Jean Grey / Phoenix Appreciation 2022

[Grinning Soul]

I could say something about black holes but I'll spare you guys. Besides, this is too easy for a Muse fan... :P



Excuse me, I gotta go dance. :)

[Mercury]

I could say something about black holes but I'll spare you guys. Besides, this is too easy for a Muse fan... :P



Excuse me, I gotta go dance.

Thank you! I’ll definitely check this out.

[Mercury]

I loved this analysis of Jean’s motivations in X-Men #11:

https://www.cbr.com/x-men-reveals-re...smic-foes/amp/

Thanks to her Omega-Level mutant abilities and her former status as a host to the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey is rightfully considered one of Marvel's most powerful figures. She wants to use that power for good though as a member of the X-Men and her ambitions to save lives are starting to expand to the rest of the Marvel Universe.

X-Men #11 (by Gerry Duggan, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia, and VC's Clayton Cowles) revealed that Jean Grey has very specific fury for those that would destroy worlds. A point which suggests she's still trying to make up for the crimes of the Phoenix.

The current X-Men series has introduced a number of threats to Krakoa, largely stemming from the human conspiracy Orchis. But there's been a series of intergalactic threats as well, stemming largely from the machinations of Cordyceps Jones. A mysterious and boisterous alien power broker, Jones has made his intentions to claim the Earth and has promised absurd wealth to anyone who can clear the world of humanity and mutants alike. Finally, growing tired of the constant assaults, four of the X-Men: Jean Grey, Polaris, Rogue (who got information about Gameworld from Rocket Raccoon), and Wolverine visited his intergalactic Gameworld to try and shut everything down.

While the group as a whole seemed committed to the mission, Jean was specifically concerned with how the Gameworld operated. The Gameworld destroyed planets for laughs, allowing aliens to wager for the fate of entire worlds. As she made her way across the intergalactic casino, she was particularly angry when she witnessed a young world full of resources be destroyed on a whim. She noted to herself that she'll "never again" let this sort of thing happen. When Jean confronted the gamblers, her demeanor was colder than usual and she quickly crushed a man's hand when he tried to insult her. Jean takes the destruction of planets seriously and given her history, that's a fair line to draw.

While retcons have placed the blame more on the Phoenix Force than Jean herself, the founding member of the X-Men has long held onto the guilt over what was carried out in her name in the "Dark Phoenix Saga." Consumed by rage and a need for power, a version of Dark Phoenix (a corrupted copy of Jean created by the Phoenix Force) ended up destroying a star, causing it to go supernova and take out an entire planet. In the process, entire races died in horror and Jean has held that fact over her head for years, with her time-displaced version even going on cosmic trial over the crime. The Marvel Universe has been wary of the Phoenix Force ever since, especially as it destroyed plenty of other worlds in the build-up to Avengers vs. X-Men.

Jean has been connected to the deaths of countless lives because of these events, so having her be openly disgusted with the Gameworld makes a perfect kind of sense. Jean has been incredibly empathetic since her return ahead of the creation of Krakoa, but has not shied away from observing the cost of the mutant's actions.

Her ultimate decision to leave the Quiet Council to help reform the X-Men speaks to her commitment to protecting lives over commanding them and her quick anger over the senseless loss of life, even when compared to other heroes, is striking. As the X-Men continue to expand into the greater universe, it's a good idea to give them clear views on the galaxy as a whole. Jean empathizing as a protector of every planet she finds is a good way to try and make up for some of the damage the Phoenix has brought to creation.

[Mercury]

Also, I was rereading some old issues, and this scene—what Seagle was trying to do here—is really what sparked Claremont and Morrison to have Jean manifest Phoenix. From UXM #354 and #355 (1998):

[Mercury]

Seagle later disclosed:

[BESTXMAN]

I always thought the Phoenix should stay dead and buried. This story gave Grant Morrison really shitty ideas meant for shock value that then turned into a **** show for Jean.

[Kitty&Piotr<3]

Morrison's run was great for Jean, outside of being robbed of the opportunity to react explore new situations coming out of it.

[Exodus]

Morrison's run was great for Jean, outside of being robbed of the opportunity to react explore new situations coming out of it.

to this day, Morrison's Jean and plot is my most favorite version of her...

[WallStreeter]

I always thought the Phoenix should stay dead and buried. This story gave Grant Morrison really shitty ideas meant for shock value that then turned into a **** show for Jean.

The Phoenix force, yes. But there is nothing wrong with Jean using the codename Phoenix or the imagery. She earned it.

[WallStreeter]

I liked Jean in this issue. I felt Duggan wrote her as merciful yet still overflowing with that "Don't fk with me" energy which should be her standard. Now personally I would have gone a bit further than a broken hand. Perhaps some broken kneecaps and broken memories. But that's just me.

As for the spore issue, I was hoping this would be the time we'd see pink mode come out and play. I mean she's in a floating "ship" filled with people to siphon and clearly she's in a position where she can't really let her body become corrupted. But I also wouldn't mind her doing that ultra precise TK and "cleaning" both her and Laura of the impurities.

She didn’t have to cut loose this issue. Next issue, snd during the battle with the Eternals I think we will see the pink mode if not the pink Phoenix effect.

[WallStreeter]

All this talk about the Phoenix makes me wonder if it’s a warm up for the A.X.E event coming out.

