CBR NEWS: X-Tra Credit: Kyle & Yost Talk "New X-Men"

[Jonah Weiland]

The cast of "New X-Men" are having a rough year; some have lost their powers and many friends have died. In order to survive the remainder of this year, they must pull together and face one last seemingly unstoppable foe. We spoke with writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost about the book.

http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=8319

[Mariah]

So...is like, david getting his powers back?

[Sentinel K]

So...is like, david getting his powers back?

Considering they seemed to think he was more interesting WITHOUT them that seems unlikely.

[Mariah]

Considering they seemed to think he was more interesting WITHOUT them that seems unlikely.
So...a human is on an all mutant team? *scratches head* I guess that makes sense.:confused:

[Sentinel K]

So...a human is on an all mutant team? *scratches head* I guess that makes sense.:confused:

Damn straight it does.

Don't think. You'll hurt yourself.

[Mariah]

Damn straight it does.

Don't think. You'll hurt yourself.
I have to do something while I let the air out.

[Daithi]

So...a human is on an all mutant team? *scratches head* I guess that makes sense.:confused:

Poor Dani. She spends years as a New Mutant and living at the mansion yet gets kicked out when she's not a mutant and somehow Prodigy can stay. :mad:

[Mariah]

Poor Dani. She spends years as a New Mutant and living at the mansion yet gets kicked out when she's not a mutant and somehow Prodigy can stay. :mad:
I feel your pain. they should have said she was just faking it, like Warren. She's like, the only New Mutant who was depowered too.:(

[Beast]

Yeah, that bugs the hell out of me. Dani has more right to still be at the school than freakin' Prodigy.

Also pretty lame how Craig and Kyle make it sound like everything was High School Soap before they came one.

I'm also annoyed that we're promised yet another death in New X-Men #31. Cut it out guys!

[Daithi]

Also pretty lame how Craig and Kyle make it sound like everything was High School Soap before they came one.

Well it was. :) However that's not always a bad thing.

[Beast]

Well it was. :) However that's not always a bad thing.
But it wasn't! Hell, even Nunzio has argued this point. It went from a regular X-Book to a Snuff Film.

[Daithi]

But it wasn't! Hell, even Nunzio has argued this point. It went from a regular X-Book to a Snuff Film.

Hmm well it seemed more Buffy-ish. Action taken place largely in a high school and more focus on character than story. I enjoyed it though.

The book now is trying to be a regular X-book which the team being treated as an X-Team at the expense of the adults.

[chickrockguitar]

Well, it looks like Davids not gonna die, so yay for him, lol.

[Beast]

Well, it looks like Davids not gonna die, so yay for him, lol.
And their 'Pet Character' is safe as well.

[Hi-Fi]

And their 'Pet Character' is safe as well.

Since their 'Pet Character" rocks, I'm all for it.:rolleyes:

Really, is so silly calling X-23 that. You don't call Storm like that in every book CC wites, do you, Beast?

[X-Factor]

Yeah, that bugs the hell out of me. Dani has more right to still be at the school than freakin' Prodigy.

Also pretty lame how Craig and Kyle make it sound like everything was High School Soap before they came one.

I'm also annoyed that we're promised yet another death in New X-Men #31. Cut it out guys!

Preach on, brotha. Craig and Kyle are consistent with calling the previous run that I suppose, despite Nunzio expressing feelings of insult to them on a previous messageboard which they both post in.

So are they leaving after this arc is done with?

[X-Factor]

Since their 'Pet Character" rocks, I'm all for it.:rolleyes:

Really, is so silly calling X-23 that. You don't call Storm like that in every book CC wites, do you, Beast?

True, Storm is Claremont's pet character, but he is not a cannon fodder machine.

[caney]

Emma has to have the highest student death rate of any teacher ever. The school should hire a full time mortician.

[Hi-Fi]

Preach on, brotha. Craig and Kyle are consistent with calling the previous run that I suppose, despite Nunzio expressing feelings of insult to them on a previous messageboard which they both post in.

So are they leaving after this arc is done with?

Nunzio insulted them?? What did he say?

And no, they're not leaving.

[Beast]

Since their 'Pet Character" rocks, I'm all for it.:rolleyes:

Really, is so silly calling X-23 that. You don't call Storm like that in every book CC wites, do you, Beast?
They're slaughtering other people's characters, while bashing the N&C run. So yeah, I am annoyed that they can slaughter all these other characters in pointless ways, but wouldn't dare kill their own character. And Claremont never kept Storm from getting abuse in the books. Look at all the stuff she's been through. Hell she was in a wheelchair for a while after what happened to her in X-Treme.

[Beast]

Nunzio insulted them?? What did he say?

And no, they're not leaving.
No, Nunzio was insulted that people keep referring to their run as 'High School Soap' and ignoring that it was mandated by Editorial and that there was a lot that happened in those stories that weren't that.

[Hi-Fi]

They're slaughtering other people's characters, while bashing the N&C run. So yeah, I am annoyed that they can slaughter all these other characters in pointless ways, but wouldn't dare kill their own character. And Claremont never kept Storm from getting abuse in the books. Look at all the stuff she's been through. Hell she was in a wheelchair for a while after what happened to her in X-Treme.

They're not other people's characters. N&C created the characters but they do not own them. Marvel does. And is speaking the truth the same as bashing?? I enjoyed N&C's run, but it was really a teen soap opera most of the time.

