Sunday, June 30, 2019

THE CONJURING UNIVERSE: ANNABELLE COMES HOME (2019)


This year marks the first year in the Conjuring franchise history to release two films in one year! The first film released this year was almost exactly two months ago, THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA. That film featured a story completely separate from the Warrens or any previously established characters, save one. While it still followed the formula of the previous films, it felt refreshing to see something new rather than a spin off.

ANNABELLE COMES HOME creates the Conjuring franchise's first trilogy among its various series, finally taking the Annabelle doll's story into the present rather than another venture into the past. Trying to put this film into the Conjuring timeline provides a bit of a challenge. It certainly occurs after the prologue of the original Conjuring but maybe before the central events of that film. Or maybe this film's prologue takes place after the prologue of the original Conjuring, but then the rest of Annabelle Comes Home takes place after the events of the original Conjuring but before Conjuring 2... ugh.

This is what we should've expected from one of the guys who helped craft the amazingly convoluted web of storytelling of the SAW franchise. Anyway, moving on...

I liked Annabelle Comes Home but it may be my least favorite of the Conjuring franchise.

THE PLOT

Mary Ellen is babysitting tonight. She's spending the evening with Judy Warren, daughter of the demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren. Daniela, Mary Ellen's friend from school, is desperate to see proof of the afterlife and willing to intrude upon the Warren's house to do so. Daniela skulks about the Warren's home, snooping, and going where she shouldn't. She takes the keys to the Warren's demonic store room, crosses the threshold, and proceeds to touch everything in the room. She even tries to call out to the spirits therein. And not one, but many, answer her summons.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The idea behind this film is brilliant. The Warren's museum of occult artifacts, concentrating all of the evil they've ever battled in one place, seems like a powder keg waiting to explode. I would seriously spend a whole day there just listening to the Warrens tell the stories behind each and every artifact in that room. It's like a house of horrors all its own. And the premise of this film, everything in the room gets out, carries with it an impression of epic horror film proportions. But in reality this film felt quite small and intimate.

It's not a bad thing necessarily. The mainline Conjuring films should be the big event films in this franchise, right? I'd say yes and no to that. Annabelle: Creation had larger implications and scope of story, I'd say. The Nun as well felt like a "bigger" film. And the idea of all of the evil contained in the Warren's museum being unleashed at once seems like a BIG FREAKIN FILM to me. I'm talking enough evil to open a gate to Hell.

But no. No one dies in this film. There are no major ramifications because of this film. And everything is nicely resolved by the end and everything is back to normal. As such this doesn't have the feeling of a trilogy finale but rather like a random episode of Nickelodeon's ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK. How was this film even rated R? Seriously, there's barely any blood or gore, barely any swearing and no "F-bombs" dropped anywhere, and no nudity.

But the element that really agitated me in this was the character of Daniela. When bad things happen to good people who've done nothing but be at the wrong place at the wrong time, I have sympathy for them. Evil elements outside of one's control which are uninvited that pick you at random. Most of the characters populating the Conjuring films are such people. They're just normal people living their lives when evil crosses their path. Annabelle Comes Home is the first film in the series to bring in a character so blatantly moronic that I wanted the evil spirits to take her soul. Everything that happens in this movie is a result of Daniela intruding into the Warren's home, going into a room with signs on the door reading "DO NOT ENTER. EVIL INSIDE." She even opens Annabelle's display case after reading the sign in front of it saying, "DO NOT OPEN!"

After Daniela has proved herself to be the dumbest character to ever walk into a horror movie, the film reveals her motivations, trying to retcon the character into being sympathetic. No. I don't care anymore at this point. No amount of sympathy could make up for her blatant disregard of the sanctity of another person's home and literally touching everything inside with a sign on it that virtually reads "DO NOT TOUCH!" Had the movie begun with scenes focusing on her, establishing her motivations first, and the actress really knocked it out of the park by building genuine audience sympathy, then maybe... just maybe I'd care. But as it is she comes across as kinda hateful, a trouble-maker, and someone that genuinely revels in seeing others suffer.

Daniela's foolish character really put a damper on the movie going forward. There are some great moments in the movie as well as some great new evil entities introduced. The Ferry Man, the Bloody Bride, and Haunted Samurai Armor were pretty wicked. But their presence is undermined by the fact that every character comes out of this film unharmed and perfectly intact, not even possible mental repercussions. Even the dumb Daniela is made more emotionally stable by the end. As such the narrative lacks any impact or lasting effects. None of the spirits escape either so it's not like a demon is now on the loose.

