Eric J. Moreels
Jan 28, 2003, 06:34 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/Xtreme_Xmen_24.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/Xtreme_Xmen_24t.jpg" align=left alt="X-Treme X-Men #24 preview"></a>by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean, X-Fan Correspondent
Welcome to the first edition of On The Boards, a weekly column wherein X-Fan wrap-ups all the tidbits, teasers, and snippets of information posted by the many creators that grace the X-Fan forums. This week's column features Chris Claremont, Chuck Austen, Darick Robertson, J. Torres, Chris Giarrusso, Dave Finch, Tom Derenick, and Dan Fraga.
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First up is veteran X-Men creator and current X-Treme X-Men writer Chris Claremont, who discussed the recently-announced sequel to God Loves, Man Kills starting in May's X-Treme X-Men #25 (see 'MARVEL ANNOUNCES X2 INCENTIVES, TALKS TEASERS' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15176)) in his Cordially Chris (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=25) forum.
"Stryker was never used after the publication of GLMK because the novel was always intended to serve as a stand-alone piece of work, exclusive of ongoing series continuity. It represents the status quo of the X-Men at that time but is otherwise meant to be timeless. It was a story we wouldn't/couldn't do in the regular run of the book, based on the operating premise that if you had to encapsulate the essence of the X-Men into a single story, what would it be? However, with the passage of time, editorial policy changed, hence the sequel."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xtxmen20.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xtxmen20t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Treme X-Men #20"></a>Claremont also provided more information on the events in the latest issue (#20), posting, "There are indeed two sets of victims. There is the initial crime - that is, the bodies found frozen on the glacier, for which the mystery mutant (a young man named Jeff Garrett) is the prime suspect. However, Sage and Bishop's investigation has turned up a second set of bodies, with evidence suggesting they were held at the Lodge against their will (the shackles), and who were slain in a manner that even Sage finds hard to stomach. These bodies are related to the prime suspect, Jeffrey. Questions the cops (and our heroes) are left with: who was killed first and under what circumstances? The answer could have a direct bearing on Jeffrey's fate, if he acted in defense of his siblings or our of grief and rage at their deaths. And those questions will be addressed in #21, and #22, and #23. The other guy mentioned, Elias Bogan, is the owner of the crime scene (the Lodge). More on him next issue."
On the new roles of Bishop and Sage as mutant detectives in the new series direction, Claremont posted, "It's more a matter of rolling with the punches and adapting/overcoming as they go along. This is an instance where the (significant) difference in strength and experience becomes a critical factor. Bear in mind that, in Bishop's case (as will be alluded to in a forthcoming issue) he's been trained (officially and 'on the streets') in coping with all manner of mutant abilities. In his world, in his time, he's likely run into a far broader, more diverse and more dangerous spectru of adult mutants than his fellow X-Men. That affords him signficantly greater resources to draw on in a fight. Indeed, of all the team (X-Treme and Mansion) he may be best able to cope with the Brave New World they find themselves in, simply because it's very much starting to resemble the world he came from. (Which, due to current policy, we will likely never mention in any great detail.)"
"As for Sage, she was trained by Xavier, and honed through her experience working with Sebastian Shaw, to cope with a significant array of threats on her own. If the level you're equipped to fight on is Charley's and Emma's, then dealing with a brace of kids is roughly the equivalent of a Super Bowl champion taking on a Pop Warner team; yes, the kids may pull a surprise or three but in the end the adults will likely prevail."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XXM023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XXM023t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Treme X-Men #23 preview"></a>Claremont went on to tease at upcoming stories, such as dealings with Storm and Emma Frost ("I have to say in advance (having just received the first half of #23's pencils from Salva) that Page 1 will just about fry the brains of every red-blooded 'Ro/'Ma (figure it out) fan on the board. It certainly got my attention, and I knew what I asked for. That Salva, the man can draw like nobody's business (and I won't even go into the covers he just turned in for GLMK II-- :) !!!)"); the origin of Sage's facial tattoos will be revealed in #22 ("Salva just delivered the pencils and all I can say is - WOW! As for why she's pale, it's likely genetic. :) "); old allies and villains showing up in May ("And also, throughout the summer."); and the possibility of a sequel to his Kitty Pryde-starring MekaniX mini-series ("It will end with #6. There are plans for the characters after that but I'm not at liberty right now to say.").
