Want More X-People?

OK, yea this is a rehash of another drawing I did of Berto a while back. But that was completed when the plan was to draw the New Mutants in their classic costumes. Now, as you see, the plan has changed. Rollover for powered-up version. Click for sexy naked Brazilian version… still powered up. 😉

As a kid, in reference to Doug, I’d say things like, “What a lame power. You can’t take this guy anywhere. What a wuss.” Of course, I realized much later, that was the point.

Cypher’s trials and tribulations while playing the role of the doubty X-Man with the passive power were written well; particularly when dealing with self-friend Warlock. The kooky alien (who always seemed to me nothing more than an excuse to draw cartoony) always wanted to protect Cypher from harm, unknowingly increasing Doug’s feelings of uselessness. It made for some strong, captivating character driven plots.

But… is it just me or did Cypher and Warlock’s come off really gay? Ok, I know I’m being un-P.C., implying that two heterosexual males can’t have a deep bond without it seeming queer. But… dude… they were sooo gay. Rollover for the lovey dovey nudie couple version.

No one was more happy than me over Joe Mad’s addition to the X-Talent team in the 90’s. His presence gave me, a humble artist who’s style is more cartoony than realistic, a sense of hope that one day I could illustrate comics. His best work, I’d say, is his early stuff dealing with the Phalanx and of course what he did on the Age of Apocalypse storyline.

He introduced us to Blink, a muse from his sketchbooks, who’d eventually develop a fan following none of his other characters could achieve. I think what we all liked about Blink was that she seems very timid but when pushed, she becomes a powerhouse. Her look and design were totally original. She was cute, cool and sexy all at once. And was the ONLY character I wanted to carry over from the AoA. Instead we got that boring douchebag “X-Man.”

Cecilia is great. She rocks. Of the 3 late 90s next gen X-Men, she was easily the strongest, character-wise. Her concept, her look and her dialogue were always right on the money.

It’s high time we got you a codename. I came up with Hardcase. What do you think?

I think I’m okay with Dr. Reyes.

Nah, not quite X-ey enough. How bout X-Babysitter… since that’s what it seems your new duties are.

Oh is that how we’re playing, little boy? You young X-ers are going to want a doctor around. Especially if you get another arm ripped off.

Dude, if that happens again, what I’m gonna want is whatever happy drugs you have in those pouches on your new costume. Ooh, there’s your codename: X-Pusher.

All right, yunno what? Hardcase is starting to sound ok.

(I know, I need to write for Marvel, don’t I? 😉 )

I feel like I can almost imagine Claremont’s thought process on this one. “Goddamn those mother fuckers, taking my Emma and turning her into the top X-Woman! I’ll show them! I’ll take another member of my Hellfire Club and make her the coolest X-Woman ever!”

WOMP WAH! Sorry, Claremont, no dice. Despite valiant efforts to the contrary, Sage is no where near Emma’s level of popularity. That’s not to say I didn’t want it to happen, though. I really loved Tessa’s look. The one-strap and the hair up put her on a level of class and glamor not many have been able to match.

I loved the cyberpathy and appreciated that it related back to something they touched on way back when. I DID NOT like the “jumpstart” thing. It makes no sense to me why she’d have that power. Seems to me like something that should have been attributed to someone who already interacts with other mutant’s powers like Fabian Cortez, or better yet, SYNCH!

I kinda don’t give two shits about her. I think making new characters out of old ones is a cop-out. And I think fans should wise-up and realize how much they’re being played.

That said, I am learning to appreciate certain aspects of this character (since I know she’s going to be around for a while.) I do like that she comes from X-Men Evolution, which had it’s flaws, but was still an enjoyable tangent on the franchise. And I like how Quesada made her this silent hooker who was into cutting. I liked seeing this character vulnerable. I liked that she wasn’t just “little girl Logan.” But of course, now that’s kinda all she is.

Oh, and I don’t believe in giving X-Men characters an “X” in their names. It’s such a marketing ploy. “You fans need to like this character more cuz s/he has an X in their name.” Fuck off, the TEAM is what’s important– the ensemble– not any individual character. You don’t see a Captain Trek in Star Trek or a Mr. Justice in Justice League or a Fighter Man in Street Fighter. The only character who deserves to have an X in his codename is Professor X.

Of the Academy X/ Young X-Men kids, this guy is fighting hard to earn the title of being my favorite… and winning. (Yea duh, I’m kinda obligated to have a certain green queer as my favorite) But Rockslide is definitely coming in at a close second. Rollover for the big rocky gestalt cock version.

As the humor of this crop of mutants, Santo gets the best lines. But writers are working hard to make him much more well rounded than your average “comic relief” type of character.