Well, its almost that time of year. A time for love, joy, happiness, togetherness, and family. Things that are at the heart of Xavier's dream of peaceful coexistence between man and mutants. So, it seemed appropriate to do something that had a tie with the holidays.
This is definitely not my usual article. I've been doing a lot of different things aside from my rants lately. And this month, I think I'll give another favorable review. It is the time of love and joy, after all...
Since there's nothing particularly outstanding right now, I'm going to reach way way way back in the X-Men's history, to a time before I was born, to one of my favorite storylines, from issues 98-101.
The story starts off with the X-Men, and their loved ones, for those whose loved ones are not mutants or part of the team in some way, at Rockefeller Center, just getting out and enjoying themselves, something that rarely happens in the comics these days. Its Christmas Eve (there's my connection!), and they're out reveling in the season.
Cyclops and Marvel Girl head off by themselves, to enjoy a romantic dinner together, when the restaurant is suddenly attacked by Sentinels. They're captured, despite the X-Men's efforts, along with banshee, Wolverine, and Professor Xavier.
The X-Men tracked them down to a space station, and discovered that their friends had been turned against them. Insert fight scene here. During the fight, it's revealed further that the captured X-Men are not really the people they seem to be. They're a new breed of Sentinel, made to emulate the person they're designed after.
The battle is finally won, and the X-Men escape aboard a space shuttle. Discovering the flight controls and radiation shielding are damaged, Marvel Girl learns the necessary training from someone on board, since only her telekinetic powers could get the ship down in one piece, and hopefully shield her from the radiation.
The shuttle makes it, barely, and crashes into Jamaica Bay, shattering into pieces, and the X-Men and friends find their way to the surface. Scott finds Jean to be missing, and desperately tries to find her. The water begins churning, and boiling, and Jean bursts forth from the water, in a new costume, and proclaiming herself to be the Phoenix.
Now, why is this one of my favorite storylines? Several reasons. Good storytelling. Chris Claremont may get overly wordy at times, and have plots that drag on quite often, he still can tell a good story. Characterization. All the people in the story were true to themselves, and acted as they have been established too. Current writers could take a note from this. Artwork. Clean, crisp lines, not overly detailed, and characters can be told apart from everyone else, with different faces, and expressions. Another thing that creators could do better on these days. Old versus the new. The fight scene pitted the original X-Men, against their predecessors, a fight several had been clamoring for, and was highly appropriate for the 100th issue of the series. Change. This storyline set into motion events that would have long reaching effects into the history of the X-Men, and Marvel itself. The ripples of the emergence of Phoenix are still felt to this day.
Most importantly though, was the introduction of Phoenix. I'm a Phoenix nut. Collecting everything from comics, to action figures, to cups, and even a pendant. What can I say, it's a hobby.
Well, I hope you enjoyed my sharing of what I feel is a classic X-Men tale, and an indicator of the way things should be. Have a Merry Christmas, and drink a glass of egg nog in my honor!