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/UNCANNY_X_421.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/UNCANNY_X_421t.jpg" align=right alt="Uncanny X-Men #421 preview"></a>Uncanny X-Men writer Chuck Austen provided a rundown of his upcoming storylines in his Austen Powers (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=69) forum. Upcoming arcs include "The Calm" in #421-422( featuring Alpha Flight), the Nightcrawler-spotlighting "Holy War" in #423-424, the oft-hinted at wedding arc, "Sacred Vows", in #425-426, and "Draco, Sins of the Father" which will run through #427-433.
"The Alpha Flight arc occurs because Sammy is Canadian, and his parents find out he's been hanging out with a wanted criminal, so they ask the Canadian government for help in removing their son," Austen elaborated. "It makes for some big conflict." Austen added that Alpha Flight's roster will include Guardian, Vindicator, the new Shaman (Chuck Moss), Sasquatch, Snowbird, and Puck.
"Kurt and Mystique's relationship is explained in #427, and takes place just before 'Animals', {which} is a short story I wrote for X-Men Unlimited with Mystique and Sabretooth, showing their first meeting."
Austen also said that he has "free reign" to do as he wishes, even though he is not exclusive to Marvel, posting "No, I have no contract with Marvel. But I have plot ideas in for about a year and a half, and part of that plan involves keeping Juggernaut around. As long as I stay on the book, Juggy will be a part of it, but I'm just taking things a day at a time. You never know, in this business. One day you're hot, and the next day you're working as a gopher on Power Rangers. I have rough ideas out for three years. I have scripts written up to #428, {and} I have plot outlines approved through next spring."
Regarding the decision to have one of the X-Men's greatest foes join the team, Austen said he chose the Juggernaut because of his history and relationship with the X-Men, "particularly and especially Xavier," he posted. "I liked the idea of having a brother around, like mine used to be, who you might not always be able to trust, and who is volatile, and doesn't like Xavier. If I had created a brother for Xavier out of thin air, that would have been shredded. Cain worked for my overall plan for the book, and boom, here he is. It's family, and family doesn't always get along."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/uxmen416.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/uxmen416t.jpg" align=right alt="Uncanny X-Men #416"></a>"{He} was a wasted character as a villain," Austen added. "There comes a point when a stupid, lumbering villain who is supposed to be 'unstoppable' yet is always stopped, becomes ridiculous and you look at the idiot and think to yourself, 'Man, he should just give up.' He was a wimp long before I ever took him over. He's got the 'unstoppable force' and yet he keeps getting his head handed to him on a plate. How much of a loser do you have to be to have the power of Thor, or stronger, and keep getting your @$$ kicked over and over and over? I wanted to write a story about a character who is redeemed through choice after facing a childhood similar to the one I had. I had originally intended it to be a new character, but when people kept asking me to use Juggernaut, I thought it would be great to try him. Obviously not everyone agrees with me, but what can I say except I'm sorry if I've ruined a character you like and who's name you take as an avatar. But I love him and I'm keeping him. He wasn't a Colossus replacement per se, and if I said that I shouldn't have. He was actually the better choice because of his family relationship with Xavier. I chose him when I couldn't get Colossus, but when I gave it some real thought, Juggernaut should have been my first choice."
He also mentioned that Cain "hasn't forgiven Xavier, and who said he's suddenly 'good'? Cain blames Xavier for his father's death. In reality, Cain is the one responsible, and I wrote his dialogue knowing that, and knowing that Cain knew it and was trying to justify himself to Sammy. {In X-Men #12 and #13, we see Marko's father die in an accident, he caused, and then in issue #13, Marko says a bunch of stuff about always hating Xavier and swearing to vanquish him someday. Xavier thinks to himself about Cain's insatiable desire for vengeance and Cain says 'If I must taste the bitter dregs of defeat... I'll drag you down with me!! No matter what happens to me... you must pay!' Xavier then goes on to talk about Cain being ruled by greed envy and avarice. Later, in a comic I can't find at the moment, we learn of Cain's abusive history with his father. I took these two incidents and tied them together. Cain seeking vengeance for his father, hating Xavier, not because Xavier killed him, but because his father, who says to Xavier as he's dying, 'Beware Cain. Beware my own son.' That's some big stuff, and I decided to take it from there and add in what happened before #12, page 5."
