Can Marvel Reclaim Some Fans With X-MEN PRIME #1 This Week?
I’m a huge X-MEN fan. Always have been. I’ve been reading at least one ongoing X-MEN comic for as long as I can remember…until the aftermath of the recent SECRET WARS event that is. Since SECRET WARS concluded, the X-books have been pretty spotty, almost unreadable in my opinion. And I have survived a lot of ups and downs over the years. I could write pages about what I think went wrong, and how I think it could get fixed, but I’ll spare you. Basically, removing Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, and Professor X from the roster was their biggest mistake. And Marvel thinks that time-displaced versions of these popular characters (Old Man Logan, Young Cyclops, etc.) will do just fine. They are very wrong, but I’m willing to give them one more shot and see what they have up their sleeve. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned from reading X-MEN books, it’s forgiveness.
Enter X-MEN PRIME #1. This one-shot serves to re-introduce us to our merry band of mutants. Kitty Pryde is getting the band back together and attempting to get everyone back on track with Xavier’s original dream of peace between humans and mutants…and Inhumans I guess.
RESURRXION BEGINS HERE! In the wake of their war with the Inhumans, the X-MEN are at a crossroads. Where do they go from here? Luckily, one beloved X-Men has the answer to that question: Xavier’s dream comes full circle as KITTY PRYDE returns to the X-Men, ready to lead them in their mission to protect a world that hates and fears them. The next chapter of the X-Men’s saga starts here!
After PRIME, the cast will split into 2 teams creating 2 brand new ongoing comics called X-MEN GOLD and X-MEN BLUE. Having flashbacks from the 1990′s yet? A cheap marketing trick if you ask me, but I’ll roll with it. We will also get a slew of other ongoings including CABLE, JEAN GREY, ICEMAN, and WEAPON X among others.
At the end of the day, I hope that this new relaunch as learned from all the mistakes that have taken place over the past year or so. I think I can speak for most fans when I say we just want our classic characters back. I’m all for trying something new, but things just aren’t working as they are now. If this particular relaunch doesn’t work, I really hope Marvel listens and brings things back to the basics. And please give young Cyclops a better costume than that…seriously.
My hesitations aside, X-MEN PRIME is the best “jumping-on” point for new readers. I’m giving it a chance and you should too!
Words by Jason Furie
And be sure to check out NEVER ENDING RADICAL DUDE for the latest in movies, games, tv, and comics with exclusive artwork, videos, and podcasts! You can support them on their PATREON PAGE too!