Strangers In Paradise Chapter 3: Royal Decree is LIVE!

It took way longer than I had hoped, but I'm finally ready to update "Strangers In Paradise." I know. I took way too long. For that, I apologize. There were forces beyond my control delayed my progress. I know it's not a good thing, delaying a story where I'm trying to explore uncharted territory. But I do have a good reason this time. I recently had to undergo some overdue dental surgery. The procedure had some complications, which put me in a world of pain that I still haven't fully recovered from. It was hard enough keeping up-to-date with X-men Supreme. I couldn't find the time I hoped to complete this chapter with the level of quality I wanted. I've finally recovered enough to get the job done. Now it's here.

This is set to be a very emotional chapter. I spent the entire previous chapter just establishing the chemistry between Clark and Diana. Being stuck on an island with nothing but time and youthful hormones can be a dangerous combination. They came together in a way they never could have anticipated. Now Diana's mother and sisters have uncovered her secret. It's going to lead to a very emotional and very difficult conversation that will change the course of her life and Clark's. This is a chapter that I hope is worth the wait for Superman/Wonder Woman fans.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 3: Royal Decree

Barring another major surgical procedure that cripples me with pain, I hope to post the next chapter much sooner. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 2: Secrets and Deception is LIVE!

It's not easy exploring new creative territory, especially when I have so much to explore in my current creative endeavors. But part of getting better at anything involves taking a chance and exploring uncharted territory. That's what I was doing when I began pursuing my first ever Justice League story, "Strangers In Paradise." I had never written a DC Comics story, let alone one focusing on their power couple, Superman and Wonder Woman. But after seeing how this relationship unfolded in wake of Justice League #12, it's something I wanted to explore. And so far, the response has been great.

I was genuinely surprised by the good feedback I got for the first chapter of "Strangers In Paradise." Considering how much time I've dedicated to X-men and Marvel stories, I thought it would be a difficult transition. In many ways it is, but I'm glad to see that this hasn't stopped some from enjoying the story. It has me hopeful about the prospects of this story because I don't intend it to be as short as some of my other side-projects. I'm treating this as though it were a volume of X-men Supreme. Now that means updates for this story won't be as quick or as regular as X-men Supreme. This story is a side-project. X-men Supreme remains my main focus since that is the bread and butter of my creative endeavor. But I still have every intention of seeing this story through.

It has taken me a bit longer than I thought, but I have completed and posted the second chapter of "Strangers In Paradise." In the first chapter, I set the stage for Clark and Diana to meet at a point in their lives when neither of them are superheroes. Clark Kent is just starting to be Superman and Diana has not yet become Wonder Woman. Yet their paths cross by accident and despite some difficult circumstances, they forge a connection. Now in this chapter, that connection begins to blossom in a very powerful way. It will set the stage for some very heartfelt moments that Superman/Wonder Woman fans and Justice League fans in general should really enjoy.

Strangers In Paradise 

Chapter 2: Secrets and Deception

If the response for this story continues to be strong, I will try and update more regularly. For now, I work on this story whenever I can spare some time in between writing reviews and developing X-men Supreme. There's still plenty more to tell and I hope it leads to more and better awesome for everyone. Nuff said!

New Side-Project: Strangers In Paradise - A Superman/Wonder Woman Story

I know I just started work on X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths, but X-men Supreme is not my only project. There are very few days where I don't contemplate other stories. Most of those stories don't make it to the first chapter, let alone a complete idea. But for the first time in quite a while, I've come up with something that is sufficiently awesome to pursue.

I've already revealed in previous posts on this blog that I have a soft spot for the Superman/Wonder Woman romance. I've also revealed that I have my own unique perspective on romance in comics, namely that it shouldn't suck. There are a long list of romance stories in comics that sound good on paper, but end up sucking because there isn't an effort to actually develop the relationship in a meaningful way. It often leads to stories and relationships that end badly.

Case and point.

But I think DC Comics has done a great job of developing the Superman/Wonder Woman relationship. On paper, it sounds next to impossible because Superman has spent the last 70 years linked to Lois Lane. And I've got no problem with that relationship. It's definitely one of the most epic comic book romances of all time. But Superman/Wonder Woman bring something different to the table. They're both heroes. They're both in the same line of work. They were teammates before they became lovers. They understand their struggles in being Earth's greatest heroes while dealing with all sorts of complex personal issues. This allows them to relate to one another on a powerful level. And in the past few years that DC has actually put the energy into developing this couple, it has become one of the best in all of comics.

Also, it's pretty damn sexy.

This has helped inspire me to create my own story, which I call "Strangers In Paradise." This is a story I never could have told without the impact of the New 52 because it incorporates elements from the New 52 into the setting. I've tweaked a few things, giving the DCU my own little twist in the same way I did with X-men Supreme. But I didn't change much. I only used this setting to tell a Superman/Wonder Woman story from a very different perspective.

The base of this story comes down to this: what if Superman and Wonder Woman met when they were younger? In the New 52, their early lives before they became members of the Justice League are explored. In Wonder Woman's solo series, as well as the relaunched Action Comics series, we see that they too went through a phase that involved them being young and dumb. It's actually pretty telling when even Superman and Wonder Woman aren't immune to the irrational influences of youth. But in this story, I take it a step farther.

In this story, Superman is 21 years old and still wearing blue jeans when he's wearing the cape. Wonder Woman is only 17 and hasn't even left Themyscira yet. They're young and horribly uninformed about the world as a whole. So what happens when their paths cross by accident? What kind of relationship develops when they meet each other at this vulnerable age when they're still surrounded by all these crazy influences? And keep in mind, some of these influences have godly powers. It's a story that develops the Superman/Wonder Woman relationship in an entirely new way and I hope it will resonate with fans of Superman, Wonder Woman, romance, and awesome stories in general.

Superman and Wonder Woman: Strangers In Paradise

Also, I want to make clear that pursuing this story will in no way affect the update schedule for X-men Supreme. That will still be updated on a biweekly basis unless I announce otherwise. Updates for this story were be less frequent. I don't have an update schedule at the moment. It depends on the amount of feedback I get and the amount of time I can spare without disrupting X-men Supreme. As always, I strongly encourage everyone to provide feedback on this and every other story I write. I really hope Superman/Wonder Woman fans enjoy this and I hope it leads to more awesome stories. Nuff said!

X-men Supreme Reflections: General Nathan Grimshaw is LIVE!

Every so often, I encounter a part of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series that is both incredibly challenging yet deeply rewarding. For a fanfiction series this big, there have been more than a few parts like that. Arcs like the Phoenix Saga, the Cambrian, and Overlord rank very highly in terms of those I'm most proud of in creating X-men Supreme. However, I take a special kind of pride in creating the two original characters that I've incorporated into this fanfiction series, Captain Jack Freeman and General Nathan Grimshaw.

As I've said before, incorporating original characters into a fanfiction series is very challenging and very easy to mess up. I knew at some point I was going to create my own characters to help X-men Supreme become more unique. I waited until X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear because I wanted to make sure I had developed as many X-men characters as possible. When the time came to bring General Grimshaw and Captain Freeman into the mix, it had to be under just the right circumstances. And I think I created just that with President Kelly's mutant initiative and the ongoing conflicts with Reverend William Stryker. Since then, General Grimshaw has become an X-men Supreme mainstay, positioning himself on the front lines of these conflicts. And when X-men Supreme Volume 5 unfolds, he will remain in that position. That makes him an important character for the future of this fanfiction series. As such, it's important that readers know who this man is and why he does what he does.

For this reason, General Grimshaw's entry into X-men Supreme Reflections is probably the most important reflection to date. I won't say it's required reading for X-men Supreme Volume 5, but I will say that it helps put some of the future events into perspective. It also will give readers a better sense for how General Grimshaw's role will develop. He said from the beginning that he can be the X-men's greatest ally or worst enemy, depending on the choices they make. He is very different compared to President Kelly or Reverend Stryker. His history and his ambitions will drive him in a way that will make him a force to be reckoned with. So with that, I am very excited to release the inner reflections of Nathan Grimshaw. He's not just my own creation. He is a man on a mission who promises to have a major impact on the future of X-men Supreme.