"I firmly believe that Juggernaut is on his way to becoming the next Wolverine. A breakout character who people can't get enough of. I think, a few years from now, everyone will love this guy as the anti-hero, the same way they did when Wolverine first appeared. He had his naysayers too, early on. Just my gut feeling, but we'll see. I've been wrong before."
In a response to a question about Stacy X, Austen replied, "Stacy, who is someone who learned human interaction in a dysunctional, unaffectionate environment is someone who often confuses expressions of physicality as expressions of love and care. She goes right to sex because that's how she learned to relate to people to get her needs met, and she doesn't know how to communicate her emotions in a socially acceptable way. That's why she gets in people's faces. That's why she yells out to {Cyclops}, who won't give her the time of day, that she was the first X-Man to earn her living on her back. To divert attention away from her slip about her stepfather, and to gain the attention of the premiere X-Man who has, thus far, ignored her."
"Stacy is a confused woman with problems who is the most fully-developed, well-rounded character I've worked on, maybe ever, you're opinion to the contrary. She went for Kurt because he's been nice to her, and she could tell he wanted her, sexually, and Warren has already rejected her. Stacy confuses lust with love because she's never known love. At the very least, she's willing to take lust OVER love because she can't have the man she wants. You see, my interpretation of Stacy X is based on my sister, Stoned Dove, a woman I knew quite well, thank you very much. She made all the same mistakes Stacy does, and was just as sad and confused. And she was a real person. 3D, fully-developed, and confusing as hell. If she appears a sterotype, it's because there is some validity in the sterotype."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/uxmen423.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/uxmen423t.jpg" align=right alt="Uncanny X-Men #423 preview"></a>Austen went on to reveal that Stacy will be leaving the team in issue #422, and that readers can expect the inclusion of two characters after that.
"I'm about ten scripts ahead, roughly. I wasn't given an edict by Marvel. Some of the folks at Marvel asked if I would mind giving up Stacy because they would rather give space to some other limbo characters, and Stacy had just about run her course, so I said I would write her out, especially when the consolation prize was two other characters I really wanted. They gave me all the space and time I needed with her, and then I wrote her out. I've known for six months that she would be leaving, and only decided to let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, because she disappears pretty soon, and I figured it was okay to relase the info. In fact, I pretty much knew I was going to lose her from about my third issue on. I liked Stacy, too. But there will be someone to replace her. Someone people will hate and love just as much."
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Inbound Wolverine artist Darick Robertson, who's drawing the soon-to-be-relaunched series written by Greg Rucka, announced in his Hey Bub! (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=152) forum that the first issue is completely pencilled.
"The first arc is just Wolverine #1-5 at this point," he posted. "Five issues long, and it looks pretty solid that Nightcrawler will guest in #6! (Oooh, I can't wait!) :lick: I'm planning on inking that one myself. By the way all, Tom Palmer is continuing on inks while I'm penciling ahead a few issues (and doing a kick ass job)."
"Starting over at #1 is a way to bring in new readers who maybe have never before picked up a Wolverine comic but liked the movie and are willing to check it out. Plus, we can free ourselves of concepts that no longer work. Maybe you think they do, but from a look at how comics are selling these days, at Marvel as well as DC, I would tend to disagree."
Robertson also announced that Deathlok: Detour is still a go with Venom scribe Daniel Way onboard as writer. "{Marvel} officially handed me a schedule that has me continuing Deathlok right after Born is done. Expect to see it sometime in January 2004."
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XMANGA_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XMANGA_1t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 preview"></a>X-Men: Ronin writer J. Torres explained in his Weapon J (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=133) forum that the 'ronin' in the title, which means "masterless samurai", refers to the status of a lot of mutants who are running around without leadership or lawful permission to be playing heroes. Although Wolverine leads the team, he doesn't see himself as their "master" and he is ronin like everyone else. "The X-Men do, however, try to get a certain (unlikely) mutant to be their master/teacher."
Torres also gave some clues as to who fans could expect to be manga-fied in the five-issue mini-series.
