Welcome all to what will hopefully be a monthly article,
deadlines willing, of my opinions of the Marvel titles known
collectively as the X-Books. These articles will vary from
what I think is currently being done the right way, what could
be done better, what is totally wrong with the books, where
things have gone wrong in the past, and other ideas. On
occasion, Ill look back and just do an examination of some
of my favorite storylines from the past, or if there is one,
the present.
The various X-Titles at present include Uncanny X-Men,
X-Men, Generation X, Excalibur, X-Factor, Wolverine, Cable,
X-Man, X-Men Unlimited, and depending on who you ask, Deadpool
and Alpha Flight.
Too start off, Id like to look at the sad state that
Generation X has fallen into. I am far from, co-creator
and original writer of Gen X, Scott Lobdells biggest fan.
But his idea, while not original, was a breath of fresh air.
A school of young mutants, training to control their powers
and fit into society. Some of them with aspirations to
become X-Men one day.
Somewhere, the idea went astray. The first batch of
issues were quite well done. But various crossovers
intruded, interrupting the flow of the book, the original
inker left the series, and the art degraded, resulting in
a great loss in quality. Them Scott Lobdell, and the
Chris Bachalo, Gen Xs other creator, and penciller for
the series, left for other projects. Since then, we have
had fill-in artists, with terry Dodson finally becoming
the regular penciller with issue 38, and some fill-in
writers as well, with Larry Hama, former writer for
Wolverine, taking over full time with issue 33.
Since then, Hama has been using characters and
plotlines he started over in Wolverine, trying to tie
them up, and giving minimal attention to the various
dangling plotlines that Lobdell left in Gen X. The art
up until Terry Dodsons arrival was childish at best,
as was the story. With Alice in Wonderland overtones,
and goofy cartoonish animals, the book has become
something more geared for very young children.
The current storyline is finally nearing its
conclusion, and with good art, and the promise of
tying up one of the series longest running plotlines,
there is hope for the future. Ill reserve my judgment
until I see it.
