Best post 1991-Claremont X-Writer [Archive] - Comic Book Resources Forums

CURSD BLADE

01-18-2006, 12:34 PM

Brian Cronin

01-18-2006, 12:37 PM

Simple ground rules.

Answer the question, and give a reason if you'd like.

Keep it to that.

No creator comparisons and no replying to someone's choice with something along the lines of "That creator is not good."

-Brian

lament

01-18-2006, 12:40 PM

So, from 1991 to now, who would you peg as the best X-Writer (not just on the core X-Titles, but the best X-Writer who had an extended run on any X-Related book)?

Peter David. Hands down, he's the best at characterization, at mixing drama and humor, and at character interaction.

Flight

01-18-2006, 12:43 PM

On the core books, Morrison has been my favourite.

I'm a big fan of some of Lobdell and Nicieza's work too and have been really enjoying Milligans run so far.
Other books, I'd go with Peter David on X-Factor.

Will.S

01-18-2006, 12:46 PM

I'd probably put it in this order:

1) Grant Morrison - Kind of crazy, kind of kooky but understood the characters and was an idea machine. While his influence is slowly being folded back, he had some of the coolest spins on the X-characters (such as the Shi'ar and Phoenix) and had an epic run. Not perfect by any means but probably the most important run since Claremont came aboard in my opinion.

2) Joss Whedon - More or less continuing Morrison's ideas but with his great sense of dialogue and adventure. I wish he were on the book for a year more after the upcoming one but I'll take what I can get and it's best leaving when you're hot.

3) Mark Millar (Wolverine) - Pumped a ton of excitement into Wolverine not seen in years. Lots of action, intruige and cool villains as well as setting up certain status quo's for other characters.

I've been reading the X-Factor Visionaries stories by Peter David and they're highly enjoyable as well so he will likely make the list after I finish his run. Kind of ahead of it's time.

Faded

01-18-2006, 12:55 PM

I'm a big fan of a lot of them for different reasons. Lobdell, Nicieza, Morrison, Casey, Seagle, Kelly, Loeb, Milligan, Moore, Whedon, David...so many.

X-Men Forever

01-18-2006, 12:56 PM

The best overall general comic book writer after Claremont is Morrison, but I hated most of his X-Men run. Best overall X-Men writer after Claremont was Lobdell.

mattbib

01-18-2006, 01:17 PM

DDM

01-18-2006, 01:22 PM

Besides Chris Claremont, Peter David is my favorite writer from his 12 years on The Incredible Hulk, X-Factor #70-89, DC's Supergirl. The other writers & editors evenutally get consumed by the daunting X-Men franchise simply by not knowing the X-Men's comprehensive history.

streator

01-18-2006, 01:27 PM

grant morrison.

Will.S

01-18-2006, 02:02 PM

Besides Chris Claremont, Peter David is my favorite writer from his 12 years on The Incredible Hulk, X-Factor #70-89....
I wonder why X-Factor #70 wasn't included in the Visionaries book.

Flight

01-18-2006, 02:04 PM

I wonder why X-Factor #70 wasn't included in the Visionaries book. It wasn't really the start of his run though was it?
X-Factor #71 was the whole start of the new team having their first adventures. Wasn't #70 the gobetween between The Shadow King and the "reload" so to speak?

Twigglet

01-18-2006, 02:05 PM

I'd probably put it in this order:

1) Grant Morrison - Kind of crazy, kind of kooky but understood the characters and was an idea machine. While his influence is slowly being folded back, he had some of the coolest spins on the X-characters (such as the Shi'ar and Phoenix) and had an epic run. Not perfect by any means but probably the most important run since Claremont came aboard in my opinion.

2) Joss Whedon - More or less continuing Morrison's ideas but with his great sense of dialogue and adventure. I wish he were on the book for a year more after the upcoming one but I'll take what I can get and it's best leaving when you're hot.

3) Mark Millar (Wolverine) - Pumped a ton of excitement into Wolverine not seen in years. Lots of action, intruige and cool villains as well as setting up certain status quo's for other characters.