"Okay, I don't want to spoil TOO much, but I will say that a couple of you should be happy about a certain guest appearance in X-Men: Ronin. It's a relatively small role and it occurs pretty late in the story, but you know what they say - Betsy late than never :D {There is also another character that artist Makoto and I} did manga-fy and s/he ended being my fave supporting character in the whole series! S/he definitely was given 'an Eastern flair' and I think you'll really ribit - er, I mean, dig it... ;) {And} I've written Nightcrawler into a panel in issue #5 (sorry, so many mutants, so little room!) and he's supposed to make another appearance at the very end of the issue BUT my editor {C.B. Cebulski} may take him out because of events in X-Men: Equinox. However, since it's just a teeny-tiny cameo, he might let it slip. We'll see... There are two quick cameos {from Alpha Flight}, one in the first issue and another in the last."
Torres also revealed that the mini-series was originally intended to focus on Illyana Rasputin, better known as Magik, "but editorial wouldn't let me use her in a story. I really wanted to involve Colossus (who was a Sumo wrestler in the Mangaverse and how cool is that?) but he was already dead where the story in Equinox picks up, so the best way I could think of bringing him back was to take the team into hell where they would have also encountered Magik..."
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/spideymm1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/spideymm1t.jpg" align=right alt="Spidey and The Mini-Marvels preview"></a>In his Giarrusso's Bits (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=68) forum, Bullpen Bits creator Chris Giarrusso updated fans on the possibility of a trade paperback collection of his fan-favorite cartoon strip.
"There's no plans now for a Mini-Marvels TPB... even with the Spidey and The Mini-Marvels one shot coming out in March {see 'MORE MINI-MARVELS IN MARCH' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15050)}, there isn't enough Mini-Marvels material yet for Marvel to collect into a TPB."
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Ultimate X-Men artist Dave Finch posted in his Finch Files (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=79) forum that he designed the Ultimate versions of a couple of upcoming characters, expressed his love for Nightcrawler, and hinted at another ultimate version of an X-character appearing in the next issue (#28).
"I did the designs for Forge and Multiple Man. Multiple Man I hardly changed at all from his origional 616 version, but Forge needed to have something a bit more current than the mustache and mullet. I figured Native American (he is isn't he?) so he had to have dark hair, and preferably long. He's more of a thinker than a fighter, so I made him very thin, and I figured a goth look with tattoos would go nicely with the hair. The goggles were requested in the plot."
"I'm a huge fan of Alan Davis, which I used to get mercilessly teased for early on at Top Cow, when that sort of stuff was very out of fashion. He's got the greatest Nightcrawler in my opinion, and I'm a very big fan of that version of him. I went a lot darker with mine because that's what was established, and I'm trying pretty hard to keep things as consistant as I can. Actually I've made him look older apparently, which I didn't intend to do. I'm going to keep him that way though... I can never tell what character is going to appeal to me to draw, and what one won't until I draw them a few times. You'd think that I would have some idea before hand, but I don't seem to. Anyway, I really, really enjoyed drawing Nightcrawler. I'd tell you which one is my favorite to draw, but that would give away at least one character that appears next issue, so I'll keep that to myself for a while!"
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/Wolv-Capcolorb.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/Wolv-Capcolorbt.jpg" align=right alt="Wolverine/Captain America: The Contingency #1 preview"></a>Wolverine/Captain America: The Contingency artist Tom Derenick updated fans curious about the status of the mini-series in his Distinctly Derenick (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=30) forum.
"No word yet. I've seen a ton of the coloring for the series and I'm very happy with it. The entire look of my shaded style has gone up a notch since Nightside and I was very proud of it back then. I wish I could show some of it here but until it's on the schedule I think Marvel might want me to hold back."
"At the moment, Chuck Austen and I are working on something pretty cool that I think may take everyone by surprise," Derenick teased. "Not X-related but pretty darn cool nonetheless. We'll announce it when Chuck is ready."
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Former Wolverine and Black Panther artist Dan Fraga posted in his Scratching Post (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=32) forum that he recently finished up an inventory story for Weapon X, "and am geared up to be doing some very exiting stuff."
The artist also revealed the reason why he is off Black Panther, posting, "Because I wasn't fast enough. The schedule was tight going in and I'm not super speedy. That added in with having to buy a house (our landlord was selling the one we were in) didn't mix well with the schedule. My wife and I have found our house, I've been in the lab. Things are gonna be hot. Keep your eyes open for my next project."
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Well that about wraps it up for this week. Remember, you can check in with over two dozen industry professionals such as those quoted above in X-Fan's Creator Discussion forums by clicking here (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=22).
