Letter to Brubaker

[blackthought]

Dear Brubaker,

Please stop writing Uncanny X-Men. You're such a good writer. You're tearing it up on Criminal and Captain America and Daredevil. I mean, you're just so good at writing these types of books. You're such a good writer on these books that I was really looking for a classic X-Men run out of you, but it doesn't look like it's ever going to happen if it hasn't already.

Like many on these boards, I've been reading X-Men for decades. While I drifted and came back to it, X-Men has always been my first, great love. I just get the sense that you don't get the book the way you need to.

The way Mike Carey does. He has such a great sense of the characters, how they'd talk, how they'd interact, that his stories flow so naturally. Sure, Whedon's got that too. But Whedon's mired in the past. The Claremont era was great, but it's time to move on.

Carey is doing something different: He's reconceptualizing the characters with an eye to their past. Nobody has ever really been able to set a compelling, definitive direction for the X-Men since Claremont. It looks like Carey is going to change that.

And that's why I don't want to see you on Uncanny X-Men, Brubaker. The last Captain America was my favorite comic in months, but I just don't see the same quality on X-Men. Given what Carey's doing with X-Men, your talents are just wasted here. Do us all a favor: allocate them somewhere else, street level-like.

[rwsmith]

Dear Blackthought,

Please kiss my ass.

Sincerely,

Ed Brubaker


Sorry, couldn't resist. ;)

[Brian M.]

Dear Ed,

Don't listen to him.

Love the work.

Love,
Brian

[Joe Franklin]

Dear Brubaker,

Please stop writing Uncanny X-Men. You're such a good writer. You're tearing it up on Criminal and Captain America and Daredevil. I mean, you're just so good at writing these types of books. You're such a good writer on these books that I was really looking for a classic X-Men run out of you, but it doesn't look like it's ever going to happen if it hasn't already.

Like many on these boards, I've been reading X-Men for decades. While I drifted and came back to it, X-Men has always been my first, great love. I just get the sense that you don't get the book the way you need to.

The way Mike Carey does. He has such a great sense of the characters, how they'd talk, how they'd interact, that his stories flow so naturally. Sure, Whedon's got that too. But Whedon's mired in the past. The Claremont era was great, but it's time to move on.

Carey is doing something different: He's reconceptualizing the characters with an eye to their past. Nobody has ever really been able to set a compelling, definitive direction for the X-Men since Claremont. It looks like Carey is going to change that.

And that's why I don't want to see you on Uncanny X-Men, Brubaker. The last Captain America was my favorite comic in months, but I just don't see the same quality on X-Men. Given what Carey's doing with X-Men, your talents are just wasted here. Do us all a favor: allocate them somewhere else, street level-like.

I think Brubaker is the Best Uncanny writer since 1991. I hope he stays.:cool:

[Affinity]

LOVE ITTTTTTTT

Hey Bru,

Hot diggity.

Thanks for keepin' it real,
Affinity

[Pach!]

Dear Ed Brubaker:

What's with the hat?

And don't listen to the first guy.


Andres Pacheco

[Beast]

I wasn't really sold on him either... especially with Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire. But the book improved greatly with Messiah Complex and Uncanny X-Men #495 was the best issue in ages. Given he admited to finally getting the Social Commentary aspect of the book late in the game (I believe it was around Messiah Complex he said that), I think his work has improved greatly. Looking forward to the future. :)

[Novaya Havoc]

Dear Ed Brubaker,

Please write Dazzler into the Uncanny X-Men. She can perform at "Club Novaya." And her new battle cry can be "DIVASPARKLES ACTIVATE!"

Thank you for giving the world Qwerty. I am going to create a "Qwerty Is My Homegirl" t-shirt with her picture on it and wear it to the next ChicagoCon so you know it is me.

All the best in 2008!

~Novaya

p.s. Ignore 1st Poster Guy.
p.p.s. No, I won't wear a Qwerty Is My Homegirl t-shirt because conventions kind of freak me out. People there wear only black or some shade of gray and are like, really into characters like Deadpool or The Punisher. Weird. But I'd buy one. I think it would sell like hotcakes. Get Marvel Marketing on that idea.

[Christopher O]

Dear blackthought,

WTF? No, seriously, WTF? RANDOM

Love,
Me

[Butters]

Can't give a good opinion on him. I don't like X-men in space stories, and it seems like he is going to be killing time until issue 500. Will judge him then.

[Cayman]

Dear Ed Brubaker,

Appearances by Skids are always welcome.

Regards,

Cayman

[xgeek52]

i know brubaker and ucanny from #495...and i liked #495...

[BurningStarIV]

I haven't read any of his X-Men, but he did phenominal work on Catwoman. If that's any indication, I'd say he's a great writer.

[Beast]

Can't give a good opinion on him. I don't like X-men in space stories, and it seems like he is going to be killing time until issue 500. Will judge him then.
Killing time? Downtime issues is clearly where he shines judging by #495.

I hope from now on he balances his story arcs with downtime.

[Beast]

I haven't read any of his X-Men, but he did phenominal work on Catwoman. If that's any indication, I'd say he's a great writer.
Not really. Being able to write a single solo character is a lot different than writing a team book.

Which is probably why his solo character books have been so much better than Uncanny until lately.

[Jackob]

logan, kurt, colossus road trip? best thing i have ever heard about

p.s. i would love it if cyclops blasts a hippie

[Joe Franklin]

Not really. Being able to write a single solo character is a lot different than writing a team book.

