How would you handle the XMen?

Re: How would you handle the XMen? Group:
rec.arts.comics.marvel.xbooks Date: Tue, Sep 7, 2004, 11:03am (CDT+5)
From: tyger1 DeleteThis @flash.net (JJ)
"Emerald Samurai" <SUPREMERANGER DeleteThis @webtv.net> wrote in message
news:12086-4136A0C3-116@storefull-3177.bay.webtv.net... How would you
handle the XMen? Time to be evil!! Like the movie, the 'school' would,
indeed, be a school. It wouldn't have it's own book. None of the
teachers would be regulars outside cameos. Totational alternates
perhaps, but not regulars. Unlike the movie, not all the X-Men would be
teachers. The students would remains largely unnamed extras. However,
that decision of 'stay and protect the kids' or 'leave to protect the
kids' would hang there. The team in an international one. Or at least,
it was. Bring some of that back for a globehopping team as book #2.
Wolverine keeps his own book. Despite wanting him with the international
team, he needs to keep the public interested, and is the most popular of
characters.
The last book would be in the same venue as Marvel Team-Up. A monthly
that rotates characters, and often guesting non-X characters. It would
allow some character building of one or two outside the group
environment that tends to define them.1 to 3 issue arcs that can involve
any X-character, from either team, or not currently attatched.

My version of the team would be Cosmic XMen group from all over reality!

Time to be evil!!

Ever since RELOAD, I have been toying with re-jiggering the line to
suit my own tastes. Working pretty much with the existing
titles/direction of the line with some changes, I present...My own
personal reload (a work in progress):

ASTONISHING X-MEN: Keep Whedon and Cassady as is but make it a
Maxi-Series up front ala Avengers Forever. The last thing we need is
another title left without a creative team when Whedon's year is up.
Better to make the statement and the yearlong commitment to a coherent
storyline.

UNCANNY X-MEN: traditional superheroics under the auspices of the
globetrotting XSE. Pair Claremont with Jim Calafiore (Aquaman,
Exiles) who has shown an affinity for the classic Claremont era/style
and the of them can create a nice balance of the old with the new.
Claremont works best with a strong artist to collaborate with on
story.

X-MEN: The mansion based book with the students and school as the
backdrop. Keeping more in the tone of Morrison's New X-Men (Mutants
as an emerging culture), I'd like Paul Jenkins/Sean McKeever (working
in the same vein as their Inhumans runs) working with rotating artists
Jae Lee (Inhumans) , Travis Charest/ (Wildcats) JH Williams III
(Promethea)

X-NATION (or X-ISLE): the book currently called Excalibur.
Chronicling the rebuilding of Genosha as a mutant homeland of sorts.
Either title works on multiple levels given Xavier's exile on Genosha
and the actual geography of the situation. Want to see people who
have an historic connection to Genosha/Magneto coming into the plot
with their own agendas. Cast would be large and rotating so character
featured in other books could show up and still be present in other
titles (Logan isnt the only mutant multitasker). Among them: Xavier
(who would only be in this title and cameo in a couple of others),
Lorna Dane (embracing Magneto's message of extremism, she has roots
in Genosha after being part of Magneto's administration there during
"Dark Seduction", she sees herself as his new heir apparent given her
questionable paternity revelation), Quicksiler and the Scarlet Witch
(Magnetos confirmed children who arent comfortable with his legacy
after the events of "Planet X" but motivated to revisit what was
their father's nation and make is something worthwhile, Kitty Pryde
(her father died on Genosha working for Mutant liberation, she's want
to take up the cause after the events of "Mechanix", Shilo the
telekinetic featured in Mechanix, Havok (post Siege Perilous he was
reborn as a magistrate, he would be a counterpoint to his former lover
Polaris, the grounded human sympathetic voice of reason), Rachel
Summer ( I like the idea of her showing some Mother Askani-esque
qualities building a culture where there is little and helping forge a
legacy). Give Warren Worthington an avenue to utilize that enormous
personal fortune and financial saavy. Oh Magneto? DEAD. But still a
presence via each characters impression of him. They would have
conversations with him and use him as a sounding board to justify
their positions. He would be a constant presence but still be DEAD
DEAD DEAD. Political drama with a sci-fi twist. Peter Milligan
writes (though I would love to say Peter David too) with art by Gene
Ha and Jean Paul Leon.

ACADEMY X: After seeing Alan Davis do a few pages of students in his
first reload issues, I'm ready to hand over the book all about the
students and the school to him as Writer/Artist. His costumes were
better and more keeping with the tradition of the school in those
panels than anything the book has put out thus far. Given the
opportunity to cut loose again, I would hope that his art would ascend
back to the levels they hit during his Clandestine run. Artist Steve
Ligthle (Legion) on standby for fill ins.

MYSTIQUE: Pressed into the service of the side of the angels by Xavier
(there would have to be a better backstory as to exactly how though)
Mystique acts as his completly deniable agent (a role Sage held for
years). Written by master of the mcguffin Fabian Nicieza who can
write an excellent conflicted yet nasty Mystique (see X-Men Forever)
as well as the intrigue/espionage/cliffhanger format (see
Thunderbolts) and art chores shared by rotating artists Brian
Steelfreeze (Domino) and Paul Gulacy (Catwoman)

AGENT X: Danielle Moonstar front and center in the Marvel Universe.
With ties to mutant, mystic (Valkyrior of Norse Myth), and spy genres
(former deep cover agent of Shield) there are few limits to where the
stories could go with Danielle. She could operate as a flip side to
Mystiques dark reluctant agent and be Xavier's go to for things when
he needs someone capable who he trusts. Meanwhile she has adventures
of her own as the many areas of her life come back into play. Perhaps
keep her as an occasional agent of SHIELD as well. Throw in Wolfsbane
(maybe Karma) and you have a strong contender to by Marvel's
equivalent of Birds of Prey, with the female leads conveniently having
a psionic rapport to keep them connected. And dammit I want her to
take over riding the Atomic Steed that the Black Knight had, she needs
a cool ride since losing Brightwind. Nunzio DeFillippis' and
Christina Weir's best work on New Mutants/New X-Men has arguably been
with Dani and Rahne in what little we have seen. I want more. Kind
of stymied for an artist. Khary Randolf did a sexy yet not playmate
Danielle.

WOLVERINE: No costumes, a straight forward modern western book. Tim
Truman and John Ostrander write, Leonardo Manco does art. Had a
hankering for Manco's Logan ever since he did an annual years ago.
Truman steps in for art chores periodically.

X-MEN UNLIMITED: Would be the umbrella home of the solo miniseries in
the mold of Marvel Comics Presents.