Welcome to the first edition of On The Boards, a weekly column wherein X-Fan wrap-ups all the tidbits, teasers, and snippets of information posted by the many creators that grace the X-Fan forums. This week's column features Chris Claremont, Chuck Austen, Darick Robertson, J. Torres, Chris Giarrusso, Dave Finch, Tom Derenick, and Dan Fraga.
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First up is veteran X-Men creator and current X-Treme X-Men writer Chris Claremont, who discussed the recently-announced sequel to God Loves, Man Kills starting in May's X-Treme X-Men #25 (see 'MARVEL ANNOUNCES X2 INCENTIVES, TALKS TEASERS' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15176)) in his Cordially Chris (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=25) forum.
"Stryker was never used after the publication of GLMK because the novel was always intended to serve as a stand-alone piece of work, exclusive of ongoing series continuity. It represents the status quo of the X-Men at that time but is otherwise meant to be timeless. It was a story we wouldn't/couldn't do in the regular run of the book, based on the operating premise that if you had to encapsulate the essence of the X-Men into a single story, what would it be? However, with the passage of time, editorial policy changed, hence the sequel."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xtxmen20.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xtxmen20t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Treme X-Men #20"></a>Claremont also provided more information on the events in the latest issue (#20), posting, "There are indeed two sets of victims. There is the initial crime - that is, the bodies found frozen on the glacier, for which the mystery mutant (a young man named Jeff Garrett) is the prime suspect. However, Sage and Bishop's investigation has turned up a second set of bodies, with evidence suggesting they were held at the Lodge against their will (the shackles), and who were slain in a manner that even Sage finds hard to stomach. These bodies are related to the prime suspect, Jeffrey. Questions the cops (and our heroes) are left with: who was killed first and under what circumstances? The answer could have a direct bearing on Jeffrey's fate, if he acted in defense of his siblings or our of grief and rage at their deaths. And those questions will be addressed in #21, and #22, and #23. The other guy mentioned, Elias Bogan, is the owner of the crime scene (the Lodge). More on him next issue."
On the new roles of Bishop and Sage as mutant detectives in the new series direction, Claremont posted, "It's more a matter of rolling with the punches and adapting/overcoming as they go along. This is an instance where the (significant) difference in strength and experience becomes a critical factor. Bear in mind that, in Bishop's case (as will be alluded to in a forthcoming issue) he's been trained (officially and 'on the streets') in coping with all manner of mutant abilities. In his world, in his time, he's likely run into a far broader, more diverse and more dangerous spectru of adult mutants than his fellow X-Men. That affords him signficantly greater resources to draw on in a fight. Indeed, of all the team (X-Treme and Mansion) he may be best able to cope with the Brave New World they find themselves in, simply because it's very much starting to resemble the world he came from. (Which, due to current policy, we will likely never mention in any great detail.)"
"As for Sage, she was trained by Xavier, and honed through her experience working with Sebastian Shaw, to cope with a significant array of threats on her own. If the level you're equipped to fight on is Charley's and Emma's, then dealing with a brace of kids is roughly the equivalent of a Super Bowl champion taking on a Pop Warner team; yes, the kids may pull a surprise or three but in the end the adults will likely prevail."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XXM023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XXM023t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Treme X-Men #23 preview"></a>Claremont went on to tease at upcoming stories, such as dealings with Storm and Emma Frost ("I have to say in advance (having just received the first half of #23's pencils from Salva) that Page 1 will just about fry the brains of every red-blooded 'Ro/'Ma (figure it out) fan on the board. It certainly got my attention, and I knew what I asked for. That Salva, the man can draw like nobody's business (and I won't even go into the covers he just turned in for GLMK II-- :) !!!)"); the origin of Sage's facial tattoos will be revealed in #22 ("Salva just delivered the pencils and all I can say is - WOW! As for why she's pale, it's likely genetic. :) "); old allies and villains showing up in May ("And also, throughout the summer."); and the possibility of a sequel to his Kitty Pryde-starring MekaniX mini-series ("It will end with #6. There are plans for the characters after that but I'm not at liberty right now to say.").