And you talk like X-23's life is a sea of roses. She suffered a lot more than most of the other kids, plus Emma is constantly terrifying her.

[Hi-Fi]

No, Nunzio was insulted that people keep referring to their run as 'High School Soap' and ignoring that it was mandated by Editorial and that there was a lot that happened in those stories that weren't that.

I don't get why Nunzio feels so ashamed of that. It was a GOOD and entertaining "high school soap". He can't deny it was a lot like that. Doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

Plus, they created Preview, best student ever!

[X-Factor]

I don't get why Nunzio feels so ashamed of that. It was a GOOD and entertaining "high school soap". He can't deny it was a lot like that. Doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

Plus, they created Preview, best student ever!

I think it is more of their choice of words than anything.

[Daithi]

I don't get why Nunzio feels so ashamed of that. It was a GOOD and entertaining "high school soap". He can't deny it was a lot like that. Doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

It was alot like that because they had to create a high school story. The editors pretty much wanted it that's why. When Kyle and Yost took over they seemed to get alot more freedom in writing than N&C did.

[chickrockguitar]

Since their 'Pet Character" rocks, I'm all for itDitto! Laura is the Best!

[Daithi]

Hmm, I'm guessing that Kyle and Yost are bigs fans of the CC/Romita Jr run? Nimrod and Selene. Unless they're just going through villians that have a history with Rachel. Because X23 is so Rachel.

[Nunzio DeFilippis]

Craig and Kyle are consistent with calling the previous run that I suppose, despite Nunzio expressing feelings of insult to them on a previous messageboard which they both post in.

The incident being referred to was in reference to a quote or two by Craig Kyle, where he seemed to be trying to talk up their upcoming run by contrasting it with certain negatives, that, while left unsaid, seemed to be in reference to us.

He said something along the lines of 'anyone who's read our stuff knows the book won't be all hugs and soft storylines.'

It felt very much like a shot at us, and it was in Wizard magazine, and I protested on Comix-Fan. Chris came in and reassured me that Craig wasn't trying to be negative about us, and I believe him, so the matter died.

The other comments I've made have simply been by way of saying that we struck a certain balance. We had plenty of romantic plots and teen drama. But we also had a kid accidentally kill his father, another kid on drugs to control her powers, showed the dangers of being at the school by showcasing Northstar's funeral and having the school attacked, and we had the U.S. government arrest one of the kids. Their lives weren't easy back then.

They just weren't on the ropes consistently, which is what Craig and Chris have wanted to show, and have done very effectively.

I don't get why Nunzio feels so ashamed of that. It was a GOOD and entertaining "high school soap". He can't deny it was a lot like that. Doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

I'm not ashamed at all. I'm very proud of that run, and the characters we created.

I only respond like that when someone says things like "it was all crushes and teen romance" or "nothing ever happened" or "things were too easy for the kids."

I simply point out that there was more than the romance in our run. Now, there wasn't nearly as much of the other stuff as there was in other X-books, or there is in New X-Men now. But our mission statement then was different from theirs now. And at the time we were writing a book designed to be unique among X-books, so it had less in the way of villains and fights and global stakes not as an oversight or shortcoming, but as a design, mandated by editorial, and executed by us. Like it, hate it, your decision. But it's not like we tried to write an X-book and didn't succeed in raising the stakes. We tried to write a story about kids in school who had superpowers. So we tried to keep the stakes lower, and the fights fewer and further between.

But they were there, from time to time.

That's what I said.

Any issue I had with Craig and Chris is long since dead, and I like it that way. And I'd hate it if anyone thought I was ashamed of our book.

[jarrod]

So...a human is on an all mutant team? *scratches head* I guess that makes sense.:confused:
Moria, Maddie, Amanda, Juggs, Val and Xaiver say hello.

[Hi-Fi]

Any issue I had with Craig and Chris is long since dead, and I like it that way. And I'd hate it if anyone thought I was ashamed of our book.

Sorry for that. Of course you aren't ashamed of the book. And you shouldn't be. It was good fun(thanks for Preview!).

I'm glad the discussion between you and C&C is over. i don't know Craig Kyle at all, but I chatted with Chris Yost in the past, and he was always a really nice guy, that would never bash the previous run, in my opinion. Glad it's all worked out.

[ibrakeforchinwe]

I'm not ashamed at all. I'm very proud of that run, and the characters we created.



Nor should you be. Kyle and Yost did seem very rude when they first came on the book they seemed to have no appreciation for you and Christina and when they made that comment, even I felt offended. I loved yours and Christina's run. It was hardly "hugs and soft storylines" and if thatwas theyre opinion they should have kept it to themselves, cuz they got to completely change the book anyways.

I dont see how death upon death upon death equates to quality writing.

[lament]

I'm still unhappy with this series. I want to like it. I used to love it. But death upon death does nothing for me. :(

[Daithi]

Moria, Maddie, Amanda, Juggs, Val and Xaiver say hello.

Yes but the whole big thing after M-Day was that only mutants shall remain on Xavier's grounds. That all the depowered mutants are to piss off because the X-Men couldn't care less about them now. Except for Prodigy. :rolleyes:

[jarrod]

Yes but the whole big thing after M-Day was that only mutants shall remain on Xavier's grounds. That all the depowered mutants are to piss off because the X-Men couldn't care less about them now. Except for Prodigy. :rolleyes:
Well, Bobby got a free pass too (though he wasn't *really* decimated). I agree, it makes little sense with the current line direction, particularly with the way Dani/Jubes/Jono were treated, but I've always enjoyed non-mutants hanging around the teams myself.

