I gave up on the X-books a while ago. I was a loyal reader since the mid-100's of the book. However, I finally stopped reading the books right about the time Alan Davis was leaving. These books were simply terrible. From what I hear, they are even worse now.
So, what should be done if the rumors are true that Claremont is out the door? Who would you bring in? What would you do to the whole line of books? (I know that these books are subject to a lot of editorial and bean counter input, but pretend it's a perfect world, where this does not exist)
My first move would be to cancel every book save the Uncanny X-men. Let everyone just be exposed to this main product for about a year. Next, I would bring in Kurt Busiek to write the book and Brett Anderson or Alan Davis on art duty. The X-Men are a high adventure team concept, but they are also based on solid characters. If you have read Astro City, you know that Busiek is excellant at writing very human stories about well-rounded characters. Busiek has a great deal of respect for continuity, but he also can sort out the mess that is the Marvel Universe (ex The Avengers). not only that, but he actually LIKES using established characters. The team should consist of Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue, Storm, Psylocke (original pre-ninja version) Havok, Marrow (just kidding)Longshot and Dazzler. (Yeah, it's been done before, but it seemed to click at the time.) No Cyclops or Jean Gray. They will be in the next book...which leads to
After a year, I would bring back one of the other books, perhaps a version of New Mutants or Gen X. Neither were very great in my opinion, so I think a new concept around this same type of premise would be fitting. Mix some of the established young characters in this book with perhaps one new character at the most. Cyclops and Jean are mentors, but in the background. Anything to get them out of the main book. They can be tiring after a while.
Perhaps one more book after this, but that is where I would draw the line. Three's the limit. And NO CROSSOVERS!
There's my plan. Fire at will...
So, what should be done if the rumors are true that Claremont is out the door? Who would you bring in? What would you do to the whole line of books? (I know that these books are subject to a lot of editorial and bean counter input, but pretend it's a perfect world, where this does not exist)
My first move would be to cancel every book save the Uncanny X-men. Let everyone just be exposed to this main product for about a year. Next, I would bring in Kurt Busiek to write the book and Brett Anderson or Alan Davis on art duty. The X-Men are a high adventure team concept, but they are also based on solid characters. If you have read Astro City, you know that Busiek is excellant at writing very human stories about well-rounded characters. Busiek has a great deal of respect for continuity, but he also can sort out the mess that is the Marvel Universe (ex The Avengers). not only that, but he actually LIKES using established characters. The team should consist of Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue, Storm, Psylocke (original pre-ninja version) Havok, Marrow (just kidding)Longshot and Dazzler. (Yeah, it's been done before, but it seemed to click at the time.) No Cyclops or Jean Gray. They will be in the next book...which leads to
After a year, I would bring back one of the other books, perhaps a version of New Mutants or Gen X. Neither were very great in my opinion, so I think a new concept around this same type of premise would be fitting. Mix some of the established young characters in this book with perhaps one new character at the most. Cyclops and Jean are mentors, but in the background. Anything to get them out of the main book. They can be tiring after a while.
Perhaps one more book after this, but that is where I would draw the line. Three's the limit. And NO CROSSOVERS!
There's my plan. Fire at will...
