Clik here to view.
What Should Be Done with the Mutant Menace? Part 1: The Lack of an Ending
A curious yet distinguishing feature of the X-Men family of comics is their lack of an origin story, typically an essential element in superhero comics. Usually, the superhero’s identity and power is...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Should Be Done with the Mutant Menace? Part 2: The Need for Self-Control
…continued from yesterday. Given that mutants exist, what is to be done with them? That question drives the narrative of the X-Books. The book’s villains—Dr. Bolivar Trask and his Sentinels, the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Should Be Done with the Mutant Menace? Part 3: Losing (and Regaining)...
In Part 1 and Part 2, we’ve seen how Prof. Xavier’s dream for the peaceful coexistence of humans and mutants depends upon mutants being able to control their special powers. To this end, mutants must…...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Should Be Done with the Mutant Menace? Part 4: The Evolution of Iceman
…continued from yesterday. We’ve been looking at the underlying structure of the X-Men comics: how mutants pose an existential threat to themselves and others, necessitating that they either control...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What Should Be Done with the Mutant Menace? Part 5: The Special Case of...
…continued from yesterday. In the previous four parts, we’ve seen how a very particular plot line structures the X-Men comics: the losing and regaining of control over one’s powers (and the comics are...
View Article