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/UNCANNY_X_421.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0403/UNCANNY_X_421t.jpg" align=right alt="Uncanny X-Men #421 preview"></a>Uncanny X-Men writer Chuck Austen provided a rundown of his upcoming storylines in his Austen Powers (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=69) forum. Upcoming arcs include "The Calm" in #421-422( featuring Alpha Flight), the Nightcrawler-spotlighting "Holy War" in #423-424, the oft-hinted at wedding arc, "Sacred Vows", in #425-426, and "Draco, Sins of the Father" which will run through #427-433.
"The Alpha Flight arc occurs because Sammy is Canadian, and his parents find out he's been hanging out with a wanted criminal, so they ask the Canadian government for help in removing their son," Austen elaborated. "It makes for some big conflict." Austen added that Alpha Flight's roster will include Guardian, Vindicator, the new Shaman (Chuck Moss), Sasquatch, Snowbird, and Puck.
"Kurt and Mystique's relationship is explained in #427, and takes place just before 'Animals', {which} is a short story I wrote for X-Men Unlimited with Mystique and Sabretooth, showing their first meeting."
Austen also said that he has "free reign" to do as he wishes, even though he is not exclusive to Marvel, posting "No, I have no contract with Marvel. But I have plot ideas in for about a year and a half, and part of that plan involves keeping Juggernaut around. As long as I stay on the book, Juggy will be a part of it, but I'm just taking things a day at a time. You never know, in this business. One day you're hot, and the next day you're working as a gopher on Power Rangers. I have rough ideas out for three years. I have scripts written up to #428, {and} I have plot outlines approved through next spring."
Regarding the decision to have one of the X-Men's greatest foes join the team, Austen said he chose the Juggernaut because of his history and relationship with the X-Men, "particularly and especially Xavier," he posted. "I liked the idea of having a brother around, like mine used to be, who you might not always be able to trust, and who is volatile, and doesn't like Xavier. If I had created a brother for Xavier out of thin air, that would have been shredded. Cain worked for my overall plan for the book, and boom, here he is. It's family, and family doesn't always get along."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/uxmen416.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/uxmen416t.jpg" align=right alt="Uncanny X-Men #416"></a>"{He} was a wasted character as a villain," Austen added. "There comes a point when a stupid, lumbering villain who is supposed to be 'unstoppable' yet is always stopped, becomes ridiculous and you look at the idiot and think to yourself, 'Man, he should just give up.' He was a wimp long before I ever took him over. He's got the 'unstoppable force' and yet he keeps getting his head handed to him on a plate. How much of a loser do you have to be to have the power of Thor, or stronger, and keep getting your @$$ kicked over and over and over? I wanted to write a story about a character who is redeemed through choice after facing a childhood similar to the one I had. I had originally intended it to be a new character, but when people kept asking me to use Juggernaut, I thought it would be great to try him. Obviously not everyone agrees with me, but what can I say except I'm sorry if I've ruined a character you like and who's name you take as an avatar. But I love him and I'm keeping him. He wasn't a Colossus replacement per se, and if I said that I shouldn't have. He was actually the better choice because of his family relationship with Xavier. I chose him when I couldn't get Colossus, but when I gave it some real thought, Juggernaut should have been my first choice."
He also mentioned that Cain "hasn't forgiven Xavier, and who said he's suddenly 'good'? Cain blames Xavier for his father's death. In reality, Cain is the one responsible, and I wrote his dialogue knowing that, and knowing that Cain knew it and was trying to justify himself to Sammy. {In X-Men #12 and #13, we see Marko's father die in an accident, he caused, and then in issue #13, Marko says a bunch of stuff about always hating Xavier and swearing to vanquish him someday. Xavier thinks to himself about Cain's insatiable desire for vengeance and Cain says 'If I must taste the bitter dregs of defeat... I'll drag you down with me!! No matter what happens to me... you must pay!' Xavier then goes on to talk about Cain being ruled by greed envy and avarice. Later, in a comic I can't find at the moment, we learn of Cain's abusive history with his father. I took these two incidents and tied them together. Cain seeking vengeance for his father, hating Xavier, not because Xavier killed him, but because his father, who says to Xavier as he's dying, 'Beware Cain. Beware my own son.' That's some big stuff, and I decided to take it from there and add in what happened before #12, page 5."
