Marvel sent out another one of their teasers earlier today which got people talking a little. While the news that Greg Pak and Mike McKone were taking over writing and drawing duties on ASTONISHING X-MEN with #44 in November was notable enough, the idea that Scott and Ororo — who are in pretty tight relationships with others at this time — might be locking lips is positively TMZ territory! Pak explained:
Greg Pak: After Xavier, the X-Men’s two greatest leaders are Scott and Ororo. They’ve borne responsibilities few others can conceive. And just those experiences alone should provide them [with] reasons to bond. But maybe they’ve just never had a moment to consider it; each has always seemed to be wrapped up in a wild romance with someone else. The current Scott/Emma and Storm/T’Challa relationships are amongst the most passionate in the Marvel Universe. So yes, what the heck is going on? I’ll just say that everything that’s happening is utterly inconceivable, but completely real, completely in character, and completely in continuity.
That is quite the ridiculous pose Storm has been forced into. Backwards kissing?
How else can she show off her killer abs?
Is Storm aware that she’s dangerously close to showing a large group of emotionally awkward man-children her vagina?
“completely in continuity”
ASTONSIHING started as a continuity-free X book that over time, based upon the creators on it (Joss Whedon and then Warren Ellis), became popular so Marvel felt they had to tie it to “books that matter”.
The whole “either it counts or it doesn’t” approach keep comics held up in the gated community of exclusivity, where you have to be rich enough ( know a lot of continuity) to even walk in the neighborhood.
Wasn’t she married to the black Panther!!! lol, what a ‘player’ that cyclops. He has been with every X-man chick out there, the good and the bad guys! He is up there with Wolverine!
“Is Storm aware that she’s dangerously close to showing a large group of emotionally awkward man-children her vagina?”
They don’t have vaginas in big two comics, causes too many nightmares amongst the readership.
What is her left hand doing? Checking to see if it’s raining?
Everyone McKone draws looks like they have Down’s Syndrome.
“ASTONSIHING started as a continuity-free X book that over time, based upon the creators on it (Joss Whedon and then Warren Ellis), became popular so Marvel felt they had to tie it to “books that matter”.”
Was it ever continuity-free? It picked up right where Morrison’s New X-Men left off. If anything, I’d say it was the flagship X book for a while.
Who drew that? Pablo Picasso?
The Emma Frost-Scott Summers relationship could be written as an “adult” one very easily if a writer wanted to do so. I don’t see a basis for an Ororo-Scott relationship, though. Where’s the chemistry? It’s like supposing that Superman and Wonder Woman are made for each other because they’re both physically strong.
SRS
“Was it ever continuity-free? It picked up right where Morrison’s New X-Men left off. If anything, I’d say it was the flagship X book for a while.”
Well, ASTONISHING was, certainly, meant to be the flagship when it first launched. But, then, the title quickly failed to actually come out on anything remotely resembling a regular publishing schedule. So the “flagship” designation was reverted back to UNCANNY.
According to a recent CBR interview, editor Nick Lowe’s position on ASTONISHING is that it is “in continuity, but not bogged down by it”. i.e. it could be read on its own without having to know what’s going on in the other titles.
You ask me, with the post-Schism shake-up, neither ASTONISHING nor “Adjectiveless” seem to have strong cases for their continued existences. I’m baffled as to why Marvel isn’t discontinuing, at least, one of them.
Cyclops is a badass and Storm is pretty hot, but…
I don’t think I’d cross T’Challa.
No.
Hey, why is Storm’s Left hand in that weird position? Do you think that’s meant to symbolize something? It’s as if she’s holding it out to feel for rain.
That’s too weird looking to be an accident.
did i miss something? when did storm go back to her mohawk look? considering all the partner swapping going on in the x-books over the years, they really could change their name to the xxx-men (i know, iknow, cheap gag in every sense of the word, just couldn’t help myself) :)
Could the writers convince the editors to bring back all the mutants. That was like a lot of ideas under modern Marvel, just a weak idea passed off as a major event. What kind of idea is that?
Isn’t Storm married or did they just forget that?
continuity isn’t what it used to be. Hey, I bet Cap and Iron man will be best friends because nobody remembers them trying to kill each other.
When I first started reading X-Men in the early 80s, I remember an issue where Storm and Cyclops’ friendship stood out and even as a kid I wondered if it was meant to hint at something more. I think it was the issue where the Sidri hunters come to earth chasing after Corsair, who Cyclops learns in the issue is his pop. But before that, it’s just Storm and Cyclops hanging out at the mansion – everyone else is gone for some reason – playing raquetball with their powers, eating dinner together, generally bonding. It was nice. This was maybe around the 150s or 160s for Uncanny X-Men.
Around that same time, the graphic novel God Loves, Man Kills came out. At the end when the team’s talking contemplatively on the balcony of the mansion, Storm kisses Cyclops on the cheek – definitely an act of friendship, not passion – and the story finishes out with the two of them holding each other close, the rest of the X-Men right behind them, as they look reflectively for a little hope.
None of the above was overtly romantic, but at the time it spoke to a fairly deep friendship between the two. I thought it might’ve been interesting to take it further back then, but Claremont become increasingly obsessed with Storm and Cyclops got shunted off the team.
In any case, I can see a case made for the pair developing feelings for each other. They’re both consummate leaders who understand the pressure that comes with, and the fact that they’ve occasionally been rivals for leadership suggests an opportunity for sparks.
Can Greg Pak pull it off? If the storyline’s even what the cover suggests? Who knows. Some of his stuff I’ve liked, some’s left me cold. Mostly I just wanted to mention that back when X-Men was a much cooler comic than it is now, I actually could’ve conceived of the two hooking up.
Wow I actually might buy a superhero comic book. I have been wanting to see that exact cover since the late ’80s.