Magi writes X-Men!

[frigidmagi]

Alright last night I got to hanging with a bunch of X Men fans, and my ideas for how I would handle the X Men came out (streamline for one thing we don't need stinking 15 titles) and I was encouraged to put this up somewhere public. So here goes, feel free to hand back serious feedback. For the record I'm ignoring that 109 or whatever it is and the Civil war.

X-Men 1

China after over a decade of secrets and lies has unveiled the faith of the Chinese mutant population by showing in a triumphent parade down Tiananmen Square by the very elite of the million Chinese mutant force. While the majority are not employed in military role, enough of them are and with powers enough to cause international dismay and regional panic. Taiwan, Japan and Russia all begin calling to be allowed to buy or develop Sential technology. A second shock wave devlops when Iran reveals on the heels of the August 1st parade (Army Day in China, called August Surprise outside of China after the event) The Mutant Islamic Revolutionary Guard, recruited from Shitte muslims willing to swear loyality to Iran's government and clerics. Isreal and Sunni nations begin to call for Sential technology.

This kicks off a huge debate and panic in the US, as anti mutant and anti Sential forces slam into each other at all levels with mutant rights activist often becoming causalities. Calls for either the militarization of the Sential program or the drafting of American Mutants become louder and louder.

Professor Xavier is called upon to speak to a divided and nervious US Congress. Accomplying him is Scott Summers(Cyclops). They are alone by request. Xavier gives a speech in favor of allowing the formation of a mutant volunteer force both in the US government and as an arm of the UN to oversee such matters and ensure that mutants are not turned into WMDs or into targets, this force would help police mutant kind while protecting it's rights to life, liberity and happiness. The speech is generally well recived but not without critics.

Leaving the Capital Building they see Robert Drake(Icemen). Surprised Xavier calls out to him, as Robert is supposed to back in the Mansion. Without saying a word Robert walks up to Xavier and in the blink of an eye freezes and shatteres Professor Xavier, killing him. Reacting without thought Cyclops drops his glasses and kills Robert blowing him away. Emerengy services rush to the scene to late.

End issue 1#.
Suggested cover, Scott Summers in civilian clothes kneeling by an empty wheel chair surrouned by bits of ice.

Note in Magi's X Men you stay dead.

Issue 2# forthcoming, feel free to comment.

[Charon]

ZOMG u aer t3h doing something n3w!!!11!one You a3r the sucksss!!!111!!1!![/idiot fanboy]

It seems very interesting. I don't follow X-Men too closely, but this definately seems like it's doing something new and isn't afraid to kill characters (Even if the next writer will inevitably retcon it) which is always a plus in my book.

[The Silence and I]

I like 'the feel' of it so far. I do wonder if you will somewhere along the line address why Xavier didn't notice anything in his friend's mind (or am I mistaken in thinking he would scan a friend's mind like that automatically? My knowledge of X-Men stems from the movies, and bits and pieces found here and there on discussion boards)?

[Hotfoot]

Very cool, but a few things I'd like to mention:
1. Don't give away the twist on the cover. I hate it more than anything when people do that. It's like saying "By the way, in case you didn't want to read everything that led to this, here's what happens in one panel." Make it the cover for the second issue, to let people know where you're kicking off from the last issue.

2. Backstory into how China handled mutants up until this point would be good.

3. As Silence mentioned, there should be a good reason as to why Frosty ices the professor. As a sidenote, there should be massive repurcussions from Slim and Snowman's full display of powers, which I expect you were planning on anyway. A gash of ice around the professor's chain, bloody chunks melting slowly on the sidewalk, charred remains of Iceman and severe property damage from an all out optic blast. After all, if you're doing a one shot, you might as well show just how brutally destructive these mutant powers can be and why people have a reason to be afraid of them.

4. Since this is likely never going to make it into comic book format, howzabouts fan-fiction? Perhaps some of the more talented artists of the forum (namely not me) could provide you with "cover art" as requested.

[The Silence and I]

Perhaps some of the more talented artists of the forum (namely not me) could provide you with "cover art" as requested.

That sounds like a nifty idea to me. I imagine I'm not up to snuff either, although it might be fun to put something out there.

[Hotfoot]

A good point. I might be willing to try out a sketch or two and see how they go. I may even have to dust off my tablet, since my scanner is currently offline.

[frigidmagi]

2. Backstory into how China handled mutants up until this point would be good.

There really isn't any. There are a billion Chinese citizens and the only mutant from China I'm aware of is Xorn (that isn't even a Chinese name!). Nor have we seen mutants from the middle east. We have seen some few (Thunderbird III) in India and (Sunfire) Japan. But the vast majority of mutants have been western or African to my knowledge. Part of this is addressing what have these other nations been doing with their mutant populations?

