Should the X-Men Remain Neutral?

[Tre Styles]

In Civil War: X-Men, and Civil War #3, we see that the X-Men take the stand of "neutral", however some people disagree such as X-Factor and Bishop (both taking opposite sides). What do you think, should the X-Men remain neutral during Civil War(because they do have to deal with the ONE situation after all) or do they take a more active role on either the pro or anti registration sides, seeing as they too are superhumans? (And may soon have to deal with a new Mutant Registration Act(as mentioned in some of the Civil War issues/tie-ins).

[Arrjay]

They should be anti-registration.

[Beast]

It's pretty clear they're not neutral, what with the end of Civil War: X-Men #1.

[Jellobay]

They need to kick butt and take names. Thats what comics are for. :)

[AnthonyJ]

It's somewhat incoherent for them to be neutral, since it's an issue that is clearly relevant to them. They don't necessarily have to be anti-registration, but they should certainly be interested in influencing the direction the issue goes.

Key, of course, is that this is an Avengers crossover, not an X-men crossover, which is why all the X-books are avoiding it.

[Matthew K.]

They should be anti-registration.
They need to kick butt and take names. Thats what comics are for. :)
I'm with Arrjay & Jello.

For me, it's hard to imagine the X-Men going along with the Registration Act. Peaceful protest or not, I feel they should (& would) fight it.

[Beast]

I can see why they're not directly going against it right now. They're too public at the moment. They can't simply say they supprot the Anti-Reg side, because the Sentinels are right there and breathing down their necks, waiting for any excuse for them to step out of line. And they also owe it to the students to not put them in further danger, by bringing the Government down on them. If the students weren't at the school, I'm almost certain that they would find a secondary base to operate from and declare themselves on Cappy's side.

[Jellobay]

I'm with Arrjay & Jello.


I see a Civil War bannar there. :)

[fishtaco]

I'm with Claremont. :rolleyes:

[Brian M.]

I like that they are nuetral but honestly I think that they would be on the Anti-Reg side easily. It's amazing they are not but I can see why they would declare nuetral. The world wasn't there for them in Genosha and the X-Men don't give a dam about them now. They aren't effected.

[Vaal]

They should be Anti-Reg simply on principle. But really, they're already living in an internment camp, so what more harm can the SHRA do them? What? Is Tony going to order Sentry to throw them into the sun too?

[Babylon23]

Their neutrality makes perfect sense to me. Here's why:
- They've just lost 90% of their people.
- They're under constant watch by the government and the Sentinels.
- The school is public, and thus an easy target for assault.
- A mutant recently rewrote reality, something that is known to the pro-registration heroes.
- In recent months (Marvel time) the world's #1 evil Mutant destroyed New York, killing thousands of people.

All of these points make them too visible, and too vulnerable, to come out as openly anti-registration. While I'm sure most of them disagree with the Act, the best thing in their current situation would be to remain officially neutral.

[Brian M.]

Their neutrality makes perfect sense to me. Here's why:
- They've just lost 90% of their people.
- They're under constant watch by the government and the Sentinels.
- The school is public, and thus an easy target for assault.
- A mutant recently rewrote reality, something that is known to the pro-registration heroes.
- In recent months (Marvel time) the world's #1 evil Mutant destroyed New York, killing thousands of people.

All of these points make them too visible, and too vulnerable, to come out as openly anti-registration. While I'm sure most of them disagree with the Act, the best thing in their current situation would be to remain officially neutral.


Agreed 100%

[Rachel Grey]

Neutral in inverted commas.

[Mariah]

How about doing what Ghandi did and sit around in diapers and starve? The women practically look like they are half way there looking at some of the covers.

[mrcassandranova]

I like that they are neutral, that way all of the monthlies don't have tie-ins!

[-S-Man-]

Why should they stick their heads in the sand? They should make a stand for they believe in...Freedom to do the best for everyone but not be Persecuted for it.

To be neutral is just complicating matters more, so they should choose a side...whichever side they choose is fine by me but I don't them going on the pro-registration side.

Their neutrality makes perfect sense to me. Here's why:
- They've just lost 90% of their people.
- They're under constant watch by the government and the Sentinels.
- The school is public, and thus an easy target for assault.
- A mutant recently rewrote reality, something that is known to the pro-registration heroes.
- In recent months (Marvel time) the world's #1 evil Mutant destroyed New York, killing thousands of people.

All of these points make them too visible, and too vulnerable, to come out as openly anti-registration. While I'm sure most of them disagree with the Act, the best thing in their current situation would be to remain officially neutral.