X-men Suprme Reflections: General Nathan Grimshaw

Take note in that General Grimshaw cannot be found in any of the X-men comics, cartoons, or movies. He is an X-men Supreme exclusive. And because of that, I am extra motivated to make him as awesome and memorable as possible. For that same reason, it's even more important that I receive input and feedback from readers on him and his counterpart, Captain Jack Freeman. Again, I understand that X-men fans want stories about the X-men. And rest assured, these characters will not detract from the X-men. But I want General Grimshaw to help make the X-men and the X-men Supreme fanfiction series more awesome. So please, my fellow X-men fans, take the time to provide feedback and comments on this entry of X-men Supreme Reflections. Either post it directly in the issue or contact me and send me your remarks. I'm open to either one and I will gladly respond to every inquiry. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Reflection: General Nathan Grimshaw PREVIEW!

I hope everyone is enjoying this latest installment of X-men Supreme Reflections as much as I'm enjoying writing it. The X-men have one of the biggest cast of characters in all of comics. It's a big reason why this fanfiction series has grown as large as it has. It won't be long before X-men Supreme celebrates it's 100th issue. It promises to be a major milestone and one I intend to cherish. But 100 issues is not enough to capture the essence of these iconic characters. I've already explored new ground with Psylocke and Colossus in their entries of X-men Supreme Reflections. But the next character I intend to explore presents a much greater challenge.

Part of what made X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear special was that it marked the point in this fanfiction series where I began integrating two new original characters into the world of X-men Supreme. As I've said before, original characters in fanfiction tend to have a certain stigma attached to them. All too often, original characters either come off as too flat or they take too much away from other characters. I didn't want to do that when I introduced Captain Jack Freeman and General Nathan Grimshaw into X-men Supreme. They both made their debut in X-men Issue 75: Renegade. And it was General Grimshaw who thrust himself into mutant affairs amidst escalating conflicts between the X-men, President Robert Kelly, and mutants as a whole. He was the visionary behind the Mutant Security Agency and he is leading the charge in President Kelly's effort to police growing mutant unrest. But his role in this fanfiction series has only begun. And that's why I'm so excited to explore who Nathan Grimshaw is.

When it comes to the military and the authorities, the X-men have had a very rocky relationship to say the least. In both the comics and even in X-men Supreme, the military has been an obstacle more than an ally for the X-men. I always had a problem with that because like so many things, the military is more than just a bunch of men with guns. There are those who seek war and those who seek peace. And I wanted a character who understood that. General Nathan Grimshaw is not trigger happy, but he's not afraid to shoot either. He looks at mutants from a very different perspective compared to President Kelly, Professor Xavier, or Reverend Stryker. He sees mutants in a strategic sense. He's willing to be their ally, but he's not afraid to become their enemy. I haven't revealed the extent of his ambitions just yet. I have every intention of doing so as X-men Supreme continues to unfold. That's why I think this is the perfect time for readers to know who General Nathan Grimshaw is. He can't be found anywhere else other than X-men Supreme. He has no comic book counterpart or even someone closely related to him. So his entry of X-men Supreme Reflections is going to be so important. I've prepared an extended preview of what to expect from the world of Nathan Grimshaw.

Not long after I graduated, I was appointed to the Pentagon. Officially, I was a Lieutenant Colonel, but unofficially I was a glorified desk jockey. My first few years as an officer were pretty uneventful, not to mention frustrating. My youth was my greatest shortcoming and I had to work my way up through a painfully slow process. The ironic part is I still rose through the ranks quicker than my peers.

Around this time, I did manage to establish a decent civilian life. I did some traveling, I got married, and had a few little soldiers of my own. My wife happens to be a military woman herself. She worked as a nurse with the Veterans Administration and today she’s a full fledged doctor. She, more than anyone, encouraged me to take on the responsibilities of a General. She always came home with one too many stories about soldiers who had seen too much war and were seriously wounded by it in more ways than one. It was a constant reminder that nobody hates wars more than warriors and as a General, I needed to remember that as I forged ahead with my career.

Eventually, I rose to the rank of Colonel and was given a series of real operations. It was nothing terribly Earth-shattering. Most of the wars I fought were these small, proxy wars that nobody else wanted to fight. I spent some time in South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East managing conflicts in the way I had been trained. With every conflict, I proved to myself and others that I could handle the challenge of fighting a war. I quickly earned a solid reputation within the military community. I had a unique style that set me apart, some of it good and some of it controversial.

This conflicted praise was best shown in one of my first missions as a General. I was given the daunting task of trying to stem a conflict in Columbia concerning a new militia with ties to the big name drug cartels. Nobody had been having much luck stopping their growth or stemming the violence. So I took a shot with some quick, daring raids that gave some of my superiors heart attacks. I organized a series of covert operations that put spies right into the heart of the militia. I used that intelligence to do some quick sabotage of their communications network and then I threw a little tension into the mix by messing up some of their money transfers to foreign banks. I then convinced the top brass to give me control of a large contingent of Green Berets, which I admit was like trying to convince a crack addict to give me all of his crack. But they gave me a chance and with these soldiers, I delivered a blow that nobody thought was possible.

In a one-night operation, I struck each major compound simultaneously. Thanks to the spies I set up, I didn’t just hit their weapons caches or their drug reserves. I hit the areas where they were moving the money in and out of their territory. Suddenly, they had all these resources and no money with which to govern themselves. It didn’t take long for chaos to set in and the whole militia disbanded within months. It was a quick, clean, decisive victory. It caused some political backlash due to my use of Special Forces, but the results spoke for themselves. Even though a new militia took the place of the old one within a few years, I showed that I could get the job done.

Quick, smart, and rough…that was the essence of my strategy. I didn’t leave room for politics or coordination. I kept it simple and focused. While it may have worked, it did clash with a lot of the other officers in the top brass at the time. Ever since the Korean War, there always had to be room for politics. These operations were too compact and brief. They didn’t leave room extra diplomacy or potential political maneuvering. I always argued that this was a bad way to conduct wars. By making them bureaucratic, the wars get drawn out and no country ever benefits from wars like that. History has shown that time and again. But this was a sensitive period in world history. Politics were weaving their way into everything because the world was getting so much smaller and more complicated. The tactics of old school Generals seemed to not apply anymore.

Even if my methods were controversial, that didn’t prevent me from eventually gaining the rank of General. It took years and by the time I had the fancy uniform and title, it was somewhat bittersweet. That was because even after I had the rank, I was still stuck with the same job. The only wars the military would let me fight were the small wars. They reasoned that this is what I was good at. They enjoyed the luxury of having me do the grunt work while they dealt with the much larger issues at hand. I wanted to be part of those larger issues as well. I sure as hell didn’t want to spend the rest of my career fighting battles that would only be footnotes in pages of history.

As frustrated as I was, I did what I was told like any good soldier. In some ways this grunt work was good for me because it allowed me to gain more combat experience than I would have otherwise. That experience was invaluable because along the way, I noted the trends that were emerging in the constantly unfolding geopolitical landscape. I could sense that there was a much bigger conflict on the horizon. Just like the signs before World War II and Vietnam, societies and nations were on a path that had plenty of potential for a very bloody war the likes of which nobody had seen before.

At the source of this conflict was an old phenomenon that had literally been evolving for centuries if not millennia. The emergence of mutants had long been part of human history. For the most part it had been relegated to folk tales and sideshow attractions. Then around the beginning of the 20th century something unexpected happened. The mutant population started growing rapidly and by the dawn of the new millennium their numbers had gotten to a point where they were now a force to be reckoned with. Society and civilization was at a loss for how to deal with them and when ignorance and anxiety rule the day, the chance for conflict is practically a given.

I always suspected that the next big war would be a mutant war, but I didn’t feel inclined to thrust myself into it. That all changed when I met a young, arrogant, and dedicated young man named Jack Freeman.