As for the cover, feel free to suggest. I'll move the suggested cover to issue 2# which would be the funeral.

[Hotfoot]

The cover for issue #1 should probably be something concerning the million mutant march in China. Dozens or hundreds of mutants marching in PRC uniforms would be intimidating and fantastic. It would also be good screen time for the Chinese mutants central to the story.

Alternatively, and image to the US government freaking out to the news report with the Professor looking on sadly would probably be good.

[The Silence and I]

Okay, for the hell of it I have a concept sketch for cover II. Some preliminary comments:
•No, I did not research Xavier's wheelchair--what is in there now is space filler, not final product.
•What does Cyclops look like? Oh well, I'll research that later too. Space filler and pose idea currently.
•The East Side of the Capitol. Well, it has the parking spaces, and all the best pictures I found showed it, so I drew it :)
•The funny color is me being lazy and enhancing the contrast with blending modes because simple contrast editing didn't work and Xavier's bits were not showing up.
•No I don't have a scanner, that is a photo of a piece of paper.
•I can make this scene bigger, smaller, pan to one side or another, add people, remove people, change postures, almost 'whatever.' The hardest thing to change, honestly, is the camera angle--right now it is something like 7 or 8 feet in the air--as that requires a lot of new rendering. I'll still change it of course if something better is proposed.
•Perspective is funny looking because I didn't think it through and just winged it, any final product will attempt to improve on that.

Boredome's spawn!

Additionally, COMMENT!! Really, if you don't like it I want to know. If you don't need it I won't continue with it. If you want to change something, great! If someone wants to color or clean up or suggest or borrow or something, go right ahead. If someone wants to compete and possible blow my sketch out of the water, great!

(I'm assuming this won't need a separate thread. I've been known to assume badly *crosses fingers*)

[frigidmagi]

You're good man, cover discussion should be in this thread. If someone else wants to draw a different cover under Hotfoot's suggestions which were really quite good, please feel free to do so and link. Or if you have your own idea feel free.

Issue 2# A funeral and a truce.
Xavier is being buried in his estate which will continue to function as a school for mutants. The X Men attend in civilian clothes (at this point I would have to put my foot down and declare that the ladies of the team will not be dressed like they were at the Summers wedding, no low cuts or high skirts. It's a funeral for crying out loud). Also attending is Magneto and a number of indepent and civilian mutants. Most surprising of the guests are a trio of Chinese officers, one of them a general.

The funeral is solemn despite the strain of many opposing individuals in attendence. Cain Marko, Xavier's half brother comfirms that the estate will be a school and he will not contend for it's ownership, with that he leaves.

After the funeral Magneto, Cyclops and the Chinese General met. The General's name is Zhang and declares he attended to show respect to Xavier as a mutant not as an offical of the Chinese Government. Magneto sneers and demands to know what the Chinese Government did to make him such a loyal lap dog. Zhang sneers in return and asks why shouldn't he be loyal to the nation that bore him and fed him and educated him, as opposed to being loyal to a man with a messiah complex who hides out in a floating rock. Cyclops steps in and reminds the both of them they are guest and should behave so.

Zhang makes his apologies and leaves. Magneto and Cyclops face each over Xavier's grave. Magneto apologies to Scott for his reaction and promises his aide in revenage if they can find anyone besides Robert who was responsible for the death. Cyclops suggest something different. If Magneto will agree to stop all attacks and other actions aimed at humanity until everything is uncovered about Xavier's assassnation, they will share all information gathered and make sure he's in on it. Magneto agrees, he and Cyclops shake hands over the grave.

Suggested covers: Either the (closed) casket with a crowd of mourners or a close up of Cyclops and Magneto shaking hands over the grave.

[Mayabird]

Things sound good to me, but I also like covers to not give away major plot points. Hinting at them is fine, though.

I imagine that in a lot of areas mutants would probably be killed as children by locals afraid of witchcraft or whatever. If people in Africa kill and abandon their children for witchcraft when they haven't done anything, then what if their kids can demonstratively do something? The moment the kid accidentally zaps the neighbor's chicken, it's all over. I'm imagining a lynch mob brutally murdering four year olds, and it's making me sick just thinking of it.

[frigidmagi]

Most mutant powers don't manifest until you're in puberty Maya. Some mutants (slang term 24/7) are born looking different(nightcrawler), while others morph in their teens or even later in life (beast morphed into a more feline form recently). Storm is from Africa (although half American last I had heard) and was worshipped as a goddess in Kenya for her weathermaking powers.

A quick note, how do y'all feel about Zhang and the idea of nationalist mutants? Up til now mutants have traditionally put loyality to mutantkind above national or religious loyality, this is understandable given that national governments and religious groups have been given to oppressing them. My thought is different governments would react in different ways. Where the republic of the US reacts with fear and distrust because that's the average man's reaction the more removed Chinese government sees mutants as a resource to pave a way to greater power.