Perhaps I'm being too harsh. I did feel excitement and thrills while watching. But ultimately I felt like this was, by and large, unnecessary.

THE VERDICT

Weekend At The Warren's! Uh oh, someone opened Annabelle's cage! What are we going to do?! Come join the zany antics of the ghouls and demons at the Warren's house. You'll scream! You'll get possessed! And most of all you'll have fun! Annabelle Comes Home, a rollicking good time the whole family can enjoy. If there was ever a Conjuring film to miss, this film is it.

Alright, I'm being really harsh now. Sorry. The premise of this film has so much potential and as a result the film feels like a wasted opportunity. A massive teaser for future spinoff films is what it really comes across as, but nothing essential. The biggest crime of this movie may be that its title character, Annabelle, is given very little do and ultimately is out-shined by other demons, which is a shame after how incredibly scary she was in the previous Annabelle film.

Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10

For more of my thoughts on the Conjuring franchise, which I really do enjoy despite the sound of this review, check out my other Conjuring reviews below!


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Monday, June 24, 2019

SUPER HERO CINERAMA: DARK PHOENIX (2019)


If there is one renown, revered, and seminal story among the X-MEN comic book canon it is, without a doubt, the PHOENIX SAGA. Objectively speaking, the Phoenix Saga may not be the best written or the greatest sweeping epic among the X-Men comics. If you're knowledgeable and well read in your X-Men lore it may not even be on your top ten greatest X-Men stories. But there are many who know it (if only by name) and think of it as such. Talking with my generation, a lot of us first came to know it from the X-Men animated series. The generation before us it was with the source material (the comics themselves). And the generation after us know it from the films.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that the Phoenix Saga may well be the most known story in Marvel history, if only in name.

THE PHOENIX AND THE X-TRAORDINARY TASK OF ADAPTING IT

When I was a kid and I watched the Phoenix Saga unfold on the animated series, from the moment Juggernaut was tossed aside like a rag doll by the Shi'Ar praetorian, Gladiator, to the Starjammers and X-Men battling against the Shi'Ar Empire in a grand war deep in outer space, I was awestruck. I haven't watched those episodes since but clearly they left an imprint. And when X2: X-MEN UNITED (2003) teased Jean Grey's death with the image of the Phoenix faint in the water, my buddies and I all knew what was coming... or so we thought.

The Phoenix Saga is a deep "in-universe" story, not just within the overall X-Men story but within the Marvel universe itself. It's not a story you merely jump into. It requires a lot of world building and character assemblage and deep investment. Like the film AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, the Phoenix Saga takes a lot of setting up. So trying to adapt such a story must be a nightmare. And really the only way filmmakers could properly adapt the comic story faithfully would be similar to how Marvel Studios set up Infinity War. No movie studio prior to Marvel Studios had done such a grand assemblage before. Now there's precedent but before 2018 there was no template for how one would do such a story on film.

Taking all of this into account, is it any wonder why X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (2006) failed as an adaptation of the Phoenix Saga? There is no way that film could've even come close to doing the comic book justice. Sadly that's only one of the numerous gripes I have with that film. Fast-forward to 2019 with the coming of DARK PHOENIX, 20th Century Fox's second and final attempt at adapting the story, and it all plays out similarly. Again, because up until last year, no one had ever shown the world how to properly set-up such a story.

In brief, I liked Dark Phoenix better than X-Men: The Last Stand and I'm inclined to say I enjoyed it better than X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE (2009). Beyond that it feels like the filmmakers have tread too much of the same water as 2006's previous attempt.

THE PLOT

A cosmic anomaly threatens a NASA space shuttle launch, the lives of several astronauts hanging in the balance. Seeing an opportunity to demonstrate to the world the good of mutantkind, Professor X sends his X-Men to space to save the astronauts. The X-Men rescue the astronauts while Jean uses her powers to maintain the shuttle's structural integrity. Suddenly the cosmic anomaly moves. It hones in on Jean. And the shuttle explodes. The cosmic force vanishes and Jean is left floating in space with the debris. When the X-Men retrieve her body they discover that she's inexplicably alive and more powerful than ever. But whatever happened to Jean has changed her and this new power has a will of its own.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

First off, I love the opening prologue. The car crash sequence was one of the most striking and visceral sequences of its kind. And then the meeting of Professor X and a young Jean Grey was understated yet powerful and touching. I loved the analogy of the pen being a gift and what we do with it determines whether the gift is good or bad. This strong opening started the film and my view of the film favorably.