True. Team books are the hardest to write.

[Beast]

logan, kurt, colossus road trip? best thing i have ever heard about

p.s. i would love it if cyclops blasts a hippie
Exactly. Juggling all the cast. Trying to make sure they all have moments to shine.

That's why there was a lot of complaints about RaFotSE. Given that Kurt was stated to be the leader of the team... and almost did nothing the whole saga but sit in the Captain's chair.

[Optic Rage!]

Dear Blackthought,

Blow me.

Sincerely,

Good taste.

[david r]

It seems his last 4 issues have greatly improved. Besides, Ed Brubaker will soon be the only writer doing a main book with core characters.

[creaky]

Dear Brubaker,

EEEEEEEE OMG YOU PUT KURT IN A SUIT AND GAVE HIM HIS CHARM BACK AND PLEEEEEASSSSE LET THERE BE A SWORD IN THAT THERE CANE OF HIS PLEEEEEEAASSSE!!

Sincerely,
-creaky

PS: *squee!*

[Omega Alpha]

Dear Ed,

Thank you and Mike Choi for giving us hippie Cyclops and another reason to mock Brian M. for the rest of our lives

Sincerely,
Omega Alpha

[Beast]

It seems his last 4 issues have greatly improved. Besides, Ed Brubaker will soon be the only writer doing a main book with core characters.
Astonishing X-Men? Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast. X-Men: Legacy? Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, Gambit? While Uncanny may be the so-called core book, I wouldn't say that it was the only main book with core characters.

[kate-pryde]

Dear Brubaker,

Please stop writing Uncanny X-Men. You're such a good writer. You're tearing it up on Criminal and Captain America and Daredevil. I mean, you're just so good at writing these types of books. You're such a good writer on these books that I was really looking for a classic X-Men run out of you, but it doesn't look like it's ever going to happen if it hasn't already.

Like many on these boards, I've been reading X-Men for decades. While I drifted and came back to it, X-Men has always been my first, great love. I just get the sense that you don't get the book the way you need to.

The way Mike Carey does. He has such a great sense of the characters, how they'd talk, how they'd interact, that his stories flow so naturally. Sure, Whedon's got that too. But Whedon's mired in the past. The Claremont era was great, but it's time to move on.

Carey is doing something different: He's reconceptualizing the characters with an eye to their past. Nobody has ever really been able to set a compelling, definitive direction for the X-Men since Claremont. It looks like Carey is going to change that.

And that's why I don't want to see you on Uncanny X-Men, Brubaker. The last Captain America was my favorite comic in months, but I just don't see the same quality on X-Men. Given what Carey's doing with X-Men, your talents are just wasted here. Do us all a favor: allocate them somewhere else, street level-like.


Well said. I completely agree with you.

[Jackob]

Dear Brubaker,

EEEEEEEE OMG YOU PUT KURT IN A SUIT AND GAVE HIM HIS CHARM BACK AND PLEEEEEASSSSE LET THERE BE A SWORD IN THAT THERE CANE OF HIS PLEEEEEEAASSSE!!

Sincerely,
-creaky

PS: *squee!*

sword canes are the single coolest things that exist!

[Brian M.]

Well said. I completely agree with you.

Kitty's dead and Rachel's in space.

Good times are here again.

[Frodo-X]

Dear Ed,

Why do they put Tylenol, a headache medicine/pain reliever, into noisy rattle-like bottles, and put Benadryl, an allergy medicine, into blister packs for people with swelling hands to try and open?

Also, I dig your work.

[Pach!]

Dear Joss Whedon.

Why make us wait so long for Kitty's death if everyone knows it will happen? I am excited for the guest stars though!

AP

[Yoshi]

Xxxdeadkittyxxxx

[Beast]

Kitty's dead and Rachel's in space.

Good times are here again.
Hey now. We all know that Kitty's ashes are in Colossus' backpack in Uncanny. :p

[Optic Rage!]

Well said. I completely agree with you.

Dont you remember brian, Whendon is not killing kitty.

He told her so.

:D

[Joe Franklin]

Kitty's dead and Rachel's in space.

Good times are here again.

And Ed is only responsible for 1 of these great things.:D

[chrismileslord]

I love Brubaker on Uncanny...

[Frodo-X]

Astonishing X-Men? Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast. X-Men: Legacy? Xavier, Magneto, Rogue, Gambit? While Uncanny may be the so-called core book, I wouldn't say that it was the only main book with core characters.
Plus, Young X-men has Ink and Graymalkin!

Wait...I think I'm lost...

[Brian M.]

Dont you remember brian, Whendon is not killing kitty.

He told her so.

:D

No, he said he wouldn't kill strong women...ergo if Kitty is dead, she's not strong.

[kate-pryde]

Good times are here again.

Sure, and Cyclops is a hippie and screwing Emma.

[Pach!]

Dear Predator X

Please come back and eat her right arm.

AP

[Optic Rage!]

No, he said he wouldn't kill strong women...ergo if Kitty is dead, she's not strong.

Oh dear, what a shame.

[Brian M.]

Sure, and Cyclops is a hippie and screwing Emma.

Yea but their in monthly books.

[Beast]

Plus, Young X-men has Ink and Graymalkin!

Wait...I think I'm lost...
Ink is cool so far. I'll hold my opinion until we know more about Greymalkin.

If it's the X-Men's version of 'Danny The Street', I'll declare it the most awesome thing of '08.

[kate-pryde]

Yea but their in books.

