to be subtle. This man was like a father to her, much more so than her real father. Uncovering secrets like this was painful in way too many ways.

“When we found you in Cerebrum, you hadn’t passed out due to psychic strain! I know the symptoms of a man who tries to solve his problems by soaking his brain in illicit chemicals! And the pill bottle you were clutching was a dead give-away! I found the number for Dr. Reyes on your cell phone and she got over here as fast as the X-jet would take her! I didn’t want to believe it until I heard it from her, but I know the truth now! We all do!”

“Please understand, Jean!” urged Xavier, “I…”

But Jean didn’t give him a chance to explain himself. She telekinetically threw the empty bottle of pills onto his lap and scolded him in a way she had never scolded her mentor.

“A drug overdose! That’s what took you out of this fight?!” she shouted, “It wasn’t because of some powerful new psychic! It wasn’t because of cancer either! You were so hopped up on pain killers that you nearly drowned in your own drool! And you’re supposed to be the world’s most powerful mind?!”

“That’s enough, Jean,” said Dr. Reyes, having to hold her back.

“Did you really think it wasn’t going to be a problem? Did you really believe that you could be a drug addict and a visionary for the X-men at the same time?! Who do you think you are? A cult leader?!”

“Jean! That’s not helping!” shouted Cecilia, pushing her back.

She was on the brink of tears. This was difficult for her to digest, the charismatic founder of the Xavier Institute failing for reasons that were painfully human. Professor Xavier finally looked up at his student, ashamed of his failure. His students always held him in such high regard. He worked hard to gain their trust over the years. He had abused that trust again and this time it caught up with him in the worst possible way.

Jean continued fuming, having to step back to wipe the tears from her eyes. Dr. Reyes stayed with her a moment, offering whatever consolation she could. This was difficult for her to, but for a very different set of reasons.

“Do not lose control, Jean. I know as well as any cosmic entity that it will only make things worse.”
“I know. I’m not trying to sound like a total bitch,” sobbed Jean.

“You’re not a bitch, Jean. You’re upset. I am too,” said Dr. Reyes, “I fear that something like this would happen. I’m glad it happened now before it got any worse.”

Leaving Jean to cool down, Cecilia turned her attention back to Charles Xavier. He was holding his head low, ready to accept whatever scorn she had to give. He more than deserved it.

“I won’t yell at you, Charles. Although I admit I’m very tempted,” said Dr. Reyes.

“Feel free to yell all you want, Cecilia. I put you in this position. I hurt you just as much as I hurt my X-men,” he said sadly.

“I would rather be more productive while you’re still coherent,” she said, “While you were out, I ran some tests with Jean in the infirmary. They confirmed what I suspected may happen.”

There are many X-men fans who believe there are significant flaws in the current X-men comics. Some of those flaws go beyond the denigration of Charles Xavier’s character. I sincerely hope that those dissatisfied with the comics will find refuge in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. I do not want X-men Supreme to suffer the same flaws as the comics. In order to keep this fanfiction series awesome, it’s important that I get feedback. If at any point it sounds like X-men Supreme is becoming too much like the current comics, please tell me! I need to know so I can fix it. Either contact me directly with your feedback or post your comments directly in the issues. I’m always happy to chat X-men. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 127: Terror Sell is LIVE!

One of the major appeals of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, as I try to craft it, is that readers can experience stories that can’t be experienced in the current X-men comics. Right now, Cyclops, Wolverine, and Jean Grey are dead in the comics. Mutants are going extinct and have been sterilized. Magneto is running his own team of X-men and there are time-displaced versions of the Original Five X-men running around. While this has attracted a wide audience, it’s currently the only game in town for X-men and that leaves X-men Supreme with a unique opportunity to broaden its appeal.

I understand that this appeal is a double-edged sword. I’ve seen Marvel try to craft that same appeal through their Ultimate comics, including Ultimate X-men. But, as we saw with the decline and eventual cancellation of Ultimate Marvel after Secret Wars, this approach has flaws. I’m determined to avoid those flaws in X-men Supreme. And the setup for X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation is part of that effort.

In the comics, you won’t find a story where Toad is the powerful, menacing leader of the Mutant Liberation Front. You won’t find a story where Mystique has been revealed as Wolverine’s former lover, Rose. You won’t find a story where Rogue and Gambit are developing a blossoming relationship. This says nothing about characters like Cyclops and Jean Grey, who are currently dead in the comics. But what I hope to offer in the coming issues of X-men Supreme is something much bolder than an alternative outlet for X-men fans.

As shown in X-men Supreme Issue 126: Heart Attack, the Mutant Liberation Front operates very differently. They are willing to cause widespread destruction and chaos, just as Magneto did with the Brotherhood of Mutants. However, they are not at all interested in killing humans or mutants. They have a different plan. The extent of that plan has yet to be revealed. But first, they must show they can hold their own against the X-men. And that’s exactly what they’ll do in the latest issue of X-men Supreme.

Just how dangerous is the Mutant Liberation Front? How powerful is Toad? And are the X-men equipped to deal with him? That’s what they’re about to find out. Ongoing personal issues with Gambit and Rogue, as well as Charles Xavier’s health, will still affect them. But will the X-men still be able to fight? Will they be able to defend a world still recovering from the events of Dark Legacy? It’s another story you won’t find anywhere else other than X-men Supreme.

X-men Supreme Issue 127: Terror Sell

There are many major differences between the X-men Supreme and the current X-men comics. I don’t just want X-men Supreme to appeal because it’s different. I want it to appeal because the stories it tells are awesome. And to do that, it’s still very important that readers take the time to provide feedback for this fanfiction series. I’m always happy to listen. Either post your comments directly in the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine. Until next time, take care and best wishes.
Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue #127: Terror Sell PREVIEW!

Given all the amazing abilities that some mutants have, it’s easy to forget sometimes that they’re still human. It’s something the X-men constantly have to remind themselves and others in their fight for peace and understanding. In a famous scene from the X-men Animated Series, a Sentinel flat out determined that mutants are human, much to the shock of the humans who hate them. The humanity of the X-men is a big part of what makes them so appealing. I’ve tried to capture that in any number of ways in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series.

