Is Fox Getting It Right for the Next Movie?

It took 17 years to get here, but think the X-MEN I know and love are about to have a breakout year on the big screen, and may be THE Superheroes of the coming decade. I say this after a sobering moment earlier this week. An acquaintance who knows I am an X-Men fan asked this: “Who’s your favorite X-Man?” And without hesitation I said “Cyclops.” But I was countered with, “Not Wolverine? Why Cyclops? He’s smug, possessive and a dick!”

That is not the Cyclops I know. In fact that is not the Cyclops who exists. What he is referring to is the ‘paper’ performance of James Marsden in the 2000 X-Men film and the 2002 sequel X2. I forget sometimes, the greater public does not know these characters like I do. That, however is about to be rectified.

Marvel, indeed America, owes a great debt to Fox for that 2000 film. It elevated the superhero film and was responsible for the Spider-Man (2001) and Hulk (2003) films that followed. Iron Man (2008) probably wouldn’t have launched without X-Men’s initial success. Even if did not accurately portray my heroes.

But Fox chose a ‘modern’ X-Men team, similar to the team it had broadcast for a few years as an animated series on Saturday Morning television. It was a tremendous Fox TV success. Why fix what isn’t broken.

After the end of those first three films, the X-men backed up to the 1960’s. But instead of using the original team that all fans knew and loved they created a NEW first class. Suddenly Cyclop’s younger brother was his older brother. X-Men villain Banshee was a hero instead. That film led to “Days of Future Past” which ‘re-set’ the end of X3 from years earlier. Now all options are open. That trio of films concludes next Spring with “Age of Apocalypse” that will FINALLY introduce the members of the original X-Men team that fans like me grew up with. Cyclops, Marvel Girl and Angel. Yes, Jean Grey had a superhero name when a mask covered her face.

Back to the Roots

To be sure, the origins of Jean Grey, Scott Summers and Warren Worthington the third will be cor-rupted for sure to fit into this twisted cine-matic version of history.

But what I am hoping will emerge Is what I know: the depth and warmth and functionality of this team.

In 1963, Marvel Comic created a superhero group of the world’s most unusual teens, children born with powers. Cyclops, Angel, Beast, Iceman and Angel were all trained by Professor X to use their powers for good as a team. I was a 10-year-old kid, they were kids. We grew up together.

While all the boys fell for Jean, her heart was set on the quiet reserved one who emerged as team leader: Cyclops. He initially loved her from afar believing she was out of her league and that he could hurt her with his powers. But love conquers all. And now we have the chance to see this happen before our eyes on screen. Angel too will be turned to the Archangel before his redemption by film’s end.

Pardon Me a Moment While I Flashback

In 1963 I was 10. While looking through the comic book stand one day at the drug store I saw a most unusual comic book. I bought it for the cover price of 12 cents. I always tell it this way “I was a kid, they were kids, we became best of friends.” I picked up that first issue of X-Men and began a lifelong journey with them. In that first issue Jean Grey, the red-headed only female of the group was just joining what had been the all male class of Professor X as Marvel Girl. There was Hank McCoy a very agile youth with big hands and feet who called himself Beast, Bobbie Drake, Iceman, who generated ice all over his body. The wealthy Warren Worthington III had actual wings and could fly like an Angel. You’d think that would be any kid’s favorite. Not so. No, I identified with the quite, brooding, geek, team leader who always questioned his value, his skills, his decisions. Worse, he had to wear special Ruby glasses to cover his eyes otherwise terrible destructive optic beams emitted from his eyes tearing through everything in its path. A special one-piece visor made Scott Summers look like his namesake: Cyclops. Over the course of the next three years we watch him yearn for the attention of Jean, too self-conscious to tell her. She was actively pursued by the other young men, especially Warren, but she wanted something more with Scott. Finally, excruciatingly slowly, a real relationship evolved and would prove indestructible up until her death in issue 100 (11 years later). This would be a new beginning for them, as she returned in issue 101 no longer as Marvel Girl but as Phoenix, a cosmic entity rising from her own ashes. In 1982 in issue 137, Jean, who had become “Dark Phxoenix” before being redeemed, once again sacrificed herself and Scott was there with her at the end. Rising a third time in 1986 this “original” X-Men team would be resurrected as X-Factor to battle Apocalypse who tried to steal their young son Nathan, who was snatched into the future out of the clutches of Apocalypse. He would return from the future as Cable to lead the New Mutants. Today, as a grandfather, I tell the stories and adventures of my friends to my grandchildren. And Scott and Jean? They’re still out there doing what is necessary to keep the world safe.

