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jaguarshark
05-28-2006, 09:01 PM
Ok, so I'm hoping the esteemed X-Fans around these parts can help clear some things up for me. As a kid, whenever I read X-Men comics, I always assumed Xavier was a completely "good" character, even if he could be a stern taskmaster on occasion. However, as I've re-read stuff over the years, I've noticed a few shades of grey that I'd love to have clarified.

Firstly, is it true that Xavier is being turned into a villain? Actually, there was a long stretch where I wasn't reading comics... has he already been turned into a villain, and I missed it?

Secondly, have the moral issues of the rampant "mindwiping" Charlie has done in the past been adressed? Reading through the early Lee/Kirby issues, I was astonished at the ease with which Xavier carried out actions that would lead to an 'Identity Crisis' and all sorts of moral grand-standing over in the recent DCU. I realise Marvel has more "grey" areas, is this one of them?

What's the deal with Prof X and Jean? Some of his thought balloons in those early issues are a little disturbing. I remember hearing that they touched on the whole 'Xavier having a crush on Jean' thing briefly in the mid-to-late 90s, but I don't know much about it. Was Xavier just thinking of a platonic love, or was there something else going on there?

Finally, do you think the X-Men actually like Xavier? I'm thinking of that brilliant issue straight after the Dark Phoenix Saga, where Cyclops recounts the history of the team from his point of view. He seems to have a lot of repressed anger and resentment towards Xavier in that issue.

That's all I've got for now. I must say the filmic version of the character appears to be a much easier character to classify as unquestionably good, although (spoilers, if anyone still hasn't seen the movie!)

I didn't like the way he threw ethics out the window and transferred his consciousness to the body under Moira's supervision after the end credits of 'X3'.

Affinity
05-28-2006, 09:04 PM
I'm sure there are threads on this...dozens, perhaps.

david r
05-28-2006, 09:16 PM
As far as anyone knows, Charles Xavier is NOT being turned into a villain. Charles has some "dark secrets" and skeletons in his closet, but Xavier a badass villain? Probably not.

Xavier has briefly turned into a villain twice before. Once in the 1980s in the X-Men vs. the Micronauts mini-series. And then again in 1996, when Charles was corrupted by Magneto's "essence" and he became the entity known as Onslaught. Both times Charles was able to return back to his lovable self.

As for Charles' mindwiping, no. Until "Deadly Genesis", it has never become an issue. Charles seems to have softened in his later years, and mindwiping others became a no-no. But now AFTER "Deadly Genesis", I suspect it may become a hot-topic.

Charles and Jean. What the hell was Stan Lee thinkin'??? Apparently, when Stan "The Man" Lee wrote one of the earliest issues of X-Men, he did indeed plan for Charles to have an *interest* in teenage Jean Grey. But he changed his tune quick. The lust Charles apparently felt for Jean Grey was not really mentioned again until Onslaught in 1996. But it was only mentioned briefly in that Event. But an X-Men writer at that time, Mark Waid, seems to have wanted to bring it up, but he was vetoed.

Do the X-Men like Charles Xavier? Yes, I would say most of them do. If any have serious issues with him, it would probably be the original X-Men. He was the hardest with them, and was far less mellow and reasonable in those early days. Also Sage would obviously have some issues with him, as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cyclops did have some bad memories of those early days. Charles and Scott do have a "father/son" relationship, but I suspect Charles may have been a proponent of Tough Love in those earlier days. Scott may hold a slight resentment, but I think in his heart of hearts, Cyclops loves Xavier like the father he never had.

jaguarshark
05-28-2006, 09:17 PM
Originally posted by Affinity
I'm sure there are threads on this...dozens, perhaps.

So there are, I just found one, although it doesn't really ask the same questions that my post did. Thanks for not really contributing anything helpful, though. Still, my bad... I should have searched the board more thoroughly.

david r
05-28-2006, 09:19 PM
So there are, I just found one, although it doesn't really ask the same questions that my post did. Thanks for not really contributing anything helpful, though. Still, my bad... I should have searched the board more thoroughly.

I hope my answer helped some. :)

jaguarshark
05-28-2006, 09:20 PM
Originally posted by david r
I hope my answer helped some.

It certainly did! Thanks very much! :) I'm glad I'm not the only one who was a little taken aback by those Stan Lee thought balloons.