I'd rather have Kitty be dead and Rachel in space then have to endure reading Ed Brubaker writing them. Or any female character for that matter.

So, have fun reading Scott and Emma.

[Novaya Havoc]

Qwerty >>>>> Kitty

[Jackob]

Ink is cool so far. I'll hold my opinion until we know more about Greymalkin.

If it's the X-Men's version of 'Danny The Street', I'll declare it the most awesome thing of '08.

nothing beats a street that can drive over you,





except for sword canes

[Brian M.]

I'd rather have Kitty be dead and Rachel in space then have to endure reading Ed Brubaker writing them. Or any female character for that matter.

So, have fun reading Scott and Emma.

LOL. Your so bitter it's hilarious.

[Joe Franklin]

I'd rather have Kitty be dead and Rachel in space then have to endure reading Ed Brubaker writing them. Or any female character for that matter.



Cheer up. Kitty is apearing every month in Claremont's Exiles.:D

[Jackob]

Qwerty >>>>> Kitty

Qwerty= HOT!

[Beast]

nothing beats a street that can drive over you,





except for sword canes
Yeah, Brubaker becomes liquid awesome if Kurt's cane is a sword cane.

That's the first thing that popped into my head when I saw it. :D

[Pach!]

I'd rather have Kitty be dead and Rachel in space then have to endure reading Ed Brubaker writing them. Or any female character for that matter.

So, have fun reading Scott and Emma.

Bargaining is the third stage of grief so we are progressing! At least we have past Denial

[Novaya Havoc]

Cheer up. Kitty is apearing every month in Claremont's Exiles.:D

But that's better than having Brubaker write her?

I think?

[Beast]

Cheer up. Kitty is apearing every month in Claremont's Exiles.:D
And Wolverine: First Class.

[Frodo-X]

And Wolverine: First Class.
So basically, she's about to be in more books dead than she was while she was alive?


That's comics for ya!

[david r]

Brubaker's work on Sleeper, Gotham Central, Captain America, Daredevil and Criminal have been flat out AMAZING! So I have faith his UNCANNY X-MEN will improve, as it is already doing.

[creaky]

Hey now. We all know that Kitty's ashes are in Colossus' backpack in Uncanny. :p

Kurt: "Piotr, my freund, why are all your clothes grey?"
Logan: "Think you were supposed to use an urn for that, pal".
Piotr: "Da, but she feels...closer this way."
Kurt: "..."
Piotr: "I will never wash my clothes again."

[Beast]

Kurt: "Piotr, my freund, why are all your clothes grey?"
Logan: "Think you were supposed to use an urn for that, pal".
Piotr: "Da, but she feels...closer this way."
Kurt: "..."
Piotr: "I will never wash my clothes again."
You just know he poured the ashes down his pants too... to remind him of finally getting to bed her.

[Brian M.]

Kurt: "Piotr, my freund, why are all your clothes grey?"
Logan: "Think you were supposed to use an urn for that, pal".
Piotr: "Da, but she feels...closer this way."
Kurt: "..."
Piotr: "I will never wash my clothes again."

Logan: what is that urn hooked to on the front of your pants?
Kurt: I think it's...
Logan & Kurt: oooooooooooooooh...oh man...nm
Piotr: da...she's tighter this way.

[Frodo-X]

Kurt: "Piotr, my freund, why are all your clothes grey?"
Logan: "Think you were supposed to use an urn for that, pal".
Piotr: "Da, but she feels...closer this way."
Kurt: "..."
Piotr: "I will never wash my clothes again."
Creepy, creaky.

[Beast]

Logan: what is that urn hooked to on the front of your pants?
Kurt: I think it's...
Logan & Kurt: oooooooooooooooh...oh man...nm
Piotr: da...she's tighter this way.
*Just stares at Brian M* :eek: :D

[creaky]

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b41/havoc1/Blog/bru.jpg

Aw, that's Bru? He's cute!

[blackthought]

Does everyone really like Brubaker on X-Men that much? Right, he's got some great other stuff. But his writing's clearly not the same caliber as Carey's or even Whedon's on X-Men.

All I'm saying is that X-Men's in really capable hands (finally), and that Brubaker should be on a book that can better showcase his talents.

[Joe Franklin]

So basically, she's about to be in more books dead than she was while she was alive?


That's comics for ya!

Yes. Kitty went from being in Astonishing 3-4 times a year, to Exiles and a brand new comic book 12 times a year. So we now have Kitty 24 times a year, compared to Astonishing's 3-4 times a year. No need for Kitty fans to be bitter.

[Optic Rage!]

Does everyone really like Brubaker on X-Men that much? .

Did you not just read this thread?

[jester1436]

Cat Pryde is plenty of reason to be bitter. Plenty.

[Beast]

Does everyone really like Brubaker on X-Men that much? Right, he's got some great other stuff. But his writing's clearly not the same caliber as Carey's or even Whedon's on X-Men.

All I'm saying is that X-Men's in really capable hands (finally), and that Brubaker should be on a book that can better showcase his talents.
I already said I was a vocal critic, but he's improved greatly with Messiah Complex and Uncanny X-Men #495. I'm not going to scream for his replacement, because I don't find his work that bad. And frankly, I would put him ahead of Whedon (Dangerous? Seriously?) and PAD in my favorites list.

[Beast]

Yes. Kitty went from being in Astonishing 3-4 times a year, to Exiles and a brand new comic book 12 times a year. So we now have Kitty 24 times a year, compared to Astonishing's 3-4 times a year. No need for Kitty fans to be bitter.
Make that 30 times a year. Since Exiles is back to 18 issues a year again.

