If You Wrote Comics: The X-Men

[Hellion]

To answer the OP, though...Like Ambaryerno, I would do away with the sliding time-scale.

I would undo pretty much all of the X-line until roughly Schism (while retconning Schism itself to be based off a conflict that actually makes sense). Xavier's dream failed. Magneto's dream is too extreme. Cyclops is trying to find a middle path despite being pushed further and further into Magneto-esque territory. Storm, meanwhile, just wants a place for mutants to be themselves rather than a paramilitary unit, so she takes over the school in New York. Wolverine continues leading X-Force until he eventually meets his end in a similar fashion to what happens in Logan, with his aging causing his healing factor to no longer effectively protect him from adamantium poisoning. Jean stayed dead when she was reduced to a pile of moon dust. Hope Summers is the reincarnation of Jean via the Phoenix Force. The New Mutants and the New X-men generation go on to become the prime superheroes and title A-listers, and eventually a new batch of mutants are created to become their pupils, etc. Here's the title breakdown:

Uncanny X-men: Cyclops and his team, the main X-men/superheroics book. Dealing with protecting a world that hates and fears them (and making the world more and more afraid).

Academy X: Storm, her fellow instructors, and the students at the school. Much more character-focused stories rather than plot-focused.

X-Factor: focuses on a rotating cast of characters who are too old to be in school yet too young to have committed to teaching or superhero-ing. What does it mean to be a mutant in society?

X-Force: limited series about mutant black-ops. Led by Wolverine until he dies, then the team is exposed and folded into Cyclop's book.

Exiles: book dealing with all manner of time-displaced/AU mutants and their wacky adventures.

[The Dying Detective]

I agree completely with Ambaryerno here. I have followed the story of the X-men from the beginning of the Claremont era through the present. But I stopped reading the monthly titles shortly after AvX and have only kept myself current through you guys and this site. The reason I stopped reading the comics (aside from saving money) is because the stories became ever-more lackluster, redundant or nonsensical. Maybe this is a psychological manifestation on my part, but my feeling was that the X-men universe got stale because nothing every changed. The same 5 characters starred in virtually every title, interesting "new generation" characters are constantly shoved into the wall to make way for each new writer's personal favorites or worse, original creations. And, of course, event fatigue, with the X-titles barely getting room to breath in their own plots before being co-opted into some larger story. I understand that comic stories are meant to go on in perpetuity, but I care first and foremost about good stories, and good stories end.

I have always championed Claremont's wish to age characters naturally, have some retire out of superheroics, and keep deaths permanent 99% of the time. I'm not sure why so many comics fans absolutely hate this idea. They don't want change, but complain relentlessly about story dynamics and characterization problems that stem directly from a fundamental inability to change. I would rather have narratives featuring the A-list cast that eventually found endpoints for each of them through quality storytelling than this dull and aimless cycle we've been stuck in for ages now. Why are Logan and the Dark Knight Trilogyso damn spectacular? Because they are stories with endings, with character endings. This doesn't necessarily need to mean death, but at the end of The Dark Knight Rises, Bruce Wayne has served his purpose and achieved what he initially set out to accomplish. It's a satisfying endpoint. Our world's unhealthy obsession with consumerism (and the unfortunate nature of comic books thus far) has us craving more and more, but quantity is never wedded with quality forever.

And to top it all off no one since Grant Morrison has wanted or is capable of evolving the X-Men another factor that prevents them from actually moving forward as a franchise. And we have had nothing but mass-extinction stories since Morrison left the title. I agree and to top it all off the cinematic universe trend might fall victim to the same issues with comics. And also maybe it's time comics decided to have hand-offs.

[Hellion]

You're right, the cinematic universe trend is falling victim to the same issues. People may call it superhero film fatigue. I don't necessarily think that is accurate. My problem with the DCEU films is that they are silly and this may extend to the DC characters themselves (no offense, DC fans!). The MCU is dull because everything now is some world-ending threat complete with conflicts that display a lot of fireworks and damaged property. And in the case of Thor: Ragnarok, waaay too much humor. I think superhero films need to evolve. FOX seems to have gotten a knack for this with Deadpool and Logan. The MCU likely won't evolve, because business as usual works for them and Disney wants to be richer than God. I think we need smaller, more personal stories with these characters on film. I hope nothing impedes James Mangold's plans for his X-23 film because it sounds incredible. Like The Spectacular Now or Lady Bird but with mutants.