I know that original characters tend not to draw a lot of fans in fanfiction. The main reason people read fanfiction is for the same reason they read comics, which is to see their favorite characters in exciting stories. I understand that General Grimshaw is on nobody's favorite character list. But he is an important part of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and it's important that readers understand him since he's going to remain a significant player in X-men Supreme. As such, I hope that readers take the time to provide constructive feedback on General Grimshaw. I know he doesn't inspire the same passion as characters like Wolverine or Storm, but it's very important that I know I'm not making the same mistakes with this character that many other fanfiction writers have made with their original characters. So please take the time to contact me and provide feedback. Or if you prefer, post your comments directly in the issue. As always, I appreciate all those who continue to support the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

Worlds Apart - Superman Meets Jean Grey In A Special (Sexy) Way

In addition to writing X-men Supreme, novels like Skin Deep, and reviewing comics, I actually do find time for other little side-projects. I honestly don't know where I find the time either, but some ideas are just too much to keep inside. Ever since DC's New 52 relaunch, I've contemplated a possible Marvel/DC crossover. I know I'm not alone either. There was a time when Marvel and DC actually did share their awesome and create epic crossover events. Lawyers have long since put the kibosh on that, but this hasn't stopped fan fiction writers from carrying on the legacy. Some are even pretty damn awesome. A very good friend of mine named The Writer With No Name has written some pretty epic stuff with his Last Son saga. He set the bar so damn high that I honestly don't see how I could ever match it, but that won't stop me from trying.

So I came up with this little idea to just test the waters of a Marvel/DC crossover. It's nothing too epic. It's basically just me trying a little something different to see if it has the potential to be awesome. It involves two awesome characters, Superman and Jean Grey, and brings them together in a very special (and sexy) way. It's just a simple one-shot. But if enough people like it, I'll try to turn it into something more awesome. Enjoy!

Worlds Apart

X-men Supreme Issue 97: Uneasy Truce is LIVE!

The end has arrived. A very eventful era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series has come to an end. I'm very proud of what I've accomplished with X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. This was era of X-men Supreme brought a very different kind of conflict to this fanfiction series. It wasn't just about fighting enemies like Magneto or Sinister. It was about making allies like General Grimshaw and President Robert Kelly. Winning battles is easy in the short-term. But winning the peace in the long-term is much more difficult. That's a battle that often gets overlooked in the annuls of X-men. I wanted to show just how difficult it is to create the peace that Professor Charles Xavier dreams of achieving. Now as X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear ends, the conflicts that have been raging are finally winding down and the world is ready for peace.

But even Professor Xavier understands that peace is incredibly fragile. He also understands that peace cannot be built on ideals alone. There needs to be an incentive to maintain that peace for everybody. Many times it requires compromise and sacrifice. The X-men and their allies in General Grimshaw have done more than their share of sacrificing since X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear began. Actions by the likes of Magneto, Colonel Wraith, and the Cambrian haven't made it easy for them. But now they've been given a chance to great the necessary incentives for peace. Ironically, Magneto provided those incentives during the events of the Time Bomb arc. He was able to re-activate recovered Shi'ar technology through Warlock, an AI that controls this technology. When he left, he left behind this powerful technology that happens to be in the hands of Genosha, which is now once again being run by Magneto's daughter, the Scarlet Witch.

Now in the final issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear, a new status quo is emerging. But this status quo isn't built around as many of Charles Xavier's ideals as the X-men probably hope. It's built around the hope that this alien technology, distributed and sold by Genosha, will create prosperity. And when there's prosperity, there are far fewer reasons to go to war. It's an overly pragmatic, if not downright hallow, means of achieving peace. But after all the damage that Magneto did along with the Cambrian, it's the only way the X-men can hope to salvage some level of peace and security. But before it even begins, some new threats to that security emerge. And the next stage of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is set to begin with this final issue.

X-men Supreme Issue 97: Uneasy Truce

In the end, X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear was almsot as long as X-men Supreme Volume 3: Ashes of Hope. The length and scope of this fanfiction series continues to grow. This makes developing X-men Supreme that much more challenging. And even as it has grown, the feedback has remained flat or declined. I really am hoping it'll increase with the conclusion of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. As I said in my last update, some of the emails that have been sent to me through this website have been blocked by my email filter. I have since changed it. I always respond to emails within 24 hours so if anyone has not heard back from me, then something is wrong. Please use Twitter or Facebook to contact me so I can fix it. But now that I've resolved this issue, I really hope to get some feedack now that the fourth volume of X-men Supreme is complete. I'm still committed to making Volume 5, but if support continues to decline it may be the last. So please take the time to provide feedback by posting it in the comments section of the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 97: Uneasy Truce PREVIEW and Contact Notice

It's almost over. Another era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is nearly complete. The scale and scope of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear has taken the X-men, their allies, and their enemies in many different directions. At times, it has been downright chaotic. So many forces beyond their control have been bombarding them from every possible angle. There have been personal struggles like Wolverine's past in Japan and Professor Charles Xavier's failing health. There have been much larger struggles against the Cambrian and a mentally unstable Magneto armed with alien technology. Those struggles have led to new allies like Colossus joining the team while others such as Rogue and Nightcrawler have taken a leave of absence. Now with the final arc complete, there is just one issue left to close the chapter on this era of X-men Supreme and set the stage for another.

Since I began this fanfiction series, one of my goals was to establish a sense of progression with this incarnation of X-men. A common problem that the comics, cartoons, and movies often face is stagnation. There are only so many times that the X-men can triumph over Sentinels and the Brotherhood before it gets dull. The characters and the world they live in has to keep evolving. While Marvel has done a pretty good job of evolving their characters, I feel as though the world those characters inhabit doesn't evolve enough. I've tried to make the world of X-men Supreme react and change in accord with major events. From the uprising on Genosha to the election of Robert Kelly, I want to treat the world of X-men Supreme as its own character.

Now with the end of the Time Bomb arc, that world is entering a bold new chapter. Magneto attempted one last misguided attack using alien technology. While the X-men and the Brotherhood were able to defeat him, the hostility that has been building since the Cambrian attack has not abated. General Grimshaw and President Kelly have been eager to hold Magneto accountable for his crimes, but now he's gone. So how can any peace come from these circumstances? Well at the end of Time Bomb, the X-men and the Brotherhood were left with an important bargaining chip. Warlock, the AI from a crashed Shi'ar ship, has been activated and is ready for use. This technology is of immense value to a world that is still rebuilding from the Cambrian. And through this technology, a new foundation for peace can be forged. However, that peace will be fragile at best. And that's what I hope to convey in the final issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. I've prepared an extended preview of what to expect from the end of this era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series.

“This deal is going to come back to bite us. I know it,” he mused as he gazed out over the main balcony of the throne room.

“We know, Pietro. You’ve been reminding us at least ten times a day since it happened,” said an exasperated Wanda Maximoff.

“I wouldn’t have to repeat myself if somebody actually took it seriously.”

“We are taking this seriously, Pietro,” said Professor Xavier, who was right behind Wanda, “I’ve been interfacing with Warlock for the past few days. I’ve made sure that the data records I’ve been distributing are clean of incriminating information. That includes advanced Shi’ar weapons and information regarding alien races.”

“We’ve also gone over every little piece of gear we’ve made with Warlock before parting with it. They’ll be able to build skyscrapers, cure disease, and travel into space with this technology, but they won’t be able to make a bomb out of it.”

“Yet,” Pietro pointed out.

“We’ll mitigate those problems as they come along. That makes cooperation all the more important,” said Professor Xavier.

“Sure doesn’t feel like cooperation,” muttered the speedster, “Feels more like bargaining.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” scolded Wanda, “This technology is Genosha’s greatest asset. Trading it in exchange for peace and sovereignty seems like a pretty fair deal in my book.”

“Think of it this way…if goods and ideas don’t cross boarders, troops surely will,” Xavier added.

Pietro still wasn’t convinced. It all seemed so clean on the surface. Looking out over the city, they could see the peacekeeping troops marching towards their new base in the south. They could even hear the cheers of their mutant citizens, waving goodbye to the occupiers and celebrating their renewed sovereignty. That was just what was on the surface. Having been raised by Magneto, Pietro Maximoff always looked beyond the surface to see the potential danger.

“I know what you’re thinking, Pietro. And I’m inclined to agree. Father would certainly be against this,” Wanda conceded.

“It isn’t just about Father,” said Pietro, “As far as I’m concerned, what he thinks is about as important as what he has for breakfast. Sure, he went crazy. That doesn’t mean we should forget the lessons he taught us.”

