X-Men Editor Discusses Conflict in the Jean Grey/Wolverine Relationship
Among X-Men aficionados, a recent comment by Marvel's Senior X-Office Editor, Tom Brevoort, has generated a lot of activity. Brevoort declared unequivocally in a Substack post that he has no intention of using valuable page space to "fix" past stories, even those he might not personally enjoy. This includes the contentious romantic relationship among the mutant heroes Jean Grey, Cyclops, and Wolverine.
The Krakoan Era and Its Afterglow
Recent in X-Men history, the Krakoan Era saw an open relationship between Jean Grey and her husband, Scott Summers (Cyclops). Although this was first presented, it basically stayed a subtext, just gently mentioned. The Krakoan Era distinguishes itself as creative and unusual in part from this open relationship dynamic.
But as the X-men franchise veers away from the Krakoan Era and a fresh editorial team arrives, fans are wondering about the future. Will the fresh "From the Ashes" era change or address these intricate relationships?
Editor Vision of Tom Brevoort
Brevoort's answer to these questions is straightforward: his job as X-Editor is to build on the always growing universe of X-men mythology rather than "fixing" past stories. "If there is some future point where some writer wants to address [a plot point] and it feels like a natural part of the story," Brevoort said. The focus will be on telling new stories since my work is not to "fix" past ones." Stated differently, he thinks that focusing on past contentious issues should only be done so if it advances the narrative of a fresh and engaging one.
Handling Fan Issues Regarding a Particular Scene
When Brevoort responded to a fan's worries about a particular scene in X- Force #10, his position became even more clear. This scene showed Jean Grey and Wolverine having a romantic encounter. The fan asked whether any future attempts to "counter" the scene would be undertaken.
Brevoort answered with a firm "no". "After so much time has passed, I don't feel any need to reverse Ben's scene from that X-FORCE issue," he said. There are few people for whom that is pertinent. Most readers tonight are not kept awake by it. Instead, we will just advance forward into the future. He thinks that, especially when most fans are not actively facing significant problems from past events, concentrating on future stories is more crucial than attending to past ones.
The Value of Traveling Ahead
Brevoort's rejection of the Jean Grey/Wolverine/Cyclops relationship dynamic may disappoint some fans, but "From the Ashes" marks a new chapter for the X-Men. Brevoort's focus on narrating fresh stories is not meant to discredit earlier tales. It's about appreciating the rich legacy of the franchise and emphasizing on creating gripping and interesting stories for the next generation.
The "From the Ashes" era presents a chance for a new generation of artists to reinterpret X-Men mythology, add fresh ideas, and investigate timeless character dynamics in novel approaches. The X-Men franchise should remain vibrant, interesting, and relevant; the aim is not to spend all of our time looking back.
The X-Men: An Innovation and Change Legacy
The X-Men franchise is well-known for its creative narrative and ongoing self-reinterpretation. Another chapter in this continuous cycle of change and development is the "From the Ashes" age. Through interesting stories and captivating characters, the X-Men franchise will keep examining issues of diversity, acceptance, and the complexity of human relationships as it advances.
Though the Jean Grey/Wolverine/Cyclops relationship dynamic might not be a major focus for the foreseeable future, it's important to keep in mind that X-Men is a huge and always changing planet. New stories are always being produced; each reader will interpret the franchise and its characters anyway they choose. The X-Men's beauty ultimately resides in their capacity to start fresh dialogues, question received wisdom, and keep entertaining and involving next generations of readers.
