X-Men

From Encyclopedia Superheroica -the Encyclopedia of Superheroes

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
 
(25 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
-
While most superheroes appealed to fans' desire to escape their normal lives, the  
+
While most superheroes appealed to fans' desire to escape their normal boring lives, the primary appeal of the X-men seemed to be fans embracing their own abnormalities. Instead of being admired as most other heroes had been, the X-Men were considered freaks. Instead of being perfect specimens, they were (literally) mutants. Rarely seen as saviors, they were usually shunned as outsiders. Perhaps it is not surprising that this <i>unappreciated</i> quality would appeal to most bookish adolescents.
==Origin==
==Origin==
-
Born Steve Rogers, he attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army, but was rejected as being physically unfit for duty. He got a second chance from American science, however, due to a combination of a Super-Soldier serum and exposure to Vita-Rays. Becoming the pinnacle of human physical perfection, Captain America battled evil with just two fists and a good, solid shield.
+
The original X-Men were born and raised separately, but were discovered and trained together by Professor Charles Xavier. Jean Grey had psionic powers, Hank McCoy was a genius trapped in a brute's body, Warren Worthington had the wings of an angel, Scott Summers shot energy beams out of his eyes, and Bobby Drake could generate blizzards. Their arch enemy was another mutant named Magneto, but almost immediately they found themselves feared (and policed) by the normal citizens they sought to protect.
==History==
==History==
-
Over the next 60 years he endured the death of his sidekick Bucky, involuntary suspended animation, and a superhero civil-war that had him in direct opposition to the policies of the American government he had sworn to defend. Not just an American agent, he has saved the world more than once. No immortal, he has faced certain death countless times -and there have been more than a few replacements eager to wear the uniform in his place should he be terminated. Through it all though, Captain America persevered –the ultimate [http://www.thomaspaine.org/Archives/Crisis-1.html winter soldier]. His depiction has sometimes been a little clumsy, but the character was always meant to represent the very highest American ideals –especially <b>Liberty</b>.
+
So much has happened over their first fifty years that one really must just go read the comics (or watch the movies). In addition to the popularity of the founding members though, other major X-Men characters like Storm, Rogue, and [[Wolverine]] have helped to make it the most valuable commodity in the superhero business.
-
==Incongruenc==
+
==Incongruence==
-
Particularly vexing to fans is the multiplicity of the X-Men franchise.
+
Particularly vexing to fans is the multiplicity of the X-Men franchise. It became a victim of it's own popularity. It has been almost impossible, given the breadth of titles and timelines available over time, to define who or what is an X-man. Some of their many incarnations include <i>X-Men</i>, <i>Uncanny X-Men</i>, <i>Ultimate X-Men</i>, <i>X-treme X-Men</i>, <i>New X-Men</i>, <i>X-Men 2099</i>, <i>X-Men:Legacy</i>, and <i>Astonishing X-Men</i>. A few of these comics featured identical characters doing completely different things at the same time. It did not help (nor is it universally appreciated by the fans) that major characters such as Phoenix and Colossus died -only to brought back to life years later. It also did not help that some characters were clones of themselves. Often there is even life-changing time travel involved where characters have gone back/forward amongst eachother. Then there are, of course, the animation series and the motion pictures -each of which make their own imprint upon shared characters and plots.
-
==Quotes==
+
None of this has done much to dampen enthusiasm for the most successful comics franchise of all time.
-
“<i>Captain America? In my opinion, he’s the finest of them all. Any indestructible superbeing can be brave, any reckless vigilante can seem powerful, any automaton can follow orders. It takes a real man to walk that fine line between duty and blind devotion. It takes a real man to deliberately walk the line of service past sacrifice.</i>-Keeferman
+
 
 +
==Headquarters==
 +
The X-Men have recently been headquartered at the [[Xavier Institute]]
 +
==Back to==
 +
[[Supergroups|SUPERGROUPS]] subsection  <br>
 +
[[Marvel Universe]] sub-subsection
==External links==
==External links==
-
[http://www.marvel.com/universe/X-Men Marvel] <br>
+
The Official [http://www.marvel.com/universe/X-Men Marvel] <br>
-
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_america Wikipedia]
+
The fansite [http://www.uncannyxmen.net UXN] <br>
 +
An attempt in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-men Wikipedia]
 +
[[Category: Marvel]]
[[Category: Marvel heroes]]
[[Category: Marvel heroes]]
 +
[[Category:heroes]]
[[Category: supergroups]]
[[Category: supergroups]]
 +
[[Category: section 2]]

Current revision as of 23:34, 23 August 2011

While most superheroes appealed to fans' desire to escape their normal boring lives, the primary appeal of the X-men seemed to be fans embracing their own abnormalities. Instead of being admired as most other heroes had been, the X-Men were considered freaks. Instead of being perfect specimens, they were (literally) mutants. Rarely seen as saviors, they were usually shunned as outsiders. Perhaps it is not surprising that this unappreciated quality would appeal to most bookish adolescents.

Contents

Origin

The original X-Men were born and raised separately, but were discovered and trained together by Professor Charles Xavier. Jean Grey had psionic powers, Hank McCoy was a genius trapped in a brute's body, Warren Worthington had the wings of an angel, Scott Summers shot energy beams out of his eyes, and Bobby Drake could generate blizzards. Their arch enemy was another mutant named Magneto, but almost immediately they found themselves feared (and policed) by the normal citizens they sought to protect.

History

So much has happened over their first fifty years that one really must just go read the comics (or watch the movies). In addition to the popularity of the founding members though, other major X-Men characters like Storm, Rogue, and Wolverine have helped to make it the most valuable commodity in the superhero business.

Incongruence

Particularly vexing to fans is the multiplicity of the X-Men franchise. It became a victim of it's own popularity. It has been almost impossible, given the breadth of titles and timelines available over time, to define who or what is an X-man. Some of their many incarnations include X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, Ultimate X-Men, X-treme X-Men, New X-Men, X-Men 2099, X-Men:Legacy, and Astonishing X-Men. A few of these comics featured identical characters doing completely different things at the same time. It did not help (nor is it universally appreciated by the fans) that major characters such as Phoenix and Colossus died -only to brought back to life years later. It also did not help that some characters were clones of themselves. Often there is even life-changing time travel involved where characters have gone back/forward amongst eachother. Then there are, of course, the animation series and the motion pictures -each of which make their own imprint upon shared characters and plots.

None of this has done much to dampen enthusiasm for the most successful comics franchise of all time.

Headquarters

The X-Men have recently been headquartered at the Xavier Institute

Back to

SUPERGROUPS subsection
Marvel Universe sub-subsection

External links

The Official Marvel
The fansite UXN
An attempt in Wikipedia

Personal tools