It's the same as my list, but replace Millar's Wolverine (which I havn't read) for Ult X-men.

Will.S

01-18-2006, 02:10 PM

It wasn't really the start of his run though was it?
X-Factor #71 was the whole start of the new team having their first adventures. Wasn't #70 the gobetween between The Shadow King and the "reload" so to speak?
That's what I'm guessing. I would have liked to have seen it there but *shrug*.

It's the same as my list, but replace Millar's Wolverine (which I havn't read) for Ult X-men.
I would definitely add him but just for now I'm going with 616 books.

Chiasm

01-18-2006, 02:37 PM

I think Lobdell gave the best overall stories since Claremont. AoA stands as my favorite all time X-story. But Lobdell also gave us some pretty bad stories and characters as well.

Morrision was more consistent although nothing stands out in my mind as really memorable.

If we count X-factor I too love Peter David's X-factor.

I liked Whedon's first arc on Astonishing, not so much his second arc with the danger room robot or whatever it was.

Beyond that there are some individual issues here and there from some of the other writers I liked and some writers I don't care for anything they've done.

DDM

01-18-2006, 03:02 PM

I wonder why X-Factor #70 wasn't included in the Visionaries book.

X-Factor #70 is a transition issue. Charles Xavier tries his best to reach out to his son, although his mind was destroyed by the Shadow King. Polaris, Strong Guy, & Madrox play small roles. Gradually, everyone else under the influence of the Shadow King returns to their normal selves in this issue.

cable guy

01-18-2006, 04:59 PM

Grant Morrison- By far in my book. And to think I didn't like his stuff at first :confused: . Great, great stuff.

Joss Whedon- What can I say, I loved Astonishing.

dazzler_slave

01-18-2006, 05:32 PM

Okay, here we go

X-Men Writer - Scott Lobdell: He was on for a long time and he definitely shaped the X-Men for the 90's. His Age of Apocalypse, his creation of Generation X and Fatal Attractions are hilights. Runner up is Joe Kelly: His run was short, but I found it so refreshing and his new characters fascinating. Wish he had stayed on longer.

Other X-Titles:

Peter David: His X-Factor was visionary. He is hands down my second favourite X-Writer after Claremont. Fantastic work!

John Francis Moore: His highly underrated run on X-Force was brilliant. Taking them out of costume in the 90's and having them road trip in an old car across the USA for almost a year was very daring for its time. Moving an X-Team to San Francisco was an excellent idea and I will be forever greatful that he brought Dani back from Limbo.

Joe Kelly & Christopher Priest: They did back to back runs on Deadpool and these runs will always be THE definitive portrayal of Wade. Love it.

Mark Millar: I was just collecting Wolverine because I am a completist freak when he came on the title. Suddenly Wolverine was at the top of myread pile every month. I didn't agree with everything that happened in his run (Northstar) but I can't deny that his 2 arcs were electric.

CURSD BLADE

01-18-2006, 07:41 PM

Being 18, I grew up on the X-Men Animated Series and the melodrama of the 1990's comics.

I remember being so hooked and loving the tention between Rogue and Gambit and wondering what Mr. Sinister had over Remy. I remember being addicted to Excalibur because it was my only way to get a Nightcrawler and Colossus fix. I couldn't get enough of Trish Tilby and Hank together. I pumped my fists in the air when Cannonball left X-Force for the big leagues. I cried when Colossus turned his back on his friends after Illiana died and joined Magneto. I still read Wolverine, despite him losing his nose and wearing pirate do-rags as a mask. I still get nervous reading the issue where Sam fights Gladiator in a David Vs. Goliath showdown.

I couldn't wait to get the next issue of Uncanny to see Joe Mad's art. I loved how consistently amazing both the Kuberts were on anything X-related they penciled. I still remember picking up X-Men #1 at the tender age of 4 and being blown away by Jim Lee's art.

Yet, when I look back on it all with a more matured sense of taste, the writing was over-the-top melodrama that lacked intellect. Morrison definetly reinvented the franchise and for that, he gets my pick.