Evolving is what keeps stories and characters alive in any medium. The world should be less resistant to that.

[The Dying Detective]

You're right, the cinematic universe trend is falling victim to the same issues. People may call it superhero film fatigue. I don't necessarily think that is accurate. My problem with the DCEU films is that they are silly and this may extend to the DC characters themselves (no offense, DC fans!). The MCU is dull because everything now is some world-ending threat complete with conflicts that display a lot of fireworks and damaged property. And in the case of Thor: Ragnarok, waaay too much humor. I think superhero films need to evolve. FOX seems to have gotten a knack for this with Deadpool and Logan. The MCU likely won't evolve, because business as usual works for them and Disney wants to be richer than God. I think we need smaller, more personal stories with these characters on film. I hope nothing impedes James Mangold's plans for his X-23 film because it sounds incredible. Like The Spectacular Now or Lady Bird but with mutants.

Evolving is what keeps stories and characters alive in any medium. The world should be less resistant to that.

Indeed even the discrimination issues in X-Men have grown stale and it's supposed to be a very socially relevant issue. I heard of superhero film fatigues and already I found a few falling prey to it. Not a very good sign. Also non taken I am surprised that anyone would call the DCEU films silly when really they got so serious to the point of being polarising. I found one guy who considers the MCU humour to be forced at times. But Spider-Man didn't have any world ending threats. Evolving is often hard though as no one can really know which direction will work and it could blow up in their faces. Some are even anticipating T'Challa being replaced by his sister Shuri.

[Xelossik]

You're right, the cinematic universe trend is falling victim to the same issues. People may call it superhero film fatigue. I don't necessarily think that is accurate. My problem with the DCEU films is that they are silly and this may extend to the DC characters themselves (no offense, DC fans!). The MCU is dull because everything now is some world-ending threat complete with conflicts that display a lot of fireworks and damaged property. And in the case of Thor: Ragnarok, waaay too much humor. I think superhero films need to evolve. FOX seems to have gotten a knack for this with Deadpool and Logan. The MCU likely won't evolve, because business as usual works for them and Disney wants to be richer than God. I think we need smaller, more personal stories with these characters on film. I hope nothing impedes James Mangold's plans for his X-23 film because it sounds incredible. Like The Spectacular Now or Lady Bird but with mutants.

Evolving is what keeps stories and characters alive in any medium. The world should be less resistant to that.

If we have super hero fatique then MCU will evolve. As You wrote: Disney wants money.

but X-men movie are stale. They need to evolve. Fox really didn't do anything personal with x-men.

[Tarantino]

If we have super hero fatique then MCU will evolve. As You wrote: Disney wants money.

but X-men movie are stale. They need to evolve. Fox really didn't do anything personal with x-men.

Here we are. MCU movies have not evolved. The new movie is the same as the other ones only slightly worse this time. Another non stop action spectacle, Disney wanting money is the reason they cannot evolve and all the movies use the same Disney handouts. Disney is not known for evolving, their concept is the Peter Pan element, you stay and act as a kid forever. What better way to see this than seeing all the personal characters in Disney turned into Man-Children even a bad ass god as Thor.

you're right, the cinematic universe trend is falling victim to the same issues. People may call it superhero film fatigue. I don't necessarily think that is accurate. My problem with the DCEU films is that they are silly and this may extend to the DC characters themselves (no offense, DC fans!). The MCU is dull because everything now is some world-ending threat complete with conflicts that display a lot of fireworks and damaged property. And in the case of Thor: Ragnarok, waaay too much humor. I think superhero films need to evolve. FOX seems to have gotten a knack for this with Deadpool and Logan. The MCU likely won't evolve, because business as usual works for them and Disney wants to be richer than God. I think we need smaller, more personal stories with these characters on film. I hope nothing impedes James Mangold's plans for his X-23 film because it sounds incredible. Like The Spectacular Now or Lady Bird but with mutants.

