A jpeg image of my X-men article during my college years at CPU as Chief Editor of our campus paper.Hex of X
(The X-men chronicles part 1 of 4, previously published in Panay News)
By Ronelo Ladiao
(The X-men chronicles part 1 of 4, previously published in Panay News)
By Ronelo Ladiao
The social issues of the 1940s War-torn Europe during World War II inspired the creative mind of Stan Lee to become the iconic father of Marvel Comics and one of the best comicbook creators of all time.
In early 1960s, he collaborated with Jack Kirby to create one of the most dynamic and influential comicbook superheroes of all time, the X-men. Inspired by the brutalities of Hitler and his Nazis to the Jews who were victims of Holocaust, he began working on a comicbook project along with Spiderman, Thor, Captain America and many other Marvel superheroes.
The storyline of the project centered on the issues of persecution, prejudice and heroic people with uncanny abilities called “mutants” gathered by a wealthy philantrophist professor, Charles Xavier. Xavier himself is a mutant with the superior ability of telepathy capable of controlling thoughts and minds. His vision of co-existence between ordinary humans and mutants inspired him to assemble young teens with extraordinary powers for good cause: to protect humanity from the vicious goals of his former ally-turned-nemesis, Erik Magnus Lenshuier or Magneto and his nefarious apprentices in Brotherhood of Mutants.
In Stan Lee’s storyline of the comicbook, Charles Xavier was able to train his first five students namely Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel and Beast with the use of their extraordinary abilities. Cyclops can create forceful red energy blast from his eyes, Marvel Girl (now called Jean Grey) can move objects with her mind and later turned out to be the fiercest enemy of the team when was possessed by a cosmic entity called Phoenix (a mythological bird of flame). Beast has the superior strength, agility, Ape-like features and a genius mind. Iceman can drop the temperature level around him and create ice blast. And Angel was a gifted good-looking young man with large white wings.
In early 1970s, the comicbook was cancelled due to poor sales and by the end of the decade; the project was revived with new mutant characters introduced in the storyline. This time, new creative writers and artist re-launch the comicbook and more intriguing X-men joined the fold like the untamed-healer Wolverine who posses an unbreakable steel claws, elemental goddess Storm, the Russian artist Colussus who can turn his boy into pure steel, ‘sonic-shattering’ Banshee, agile Nightcrawler and superstrong Thunderbird. More characters followed in 1980s like Shadowcat, Dazzler, Havok (Cyclops’ lost brother), Longshot and Psylocke.
The comicbook gradually earned positive reviews from American readers and critics but not until its breakthrough storyline “Phoenix Saga” in 1986 that catapulted the sales and boost its popularity even further. Soon, the comicbook series was handled by dynamic new artists and writers. Notable comicbook illustrators that earned great fame in working with the X-men series are Asian artist Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, Joe Maduiera, Brazilian Roger Cruz, and our very own, Filipino artist Wilce Portacio (who opened his own international comicbook company in the Philippines in late the middle of 1990s called Alamat comics). Portacio is responsible in creating another X-men character called Bishop, a mutant leftist from the future who has a mission to uncover the traitor destined to murder the X-men.
Like an irresistible magical hex, the X-men fame rivaled DC Comics’ Superman, Batman and many others comicbook titles which eventually spawned a hit cartoon series from FOX TV network in early 1992. In 2000, the second X-men cartoon series called “X-men Evolution” was released by Warner Brothers claiming to be less violent and more teen-oriented than the previous one.
But did you know that in early 1993 there was already an agreement between Marvel Comics executives and some Hollywood
filmakers to bring the world’s famous mutants superheroes to the big screen even before its 2001 film debut?
In fact, it involves huge Hollywood stars like Bruce Willis as Professor X, Angela Basset as Storm, Tom Cruise as Cyclops, Nicole Kidman as Jean Grey and Mel Gibson as Wolverine.