I’ve never really liked anyone besides Jean and Rachel being Phoenix, but I’m curious to see what Duggan is going to do with Jean and Echo.

I think the X-office is reclaiming tbe Phoenix. Being in other world caused the return of Rachel’s Phoenix powers, Tini Howard as said.

I think now Jean is saying she is formerly Marvel Girl and the host blatantly calls her a former Phoenix she is going to reclaim the codename Phoenix. Disney Plus is doing the Echo television show and no, she won’t be Phoenix. What they are started to do is making Jean be a cosmic hero instead of holding the shadow of Dark Phoenix over her head. Even during the height of the retcon in X-Factor if Jean cut loose they feared a return of Dark Phoenix. As I said, Jean needed a proper redemption story and this story seems to be it.

[Exodus]

She didn’t have to cut loose this issue. Next issue, snd during the battle with the Eternals I think we will see the pink mode if not the pink Phoenix effect.

I also really wished we would see the codename Phoenix return and getting a new Phoenix effect in the color pink. I don't care about the Phoenix Force anymore. It is ruined by Aaron. Jean is omega and does not need the Force. Jean can do with her powers basically everything she could as Phoenix anyhow. But! I want her ICONIC aesthetics to return. A pink Phoenix effect is all that I need.

Or let's the Phoenix Force return to her but let her split the Force into five parts and share it with other mutants so the powerlevel would also be reduced quite a bit. I want the Phoenix Five concept to return but this time it will be given to past Phoenix users: Jean, Rachel, Hope, Madelyne, and maybe Cable. Sometimes, they could come together and create some outstanding mutant Phoenix technology. Otherwise they are at a regular omega mutant power level.

On the other hand, Phoenix reclaiming her Phoenix identity has been done so often now...Mercury reminded me of Seagle's run that was used by Claremont and Morrison and shaped Jean's storyline for so many years.

[WallStreeter]

I also really wished we would see the codename Phoenix return and getting a new Phoenix effect in the color pink. I don't care about the Phoenix Force anymore. It is ruined by Aaron. Jean is omega and does not need the Force. Jean can do with her powers basically everything she could as Phoenix anyhow. But! I want her ICONIC aesthetics to return. A pink Phoenix effect is all that I need.

Or let's the Phoenix Force return to her but let her split the Force into five parts and share it with other mutants so the powerlevel would also be reduced quite a bit. I want the Phoenix Five concept to return but this time it will be given to past Phoenix users: Jean, Rachel, Hope, Madelyne, and maybe Cable. Sometimes, they could come together and create some outstanding mutant Phoenix technology. Otherwise they are at a regular omega mutant power level.

On the other hand, Phoenix reclaiming her Phoenix identity has been done so often now...Mercury reminded me of Seagle's run that was used by Claremont and Morrison and shaped Jean's storyline for so many years.

Marvel, if they stopped using the Phoenix entirely could lose the trademark and then a fine could use it. It’s one reason all major characters always return. Since Marvel has to use the Phoenix, let Jean Grey reclaim the codename and make pink Phoenix effect. Kelly and Seagle never got to do their story because editor Bob Harrass canceled it. Quesada thought Jean should have stayed dead since the Dark Phoenix era. The problem was with the old fans who had become editors, old fans who could not move on beyond the Dark Phoenix saga. The XMen have better professional writers and editors, plus Feige controls not just the MCU but the comics too. There is hope.

[Grinning Soul]

I also really wished we would see the codename Phoenix return and getting a new Phoenix effect in the color pink. I don't care about the Phoenix Force anymore. It is ruined by Aaron. Jean is omega and does not need the Force. Jean can do with her powers basically everything she could as Phoenix anyhow. But! I want her ICONIC aesthetics to return. A pink Phoenix effect is all that I need.

Or let's the Phoenix Force return to her but let her split the Force into five parts and share it with other mutants so the powerlevel would also be reduced quite a bit. I want the Phoenix Five concept to return but this time it will be given to past Phoenix users: Jean, Rachel, Hope, Madelyne, and maybe Cable. Sometimes, they could come together and create some outstanding mutant Phoenix technology. Otherwise they are at a regular omega mutant power level.

On the other hand, Phoenix reclaiming her Phoenix identity has been done so often now...Mercury reminded me of Seagle's run that was used by Claremont and Morrison and shaped Jean's storyline for so many years.

Why should Jean split a cosmic force? Why should she feel entitled to force a being - which has a consciousness - to exist in a fragmented way instead of being whole?

And even if there is an explanation for that, why would Jean - the socialist (I'm being openly sarcastic, not passive aggressive) - divide it by 5 instead of everyone?


EDITED: As I always - I hope I don't have to say this again, but just in case, let me do it - I'm genuinely curious about how you reconcile those issues.

[Rev9]

Why should Jean split a cosmic force? Why should she feel entitled to force a being - which has a consciousness - to exist in a fragmented way instead of being whole?

And even if there is an explanation for that, why would Jean - the socialist (I'm being openly sarcastic, not passive aggressive) - divide it by 5 instead of everyone?


EDITED: As I always - I hope I don't have to say this again, but just in case, let me do it - I'm genuinely curious about how you reconcile those issues.

I'd rather see the Phoenix manifest /craft its own corporeal form for once , instead of hitching rides on hosts.