Sometimes that means tempering some of the more extreme elements of the X-men mythos to make the narrative of X-men Supreme more engaging. Charles Xavier’s paralysis wasn’t a result of supernatural conflicts. It was a result of cancer, a disease that affects real people. Madelyne Pryor isn’t a clone of Jean Grey in X-men Supreme. She’s Jean’s devious older cousin who fell in with a bad crowd, namely Sinister and Selene. And before Magneto’s plans escalated to throwing asteroids at the planet, he tried to start small by leading an uprising in a country. They still have the essence of X-men, but there are more human elements in the mix.

These sorts of elements are uniquely appropriate for the X-men because they’re a metaphor for minorities. Real life minorities have to deal with human issues. Minorities have to deal with cancer, renegade family members, and uprisings. Once hate and injustice enters the equation, the stage is set for a very dangerous situation. That situation began to unfold in X-men Supreme Issue 126: Heart Attack. Now, the X-men have a new challenge in this fanfiction series and it goes by the Mutant Liberation Front.

This new team of mutant renegades is led by Toad. Yes, I mean THAT Toad. The events of X-men Supreme Issue 110: Supreme Justice have left him empowered, bold, and very dangerous. He now has a new team of mutants who have also suffered injustice and inhumanity. They’re now attacking a world that is already vulnerable after Sinister’s plot with the Legacy Virus. But they’re not the same as Magneto. They’re not the same as the Brotherhood of Mutants. They have a very different approach to dominating humanity.

That approach is still unfolding. You saw hints of it in the previous issue. Now, Toad and his team of mutant radicals are set to do something even bolder and their timing couldn’t be worse for the X-men. At the same time they’re making their presence known, the X-men are dealing with some internal issues that have been brewing since the end of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. Once again, it’s Charles Xavier who is tasked with leading the X-men into this battle. But is he up to this task? Is he as capable as he’s always been? He’ll have to find out the hard way as the X-men prepare to face the Mutant Liberation Front head on in the next issue. As always, I’ve prepared a preview of the kind of chaos the X-men can expect from this new threat.

“GET OUT OF MY WAY! I’M TAKING THEM IN!” yelled an enraged Swiss soldier in German.

“LIKE HELL YOU ARE! I DESERVE THE BONUS! YOU HAD THE LAST ONE!” yelled another.

“TO HELL WITH ALL OF YOU! I’M GETTING THE CREDIT FOR THIS EVEN IF I HAVE TO BEAT EVERY ONE OF YOU WITH MY BEAR HANDS!”

“I’D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!”

Stryfe’s psychic talents saved them the trouble of taking down the vast army of armed guards that stood in their way. His ability to turn any weak mind into an irrational fury of rage made their approach as simple as a walk in the park. The only obstacles were various gates and walls, which Caliban and Callisto easily blew through. It was an unceremonious way to begin this attack, but the rest of the team wasn’t complaining.

“I thought these guys were supposed to have psychic dampening gear,” commented Callisto as she watched two guards strangle each other.

“They did. Someone must have sent them defective hardware by accident,” Toad wryly.

“How did you manage that again?” asked Caliban.

“I know some people who know some people,” he said with a confident grin, “There’s a reason we’re making so many friends in between terrorizing humans. Somehow guys like Magneto never learn the benefits of being both loved and feared.”

“Doesn’t one make the other redundant?” said Reignfire.

“Not if you do it right,” said Toad, “Which reminds me, go easy on the homicidal rage, Stryfe. We need to…”

“I know the drill, Toad! We’re to minimize casualties,” said Stryfe, not hiding his frustration, “I’m still not seeing the benefit of such mercy.”

“You will, my favorite disgruntled cynic! You all will!”

Toad cracked his knuckles in anticipation as they made it past the final gate. Behind them the Swiss soldiers were oblivious to their intrusion. Alarms were going off, but no one was paying attention to them. They were too busy beating each other to a pulp. The final barrier was an extra thick wall. It required Reignfire and Kamikaze to use a little firepower to loosen the locks. The Klienstocks did the rest, shoving the gate open and revealing their target.

It was no ordinary structure. Behind all these gates was the entrance to a facility that had been carved deep into one of the many mountains of the Alps. It was so big that it was easy to miss the main entrance at the base. Around the entrance was a large plateau manned with planes, helicopters, and various combat vehicles. It was a stronghold unlike any other and the Mutant Liberation Front had the arduous task of destroying it.

“My fellow liberators, welcome you to Gstaad, Switzerland’s most infamous landmark!” proclaimed Toad.

“This is our target?” said Sauron as he looked up at the mountain.

“What exactly are we looking at, Toad?” asked Strobe.

“Well according to the undercover operatives at Wikipedia, this is the Swiss Fort Knox! It’s supposed to be one of the most secure vaults in the entire world.”

“What’s it secure? Gold? Diamonds? Non-fat chocolate?” scoffed Stryfe.

“Oh it guards something much more valuable!” grinned Toad, “You see, back when Google was just an obscure math term, a bunch of paranoid humans figured it would be a good idea to make a universal back-up of humanity’s digital tech. For every computer ever used, a working database was created. That way if someone figured out a way to wipe out every system on the planet, there would be a way to get it working again.”

“Sounds like a glorified Radioshack,” commented the Klienstocks.

“It gets better! After the Y2K scare, the Swiss scaled it up. It added a second area to the complex. This one acts as a universal backup for all major data, public and private alike. So if every single computer on the planet shorted out at once, there would be a back-up to get humanity back into the 21st century. That’s why we’re going to turn this place into a glorified ski lodge!”

“Thus leaving humanity more vulnerable and without a backup,” surmised Callisto, “I like it!”

It was a deviously logical plan. Before they completely crippled humanity, they would make sure there was no backup. Even Stryfe seemed to agree. This would be a serious blow that would empower the Mutant Liberation Front and leave the world completely vulnerable.