[Joe Franklin]

And frankly, I would put him ahead of Whedon (Dangerous? Seriously?) and PAD in my favorites list.

So would I. Whedon is a master of dialog, but his plots and stories are boring. PAD wrote my favorite version of X-Factor ever in 1991, but his new X-Factor stuff bores me to tears.

[Frodo-X]

Does everyone really like Brubaker on X-Men that much? Right, he's got some great other stuff. But his writing's clearly not the same caliber as Carey's or even Whedon's on X-Men.

All I'm saying is that X-Men's in really capable hands (finally), and that Brubaker should be on a book that can better showcase his talents.
I agree that his Uncanny isn't as good as his Captain America, but nothing is (in my opinion). And while I agree that Carey's X-men has been better, I would much rather read Bru's Uncanny than Whedon's Astonishing. I haven't really enjoyed Astonishing since Gifted. I thought Dangerous was stupid, Torn was boring, and Unstoppable has been stupid and boring.

While there's certainly room for improvement, I don't want him dumped. Partially because he is improving, and partially because then you run the risk of his replacement being so very much worse.

[Joe Franklin]

Make that 30 times a year. Since Exiles is back to 18 issues a year again.

Cool.:cool:

18 issues a year of my favorite Marvel mutant Sabretooth.:)

[CyberHubbs]

While it didn't blow my mind, I liked Brubaker's run so far. But he seemed to be holding back during Rise and Fall... and The Extremists. He tapped the wealthy past of the X-Men, but just seemed unsure what to do with it. The guy also writes something like fifty books, so I guess I have to give him credit just for remembering the character names.

Carey...I'm not sure if I like him. Not even sure if its legal to admit that on this board.

[Beast]

So would I. Whedon is a master of dialog, but his plots and stories are boring. PAD wrote my favorite version of X-Factor ever in 1991, but his new X-Factor stuff bores me to tears.
I knew there was a reason I liked you. Heh. Not many people agree with me on both. ;)

[creaky]

I HATED his Uncanny up until Messiah Complex, mainly because of his uber-lame, boring characterization of Nightcrawler, but also a lot of other factors like decompression, lack of character interaction and storylines trailing off into nothing. Then it started getting better, but I still wasn't completely happy. Then came Uncanny X-men #495 and I was floored. Best-Nightcrawler-since-Cockrum. Only three pages, but the Kurt I knew and loved and had been missing for so long was back. I also loved his Piotr and Logan. If he keeps this up, this can be the best Uncanny's been in more than a decade. I just hope he does keep it up. In any case, no way I want him dumped now that he finally seems to be getting a grasp on things.

[Beast]

While there's certainly room for improvement, I don't want him dumped. Partially because he is improving, and partially because then you run the risk of his replacement being so very much worse.
Chuck Austen to Peter Milligan anyone?

[Frodo-X]

While it didn't blow my mind, I liked Brubaker's run so far. But he seemed to be holding back during Rise and Fall... and The Extremists. He tapped the wealthy past of the X-Men, but just seemed unsure what to do with it. The guy also writes something like fifty books, so I guess I have to give him credit just for remembering the character names.

Carey...I'm not sure if I like him. Not even sure if its legal to admit that on this board.
It's not.

I've alerted the authorites. They're en route. Please remain where you are.

[Frodo-X]

Chuck Austen to Peter Milligan anyone?
I haven't read either of their runs, but really?

I was under the impression that Austen was the pinnacle of horrid.

[Joe Franklin]

I knew there was a reason I liked you. Heh. Not many people agree with me on both. ;)

I'm not as hard core a current Claremont fan as you are, but I do love Claremont so much for using Sabretooth in his Exiles. So I can get past his repetetive plotlines and sometimes goofy dialog spots, and even him using Sage.:)

[pryde15]

But that's better than having Brubaker write her?

I think?

I would love to have Brubaker write Kitty! Plus she has to be around for the Dark Pixie Saga a.k.a. #500.

Yes, I do realize, that she is more than likely dead... :(

[pryde15]

I haven't read either of their runs, but really?

I was under the impression that Austen was the pinnacle of horrid.

They were.

Both were awful runs, but I feel Milligan spent the majority of his runs retconning what Austen wrote, but still after it was said and done, they had to retcon his run as well :p

[Beast]

I haven't read either of their runs, but really?

I was under the impression that Austen was the pinnacle of horrid.
Yeah. But everyone celebrated when Milligan replaced him. But it wasn't a big improvement.

Golgotha, DAAP (Aka What Lorna Saw), Blood of Apocalypse. Dark Elf Fart Powered Gambit.

[creaky]

I would love to have Brubaker write Kitty! Plus she has to be around for the Dark Pixie Saga a.k.a. #500.

Yes, I do realize, that she is more than likely dead... :(

I don't know. I'm not so sure. It wouldn't surprise me if her demise was planned, but the delays have since made them change their plans because it became too obvious.

[Joe Franklin]

I was under the impression that Austen was the pinnacle of horrid.

In Austen's defense, he had craptacular art for the most part on his run, so it weakened his stories quite a bit. His team rosters were great though. The plots, stories, and dialog were not very good though.

[pryde15]

I don't know. I'm not so sure. It wouldn't surprise me if her demise was planned, but the delays have since made them change their plans because it became too obvious.