[Steven F.]

Nor should you be. Kyle and Yost did seem very rude when they first came on the book they seemed to have no appreciation for you and Christina and when they made that comment, even I felt offended. I loved yours and Christina's run. It was hardly "hugs and soft storylines" and if thatwas theyre opinion they should have kept it to themselves, cuz they got to completely change the book anyways.

I dont see how death upon death upon death equates to quality writing.


If Nunzio and Chris and Craig are over this, I think you should let it go. It sounds like you are trying to get Nunzio angered again.

Also..."where has it been said that death upon death upon death equtes quality writing"? Nowhere.

[Zombienorthstar]

Well seeing as 'the dream' is all about co exsistence a human isnt totally out there. He is still a brilliant strategist with a genius level IQ.

Personally i wanted him to intern with Tony Stark or Reed Richards...so he could join the rest of Marvel Universe and become a powerless super hero like batman or something.

[Daithi]

Well seeing as 'the dream' is all about co exsistence a human isnt totally out there. He is still a brilliant strategist with a genius level IQ.

But Dani was a New Mutant for years and they still got rid off her. Jubilee was like Logan's closest friend and she got kicked out. Basically it doesn't make sense.

[jarrod]

But Dani was a New Mutant for years and they still got rid off her. Jubilee was like Logan's closest friend and she got kicked out. Basically it doesn't make sense.
Not to mention both Dani and Jubes were physically quite a bit more capable without powers than David. He might be smart, but Jubes was going toe to toe with Hand ninjas at 13-14 years old and Dani's been both a SHIELD Agent and a Valkyrie.

[Affinity]

X is probably going to die. And then pop right back up again.

Either that or Prodigy, which would just be silly and rather annoying.

I didn't like that the inker got a nod but the AMAZING colorists didn't? That's not right. You're going to appreciate something than appreciate everyone who put all their hard work into it. I personally feel that the inkers and colorists make or break an artist.

[ibrakeforchinwe]

If Nunzio and Chris and Craig are over this, I think you should let it go. It sounds like you are trying to get Nunzio angered again.

Also..."where has it been said that death upon death upon death equtes quality writing"? Nowhere.

Im not, trying to anger Nunzio...I'm saying I support him. Geez.

Kyle and Yost obviously didnt like Nunzio and Christina's run and wanted to do something "better" and so they go and kill everyone? Wow...

[fishtaco]

Not to mention both Dani and Jubes were physically quite a bit more capable without powers than David. He might be smart, but Jubes was going toe to toe with Hand ninjas at 13-14 years old and Dani's been both a SHIELD Agent and a Valkyrie.David has some martial arts training, if I recall correctly. Logan taught him. But I still agree with you. The idea we are seeing in the books (as in, the general X-direction) is that powerless X-Men and sister teams are/were being kicked out of the mansion (their home, many for over a decade) because it's a place for mutants, and sapien flatscan scum don't belong there, even if they are X-Men, X-Men affiliates, people who believe in Xavier's Dream, and/or former mutants who can kick the tar out of people with powers. Something about that doesn't sound quite right, considering what the X-Men are supposed to believe in, and all that. :(

[Omega Alpha]

Yeah, Prodigy should have been kicked out of Xavier's too. They already have too much people there. Plus, why have a former X-men or New Mutant helping everyone when by dumping then you can make room for the Marauders? :rolleyes:

[Nyssane]

I'm glad the discussion between you and C&C is over. i don't know Craig Kyle at all, but I chatted with Chris Yost in the past, and he was always a really nice guy, that would never bash the previous run, in my opinion. Glad it's all worked out.

Agreed, Chris Yost is a total sweetie. If not for the constant deaths, I'd happily read their run on NXM.

Anyway, are they really trying to surprise fans by saying "Another death will occur ____"? Because really, I'd only be surprised if there was an issue where someone DIDN'T die. If you want to be "shocking" or "controversial," kill off X-23 or Elixir. :P Not some background student that the majority of fans know nothing about.

[Volk1]

The other comments I've made have simply been by way of saying that we struck a certain balance. We had plenty of romantic plots and teen drama. But we also had a kid accidentally kill his father, another kid on drugs to control her powers, showed the dangers of being at the school by showcasing Northstar's funeral and having the school attacked, and we had the U.S. government arrest one of the kids. Their lives weren't easy back then.

You see people? This is what is called BALANCE.

The current affairs of the New X-Men directed and produced by Quentin Tarantino is great action-packed explosion but IMO the characters have become so sterile that it seems like I don't want to care for them.

If it wasn't for Nunzio's and Christina's emotional development of these characters I would hardly care about what happens to them.

I guess what I am saying is that the bus explosion and Stryker have changed the lives of these kids but there has been no emotional development of the characters (Or Not Enough Of It) for me to become attached to them in the new writers hands.

Luckily, the characters that I do like, still have an effect on me because of the first run. It just seems that I don't want them to get hurt now because these kids are the fictional kids of Nunzio and X-tina and now they're out in the big bad world and here comes Carnage and Chaos and they'e hurting them!!

I can't have it both ways but I wish the new writers would devote some time to exploring friendships in depth. Seems they're going for the action-junkie type of score which more often than not provides QUANTITY but not QUALITY.

[Chris Yost]

Ahem... BRIAN REBER RULES!!!