“But what if there are other backups besides this?” asked Sauron.

“They’re all small-time compared to this. It ain’t gonna matter once we finish the final step!” said Toad as he stopped about halfway towards the complex.

“So if all we’re doing is destroying this place, why do we need to be here in full force?” asked Kamikaze, “Surely we don’t require this much firepower for a simple act of demolition.”

“You’re right. We all don’t need to be here. If we were only going to destroy this place, most of us would just be stuck watching Stryfe make a fool out of the Swiss army,” said Toad.

“Then what else are we doing? Why do you insist on keeping us in the dark?” asked Caliban.

“That’s to make sure nobody’s mind spills the beans to a certain bald-headed psychic with a super-psychic enhancing machine,” said Toad, “Now that we’re all out in the open like this, it’s only a matter of time before Xavier sends his X-people to herd us back to Leavenworth.”

“I thought you said we had sufficient psychic defenses from the X-men!” said Caliban.

“We do. I just lowered them,” said Toad casually.

“Wait…you want the X-men to find us?” said Callisto, “Do you have any idea how foolish that is?!”

“It would be if I didn’t have a plan,” explained Toad, “That’s why you all need to listen closely because this is about more than striking a blow to humanity. We need to humiliate the X-men! We need to show them that this is a fight they aren’t going to win!"

While the situation for mutants is declining in the X-men comics, expect a very different set of challenges for mutants in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. This isn’t an extinction plot. This isn’t a sterilization plot. This a very different, but equally daunting challenge for the X-men and the mutant race to face. I sincerely hope that this fanfiction series will provide X-men fans with a viable outlet, especially since there is no more alternative like Ultimate anymore. I want to make X-men Supreme a viable world for X-men fans and I can’t do that without the continued support of such fans. So please take the time to review and provide feedback. Either contact me directly or post your comments directly on my site. Either way is fine and I’m always happy to chat. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 126: Heart Attack is LIVE!

When it comes to fighting for peace and understanding in a world that hates and fears them, the X-men’s approach has been fairly straightforward. Throughout their history in the comics and throughout the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, the X-men have generally embraced the tenants that Professor Charles Xavier has preached. They confront those who would foster conflict rather than peace. They battle the forces of hatred to encourage peace. The results often vary. In X-men Supreme, it has led to Genosha becoming a mutant-dominated country. It has also caused unrest in mutant communities like District X. But the purpose and intent is usually the same.

With the X-men’s villains, however, the approach is somewhat trickier. The X-men have already encountered their share of villains in this fanfiction series. Their motivations aren’t always the same. Whether it’s Magneto seeking to destroy human dominance with an asteroid or Mr. Sinister seeking to extract the secrets of mutation, the threats to peace and understanding take many different forms. At times it’s downright ambiguous, as has been shown with tenuous allies like General Grimshaw and President Kelly. But in X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation, the X-men will encounter an enemy that takes a wholly unique approach to stirring up conflict.

Enter the Mutant Liberation Front. It’s a group that X-men fans are familiar with from the comics. Today, this group of mutant radicals make their official debut in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. However, this is not like any other enemy mutant group you’ve seen before. These aren’t just an army of mutant radicals following Magneto’s ideals of mutant supremacy. In the world of X-men Supreme, the Mutant Liberation Front is something far more elaborate and much more menacing.

The seeds of this group were already laid back in X-men Supreme Issue 110: Supreme Justice. When an enhanced Toad escaped from Fort Leavenworth prison, he didn’t just leave with a team of fellow mutant prisoners at his side. He left with a plan to succeed where Magneto failed. There’s no question that this plan will directly clash with the X-men’s goals of peace and understanding. There’s also no question that this plan will exploit the recent devastation of the Legacy Virus, which ravaged the world in the Dark Legacy arc. But it’s the method by which that plan will unfold that makes it truly daunting for the X-men.

This is another one of those stories that you won’t see anywhere outside of X-men Supreme. This is a version of Toad and the Mutant Liberation Front that is wholly unique to this fanfiction series. The comics have their own set of circumstances. X-men Supreme will be taking a very different approach. And for those dissatisfied with the comics, I think there will be plenty to enjoy. Expect big things from Toad, Wolverine, Mystique, Rogue, Gambit, and Professor Xavier. And it begins today!

X-men Supreme Issue 126: Heart Attack

This new era of X-men Supreme will continue to develop the narrative that has been unfolding for the past five years now. It’s a narrative that I want to make as awesome as possible. And while I’m constantly encouraging feedback, there have been those who have been generous enough to provide it. To those who have commented on X-men Supreme, I sincerely thank you. And to those asking about Rogue and Gambit, I say stay tuned! I think you’ll like what you see. But for those who have other comments, please share them. Either contact me directly or post them directly in the issue itself. Either way is fine and both help make the X-men Supreme fanfiction series more awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 126: Heart Attack PREVIEW!

Fear and uncertainty have gripped the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. It's an oddly appropriate state here on the eve of Halloween. The events of Dark Legacy and the damage left by Sinister have left mutants, humans, and the X-men both vulnerable and anxious. History has shown that when the strong have been weakened, those seeking strength will attempt to seize it.

The X-men's previous enemies, like the Brotherhood of Mutants, are reeling as much as they are. President Kelly, now mourning the death of his son, has lost his appetite for conflict. And the Morlocks, as shown in X-men Supreme Issue 5.1: Deceptive Revelation, have been disbanded. The time couldn't be better for a new, menacing threat to emerge. And that threat is going to be the centerpiece of the next era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. That's why I'm pround to make this official. X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation is about to begin.

Like previous volumes of X-men Supreme, the foundation for this one were already laid in events that might have flown under the radar. The first hints of this new conflict began back during the Cambrian Explosion arc in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. During that arc, Toad spent most of his time in a prison cell. Often seen as the Brotherhood of Mutants' least competent member, Magneto and his team didn't seem to care when he got captured during a clash at Worthington Industries in the Test Subject arc. But while in prison, something strange happened to Toad. Now, he's about to become more menacing and more dangerous than anyone the X-men have ever faced.

