What If...Kurt Busiek Wrote X-Men?

[david r]

From the Wizard X-Men Special Edition 1999: they asked Kurt Busiek what he'd do if he wrote X-Men. Sounds interesting:


Kurt Busiek: The big story I wanted to see when I was in high school was the Sentinels/Magneto War, an actual war going on between the Sentinels and Magneto, but in orbit! The Sentinels used to stage out of the S.H.I.E.L.D. orbital platform (as seen in Uncanny X-Men #97-#100), and Magneto had Asteroid M up there.

Now they've given Magneto his own country and they've blown up the Sentinel's orbital platform, so it's not like that sort of thing could happen anymore, but it would've resulted in big panels, big fightin'.

[Slung]

If Busiek was writing the X-Men, Jean would probably be back - but the last ten years of her existence would be retconned away to being a clone.

Which at this point may not be a bad thing.

[david r]

Here's the second part:

One of the things I always wanted to see was the X-men get back to the idea that they're supposed to be teach mutants how to deal with their powers and the world around them. For instance, instead of teaching Wolverine how to use his claws, I would've shown Wolverine studying psychology in the hopes of better understanding himself. Let's see the X-Men trying to be more positive instead of training to be this elite cadre of mutants oldiers who're gonna beat the crap out of the other mutant soldiers.

[KirkWarren]

Im pretty sure he did a couple issues in Untold Tales of Spider-Man that had the X-Men show up. I know there was one around issue 20 or so, but cant remember exact number or if they showed up more than once. While not a modern day setting, it is a classic X-Men interpretation by Kurt.

[Omega Alpha]

It would be awesome. Why he wastes his time at DC writing that crappy character who wears an horrible red cape and always jobs to Batman?

[Stephane Garrelie]

When he was writing Aquaman he said in an interview "Once upon a time i would have killed to write the X-Men. Today? Not so much." I quote from memory. Kurt Busiek posting here at CBR may correct me if he wants.

I'm happy with what i read of his current Superman run. Great stuff. I'm even thinking of adding it to my pull-list, and at the very least i'll buy the book frequently now. (I absolutly loved Superman 665, the origin of Jimmy Olsen issue. And it had art by Rick Leonardi, one of my favorite artists. The inking was a little bit strange, but the story and the art being great, not a big problem.)

[Phil Hunn]

If Busiek wrote the X-Men, every villain would only be a villain because their dad was mean to them.

[Stephane Garrelie]

And yes this plot you posted looks fine David.

[XPac]

Hmmm... a fight between Magneto and a group of metal robots I suppose might be visually interesting for about 3 seconds. But it wouldn't be much of a fight overall. So I can't say I feel I missed out on too much by not seeing this one.

[Novaya Havoc]

Oh NO! Don't summon the Magnemites!

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/1/18/Magnemite2.png

[Affinity]

AHAHAHAH

I feel like we've had 5,000 Magneto versus the Sentinels battles! It's funny if we haven't even had one, but I'm sure we have.

I don't think it's so revolutionary and AMAZING OMG that we need to have him on the titles now!

Maybe once upon a time we would have killed to have Kurt Busiek to write X-Men. Today? Not so much.

[Jesse Newcomb]

Busiek was on top of his game once on team books, but his JLA arc left a lot to be desired and the crossover wasn't all it was cracked to be. Plus, I don't see him on the X-Men, he doesn't have that zing for it. Maybe old school X-Men.

[david r]

What about Geoff Johns?

[Omega Alpha]

What about Geoff Johns?

Not in a million years. Johns only works on the DCU, he's DC's Bendis.

[Affinity]

Our Bendis is better.

[steve2275]

whos r bendis again?:p

[Cayman]

It would get cancelled.

[Vegetarian Goat]

Our Bendis is better.

My Bendis is better than your Bendis.

[Rahul]

My Bendis is better than your Bendis.
No, mine is!!!


Anyway, back on topic, I guess there would be a classic feel to the X-Men if he were to write it, but it would really have to be written well to make me read it, because classic stuff isn't my thing....

