What started with Marvel’s ResurreXion of the X-Men comics, and continues now with Marvel Legacy, is a major course correction for our beloved mutant heroes. Writer Marc Guggenheim has been one of the voices leading the charge on X-Men Gold.
Returning to the glory days of X-Men comics is about more than just bringing characters back and putting them in familiar costumes. It’s more than just publicity and publishing stunts to try and fix the sales numbers, of a once dominant line of comics, for the time being. It’s about reinstalling an atmosphere and focus into an entire line of comic books, refocusing the brand and getting back to its roots.
X-Men comics are trading in the dark and gloomy days of mutants being scarce, fighting for the survival of their species, for an examination of the now healthy mutant population. We’re getting back to mutants with different points of view clashing over social issues and ideology. We’re also seeing those mutant versus mutant conflicts being feared and exploited by regular humans in the form of politicians and military again.
We’re seeing mutants from all different angles as well, not just trying to survive. We’ve seen the X-Gene carriers as sideshows, activists, terrorists, teachers, students, warriors, politicians, entertainers, explorers, terrified kids, etc. The more of spectrum and reach these characters have, the grander their world seems. This not only makes X-Men comics more diverse and approachable, but the entire Marvel 616 universe. Mutants should never be contained to just X-Men stories.
Marc Guggenheim has injected a healthy dose of soap opera drama as well. There’s been a lot more emphasis on romantic relationships again. For the most part, it hasn’t been overbearing and ends up being a strength. That goes along with the beating heart that fans can find within these pages again.
Guggenheim is also playing with dastardly subplots developing slowly in the background. This used to be a crucial device in comic book storytelling, it’s harder to get away with today while not knowing how long your series is going to last. Giving the reader little tiny crumbs that’ll eventually lead to major plot points further down the line, it makes for a satisfying reading experience for anyone following along.
The recent “Negative Zone War” arc saw the Gold team go off-world. Some of the greatest X-Men stories of all-time take place in either outer space or another dimension. It’s a good sign that Guggenheim is capable and willing to explore beyond planet Earth.
These are elements that helped make Chris Claremont’s X-Men work stand the test of time. Almost everything Claremont touched with an “X” on the cover is classic comic book history.
Guggenheim’s work is clearly a product of studying Claremont’s. It took him a few arcs to smooth out the rougher edges, and he still has a way to go in perfecting this craft, but it’s been a hell of a lot more fun to read than pre-ResurreXion titles.
I’m not saying Guggenheim and Claremont are comparable, I’m merely suggesting that you can see Guggenheim is channeling the best there ever was in an effort to return X-Men comics to their former glory and it deserves appreciation.
If you’ve never read Claremont’s X-Men work and like the current slate of X-Titles, do yourself a favor and take a dive. If you’re a longtime X-Men fan who’s looking for a reason to get back into your favorite characters, now is the time.
X-Men Gold isn’t the only title carrying the torch for mutants, almost the entire line is more than pulling their weight, making the whole line of X-Men comics a healthy one. Pretty much every creative team is dipping into the past to take these characters new places, there’s just a more prominent direct line to be drawn in Guggenheim’s writing and the style of Chris Claremont.
The man was a highly-recognized and incredibly skilled surgeon till a car accident damaged the nerves in his hands, ending his career. Seeking treatment, he opted for the mystic arts and, over time, became the Sorcerer Supreme. Unreal. That alone is enough of a reason to want to write for this character, but it is what he does on a daily basis to keep our planet safe, like having to face world-shattering entities and villains, that is appealing. He has saved our realm countless times over while we’re walking our dogs and going about our daily routines.