[Mayabird]

I like the nationalist mutants. If not for the persecution, I don't see why most mutants would identify more with other mutants than with something else. Many would just think of themselves as extraordinary humans, equivalent to intellectual wunderkinds or world-class athletes.

The ones that are born looking different might be killed at birth in a lot of places, though. Storm may have lucked out since she has some obviously useful powers, but what about unlucky kids who find themselves with dangerous or frightening powers? They can't make it rain when needed, but they can bring up images of the past when Local Head Honcho Bastard had several opponents killed, or they don't get sick when everyone else gets Ebola. When I look at things that are happening in our world, even without these issues, a lot of it doesn't look hopeful.

[Josh]

Nationalist mutants are an excellent concept, so long as they're not done in Cold War-style schlock, which it sounds like you're avoiding here quite well.

You've definitely got my attention.

[frigidmagi]

Issue 3#

Cyclops and Magneto are standing over Xaviers grave. The sun is setting, they have been speaking for some time hammering out the details of the truce and what to do next. Magneto looks up at the sunset and speaks after a long silence.

"I do envy Charles one thing, he built something that will last long beyond him. He created something worthwhile even if I do not agree with it and he managed to find many worthy and brave souls to leave it's care to. Yes, I will agree to your terms." He says and excuses himself, promising to return tomorrow morning. Cyclops turns towards the mansion, tired but prepared for a battle.

Inside Beast is hollering over the phone, frusrated in his attempts to locate Robert Drake's body which was taken by men in uniform moments after the attack. No one seems to have any idea who those men were working for or where they went, despite calling the U.S. government and Sheild. The rest of the X Men and others are gathered in a living room waiting for news. They look up as Cyclops enters the room.

Cyclops annouces that he's reached a truce with Magneto, he will not attack the X-Men or the rest of the world provided the X Men share any and all information on pursuing the parties ulitimatly responsable for Xavier's death. In order to make sure that both parties live up to their side of the deal, the X Men will be relocating to the newly created Astorid M. A number will remain at the school to run the education of the students. Cyclops announces that Best and Emma Frost will be running the school.

Protest explode from a number of X Men at the idea of working in close quaters with Magneto of all people or leaving the school. At this point Beast offers a comproise. One team will go with Cyclops, another will go with Storm to places unknown. The school will remain neutral ground and will be the contact point and gathering of all needed information. The solution is accepted.

At this point Cyclops ask to speak privately with Wolervine. Cyclops asks Wolverine to leave the X Men and go full time with the Avengers. Not only is it more likely he will do more good there, if there is information that the X Men need to know, he can get to them quickly. Wolverine reluncently agrees but with a warning he'll be back if "Scotty screws things up."




Okay I thought it would be neat if I gave everyone a chance to voice their opinion of who should end up where and why. You have 3 choices, School, Roving Team, Astaroid M Team. So far the roster is:

School: Beast, Emma Frost
Roving Team: Storm
Astaroid M Team: Cyclops

No dead X Men such as Thunderbird, Psilocke, Iceman, Xavier and others may be assigned. Anyone else is fair game. I will say that I will not be considering myself bound by the opinions of the board, but will give them some consideration and will attempt to justify my choices.

Play Ball!

*Edit it seems Psilocke was brought back from the dead by her brother Jamie, I will leave it up to y'all as to whether or not to include her. I feel this is fair as I am including other mutants who were recently brought back such as Collosius and such*

[Akalie]

I really like how you got everything set up my good sir...

Im a fanboi of Sinister and Apoch so Id like them in somewhere. I like the idea of Sinister holding the President as a puppet government, but like I said, dont know if that will fit in, but reading The Age of Apocalypse Epic I love watching Apoc rule with an iron fist. ^_^_^

As far as the teams, throwing Asteroid M's group you can have Cyclopse lead Sabertooth, Collosus, and maybe Havok? Some others might be Juggernaut, Magma, and Rogue. Looking at my books there was a girl named Amelia Voght who can turn herself and others into mist for quick travel who was a friend of Magneto and helped run Geonosha.

What about Mystique helping to run the school? Shes reallly flaky. Maybe putting her with Emma and Beast there could be some really good and really bad possibilities... She can manipulate any situation. Also at the school is probably Kitty, Forge, and Angel.

As far as Storm's team maybe have her regroup with the Morlocks? Really couldent care less about that group but it would make some sense... What about Dazzler, Psylocke, or Nightcrawler?

Is Jean alive? Well that whole pheonix thing but is she up and walking around or are Scott and Emma married?


Annnnnyway, whatcha think?