What do you think about the franchise direction?

I'm very much looking forward to the possible interactions between Bobby and Scott in this arc. I feel like Bobby is one of the few people who can make Cyclops listen to him for some reason. Whether it be because they were Xavier's first two recruits and have been together the longest.. i just feel like when Bobby has something to say, people listen because he doesn't get the opportunity that often.     

The conversation about Bendis on the x-books is sometimes interesting and usually always funny. I say that because the x-men books have always relied on characters interacting with each other and playing off each other. Of course, they need to be doing something and there needs to be some sort of activity and action happening, but historically, there are a lot of character moments and spotlights than fast-paced, in your face action. In that regard, I think Bendis fits the X-Men mold perfectly. Unfortunately, I don't think his characterization for all his characters isn't 100% accurate, which hinders some of the stories. I will agree that he has a lot of good ideas for the X-Men.

Seemed more like that polarity came with the end of Quesada's reign and the beginning of Alonso. Alonso even went on record to say that he felt like Scott was the axis around which the X-Men turned. Quesada, brought in Whedon and then Fraction, who both pushed Cyclops very heavily and that's where Alonso picked up. With Utopia, Schism and AvX, they gave Scott the cool, edgy, rebel-without-a-cause schtickt, which didn't leave them much to do with Wolverine other than to make him Cyclops' foil -- he was still their primary money maker, after all. So Wolverine got forced into a bunch of roles that the character never fit, thereby ruining him, and we got "Cyclops was right" shoved down our throats since -- which is still going on. 

Until Alonso leaves and someone is hired who takes a different view, we're just going to get more of the same nonsense.

I expect they didn't use Storm or Iceman in Schism because they couldn't use them as easily to make Cyclops look good -- as foils. Probably better that way, considering what's happened to both Wolverine and Beast. 


marvel.com/news/comics/2011/1/6/14944/axel_alonso_meet_the_new_chief


Axel Alonso: Because I never read those books. But I’ve since come to love those characters. I’ve got to say honestly that, as I step further back from the trenches of X-Men, that’s going to be hard to do at this point because I’m so thoroughly invested in the journeys of the characters now, most notably Cyclops.


www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=40532
Alonso: Cyclops will always be my favorite X-Men character. When I first became X-Men group editor, the mutant population had been decimated by "House of M," and that was the starting point for my first summit. "Messiah CompleX" took the X-Men from no hope to some hope – literally – and Cyclops was central to everything. He elbowed aside Professor X to take control of the X-Men and became the uncontested field general that his dwindling race needed. The fact that Wolverine was willing to step aside and play lieutenant speaks volumes about their ongoing rivalry: Logan always knew Scott had “it” in him. It was alpha recognizing alpha.

So yeah, Cyclops has always been my point of reference for the X-Men universe.


More on Marvel.com: marvel.com/news/comics/2011/1/6/14944/axel_alonso_meet_the_new_chief#ixzz37lVq3nzt



Guess like with a wolf pack, there can only be one alpha. 

I'm guessing the rest of the X-Men will eventually get folded into the Cyke crew or into more Avengers stuff. With Marvel opting to not give relevance to the JGS side of Schism, I just don't see it going on indefinitely, especially with Wolverine dead. I mean I'd love to see Storm and Nightcrawler -- the two leaders with the most experience left -- step up with a real vision for continuing Xavier's dream, but it seems pretty clear Marvel isn't planning on allowing this to happen.

Interesting. Not sure what to think other than Bendis has too much influence.

Yeah, where is Marts? He's not listed either and he's the editor for the X Line.

Bendis has Scott as the centre of one group of X-Men. It remains to be seen how big an influence Last Will and Testament has on any of the other X-titles. I kinda get the feeling most of them won't really be affected one way or the other, because they've all got their own things going on. Amazing is the fun adventure title. Adjectiveless is the more serious adventure title. WatXM, under Latour, is the bland and uninteresting title. X-Force is the dark title. And I think it'd be nice for each title to do its own thing for a little while. I don't think there's a need for them to all be connected to some grand scheme. I think it's perfectly OK for each writer to be given a chance to tell stories they want to tell, and if Marts lets them do that, then that's fine by me.

Though, frankly, given how incredibly weak WatXM has been under Latour so far, if Last Will gives it a direction, that can only help it.

As I've said before, Bendis has a lot of great ideas. His executions haven't always worked, but the ideas are great. For my part, I've been thoroughly enjoying UXM and ANXM - I feel that he's been hitting a lot more than he's been missing with both titles. You don't like his style; fine. Then don't read the two books he writes. Read the books you do enjoy.




One thing, though: Why would Milligan, Posehn or Duggan be on the inside? Milligan's writing a Doop mini, and Posehn and Duggan are writing Deadpool. PAD being on the outside is nothing new - X-Factor has never really been a core X-Men title. Rucka's Cyclops series isn't based on Earth, so he has no reason to be involved in shaping the direction of the franchise. Cornell is shaping the direction by killing off Wolverine.

Also, Remender's shaping the franchise, too, despite not writing an actual X-title. The Red Skull stealing Xavier's brain has been brought up in a couple X-titles (an arc in Legacy, for one thing), and Axis is going to have several X-titles tied into it.

Yeah, basically. Especially when given a situation like Schism which SHOULD have provided a means for two different franchise directions -- not to mention all the satellites --  and therefore plenty of creative freedom governed by an editor who could see the big picture and the value of tapping into both major story veins.