Wednesday, December 22, 2004
What the world needs ... A few less mutants

 

Can't we just say "enough"?  Just for a couple months?  Maybe we could declare a semi-official mutant creation free holiday season?

 

The Marvel Universe has undergone a mighty mutant explosion over the last two years as we've met more strange characters than a department store Santa at a "clearance only" discount mall.  From the Stepford Cuckoos [bio link] and the cast of hundreds in X-Men, to Wicked [bio link] and her crew in Excalibur, to the ever growing Guthrie Clan [family tree] in Uncanny X-men.  The list goes on and on and on and on.  Writers within the X-books just can't seem to stop creating new mutants and I think we have enough. 

 

Remember the good old days when creating a new mutant character was such an event that we actually got a comic handed to us called "New Mutants"s?  Gone are those days and they've been replaced by the almost quarterly parade of new characters that feel as if they were thrown at a dart board version of the Marvel Universe.  It's almost as if each character (aka dart) is thrown with the simple hope that something will hit and stick with the fans.  Most appear to be falling on the floor and the stack was already massive.  Who can keep up with them all [although uncannyxmen.net does a good job], let alone learn to care about each individual character?  

 

I'm not saying we're getting nothing but bad creations and I certainly understand that there is a broader story to the mutant explosion, but I think recent titles miss the boat when they feel they have to roll out a new line of new mutants each time they hope for a sales splash.  There are so many to pull from within the existing, established Universe.  I just don't see the point of adding characters, making the mythos more murky and ultimately alienating more fans.

 

Cases in point...  I think Grant Morrison's introduction of characters has been brilliant in New X-Men.  He's created a few which I feel will endure the test of time.  On the other hand, Chris Claremont let us down a little with Excalibur.  I would be surprised if we're talking about any of those newly created characters by next Christmas.  Wouldn't you have loved to see Husk and Angel in Genosha [location info].  Why isn't the Scarlet Witch, following events in Avengers, at her father's side?  Why does the Marvel universe need Wicked, Freakshow, Hub, Hack and Purge?

 

While I'm on this brief soapbox, one leaky faucet that needs capped is Wolverine's origin.  Could we have any more Weapon X / Weapon Plus tied characters emerge?  That leak is quickly becoming a fountain as Fantomex [bio link], Kane [bio link], Weapon XIII [bio link], Weapon XV [bio link] and others evolve or find themselves tied back to the program in one way or another.  Wolverine is an interesting character that evolved into a comic phenomenon that shows no signs of quitting, but it looks as if the mighty Marvel marketers feel they must milk him for every last bit of spin.

 

Where am I going with this?  If a comic writer or two happen to pass this way please know that there are some really good characters to pull from.  Why not reinvent rather than create?  It's far too easy to add new additions to the already massive cast.  With the advent of secondary mutations as a writing option, why not take an established character and think about him or her in a new way?  To me, Angel gaining healing powers and Iceman turning fully to ice were great ideas that added new depth to these classic x-men.  Work with what we have.  I think the x-fans will reward your efforts.

 

Get into the action...  What's your mutant dream team?  What do you think would make the perfect mix of characters if you were starting a new mutant title?  What would you call it?  Drop me an e-mail and let me know.

 

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