Tony Starkz

01-18-2006, 09:01 PM

Lobdell nailed all the characters and reallt "got" the X-Men.The drama and the relationships were all developed really nicely and I actually loved his issues where nothing happened except having the X-Men hang out around the mansion.He is one a few who can pull this off without being boring.

Babylon23

01-18-2006, 09:18 PM

I've enjoyed most of the writers since Claremont's leaving, but honestly my favorite since then has been Claremont. I really enjoyed his work during Revolution, I absolutely loved X-Treme X-Men and Mekanix, and I've loved his Reload work. His writing just suits my tastes.

I agree entirely. I've loved all most of Claremont's stuff since his return.

As for other writers, I tihnk Kelly and Seagle were building up to big things before they quit.

On the periferal titles, PAD's X-Factor really stands out.

Mr. Truth

01-18-2006, 09:28 PM

I've really enjoyed Morrison's work the X-Men, and I am currently loving Whedon's work as well.

xgeek52

01-18-2006, 09:50 PM

babylon hit it...kelly and seagle were it followed by david...but i don't care what anyone says claremont will always be it for me...he understands the xuniverse the best... :cool:

CURSD BLADE

01-18-2006, 09:52 PM

I hardly even remembered Seagle worked on X-Men. Wasn't he only on for 10 issues or so? What happened in his run anyway and who was his artist?

thik_3rd

01-18-2006, 09:59 PM

lobdell. starkz nailed why. in fact he's the best x-writer ever.

JLarson

01-18-2006, 10:28 PM

Lobdell for heart, Morrison for ideas, and Casey for just my all around favourite.

jcp011c

01-18-2006, 10:31 PM

Lobdell nailed all the characters and reallt "got" the X-Men.The drama and the relationships were all developed really nicely

Bingo. that is EXACTLY why Lobdell has been my second favorite X-writer. the characters developed consistantly from Claremont's reign. Lots of internationalization and angst, he moved the characters forward a bit, it's not his fault that those same plot points are being used 15 years later.

Babylon23

01-18-2006, 10:52 PM

My only real problem with Lobdell's run is that it was bogged down by the 90's "big event" mentality. A lot of his issues were either part of a crossover, the leadup to a crossover, or the aftermath of a crossover.

Of course, this isn't really his fault, and his stand alone stories were very good, as was Generation X.

thik_3rd

01-18-2006, 11:18 PM

Lobdell for heart, Morrison for ideas, and Casey for just my all around favourite.
casey may be my favorite writer ever, but his x-men stuff was just trash unfortunately. defintely a huge disappointment.

Nick Kal

01-18-2006, 11:22 PM

I've only read Lobdell and Whedon and I love 'em both.

I am looking forward to jumping onto a new writer's book in July!

lament

01-18-2006, 11:36 PM

In addition to Peter David, who I mentioned earlier, I also enjoy Lobdell and Whedon. I fell in love with Lobdell during his Generation X run, and Whedon is a master of dialogue.

spoon_jenkins

01-18-2006, 11:39 PM

I guess I'd say Lobdell. He wrote stuff I though was crappy, but he also wrote some really good stuff. Generation X was really good. I think he actually handled some of the big events well. His Phalanx Covenant and AoA work were pretty good.

SleepWalker

01-19-2006, 05:45 AM

Lobdell all the way. I enjoyed this guy's work almost as much as I did CC's back in the day.

fishtaco

01-19-2006, 06:16 AM

Claremont and PAD.

grampa doowop

01-19-2006, 11:44 AM

Scott Lobdell...I didn't start collecting and seriously reading comic books until about 4-5 years before Claremont left the X-Men. So when I really began noticing writers, Claremont had left and Lobdell was writing most of the X-Books. Anyway, as I began paying attention to writers I was always struck by Lobdell's ability to write emotion (Graydon Creed's attack on Iceman's dad, Illyana's death), humor (early Generation X), and big/grand storylines (AoA, X-Cutioner's Song).