[Mikl C]

Busiek's avengers was amazing. I'd love to see him on xmen.

[CaptainCanada]

Busiek is a writer that I feel I should like more than I actually do; I always find his dialogue to be extremely boring, especially when he tries to do casual or funny banter.

[Joe Acro]

I'm not sure what Busiek could bring to the X-Men. But given how screwed up some of X-Men continuity is, his attention to detail might provide for really neat explanations.

[Maestro]

Busiek is a writer that I feel I should like more than I actually do; I always find his dialogue to be extremely boring, especially when he tries to do casual or funny banter.

It would be better if Geoff Johns co-writes a book with him, like their One Year Later Superman story

[XPac]

If Busiek were to write the X-Men, and assuming that he'd write them similiar to how he handles the Avengers, then I do imagine the book would have a more classic feel.

Which might be a good thing. The Xverse has gotten kinda complicated lately. So maybe simplifying the team a bit and giving it a more classic feel would be nice. Whedon sort of does that with Astonishing Xmen.... I wonder if Busiek wouldn't write something with a similiar feel.

Though really, if marvel wants to write a classic Avengers, they might as well have Claremont writing. As far as X writers go, that's about as classic as you can get.

[DDM]

I'm not sure what Busiek could bring to the X-Men. But given how screwed up some of X-Men continuity is, his attention to detail might provide for really neat explanations.

Given how much Kurt Busiek loved the original X-Men, John Byrne would be a good compliment with him on the book as penciler. I'm not sure how they would work with the second generation X-Men...

[Christopher O]

I'm not a big Busiek fan. I don't care for his dialogue, and I honestly don't care for his "old school" style.

[Cayman]

Busiek's style is a better fit for DC than Marvel. He's of more value to them.

[Joe Acro]

Given how much Kurt Busiek loved the original X-Men, John Byrne would be a good compliment with him on the book as penciler. I'm not sure how they would work with the second generation X-Men...
I'd rather team him up with Alan Davis. They worked together on Avengers fairly nicely and Davis knows a far amount about X-Men history.

[KJ_81]

What about Geoff Johns?


I LOVE Geoff Johns as a writer, but only on DC stuff. His Avengers run was pretty bland, bordering on bad in parts.

[Frank]

If Busiek were to write the X-Men, and assuming that he'd write them similiar to how he handles the Avengers, then I do imagine the book would have a more classic feel.

Which might be a good thing. The Xverse has gotten kinda complicated lately. So maybe simplifying the team a bit and giving it a more classic feel would be nice. Whedon sort of does that with Astonishing Xmen.... I wonder if Busiek wouldn't write something with a similiar feel.

Though really, if marvel wants to write a classic Avengers, they might as well have Claremont writing. As far as X writers go, that's about as classic as you can get.

It might be a good thing, I agree. A more clean artistic style too.

Another writer I like that would be great on X-Men is Mark Waid. Because Waid has the classic style of Busiek but can also bring in a new energy to concepts. Like he won't reinvent the wheel but he'll take a look at the Universe of a book, look at what the things that they could have done and make the characters turn left if they've always turned right. I loved his Fantastic Four for it. Especially when they took over Doom's country. And since he's more of a DC guy, he's more a stranger to Marvel characters and can bring an interesting new vibe. I was telling to my friend the other day that I prefer Mark Waid as a Marvel writer and he was looking at me like I was an alien. My argument was:"because I feel like Mark is too respectful to DC characters. He has a reverance to them and it prevents him to go nuts and do original stories".

[Jack Flash]

Busiek is definitely a better fit for DC these days. I don't think he has a great love for the X-characters (It's evident that he has a fondness for certain avengers), so for that reason I think I'd vote no for him writing them.

[MartinRedmond]

If Busiek wrote the X-Men, every villain would only be a villain because their dad was mean to them.

If Paul Jenkins wrote it, every single villain would be mean due to a mental illness. Also, none of the jokes would be funny, ever.