Iceman who will be too young in this late 70s early 80’s story won’t be part of the team  but since the revisionist writers at Marvel want to reimagine Bobby Drake as ‘gay’ it is alright with me to leave him out of this trio of films

A Setup for the Next Three Films

What this sets up is awesome. The next trio of X-Men films will follow the original team and these characters who they are introducing will carry the films. I get so-excited just thinking about this. The possibilities seem endless. What possibilities? Where can the X-Men franchise go without Wolverine or Storm? Well, let’s look at this:

How about a renewed battle with Magneto, teamed with Quicksiver, Scarlet Witch, Toad and Mastermind.

Or let’s drop onto the Savage Land and team with Kazar and Zabu against Mr. Sinister and Sauron.

Or take on the Mimic.

A battle with Charles Xavier’s step-brother Juggernaut.

Or we can do the Death of Professor X and introduce the Changeling to America.

And we can get a costume change along the way. And this is just a partial list.

And at the end of those three movies we can introduce the NEW team (2nd Banana Team to us old timers) of Wolverine, Storm, Collossus, Night Crawler among others. Our chance to do this right.

One Final Word on My Favorite X-Man

I always insist that my favorite X-Man is Cyclops. If I were truthful that is probably not true. A grandchild recently asked if had ever been embarrassed when I realized that I had grieved for a fictional character. In 1980 (because of editorial mismanagement of a primary character mandated by the comics code of authority) Marvel had to kill an X-man. A justified punishment for a mass murderer. Dark Phoenix, Jean Grey had to die. In issue #137 that year in a total surprise to fandom they killed Jean Grey (previously known as Marvel Girl). I had grown up with this girl. I was ten when I picked up issue #1 of X-Men off the stands. I fell in love with her by proxy because I identified with Scott Summers an outsider, self-alienated, forced into the leadership role, where he was tortured by every unsuccessful decision. Jean loved Scott, but he was a tough nut to crack because he felt he was a danger to himself and her. It was a long torturous childhood I endured falling in love with someone just out of reach. My puberty was better when Scott finally gave in to his feelings. Life was good for many years until this tragedy in 1980. I actually sent a rose in her name to 575 Madison Avenue, NY (Marvel’s corporate headquarters at the time.) I was distraught. I was never embarrassed that I felt the emotional loss of a fictional character. Not then. But I would feel much more than embarrassment later in 1986 they brought her back. (Using an
age old literary cheat – it was someone else who died while the ‘real’ Jean was tucked safely asleep elsewhere). This was done to accommodate a ‘boom’ in the industry and they wanted to reunite the original 1963-1974 team in a new title called X-Factor. To do so they needed a living Jean. I was ANGRY: very, very angry. They cheated my emotions after I buried her six years before. All that grief I endured was re-rendered as nothing more than a joke, a sly wink of the eye. If I had ever wished for her miraculous return I was overwhelmed now by an unabated anger that I had been emotionally duped, violated for a cheap marketing stunt. It took YEARS for this emotion to fade. It was one of the reasons in 1995 that I got out of comic reading/collecting/dealing. It is one of those unwritten rules of serialized fiction. Death of a beloved character is acceptable. Insulting the emotional investment or intelligence of the reader is not.

So truth be told, I guess Scott really isn’t my favorite X-Man. I’ve always loved another.