“Which lessons are those? The ones about never trusting the outside world even if it means more death and destruction?” said Wanda with folded arms.

“I’m talking about the ones involving why we shouldn’t trust humans, damn it! We could give them all the technology in the world. They could use it to make rocket powered iPods and adamantium encrusted dildos for all we know. That won’t stop them from hating our kind.”

“We have more important things to worry about besides how much humans hate mutants, Pietro. I think you’re losing sight of what we’re doing here.”

“Yeah? Well maybe you’re losing sight as well! Ever since we forged this new mutant country, you’ve been a lot less inclined to stick your neck out for our people! Father’s goal from the beginning to was lead us against human oppression! Now we’re making deals with those same oppressors?”

“I’m trying to give them less incentive to oppress us, Pietro!”

“Well keep telling yourself that, Wanda! And I’ll keep worrying about the price we’ll end up paying if we try too hard.”

Wanda fought the urge to hex her brother right off the balcony. Professor Xavier helped her resist that inclination. Pietro was right on some levels. Her outlook had changed since they arrived on Genosha. She was no longer a champion of mutant domination as her father had taught her. She saw more merit in sheltering their kind and protecting them from oppression. However, she wasn’t willing to become an oppressor herself. It was a fine line she walked because she was bitter towards humanity to an extent. She just wasn’t bitter enough to support her father’s methods.

Sensing the escalating tension, Professor Xavier intervened. He expected Pietro’s attitude to play a part in this peacemaking process. However, this was one process with which Pietro refused to keep up.

“Please Pietro…your father’s goals, misguided or not, shouldn’t stand in the way of the goals we have now,” coaxed the Professor.

“Don’t ask me to forget about my father!” said Pietro bitterly, shaking of a gesture from Xavier, “It’s been hard enough watching him disappear. It’s been even harder on Lorna. Lucky for her, she has Alex Summers comforting her.”

“Let’s not get into that discussion, Pietro,” groaned Wanda, “We’re all upset by father’s departure and Lorna was the one who could reach him better than either of us.”

“Well now Alex is reaching her in all sorts of ways since then. And I thought he was supposed to lead the Brotherhood in wrestling the authority away from the troops.”

“He’s doing his part, Pietro. We all are,” said Professor Xavier strongly, “I’m not suggesting you should forget about your father. I’m not inclined to forget about him either. He’s still a good friend to me and I hope that wherever he may be, he has found the peace he desperately needs.”

“Spare me the pity talk, Professor. You know he’ll be back,” scoffed Pietro.

“I don’t doubt that. I know Erik is not the kind to stay away from something this important. With that in mind, we have even more reason to succeed in this endeavor. That way when he does return he will see a world that hasn’t lost hope.”

“As if hope was ever his biggest problem,” muttered the speedster, “Even if we succeed, that doesn’t mean we’ll prove him wrong.”

Pietro turned around from the balcony and barged past the Professor and his sister. He had enough of this pointless debate. They weren’t going to convince him this was right and he wasn’t going to convince them that this was dangerous. Even if it worked, that didn’t vindicate this deal or discredit Magneto. In the end it may end up proving him right.

“Pietro…” groaned Wanda.

“I’m through talking about this,” he said firmly, “I’m going to catch up with Lance and Quentin. Since Havok won’t get off our sister, someone has to pick up the slack.”

In a speedy burst, Pietro disappeared in speedy a gust of wind. Wanda sighed in frustration while Professor Xavier just shook his head. Nobody assumed there was no danger with this deal. Wanda understood these risks and took them into account at every turn. It didn’t seem as though Pietro would ever accept them. It was just one more challenge among many they had before them.

“Just once I wish my brother wasn’t such a headache!” groaned Wanda, “Why do we always have to fight at times when we should be supporting one another?”

“Speaking as someone who has clashed with family before, that may be something as basic as sibling rivalry,” said Xavier with a light-hearted smile.

“I hope that’s all it is,” she sighed, “Because what if he’s right? What if this deal does lead to something we can’t control?”

“Then we’ll deal with it,” said Xavier strongly, “This isn’t something you’ll have to face on your own, Wanda. You’ll have allies in the X-men and allies in the international community. This technology gives some very powerful parties a very strong incentive to maintain peace. We’ll need that incentive as we move forward.”

Only one issue remains for this era of X-men Supreme. As I've stated before, I already intend to pursue X-men Supreme Volume 5 and another entry of X-men Supreme Reflections. However, the future beyond that point is still tentative. I work long and hard on this fanfiction series. And lately, I've been pursuing other side-projects unrelated to X-men Supreme. And in recent times, feedback and reviews for X-men Supreme have been declining. At this current rate, it will get to a point where I can no longer justify the work I put into this fanfiction series. So there is a chance that X-men Supreme may end at some point. I will not say for certain, but those who want to see this fanfiction series continue can influence my decision by simply taking the time to provide feedback. Please contact me at any time or just post your comments in each issue. I am very good at responding and I'm always happy to chat X-men.

Please Note: I recently discovered that my email filter may have been blocking out messages sent through this website's contact form. I have since fixed this. But anyone who may have tried to send me a message before yesterday might not have gone through. Please re-send your message. It should go through this time. I apologize.

I have big plans for the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and I would hate to have to cut those plans short. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 96: Time Bomb Part 2 is LIVE and Massive Pic Update

The core theme of the X-men has always been built around pursuing peace over war. I've tried to capture that theme in many ways throughout the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and as the story has unfolded, one thing has become clear. Peace is very hard to achieve, with or without the added complications of Magneto and Sentinels. But that's exactly why Professor Xavier considers it such a worthy dream. He and his X-men have gone to great lengths to forge peace out of the chaos that constantly unfolds around them. Now they'll have to do it again while dealing with a mentally unstable Magneto.

I've taken Magneto down some dark and devious paths in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. It was only a matter of time before he became so lost that even his own children will no longer stand beside him. But as mentally unstable as Magneto has become, he is still brilliant in his own right. He was the one that initially uncovered the Shi'ar technology from the alien ship during X-men Supreme Issue 46: Paradise Mystery. He also found a way to utilize that technology to locate the Cambrian. Now he's trying to use it again, this time in a much more direct manner. He's unleashed Warlock, the AI that governs this advanced Shi'ar technology. And this AI will allow Magneto to send the entire world of X-men Supreme back to the stone age. There won't be much peace possible after that.

So now in the penultimate issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear, the X-men must work with the Brotherhood of Mutants to stop Magneto. And while they're at it, they'll also have to find a way to prevent General Grimshaw and President Kelly from launching a full blown war to make Magneto pay for his crimes. General Grimshaw has already shown that he's more than willing and he'll have plenty of company if Magneto can't be stopped. Time is running out in this final arc. What will this mean for the future of the X-men and the world as a whole? It's all revealed in this very important issue of X-men Supreme.

X-men Supreme Issue 96: Time Bomb Part 2

In addition, I finally got around to doing an update for the pics section. I know I've been negating it for a while, but I always keep an eye out for great X-men pics. I'm also always in the market for new commissions. I've had a few very generous artists connect with me and bring some very memorable moments from the X-men Supreme fanfiction series to life. I've documented all of them in the X-men Supreme Official Panels section. For anyone else who is interested, please feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to discuss details. Until then, here's a list of the sections I've updated.

Cyclops and Jean Grey Pics

Wolverine and Jean Grey Pics

Black Queen Pics

Psylocke Pics

Rogue Pics

Emma Frost Pics

Storm Pics

Mystique Pics

There is now only one issue left of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. The world X-men Supreme is about to undergo another dramatic change. The extent of that change will set the stage for the next era of this fanfiction series. While I have every intention of crafting X-men Supreme Volume 5, the future of this fanfiction series remains in question after that. The lack of feedback and reviews for X-men Supreme lately have been discouraging. And depending on how the next era of this fanfiction series unfolds, it may be the last. I hope it isn't. I still have plenty of ideas to pursue for this fanfiction series. But I can't make those ideas sufficiently awesome without support. So please take the time to provide feedback for X-men Supreme. Contact me and send it directly or post it in the comments section of the issue. Thank you to all those who have been along for the ride. Only one issue left of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Until then, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 96: Time Bomb Part 1 PREVIEW and New Commissions

Since the X-men Supreme fanfiction series began, there have been some major turning points that occurred because of fateful decisions.These decisions didn't just have immediate consequences. They affected the overall course of X-men Supreme moving forward. And nobody has had to make more of these decisions than Magneto. He also happens to be the one who has put the world of X-men Supreme on the brink more than anyone else. First he led an uprising. Then he tried to wipe out all of humanity with an asteroid. Then he unleashed the Cambrian. It has finally taken a toll on him, so much so that's no longer in a clear state of mind. This has led to him making a decision to unleash Warlock, a sentient alien technology on the whole world. He is prepared to make one last effort to subdue the human race and the X-men have to stop him. But this time, stopping him isn't enough. Something has to be done about him and about the damage he has done. And that decision will be what leads to the final conclusion of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear.

