5
The X-Statix
Are The X-Men 2020 Deserves
The X-Men's Dark Phoenix Saga has inspired two movies (plus phoenixteasing in
two others), multiple episodes of three
different cartoon series, and 40 years of rehashes in the comics. Guys,
it's time to let this story do the opposite of a phoenix and stay dead. In
fact, maybe Marvel Studios should let the tired old X-Men themselves rest for a
while and try out a more updated take on the "genetic freaks form a super
team" concept. Good thing they already own the rights to a comic like that,
and it's called X-Statix.
Marvel ComicsYou know they're twice as radical as the regular X-Men because there's two Xs in the title.
X-Statix shows
us what would actually happen if a bunch of fit people with awesome powers
saved the world every other week: they'd be filthy rich and famous. The
X-Statix are a brand-aware superhero team who present new members in press
conferences like they're NBA players, make money from shameless corporate
tie-ins, and bicker with each other like decadent reality TV stars. They also
screw like Olympic medalists, while the regular X-Men have only recently been introduced
to the concept of guilt-free sex.
Marvel ComicsDamn, this comic really was ahead of its time: dude's already rocking that corona look.
The cynicism of this premise is
perfectly balanced out by artist Mike Allred's groovy pop art-inspired style.
These may not be the most heroic mutants ever, but their fight scenes are legit
superhero action straight out of a '60s Marvel comic. A TV or movie adaptation
could recreate that tone by going with a retro-inspired aesthetic to contrast
with the flawed or straight-up shitty protagonists. Not that modern audiences
aren't ready for straight-up shitty superheroes, considering how well Amazon's The Boys is doing.