Yes, you heard that right. Toad is going to become a top-level villain in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Let that sink in for a moment. Toad, as a character, has been a classic pushover. From the earliest days in Uncanny X-men to his brief role in the X-men movies, he's never been more than a joke of a character. But I think characters like that have something to prove. And in X-men Supreme Issue 110: Supreme Justice, Toad took the first step towards proving himself.

Thanks to the effects of the Cambrian, Toad is now bigger and badder than he's ever been in the history of X-men. He helped a group of mutants who have never known justice escape. Now, with Magneto still missing and Sinister having been defeated, the world is ripe for Toad to rise to power. He will now lead the Mutant Liberation Front, a group X-men fans should know well, into this new era of X-men Supreme. It's an era that's going to have many upheavals, especially for charcters like Charles Xavier, Rogue, Mystique, Wolverine, and so many more. As such, I’ve prepared a preview to offer the first glimpse of X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation.

“So you’re gonna make meh work for it this time? Ah’m game, sugah!” said Rogue playfully.

“Ain’t no game this time. You should be worried too. This be a game-changer,” said Remy in a serious tone.

“Don’t ya mean wildcard?”

“Call it whatever you want, cherè. When a gang of mutant terrorists starts making waves, it only be a matter of time before the X-men get involved.”

“All the more reason join meh under the sheets and make some waves of our own,” she quipped.

“Since when does late morning sex stop terrorists?” questioned Remy.

“Never said it stopped anything,” Rogue shrugged, “If nothin’ else, it’ll keep our strength up.”

Rogue had a strange way of rationalizing things now that she could touch. Intimacy seemed to be the solution to all her problems. Remy enjoyed it plenty while they were all still recovering from the damage left by the Legacy Virus. But that was months ago. The world around them was changing and they weren’t changing with it.

“You got a strange outlook on life, Rogue. You get your powers under control and suddenly everything has an easy answer,” said Remy.

“Who said it was easy? Ah didn’t gain control of mah powers. I lost ‘em. Well, the absorption part anyways, but it ain’t too big a loss.”

“So as long as you can still bench a fully loaded dump truck, you be happy?”

“Not entirely,” she said, sneaking her hand around his chest and tracing a daring path down his abdomen, “Ah do have other needs that ain’t gonna fill themselves.”

“And you can fill these needs better just lounging around District X?” questioned Remy, still not affected by her seductive gestures.

“Do ya really wanna have that conversation again? Or do you wanna turn the TV off and enjoy yourself?”

“Remy figured you would say that. And it ain’t puttin’ Remy in the mood,” he retorted.

Much to Rogue’s disappointment, Remy slipped out of her grip and got off the bed. She watched with a bed sheet still covering her nude body as Remy gathered his clothes. He looked as disappointed as her. This was the first time she saw him leave her bed with a disgruntled look on his face.

“Seriously? Watching the news now gives you an attitude?” questioned Rogue, “You’re usually so light-hearted when disaster strikes.”

“If Remy be overreacting, then you be under-reacting, cherè,” said Remy as he put on his pants and shirt.

“You sound like a new mutant terrorist group doesn’t bother meh.”

“Does it?” he asked her.

“Of course it does! Why wouldn’t it?”

“Maybe the idea of not layin’ around, catching up on class, and having sex bothers you. Maybe the idea of actually being an X-man bothers you.”

“That’s just crazy and comin’ from you, that’s saying something!” said Rogue defensively.

“Is it, cherè? Every time someone else brings up re-joining the institute, you change the subject. I know your list of reasons. You been helping District X with the influx of refugees. You still got some stuff you be talkin’ about with Isaac. That be all well and good a few months ago. Now it’s less like a reason and more like an excuse.”

Rogue wanted to scold the Cajun, but that wouldn’t have made his point any less valid. He wasn’t the first person that brought this up, but hearing it from him left a stronger impact. Everything he said was true. After the Legacy Virus, she stayed in District X and focused on helping Tessa, Bishop, Multiple, and Jubilee clean things up after the Legacy Virus. There was a large influx of mutants from mutant communities all over the world that collapsed. Bringing so many mutants into a limited area brough with all sorts of complications, but most of those complications didn’t require her strength and flight abilities to resolve.

She remained silent as Remy put on his shoes and trench coat. As much as she enjoyed his visits, they had been avoiding the most obvious issue. District X was stable now and she had too few reasons for being here. She never officially quit the X-men and she still saw herself as an X-man. Her reluctance to rejoin them was quite telling.

“Don’t be taking this the wrong way, Rogue. You know Remy still loves you, non?” said the Cajun upon tying his shoes.

“Ah know. Ah love you too, Remy. We’ve demonstrated that many times in bed together,” she sighed, “Ah just…”

“I know. Being in control changes everything, cherè. It makes some things easier. Problem is some things ain’t supposed to be easy. Everything that’s worth having involves a challenge. You usually real good about rising to a challenge, especially when the chips be stacked against you. Well now you been dealt a better hand. Don’t be afraid to bet big.”

I have X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation all planned out. I have every intention of seeing it through to the end. But as I've previously announced, updates will not be as regular. I worked long and hard to make sure that previous volumes of X-men Supreme were updated on a biweekly schedule. Between a lack of feedback and the emergence of other projects, I'm going to have to change that schedule. Now I don't intend for X-men Supreme to be subject to the same delays as Secret Wars. But moving forward, I will be updating less regularly.

However, that can change. If feedback for X-men Supreme grows, then I will consider resuming biweekly updates. That decision will be based solely on the extent of the feedback I get. As always, I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to review. Either post your comments in the issue or contact me directly. I have gotten some wonderful feedback, but it's sporadic and limited. I want to keep making X-men Supreme awesome. And I can't do that without consistent feedback. So please let me know so we can both make this fanfiction series as awesome as it can be. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue #103: Shifting Tides is LIVE!