As with the previous X-Men film, APOCALYPSE, I have come to really enjoy the new cast of actors and what they bring to their characters. I thought Sofie Turner was great as Jean. I like Alexandra Shipp as Storm, Evan Peters as Quicksilver, and generally all of the actors in the film. All save for Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique. She was good in both X-MEN: FIRST CLASS and X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. But once she broke out as an actress, after Hunger Games and the academy award, the trajectory of her character and Jennifer Lawrence's presence in the X-Men films changed dramatically. Suddenly Mystique is a good guy and central to the plot. And it is done not in a way to service the story or the character, but to cash in on the actress' box office draw.

"For Raven." "Is this what Raven would've wanted?" "FOR RAVEN!"And so on and so forth. SPOILER ALERT!!! Mystique (or "Raven" as she's exclusively called in this movie) dies fairly early in this film. Good! Great! Grand! Wonderful! But she still drives the film even after she's gone. From that moment onward, much of the characters motivations are driven by their feelings for Mystique or for some perceived obligation to Mystique. Everyone loves Mystique! If it were for Charles or some other linchpin of the team then it would've worked better for me. But it's Mystique who has been given a role and influence on everyone in the story, qualities her character never should've had. But because it's Jennifer Lawrence and she's the most bankable actor in this film they give her everything. Whether this is true or not I don't know, but that is very much how it looks. I found that very annoying and by the end of the film after the last "For Raven!" was bellowed I was sick of it.

It does create an interesting through-line for the film though. Emotion and being controlled by emotion seem to be an underlying theme through out the film. Another film this year had a theme of emotion, specifically tied to a female character. I speak of Captain Marvel. In Dark Phoenix nearly all of the characters are ruled by their emotions, their wants and desires. There's a display of emotions resulting in chaos as well as emotions resulting in progress. Emotions can lead to both good and bad results. What's interesting here is that Jean, struggling to contain a powerful and malevolent cosmic force, handles her emotions far better than almost every other character in the film as they deal with their grief over Mystique. Cyclops and Storm seem to have a good handle on their emotions as well.

The struggle for Jean, and thusly the struggle for the audience, is what to do with all the power coursing through her. Much of the film is Jean seeking guidance from others, which is what any young person with some sense would do in a situation they don't understand. But it eventually became frustrating because her character loses all agency by the end of the film. She seems subject to the whims and wills of others throughout most of the film. And then, when she does make a choice, it is awesome! And then the movie ends. Gah! However, this film does show both the detriments and benefits of following emotion (as is reality) unlike Captain Marvel, in which we're given a hero who can do no wrong with no weaknesses who can harness her emotions and godlike power with deft and ease from the moment she gets them.

More frustrating is that stalwart characters like Professor X and Beast make choices throughout the film that remove sympathy from them. Magneto, who is still wonderfully portrayed by Michael Fassbender, is a classic asshole. So what you're left with is a group of unlikable and unsympathetic characters carrying the movie. Cyclops, Storm, and Nightcrawler were good but they weren't the focal point. They were given the least to do among the factions of characters yet they were the most likable. The majority of the film showcases unlikable characters or characters making bad decisions and that slowly eroded investment in them. And sidelineing Quicksilver so early in the film was a crime!

I understand the need for your characters to have arcs. But I'd argue in an ensemble piece that not every character needs an arc. As in real life, some people are constants. Some people have faith. I understand Professor X's motivations in this film, but, the way the film approaches it really painted the character in a negative light, one in which I did not enjoy. For one of the focal characters of the film I wish Xavier had been a little more positively portrayed. As Jean struggles it would've been nice to see Xavier as a fixed point of positivity and Magneto as the fixed point of negativity rather than both being negative.

Wow, this is really getting long-winded.