Lets take a look at what these points will really mean in the long term if they stay neutral:

- They've just lost 90% of their people. So it will be easier for the government to boss them around if they ever want freedom. Which is exactly what O*N*E is trying to do be restricting their movement and passing it off as protection.
- They're under constant watch by the government and the Sentinels. Its like the Gestapo (Nazi Police)...why keep a watch with sentinels? Because the government is afraid they will be trained to go agains the state.
- The school is public, and thus an easy target for assault. From whom? I mean its Xavier's grounds and X-Men live there.
- A mutant recently rewrote reality, something that is known to the pro-registration heroes. One mutant doesn't really represent all other mutants (specially an offspring of Magneto).
- In recent months (Marvel time) the world's #1 evil Mutant destroyed New York, killing thousands of people. See above

[CE_Rap]

Why should they stick their heads in the sand? They should make a stand for they believe in...Freedom to do the best for everyone but not be Persecuted for it.

To be neutral is just complicating matters more, so they should choose a side...whichever side they choose is fine by me but I don't them going on the pro-registration side.



Lets take a look at what these points will really mean in the long term if they stay neutral:

- They've just lost 90% of their people. So it will be easier for the government to boss them around if they ever want freedom. Which is exactly what O*N*E is trying to do be restricting their movement and passing it off as protection.
- They're under constant watch by the government and the Sentinels. Its like the Gestapo (Nazi Police)...why keep a watch with sentinels? Because the government is afraid they will be trained to go agains the state.
- The school is public, and thus an easy target for assault. From whom? I mean its Xavier's grounds and X-Men live there.
- A mutant recently rewrote reality, something that is known to the pro-registration heroes. One mutant doesn't really represent all other mutants (specially an offspring of Magneto).
- In recent months (Marvel time) the world's #1 evil Mutant destroyed New York, killing thousands of people. See above


Your statements, your last 2 in particualr are quixotic at best. In the eyes of teh public, you better believe those "one" mutants represent all the mutants. It's the same reason muslims in America feel pressure from everyone else.

Ofcourse it's not right, but when dealing with politics, it usually isn't. The devastation Magneto and his daughter caused can't be overlooked, are are just several examples that teh humans have had to deal with. They see this registration as their salvation.


I gotta say, i really agree with the X-men's INITIAL idea of neutrality. And for all the reasons in the first quote. I emphasize "initial" because at the end of the day, their has to be a reckoning, and they are going to HAVE to choose. Their is simply no way to remain that out of play--not for them.

If anything, their could even be a mini-civil war in the ranks of the X-Men.

[Bobster777]

I don't think they can stay neutral. The X-Men were created after all to protect mutants. Considering what has happened, the mutants who escaped are clearly in danger. They need to be there atleast to ensure that the escaped mutants will be fairly treated no matter where they turn up.

[Geoff~]

The thing about this is, they can't be neutral about it. By not knowingly allowing something to happen it's in the same boat as helping it allong.

[Vaal]

The thing about this is, they can't be neutral about it. By not knowingly allowing something to happen it's in the same boat as helping it allong.
They're kind of under duress, considering the anti-mutant governemnt agency hanging out where they and thier students sleep.

This isn't just saying 'aw, screw it', this is having a fifty ton gun with arms to your head.

[Zero Hunter]

- The school is public, and thus an easy target for assault. From whom? I mean its Xavier's grounds and X-Men live there.



Read the last New X-men arc to see who. Reverand Stryker and his group of racist came in and shot the hell out of the place and killed alot of the kids. The best scene I have seen so far about why the X-Men are not invovled was Emma letting Ms. marvel have it with both barrels about how the Avengers and the rest of them don't give a flying damn about anything that has been happening to Mutants for a long time so she and Iron Man and the rest of them can leave them the hell alone.

The SHRA doesn't affect the Mutants at all since they are allready all registered and locked up in their camp (until some of them decided that have had enough and left). All them getting involed would do is further tighten ONE and SHIELDS grip on them, and that would inevitbalaly lead to open warfare between them (which is going to happen sooner or latter anyway, but I can see why they would want to postpone it as long as possible)

[Takusa]

I think that there should be a part where the X-Men split up due to differences between themselves.

Like their should be an arguement in which Wolverine states that they should go Anti-Reg, and Cyclops wants to go Pro-Reg. And of course the others would choose sides as well.

But after the Civil War is over, they should get back together...

[ProfeZZor X]

I can see why they're not directly going against it right now. They're too public at the moment. They can't simply say they supprot the Anti-Reg side, because the Sentinels are right there and breathing down their necks, waiting for any excuse for them to step out of line. And they also owe it to the students to not put them in further danger, by bringing the Government down on them. If the students weren't at the school, I'm almost certain that they would find a secondary base to operate from and declare themselves on Cappy's side.

True... After all, they all started out wearing masks. And back then, Xavier taught his mutants to use their powers to defend themselves. Then all of a sudden, they changed their tune and became public. It's not like they can go back to the olden days, so why not be for it. It makes sense for them at this time. Especially when the government (O.N.E.) already knows their not-so-secret identities.