We're only a few issues into X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truth and already there has been plenty of upheaval. The X-men are dealing with a new world that is build on a fragile peace with plenty of dark forces looking to shatter it. The treaty with Genosha has fueled an economic boom that is keeping conflict between humans and mutants at bay. But the Prison Break arc revealed just how easily that conflict could escalate. While the X-men were able to prevent the likes of Shanobi Shaw from undermining this treaty, they've also experienced just how cunning their enemies can be. The X-men Supreme fanfiction series has introduced plenty of crafty enemies for the X-men to take on. Now they're about to go up against one that knows how to hit them on a profoundly personal level.

While every enemy the X-men have encountered create deeply personal conflicts in their own right, few have struck with as much force as Sinister. This man made his clashes with Cyclops and Jean Grey a family affair in the Sinister Intent arc, as well as The Good, The Bad, and the Sinister arc. He's also found ways to torment characters like Rogue and Wolverine on a very personal level. While he hasn't confronted the X-men in a while, I did hint at the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear that he was up to no good again. And like his previous conflicts, it's safe to assume he'll find a way to make this one very personal for the X-men.

Of the many personal issues that the X-men deal with, the issues between Rogue and Gambit have been mired in some of the most unique complications. For that reason, their issues haven't really gotten the spotlight in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. It also doesn't help that Gambit is dating Psylocke at the moment, but this relationship also is mired in plenty of issues, many of which are linked directly to Rogue. Now Sinister is set unleash a new round of complications that are sure to evoke plenty of personal issues. It's the kind of relationship drama that has made X-men such a compelling and successful mythos. And I look to continue that spirit here in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series.

X-men Supreme Issue 103: Shifting Tides

There's a whole host of new conflicts just on the horizon for the X-men. Expect this fanfiction series to explore new territory that cannot be found in the comics, movies, cartoons, or anything else. As X-men Supreme continues to evolve, I'll continue finding ways to make it more unique. That'll especially show with the way I develop things between characters Gambit and Rogue. I know that these characters have some very passionate fans. I also know that X-men fans in general are very sensitive to how their favorite characters explore new stories. For that reason, I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to review and provide feedback for each issue of X-men Supreme. I know I say that a lot, but it's always worth repeating. Either post it directly in the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine. Thank you very much to those who have reviewed and I hope others follow your example. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue #103: Shifting Tides PREVIEW!

One of the most endearing appeals of X-men are the relationships between the characters. Some call it shipping. I call it a reflection of everything that appeals about romance. Throughout the history of X-men, there have been many diverse relationships and romances. I've captured plenty of them in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. For a time, I had Wolverine and Jean Grey be romantically involved in a way that never occurred in the comics or movies. For a time, I also had Wolverine and Storm involved, another common pairing that has shown up in the comics in recent times. And since X-men Supreme Issue 34: Sinister Intent Part 3, Cyclops and Jean Grey have been an ongoing romance, as they are considered by many to be the most iconic romance in the history of X-men. But there's one romance that has been developing behind the scenes and it involves Rogue and Gambit.

In many mediums for X-men, especially the 90s cartoon, Rogue and Gambit have been one of those romances that defies the usual traditions. There was always plenty of chemitry and I've certainly gone out of my way to capture that in X-men Supreme. But they've always had a lot of forces pulling them apart. Whether it's Rogue's inability to touch or Gambit's questionable loyalty, they've struggled to forge a solid relationship. In X-men Supreme, they did have a chance to get together for a time. Then due to the efforts of Sinister, Rogue lost control of her powers. Even though this didn't stop them from getting closer, it eventually caught up with them when Gambit got together with Psylocke after the events of The Lotus and the Warrior.

The current situation for Rogue and Gambit in this fanfiction series couldn't be more difficult. Rogue left the X-men along with Nightcrawler, partly due to the lingering emotional strain between her and Gambit. However, I never intended her to stay out of the picture for long in X-men Supreme. I also never intended to negate this popular and often controversial relationship. While they have a lot of forces separating them, those same forces will lead their paths to cross again in the next issue of X-men Supreme. It's an issue that provides the first clues of the next big event in this fanfiction series and it's going to involve more than a few familiar foes. Once again, I’ve prepared an extended preview of this new conflict between this classic, yet complicated couple.

Philosophy was one of those rare human endeavors that attempted to encompass everything about everything within a single framework. It didn’t just sound like an impossible task. It was an impossible task. Some of the smartest men throughout history dedicated their lives to this task. It was a field that Remy Lebeau was woefully under-qualified for at times. Ye he remained engrossed in it past the point of frustration.

‘Dang! Didn’t Remy already read this chapter? Is it possible Remy is so sleep deprived that he read it and completely forgot about it? Maybe Remy should have Jean and Betsy probe his mind to see how crazy I am.’

Remy was running on empty. He hadn’t slept in nearly two days. Nobody really noticed either because everyone in the X-men was operating on extremely limited sleep at this point. Since the missions at Colorado Springs and Shaw Industries, the team had a lot on their plate. Somewhere along the way they still had class. It was supposed to be their least stressful duty, but for Remy it took on the rigors of several Juggernaut battles.

Remy had been staring at his books for nearly four hours. He practically tuned out Mr. McCoy’s lecture a few hours ago and had since tuned everybody else during the study period that followed. Scott, Jean, and Betsy were in the middle of a few make-up assignments. Kitty, Bobby, and Piotr took a test earlier with Miss Munroe and had since left. Remy was supposed to go with them, but he remained stuck on one of his philosophy assignments that involved theories about human emotion. Unfortunately, this was one field Remy had been struggling with a lot lately.

‘Love is an exploding cigar we willingly smoke. Some femme named Lynda Barry said that. Remy guesses she had some problems in her love life as well. Wish I could come up with an insight like that. It be a heck of a lot easier than stayin’ up all night tryin’ to make sense of this shit.’