Evolving is what keeps stories and characters alive in any medium. The world should be less resistant to that.

It's not just the superhero fatigue, its the superhero backlash and lack of unaccountability. All this love James Mangold is getting, you all know Disney wont keep him and his X23 pet project. If Disney wants to evolve they will recognise that not every comic film needs to be in the MCU or use the handout. Definitely not X-MEN. MCU has gotten stale. I don't think X-Men will bring any life to it once they use the handout.

Omg you saw lady bird? that movie was awesome. I wanted it to get best picture over Shape of Water. Great piece of art cinema, Its a pleasure to see all the movies X-Men gets compared too. lady bird ,Inglorious Bastards, Logan had some Citizen Kane throwbacks. The MCU won't evolve to having any of their movies get the same comparisons. All their movies are compared to their last movies. if you have watched or read the spoilers of Infinity War is the same movie as the others movies. It's prophetic that James Cameron said on Monday Avengers movies are hopeless because they just wreck the place. An Avengers movie comes out on Friday the does the exact same thing. It's hard not to see why the fatigue or backlash exists.

[Tarantino]

To answer the OP, though...Like Ambaryerno, I would do away with the sliding time-scale.

I would undo pretty much all of the X-line until roughly Schism (while retconning Schism itself to be based off a conflict that actually makes sense). Xavier's dream failed. Magneto's dream is too extreme. Cyclops is trying to find a middle path despite being pushed further and further into Magneto-esque territory. Storm, meanwhile, just wants a place for mutants to be themselves rather than a paramilitary unit, so she takes over the school in New York. Wolverine continues leading X-Force until he eventually meets his end in a similar fashion to what happens in Logan, with his aging causing his healing factor to no longer effectively protect him from adamantium poisoning. Jean stayed dead when she was reduced to a pile of moon dust. Hope Summers is the reincarnation of Jean via the Phoenix Force. The New Mutants and the New X-men generation go on to become the prime superheroes and title A-listers, and eventually a new batch of mutants are created to become their pupils, etc. Here's the title breakdown:

Uncanny X-men: Cyclops and his team, the main X-men/superheroics book. Dealing with protecting a world that hates and fears them (and making the world more and more afraid).

Academy X: Storm, her fellow instructors, and the students at the school. Much more character-focused stories rather than plot-focused.

X-Factor: focuses on a rotating cast of characters who are too old to be in school yet too young to have committed to teaching or superhero-ing. What does it mean to be a mutant in society?

X-Force: limited series about mutant black-ops. Led by Wolverine until he dies, then the team is exposed and folded into Cyclop's book.

Exiles: book dealing with all manner of time-displaced/AU mutants and their wacky adventures.

An addition to your list is

X-Men: Rogue, Gambit, Domino, Wolverine, Jubilee, Cyclops, Emma Frost and Xavier. Call me old fashioned, I will always be a hardcore fan of X-Men and Uncanny X-Men as the main books.

[The Dying Detective]

An addition to your list is

X-Men: Rogue, Gambit, Domino, Wolverine, Jubilee, Cyclops, Emma Frost and Xavier. Call me old fashioned, I will always be a hardcore fan of X-Men and Uncanny X-Men as the main books.

As long as Rogue and Gambit can marry in your scenario I think we're good.

[Tarantino]

As long as Rogue and Gambit can marry in your scenario I think we're good.

Like Bat x Cat? from Batman I can't wait for Batman #50. I will have read the book 3 times over before X-Men Gold #30, if that is the issue for Kitty x Colossus wedding.

After all the drama, I guess it's about time Rogue and Gambit experience A marriage to eachother.

[Jiminy_Cricket]

We need another great X-Men cross over that essentially presses the reset button and sends all time displaced and alternative reality versions of characters back as they are ripping apart the 616 universes or some such nonsense.