As a matter of fact, while flipping through some old issues the other day, I even appreciated the fact that after Peter David left X-Factor, for the few issues Lobdell wrote it, he tried maintaing that same humor and dialogue that David had started...before it became the angsty, underground, anti-government team :mad:

So my vote is for Lobdell, who, despite all of the 90's madness, still maintained a sense of family, action, and fun in the X-Books for what was probably their most critical time period all, the "post-Claremont" years.

Oh and honorable mentions to Joe Kelly, Peter David, John Francis Moore, Jeph Loeb, and Fabian Nicieza.

Edit: Oh yeah, and Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon also.

jarrod

01-20-2006, 07:12 AM

I'd say Morrison, no question. I'm a bit surprised nobody mentioned Alan Davis' fantastic run on Excalibur though.

gary

01-20-2006, 07:53 AM

Just confining my choices to the core X books:
1. Scott Lobdell - I loved Scott's issues, especially the single issue 'calm after the storm' stories.
2. Joe Kelly - Too short but great characterisation and an interesting team dynamic.
3. Chuck Austen - Surprised myself with this choice but the more I read his issues the more I enjoy them.

Dr Manolis Dooplove

01-20-2006, 08:23 AM

1)Pete Milligan: X-Force and the X-Statix is the best x-book... ever :)

2)Scott Lobdell: best characterisation, and created the only memorable characters from the 90s (well, apart for Pete Wisdom)! Also the mastermind behind Age of apocalypswe (the best x-crossover), Onslaught and Operation Zero Tolerance. Also wrote the breakfast issue! :D

3)Peter David: X-factor and grey poupon :)

Mister Mets

01-20-2006, 08:28 AM

Morrison. I believe his first year of New X-Men (The Cassandra Nova epic) was the best X-Men tale since "God Loves, Man Kills." The rest of his run was a little more mixed, but I really enjoyed "Riot at Xaviers" "Murder at the Mansion" and especially "Planet X." If new X-Men #127-154 is a single mega-epic it would be one of the ten or so best X-tales.

Runner ups would include Millar (Wolverine, Ultimate X-Men), Milligan (X-Force, although I dropped X-Statix, and didn't even try his X-Men) and Whedon.

countryfan2004

01-20-2006, 08:50 AM

Lobdell!!! I love his writing, especially Gen X and his years on X-Men.

Frank

01-20-2006, 02:46 PM

I don`t think there was anybody that trully shined in there. Nobody did really anything classic. But I guess Millar in his first Ultimate X-Men storyline got them more than anybody else.

tjarvis

01-20-2006, 04:07 PM

1) Scott Lobdell - He's the guy who got me hooked on X-Men to begin with. I loved some of his greater story arcs, and he had a handle for a lot of nice characterization.

2) Mark Millar - His ultimate X-Men was awesome. His final "Return of the King" arc might be my single favorite X-Men story.

3) Grant Morrison - Brilliant on so many levels. The only reason he's not higher is that he never really had a defining action moment for me when he was in his run. Perhaps a touch slow paced at points.

Runner Up: Joss Whedon - Loving the run so far, and he has the potential to jump much higher. With only twelve issues though, I can't put him in my top three just yet.

Henry T.

01-20-2006, 04:37 PM

Grant Morrison-- his run was definitely one of the, if not the, most creative and clever X-Men runs.

Joss Whedon-- his run so far has been good quality.

I really like the streamlined runs.

Claremont's Revolution started out with some good ideas but became jumbled way too fast.

Seagles and Kelly's short run began good but also fell flat too fast.

I did like X-Men #53 by Waid (I think it was).

I liked Operation Zero Tolerance (Lobdell wasn't it?).

I also liked some of the Fabian N. issues such as X-Men 28 and 30.

the Hornet

01-20-2006, 11:36 PM

Okay, after Chris Claremont's not-so-subtle exodus from X-Men in 1991 with Jim Lee, there have been a slew of writers taking over the reigns, including a return in 2000 from Claremont himself.

So, from 1991 to now, who would you peg as the best X-Writer (not just on the core X-Titles, but the best X-Writer who had an extended run on any X-Related book)?