That would be fine with me, an alive Kitty is better than a dead one :D

[Pach!]

Only one writer gave me Pulse and thus wins.

[CyberHubbs]

It's not.

I've alerted the authorites. They're en route. Please remain where you are.

:eek:

I ain't goin' back!

[Red Lotus]

Does everyone really like Brubaker on X-Men that much? Right, he's got some great other stuff. But his writing's clearly not the same caliber as Carey's or even Whedon's on X-Men.

All I'm saying is that X-Men's in really capable hands (finally), and that Brubaker should be on a book that can better showcase his talents.

Yeah i was one of the people calling for them to get him off the book. His first 16 issue weren't just bad some of it was pretty close to lazy writing. Even if he got better in MC out of the other writers who worked on MC he was no where near as good as them.

But with 495 and a few interviews he has done about what’s to come I feel now that the best is yet to come. In the past i have said he has lacked passion for the x-men, well it feels like he has found it. I can't wait to see what he is going to do in 500.

[Frodo-X]

Yeah. But everyone celebrated when Milligan replaced him. But it wasn't a big improvement.

Golgotha, DAAP (Aka What Lorna Saw), Blood of Apocalypse. Dark Elf Fart Powered Gambit.
Oh, well then Milligan automatically loses for that last one.

I'm so happy Carey undid it. I don't even need an explanation. He was Death, now he's not, and we need not speak of it. :p

[creaky]

That would be fine with me, an alive Kitty is better than a dead one :D

Remember, though: pessimists only get happy surprises.

[pryde15]

Remember, though: pessimists only get happy surprises.

lol, so play up the pessimism? I guess I can do it :)

[Joe Franklin]

That would be fine with me, an alive Kitty is better than a dead one :D

She's alive in 2 Marvel monthlies.

[pryde15]

She's alive in 2 Marvel monthlies.

New Exiles does not count!!! Cat Pryde is a disgrace to the Kitty name! Or... just in my opinion.

I meant 616 Kitty Pryde, will I buy Wolverine: First Class? More than likely yes. But I would like for her to appear in one of the main X-Titles.

[Beast]

New Exiles does not count!!! Cat Pryde is a disgrace to the Kitty name! Or... just in my opinion.

I meant 616 Kitty Pryde, will I buy Wolverine: First Class? More than likely yes. But I would like for her to appear in one of the main X-Titles.
Well, maybe her ashes will turn up in Uncanny X-Men. I'm still hoping to see Colossus scatter them in Russia.

[CyberHubbs]

Well, maybe her ashes will turn up in Uncanny X-Men. I'm still hoping to see Colossus scatter them in Russia.

I'm hoping she's been pregnant this entire time and just unable to join in the fighting during MC.

[pryde15]

Well, maybe her ashes will turn up in Uncanny X-Men. I'm still hoping to see Colossus scatter them in Russia.

:(

That would be horrible! Then all of my favorite women would be in limbo :(

Well Dani's coming back, lol. But Kitty, Jean, and Polaris aren't.

[Butters]

Well, maybe her ashes will turn up in Uncanny X-Men. I'm still hoping to see Colossus scatter them in Russia.

Kitty is Russian?

[pryde15]

Kitty is Russian?

No. But Kitty spread his ashes over Russia, from what I remember. So I guess he would do that same? lol.

[Beast]

No. But Kitty spread his ashes over Russia, from what I remember. So I guess he would do that same? lol.
Exactly. It would be a nice counterpoint to the when Kitty did that for him.

[CyberHubbs]

What's the Jewish stance on cremation?

[Butters]

Exactly. It would be a nice counterpoint to the when Kitty did that for him.

Sounds more like the kind of thing that a selfish jerk would do.

I grew up in California, if I were to pick a place for my ashes to be scattered, I'd go with that. If I died, and I had a girlfriend that happened to grow up in, like, Scotland, and she decided to deal with her grief by flying home and then scattering me there once she had "closure," I would make sure to haunt her.

[pryde15]

What's the Jewish stance on cremation?

I don't know, but it doesn't seem like Kitty is religious. Other than her Star of David necklace, which I haven't seen in years.

[Beast]

What's the Jewish stance on cremation?
Not sure. But if the Sentry throws the bullet into the sun, there won't be much choice.

[CyberHubbs]

Not sure. But if the Sentry throws the bullet into the sun, there won't be much choice.

Won't be anything to scatter, also.

Man, Whedon better have something good.

[Butters]

Is Lockheed with her? If she is gone, who feeds that thing?

[Beast]

Is Lockheed with her? If she is gone, who feeds that thing?
Beast, Agent Brand, and Lockheed will all get a house somewhere. You heard it here first.

[pryde15]

Is Lockheed with her? If she is gone, who feeds that thing?

From the X-Friendship Thread, we realized Kitty loses her pet dragon all the time. He seemed to survive pretty well, on his own, lol.

[metalgorgomon]

I'm still not sold to Bru's uncanny, so I know what the thread starter feels.. By all means, Bru's Uncanny is not bad. But not great as well. His Solo series are brilliant though.
RAFOTSE was bad, Extremist was okay, his Messiah Complex was above average (his issues are the weakest IMO), #495 are lovely but feels out of place and feels like filler until the big #500.

I'm not sure I want him to write the big #500 though..

[CyberHubbs]

Lockheed is the James Bond of alien dragons, it turns out. He'll be appearing in a buddy comic with Fing Fang Foom as super-spies for SHIELD and all of their hilarious adventures.