I loved the action in the movie. The siege on the train was epic and badass. The final fight between Jean and the D'Bari was amazing! Characters had a lot of rather quick changes of heart there towards the end which didn't feel earned, Magneto especially. I like the attempt at bringing in outer space elements into the story (of which there should be a lot), but these characters (the D'Bari? Really? The celery stalk people from the comics?) felt like nothing more than a two dimensional by the numbers villain. There was very little set-up for these characters and they seem to come out of nowhere yet have already infiltrated Earth's governments. I like Jessica Chastain but it seemed as if she wasn't given much to do here.

This is what I was taking about at the beginning of the post. This movie needed more set-up and this story needed more time to get ready. The filmmakers aren't wrong in thinking that this is a story audiences want to see. But it has to be approached very carefully and teed up precisely. For, just like the fiery temperament of the Phoenix Force, this story can either shine brightly among the star or go dark very quickly.

THE VERDICT

A twenty year long era comes to an end. Dark Phoenix is Fox's swan song, the X-Men's grand finale (excluding next year's NEW MUTANTS of course and any future Deadpool films). Like many films it is a mixed bag of elements and emotions. There are aspects I really enjoyed in this film. And there are problems that in adapting this particular story that have yet to be overcome. Time and timing was against this film it seems. While it is far from my favorite of the X-Men films, it is not my least favorite by any means.

Overall Ranking: 5 out of 10

IN MEMORIAM

It's interesting seeing this particular set of actors and characters once again with the knowledge that we'll never see this kind of X-Men movie ever again. In some ways it's good. In other ways it's sad. With Marvel Studios being the juggernaut that it is, ruling and influencing this current era of super hero films unopposed, it is refreshing to see a super hero film that doesn't feel like a Marvel Studios film. As of late, Phase III of Marvel Studios feels like ten films all with the same flavor. It's nice to see something in the genre that doesn't feel like an MCU film and it is both joyous and sad that this pocket of characters are returning to Marvel.

This franchise helped launch the super-hero film genre and helped make it into what it is today. The great and powerful MCU couldn't have happened without the foundation built by the X-Men and Spider-Man films of the early 2000's. Super hero films have come a long way since then, but without those admittedly rocky starts and rough early days of the genre we wouldn't be where we are today. I was thinking about the opening sequence of X2 the other day, Nightcrawler's big screen debut, and how amazing and largely unmatched that sequence is. No matter what comes of these characters in the future, there are some truly great moments these films gave us.

Thank You. Godspeed.

For more of my thoughts on all things super hero cinema check out the posts below

THE MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (MCU)



THE DC EXTENDED UNIVERSE (DCEU)
 
 
Fox-Marvel, Sony-Marvel, and other stuff too!
 
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Sunday, June 23, 2019

TOP TEN FAVORITE X-MEN

TOP TEN FAVORITE X-MEN

You can't spend time in the Marvel universe, films or comics, without getting to know and love the X-Men. I'll date myself a bit here by saying I first really came to know the X-Men from the 1990's Fox animated series and Marvel Universe trading cards from the time. I grew up during the time when the X-Men were on top of the world in terms of popularity. Comic books in general were enjoying the greatest height of prosperity they've ever experienced during the late eighties to the mid nineties.

The X-Men exposure was great and they became one of my gateways into the Marvel universe. It became an essential part of my Saturday morning routine. I had to catch every episode! Strangely though, when it came to the comic books, I gravitated towards Hulk, Ghost Rider, Silver Surfer, and Morbius. I did get a few X-Men comics and I remember loving Jim Lee's art (still do!). When you're a kid money is scarce so you only spend what little you have on those comics that really captured your attention and spoke to you. Weirdly I couldn't miss an episode of the X-Men Animated Series but they were barely a blip on my comic book radar. I can't explain it anymore than you can. When you choose Morbius over Jim Lee/Chris Claremont era X-Men there must be something severely wrong with you.

Well, that was me. But I still thought the X-Men were amazing (maybe it was that I was getting my X-Men fix satiated adequately enough with the cartoon series that I didn't feel I needed any more). Anyway, I loved watching the characters in the show and collecting their trading cards. The Flair 94' X-Men trading card series and the Skybox 92' X-Men series (all of which was Jim Lee art) were amazing! But my all-time favorite card series was the 1991 Marvel Universe Series 2 from Skybox.



