infinite destiny!

The most powerful omega-prime mutant, Jean Grey aka Phoenix. Wizard magazine hailed her as one of the five most powerful comicbook superheroes (the only female) alongside with Superman and Silver Surfer.

A movie poster of X-men: the last stand

The final roster of mutant characters that evolved in the mythological universe of the X-men.
An all-time favorite artwork I made for an article in our school paper when I was in college, it was written two years before "X-men: The Last Stand" hits the cinemas worldwide. It featured Jean Grey as the infinite Phoenix with her children Cable/Nathan Summers, Nate Grey/X-man and Rachel Summers.

Hex of X

(The X-men chronicles Part 4 of 4, previously published in Panay News)
By Ronelo Ladiao

“The extermination has already begun. Make no mistake my brothers they will draw first blood, they will force the cure upon us. There’s only one question you must answer...who would you stand with?”

Erik Magnus Lensherr AKA Magneto

Bryan Singer’s attempt to create two sequels for the third film of the X-men and the lavish film production plan that includes expensive specials effects and casting caused disagreements between him and the 20^th Century Fox producers.

Singer, a breakthrough director of his generation ambitiously planned to insert Chris Claremont’s tragic storyline in the X-men comic book called Phoenix Saga. Considered as one of the timeless event in the comic book realm that catapulted the X-men to fame among comic book fans, Phoenix Saga established Jean Grey as one of the influential X-men character aside from Wolverine. In Claremont’s classic story, Jean Grey as Charles Xavier’s first telekinetic female apprentice was possessed by a celestial entity called Phoenix to save the universe from cosmic annihilation. When the aura-like creature exhausts most of its energies during the cosmic battle to acquire the M’kraan Crystal (the doorway and matrix of universal creation in the Marvel universe) from the hands of an evil emperor, it died along with Jean Grey. After few years, she returned alive, jaded and hungry for raw energy.

Thus, it feeds with stars and annihilated living creatures in other galaxies. But Jean Grey resisted the creature’s insatiable thirst for cosmic energy. With the aid of Charles Xavier and his X-men, she triumphantly defeated the creature but with cost of her life again. Years later, Jean Grey rises again from death with the newly-reformed Phoenix who chooses to rest dormant in her consciousness.

The film producers found Singer’s plan to be lavishly expensive. Added to the burden and delay of the film are the rising tensions between the cast. Halle Berry who won an Oscar Best Actress trophy for her awesome role in the film Monster Ball thought her short exposure in the screenplay of the third X-men film as Storm is truly depressing. Added to the tension was her higher demand for talent fee as one of the A-list of Hollywood celebrities.

Since Famkee Janseen’s character as Jean Grey was given priority in the screenplay, Halle Berrys Picture to bring back the iconic son of krypton, Superman to the big screen again. But new players and creative team arrived to complete the trilogy flick of the X-men. Rush Hour famous director Brett Ratner took the challenge for X-men 3 and wanted to direct a fateful finale film for the world’s most loved mutants. True to the plans of Singer, Ratner fortified the film production even better with a shortened screenplay to fit the budget.

vowed not to return as Storm or would only appear in a cameo role. With pressures and strain arising, Bryan Singer left the project and accepted the offer of Warner Brother

Since the involvement of Phoenix Saga as a lengthy storyline in the screenplay created tensions and complications, he decided to make the film shorter but concise. With a new dynamic director to lead the cast, the tension died down and began working in Vancouver, Canada (the location for the film).

Halle Berry returned as Storm along with Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), Patrick Steward (Charles Xavier), Famkee Janseen (Jean Grey), Sir Ian McKellen (Magneto), Anna Pacquin (Rogue) and several new cast to complete an ambitious production even with a shortened screenplay.

True-blue X-men fans will be delighted to know that some of their favorite mutant characters from the comic book will come alive in the third movie that includes Shadowcat, Collosus, Pyro (both had cameo roles in previous films), Beast and Angel.

Of course, Magneto’s ferocious Brotherhood villains will include characters like Calisto, Arclight and the mutant assassin Psylocke. An article from superherohype.com reveals that Pyslocke’s short participation in the film will be played by Mei Melancon, a Filipina actress in America who previously worked with Brett Ratner in Rush Hour 2.

20^th Century Fox announced the release date of the movie which was finally entitled as X-men: The Last Stand last May 26, 2006. Through its official website www.x3.com and www.X-men.thelaststand.com, web surfers has the chance to view character profiles, movie trailers, download screen savers and so much more for the past seven months.

Comic book writers, critics and even the X-men fans were looking forward how will Ratner handle the finale film and transform a timeless tale into a live-action flick without spoiling its essence. His artistic and directorial works are expected to weave impressions among those who come to love Singer’s previous job with the two X-men movies. Aside from the Phoenix tragedy, issues and plotlines that deal with a developed mutant cure, Magneto’s vicious scheme to ignite a mutant-human war and many others will complete a fitting finale for the third movie. Of course, it would also touch several unfinished issues between Iceman, Pyro and Rogue, Storm’s destined leadership with the X-men, Wolverine’s undying affection for Jean Grey and yes, several deaths of friends that most loyal X-men fans would find deeply depressing, if not frustrating.

But every tragic tale has its own undefined, unfathomed beauty that touches the heart and remains immortal; these are the emotional twist and many other astonishing revelations that will stun moviegoers in the last stand of the X-men in the big screen. Halle Berry plays a vital role in the film as bearer of Xavier’s dream of a united world. She emerged as a strong soul to lead the team and her mutant family from the torments of the cruel world. Storms’ bitter words against the developed mutancy cure, “what, that’s ridiculous you can’t cure us being a mutant, since when we’ve become a disease? They can’t cure us, you know why because there nothing wrong with you or any of us for that matter,” justifies the existence of those living in a judgmental world.

And with Scott Summers/Cyclops hopelessly mourning over Jean’s death in X2, his capacity to lead the X-men may be strained. His words affects Wolverine, “not all wounds heals as fast as you Logan”, we can speculate that he is losing hope.

In the seven-minute film teaser from the official site of the movie, we can conclude that this is truly a dark tale, clouded with uncertainty and fear as the X-men struggles to build bridges of harmony between mutant-hating humanity and the different few who will be brainwashed by Magneto for his twisted philosophy of animosity.

But during the worldwide release of X-men 3: The Last Stand, these mind-boggling queries will finally be answered: How will the X-men end all wars that Magneto ignited between humans and mutants? What is the reason behind Jean Grey’s resurrection? What will be the cost of her unexplained return from death? Who is the next headmaster of the school for gifted youngsters? What will be the fate of the mutantkind?...and finally, who or what is the source of the cure for mutancy?

The mythological world of the X-men or even our own is cloaked in uncertainty and choices to make. And if ever there might be a cure for the endless strife and animosity that haunted our existence, I believe that we couldn’t find it anywhere else but deep within our heart.

We have the cure. It lies deep inside us. And the cure begins the moment we started to care for other’s existence.

Blogger's notes: Someday, I will draw and write my own X-men comics. I just need to hold back and keep my passion ignite until Marvel set it's sight on my talents, hehe!