I mean, holy crap. Look at that spread with the robots. Awesome. We're so lucky to have him on board. His energy effects are incredible.

Brian brings it every single issue, and 30 and 31 are no exception. 31 especially.

Everyone - Brian, Paco, Juan, Dave Sharpe - brought their 'A' game, and we couldn't be more appreciative.

C

[Beast]

Hell, if we go by Generation X... Beak, Angel, and their kids are still living in the cabin in the woods as well. They weren't kicked out either. So they kick out Dani, Jubilee, etc... but David and the Bohusk family are peachy. :p

[Zombienorthstar]

Ahem... BRIAN REBER RULES!!!

I mean, holy crap. Look at that spread with the robots. Awesome. We're so lucky to have him on board. His energy effects are incredible.

Brian brings it every single issue, and 30 and 31 are no exception. 31 especially.

Everyone - Brian, Paco, Juan, Dave Sharpe - brought their 'A' game, and we couldn't be more appreciative.

C

Dude, love the book....but stop killing people!!!!

[Beast]

Dude, love the book....but stop killing people!!!!
Seriously.

[Affinity]

Ahem... BRIAN REBER RULES!!!

I mean, holy crap. Look at that spread with the robots. Awesome. We're so lucky to have him on board. His energy effects are incredible.

Brian brings it every single issue, and 30 and 31 are no exception. 31 especially.

Everyone - Brian, Paco, Juan, Dave Sharpe - brought their 'A' game, and we couldn't be more appreciative.

C
LOLOL!!!

I went a little overboard. Of COURSE you appreciate them. Just felt that if it's only 4 or 5 five people, shout them all out and not just one "SHOUT OUT TO MAH BOYO PAPITO JUANNNN!!!!!!!" lol. Unlike a book with Coipel and his 39 inkers, lol.

Thank you! Sorry. Love the book. Most of the time, anyway, lol. :D

[Volk1]

"We really enjoy the guy."
Why do I feel like that's saying David Alleyne is about to die?


What's going on for Wither is trouble. His mutant ability has drawn the attention of an old X-Men foe. "His power is that whatever he touches, it withers away and disintegrates," Kyle explained. "A character like that, who has a power where he can kill with a touch, it just feels like he's hand picked for Selene if you ask us."
I am VERY interested in this.

Pleeeze don't kill Wither.

And bring Magma into this if you're going to use Selene. We need Magma.

CBR wants Magmaaaa....

[mikeyb]

I think all the death in the book is obviously not for "shock value" but it show how very inexperienced this team is and shows just how powerful Stryker and Nimrod can be. I think its a good story line and in the end, this New X-Men team will actually be a team. They've gone through more things recently than many have gone through in years. I'm very interested to see how this team is in a year or two. Great job to Kyle and Yost.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Yeah I dig this book as well. I think its a good series and I love how serious things have gotten. Life has changed and these kids will as Wolverine said " Grow up or die. "

[chickrockguitar]

Uhm, can I ask, after reading the interviw, why are people so worried about David? It looks like he's pretty much safe, and is the person who we have to worry least about - for now, "It's really been fun for us to show how he doesn't have to do anything as a mutant to demonstrate that he's a valuable member of the team. You're going to keep seeing that as the story goes on even into the next year. We really enjoy the guy".

Also, I agree, I've spoken to Chris a few times, and he's a real nice guy.

[Zombienorthstar]

Ironically despite being depowered i have a suspicion David could be one of the New X-Men characters who'd last. Id love him to join a different part of the Marvel Universe.

[jawbreaker]

man that whole article made me cringe...

why does it seem like there's this desperation that these kids headlining the book get thought of as X-Men NOW!? uh no, they should have to stand in the back of the line just like the Gen Xers & New Mutants had to & WAIT(or get killed or completely ignored, I guess).


that line about blaring guns at the Prom made me cringe too... why is it that whenever I read an article about these 2 writers, its like reading about 2 little boys who think theyre really badass cuz of the stuff theyre getting away with...Im not saying thats what they are like but thats how they come of in these interviews...

& where the hell is Dani?

[Affinity]

I personally didn't like the guns at Prom thing either. I'm still in high school and stuff like the Columbine incident...it's just too much of a taboo subject for me, especially with my freaking vivid imagination.

[Beast]

It's sort of sad. I loved K&Y's stuff on X-Men: Evo. But this retains very little of the fun and charm that was present in that series. Thankfully the last two issues have been an improvement, but we'll see how it goes.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Also pretty lame how Craig and Kyle make it sound like everything was High School Soap before they came one.

That was my chief reason for dropping it during it's first creative run. It was a lot like a high school soap. but with a few super powers. Too many students, too little time spent on them, and far too bratty.

That's why I've loved it since M-Day. A smaller cast, and effectively only keeping the characters I was interested in. Shame we lost Tag. I liked him. But the others made sense.

And this title has finally found a place to develop X-23. This title actually made me LIKE, Laura, as it's actually exploring her as a character in her own right, and not just Junior Wolverine.

[Gene M.]

I've never read this series, so I don't know if it's as bad as a lot of people seem to think it is. I did read the interview though, and I have to say, it made me want to pick this series up.

[CMBMOOL]

Truly, I am interested into this series, and if the current creative team is to stay on for next year then I'm in for the series. :D

And, yes I do LOVE X-23!!! :D

[Christopher O]

That was my chief reason for dropping it during it's first creative run. It was a lot like a high school soap. but with a few super powers. Too many students, too little time spent on them, and far too bratty.

