https://aiptcomics.com/2024/01/15/x-...powers-of-x-1/
I liked how he talked about Enigma being in his initial pitch and the connection with Ewing's Defenders Beyond. Also all of this below about Charles.
AIPT: X-Fan Percival S. has truly appreciated your time with the X-Men, and your work is one of the things that first got Percival into reading and buying comics. As unlikely as it may seem, Charles Xavier is one of Percival’s favorite characters and he’s really grown in your books. Percival was wondering if there was something in particular that drew you to him as a character to develop?
Kieron: Firstly, thank you.
He’s certainly one of the characters I was attracted to — I’m normally attracted to characters I think need a little work or have space for more development.
Basically, I felt he’s had a somewhat raw deal. Not in the fiction (he’s done all manner of awful things) just from generations of writers throwing him under the bus. I found myself thinking it’s almost as if Superman was never the lead in his own book — if you have this person who is meant to be a paragon, and they’re NOT the core character, the most logical plot is “The paragon is not the paragon the other characters thought they were.” The only way is down. The contrast between Xavier the saint and Xavier the person who has done all manner of shady **** is too much to overlook now.
So I just decided to take him seriously, without saying anything he’s done didn’t happen or had mitigating factors. How would Xavier justify what he’s done to himself? What’s in the text to support that view? Sure, he’s a bad father, but I’d also make it clear he’s a child of bad fathers. I’d try and center him in his own stories. I’d admit the hypocrisies (I think his hypocrisy is the main reason why he’s become so hated — Apocalypse is worse in every way in terms of what he’s done, but he’s honest, so folks seem to forgive him) but make an argument why he does this. And I do like where it ended up — this person who is spouting idealism (and believes it!) but is pragmatic to the point of utter heartlessness.
I thought about it a lot, and it’s core to the book. I wrote most of Immortal X-Men #10’s narration before I’d finished issue 1.
You may not like him now, of course, but hopefully folks get why he is the way he is… and now they get where his head is at, we can follow him further and see where it leads. It’s been a surprise to me too.
AIPT: Finally, what can you tease about Rise of the Powers of X #2, on sale February 21, 2024?
Kieron: For a start, all the black on the first issue’s No Place data page will be revealed. Plus: the vibe is basically cosmic Das Boot. It’s fun, for a certain, petrifying value of “fun.”
This week's eXclusive preview images!