X-Men Forever | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
Schedule | 2001 series: monthly 2009 series: biweekly 2010 series: biweekly |
Format | 2001 series: mini-series 2009 series: ongoing 2010 series: ongoing |
Genre | |
Publication date | 2001 – 2011 |
No. of issues | 2001 series: 6 2009 series: 24, 1 annual, 1 giant-size 2010 series: 16 |
Creative team | |
Written by | 2001 series: Fabian Nicieza 2009 series: Chris Claremont 2010 series: Chris Claremont |
Artist(s) | 2001 series: Kevin Maguire 2009 series: Various 2010 series: Tom Grummett |
Collected editions | |
X-Men Forever, Volume 1 | ISBN 0785136797 |
X-Men Forever, Volume 2 | ISBN 0785136800 |
X-Men Forever is the name of three comic book series published by Marvel Comics featuring the mutant superhero group the X-Men. The first is a 2001 miniseries, unrelated to the others. The second and third are the work of writer Chris Claremont.
The 2001 miniseries, written by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maguire, with inking by Andrew Pepoy, starred Jean Grey, Iceman, Mystique, Toad, and Juggernaut. Time travel was used as a plot device to explore the themes and history of the X-Men, and to resolve several dangling plotlines. The story takes place during several different points in the past, until they are eventually brought back to the present. The miniseries consisted of six standard-length issues.
In February 2009, Marvel announced a second X-Men Forever, which began its run on June 10, 2009. It ran semimonthly as a regular title, set in an alternate continuity of the Marvel Universe (Earth-161). This second series is unrelated to the earlier series by the same name.
The series, written by veteran X-Men author Chris Claremont, was originally advertised as a continuation of the storylines he intended for Uncanny X-Men and X-Men in 1991, but which never saw print because of his resignation from the title and Marvel Comics following X-Men #3.
Despite the original billing as what "would have been written" by Claremont had he never left, the series quickly diverged from that idea into a more traditional "alternate universe" title. In an interview conducted with Wizard Universe , [1] Claremont acknowledged that what he was doing in X-Men Forever would never have been possible in the primary X-Men books because of the corporate needs of Marvel Comics:
The one significant difference and advantage that Forever has over Uncanny is that we don't have to worry about corporate needs. The one great disadvantage with Fantastic Four or with X-Men or with Spider-Man or with any book in the mainstream Marvel line is that the characters must be preserved for Marvel's sake. But since these characters are being preserved in Uncanny, they can be altogether frighteningly mortal in Forever, as we'll be demonstrating fairly early on. The fact is, if a character is unlucky enough to die, it's a real thing and it isn't corrected a week later. They won't come back. There are consequences and from that basis everything proceeds. [1]
X-Men Forever Alpha, which was released in May 2009, was largely a reprint of the first three issues of the 1991 X-Men. The last pages were devoted to a bridge story meant to segue into X-Men Forever, including a scene that hints at the death of Wolverine. X-Men Forever began its run proper the next month, in June 2009. The story starts by leading directly from X-Men 1–3, as the team (no longer divided into Blue and Gold Teams) is dispatched by Professor X—as well as by Nick Fury, who has become the team's liaison with S.H.I.E.L.D.—to apprehend Fabian Cortez, who was last seen escaping from a disintegrating Asteroid M. The first five issues take place on the same night, and resolve some long-hanging plot threads left from Claremont's departure from the title in 1991. Among the events that occur in the first issue is the death of Wolverine at the hands of Storm, whose true nature is left undisclosed, outside of a stated allegiance to a group called The Consortium.[ citation needed ] The series revolves around the team of Cyclops, Jean, Rogue, Shadowcat, Nightcrawler, Beast, Sabretooth, and Professor X as they learn about and deal with the anti mutant group the Consortium and a mutant killing condition known as Burnout. The series never explains why Psylocke, Angel, Iceman, Banshee, Forge, Jubilee and Colossus are not part of the team despite being X-Men at the same time in the mainstream continuity. Other major changes from the mainstream continuity included: Sabretooth admitting he was Wolverine's father, Professor X not being re-crippled by the Shadow King during the Muir Island Saga, and Cyclops's son Nathan not being sent into the future or receiving the legacy virus. Sabertooth incorporates himself into the X-Men by claiming he is seeking revenge for his fallen son, Logan.
