Topher5151992

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The Thought Process Behind the Creation of Various X-Men

By Topher5151992 15 Comments


Through my various readings from books and articles online, I have come across various tidbits of information behind the creation of various X-Men. I'll attach links to some of the websites below:

 

1. http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/article/showquestion.asp?faq=4&fldAuto=315

In this article named "How to Create a Legend (Dave Cockrum's designs for the X-Men), the writer collected various info and original concept art of the 2nd generation X-Men (Storm, Wolverine, Thunderbird, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Phoenix). I found this article fascinating because it was packed with a lot of info. For example, who would have ever imagined Strorm was the amalgamation of a female african were-cat (provided the costume and ethnicity), a male weather manipulator (provided her awesome powers), and a green bird lady (who provided the elegant, tall physical features)? This can lead to what-ifs, like how different would have the X-Men comics have been if Storm was replaced by the original "Black Cat" with her feline powers? They also reveal that Colossus was intended to take over the leadership role until Claremont took over as a writer. Again, what if Colossus had taken over leadership instead of Storm way back when (would Storm be the same character)? This article also revealed the concept of a mutant nixed from being a part of the book because the editors thought he was too similar to Nightcralwer, the character was named Vampyre (not like a traditional vampire but literally 1/2 man 1/2 bat with bat wings for arms). Again, I highly suggest that you read this article if you are interested in the creative design that was put behind many of our favorite X-Men characters.

 
2. http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20070408172443/marveldatabase/images/d/dc/Shadowcat_%28Kitty_Pryde%29_concept_art_Bryne.jpg 
While looking through Shadowcat's character gallery, I came across this pic of Bryne's initial concept art with notes for her. I found this pic to be fascinating because it allows one to see an actual piece of the creative process. It also mentioned early ideas for the New Mutants, which I also found interesting. I think its worth a quick look at. 
 
3. The following info comes from Mallory's X-Men: The Characters and Their Universe 
*Professor X was put in a wheel chair because Lee thought visually it looked better for someone with a purely psionic power to be wheelchair-bound (luckily, that idea didn't stick for our later telepaths Psylocke and Emma) 
*Beast initially talked in a lazy English slang that Thing used 
*The 2nd gen team was made international so that Marvel could have a character from each country where comics were selling well at the time (Canada-Wolverine, Germany-Nightcraweler); however, this marketing plot didn't prevent Marvel from making their 1st priority the need of intrinsic worth in the characters. 
*According to Cockrum, "When we put together Giant-Size number one, a subtext of the story was that it would be an entrance exam for new characters. We brought in Banshee and Sunfire because we figured that some people are going to have to fail the test. Then it turned out that we all liked Banshee... [and] Thunderbird," However, Thunderbird was killed (despite the creative team's liking the character) because his powers were repetitious of some of his teammate's powers (Colossus-super strength/durability, Wolverine-heightened senses, etc)
*Gambit was originally created to be a traitor within the X-Men 
* Wolverine was considered to be killed off instead of Thunderbird! What would Marvel comics be like today without Wolvie appearing in a billion comics? 
 
4. I don't remember where I read it: Banshee was originally meant to be a woman; however, Stan Lee suggested that they make her a man since "fans like male villains better" So now you know why a man is named after a female spirit. Also, they just rehashed their original idea by creating his daughter Siryn (who now has the codename Banshee, funny how things workout sometimes even if its decades later). 
 
Anyways, I hope others out there find this info to be interesting because I know I enjoyed learning more about some of my favorite X-Men. 
 
Also, if anyone else has heard anyother cool tidbits of info, has links to websites or articles with info, or pics that shed some light on the thought process behind any X-Books characters, please share in the comments below.

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Personal Favorite X-Spinoff Book: Exiles

By Topher5151992 2 Comments

 
 
It wasn't until a couple of Christmases ago when I actually began reading comics. I grew up watching comic-based shows galore (X-Men TAS, X-Men Evolution, Batman, Superman, etc.), I played various comic-based videogames, and I read up more on characters via online. Therefore, my comic book knowledge was basic. I knew the Exiles were a group of reality-jumping heroes that were X-Men related. I thought it was a cool concept, but that was it. After having read decades of Uncanny X-Men comics via disc, I then got a subscription to marvel digital comics. I have read QUITE a bit since, including the original Exiles series. 
 