These were among the first Marvel trading cards I ever had. Look at how gorgeous these cards were! Then, of course, came the first X-Men film. I saw that movie twice in one day. That was a huge day for me as I knew movies would never be the same for me ever again. And here we are 20 years later and movies have been changed forever thanks to the super hero films from Marvel. I haven't missed an X-Men film since. During this time too I discovered a truly amazing volume of the X-Men comics too: X-FORCE and CABLE from 2008. I never attached stronger to an X-Men comic than with these two series (which act as companion pieces meant to be reading in tandem). I had also discovered the amazing and wild EXILES books, now favorites of mine as well.

I've also acquired the first two UNCANNY X-MEN omnibi covering from Giant-Size X-Men #1, X-Men #94 - #153 by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, and John Byrne. I have yet to read them but they're on the reading list. So, as little as I talk about the X-Men and for as much as I profess to love all these other characters in Marvel's universe, I still have a deep appreciation for the X-Men and recognize how great they really are.

Through watching the cartoon series and the movies and reading various X-Men comics sporadically throughout the years, I have come to really like certain characters and even love a few of them. But the X-Men have gone through so many changes in the comics over the years and writers have come through and made me dislike characters I once loved. So my love for some of these characters reflects specific eras for these characters. We all have our preferences, right?

With the Disney acquisition of 20th Century Fox and the X-Men and Fantastic Four finally returning home to Marvel, the writing was on the wall. 2019's DARK PHOENIX marked the end of an era and of a franchise that began in the year 2000. While these films have varied in quality (just as the comics have) the impact of these films is undeniable.

In celebration of these characters, films, and comics, we're counting down our favorite X-Men (and X-Heroes), even if we're not the most versed in X-Men lore.

Here we go! Enjoy!





THE BONUSES




 #14
SUNFIRE

First Appearance: The X-Men #64 (January 1970)

One of the most underappreciated characters in the X-Men universe, Shiro Yashida a.k.a. Sunfire is Japan's greatest super hero. He began as an antagonist to the X-Men only to be endeared to them and their cause. He's a bit of a hothead, like most fire manipulators are, and he's has a noble samurai spirit. I've always thought Sunfire was a cool character and I always wished Marvel would do more with him. Fun fact: Sunfire was the character who started Japan's super hero team, BIG HERO SIX!






#13
WOLFSBANE

First Appearance: Marvel Graphic Novel #4 (October 1982)

I love monsters. And what's cooler than a werewolf mutant hero? I first came to know Rahne Sinclair in an Incredible Hulk/X-Factor crossover story called War and Pieces. In that story Wolfsbane and Rick Jones share some war trauma together and Rahne ultimately has to kill someone. Writer Peter David paints a human and heartfelt image with his words and both Rahne and Rick come across as very real people in that moment. The story and character has stuck with me ever since.

She also appears in the 2008 X-FORCE book to striking and powerful effect, ultimately my favorite depiction of her. She returns to the pages of X-Factor after that, once again written by Peter David, where she has to battle many of Marvel's devils and demons to protect her "Wolf-God" child. It's another great story of hers and features another favorite character of mine: Werewolf By Night!







#12
WARPATH

First Appearance: The New Mutants #16 (June 1984)

I wasn't much of a fan of Warpath growing up. I was aware of him but he didn't really stand out to me. What changed all of that was the X-FORCE book from 2008 by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost. That book services every character within it very well and is one of my all time favorite X-books. In this book there are a few issues where Warpath leaves the team and encounters a demonic bear spirit in the wilderness. Warpath teams up with Ghost Rider to battle the demon bear in, perhaps, my favorite Warpath story.

He's such a cool character and worthy of high praise.







#11
BLINK
 First Appearance: The Uncanny X-Men #317 (October 1994)

I feel like one of the most underappreciated X-titles out there was Exiles. Beginning in 2001, the book ran for an epic 125 issues across three volumes. Insane stories about reality hopping from various Marvel timelines, anchored by one of my favorite X-Women, Blink. A teleporter, albeit different from the X-Men's premiere teleporter, Blink can open portals and move through them. She can also focus her portals into daggers and use them as weapons which can teleport people or objects on contact.

There are two Blinks in the Marvel universe: the main universe Blink (Earth 616 if you know the parlance) and the Blink from the AGE OF APOCALYPSE reality. I do not like the main universe Blink at all. I LOVE the AOA version of Blink and she is the character heading up the Exiles. She's fast, agile, and a lethal fighter thanks to being trained by none other than Sabretooth!