With a tired yawn, Remy sat hunched over his desk. He was the last person who should have been studying emotions. Emotions like love led to Belladonna’s death. Emotions like hate drove him away from his family. Then there were the emotions surrounding Rogue and Betsy that didn’t fit into any category. This should have been an opportunity. He and Betsy had been having problems lately. Their relationship had stalled and neither one of them seemed to be trying very hard to get it going again. It didn’t help that he still talked to Rogue constantly. He wanted to make things right. But if this was an opportunity to do so, then he wasn’t making good use of it.

“Remy…hey Remy!” shouted Jean from a nearby desk.

“Huh?” said the Cajun, jolted from his daze.

“Are you going to answer it or what?”

“Uh…answer what, cherè? We takin’ another pop quiz or something?” asked Remy incredulously.

Jean responded by telekinetically lifting up one of his books and batting him on the head with it in a not so subtle manner.

“Ow! What the hell was that for?!” he said, now fully alert.

“To wake you up,” replied Jean, “Your phone has been ringing for the past five minutes on your desk. If you’re not going to answer it, could you at least set it to vibrate? I need to make up a test and that ZZ Top ring tone is undermining my grade-point average.”

While Remy was rubbing his head, he looked down at his cell phone to see that Jean was right. He had been in such a daze he didn’t notice that his phone had been ringing. On the screen it said he had three missed calls, all from the same number. Remy immediately recognized the number and when it started ringing again, he answered it.

“Uh…Bonjoure?” he said under his breath.

“Dang it, Remy! What the hell is goin’ on over there? Ah’ve been tryin’ to call you all morning.”

“Rogue? You ain’t be callin’ Remy in the middle of the day just to yell at him, non?”

“If that’s what Ah wanted, don’t you think Ah would have called sooner?”

She sounded pretty upset. Something clearly was very wrong so rather than try to charm her out of her mood he gave her a moment to collect herself.

“Talk to me, Rogue. What’s goin’ on?”

There was a brief silence over the line before Rogue replied, but he could still hear the strain in her breathing.

“Ah…Ah need to see you, Remy. Ah don’t mean soon either. Ah mean right now.”

“Is this something we can’t talk about over the phone?” said Remy, trying to be tactful so as not to invoke the curiosity from the others.

“No…Ah need to tell you in person. How soon can you get to downtown Westchester? Ah ain’t far from S&L Barbecue.”

Remy looked at his stack of books and then down at his watch. His lack of sleep and constant frustrations with his assignment quickly faded. Rogue sounded desperate and her safety took priority over everything else.

“Hang on, Rogue. Remy will be there in fifteen minutes tops.”

“Thanks sugah. Just hurry the hell up!”

Of all the topics discussed among X-men fans, character relationships are often the most heated. I understand that there are a lot of fans that are very passionate about these pairings, so much so that it often makes it difficult to develop these relationships in a meaningful way. When I began X-men Supreme, I wanted to place a special emphasis on making the relationships between the characters compelling and believable. Even if the relationship didn't last, I wanted it to be something that fans and critics alike of the pairing could appreciate. I did it with the likes of Cyclops and Jean Grey. Now I seek to do the same with Rogue and Gambit.

But if I'm going to do justice to these relationships, it's very important that I continue to get feedback from the fans that support them with such passion. I'm open to hearing from fans and critics alike of every pairing. Please take the time to contact me directly or post comments directly in the issue. Either way is fine and I take every word seriously. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

Corporatizing Heroes: All New X-Factor #1

The following is my review of All New X-Factor #1, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

Corporations have gotten a bad rap in recent decades and to be fair, they’ve earned that rap. For many people, they embody the materialistic greed and narcissistic excess that feed the egos of every Gordon Gecko wannabe. But those same people probably will never admit to all the good that corporations have done for them. The same burned out hippies that protest corporate greed often blog about their outrage on computers sold to them by one corporation while wearing clothes sold by another. It’s a very soft kind of hypocrisy. It’s like a vegetarian that likes to wrap their carrot sticks in bacon.

Contrary to popular belief, corporations can actually do a lot of good. Apple, Google, Starbucks, Boeing, and Amazon all help people by providing them things they can’t get on their own. They’re not heroes because they don’t do it for free. Sometimes, corporations want to be seen as heroes. But corporations can never be heroes in the same way a thief can never be honest. That’s not to say corporations can’t provide the basis for heroics. Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne are the most well-documented cases of a rich corporate leaders using their wealth and power to serve the greater good. But these are two tales that were forged from the bygone era created by Howard Hughes and Thomas Edison. Now in All New X-Factor #1, a new team of X-men attempts to forge a new tale in the era of Bernie Madoff, Enron, and Goldman Sachs.

It’s a dramatic shift from other recent X-men titles and that’s actually a good thing. At a time when the X-men are divided between Team Cyclops and Team Wolverine, there needs to be a third alternative where characters can take a more novel approach to being X-men. Historically, X-Factor has functioned in its own unique way. It exists in its own little corner of the X-men world, so much so that it has become somewhat detached at times. In that sense All New X-Factor #1 is perfectly positioned to take such a novel approach.

As the first issue of this new era in the annuls of X-Factor, it spends a fair amount of time establishing a new cast of characters for this team. Many of these characters are not D-Listers or complete unknowns either. Gambit, Polaris, and Quicksilver have all had prominent roles with the X-men in the past. However, their roles have been diminished in recent years. Some had their solo series get canceled. Some got kicked off their other teams. And some just went crazy, which is to be expected from time to time in the Marvel universe. This series provides them a new platform to contribute to the X-men.

But in the same way Batman can’t run the Batcave on determination alone, X-Factor can’t be competent heroes without a few resources. This is where their new corporate sponsor comes in and in this new series, it is basically presented as its own character. The corporation that enlists X-Factor is called Serval Industries. It may sound more generic than 95 percent of the companies on the New York Stock Exchange, but they have their hand in weapons manufacturing and internet search. So in a modern context, they probably have more than enough money and resources to provide X-Factor with everything they need, except for maybe a dental plan and inexpensive health care.