After the first couple of issues, I was hooked. The writing (dialogue and plot) and art were superb, and I was always kept entertained by the jokes, ACTION, and character interactions. In my opinion, the team (pictured to the left: Mimic, Blink, Nocturne, Morph, Sunfire, and Sasquatch) meshed together so well. While reading, I actually believed that they were best friends and a family, which I have found to be rare/not to the same degree in some of the other X-books. Also, they had a gread diversity in powers that all contributed to the team.
 
It was also refreshing to see various new versions of characters and places from the X-Men comics that I had become very familiar with. I remembered Mimic as that jack*ss that forced his way on to the original X-team. Let's just say that it didn't take long for Exiles' Mimic to win me over as the kind, team-playing, strategic, and great fighter that he turned out to be (He seemed vaguely similar to the 80's/90's Cyclops). Morph was definitly better (funnier and more powerful) than the Changeling that I remembered from his short career in the 60's. I loved Heather Hudson as the bright, confident, beautiful, and strong female that she turned out to be. I really can't compare her to the original Sasquatch since I only saw him when Alpha Flight made a couple appearances in the X-books. Similarly, Mariko turned out great, but it is hard to compare her to Sunfire & Mariko from Earth-616 since they didn't make that many appearances in Uncanny X-Men. However, I did like the youthful, playful, fun, and loving girl that she was written to be in Exiles. I also liked that she had a deep love and respect for her parents (like the Earth-616 Mariko) without being so uptight and duty bound. I'm glad that Exiles' Mariko didn't try to pretend that she wasn't gay and remain subservient to her father. Nocturne turned out to be a great, sexy, confident, and caring woman as well, which I thought was really good. Finally, Blink. I still haven't read any Earth-616 Blink, but I'm sure Exiles' Blink would trump. She was the novice leader that rose to the occassion and ended up doing a great job despite her worries. She brought the team together, and she was the right choice to lead. 
 
Sadly, I thought this title began to slide once the team's roster changed from the one pictured above. Illyana was a psycho but at least tolerable, Namora was a full of herself/unruly prick, Beak never made sense to me (he was very lame and didn't contribute in a fight), and the roster just went down hill from there. It was also sad that when Chris Claremont began writing for the title, the magic that the team pictured above had never came back. However, I do recommend that one reads the rest of the series despite the decline. I'm sure you'll feel loyalty to the book by that point. 
 
After that, I read New Exiles, hoping the book would return to its former glory. Sadly, that was a dud. Then I tried Exiles vol 2, which was better but ended prematurely. Therefore, I didn't get enough of a feel for it to say the Exiles were back where they should be. However, I found some promise in what I did read. 
 
 
 
No matter, I can't stress enough that if you are an X-phile, give Exiles a shot if you haven't already. I can't say that it will be your cup of tea, but I know that I was hooked. Maybe Marvel should consider getting Judd Winick to comeback and write an Exiles Forever (I'm not sure what Winick is up to nowadays but he was the best Exiles writer!). He would pick up from where he left off (Exiles vol 1 #37) with the team (Blink, Mimic, Morph, Sasquatch, Nocturne, and Magik) mourning the loss of Sunfire, surprised by the return of Blink, and angry at Mimic for hiding the fact that he had a Brood egg. There is plenty of stuff he left off to build off of and there are many story possibilities to go from there. Personally, I would hope the team would grow closer again, the team would forgive Mimic, and Mimic would learn from his mistake. Also, I wouldn't mind him shipping Illyana off to the reality jumping group Weapon X (which was still in existence when Judd left! Would like to see them come back as well with the dark Storm that I thought got killed off way too soon) or just kill her. Then make the mini-series or whatever have a fresh start with a new Exiles member.  
 
There you have it. This was my first blog so hopefully it wasn't too bad. Feel free to comment
   
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