That's why I've loved it since M-Day. A smaller cast, and effectively only keeping the characters I was interested in. Shame we lost Tag. I liked him. But the others made sense.

And this title has finally found a place to develop X-23. This title actually made me LIKE, Laura, as it's actually exploring her as a character in her own right, and not just Junior Wolverine.
I agree, mostly. With all due respect to DeFillipis and Weir, their run just seemed inconsequential. The plots often felt petty and unimportant, and there were just too many characters vying for the spotlight and too many of them just had powers that screamed "hey, we're trying too hard to be creative!" Grant Morrison (and later Joss Whedon) focusing on his students at the same time--who were, on the whole, much more interesting--didn't help that feeling of inconsequentiality. Kyle and Yost have significantly raised the stakes for these students. Yes, they killed off dozens of students to do it, but without stakes, there isn't any reason for readers to invest in the story. They're delivering on that, and while I appreciate the fact that DeFillipis and Weir wrote a book that offered a fresh approach to the X-Men, it just didn't have any punch. They could't keep me hooked. This writing team has, and that's inspite of the poor art.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

I actually quite like the art, right now.

[Nyssane]

I agree, mostly. With all due respect to DeFillipis and Weir, their run just seemed inconsequential. The plots often felt petty and unimportant, and there were just too many characters vying for the spotlight and too many of them just had powers that screamed "hey, we're trying too hard to be creative!" Grant Morrison (and later Joss Whedon) focusing on his students at the same time--who were, on the whole, much more interesting--didn't help that feeling of inconsequentiality. Kyle and Yost have significantly raised the stakes for these students. Yes, they killed off dozens of students to do it, but without stakes, there isn't any reason for readers to invest in the story. They're delivering on that, and while I appreciate the fact that DeFillipis and Weir wrote a book that offered a fresh approach to the X-Men, it just didn't have any punch. They could't keep me hooked. This writing team has, and that's inspite of the poor art.

I liked the unimportant-ness of it. It seemed less stressful and heated, it was an escape from the slew of "trying-too-hard-to-impress" comics out there. But really, all it comes down to is personal tastes. I prefer my desserts with less spice and more sugar. Bloodbaths are just lame.

[mikeyb]

Yes the art is great. Kinda Dodson with his own flavor mixed in.

[Affinity]

I like the quirky Medina art.

Man, did he improve. THAT's improvement (from, to be honest, the monsters they were before!), not <insert random lefield bashing>. I love Medina art now. I would have never said that three years ago.

And the colorists and inkers are just AMAZING. I feel like Academy X was very dull on the art, especially Michael Ryan's pencils that don't impress me.

It all comes down to opinion.

I prefer my desserts with less spice and more sugar.

So I just had Domino's brownies...OH. MY. GOD. Sugar sugar sugar + 1 part chocolate + sugar sugar sugar and it was soooo awesome!

[d newton]

Bloodbaths are just lame.
You mean like the one with the entire Grey family (excluding Rachel) in Uncanny 466 to 468?

[X-Factor]

That's why I've loved it since M-Day. A smaller cast, and effectively only keeping the characters I was interested in. Shame we lost Tag. I liked him. But the others made sense.

And this title has finally found a place to develop X-23. This title actually made me LIKE, Laura, as it's actually exploring her as a character in her own right, and not just Junior Wolverine.

Lucky you.

Personally, I do not see how X's character has been developed in her series. In her solo? I would say so. But here, she has not amounted to much.

And the colorists and inkers are just AMAZING. I feel like Academy X was very dull on the art, especially Michael Ryan's pencils that don't impress me.

Seriously, there were times when the art (and coloring) was down right atrocious, though I will not name names. Other times it was just rather bland.

Sadly, Medina's former crazy style of noses the size of an Applebottom girl's behind was probably the only artist to give any sense of life, art-wise.

You see people? This is what is called BALANCE.

The current affairs of the New X-Men directed and produced by Quentin Tarantino is great action-packed explosion but IMO the characters have become so sterile that it seems like I don't want to care for them.

If it wasn't for Nunzio's and Christina's emotional development of these characters I would hardly care about what happens to them.

I guess what I am saying is that the bus explosion and Stryker have changed the lives of these kids but there has been no emotional development of the characters (Or Not Enough Of It) for me to become attached to them in the new writers hands.

Luckily, the characters that I do like, still have an effect on me because of the first run. It just seems that I don't want them to get hurt now because these kids are the fictional kids of Nunzio and X-tina and now they're out in the big bad world and here comes Carnage and Chaos and they'e hurting them!!

I can't have it both ways but I wish the new writers would devote some time to exploring friendships in depth. Seems they're going for the action-junkie type of score which more often than not provides QUANTITY but not QUALITY.

I'm in complete, utter agreement. Of the previous run, I would have liked to see more action, indeed. But the writing in this book does not get me excited by the action. This book now is not completely bad, but its far from satisfactory for me. Excuse my rambling and presence in this topic, but I sincerely want to see an improvement is all.

[Hi-Fi]

Lucky you.

Personally, I do not see how X's character has been developed in her series. In her solo? I would say so. But here, she has not amounted to much.

I disagree. She's learning how to be with other people and how to trust other people. She's also bonding with Dust, and trying to understand the concept of faith.


This book now is not completely bad, but its far from satisfactory for me. Excuse my rambling and presence in this topic, but I sincerely want to see an improvement is all.

