Struggling mutants

Last year was a year of ups and downs for our country. We may not have had those devastating typhoons ravage our provincial areas but our turbulent political climate has more than made up for the lack of environmental catastrophes. While the dollar has improved due to bountiful overseas dollar remittances and localized EVAT policies, and the archipelago has finally agreed on one thing – that Manny Pacquiao is the one Pinoy who people of all shapes and sizes look up to – there is instead a dark cloud of outrageous prices that descends unto the consumer populace. Where a macro-level improvement in our economy is nonchalantly felt by the micro-level Filipino whose concerns are more immediate, an emerging culture of EDSA and the protest rally has persisted beyond dismal proportions. When you’re at the bottom of the wheel, they say there’s no other way but to roll back to the top. But when life is on hold, and the wheel just won’t budge, can we wholly blame the masses for flocking to the streets?

Even the mutant community seems to be struggling to keep up. Since time immemorial, mutants have faced so much condemnation and hatred from humans that it has become impossible to remove the schism between these two races. Homo Sapien and Homo Superior have entered into a state of genetic war, over who shall be the rightful inheritors of the earth. The Brotherhood of Magneto has stated their claim, and so have Reverend Sryker and many other leaders of the human faction. But just as there is that messianic complex of keeping the peace, there are the X-Men. You really have to commend them for their valiant efforts, establishing worldwide X-Corporation headquarters in Australia, LA, Mumbai, and Paris to serve the far corners of the globe, foiling attempts of mutant mass hysteria, and constantly protecting the very people who spit at their existence. Through the Xavier Institute and generations of new mutants constantly flocking to its cause, it seems that there may just be a speck of hope for our merry mutants. But if that were the case, then comics won’t be half as interesting. So from Morrison to Brian Bendis, the Avenger’s Scarlet Witch, goes bonkers, destroys the Avengers Mansion, and causes the superhuman team to disband. She is then rescued by her father Magneto and brought to Genosha to be treated by Professor Xavier. But as they conspire to kill her, she uses her powers to turn the world upside down. With a flash of bright light, Peter Parker wakes up next to Gwen Stacy instead of Mary Jane.

House of M – where Magneto is the sovereign of the world, where the X-Men and most superheroes never existed, and where humans are the minority, making this new world the perfect utopia for the once ostracized mutants. Moreover, mutants and superheroes were granted their innermost desires yet retained no memory of the former world, except for Wolverine. For the first time in his life, he gets what he wants. He remembers everything that happened to him prior to joining the X-Men – including the reality of this world gone haywire. With the help of Layla Miller who also saw past this mirage, Wolverine was able to recover the X-Men and the Avengers and take the fight to the Master of Magnetism himself. In the heat of the battle, the true culprit of this House of M was revealed. It had not been Magneto or his crazed daughter Scarlet Witch after all. It was Quicksilver who manipulated his sister into creating this alternate reality. As vengeance was struck to the wicked, Scarlet Witch descended into the battlefield to revive her fallen brother, condemning Magneto for abandoning them as kids. With a scream, she utters, "No More Mutants." Bright light sparks and world reverts back to normal but with catastrophic changes to the mutant community.

DeciMation – where mutants have been decimated by an alarming 90 percent, where the Homo Superior has become the hunted minority, and the Homo Sapien set to kill. Mutant-Human relations are worse than ever, with the Homo Sapien League, the Office of National Emergency, and many other human factions shaking things up for the Xavier-less X-Men. Headmasters Scott Summers and Emma Frost thus declare the former Institute, a haven for the remaining mutants. As a result of what is vernacularly known as "M" day, things will never be the same again. Come on board.

Uncanny X-Men, penned by veteran X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, picks up from Morrison’s Phoenix Disinfection storyline. Jean Grey may have long been dead, but her daughter Rachel is not safe from the Shi’ar. The team roster includes Marvel Girl, the newly risen Psylocke, Bishop, Cannonball, and their leader Nightcrawler. Illustrated by Chris Bachalo, this is the perfect comic book for those who are attuned to classic X-Men tales and have a knack for in-depth characterization.

New X-Men: Academy X, penned by Craig Kyle and Chris Yost of X-23, builds on action inside the Institute. While Xavier’s is home to the X-Men, it is first and foremost a school for gifted youngsters. Continuing from the phenomenon that Weir and deFilippis started, life has become more dangerous for teenage wonders Hellion, Elixir, Surge, Dust, and Rockslide. The student population has been decimated while the remaining few who have retained their powers are forced to live in a world where they are feared and hated more than ever. Illustrated by Mark Brooks, fan-favorite X-23 joins this cast of young apprentices.

New Excalibur, also penned by Chris Claremont, is set in jolly ol’ England. From the events of Uncanny X-Men and the return of Captain Britain, the story shifts focus from Genosha to the UK where a mysterious threat lingers. Under the helm of Brian Braddock (Psylocke’s brother), Nocturne, Juggernaut, Dazzler, Sage and Pete Wisdom rally to keep the peace in the far side of the globe.

X-Factor. That’s right! Written by Peter David, the celebrated series has risen from limbo and into the former Mutant Town. Jamie Madrox, codename "Multiple Man," has just opened a detective agency and has enlisted the help of Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, Siryn, Monet, Rictor, and Layla Miller in offering their services to the massively reduced mutant community. Decked in darkly stunning art by Ryan Sook and Dennis Callero, it’s the perfect comic book for those with a flare for mystery and suspense.

Marvel sure has outdone itself again. With the addition of Son of M, X-men, O*N*E, Deadly Genesis, and the 198 to the X-Men continuity, it’s ridiculous not to join in on all the action. But for those who don’t know a thing or two of what I’m talking about, head over to your nearest comic bookstore now. It’s better to be in the know when X-Men 3 comes out this May.

* * *

Catch your breath and let me know what you think at chasingtoff@yahoo.com.