This has been an interesting and challenging direction for this fanfiction series. With the introduction of General Grimshaw and Captain Freeman as well as new dynamics between the X-men and the human race, I've set up a collection of circumstances that has made X-men Supreme increasingly distinct. The conflicts in this fanfiction series simply cannot be found anywhere else, but it still maintains the core theme of X-men and the characters. And that has been my goal for X-men Supreme from the beginning. I don't just want it to be different than the comics. I want it to uniquely resonate with the themes of X-men. And that's why the conclusion of the Time Bomb arc is so important.

And it isn't just Magneto who will be facing some major turning points. Beyond the conflicts between the X-men and Magneto, there are still many personal conflicts to go around. And no character in X-men Supreme has endured more hardship than Wolverine. Since X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear began, he has endured blow after blow. He learned the horrible truth about his past in Japan. He also had a fateful encounter with Mystique that raised even more questions about his past. But his breakup with Storm has led him to hit rock bottom. He is now in such a damaged state that he struggles to function without the aid of alcohol. But then he encountered a girl who looks strikingly similar to him in X-23. In the comics, she's one of the newer complications to Wolverine's complex history. Now I'm very excited to introduce her to the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. And how she interacts with Wolverine will set the stage for the course of his character. It's also the subject of this extended preview for the next issue of the Time Bomb arc, which will also act as the penultimate issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear.

“I can see it in your eyes…how much it hurts,” Wolverine went on, “It sucks. Believe me, I know. The pain is so bad you just want to…but you can’t. No matter what you do, it never goes away.”

“Stop!” she yelled, “I won’t let you trick me!”

“This ain’t a trick, kid. And before you yell at me, think again. You are a kid…a child who was clearly tortured by the same people. You got every right to be pissed off. But what the hell do you hope to gain by killing me?”

“I…I need to end this! I escaped and killed everyone who made me! All that’s left is you! Either I’ll kill you or you’ll kill me! That’s how it has to be!” said X-23, her voice cracking under the strain.

“Killing me won’t undo the shit that was done to you. It won’t even make you feel better,” said Wolverine as he approached the feral girl despite his injured state, “Besides…why would you want to kill the only one on this planet who understands what your pain? Hell, I’m probably the closest thing you have to family.”

“No…I can’t have a family!”

“You really believe that?” scoffed Wolverine, “Maybe the only one tellin’ lies here is you!”

She was on the verge of breaking down. The former living weapon could smell it in the tears she was holding back. She was still poised to attack, but she wasn’t going to. Somehow Wolverine was certain of that. It put him in a strange position. He was never good with empathy, sympathy, or anything of the sort. Yet here he was trying to reach out to the only person who could possibly understand him and vice versa.

“You ain’t some weapon. You ain’t a lost cause either. An old bald guy who’s a hell of a lot smarter than either of us once told me there’s no such thing as a lost cause,” he said as he reached out to touch her face.

“Don’t!” she seethed.

“You probably think you’re just a weapon. That’s probably what you’ve been told by people who deserved your anger way more than I ever will. Well guess what? You ain’t a weapon. Real weapons don’t cry like you’re crying right now.”

“I…I’m not crying! I can’t!”

“Stop lying to yourself, damn it!” said Wolverine firmly, “You don’t have to be X-23. That’s number, not a name. Ain’t anyone ever call you by a real name?”

The girl was silent. Her hands were still trembling even as her claws threatened to impale the feral mutant in the neck.

“If you don’t have one, why don’t we make one up right here on the spot?” he went on, “I ain’t good with names. You look like me. You act like me. You’re stubborn like me. How about…Laura? Sounds kind of like me, but fits a teenage girl.”

“Laura…” X-23 found herself saying.

“Sounds better, doesn’t it?” he said, “I could help you with more than just your name. Just let me sober up and I’ll take you somewhere better than this.”

“I don’t want your help!” she cried, tensing up again.

“But you need it, don’t you?” said the feral mutant as he gently placed his hands on hers, “Take a good long look at me. I’m a pathetic son-of-a-bitch. I just broke up with my girlfriend, I’m out on a bender in this shit hole part of the city, and I hate my own guts more than I could hate anyone else’s. Do you really wanna walk the same path I’m walking? Because this is how you’ll end up.”

Every word he said struck a nerve that had never been struck. X-23 was still inclined to cut this man to pieces. So many instincts were urging her to, but something else was holding her back. Those emotions that her creators tried to breed out of her were holding her back. It was so painful. Every tear was more agonizing than the last. These weren’t emotions she was supposed to feel. It was just too much for her.

“Listen to me…” said Wolverine.

“NO!”

In addition, I know it wasn't long ago that I mentioned X-men Supreme's newest artistic ally, Jack Crowder. He already helped endear himself to this fanfiction series by bringing Captain Jack Freeman and General Nathan Grimshaw to life in his first piece. Well now he has done two more. For the first one, he took a scene right out of X-men Supreme Issue 65: The Phoenix Saga Part 3 where Emma Frost first dawned her uniform in the world of X-men Supreme. For the second, he did a nice solo image of Nightcrawler in a scene taken right out of his Supreme Reflections entry. They're both great moments that I'm proud to add to my pics section.

X-men Supreme Official Panels

Time is running out for X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Another era in this fanfiction series is about to end. The immediate future of this series isn't in question. It will continue. However, the distant future is still not settled. I hope that the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear will get people excited about the future of X-men Supreme. I hope that means more feedback and more intrigue. But if it continues to decline and nobody can help me fix it, then my committments to X-men Supreme may have to change. I want to keep writing it, but I want to keep making it awesome and I can't do that without support. So please take the time to contact me and let me know how I'm doing with this fanfiction series. That way I can make sure that X-men Supreme continues to be awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 95: Time Bomb Part 1 PREVIEW and New Commission

The end of another volume of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is near. X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear has been eventful to say the least. The world of X-men Supreme has endured many upheavals that have changed the nature of the X-men's struggle. It began with the inauguration of President Robert Kelly. Then two original characters were introduced in General Nathan Grimshaw and Captain Jack Freeman. They helped create some fragile yet important ties between the X-men and the government. It was quickly tested when Magneto unleashed the Cambrian on the entire world. And while strained, this link is still intact. But now it's about to be tested in another way that will end another era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series.

Once again, the conflict comes from Magneto. He has been the center of many major conflicts for the X-men both in this fanfiction series and throughout the history of the X-men mythos. While many may question his sanity, few can question his intent. He sees the human race as a threat to mutants. He doesn't believe that peace is possible and while he has shown time and again that he's willing to wage war with humanity, he also goes to great lengths to protect innocent mutants, especially his children. It's a dynamic that I've been exploring since I began X-men Supreme. Quicksilver, Polaris, and the Scarlet Witch have influenced Magneto in many ways. Sometimes it has been for the better. Sometimes they end up aiding his instability. Well now their commitment to their father is about to reach a pivotal and dangerous crossroad.

The final arc of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear will do more than pit Magneto against the X-men and the human race. He will now have to oppose his own children. He has done so much to protect them, but with the scars of the Cambrian still festering in his mind, he is prepared to cross lines he once deemed unthinkable. It is part of Magneto's progression into greater instability. I have made this a theme throughout this fanfiction series because I feel Magneto can't help but become obsessed in his dedication to his own vision. In many instances throughout the history of the X-men, this has destroyed him and those he cares about. Now this obsession is about to reach a turning point as X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear comes to an end. And once again, I've prepared a preview that shows what the X-men will be up against.

