Being a mutant and an X-Men is not as glamorous as it used to be. Even though mutants were always considered menaces, the X-Men were still considered heroes by most of the public. They put their lives at risk in order to prevent evil mutants and other bad guys from harming innocent lives.
These days, the shift for the X-Men has changed. They still want to protect the innocent but it turns out they themselves are now at risk. The hatred towards mutants and the fact that there are under two hundred in existence puts their very survival at risk.
After the events of Schism, the mutants are split with some leaving Utopia with Wolverine to start up a new school and others staying with Cyclops to fight for their survival. With the relaunch and release of Uncanny X-Men #1, Cyclops has revealed his new direction. How different will things be for the X-Men and is this the best approach to take?
== TEASER ==Heroes' lives are always at risk. Yet it's the X-Men that have enemies that actually gunning for them. That's what he tried telling Wolverine. He isn't crazy about the idea of kids being soldiers but what guarantees of survival are there in sitting in a school with a giant target on it?
His solution is the formation of his Extinction team. For the future of mutants, Cyclops believes they need to make a larger statement. You would think with all the good the X-Men have done, they would me more accepted as heroes. Yet, as time has gone by and they've even come out publicly so they aren't hiding behind masks, the public still fears them. He wants to prove that they can save humanity from extinction and that they are Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
What Cyclops is basically saying is he wants the world to realize just how great of heroes they are. He knows all their past deeds haven't shown the public that they shouldn't be feared. To prove they're heroes, he gives his squad a fearful name. He selects mutants with incredible firepower that would be an asset in the field.
It's Storm that actually points out Cyclops' questionable direction. These aren't the most friendly members of X-Men. Their name isn't one that will inspire trust. Cyclops' reply was they will prove the public wrong. And those that hate mutants should also fear them. But isn't that the problem? People hate mutants because they're different and they also fear them. Being afraid of them isn't going to make people think of them as heroes.
What should Cyclops do?
They've already tried hiring a public relations person. It didn't quite workout but that doesn't mean they should throw out the idea. Kate Kildare has handled many scandals in the Marvel Universe. Think about Norman Osborn's Dark Avengers. When they were first introduced, it was a public event. The X-Men need to be seen in public instead of hiding behind closed doors on Utopia. Magneto was thought to be a major problem but when he publicly saved many, his 'ratings' went up a little.
Matching uniforms? They've had them before. If they show a sense of unity, they might appear more appealing. They are a 'team' and most of the time athletes appear together in their uniforms. Magneto running around in his familiar costume will just bring back too many memories and fears. There's also the Fantastic Four that has matching uniforms. They are perceived as a family but the X-Men are essentially family as well.
Utopia should be opened to the public on occasion. If the X-Men stay hidden on a far off island of their own, the public will have no idea what they're doing there. They could be plotting the destruction of humanity for all they know. Even if they had a controlled televised tour, it might put the public's mind at ease. They have had people on before but they should do it more regularly, provided they can make it safe.
Reality shows and public appearances? What if Emma Frost appeared as a guest judge on American Idol? Maybe Storm could be on hand at the grand opening of a new car dealership. This goes along with the PR angle but that's what they need to do. They need to sell themselves as heroes. People fear them because they're mutants but the X-Men need to show that even though they're mutants, they are still human.
The most important thing is what Scott had in mind. They need to keep being heroes. They need to prove the world is wrong to hate and fear them. It's unfortunate if being nearby San Francisco invites the likes of Mister Sinister or other X-Men villains but that's the price of having heroes nearby. Having a name like "Extinction team" isn't going to win over the public. They do need to show they are tough but trying to instill fear in some will only result in scaring everyone.
Overall, the X-Men shouldn't really concern themselves with what the public thinks. They didn't worry about it too much in the past and shouldn't now. They are heroes and they don't need the praise. They want to do the right thing. They just need to be able to do it without everyone trying to kill them just for being who they are.
And maybe Emma should put on some more clothes.
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