Well, the resemblance between Mel Gibson and Hugh Jackman as the present actor who successfully portrayed “Wolvie” is fact that they are both Australians.
(To be continued)
In early 1960s, he collaborated with Jack Kirby to create one of the most dynamic and influential comicbook superheroes of all time, the X-men. Inspired by the brutalities of Hitler and his Nazis to the Jews who were victims of Holocaust, he began working on a comicbook project along with Spiderman, Thor, Captain America and many other Marvel superheroes.
The storyline of the project centered on the issues of persecution, prejudice and heroic people with uncanny abilities called “mutants” gathered by a wealthy philantrophist professor, Charles Xavier. Xavier himself is a mutant with the superior ability of telepathy capable of controlling thoughts and minds. His vision of co-existence between ordinary humans and mutants inspired him to assemble young teens with extraordinary powers for good cause: to protect humanity from the vicious goals of his former ally-turned-nemesis, Erik Magnus Lenshuier or Magneto and his nefarious apprentices in Brotherhood of Mutants.
In Stan Lee’s storyline of the comicbook, Charles Xavier was able to train his first five students namely Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Angel and Beast with the use of their extraordinary abilities. Cyclops can create forceful red energy blast from his eyes, Marvel Girl (now called Jean Grey) can move objects with her mind and later turned out to be the fiercest enemy of the team when was possessed by a cosmic entity called Phoenix (a mythological bird of flame). Beast has the superior strength, agility, Ape-like features and a genius mind. Iceman can drop the temperature level around him and create ice blast. And Angel was a gifted good-looking young man with large white wings.
In early 1970s, the comicbook was cancelled due to poor sales and by the end of the decade; the project was revived with new mutant characters introduced in the storyline. This time, new creative writers and artist re-launch the comicbook and more intriguing X-men joined the fold like the untamed-healer Wolverine who posses an unbreakable steel claws, elemental goddess Storm, the Russian artist Colussus who can turn his boy into pure steel, ‘sonic-shattering’ Banshee, agile Nightcrawler and superstrong Thunderbird. More characters followed in 1980s like Shadowcat, Dazzler, Havok (Cyclops’ lost brother), Longshot and Psylocke.
The comicbook gradually earned positive reviews from American readers and critics but not until its breakthrough storyline “Phoenix Saga” in 1986 that catapulted the sales and boost its popularity even further. Soon, the comicbook series was handled by dynamic new artists and writers. Notable comicbook illustrators that earned great fame in working with the X-men series are Asian artist Jim Lee, Marc Silvestri, Joe Maduiera, Brazilian Roger Cruz, and our very own, Filipino artist Wilce Portacio (who opened his own international comicbook company in the Philippines in late the middle of 1990s called Alamat comics). Portacio is responsible in creating another X-men character called Bishop, a mutant leftist from the future who has a mission to uncover the traitor destined to murder the X-men.
Like an irresistible magical hex, the X-men fame rivaled DC Comics’ Superman, Batman and many others comicbook titles which eventually spawned a hit cartoon series from FOX TV network in early 1992. In 2000, the second X-men cartoon series called “X-men Evolution” was released by Warner Brothers claiming to be less violent and more teen-oriented than the previous one.
But did you know that in early 1993 there was already an agreement between Marvel Comics executives and some Hollywood
filmakers to bring the world’s famous mutants superheroes to the big screen even before its 2001 film debut?
In fact, it involves huge Hollywood stars like Bruce Willis as Professor X, Angela Basset as Storm, Tom Cruise as Cyclops, Nicole Kidman as Jean Grey and Mel Gibson as Wolverine.
Well, the resemblance between Mel Gibson and Hugh Jackman as the present actor who successfully portrayed “Wolvie” is fact that they are both Australians.
(To be continued)
writer's note: X-men 3: The Last Stand, the third installment to the triology had its worldwide release on May 26, 2006. The film was a breakthroug hit, making it the second top grossing film of 2006.
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