#10
 ARCHANGEL

First Appearance: (as Archangel) X-Factor #24 (January 1988)

One of the earliest X-Men characters I was intrigued by was Archangel. To be clear, I don't really like Angel. A beautiful rich boy who literally looks like an angel? Nope, I can't relate to that. But when Angel's skin turned blue and his wings became metal and razor sharp, not to mention becoming one of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, now that was something I could get behind. And it is so incredibly metal!

Warren Worthington became a character to be feared, awesome and frightening! As Archangel he has the Apocalypse gene coursing through him, making him susceptible to villainous commands. You don't quite know what's going to happen when Archangel is involved which makes him so much fun to read. In addition to the 80's and 90's X-Men stuff, I really loved the take on him in the 2008 X-FORCE book.







#9
POLARIS

First Appearance: The X-Men #49 (October 1968)

First off, I love the green color pallet. The Mistress of Magnetism, Polaris, really jumped on my radar with Peter David's X-FACTOR from the 90's. She and Havok were essentially the Cyclops and Jean Grey of X-Factor at the time. Adding into the mix that she was Magneto's daughter and it painted the character in yet another interesting and potentially dangerous light. With power levels off the charts and slightly unstable mental health makes her a very intriguing character.

She took on a central role during the War of Kings saga, being captured by the Shi'Ar along with Havok and others, escaping, joining the Starjammers, and fighting alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy and Inhumans against Havok's evil brother, Vulcan. Polaris became a favorite of mine after that and remains one of the X-Men characters I enjoy the most.







#8
 NIGHTCRAWLER
First Appearance: Giant Size X-Men #1 (May 1975)

Nightcrawler was one of those characters I instantly gravitated to as kid. His elf-like design is eye-catching, unique, and cool. Depending on his depiction his design can be kinda scary or fun and kinda cute. Then when you get to know his gentle and kind personality he becomes instantly endearing.

I can't point to too many stories that I love about him, but rather he's such a great character in general and enhances whatever story he's in. He's also one of the reasons why the movie X2: X-Men United is one of the best X-Men movies ever. His opening sequence is breathtaking and amazingly realized. And Alan Cummings portrayal of Nightcrawler is perfect.








#7
DOMINO

First Appearance:  X-Force #8 (March 1992)

I didn't think much of Domino until the 2008 volume of X-FORCE by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost. I'm not a fan of her bigger armored design, but I love her sleek black suit look. The pale skin and black spot over her eye combined with the guns and general badassery give her this sexy "mime from hell" vibe. Honestly, I find Domino one of the coolest hit-man/assassin characters out there.

What I loved about the 2008 X-Force book was dark intensity of the book. They were a covert wetworks team and Domino exemplified everything the book was about. She has a fun and carefree attitude and can turn on the badass persona instantly. I'd love to see her in a John Wick style Marvel book.







#6
 HAVOK
First Appearance: The X-Men #54 (March 1969)

Havok is Scott Summers' kid brother and one character that really surprised me the more I read about him. To be honest I never thought much about him until he went into space to fight his younger brother, Vulcan. The story started in RISE AND FALL OF THE SHI'AR EMPIRE and continued through the event WAR OF KINGS. There he witnessed his father's death at the hands of his brother, became the leader of the Starjammers, and led a guerilla campaign against the Shi'Ar Empire.

The next great story I read with him was Rick Remender's Uncanny Avengers. Havok led the "Unity Squad" comprising both X-Men and Avengers members. They fought against Apocalypse and Kang the Conqueror, fought their way through a dark future, fixing the timestream, and more. It was crazy and epic and Havok was the linchpin to it all. These stories have made me look at the character in a whole new way and made me a fan of Havok's.







#5
RACHEL GREY/SUMMERS

First Appearance: The Uncanny X-Men #141 (January 1981)

Rachel Grey a.k.a. The Phoenix is the daughter of Cyclops and Jean Grey from a dark alternate future, the DAYS OF FUTURE PAST timeline specifically. Merging with the Phoenix Force, the cosmic power eventually transports her back to the past and the main timeline where she joins the X-Men. The first time I saw Rachel was in the Marvel Universe Series II trading cards (the trading card in question is pictured back up top near the beginning of the post).