Fair enough. I think the book is perfect the way it is. Great character interactions and moments, good humor, a good amount of action and a welcome sense of unpredictability. ;)

[Affinity]

I disagree. She's learning how to be with other people and how to trust other people. She's also bonding with Dust, and trying to understand the concept of faith.

Definitely. The Nori/Sooraya aspect was interesting and I like that Nori seems to have gotten over that, you know? It's not like OMG BURQA?//??/?? anymore, which is development on Nori's part.

Now this Dust/X-23 dynamic is cool, too. I like it. It's nice.

[Hi-Fi]

Definitely. The Nori/Sooraya aspect was interesting and I like that Nori seems to have gotten over that, you know? It's not like OMG BURQA?//??/?? anymore, which is development on Nori's part.

Now this Dust/X-23 dynamic is cool, too. I like it. It's nice.

I like how Dust has a bond with X-23, Nori and Cessily. Hellion also cares about her, and Jay was a big friend of hers as well. She's the glue of the team. It's cool.

[Nyssane]

So I just had Domino's brownies...OH. MY. GOD. Sugar sugar sugar + 1 part chocolate + sugar sugar sugar and it was soooo awesome!

Really? I always cringe when I see those ads on TV, because I would HATE to eat sweet stuff with pizza. Bleh! But, they do sound quite yummy...

You mean like the one with the entire Grey family (excluding Rachel) in Uncanny 466 to 468?

Yes, like that. The only bloodbath worthwhile was the Morlock Massacre, because at least there, the X-Men suffered great injuries and actually got their asses handed to them. Sure, the kids of New X-Men are getting THEIR asses handed to THEM, but in bodybags. I just never thought NXM would end up being the comic equivolent of a cheesy teen slasher flick.

But, I still love you Chrissy Yoooost! <3

[Affinity]

Really? I always cringe when I see those ads on TV, because I would HATE to eat sweet stuff with pizza. Bleh! But, they do sound quite yummy...

Lol don't eat it with the pizza---order it on a night out for dessert and oh goodness, they're awesome.

[X-Factor]

I disagree. She's learning how to be with other people and how to trust other people. She's also bonding with Dust, and trying to understand the concept of faith.

Fair enough. I think the book is perfect the way it is. Great character interactions and moments, good humor, a good amount of action and a welcome sense of unpredictability. ;)

Its cool. Maybe I just am not getting that feeling that X is really learning than just making a few random comments here and there (though that is entirely up to reader interpretation. I probably just don't see it). More than anything, the most I've seen in her character since her debut in New X-Men is the reaction to her rather than her interactions with others.

If there is anything I like in this book is the sporadic sense of humor the title has. I still want to like it so very much.

[Syzygy]

In my mind, I’ve been recycling the old theory that somehow Nimrod is going to be erased from the timeline, undoing the bus attacks and everything. Before, I would have scoffed at that. Now, I'm not so sure.

This is the blurb for issue #30:


NEW X-MEN # 30
Rating: RATED T+ NEW X-MEN # 30
The Story: “NIMROD”
It’s the penultimate chapter of the New X-Men’s year of hell. The kids battle their way through a swarm of zombie Sentinels in an attempt to save Forge from Nimrod! But Forge is busy saving himself, and his actions will change the future AND the past, not to mention possibly destroy the New X-Men forever. Part 3 (of 4)! 32 PGS./Rated T+ ...$2.99; In Stores: 2006-09-13


It looks to me like they may to do it. Does anybody remember when Kulan Gath took over New York City back in...what was it, Uncanny #190 or thereabouts? Dr. Strange used Illyana's space-time manipulation powers to "undo" everything that had happened that night. All the deaths were spontaneously undone, as I recall.

And the result of that meta-temporal restructuring was that the first Nimrod robot gained access to the 616 timeline. So there's actually some continuity history here, namely, that the first time Nimrod appeared, it was as a result of meta-temporal erasure and restructuring!

Could this be what Kyle and Yost have in mind, that everything since Jay's maiming--including the bus attack--will be meta-temporally restructured away? What really makes me think this is a possibility is that the restructuring idea has a kind of synchronicity with the past that I think Kyle and Yost would find appealing. It would make Nimrod’s destruction mirror his “creation”.

The present team and Forge will be the only ones to remember, which I guess will be rather odd, since they'll be incredibly hardened by their experiences, as opposed to the others. So the character development won’t be lost.

Anybody want to lay dark horse odds on this? Have I lost my mind?

Peace,
Syzygy

[d newton]

It looks to me like they may do it.
Would they, though? How many current X-Men writers have managed to juggle large casts and write a good book at the same time (besides Defilippis & Weir, that is?).

[chickrockguitar]

Hm... I'm not sure that they will... they seem to like the smaller cast, don't they? But, they may go as far back as saving Jay, Laurie and Max...

I'd like it if they could save Jay and Max.
I lost two out of my six fav mutants. (Laura, Nori, Josh, Vic, Jay & Max).

Also, on Laura's development, I bet she'll get lots in issues #33-36.

[Brian Reber]

Ahem... BRIAN REBER RULES!!!

I mean, holy crap. Look at that spread with the robots. Awesome. We're so lucky to have him on board. His energy effects are incredible.

Brian brings it every single issue, and 30 and 31 are no exception. 31 especially.

Everyone - Brian, Paco, Juan, Dave Sharpe - brought their 'A' game, and we couldn't be more appreciative.