There’s still the question of why a corporation would want to support a superhero team. Many corporations go to great lengths to never be mentioned in the news except when it involves their stock price. But Harrison Snow, the CEO of Serval, claims he wants to help X-Factor because they’re in the business of helping people. On some level’s he’s not wrong. Corporations need to help people if they’re to make their money. They’re not like the IRS in that they can just barge into peoples’ houses with guns and demand their money, although some corporations probably wish they had that power. But corporations still have to turn a profit and it’s not clear how supporting X-Factor will help Serval.

Harrison Snow draws some comparisons with Tony Stark, but doesn’t convey the same charisma. He’s certainly no Bill Gates or Steve Jobs either. But he makes the argument that if countries and international organizations can support heroes, then why can’t corporations? They already own some governments so in some ways, Snow is just skipping a step. He never mentions profit and he never mentions business either. Maybe in a different era, he would have been given the benefit of the doubt. But in this era of government bailouts and overpaid CEOs, it’s hard to get a feel for who this character is. And that’s exactly what makes him and this new setup for X-Factor interesting.

While Harrison Snow is a mystery, the new cast of X-Factor is both familiar and satisfying. Gambit, Polaris, and Quicksilver say outright in some areas that they don’t fit in with the other X-men anymore. They need to find their own place and X-Factor is giving them a chance to do just that. They even have a new threat to deal with in AIM. It’s a threat that’s as generic as the name of the company that supports them, but maybe that’s the point. Like NASCAR drivers with company logos painted on their racers, they know where they stand and what they’re getting into.

At its core, All New X-Factor #1 sets up a new business plan for X-Factor. It’s like a company that is being restructured in order to enter a new industry. Apple did it when they entered the cell phone business. Now X-Factor is doing it with Serval. It brings together several characters that are in need of a new outlet for being X-men while not getting too bogged down in emotional baggage. As a business model, it remains to be seen whether it will be profitable in a literal or figurative manner. But it succeeds in presenting a novel approach into a series that has already distinguished itself in that field. X-Factor is still a long ways from being the next iPhone, but it’s off to a good start.

Final Score: 8 out of 10

Scanned Thoughts: All New X-Factor #1

When it comes to consistency in X-men comics, Peter David is like Brett Favre, minus the sexting scandal. There have been a lot of shake-ups and fuck-ups over the past decade with X-men. Hell, I've covered a good deal of them. But Peter David has always been quietly going about his business, churning out consistent awesome with X-Factor. I know I've never reviewed one of his comics on this blog. I just can't get drunk enough to go on a sufficiently insightful rant, but I don't deny for a second that X-Factor is a consistently awesome supplement to the X-men library. It was also the last series to be ended and effectively relaunched. Peter David is still the writer, but now he gets to slap a brand spanking new #1 on X-Factor. That should give any experienced X-men fan a nice boner so I’ll be keeping my pants nice and loose for this review.

As with every new relaunch, there must be something or someone who needs to have their ass kicked. X-Factor is like any other X-men team. They take on that special breed of asshole that jerks off to the sight of suffering mutants. So it makes sense that on the first page of this first issue of this relaunched series, we’re introduced to just such an asshole. He’s basically a mix of Dexter and clichéd Weapon X guy. He and a buddy are experimenting on an innocent, albeit unknown, mutant who would rather be locked in a room with polar bear on crystal meth. But it’s not enough that they’re tormenting a mutant. They’re doing it with the kind of casual attitude that I usually reserve for ordering Taco Bell after midnight. These are basically the kind of guys that deserved to be horribly maimed by the X-men so why not let a new team take a crack at them?

That team still doesn’t exist though. The X-Factor that Jamie Madrox has been running for years is officially closed for business. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few X-men who are too busy to pick up where Multiple left off. And some X-men have more free time than others. Hell, some haven’t been doing jack shit in the other books while others have had their solo series get canceled. It’s one of the drawbacks of having a team as big as the X-men. There are only so many comics with which to cover these characters and the audience has an attention span only as long as the last Duck Dynasty scandal. It presents a special challenge for X-Factor, but it actually does have some notable names to work with.

Gambit is one of those characters that seems to soak the panties of a certain segment of fans, but he has never been able to function on a major title consistently. When he’s not trying to bang Rogue, he’s basically an afterthought. And it turns out that when he has no Rogue to bang, he reverts back to some of his old habits, like breaking into some rich guy’s house and stealing a mystical artifact that could open the gates of Hell itself. Since there are already several of those in the Marvel universe, Wolverine catches up with Gambit and informs him that he needs to find a better hobby. He’s supposed to be a teacher at the Jean Grey Institute, but all he has been teaching lately is how to ditch class. And trust me, most teenagers don’t need a class to learn that shit. Wolverine does come off as a bit of an asshole for barging in, ruining Gambit’s score, and chewing him out for not doing his job, but he’s not wrong. Gambit has been MIA from every major X-men event lately and he’s not keeping himself busy in a very healthy way.

This provides some nice insight into Gambit. For anyone who hasn’t been keeping up with the shit that has happened to him lately, and that ain’t much, this offers a perfect recap of sorts to help readers understand where he’s coming from. There’s some hints about what he did in his solo series and a mention of the Thieve’s Guild, which is a big part of his history. It’s not telling die-hard Gambit fans anything they don’t already know and jerk off to, but it does provide a base for his character.

And at the moment, that character isn’t really sure what to do with himself. Teaching at the Jean Grey Institute just isn’t doing it for him anymore. He’s a lifelong thief. Asking him to settle down and be content with teachings snot-nosed teenagers is like asking a crack head to invest their savings wisely. So Gambit does what I often do and drowns his sorrows in a bar, but not before doing a little property damage. Usually it’s the other way around for me, but I don’t see why both approaches couldn’t work. He only seems to be partially drunk as he probably fantasizes about pouring acid down Wolverine’s throat for talking down to him like a child, but then Polaris shows up and gives him a better reason to get drunk. She has a new opportunity for him and it doesn’t involve listening to teenagers bitch and moan about homework.