Marvel released X-Men Forever Annual #1 in April 2010, which dealt with Wolverine and Jean Grey's relationship, elaborating on their relationship in more detail, including insight to the betrayed heart of Cyclops. X-Men Forever Giant Size #1 involved the Shi'ar Imperial Guard desiring something from Professor X and the X-Men, resulting in a battle between the two teams.[ citation needed ]
In July 2010, X-Men Forever was cancelled and replaced by X-Men Forever 2 in August 2010 (also set on Earth-161). The story picked up on the growing threat of Consortium and the Burnout disease, with the X-Men going undercover from society, as well as the Consortium taking control of S.H.I.E.L.D. It added Mystique and the Starjammers to the reoccurring cast. The series was cancelled at issue #16, [2] leaving several dangling plot threads regarding the condition of Kurt Wagner and the kidnapping of Nathan Summers. Likewise, a cure for Burnout is never developed and the Wolverine clone that tormented Shadowcat in her nightmares is never brought to justice. Mr. Sinister was implied as the main behind-the-scenes antagonist, but never actually appeared. The series ended by revealing the true nature of the "Perfect Storm" character and her counterpart, little 'Ro. This final arc showed how certain events from the "X-Tinction Agenda" arc happened quite differently.
The X-Men are a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist/co-writer Jack Kirby and editor/co-writer Stan Lee, the team first appeared in The X-Men #1. Although initially cancelled in 1970 due to low sales, following its 1975 revival and subsequent direction under writer Chris Claremont, it became one of the most recognizable and successful franchises of Marvel Comics. They have appeared in numerous books, television shows, the Disney's 20th Century Studios X-Men films, and video games. The X-Men title may refer to the superhero team itself, the eponymous comic series, or the broader franchise including various solo titles and team books such as the New Mutants, Excalibur, and X-Force.
Mystique is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, the character first appeared in Ms. Marvel #16. A member of a subspecies of humanity known as mutants who are born with superhuman abilities, Mystique is a shapeshifter who can mimic the appearance and voice of any person with exquisite precision. Her natural appearance includes blue skin, red hair and yellow eyes.
Wolverine is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, often in association with the X-Men. He is a mutant with animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, a powerful regenerative ability known as a healing factor, a skeleton reinforced with the unbreakable fictional metal adamantium, and three retractable claws in each hand. In addition to the X-Men, Wolverine has been depicted as a member of X-Force, Alpha Flight, the Fantastic Four, and the Avengers. The common depiction of Wolverine is multifaceted; he is portrayed at once as a gruff loner, susceptible to animalistic “berserker rages” despite his best efforts, while simultaneously being an incredibly knowledgeable and intelligent polyglot, strategist, and martial artist, partially due to his extended lifespan and expansive lived experiences. He has been featured in comic books, films, and video games.
Sabretooth is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, most commonly in association with the X-Men, in particular as an enemy of the mutant Wolverine. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist John Byrne, the character made his first appearance in Iron Fist #14. The original portrayal of Sabretooth was that of a non-powered serial killer, but was later written as a mutant possessing bestial superhuman abilities, most notably a rapid healing factor, razor-sharp fangs and claws, and superhuman senses. He is a vicious assassin, who was responsible for numerous deaths throughout history, both as a paid mercenary and for his personal pleasure. Accounts on how his enmity with Wolverine originated differs depending on different writers. One of the most common accounts is that Wolverine and Sabretooth were both participants of the Cold War supersoldier program Weapon X, and that Sabretooth saw Wolverine as competition and therefore antagonized him. While Wolverine is depicted as suppressing his more savage qualities, Sabretooth does the opposite and embraces them, until the events of the 2014 storyline "AXIS".