Lockheed: *Hisses and snarls!*

Fing Fang Foom: "What do you mean I cannot stuff this drug-runner down my pants?!"

[Kid Icarus]

I don't know, but it doesn't seem like Kitty is religious. Other than her Star of David necklace, which I haven't seen in years.

But in the Vampire annual, we were told that her star of David had power against the Vamps because of her faith behind it, I think. I haven't read it in forever.

[Lombardo!]

Ink is cool so far. I'll hold my opinion until we know more about Greymalkin.

[I]If it's the X-Men's version of 'Danny The Street', I'll declare it the most awesome thing of '08.

you have just ascended to a higher plane from over-awesomeness

[Brian Cronin]

No calling creators names, but also, no creator comparisons, either.

-Brian

[pryde15]

But in the Vampire annual, we were told that her star of David had power against the Vamps because of her faith behind it, I think. I haven't read it in forever.


hmm.. I don't remember this. It sounds interesting though, vampire annual? I probably have it somewhere lol.

[Judge Mental]

Dear Brubaker,

Please stop writing Uncanny X-Men. You're such a good writer. You're tearing it up on Criminal and Captain America and Daredevil. I mean, you're just so good at writing these types of books. You're such a good writer on these books that I was really looking for a classic X-Men run out of you, but it doesn't look like it's ever going to happen if it hasn't already.

Like many on these boards, I've been reading X-Men for decades. While I drifted and came back to it, X-Men has always been my first, great love. I just get the sense that you don't get the book the way you need to.

The way Mike Carey does. He has such a great sense of the characters, how they'd talk, how they'd interact, that his stories flow so naturally. Sure, Whedon's got that too. But Whedon's mired in the past. The Claremont era was great, but it's time to move on.

Carey is doing something different: He's reconceptualizing the characters with an eye to their past. Nobody has ever really been able to set a compelling, definitive direction for the X-Men since Claremont. It looks like Carey is going to change that.

And that's why I don't want to see you on Uncanny X-Men, Brubaker. The last Captain America was my favorite comic in months, but I just don't see the same quality on X-Men. Given what Carey's doing with X-Men, your talents are just wasted here. Do us all a favor: allocate them somewhere else, street level-like.

Speak for everyone why don't you?

I like Brubaker's Uncanny. A lot of people do.

Deal with it.

[Flâneur]

But in the Vampire annual, we were told that her star of David had power against the Vamps because of her faith behind it, I think. I haven't read it in forever.

There is a huge difference between being religious and having faith; religion includes a code of behaviour, a community and an institution whereas faith is more elemental, involving confidence, belief and hope in a being, object or process. Kitty probably has an immense amount of faith in her deity (Yahweh in this case) but she's most certainly not religious as far as Judaism is concerned, she seems to be more 'religious' about Xavier's dream than any actual religion.

/lecturing tone.

[(NO)]

Dear God,

Please make CBR stop talking about X-Books.

Love, (NO)

[darknessatnoon]

Dear Ed,

I think you're doing a bang up job, and steadily improving to boot! Good job on Qwerty. It was also really great to see Skids again without her whiny boyfriend. Korvus, his sword and "the blue shadow of the Phoenix" are not so great, but you can't knock them all out of the park.

I have some comments/suggestions.

1) Thank you for making Cyclops into a bad-ass much like Matt Murdock. Also, thank you for keeping Emma with Scott so that he does not go completely psycho, like aforementioned Matt Murdock. Please reveal if Scott and Emma are monogamous (boring) or swingers.

2) I want to see Rise and Fall of the Shiar II, not necessarily to see the former story-line resolved, but because there are a few more X-Men who I feel belong in space. I can provide you with a list later (shoot me an email!). On the top of it is Darwin. You accidentally brought him back, right? He's a Skrull or something, fine. When the real deal comes out of a Skrull refrigerator some day, please return him to space. See if PAD will let Guido tag along.

3) Let your artist know that if Magneto is going to be traveling incognito, a purple suit and hat isn't the best way to go.

4) Please show us a mini-bar in the Savage Land while Scott and Emma are on their way out, otherwise I find it implausible that anyone would vacation there.

5) Say hi to Mike Carey and PAD for me.

Those are my comments and suggestions.

Best,

darknessatnoon

[matthewaos]

Does everyone really like Brubaker on X-Men that much? Right, he's got some great other stuff. But his writing's clearly not the same caliber as Carey's or even Whedon's on X-Men.

All I'm saying is that X-Men's in really capable hands (finally), and that Brubaker should be on a book that can better showcase his talents.

Ah man... It's like we are alone in this thread. I also don't think Bru's uncanny is as good as his other books. Was it better than Claremont's? Sure was, I couldn't read more than 1 issue. Was it better than Austen's? Well, why do I ask? I think it's a good book, but I can't read it and say "yeah, this is the guy who wrote cap, dd, gotham central..."

[Lombardo!]

dude, i loved the downtime book. thing was hilarious.
- Cyclops assessing how bad-ass he can be against two triceratops
- Kurt + Logan up to old tricks
- Colossus cares about the homeland again
- Emma upstaging Shanna in her own damn environment

[Michael P]

Dear Ed Brubaker,

Thank you for writing Uncanny X-Men like yourself, instead of like somebody else. Regardless of how well it is or is not liked, that's your first duty as a writer. Well done.

Sincerely,

Michael P

PS: Please have Bucky-Cap have sex with Black Widow. Lots and lots of sex.

