Yunno for years, Jean Grey was my absolute least favorite X-Men character. I didn’t like how in Uncanny #290 (I was 12,) Jean told Forge that Storm didn’t love him. I was pissed at Jean because she’s supposed to be Storm’s friend and yet ruined Storm’s chance at happiness with Forge. I now see that Jean helped Storm dodge a major bullet with the Forge proposal thing, cuz that fucker is a total loon with a wack power.
Yeah, I harbored that grudge against little miss perfect Jean for a long time. There was also the Psylocke / Cyclops thing in the 90’s. I was rooting for Psylocke because she’s a ninja and ninjas are frikkin’ cool to an adolescent– not to mention the fact that Psylocke was a super sexy, super snarky, bad-ass diva. In the end, Jean won her man back, as well she should have, because Cyclops and Jean Grey are the backbone of the X-Universe.
I’ve come to especially appreciate Jean now that she’s dead and they have Emma taking her place as X-Mother. I like Emma and all, but it’s gone on for too long now and it’s gotten to the point where Emma is hardy Emma in most of the books she’s in. She’s more Jean-ish than ever.
Jean is an important character, even without all the Phoenix bull. (Sorry, I’m sick of that storyline. It was great in the 70’s, so let’s put it to rest.) Jean’s important because she’s the first lady of the X-Men. She’s the one all the boys loved. She’s the one that kept them all around. And for decades, the bond between Cyclops and Jean Grey was the driving force behind so much X-Continuity, it made you really believe this was the couple that as meant to be.
I mean, I know Jean will be back– she’s one of the sacred women of Marvel (along with Invisible Girl and Scarlet Witch.) But I know they’ll put her with Logan because that’s what these punk new readers want.
I had to think awhile before putting some words down to this.
I started reading X-Men in the 80s, so Jean was actually in X-Factor then along with the other originals. Her persona at the time seemed to be modelled on Farrah Fawcett's character in Charlie's Angels. She was written to be quite acerbic in personality and also vacillated between a 'strong woman' who could look after herself and 'someone who needed to be rescued all the time'. It was quite odd. She always seemed to take herself very seriously and you never heard her say anything humourous.
What really put me off her though was her reaction to her (alternate timeline) daughter Rachel, my all-time favourite character. That was the last straw for me and I dismissed Jean from that point on as a vacuous bimbo. I know they made up much afterwards but…
Since I also liked Psylocke later on again her relationship with Jean/Cyclops threw another negative in Jean's direction for me.
Storm was always more of a mother to the mutants than Jean ever was in my opinion. Jean always seemed aloof?
I was not unhappy to see Jean go when she went into the hot white room. I know she has resurfaced since, but I wasn't that impressed with the recent phoenix storylines.
Since Emma (I love her bitchy remarks, which seemed to have been toned down recently) is going to disappear off the scene and go 'Dark', and Rachel lost her phoenix force to the cry of 'not now, mum', it's pretty certain Jean will be returning in some fashion soon. No doubt she will mess up Cyclops' life again and turn Wolverine upside down.
If you'd asked me a year ago I would've groaned at the prospect. But having read your post I'm now thinking why not.
If she does return I hope it's in full kick-ass mode. None of the namby pamby confusion that she's been bogged down with before. It's about time she dismissed Scott & Emma and had some raunchy time with Logan.
Her phoenix powers are a bit too big to let her remain with the X-Men full-time, but maybe a stint with the Guardians of the Galaxy would work? Just a thought.
See you soon Jean, wherever you are. Be nice to Rachel please.
you're totally right– Jean is uber bimbo! I love it! That's her deal– the cheerleader! The poster girl! I don't like her written to cerebral or too Phoenixy all-knowing.
And yea, she was a BIIYAATCH to Rachel. At least at first. I thought it was really disingenuous of Lobdell to suddenly make Jean have a change of heart and accept Rachel.
Jean is my all time fave
and I love the cat fights she's been in
psylocke vs jean
emma vs jean
Love it
I know this is off topic but have you guys noticed that emma stole psylockes roll as the snarky, bitchy diva
and she also stole jeans roll as the poster girl and motherly type too
To think if Emma never came into the picture psylocke might have been where she is now
Ps. Please draw psylocke the women is amazing
I'll definitely draw Psylocke! She's my all-time fave! Check the news– there will be a Psylocke mini series coming soon!
Yeah, I stand by my theory that Emma for a while now has taken over the roles most of the X-ladies used to play.