“I still think we should have brought Quentin Quire along,” said Alex, “A telepath might be useful in dealing with that twisted mind of his.”

“One step at a time, Alex,” retorted Wanda, “We’re not ready to resort to psychic probing just yet.”

“And if we do get to that point, Quentin Quire is the last psychic I would trust to do it,” added Pietro as they reached the door, “I know you’ve welcomed him into the Brotherhood with open arms, but he still creeps me out.”

“He’s an impressionable and arrogant teenage boy. I thought you of all people would get along with him,” Alex pointed out.

“What’s that supposed to me?!” said Pietro defensively.

The speedster angrily glared at Alex Summers. He may be the leader of the Brotherhood, but he still garnered little respect from Pietro. Yet another argument threatened to break out. Then Lorna made a strange discovery.

“Uh…guys? You think you could cut the bickering for a second?” she said warily, “I think we have a problem.”

“What is it now?” groaned Pietro as he reluctantly turned away from Alex, “Father didn’t barricade the door again, did he? I thought he was past that stage.”

“I suspect this an entirely different stage,” said Wanda, who shared in Lorna’s dread.

Pietro and Alex took a closer look at the door. It didn’t take long for them to see it as well. Some strange residue was seeping from the cracks of the door. It didn’t look like anything they had ever seen before and that said a lot in and of itself. From every crevice, a strange blackish/gold metal flowed from within the room. As the black parts of the metal seeped over the door, a series of gold colored streaks followed. They made perfect right angles, as if to mimic the appearance of computer circuits. It was hard to tell if this was something living or if it was some kind of machine.

“Pietro…when you said you did Father a favor, what exactly did you do?” said Wanda angrily.

“Nothing like this! I swear!” said the speedster defensively, “He just asked me to get some strange box, that’s all!”

“A box?” she said curiously, “Do you even know what was inside it?”

“Uh…it had no openings.”

“It’s ridiculous how little this surprises me,” groaned Alex, sensing they had another fight on their hands, “I’ve heard enough! Somebody break the door down!”

“Already on it!” said Lorna as she summoned her powers, “We’re coming in, Father! We’re here to save you!”

With a hard magnetic tug, Lorna ripped the heavy metal door of its hinges. A deafening metal clang reverberated through the halls. As soon as it was out of the way, Lorna rushed into the room with Wanda, Alex, and Pietro close behind. They expected to find their father in more self-imposed danger. What they saw, however, left them even more confused.

“Welcome, my children. You’re just in time,” grinned an eerily content Magneto.

“Okay, it’s official. I’m reconsidering the psychic probing,” said a dazed Wanda.

Magneto wasn’t in any danger. In fact, it looked as though he had cleaned himself up nicely since the last time they saw him. He was back in his dark red suit and cape, looking as poised as ever. But what had Wanda, Alex, Lorna, and Pietro really worried was the mysterious box he was holding.

From the top of the metal box, there was a wave-like stream of pulsating purplish light. From this light, this strange black metal with gold wire-like entrails flowed out freely and had since engulfed the whole room. Everything from the bed to the walls had been overtaken by this strange substance. Every square inch of the room now radiated with an ominous pulsating light. It was as if the room itself was now alive.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” said Magneto as he gripped the box intently, “Warlock managed to stay functional despite centuries of inactivity.”

“Not this again!” groaned Alex as he looked around at the strange metal, “Didn’t you learn anything from the Cambrian?”

“Oh I learned plenty. I learned just how feeble our lives have become in this corrupt world,” said Magneto in a voice that indicated his mental instability had gotten worse, “You see, when I lost the Cambrian, I lost the insight that led me to a higher understanding of nature. Now that I’m stuck within the limits of my own flesh and blood, I have struggled to wrap my head around that insight...until now.”

“Father…let’s not do this again!” cried Lorna, “You’re sick! You need help!”

“I have everything I need right here,” he said as he remained fixated on the box, “In addition to using the alien technology to locate the Cambrian, I also compiled every working scrap of hardware I could gather. As it just so happens, the ship contained a backup of its data in the form of a special AI called Warlock.”

“I’m not waiting for an explanation! You’re going to quit while you’re ahead whether you want to or not!” barked Alex.

“Havok don’t!” exclaimed Wanda.

In addition, I also have a quick update to the X-men Supreme Official Panels section. I know it has been a while since I got a piece of artwork for this fanfiction series, but as luck would have it I just made a good friend in Jack Crowder. He generously agreed to a commission for X-men Supreme featuring my two original characters, Captain Jack Freeman and General Nathan Grimshaw. I can't thank him enough for taking the time to contribute to the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and I have posted his piece in the pics section.

X-men Supreme Official Panels

Only a few issues remain of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. But in those few issues, I will be introducing some new elements that will lay the groundwork for X-men Supreme Volume 5. New characters, new threats, and new complications will continue make this fanfiction series more distinct. I have some significant plans for X-men Supreme, but I can only pursue those plans if I have sufficient support. As I've noted before, there hasn't been a lot of feedback with X-men Supreme lately. I wish I knew why because it's hard to stay dedicated to a fanfiction series if nobody is following it. I want to keep making X-men Supreme better and I can't do that without support. So please take the time to post your comments in the comments section of each issue or contact me dirctly. Either way is fine and really goes a long ways towards helping me improve X-men Supreme. So until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue #94: Madness and Madmen PREVIEW!

X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear has had some big moments and even bigger events. Ancient creatures have been uncovered, aliens have attacked, and two new original characters have been introduced to the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. So many changes and so many shake-ups have occurred, many of which will influence future stories. But with the end of Starcrossed, I can now say definitively that the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear is almost over. There are only a few issues left. I don't intend to tie up every loose end. That's by design because I will be revisiting these stories in X-men Supreme Volume 5. But I do intend to have a few key plots converge to cap off X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear.

Between the events of Cambrian and Starcrossed, the X-men were put under a great deal of stress. The Cambrian made a real mess of things to say the least. And Charles Xavier's declining health didn't help matters much either. Now Professor Xavier is healthy and just in time too. While the X-men were dealing with an alien attack, the Xavier Institute was hacked by Arcade, who had been enlisted by Colonel Wraith and Reverend Stryker. Both have fallen out of favor from President Robert Kelly, but neither has given up on their pursuit of a weapon with which to combat mutants. They're making a move at the best possible time. President Kelly and General Grimshaw are still uncertain of how to handle mutant issues, especially in wake of the Cambrian. And on Genosha, the Cambrian has left Magneto mentally unstable. There are numerous vulnerabilities to exploit and they'll have plenty of opportunities moving forward.

In addition to the fragile state of the world, the X-men have also had their share of personal drama. Relationships like Wolverine and Storm have endured numerous upheavals in wake of events in Japan, the Cambrian, and Starcrossed. There are a lot of forces drawing them apart and they wouldn't be the first ones either. Gambit is still dealing with Rogue's recent departure and Iceman's personal life with Jubilee has been erratic at best. But not all the news is grim on the romantic front. Shadowcat has been growing closer with the X-men's newest recruit, Colossus. And through the X-men's recent struggles, they've gotten to know each other a little better. It's another classic pairing from the X-men comics that I had always planned for X-men Supreme. And it is just one of the many romantic developments that will be explored as the events of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear winds down. This next issue will set into motion all those events that will close this major chapter in this fanfiction series out. As always, I've prepared an extended preview to show the kind of world that the X-men will be dealing with.

“Mr. President, I know I’m not giving you the kind of news you want to hear,” said Grimshaw.

“Don’t start apologizing for that, General. You’re low tolerance for bullshit is the main reason I have these meetings without my defense staff,” said President Kelly as he roughly rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“With bullshit in mind, I ask that you not cave in to these pressures. I’ve heard the reports from the UN. Nearly every country in the world wants to start rounding up mutants and processing them for potential threats. Ignoring for a second the gross violation in civil liberties, this will push mutant communities even further towards Magneto’s camp.”

“I thought he didn’t have a camp anymore. That Cambrian thing supposedly messed him up in one too many ways.”