[Beast]

I think that there should be a part where the X-Men split up due to differences between themselves.

Like their should be an arguement in which Wolverine states that they should go Anti-Reg, and Cyclops wants to go Pro-Reg. And of course the others would choose sides as well.

But after the Civil War is over, they should get back together...
The only X-Man who seems to be Pro-Reg is Bishop. So I don't see that happening.

[Bobster777]

The only X-Man who seems to be Pro-Reg is Bishop. So I don't see that happening.
Hmm, I think I could see Forge and Alex be pro.

[Tre Styles]

Hmm, I think I could see Forge and Alex be pro.


Why? Because they worked for the government? But at the same time, didn't they see the shadiness behind the government that they worked for, and naturally oppose registration?

[Wild Card13]

I doubt the X-Men will truly stay neutral for long. Wolverine's more or less thrown in his lot with the Anti side, and every X-Man save for Bishop seems to be morally against the Act, too. Yeah, the X-Men have blown off the rest of the world by pointing out the Genosha debacle, but they've never been ones to just sit back and let things happen. If they were, they wouldn't have followed Xavier's dream, that's for sure.

That said, I don't know if it's really in the X-Men's best interests to get involved. They're all ready registered, since SHIELD has files on every member of the 198 (less now, since a New X-Man keeps dying every month...), so fighting the act is fruitless for them. Plus, mutants are being killed left and right by madmen like the Ghoul, Stryker, or Nimrod, O*N*E* is constantly breathing down their necks, and it'd be hard for them to connect with Cap's resistance force.

I say just sit back and let Magneto get pissed off enough about registration to come and take down the entire Pro-Reg side (he could do it, too, if you think about it). Or at least the Magneto of Earth-2 :p

[Christopher O]

If the students weren't at the school, I'm almost certain that they would find a secondary base to operate from and declare themselves on Cappy's side.

This is the important part, here. They've got to be responsible for the sake of the students, and responsible, in this case, is doing what they're doing. Going underground could mean an end for the school, or it could mean taking the kids and having thirty counts of kidnapping against them. Not to mention, it's a war, and those kids have been through enough.

[eggie]

The X-Men fought the Mutant Registration Act for years, so why should they be neutral now...just because the government has changed the name of the Act and extended to everyone with powers instead of just targetting mutants? This Act effects mutants just as much as the MRA did, so there is no reason for them to pretend they're Switzerland. If they opposed it then they should oppose it now IMO.

[Zero Hunter]

The X-Men fought the Mutant Registration Act for years, so why should they be neutral now...just because the government has changed the name of the Act and extended to everyone with powers instead of just targetting mutants? This Act effects mutants just as much as the MRA did, so there is no reason for them to pretend they're Switzerland. If they opposed it then they should oppose it now IMO.

But like I said they are already all registered. The SHRA was a done deal for all of them ever since HOM. They may hate it and be against it. but to fight it now after all the losses they have suffered latley would serve them no good. The minute the X-Men would take a stand against the SHRA the government would send Stark and his stormtroppers into the mansion and arrest everyone, and the last thing the mutants want to be is prisoners of such a corrupt organization as SHIELD and ONE.

[Affinity]

Wait, but, they're already prisoners.

[steve2275]

Wait, but, they're already prisoners.
seems that way huh

[Babylon23]

Lets take a look at what these points will really mean in the long term if they stay neutral:

- They've just lost 90% of their people. So it will be easier for the government to boss them around if they ever want freedom. Which is exactly what O*N*E is trying to do be restricting their movement and passing it off as protection.
- They're under constant watch by the government and the Sentinels. Its like the Gestapo (Nazi Police)...why keep a watch with sentinels? Because the government is afraid they will be trained to go agains the state.
- The school is public, and thus an easy target for assault. From whom? I mean its Xavier's grounds and X-Men live there.
- A mutant recently rewrote reality, something that is known to the pro-registration heroes. One mutant doesn't really represent all other mutants (specially an offspring of Magneto).
- In recent months (Marvel time) the world's #1 evil Mutant destroyed New York, killing thousands of people. See above

I don't disagree with your points. However, I was talking about their "official" position. The worst thing for them right now would be to be seen to be actively protecting the registration.

An anti-Registration position would ensure that they'd be even more persecuted than they currently are. While they're currently imprisoned, an anti-Registration stance could result in something worse (an excuse for full imprisonment in cells, sanctioned government tesing on mutants, or maybe even genocide)

[Babylon23]

How about doing what Ghandi did and sit around in diapers and starve? The women practically look like they are half way there looking at some of the covers.

Coming soon to a comic store near you....THE ANOREXIC X-MEN...with art by Michael Turner!