C

Wait a sec.. do I die next issue? Is that what you meant by a member of the New X-Men teams dies? You meant the creative team?? That explains why I wasn't mentioned in the article. Now I'm getting praise. It's like your building me up so I can be offed!! Dang it.. now I have to read the script again. :eek:

[Affinity]

OMG! OMG! OMG! A COLORIST!

I looooooove your work, Mr. Reber. I've been coloring my sketches lazily with a mouse in Photoshop these past few months and I'm really seeing the difference between a sketch and a colored and inked peice of work!

Your colors especially fascinate me, because I can't really explain it...but there's a heavy tone in your book. Something that speaks LIFE and DEATH and HARDCORE to my eyes, and I love it. Colorists, for me, make up 65% of the book's art. A lot of people struggle through the Essential hardcovers because it's just annoying not to get the colors. Even today, ESPECIALLY today, a lot of indie comics are so good that it doesn't matter but when new hardcovers come out that feature colored issues of an otherwise black and white comic, it's so amazing and almost a new read!

Lately I've been happy to see colorists have thier names appear up on the cover credits list, the most prominent of which is the little MO! next to Steve McNiven's signature on all of the amazing Civil War covers.

Just wanted you to know that most people don't realize it, but I think a good colorist really helps an artist make a name. People like Frank D'armata, Morry Hollowell, and hell, even YOU just make me smile and aspire to make my pencils look all the more better when I color them!

And, just for reference, I assume you use the whole new computer way to color pages, with a Wacom tablet and whatnot. Care to spill some details on your tools, and maybe direct me to a website of your work? That'd be very awesome!

Loooove your work, Mr. Reber! Keep up the SPECTACULAR work!

[Hi-Fi]

Brian, you rock! I agree with Afinnity, the colors in this book are fresh and set the tone perfectly.

[PhoenixBoyX]

I, too, am horribly conflicted about this book.

On one hand, as much as I loved N&C's run, I do understand why a few people on here have said that while good, the run lacked, for lack of a better term, staying power. And yes, the new run feels like it will be talked about for years. However, I don't feel it's for the right reasons.

The book is truly a massacre. People dying everywhichwhere. And yes, it's not like there's been a death every issue, but I mean, really, should there even be a death half the time? Doesn't that cheapen it? If these weren't kids, would we be affected so deeply? There are times I dread when the book comes out because I'd hate to have to read about another dead kid considering the world we live in.

There has to be a way to write compelling drama without the merciless slaughter of characters. After a while it doesn't shock. We just sort of become numb and stop caring about the characters, since what's the point? They're just gonna die anyway. That's sorta where I am with NXM. Why care? They'll be dead in an issue or two anyway.

-Nick

[Brian Reber]

Thanks for the kind words! I have a gallery up on deviantart to contribute to the online art community, but I don't have a personal site yet. http://daikaiju.deviantart.com/

All my work up to issue 31 was done with a 6x8 Wacom Tablet and either a mac desktop or powerbook. Starting with issue 31 though I'm using a Wacom Cintiq which basically is a LCD screen that I can paint directly on.

This is the only book I haven't had my name on the cover in awhile, but it's cause we have more people on this creative team than other books. You can see my name on the cover of most of my other projects like Books of Doom and Nova for example. It'll be on X-Factor also where I'm doing digital inks and colors.

[Affinity]

Hey! Thanks for replying!

Your Deviant Art looks amazing, as usual. I'm very glad to hear that you'll be doing inks and colors for X-Factor! That book's next art team is as great as the last few, apparently.

A 6x8, hmm? I guess it's true that there's really NO reason whatsoever to buy the huge Wacom tablets, then. I mean, if a professional who works in the industry is doing all this on his 6x8, then that seems like a good size.

Cintiq, eh? I've seen that, man, and technology like that is hardcore. Looking very forward to #31!

And let me just say this one thing...the way you color Sooraya's dust? My god it's just so beautiful. I love it so much! Everything is a masterpeice! That page where they're fighting the robots is just so great! You use perfect colors for everything: Nori's hair, Cessily's skin, X's costume, Julian's telekinesis...my god it's just so FLAWLESS. I love it. I really do. Thanks for such awesome work!

[chickrockguitar]

I also love the colors in this book. Keep up the great work!

[steve2275]

Brian, you rock! I agree with Afinnity, the colors in this book are fresh and set the tone perfectly.

the POWER of the mac panther

[Jon Hex]

I tried Yost and Kyle's run for awhile, but too many things made me turn away. Killing Josh, for one. How does a guy with a healing factor as strong as his not only fail to regrow his wings, but die from one gunshot wound that does little damage? How was the group able to fire a rocket at the school with all those sentinels around? Hasn't Nimrod's tech been around for years? Didn't Bastion's sentinels have it? Why were they not prepared for it?
I think what really got to me was how Nimrod was able to blackmail Forge. He was scared into helping a mutant-killing machine when the machine threatened one mutant? That's stupid. Just plain stupid.

[fishtaco]

I tried Yost and Kyle's run for awhile, but too many things made me turn away. Killing Josh, for one. How does a guy with a healing factor as strong as his not only fail to regrow his wings, but die from one gunshot wound that does little damage? How was the group able to fire a rocket at the school with all those sentinels around? Hasn't Nimrod's tech been around for years? Didn't Bastion's sentinels have it? Why were they not prepared for it?
I think what really got to me was how Nimrod was able to blackmail Forge. He was scared into helping a mutant-killing machine when the machine threatened one mutant? That's stupid. Just plain stupid. I'm not reading the book anymore, but I believe it said in the interview that Josh is in a coma, not dead.