“His sanity may be on sabbatical, but his message is as strong as ever. This may come as a shock to some people, but nobody likes being blamed for the mistakes some idiot across the world made.”

“We’re still talking about a hell of a mistake,” argued President Kelly, “You think I haven’t tried pointing this out? Not everybody thinks as rationally about Magneto’s actions as they should.”

“Magneto screwed up. Nobody is denying that. But if we’re not careful, the unintended consequences will do us all in,” said the General sternly, “I’ve heard some rumblings from Congress that the Mutant Security Agency may be re-organized.”

“Congress rambles about a lot of things. Only a handful of them ever get done,” the President pointed out.

“I wish I could take as much comfort in government inefficiency as you, but I don’t like to take chances. We can’t give into irrational fears, domestic or foreign. The MSA hasn’t even been given a chance! I won’t let it turn into some mutant Gestapo on my watch!”

“That hinges on whether or not mutant affairs make such a shift necessary,” retorted President Kelly, “If you want me to throw the very idea away, you’re wasting your time. The public aren’t the only one losing their patience.”

“The public doesn’t have a mutant son to worry about. I hope a man in your position would be pretty careful with those options.”

The mention of his son was enough to make President Kelly shoot up from his chair and stare down the General in anger.

“Don’t you dare bring my son into this!” he shouted.

“Forgive me, sir. But I get the sense you’re losing perspective here,” said the General, remaining calm despite the President’s tone.

“I don’t need reminders! I need results! And if you can’t deliver, it’s my responsibility to do something!”

“Then give me a chance!” he said strongly, “I’ve been talking to my associates on Genosha. I think we’re close to reaching a deal with Wanda Maximoff. If we can formulate a treaty of some sorts, we can stabilize the situation. We work that out and mutants won’t have as many reasons to lash out.”

“Do you honestly believe her voice is going to carry the same weight as Magneto’s? Who, I might add, is still alive and uncharged for his crimes?”

“She’s her father’s daughter to a point. She’s willing to talk and we need to be willing to listen. I’m working on some proposals as we speak. We’re so close to a breakthrough and pulling the plug will only cause more carnage. I just need time to work, Mr. President!”

President Kelly continued to stare down the decorated officer. General Grimshaw was not easily intimidated, not even from his Commander-in-Chief. Most people admired that kind of toughness. For the unfortunate souls who had to work with him, admiration was the last thing they wanted to give him.

Frustrated, the President took a deep breath and settled back in his chair. He was not going to win a shouting match with General Grimshaw nor was he going to do his approval rating any favors by giving into his requests. The General seemed confident he could make this situation better and he had shown an ability to deliver on his promises thus far. He would be taking a big risk in trusting him with another promise.

While President Kelly meditated over this decision, their private meeting was interrupted when Reverend William Stryker walked in.

“Excuse me, Reverend. But this is a private meeting,” said General Grimshaw, who quickly confronted the approaching man.

“Spare me your administrative bullying, General. This won’t take long,” said Reverend Stryker, “I just came to give Robert my resignation.”

President Kelly was taken aback.

“Excuse me? William, you really didn’t just say what I think you said, did you?” he said.

“I’m as serious as the blood of Christ, Mr. President,” said Stryker as he walked around General Grimshaw and approached the President’s desk, “In wake of recent developments, I feel I can no longer do the Lord’s work as your advisor.”

“Seriously William? I know we’ve had our differences lately, but that doesn’t mean…”

“You’re wrong, Mr. President. It means everything you think it doesn’t,” Stryker continued, “I gave my blood, sweat, and tears to help get you elected. I thought we were on the same page. Based on the works of this administration, I cannot in good faith support you anymore.”

The Reverend took out an official White House document and set it on his desk. It was only one page, consisting of hastily contrived bureaucracy to make it legitimate and clean. For someone like William Stryker who rarely overlooked details, it looked pretty rushed. That was cause for concern on more than just a personal level.

“I see,” said President Kelly as he looked over the document, “Are you sure everything is all right? Just because we’ve had some disagreements doesn’t mean I no longer value your input.”

“This is about more than petty disagreements,” said Reverend Stryker, “Back in the days of our Lord, Jesus saw himself as a Jew before he saw himself as the messiah. He was smart enough and strong enough to realize how the people he once supported had strayed from their path.”

“You honestly aren’t comparing yourself to Jesus Christ, are you?” said General Grimshaw dryly.

“Don’t throw blasphemy into the conversation, General. It demeans us all,” scoffed Reverend Stryker, “The point is that Jesus did not compromise. He didn’t wait for the corrupt Jewish authorities to come around. He went forward with his spiritual endeavors and I’m merely following his example.”

I sincerely hope that the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of X-men Supreme will boost interest. I get the sense that this fanfiction series has become stagnant. I don't see a lot of feedback being posted here or sent to me directly. I really do hope that changes. I work long and hard to make X-men Supreme as awesome as can be. And I can't make it better unless people support me with feedback. So please take the time to leave a review in this and every other issue possible. Either post it in the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine as long as you review. Thank you all very much for supporting the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 93: Starcrossed Part 3 is LIVE!

The X-men Supreme fanfiction series has been the site of numerous clashes in its illustrious history. Some of those battles have had the entire world at stake. Others are more personal. The battle that has unfolded in the Starcrossed arc has a mix of both. The battle between the X-men and the Shi’ar is something that has been building up behind the scenes. It took a while to set the stage for the perfect moment. And between Professor Xavier’s cancer returning and the aftermath of the Cambrian, the Shi’ar couldn’t have struck at a better time.

Now that clash is about to come to an end. And when the dust settles, the situation within the X-men Supreme fanfiction series will be very different. The Shi’ar have already complicated things for the X-men in a major way. First came the revelation that Professor Xavier’s love interest, Lilandra Neramani, is half-alien. Then came the attack by the Shi’ar Imperial Guard. They have an agenda that began back in X-men Supreme Issue 46: Paradise Mystery. For reasons that aren’t clear yet, they are intent on wiping out the Neramani bloodline. And in their battle against the X-men, they are now dangerously close to succeeding.

Now the outcome of this conflict is ready to be revealed. In the context of X-men Supreme, it will vastly expand the scale of this fanfiction series. Now the X-men will face threats that go beyond Magneto, Genosha, and human/mutant politics. And as I’ve stated previously, I was initially reluctant to expand the X-men’s battle in X-men Supreme beyond simple mutant issues. But the history between the X-men and the Shi’ar is just too vast to ignore. The Starcrossed arc will be the spark that creates a whole new line of conflicts for the X-men to explore. Some will play out over the long term while some will have a very immediate impact. Either way, I believe it will be good for the X-men Supreme fanfiction series in the long term and for that reason, I take a special bit of satisfaction in capping off Starcrossed.

X-men Supreme Issue 93: Starcrossed Part 3

With the end of this arc, I can now reveal that there are only a few issues remaining in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. This volume has brought about many changes and developments for this fanfiction series, but there are a few more I plan on squeezing in before putting a cap on this entry of X-men Supreme. It’s hard to believe I’ve completed nearly four volumes of this fanfiction series. Yet I still work hard every day to try and make it more awesome. So please, I implore everyone who reads X-men Supreme to provide feedback and reviews. I don’t care how you submit them. Contact me directly or post your comments directly in the comments section of each issue. Any bit of feedback helps inspire me to make X-men Supreme more awesome and I want to keep improving as this fanfiction series evolves. Thanks as always to all those who support X-men Supreme. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

X-men Supreme Issue 93: Starcrossed Part 3 PREVIEW!

There have been some major twists and shocking revelations in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. The history of X-men is vast and constantly changing. Between time travel, clones, and retcons the comics have created an elaborate mythos. But for X-men Supreme, I'm trying to avoid those kinds of complications. But that doesn't mean I'm going to hold back from pushing the envelope. X-men Supreme introduced the Shi'ar back in X-men Supreme Issue 46: Paradise Mystery. Then in X-men Supreme Issue 92: Starcrossed Part 2, the X-men clashed with the Shi'ar elite, the Imperial Guard. At stake is the life of Charles Xavier's lover, Lilandra Neramani. But this battle goes beyond her and beyond even the X-men.

