I'm not implying it, I'm outright stating that it is not an editorial mandate. Guarantee you that Marvel is not telling these writers they have to use OML, rather the creators are asking to. With the exception of perhaps the Old Man Logan solo book. They probably have to use him there, but perhaps not. If the writer came up with some sort of twist (a la Jim Gordon replacing Bruce Wayne as Batman awhile back), they'd probably let him or her do that...provided it looked like an interesting story. Over in Gold and Astonishing, however, no editor said to Guggenheim or Soule, "You have to include Logan. It's a must for your team book. Sorry."
In Weapon X it sounds like he was a given, and probably part of Pak's premise for the book honestly. Still his choice, and not editorially mandated. I'd be extremely surprised to find out otherwise.
These books are mostly editorially mandated. Editors wanted a book focused on the 05, so they called Bunn and asked him to do it (as he's said in many interviews. He even said he wasn't a fan at first but grew into writing the characters). I can't GUARANTEE like you do, but I'd be shocked if Weapon X wasn't also a book given to Pak, and not something he's pitched.
Either way, while I get the business side of it, ultimately I think it hurts the stories more than it helps. I miss the days where something would happen to a character in his solo book and it would be felt in all of the other books from the line as well.
I agree with that last sentence, despite not agreeing that use of OML is editorially mandated in team books (particularly Astonishing and Gold, nor do I think Jimmy Hudson was mandated in Blue; Weapon X, as you state, may have had OML as part of the pitch to be fair). And I also wish they'd both spread the love around in terms of characters and also take more risks in terms of team book casts (i.e., get away from the stale O5 and ANAD models for teams). Some of my favorite teams ever have been oddball in terms of cast (e.g., Mike Carey's "Supernovas" team with Rogue, Iceman, Cannonball, Mystique, Cable and Sabretooth was awesome).
My personal preference would've been to see Cable and Laura on Gold instead of OML, for example. But oh well. Guggenheim clearly wanted Logan...unless he was forced on him, as you suspect. I just don't believe that he was.
Well, you just cut Black Widow, Captain America, Captain Marvel, Nick Fury Sr., and Winter Soldier out, I guess Hawkeye too.(That's more OML territory than the young one.) I know, I'm missing more but those are the ones that come top of my head.
In the x-verse he still has Alpha Flight, they even guest star in OML. They fight an army of Brood, but the one who steals the show is Jeen with this:
You gotta love Sorrentino art.
Edit: Scan deleted.
Last edited by The_Phenom2893; 07-17-2017 at 01:43 PM.
Why shouldn't MCU characters count? If it's because most X-Fans don't read the books starring them, then I'm betting most who complain about Logan appearing "everywhere" don't even read the books he starring in either... and Astonishing X-Men isn't even out yet. So if we eliminate OML and Weapon X and we assume some of the Logan complainers are reading X-Men Gold, that's one book with Logan that nobody is forcing them to read.
Really? You can't tell why Disney would rather promote the MCU characters over the XMen?
The same rules don't apply.
This acting like is not mandated to put him in books is ridiculous and not worth my time.
It simply comes down to Marvel thinking sales will be higher if they have Logan in them.
Astonishing X-Men:
All-New Wolverine:
Cory Smith, XMBlue #5...
Last edited by nx01a; 06-12-2017 at 03:50 PM.
Originally Posted by The General, JLA #38