Now Polaris is another one of those characters who hasn’t been a major player, but she did play a large part in the latter issues of X-Factor. She kind of went a bit insane and broke up with Havok. Then again, I think every character in the Marvel universe deserves to go insane at some point. She now seems to have her shit together again. However, there isn’t much of an explanation of how she suddenly became sane again. Her recent history isn’t as detailed as Gambit’s, but she is the one who apparently is setting up this new team so I’m willing to overlook that. Plus, she looks fucking hot in that new uniform. That always is a bonus in my book.

She invites Gambit to join her at a coffee shop, probably because she understands that few successful partnerships that don’t involve one night stands and broken jaw bones ever begin in a bar. She then listens to him bitch about how Wolverine wants him to be an upstanding, boring ass teacher who never steals anything. Polaris looks like she just found pictures of Channing Tatum’s abs because she wastes no time in inviting Gambit to take a trip with her. They even get to fly on a fancy private jet. Sure, that jet gets shot at by a missile. But in the Marvel universe, if someone isn’t trying to shoot them out of the sky, then someone isn’t being heroic enough.

Along the way, Polaris explains that the jet actually belongs to a company called Serval Industries. They’re basically a typical faceless entity that has their hands in weapons manufacturing and internet search. They’re basically a cross between Google and Stark Industries. Now they’ve also decided to get into the superhero business. Sure, that means some people will want to shoot at them with rockets, but that’s probably no less hazardous than being probed by the FTC.

They arrive at their headquarters in Virginia where they have a base of operations that Google would probably be proud of. It looks like a fairly typical business, so much so that Gambit takes a chance to do some pick-pocketing. Like I said, he’s a thief at heart and he’s not going to stop so long as there’s no naked Rogue to keep him occupied. But in terms of a base of operations, this is the kind of facility that’s equipped in a way second only to the Playboy Mansion. There’s still the matter of why the fuck a successful company would want to have its own team of superheroes. I imagine those resources are probably better spent on lobbyists, but I guess this would fall under the category of thinking outside the box. It worked for Apple. Why not these guys?

They then meet Harrison Snow, the President and CEO of Serval Industries. He’s no Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. Hell, he looks more like a Tony Stark wannabe, which he freely admits is the public perception. But he seems dead serious about setting up this new team. He even went through the trouble of buying the rights to X-Factor from Multiple. I mean when is the last time any hero got paid for their superhero team that didn’t involve merchandising? He still comes off as someone who is about as honest as a tobacco lobbyist, but he does make a few semi-logical arguments. Countries and transnational organizations have superheroes. So why not rich corporations? Sure, they already run countries, but why not skip a step? He claims his company is in the business of helping others and X-Factor will just help that purpose. He makes it sound so noble, but it’s hard to take him seriously when he’s wearing a suit that probably cost more than my last five paychecks.

Whether Harrison Snow is being noble or not, he still believes that X-Factor will serve his company. He has even started expanding his team, enlisting Quicksilver while Polaris was out recruiting Gambit. He’s yet another character that has been MIA from major X-men stories for a while. But he also has a history of being a villain, an Avenger, and an overall douche-bag. I suppose every superhero team needs someone like that. Just look at Wolverine. There’s still the matter of Polaris trying to kill Quicksilver the last time they met, but he seems willing to chalk that up to booze, bad weather, and bad moods. If only my parole officer was so forgiving. Quicksilver does try to explain himself and like Polaris, it’s not a very detailed explanation. But it at least makes clear that he’s not a total asshat and is trying to be a hero again. Since the Avengers are overcrowded and the X-men aren’t about to overlook his bullshit, he might as well take a chance with X-Factor.

It seems like there’s a lot of boring chit chat going into setting up this new team. Most of this issue consists of characters talking about how dissatisfied they are with their current situation in the Marvel universe and are in need of an upgrade. It may not be as exciting as watching Wolverine decapitate Apocalypse, but it establishes a few layers of detail with the story that set the foundation for what this new era in X-Factor will be. One of X-Factor’s greatest strengths historically is that attention to detail and while it may not be as thrilling as a roller coaster, it makes the story more engaging.

And with an engaging story, the action is even more satisfying when it finally happens. After the awkwardness between Polaris and Quicksilver settles, they set out on their first mission. It’s pretty standard. They have to hunt down an exceedingly unethical biologist named Dr. Terrance Hoffman, who may or may not be spooning AIM. They find his facility, they start blowing his shit up, and they do it in a way that’s very satisfying. It’s a little rushed, but the details that led up to it are what make it fun.

As for Dr. Hoffman himself, he’s still as casual about tormenting mutants as I am about tormenting bags of potato chips after several bong hits. He’s about ready to operate on an innocent mutant without anesthesia and he’s about to do it with a goddamn smile on his face. Then when he’s told that they’re under attack by mutants, he doesn’t look all that threatened. Hell, he looks like a kid whose parents just told him there’s a freshly baked cake in his bedroom. He’s just begging to be this new X-Factor’s first success. He’ll probably help boost Serval Industries’s stock in the process. I usually don’t like when corporations exploit heroes to turn a profit, but in some cases I’m more than happy to make an exception.

This comic has many messages and themes. The most prominent of all is basically, “The hippies were full of shit.” There’s no question that we live in a world of corporations act like dicks and make it their mission to shove said dicks into the asses of its customers and the mouths of the politicians that assist them. But like it or not, corporations are capable of doing good. Do we not owe greedy corporations some credit for creating the computers that so many people rely on to binge watch Netflix or download unlimited amounts of porn? Well in All New X-Factor #1, a corporation has decided to dip their hands in the superhero business. Serval Industries may look like a Google wannabe, but it has effectively set up a new X-Factor. And while I’m as inclined to trust a rich CEO as much as I’m inclined to trust the IRS, Serval has created a unique and interesting new setting for X-Factor. While this issue did drag in a few parts, it was nicely detailed and almost as engaging as a living blow-job machine. I give All New X-Factor #1 an 8 out of 10. I’m still not sure if I would invest in Seval Industries if I was an overpaid Hedge Fund manager. But if corporations are going to be dicks, they might as well squeeze in a few heroics. Nuff said!