Some may have already seen the hints, but there's a very important twist to the Shi'ar in X-men Supreme. As I said before, I didn't initially intend to use the Shi'ar when I started this fanfiction series. Then as I began refining my ideas, I came up with something that I felt would make the best possible story. I didn't just want to capture the important role the Shi'ar play in the history of the X-men. I wanted that role to have a different perspective within the context of X-men Supreme. I actually never cared much for he Shi'ar. I thought they seemed somewhat out of place in X-men. Well for the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, their role will be much more defined. I can't spoil too much, but the Starcrossed arc will lay the foundation for what the Shi'ar mean to the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. As I've already revealed, they have visited Earth before. But there's a very good reason why they've visited Earth sparingly and don't make their presence known. And it's a reason that the X-men will eventually have to figure out over the course of X-men Supreme.

But for now, the X-men have to focus on surviving the onslaught of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. They are prepared to kill Professor Xavier and anyone else who gets in their way in their quest to destroy the Neramani bloodline. They've already fought the X-men to a stalemate. Now some tough choices will have to be made. Lives are in the balance and time is running out. On top of that, the X-men have no idea that Reverend William Stryker and Colonel John Wraith are plotting against them once more. They've already enlisted Webber "Arcade" Torque to help them hack the Xavier Institute's computers. They are taking full advantage of the X-men's struggle against the Shi'ar and their activities will help set the stage for another big conflict that will unfold in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series very soon. There's a lot of conflict to resolve and the final issue of the Starcrossed arc will lead to some significant changes. As always, I've prepared an extended preview of this pivotal battle between the X-men and the Shi'ar.

“Mentor! Initiate the endgame protocol! These dishonorable primates must pay for their treachery!”

“It will be done, Gladiator.”

From the bottom of the ship, a large opening formed and a brilliant column of light shot down towards the surface. It was so bright that Shadowcat nearly dropped the device she was holding and the X-men stopped cold in their tracks before they were even halfway to the Velocity. When the light faded they saw that the rest of the Imperial Guard had joined him. This included Starbolt, Smasher, Hussar, Flashfire, Neutron, and Oracle. They appeared to have fully healed from their previous battle already and were looking for a rematch.

“Didn’t we already deal with you alien assholes already?!” snarled Wolverine.

“Not like this, you haven’t,” said Gladiator ominously, “Prepare to face total annihilation!”

The blinding light from the ship didn’t fade once the Imperial Guard was present. Now that same light had spread to the edges of the ship so that hundreds of smaller lights were lining the perimeter. In a series of blinding bursts, smaller columns of light shot out from each point to form a series of laser columns. They formed the equivalent of a laser grid jail around the entire plateau, providing yet another reason why they chose this setting. Now their escape was completely cut off.

“This is not good,” lamented Colossus.

“Guess they had a backup plan too,” said Cyclops.

“Do we have a backup to their backup?” asked Psylocke.

“I do not remember contemplating this kind of retaliation so I would say no,” dreaded Beast.

Having been helped up by Smasher and Neutron, Gladiator took to the air and hovered just over the X-men with rage in his eyes. The X-men hovered protectively around the weakened Charles Xavier, who was being watched over by a terrified Lilandra Neramani. It seemed another fight was inevitable and this would not be one they could run away from.

“You have spat in the face of the Emperor D’ken! You have turned back on a deal sealed by the Imperial Guard! In the eyes of the Shi’ar, this is a capital offense punishable by the greatest of punishment!” Gladiator proclaimed.

“I got a high pain tolerance, bub. Bring it on!” roared Wolverine as he drew his claws.

“You think I’ll just stop with your feeble forms? Within ten of your Earth minutes, our ship will unleash a gamma pulse that will sterilize half your planet of all traces of life! This hallow speck has been a bane to the Shi’ar for too long! By the laws of D’ken, it shall suffer for its crimes!”

“Merde…Remy don’t think you got the pain tolerance for that, Wolverine,” said Gambit.

“You’re crazy! We won’t let you destroy our planet!” yelled Cyclops.

“I don’t know what we did that hurt you guys so much, but if this is how you deal with it I’m guessing you probably deserved it!” said Phoenix.

“Your ignorance only adds to your insult! Justice to the Shi’ar will be done! This planet dies now!” said Gladiator.

Gladiator was serious. He and D’ken were willing to tear this planet asunder. He was beyond reason at this point. They clearly had little love for their planet to begin with and had no qualms about destroying it. If that meant a fight to the bitter end for the X-men, so be it.

“Imperial Guard!” yelled Gladiator, “Slay these traitors for the Emperor!”

“For the Emperor!” they all proclaimed.

Starbolt, Smasher, Hussar, Flashfire, Neutron, and Oracle prepared to charge the X-men. Cyclops stepped forth with Phoenix, Wolverine, Beast, Colossus, Gambit, and Psylocke to oppose them. Shadowcat remained off to the side, still armed with the remote.

“X-men, get ready for Plan B!” said Cyclops.

“What does Plan B entail, comrade Cyclops?” asked Colossus warily.

“You really gotta ask?” seethed Wolverine.

“In its simplest form…we wing it,” said Beast.

“Works for me!” said Psylocke as she formed a couple of psionic blades.

The X-men prepared for yet another clash with the Imperial Guard. In the midst of it all, Lilandra clung to Charles Xavier lamenting on the chaos she had wrought. This was all her fault. All this damage was because of who she was.

“It’s over, Charles. I’ve failed,” said Lilandra with a heavy sob.

“You did the right thing, Lilandra. You didn’t fail,” he said weakly.

“Well I’m about to,” she cried.

While the Imperial Guard was closing in on the X-men, Shadowcat scrambled to find a way to use this remote against them. If she could figure out a way to work it, then maybe they could stop that gamma burst or bring down the laser shields blocking their escape.

“Come on! This thing has to be good for something!” she said as she randomly started pushing buttons, “Work you stupid thing! Work!”

The Imperial Guard was about to unleash their fury on the X-men. Suddenly, their attack and that of the X-men were unexpectedly halted by something that literally rocked their world.

Out of nowhere, a series of pulsing green lights rained down from the sky above. They were the size of small passenger jets and when they strike the Shi’ar cruiser, it unleashed a massive burst of energy that shook the whole plateau. The shaking was so bad that the Imperial Guard fell back and so did the X-men. Even Gladiator was confused as he frantically looked around for the source of the commotion.

“Whoa…did I just do that?” said Shadowcat in bewilderment.

“Um…I don’t think so, Kitty,” said Phoenix as she started sensing some new telepathic signatures.

“No…it can’t be!” grunted Gladiator before activating his communicator, “Mentor, what is going on?! What trickery is this?!”

“It is not coming from the X-men, Gladiator! We’re under attack!”

“That’s impossible! Who could possibly attack…”

Gladiator’s doubts were quickly answered with another attack. More mysterious energy blasts erupted from above, striking the Imperial cruiser with more devastating energy blasts. This time they caused damage on the cruiser itself. Gaping holes were blown into the hull and several major weapons compartments blew up in violent fashion. In the process, the laser grid that had surrounded the plateau and cut off the X-men’s escape flickered out. It seemed the cruiser was now in dire condition.

As this attack continued, the source emerged in the skies above the desert. Another ship appeared through a cloaking mechanism similar to the one the cruiser had used. This ship was only about half the size of the cruiser and not nearly as imposing, but it was still had weapons powerful enough to penetrate the cruisers shields. Only so many ships could do this and Gladiator knew most of them by name.

“The Starjammer! I should have known!” Gladiator seethed.

I feel as though the X-men Supreme fanfiction series keeps growing in scope with every issue. And with this growth, I keep getting new ideas with which to expand this fanfiction series. It has already gone to many places I never planned on taking it when I began. I'm excited at the prospect of where it will lead as X-men Supreme continues to unfold after the Starcrossed arc. And a great deal of that inspiration comes from the feedback I get from readers. I don't get much, but make no mistake. It does help me make the X-men Supreme fanfiction series more awesome. For that reason, I urge everyone to please take the time to send me some feedback. Either post it in the comments section of each issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine. I'm always happy to talk X-men and comics. Thanks to all those who have supported X-men Supreme and until next time, take care and best wishes! Excelsior!

Jack