[Jack Flash]

Dear Ed Brubaker,

I agree with Cayman about Skids. And Bring Rusty back too. I think you are kool and the gang. I buy Criminal in trades and it makes me touch myself it's so good.

Thanks for that.

Jed

PS bring back Deadenders you and Bond rocked socks on that.

[timbox]

Dear Ed,

Since Messiah Complex started, Uncanny has got better with every issue. I look forward to Uncanny now, and can't wait to see what you have planned for us.

Please give my regards to Melanie and the pets.

Love Always,
Tim

P.S. How about an issue with Juggernaut beating the crap out of Dazzler?

[(NO)]

Dear Ed,
P.S. How about an issue with Juggernaut beating the crap out of Dazzler?

I support this.

[Beast]

Juggernaut's supposedly turning up in X-Men: Legacy. So unlikely.

Besides, Juggy's Dazzler's biggest fan. Him beating her up would be out of character.

Unless of course he was forced to do it by Cyttorak to show his loyalty.

[Thomas Uk]

Unless of course he was forced to do it by Cyttorak to show his loyalty.

Thats enough of a reason for me! lol

I think Brubaker has been doing a really good job so far, although his first couple of arcs didnt seem as connected to the rest of the x-books (which is what I like to see). Definately did a good job with extremists, Skids and Caliban were given a good dusting off and were very true to their original characters. Love what hes done with warpath up till now, his first issue post-messiah complex was really promosing as far as Im concerned. Let him stick at it I say, seems to me he's getting better all the time and hes definately getting a feel for many of the characters and being involved in a multi-book franchise! Keep up the good work mate.

[timbox]

Unless of course he was forced to do it by Cyttorak to show his loyalty.

Well we haven't seen him since WWH: X-Men and he still has some work to do to prove he is worthy of being full-powered again.

I hope you're taking notes, Ed. ;)

[Gloria]

Dearest Mr. Brubaker,

Whatever you do, please don't stop writing Daredevil. Your & Lark's Daredevil is my monthly Nirvana.

(BTW, I'd love to see Glorianna O'Breen back: great DD character, wasted by an unnamed author in a forgotten story... I wouldn't mind seeing her back, with a biomechanical arm or not).

[(NO)]

Does Brubaker post / lurk here or something?

If so, here's a present Bru. A photo of me from some convention.
http://shopwebflash.com/online%20gallery/images/Gambit%20solo2_jpg.jpg

[blackthought]

Almost everybody on this thread seems to be defending Brubaker and saying he's doing a bang-up job, but there's also a really strong sentiment that he's improving. Hell, a slew of people are pointing to one issue as proof that he can write a great X-Men yarn. I agree that his work on Messiah Complex was good enough, but I think there's a strong sentiment that his work on a slew of previous issues wasn't as good as it could've been.

I'm not sure how many of you are reading Captain America, Daredevil, or Criminal, but his writing is off the charts on these books. There are lots of differences between these books and X-Men. Team vs. solo. Powerful mutants vs. low or no powered protagonists. Etc. I just don't think he's making the transition that well.

But here's a big similarity: Both X-Men and Cap involve some sort of dream. Cap has the American dream, and X-Men has Xavier's. Both lines are in the process of getting reconceptualized, and the reconceptualization of the dream is the foundational storyline for both books.

Carey just seems to get this so much better than Brubaker, and it hurts that Brubaker doesn't seem to get this because he's so keyed into this concept in Cap. I don't want Brubaker's X-Men to be just good enough and occasionally great. The whole point of Messiah Complex is to give X-Men that direction that it's needed since Claremont left the flagship post. Brubaker's book is just...drifting. It's not that he's terrible - it's just that drifting has been the problem with X-Men for far too long, and I've seen Brubaker do so much better on a much more consistent basis elsewhere.

[darksaint124]

Almost everybody on this thread seems to be defending Brubaker and saying he's doing a bang-up job, but there's also a really strong sentiment that he's improving. Hell, a slew of people are pointing to one issue as proof that he can write a great X-Men yarn. I agree that his work on Messiah Complex was good enough, but I think there's a strong sentiment that his work on a slew of previous issues wasn't as good as it could've been.

I'm not sure how many of you are reading Captain America, Daredevil, or Criminal, but his writing is off the charts on these books. There are lots of differences between these books and X-Men. Team vs. solo. Powerful mutants vs. low or no powered protagonists. Etc. I just don't think he's making the transition that well.

But here's a big similarity: Both X-Men and Cap involve some sort of dream. Cap has the American dream, and X-Men has Xavier's. Both lines are in the process of getting reconceptualized, and the reconceptualization of the dream is the foundational storyline for both books.

Carey just seems to get this so much better than Brubaker, and it hurts that Brubaker doesn't seem to get this because he's so keyed into this concept in Cap. I don't want Brubaker's X-Men to be just good enough and occasionally great. The whole point of Messiah Complex is to give X-Men that direction that it's needed since Claremont left the flagship post. Brubaker's book is just...drifting. It's not that he's terrible - it's just that drifting has been the problem with X-Men for far too long, and I've seen Brubaker do so much better on a much more consistent basis elsewhere.

Obviously you have not seen some of the atrocities committed in the past by different writers. And just because YOU don't like Bru doesn't mean that no one else will. You have NO idea if his book is floating that's just your opinion. Come #500 it could be the best book at Marvel. And that was not the point of Messiah Complex, stop letting your opinions guide you.