"I firmly believe that Juggernaut is on his way to becoming the next Wolverine. A breakout character who people can't get enough of. I think, a few years from now, everyone will love this guy as the anti-hero, the same way they did when Wolverine first appeared. He had his naysayers too, early on. Just my gut feeling, but we'll see. I've been wrong before."
In a response to a question about Stacy X, Austen replied, "Stacy, who is someone who learned human interaction in a dysunctional, unaffectionate environment is someone who often confuses expressions of physicality as expressions of love and care. She goes right to sex because that's how she learned to relate to people to get her needs met, and she doesn't know how to communicate her emotions in a socially acceptable way. That's why she gets in people's faces. That's why she yells out to {Cyclops}, who won't give her the time of day, that she was the first X-Man to earn her living on her back. To divert attention away from her slip about her stepfather, and to gain the attention of the premiere X-Man who has, thus far, ignored her."
"Stacy is a confused woman with problems who is the most fully-developed, well-rounded character I've worked on, maybe ever, you're opinion to the contrary. She went for Kurt because he's been nice to her, and she could tell he wanted her, sexually, and Warren has already rejected her. Stacy confuses lust with love because she's never known love. At the very least, she's willing to take lust OVER love because she can't have the man she wants. You see, my interpretation of Stacy X is based on my sister, Stoned Dove, a woman I knew quite well, thank you very much. She made all the same mistakes Stacy does, and was just as sad and confused. And she was a real person. 3D, fully-developed, and confusing as hell. If she appears a sterotype, it's because there is some validity in the sterotype."
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/uxmen423.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/uxmen423t.jpg" align=right alt="Uncanny X-Men #423 preview"></a>Austen went on to reveal that Stacy will be leaving the team in issue #422, and that readers can expect the inclusion of two characters after that.
"I'm about ten scripts ahead, roughly. I wasn't given an edict by Marvel. Some of the folks at Marvel asked if I would mind giving up Stacy because they would rather give space to some other limbo characters, and Stacy had just about run her course, so I said I would write her out, especially when the consolation prize was two other characters I really wanted. They gave me all the space and time I needed with her, and then I wrote her out. I've known for six months that she would be leaving, and only decided to let the cat out of the bag, so to speak, because she disappears pretty soon, and I figured it was okay to relase the info. In fact, I pretty much knew I was going to lose her from about my third issue on. I liked Stacy, too. But there will be someone to replace her. Someone people will hate and love just as much."
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Inbound Wolverine artist Darick Robertson, who's drawing the soon-to-be-relaunched series written by Greg Rucka, announced in his Hey Bub! (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=152) forum that the first issue is completely pencilled.
"The first arc is just Wolverine #1-5 at this point," he posted. "Five issues long, and it looks pretty solid that Nightcrawler will guest in #6! (Oooh, I can't wait!) :lick: I'm planning on inking that one myself. By the way all, Tom Palmer is continuing on inks while I'm penciling ahead a few issues (and doing a kick ass job)."
"Starting over at #1 is a way to bring in new readers who maybe have never before picked up a Wolverine comic but liked the movie and are willing to check it out. Plus, we can free ourselves of concepts that no longer work. Maybe you think they do, but from a look at how comics are selling these days, at Marvel as well as DC, I would tend to disagree."
Robertson also announced that Deathlok: Detour is still a go with Venom scribe Daniel Way onboard as writer. "{Marvel} officially handed me a schedule that has me continuing Deathlok right after Born is done. Expect to see it sometime in January 2004."
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XMANGA_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/0303/XMANGA_1t.jpg" align=right alt="X-Men: Ronin #1 preview"></a>X-Men: Ronin writer J. Torres explained in his Weapon J (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=133) forum that the 'ronin' in the title, which means "masterless samurai", refers to the status of a lot of mutants who are running around without leadership or lawful permission to be playing heroes. Although Wolverine leads the team, he doesn't see himself as their "master" and he is ronin like everyone else. "The X-Men do, however, try to get a certain (unlikely) mutant to be their master/teacher."
Torres also gave some clues as to who fans could expect to be manga-fied in the five-issue mini-series.