X-Men: Evolution is an American animated television series based on the X-Men superhero team appearing in Marvel Comics. The series takes inspiration from the early issues of the source material and follows the X-Men as teenagers rather than adults, as they learn to control their developing mutant powers and face various threats. X-Men: Evolution ran for a total of four seasons comprising 52 episodes from November 4, 2000, to October 25, 2003, on Kids' WB, which made it the third longest-running Marvel Comics animated series at the time, behind Fox Kids' X-Men and Spider-Man. The series was aired on Disney XD from June 15, 2009, to December 30, 2011.
Nightcrawler is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in the comic book Giant-Size X-Men #1. By the time of his creation, there was already another Marvel character with the same name, but with a hyphen (Night-Crawler), which was later changed to Dark-Crawler to avoid confusion.
"Age of Apocalypse" is a 1995 comic book crossover storyline mostly published in the X-Men franchise of books by Marvel Comics. The Age of Apocalypse briefly replaced the universe of Earth-616 and had ramifications in the main Marvel Comics universe when the original timeline was restored. It was later retconned as having occurred in the alternate universe of Earth-295.
Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly in association with the X-Men. The character first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #129 and was co-created by writer-artist John Byrne and writer Chris Claremont. A mutant, Pryde possesses a "phasing" ability that allows her to pass through objects, hence she is intangible while using this ability. This power also disrupts any electrical field she passes through, and lets her simulate levitation.
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men is an animated television pilot originally broadcast in 1989 on the Marvel Action Universe television block, featuring Marvel Comics' mutant superheroes of the X-Men. The pilot aired infrequently in syndication and was later released on video. It later served as the basis for Konami's X-Men arcade game.
Toad is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in The X-Men #4.
Mister Sinister is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Chris Claremont, the character was first mentioned as the employer behind the team of assassins known as the Marauders in The Uncanny X-Men #212, and later seen in silhouette in The Uncanny X-Men #213, with both issues serving as chapters of the 1986 "Mutant Massacre" crossover. Mr. Sinister then made his first full appearance in The Uncanny X-Men #221. His appearance was designed by artist Marc Silvestri.
Graydon Creed is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Brandon Peterson and first appeared in The Uncanny X-Men #299. He is the "baseline human" son of Sabretooth and Mystique.
Uncanny X-Men, originally published as The X-Men, is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics since 1963, and is the longest-running series in the X-Men comics franchise. It features a team of superheroes called the X-Men, a group of mutants with superhuman abilities led and taught by Professor X.
"Days of Future Past" is a storyline in the Marvel Comics comic book The Uncanny X-Men issues #141–142, published in 1981. It deals with a dystopian future in which mutants are incarcerated in internment camps. An adult Kate Pryde transfers her mind into her younger self, the present-day Kitty Pryde, who brings the X-Men to prevent a fatal moment in history that triggers anti-mutant hysteria.
The Marauders refers to one of two teams of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original Marauders team included mutant warriors and assassins employed by the X-Men's enemy Mister Sinister, a mad scientist villain often intent on creating a perfect race of superhumans. At different times, the Marauders have been tasked with Sinister to perform kidnappings, assassinations, mass murder, or to simply fight Sinister's enemies. At different times, Marauders have been killed in combat, but often Mr. Sinister later uses his cloning technology to re-create them. This team of Marauders has appeared in many different stories of the X-Men franchise, as well as stories featuring other Marvel Comics heroes.
Cerebro's X-Men are a team of supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are a nanotechnology version of the X-Men created by Cerebro when the supercomputer briefly goes rogue.
"The Twelve" is a comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in March 2000. The storyline was continued and concluded with the Ages of Apocalypse crossover.
X-Men: Regenesis is a comic book branding used by Marvel Comics that ran through the X-Men family of books beginning in October 2011, following the end of the X-Men: Schism miniseries. This realignment of the mutant population is ahead of the 2012 Marvel event Avengers vs. X-Men which begins during Regenesis with the mini series Avengers: X-Sanction and brings back Cable, who was previously thought to be dead following the events of X-Men: Second Coming.