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From: captain@spock.UUCP (John Griffin '87 cc)
Newsgroups: net.comics
Subject: Re: BURN MUTIE PLOTS (or why the X-men need help)
Message-ID: <239@spock.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 1-May-85 13:42:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: spock.239
Posted: Wed May  1 13:42:10 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 6-May-85 00:49:58 EDT
References: <5498@utzoo.UUCP>, <84@cadtec.UUCP>
Organization: Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT.
Lines: 49

The X-men are in serious trouble.

I remember the "good old days" in which the X-men were new.  I mean, not
only the comic (new version), but the ideas.  Here was this group of,
essentially, kids, teamed up together to save the world, but never got
any credit.  Before this, Captain America, Iron Man, and the Avengers were
big, and the (comic) world thought they were great.  The only hero with
problems was Spider-Man, and that was his funding, and Jameson.  But the X-men
were a new twist.  The concept of "anti-mutant" sentiment was born.  Not only
did the X-men have diverse personal problems, but everyone else hated them.
That was the formula which made the X-men great.  And, at a time when
the X-men first popped up, the great/wise/powerful John Byrne took over.
 Since Mr. Byrne has a penchant for radical moves in comics, the two
made a winning combo.  But, alas, soon the anti-mutant sentiment became the
in-thing for plot complications in comics.  The New Mutants were
created, perhaps as a spinoff from the X-men.  The X-babies filled the
hole the original x-men had grown out of: young insecure people.  Well, fine.
From then on, the X-men spent their time "growing up" (about from ish. 150.)
and the nm's spent their time acting self-conscious.  

    Someone in the comics department must have said "Gee, shouldn't the
civilians get a little mad when the X-men knock down the IBM building to kill
Galactus.  Maybe someone should doubt Reed Richards when he assures his
neighbors that Doc Doom will not be leaving the Baxter Building during the
battle, so everyong can sleep tight.  Maybe when Capt. America throws his
mighty shield all the characters should wonder whether or not he will defeat
the Red Skull, instead of just taking it for granted?"

   So began the era of bystander awareness.  This fit right in with the
"anti-mutant sentiment" growing in the nation.  Currently, it's in vogue
to have people shouting at the hero because he smashed their car (although
he saved the world--"I don't get no respect")

  But, back to my main point, the X-men began all this.  Now, all the
characters have either resolved their personal problems or learned to
live with them (and therefore the problems are no longer important).
Occasionally, characters will shiver when remembering the time they...
and so on.  The personal problems have become old hat, as it were.  The X-men
are all tired plots.  No longer can the writers rely on the plots
Cockrum and Byrne did.  However, the writer tried to attempt to bring
some new life, through Rachel...but it's still the same.  Every now and then
she has flash backs, and her own personal problems are not capable of later
development.  

  So this is my arguement.  The X-plots need new life.  What do you think?
I know how revered the X-men are in people's minds.  But look at the plots
logically.  The X-men still have great potential, but need revamping.

Comments?