Bring back Adult Cyclops and have him reconcile with the likes of Beast, Wolverine and Storm. They all agree that they have made mistakes and vow to seek redemption and keep Xavier’s dream alive together. They recognise that the X-Men need to go international and set up Schools across the world to reach and help mutants across the Globe. Jean will head up the New York School (Cyclops needs to earn the right to lead again so stays on to be Jean’s second in command. Wolverine heads up a school in Asia (probably Japan) and Storm heads up a School in Europe (likely Scotland).

New York Team:

Jean (Leader & Psychic)
Cyclops (2nd) in command)
Beast (Tech)
Iceman
X-23
Cannonball
Monet


Japan Team (The heavy hitter team as they will be going up against The Hand and Silver Samurai)
Wolverine (Leader)
Rogue (2nd in command)
Psylocke (Psychic)
Archangel
Deadpool
Cypher (Not a heavy hitter but a language specialist would be helpful in this part of the world)
Marrow


Europe Team (Gone for a very international feel for this team)
Storm (Leader)
Nightcrawler (2nd in Command)
Gambit
Banshee
Emma Frost (Psychic/ The money and connections)
Magik
Forge (Tech)

[Tarantino]

We need another great X-Men cross over that essentially presses the reset button and sends all time displaced and alternative reality versions of characters back as they are ripping apart the 616 universes or some such nonsense.

Bring back Adult Cyclops and have him reconcile with the likes of Beast, Wolverine and Storm. They all agree that they have made mistakes and vow to seek redemption and keep Xavier’s dream alive together. They recognise that the X-Men need to go international and set up Schools across the world to reach and help mutants across the Globe. Jean will head up the New York School (Cyclops needs to earn the right to lead again so stays on to be Jean’s second in command. Wolverine heads up a school in Asia (probably Japan) and Storm heads up a School in Europe (likely Scotland).

New York Team:

Jean (Leader & Psychic)
Cyclops (2nd) in command)
Beast (Tech)
Iceman
X-23
Cannonball
Monet


Japan Team (The heavy hitter team as they will be going up against The Hand and Silver Samurai)
Wolverine (Leader)
Rogue (2nd in command)
Psylocke (Psychic)
Archangel
Deadpool
Cypher (Not a heavy hitter but a language specialist would be helpful in this part of the world)
Marrow


Europe Team (Gone for a very international feel for this team)
Storm (Leader)
Nightcrawler (2nd in Command)
Gambit
Banshee
Emma Frost (Psychic/ The money and connections)
Magik
Forge (Tech)

Japan would be a stroke of genius, The art should be drawn anime style too to attract more Asian kids. A limited animated series won't hurt. X-Men morphed into Cowboy Bebop.

[The Dying Detective]

Like Bat x Cat? from Batman I can't wait for Batman #50. I will have read the book 3 times over before X-Men Gold #30, if that is the issue for Kitty x Colossus wedding.

After all the drama, I guess it's about time Rogue and Gambit experience A marriage to eachother.

Something like that though it's a pity that under Jordan White Marvel will just reinforce their anti-marriage stance. And Kitty and Colossus will end quite quickly.

[Tarantino]

Something like that though it's a pity that under Jordan White Marvel will just reinforce their anti-marriage stance. And Kitty and Colossus will end quite quickly.

Apart from Reed Richards and Sue Storm has there been a marriage that succeeded in Marvel?

[The Dying Detective]

Apart from Reed Richards and Sue Storm has there been a marriage that succeeded in Marvel?

For a while Spider-Man and Mary Jane despite all the attempts to break them up it seemed indestructible. Until One More Day and Marvel's own Peter Pan syndrome caught up with them.

[Tarantino]

For a while Spider-Man and Mary Jane despite all the attempts to break them up it seemed indestructible. Until One More Day and Marvel's own Peter Pan syndrome caught up with them.

Rogue and Gambit are another Spiderman and MJ. The couple is indestructible. I did say on another thread Scott x Jean is the greatest X-Men love story, only thing is many readers embraced Scott and Emma. Readers will never embrace anyone for Rogue and Gambit. They are that indestructible to readers.