"Okay, I don't want to spoil TOO much, but I will say that a couple of you should be happy about a certain guest appearance in X-Men: Ronin. It's a relatively small role and it occurs pretty late in the story, but you know what they say - Betsy late than never :D {There is also another character that artist Makoto and I} did manga-fy and s/he ended being my fave supporting character in the whole series! S/he definitely was given 'an Eastern flair' and I think you'll really ribit - er, I mean, dig it... ;) {And} I've written Nightcrawler into a panel in issue #5 (sorry, so many mutants, so little room!) and he's supposed to make another appearance at the very end of the issue BUT my editor {C.B. Cebulski} may take him out because of events in X-Men: Equinox. However, since it's just a teeny-tiny cameo, he might let it slip. We'll see... There are two quick cameos {from Alpha Flight}, one in the first issue and another in the last."
Torres also revealed that the mini-series was originally intended to focus on Illyana Rasputin, better known as Magik, "but editorial wouldn't let me use her in a story. I really wanted to involve Colossus (who was a Sumo wrestler in the Mangaverse and how cool is that?) but he was already dead where the story in Equinox picks up, so the best way I could think of bringing him back was to take the team into hell where they would have also encountered Magik..."
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/spideymm1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/spideymm1t.jpg" align=right alt="Spidey and The Mini-Marvels preview"></a>In his Giarrusso's Bits (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=68) forum, Bullpen Bits creator Chris Giarrusso updated fans on the possibility of a trade paperback collection of his fan-favorite cartoon strip.
"There's no plans now for a Mini-Marvels TPB... even with the Spidey and The Mini-Marvels one shot coming out in March {see 'MORE MINI-MARVELS IN MARCH' (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15050)}, there isn't enough Mini-Marvels material yet for Marvel to collect into a TPB."
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Ultimate X-Men artist Dave Finch posted in his Finch Files (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=79) forum that he designed the Ultimate versions of a couple of upcoming characters, expressed his love for Nightcrawler, and hinted at another ultimate version of an X-character appearing in the next issue (#28).
"I did the designs for Forge and Multiple Man. Multiple Man I hardly changed at all from his origional 616 version, but Forge needed to have something a bit more current than the mustache and mullet. I figured Native American (he is isn't he?) so he had to have dark hair, and preferably long. He's more of a thinker than a fighter, so I made him very thin, and I figured a goth look with tattoos would go nicely with the hair. The goggles were requested in the plot."
"I'm a huge fan of Alan Davis, which I used to get mercilessly teased for early on at Top Cow, when that sort of stuff was very out of fashion. He's got the greatest Nightcrawler in my opinion, and I'm a very big fan of that version of him. I went a lot darker with mine because that's what was established, and I'm trying pretty hard to keep things as consistant as I can. Actually I've made him look older apparently, which I didn't intend to do. I'm going to keep him that way though... I can never tell what character is going to appeal to me to draw, and what one won't until I draw them a few times. You'd think that I would have some idea before hand, but I don't seem to. Anyway, I really, really enjoyed drawing Nightcrawler. I'd tell you which one is my favorite to draw, but that would give away at least one character that appears next issue, so I'll keep that to myself for a while!"
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<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/Wolv-Capcolorb.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/previews/Wolv-Capcolorbt.jpg" align=right alt="Wolverine/Captain America: The Contingency #1 preview"></a>Wolverine/Captain America: The Contingency artist Tom Derenick updated fans curious about the status of the mini-series in his Distinctly Derenick (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=30) forum.
"No word yet. I've seen a ton of the coloring for the series and I'm very happy with it. The entire look of my shaded style has gone up a notch since Nightside and I was very proud of it back then. I wish I could show some of it here but until it's on the schedule I think Marvel might want me to hold back."
"At the moment, Chuck Austen and I are working on something pretty cool that I think may take everyone by surprise," Derenick teased. "Not X-related but pretty darn cool nonetheless. We'll announce it when Chuck is ready."
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Former Wolverine and Black Panther artist Dan Fraga posted in his Scratching Post (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=32) forum that he recently finished up an inventory story for Weapon X, "and am geared up to be doing some very exiting stuff."
The artist also revealed the reason why he is off Black Panther, posting, "Because I wasn't fast enough. The schedule was tight going in and I'm not super speedy. That added in with having to buy a house (our landlord was selling the one we were in) didn't mix well with the schedule. My wife and I have found our house, I've been in the lab. Things are gonna be hot. Keep your eyes open for my next project."
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Well that about wraps it up for this week. Remember, you can check in with over two dozen industry professionals such as those quoted above in X-Fan's Creator Discussion forums by clicking here (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=22).