Rachel isn't that great of a character in her initial X-Men appearances. It wasn't until she joined the super team EXCALIBUR and the wild stories therein that I became a fan of hers. Excalibur is an underrated and great book of mutants, magic, and reality hopping. I loved her design and her character really came into her own in that book, becoming a confident, likeable, and powerful hero. Later, when she rejoined the X-Men and then became a Starjammer to fight Vulcan during the War of Kings event, she became a firm favorite. She was wielding the Phoenix Force adeptly and was on a power level almost like that of a Herald of Galactus.







#4
PSYLOCKE

First Appearance: Captain Britain #9 (December 1976)

Any wonder why I like this character? SHE'S A NINJA! If my love of ninjas hasn't been made abundantly clear in this blog then I've done something wrong. Psylocke, to me, was just another telepath in a world full of telepaths in her original incarnation. But when her mind was transferred into the body of one of the deadliest ninjas on Earth, the character took on a whole new dimension. The fact that she wields a sword and has the fighting prowess to keep up with Wolverine is so incredibly cool. And then she can summon a psy-blade too?! She also has that cool, silent, mysterious demeanor about her too.

Psylocke wasn't featured very much in the 90's animated series so I came to know her primarily through the comics. The 90's era of X-Men once again really shaped my love for Psylocke, later on not so much. Her stint in the Exiles book in the 2000's was awesome and also when she joined X-Force later on too.







#3
BEAST
First Appearance: The X-Men #1 (September 1963)

A blue furry wolf-man? What's not to love? Growing up and first dipping my toes into the Marvel universe I couldn't help but be drawn to Beast. First off, I am a monster lover at heart. Seeing Beast's design with the striking blue color was all I needed to think, "Wow! I want to know who this guy is!" I love the juxtaposition of his design and character, the appearance of a primal beast but the gentry and sophistication of civilized man. And he can also throwdown with the best of them.

When the X-Men animated series debuted I had already begun collecting various Marvel Universe trading cards series as well as having begun a small comic collection. So I knew who Beast was and he was probably the character I was looking forward to seeing the most on the show. That's why it sucked that after the second episode he ends up in jail and spends, what felt like, nearly all of the first season out of action. Oh yeah, I really disliked his "Cat-Beast" redesign of the early 2000's.






#2
ROGUE
First Appearance: Avengers Annual #10 (1981)

My love for Rogue stems from the 90's animated X-Men series and the Jim Lee/Chris Claremont X-Men comic books from the same era. Rogue is my first memory of seeing a woman as an action hero and she maybe the genesis of why I love kick-ass women in general. Seeing her beat down the badguys like the Hulk would and fly through the air like Superman was striking and awesome to see as a kid who'd never seen a woman portrayed as such. And then there's the tragic side of the character, that of not being able to have physical contact with anyone without possibly hurting them. All of it amounted to one amazing and intriguing character.

Rogue is one of those characters that I enjoy only in that 90's era. The "Ms. Marvel" Rogue to be specific. The stories I've read with Rogue in the 2000's and beyond have not endeared the character to me further. She lost her Ms. Marvel powers and took on a really antagonistic personality. She's not fun anymore or sympathetic. Instead I cheered when Rick Remender finally gutted her in his Uncanny Avengers run. The green in her design instantly stood out to me too and I'm glad that at least this design element has remained while the rest of the character feels unrecognizable to me now.







#1
WOLVERINE
First Appearance: The Incredible Hulk #180 (October 1974)

I know, I know... How incredibly predictable and typical. But who else would it be? Wolverine is arguably Marvel's most popular character next to Spider-Man. The appeal of this character is undeniable. There's a reason why so many people love Wolverine and I am no exception. Wolverine is so incredibly badass. His appeal transcends age too. Like Batman, kids fall in love with Wolverine at an early age and as they grow up their love for Wolverine continues. I used to run around on the playground in grade school pretending to be Wolverine. And today, as an adult, the character is still incredibly compelling as exemplified in the 2017 film LOGAN.

While I like the others on this list quite a bit, none have been treated as well as Wolverine. It's that rare versatility of character that allows Wolverine to fit so well into just about any genre or story type in comic books (like Batman). Writers can tailor him just about any sensibility and to any reader, which makes him so entertaining and likable.

And there you have it! My off-beat or incredibly normal list of favorite X-Men characters.

Who're your favorites?

Let us know in the comments below!

And for more top ten lists check out these other posts below!

TOP TEN LISTS

TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE HULK STORIES  
 TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS  

 
 
TOP TEN ACTION MOVIE HEROES   TOP TEN GREATEST TURTLES




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