Lobdell? Nicieza? Byrne? Millar? Morrison? Whedon? Milligan? Austen? Casey? Winick? Hama? Rucka? Tieri? Bedard? Loeb? Ellis? PAD? Waid, Francis Moore? Seagle? Vaughan? Bendis?

Fabian Nicieza. His X-Men started off a little dull and I preffered Lobdell at first, but slowly Fabe improved and won me over with his title and his amazing work at X-Force (he is the best Cannonbal writer ever for me). His work with the Scott-Jean wedding, X-Men #24, the Psyloclke-Warren development and many others made the X-Men seem like family again.

goldenarms

01-21-2006, 04:42 PM

Claremont, Morrison and Hine. though PAd's X-factor was a fun read.

Cowlander

01-21-2006, 05:31 PM

HOnestly PAD's X-factor >>>> Claremons original run. Its that serious :: ominous glare::

But post '91...

Pad, Then Vaughn, then Austen, those are the last runs I can remember just loving most of the way thru. Everyone else was more hit or miss with me. Those three did things differently and it was interesting to me.

Citizen V

01-21-2006, 07:11 PM

I would have to say Fabien Nicieza,John Byrne are perhaps the only writers that could match up to Claremont`s level.Then again..im one of the older X-Readers..

rage6839

01-30-2006, 04:51 PM

The one-two punch of Lobdell and Niceicza(sp). I looked forward to Uncanny and X-Men every month and wrote some of the best stories in comic book history, jmho :)

Moblin

02-10-2006, 01:55 PM

Lobdell and Loeb.
Loebs brief spell on Cable with Ian Churchill was pure brilliance, took a character I thought was a regular renta gun and gave him background and character, still read them today.
Loved all of Lobdells work on Gen X and Age of Apocalypse

magik420

02-10-2006, 04:39 PM

grant was the bomb-diggidy-bomb... he got me back into comics and now i can't seem to get away... although chuck almost made me cut the cord

Mideon

02-10-2006, 09:09 PM

Fab Nic for sure. The only complete X-Men run I had was X-Men 19-30 and I loved it. Alot of it is Kubert's art though, definitely.

Tony Starkz

02-10-2006, 09:49 PM

Lobdell and Nicieza.

xakko

02-10-2006, 10:35 PM

Peter David's X-Factor far and away in the lead.
Alan Davis on Excalibur (I think his run including post 1991)
Joss Whedon's Astonishing

As a Colossus fan, I just don't have any love for Lobdell, who did more damage to the character than any other.

stillanerd

02-10-2006, 10:56 PM

Stan Lee created the X-Men, and Chris Claremont defined them and brought them to the mainstream, but it was Grant Morrison who made them what they should've been. Granted, there were missteps, but almost everything about New X-Men not only built upon who the characters were, but progressed events in a logical, meaningful way while still staying true to the original concept and spirit of the comic. It's a shame that after he left that Marvel has been trying to undo everything he brought to the title.

Oh, and Peter David's run on X-Factor was terrific and the line-up of Havok, Polaris, Wolfsbane, Strong Guy, Multiple Man, and Quicksilver was the best one the title had.

Moblin

02-11-2006, 08:16 AM

Off topic but what is Lobdell working on now??

david r

02-11-2006, 10:15 AM

Uh...Lobdell? Fabian? Morrison? What have you guys been reading?

Only 3 men have written X-Men since '91. There names are Bob Harras, Mark Powers and Mike Marts. Or as I call them, the Super-Villain Team-Up. :mad:

All those "writers" you guys mention were just scripting the dialogue over the plots from those 3 guys. Get with the Big Picture here. :)

Mister Mets

02-11-2006, 10:27 AM

Grant Morrison- Because his first year on New X-Men (the Cassandra Nova arc) is my favorite X-story, published in my lifetime, and the rest of his run is amongst the best Post Claremont work(especially "Riot at Xaviers" "M For Murder" and "Planet X'.)

Although I have enjoyed the work of Peter David (X-Factor), Peter Milligan (X-Force, X-Statix, I haven't tried his X-Men), Joss Whedon, and Mark Millar (Wolverine.)