[Beast]

I'm not reading the book anymore, but I believe it said in the interview that Josh is in a coma, not dead.
Josh as in Joshua 'Jay' Guthrie, not Josh as in Joshua Foley

[Vaal]

Still hoping for pink robot ex machina to save the book.

That page in the article makes it look like Mercury will bite it (We've been told no less than five times since NM vol2 that mercury and electricity is bad combo) and I simply can't abide by that.

Forge mentioned that he *could* build a time machine -- a real one, but that's not what Alt-Forge did. So he'll build a real one and do something that retroactively sends him to Alt-Forge's past as intended and erases the deaths.

This won't stop stryker from mounting *a* attack though, I suspect and since a) the writers don't seem to like her and b) Whither's coming back evil, Laurie's still going to buy it :(

The students from the bus though will now leave the school 'safely'.

Speaking of Whither, is there any chance of use seeing an original villan for the kids? Seems like the X-men might actually... ya know... care if Selene's back in play. As much as these guys love the old school ultra violence (including making jokes about shooting up prom), you'd think they'd come up with thier own signature villian.

[tunasammiches]

OMG! OMG! OMG! A COLORIST!

I looooooove your work, Mr. Reber. I've been coloring my sketches lazily with a mouse in Photoshop these past few months and I'm really seeing the difference between a sketch and a colored and inked peice of work!

Your colors especially fascinate me, because I can't really explain it...but there's a heavy tone in your book. Something that speaks LIFE and DEATH and HARDCORE to my eyes, and I love it. Colorists, for me, make up 65% of the book's art. A lot of people struggle through the Essential hardcovers because it's just annoying not to get the colors. Even today, ESPECIALLY today, a lot of indie comics are so good that it doesn't matter but when new hardcovers come out that feature colored issues of an otherwise black and white comic, it's so amazing and almost a new read!

Lately I've been happy to see colorists have thier names appear up on the cover credits list, the most prominent of which is the little MO! next to Steve McNiven's signature on all of the amazing Civil War covers.

Just wanted you to know that most people don't realize it, but I think a good colorist really helps an artist make a name. People like Frank D'armata, Morry Hollowell, and hell, even YOU just make me smile and aspire to make my pencils look all the more better when I color them!

And, just for reference, I assume you use the whole new computer way to color pages, with a Wacom tablet and whatnot. Care to spill some details on your tools, and maybe direct me to a website of your work? That'd be very awesome!

Loooove your work, Mr. Reber! Keep up the SPECTACULAR work!

Affinity, I think I love you. You praising Brian is one of the best most respectful entries I've seen on this board. I'm an illustrator too and there's nothing more awesome than someone recognizing your talent. Well, there's getting paid for it, and that's just as awesome but not as memorable. Great post. You're going to heaven for being so sweet.

To Brian, if you read this, I too enjoy the coloring, btw. Holla!

[tunasammiches]

I remember when the kids debuted in New Mutants. I thought it felt pretty reminiscent of the old New Mutants stories actually. Even though it's not as hardcore as it is now, it still had a lot of pretty intricate plotlines. Yes most of it dealt with interpersonal relationships and coming of age, but that's what i liked about it. It moved slowly but the stories were like a journey, kinda like a journey that teenagers take to grow up. So I miss that. It really was different from the rest of the X-Books. And I remember when the New Mutants went up against the Hellions to get Wither back from the FBI and I thought the tension that the previous writers built up in the book up until that point made that scene so much more poignant. Or that Danger maze excersize they did to find Lockheed...I thought that was awesome fun.

I miss Sophie, Laurie and Jay. I thought Jay was awesome and his codename was so badass. Plus I don't like the idea of a Guthrie dying. He had SO much potential. Laurie's power was rad too. I mean, yes, we already had Stacy X, but Laurie's background made for a great spin. And I was so looking forwrd to her Dad coming in to fuck shit up for the kids but now I guess that's never gonna happen.

I gotta say I am enjoying this run on New X-Men. The story's got me on the edge of my seat, but yeah, I wish the kids didn't have to die. I love love LOVED Chris and Craig's writing on X-Men Evolution. Ironically, it had the same pacing as Nunzio and Christina's run on New Mutants. It had intricate plotlines about interpersonal relationships and coming of age and by the end of season 2, it came to such a climax that season 3 and 4 were unstoppable. Watching that cartoon makes me realize that they actually coulda continued in the same pace as the previous writers without having the massacres.

ps-Chris and Craig, can you please convince Marvel to release a feature length animated movie of X-Men Evolution instead of doing anymore Ultimate Avengers cartoons? I miss that cartoon.

ps-also, I like what's been done to Rockslide. His stupidity and humor makes him an endearing character. I hope he doesn't die.

[jawbreaker]

^ I think the softer/lighter tone of X-men Evolution compared to their New X-Men stuff is due to the fact that they were restricted with what they could do b/c of it being a Fox/network show(Ive read that they couldnt even have any character say words like kill or death)...makes me wonder how different X-Men Evo would have been if it were done for CN's Toonami or some other cable channel...

[Oliverhannah]

I wish Spiral offered Dani to get her powers back for Mojo and Spiral want her against the Valkyries of Asgard..:p

Sound stupid is it? LOL

Hang on.. Can Selene make Dani get her powers back? i mean Selene is powerful witch!! she might get Queen of the Star Swords (Arcadia)