Kent Nelson was the son of an archaeologist, taking on the craft as well. He turned in his greatest find, an ancient immortal, named Nabu, while exploring a pyramid in the Valley of Ur, in ancient Mesopotamia. He freed Nabu but accidentally killed his father in the process. Nabu took Nelson under his wing while molding him into Doctor Fate and gifting him his signature amulet, helmet, and cloak. What makes this character exciting to write about is how Fate runs in the family, as it has been extended to not only other family members but his wife as well. It’s a task that is seemingly passed on, which makes for great stories to tell, along with the fact that he is constantly doing battle with evil magical and mythical beings, all while also having served on the Justice League of America and Justice Society of America, among other affiliations.
Logan aka James Howlett aka Wolverine has always been a favorite character of mine (my first comic memory was reading the Spider-Man vs. Wolverine one-shot by James Owsley and Mark Bright). So if given a chance, I always wanted to write Wolverine. But lately, it is one particular version of “Ol’ Canucklehead” that has attracted my attention, and that is Old Man Logan. Old Man Logan was created by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven in the pages of Wolverine but was given life in his own title by Jeff Lemire recently. What I love about this version of Wolverine is the attitude. This is a Logan well past his prime, having seen much more than the ALREADY weathered younger man we all know. More akin to an aging western gunfighter or lone wolf ronin, Old Man Logan has enough pathos to fill issue after issue and his age would also allow you to tell some great flashback and parallel narrative tales. He is a man out of time twice over. I’m already getting ideas!
One of DC’s ‘cult’ characters, resurrected policeman Jim Corrigan/The Spectre has always fascinated me. Created during The Golden Age, and a big part of the JSA, Spectre has been used sporadically over the years in various degrees. To me what makes him special is the unique combination of the supernatural and the grounded the character brings. He is not only a streetwise cop but is also the freakin’ Judgement of God himself. This duality would open up the doors to tell stories on both a huge, magical epic scale and even ‘Law and Order’ style police procedurals. Think about it; you could have entire arcs about the DCU’s crazy magic world and then do a flashback about Corrigan, as a human, working a case. Plus the character is one of the coolest looking in DC with a great color scheme and costume.
I love a good anthology and so Marvel’s What If … comics were right up my alley. Like a comic book Twilight Zone, What If … were random stories of alternate timelines and the after effects. Like an omnipotent Rod Serling, Uatu the Watcher narrated every issue. What a fascinating character is Uatu? A race of super-beings who, lead by Uatu’s father, tragically helped another civilization annihilate itself. Ashamed, Uatu exiled himself to a distant part of the multiverse where he’d watch a place called Earth. It’s there that Uatu sees the same pattern of destruction facing the future of mankind and, posing as a human, begins to investigate the cause of humanity’s collapsing destiny; a mystery that will reach across multiple Earths.
All my life I’ve had a fascination with space and Mars (I’m @RMartian on Twitter). Martian Manhunter was always an interesting character, like Superman, he’s a complete fish-out-of-water. The origins of a character like Martian Manhunter are also murky and mysterious too. He’s far less defined than Superman, Batman, or Wonder Woman, leaving the door open to play around with a lot of interesting science fiction ideas. Taking the original premise, Manhunter is brought to Earth by a human experiment in a middle of a great war happening on Mars. With no way back, Manhunter goes into hiding, but his heroic nature makes it difficult for him to refrain from helping those in need while also looking for a way back home. Soon Manhunter discovers the fate of his people when White Martians arrive to kill the last Green Martian.
The product of an ancient assassin program, Azrael did what many only dream of by filling in for Batman. During his time as the Dark Knight, Azrael created an iconic suit of armor, became defeated Bane, but unfortunately went off the deep in the process. When a new series launched, Azrael was left to redeem himself from his past mistakes and move forward to prove he was worthy of being a part of the extended Batman family. The original Azrael, Jean Paul Valley hasn’t made an appearance in the Rebirth universe and this needs to be rectified. Yes, he did die and even was a Black Lantern for a time but the DC is filled with ways of resurrecting the dead. If I was able to bring him back, I’d have him work to fight against the Court of Owls, who would be working to resurrect the assassin creation program which made Azrael in hopes of creating a being which could bring Gotham under their control.
