The original X-men...

I read this excerpt from a recent journal posted by wardevil0...

I progressed into the Marvel Universe at about the time of Secret Wars, and gravitated heavily toward the XBooks. I kept this up for about ten years, but by 1995 had quit comics completely. In mid 2001, the revitalization of Marvel with JMS on Amazing Spiderman, Grant Morrison on New XMen, and Joe Casey on Uncanny XMen brought me back. Since then, Ive transitioned fully to DC for new books. I just don't feel that Marvel is putting out comics that reach me. Ever since Civil War the Marvel characters have been strangers.

Is wadevil0 right, have the original Xmen changed that much in recent years. He may be right. Lets take a look at where they are now...

Professor X... killed by an angry, Phoenix corrupted Cyclops in Avengers vs. Xmen 11, November 2012. As if this werent enough of a travesty, lets desecrate the mans memory by allowing the Red Skull to then take the brain of Professor X and fuse it with his own so that he can tap his mutant telepathy and use it for his own evil ends. Seriously, it happened in Uncanny Avengers 1, December 2012. I blame Joe Quesada for allowing this to happen...shameful.

Cyclops...corrupted by the dark Phoenix force, kills Professor X for trying to stop him from remaking the world in his own image in Avengers vs. Xmen 11, November 2012. His mutant powers are now broken...an ill effect of the Phoenix force, and he is on the run from SHIELD and the Avengers who want him to answer for his crimes. So, he decides to partner with Emma Frost and Magneto to start a school for new mutants which he christens...wait for it...Xaviers School for Gifted Youngsters in Uncanny Xmen 1, April 2013. So you kill the man, take no accountability for your actions, and then start a new school using his name. I have no idea what Cyclops is about anymore, and I cannot bring myself to root for him...at all.

Jean Grey, Marvel Girl...tricked by a Magneto imposter named Xorn, to end up trapped on Asteroid M as it drifted into the sun where she died in New Xmen 150, February 2004. It is believed she is still alive somewhere in something called the White Hot Room where the Phoenix force resides. More to come Im sure as Jean, thankfully, refuses to remain dead for long.

Angel...had his wings first removed by the Marauders in Thor 373, November, 1986, and replaced by artificial blades in XFactor 24, January, 1988. The metal blades broke off to reveal real wings underneath in Uncanny Xmen 338, November, 1996. Had his real wings ripped off again, this time by a mind controlled Wolfsbane, before his techno organic metal wings grew back in XForce 4, July, 2008. It was revealed that he could now change at will from Angel with feather wings, to Archangel with metal wings any time he chooses...I like this concept. Is then stabbed by Psylocke with the Life Seed in Uncanny XForce 16, December, 2011, and thought dead but in reality just has an amnesia of sorts as he does not know who he is or who any of the other Xmen are...seems to think he is a real Angel who is supposed to help people.

Iceman...still an Xman and currently a professor at The Jean Grey School of Higher Learning under headmaster Wolverine. Also in the early stages of a romantic relationship with Kitty Pride, aka Sprite. Gotta love that Iceman at least has retained those things that make him such a fun character.

Beast...still an Xman and currently a professor at The Jean Grey School of Higher Learning under headmaster Wolverine. Unfortunately he has also recently mutated into blue furred ape like state in All New Xmen 5, March 2013...which wouldnt be so bad if he had Hulk like strength or something cool like that to go with it, but no such luck. Brian Michael Bendis has earned my trust though with All New Xmen so we will see what happens there.

Lets face it, most of the writers of today have totally jacked up these characters. Its no wonder Bendis wanted to bring back the original Xmen from their youth, now appearing in All New Xmen. We long for a simpler time, and the innocence of these great characters who, although they faced many obstacles, never lost the sense of who they were individually and as a team. I for one will be sad to see the young Xmen go back to their own time, as they inevitably must, and hope their older selves learn some lessons from the experience. The ultimate for me would be to see the original Xmen of today reunite on the same team, order and powers restored to normal, and watch them take hold of Xaviers dream once again.

Til next time...

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