On Leadership & The X-men

[Snoop Dogg]

The idea of the X-Men as these grand overseers of the entire mutant race is an unstable one due to the series' conceptual idea of the X-Men being the underdogs and the outcasts, not the leaders of a kingdom. We've seen it done with Cyclops, and in-universe you can mark that up as a success or a failure, but that's really more of an Inhumans story. The X-Men aren't the type you want to be doing an Avengers World kinda story. Or maybe they are, depending on the run that they're in. The organization of the group should ultimately be dependent on the story. So come up with interesting conflicts and base the organization of the X-Men around that.

[Handsome men don't lose fights]

Ineffectiveness is the only solution. The X-men are superheroes and superheroes are never allowed to secure a definitive win. The reason Logan went over like gangbusters with its audience is because Wolverine was finally allowed an ENDING. It was incredible and something they're far too cowardly to commit to in the comics. All this talk of "progression" is dependent upon a trigger that the editorial department will never pull. Leaders don't matter, the X-men will always be put-upon underdogs barely surving the next well-intentioned (but insulting to actual minorities) storyline.

[Killerbee911]

What do you think of the idea of a “leadership council” for the X-men? A group made up of senior X-men (maybe the O5 plus Ororo and Logan or whoever you think should be there, maybe rotating membership to give others some experience) designed to lead the entire team by committee. Would this work? It would certainly be more democratic, but would it be effective? Would it be too unwieldy for making critical spur-of-the-moment decisions in the field?

It might take the “leadership curse” off of any one character, but would it be workable for the X-men?

Just throwing it out there.

This is what I would pretty much suggest as well the X-men have grown past mindless following one person and where Cyclops is "THE only field leader". The X-men now have other experienced leaders Kitty, Ororo, Logan and Cyclops all have been Headmasters and overall leader of the X-men. Rogue,Sunspot and Havok have lead Avengers Squad and X-men squads. Then they are people Psylocke,Nightcrawler,Emma, Banshee and couple of other who leadership experience as well.The next evolution of leadership for the X-men is a council, Of course their needs to a chairman for the group but X-men major decisions should be a group thing. Without Xavier around they are too many people around who at the same level,It made no sense for Storm to defer to Kitty , It made no sense that Kitty was talking down Havok who lead X-factor and Avengers effectively, It made no sense that the X-men split up for Schism like they aren't enough mature adults to say Cyclops and Wolverine,Get you crap together the X-men are staying together if you two guys have to leave ,etc.

How I see it

Chairman-Obviously even with a group in charge,Someone still needs to be able to make final decisions on things. If a quick big decision needs to be made this person who does it.
Headmaster of School-The person in charge of the school shouldn't be in charge of other decision making. (Putting the school in Limbo or Central park are decisions that a Headmaster wouldn't have agreed to without some arguing)
X-men Field Leader-The person in charge of X-men as Super hero unit and tactical planning should be a independent thing

Team leaders- Blue, Gold,Red,Excalibur,X-factor,X-force,Gen-X,New Mutants,Student Body,Unity Squad,etc You put couple leaders from different Teams on the council
Important people and Senior X-men- Sometimes Wolverine, Storm, Cable,Emma aren't leaders it would make sense they get to sit on the council. Also sometimes X-men have people Moira MacTaggert or Val Cooper who it make sense having a spot.

For me I think that makes the most sense Chairman,Field Leader and School Headmaster and probably 4 or 6 other spots to round out the group. As long you keep the Big three position as different people the X-men will be fun to read.