[Croaker]

I wasn't really sold on him either... especially with Rise and Fall of the Shi'ar Empire. But the book improved greatly with Messiah Complex and Uncanny X-Men #495 was the best issue in ages. Given he admited to finally getting the Social Commentary aspect of the book late in the game (I believe it was around Messiah Complex he said that), I think his work has improved greatly. Looking forward to the future. :)

I feel the same way. Rise and Fall was so flat. Plus, I hate space stories in general, unless it is something like Star Wars. Having said that, Messiah Complex kicked some butt and 495 was a nice exposition issue which promises great things to come. So...

Dear Bru,

I'm along for the ride. Make it a good one!

Love and Peace,
Croaker

[blackthought]

Obviously you have not seen some of the atrocities committed in the past by different writers. And just because YOU don't like Bru doesn't mean that no one else will. You have NO idea if his book is floating that's just your opinion. Come #500 it could be the best book at Marvel. And that was not the point of Messiah Complex, stop letting your opinions guide you.

First of all, isn't a message board a place to share opinions, and shouldn't I look to my opinions to guide what I read?

Second, I've only had a few posts on these boards, but I've read a lot of X-Men in my day. I also read a lot of comics currently, and I think my posts reflect this. I referenced 2 other X-Men writers and 3 other titles Bru's working on. I talked about differences between these titles, and I thought hard about themes that pop up across different books.

So yeah, I'm giving you my opinion. But I'm not sure why that's a bad thing, and I'm not sure how it's any less thoughtful or based in evidence than anything anybody else has said on this thread. Hell, people responding to this thread have primarily just dissed my conclusions - they've barely engaged with the reasons I've put out there.

[darksaint124]

First of all, isn't a message board a place to share opinions, and shouldn't I look to my opinions to guide what I read?

Second, I've only had a few posts on these boards, but I've read a lot of X-Men in my day. I also read a lot of comics currently, and I think my posts reflect this. I referenced 2 other X-Men writers and 3 other titles Bru's working on. I talked about differences between these titles, and I thought hard about themes that pop up across different books.

So yeah, I'm giving you my opinion. But I'm not sure why that's a bad thing, and I'm not sure how it's any less thoughtful or based in evidence than anything anybody else has said on this thread. Hell, people responding to this thread have primarily just dissed my conclusions - they've barely engaged with the reasons I've put out there.

What I'm trying to tell you is that Bru is learning on the fly. He even admitted this and seems to be steadily improving. The opinion I was talking about was you stating that Messiah Complex was supposed to sell you on the direction the X-books are going in. That wasn't the case. MC introduced new readers to the characters in the other books they might not have been buying, while launching three books out of it so you can decide what you want to follow. We all know Uncanny will not have a clear direction until 500, but apparently you thought that that was what MC was supposed to give you.

[jarrod]

While I can't say I wouldn't prefer Carey on Uncanny and driving the line as a whole forward (c'mon... even during MX Bru's Uncanny was easily the weak link) I do have to say I really enjoyed the most recent Uncanny issue. Bru's been making huge strides forward and I'm genuinely interested in seeing wehere he takes the X-Men. Pulling him off the book now that he's hitting his stride would just be a disservice to the audience imo, just as it was when it happened to Claremont before him.

[gorthon616]

What I'm trying to tell you is that Bru is learning on the fly. He even admitted this and seems to be steadily improving. The opinion I was talking about was you stating that Messiah Complex was supposed to sell you on the direction the X-books are going in. That wasn't the case. MC introduced new readers to the characters in the other books they might not have been buying, while launching three books out of it so you can decide what you want to follow. We all know Uncanny will not have a clear direction until 500, but apparently you thought that that was what MC was supposed to give you.

Did he say that? Props to him for honesty, it's nice to see A-list personalities admit that their work needs improvement at times. But yeah, Rise & Fall wasn't that great (my opinion), but he's been better and better.

In any case, I can emphasize with the original poster a little. However, I think it's silly to pull Bru' off the book unless he wants off. He's a good writer, and the fact that he's look it as a title that he's learning how to handle rather than form-fitting the book to how he writes (I'm talking to you Bendis) shows to me that he should stay around if he wants.

And besides, Carey is writing tons of other stuff. I don't think he'd have time to handle both books at the same quality.

[Agent_Torpor]

A "letter to Ed Brubaker"???

What kind of self-indulgent tripe is this?

[matthewaos]

Truth is that I dropped UXM after two or three issues of Rise and Fall, but I liked the book during MC, but considering it was a huge crossover, I can't say for sure, though it seemed to me that X-Men was the leading book. We'll see from here, waiting for the first UWS issue.

[Tuppence]

What's the Jewish stance on cremation?Little late, but I just noticed this.

Cremation is very, very, very frowned upon in Judaism. Religious reasons aside, there's a strong taboo against it now because of the Holocaust (victims being cremated after they were gassed.) Kitty lost family in the Holocaust - it would be extremely out of character for her to ask to be cremated. That's regardless of what she religiously believes; she's always been strongly culturally Jewish. It just wouldn't happen. Or shouldn't, anyway.

[just another user]

Does Brubaker post / lurk here or something?

If so, here's a present Bru. A photo of me from some convention.
http://shopwebflash.com/online%20gallery/images/Gambit%20solo2_jpg.jpg

Oh my... be careful what you post on the internet - this may come back to haunt you....

you should make this your avatar by the way

[just another user]

I fail at internet

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

dear brubaker,

while we disagree on comics we agree that kristen bell is hot...

i am conflicted

vash