Which current X Character is filling the Jean Grey role in terms of personality?

[Home made ectoplasm]

I've seen it mentioned a few times on here and I think it's quite a popular view that Emma has replaced Jean, eg


Jean Grey has been dead for nearly a decade, yet Marvel has done everything in their power to replace her with Emma Frost, Hope, and Rachel.



Jean has been replaced by Emma in terms of her role with the X-Men, and by Hope in terms of a red haired, green eyed mutant connected to the Phoenix.

Now it's certainly true to an extent in that Emma has a similar powerset and that she's currently sleeping with Scott. However on another level I think it's selling Jean short. The two characters aren't really at all similar if you look at their personality - and AFAIK Jean's personality is as big a part of her popularity as her powerset.

Saying Emma replaced Jean could arguably be true on a literal level but it degrades Jean to consider them interchangeable. (MM616 and Ricky - I'm not suggesting your quoted posts mean you think that)

Do you think there is a current character that has a similar personality to Jean and fulfils the narrative function she did? Or is there still a hole in the X Family only Jean can fill?

[Cayman]

It is Mercury.

[Meehl]

Few characters could replace Jean's absence of personality. I'll say Bling!

[fortyseven]

What's Fish Girl's personality like?

[RickyD410]

In terms of "mother hen" of the X-Men? No, because there isn't really a need for that type of figure with the X-men right now (at least as editorial sees it, IMO). But right now, a lot of how Emma is portrayed is directly based off her relationship with Cyclops. I even remember Fraction comparing the two, saying Jean was the love of Scott's youth, but Emma is the love of Scott's life. That statement alone I think says a lot on how at least one creator views Emma.

Overall, you're absolutely right, Emma's personality is not similar to Jean's. But she has become much, much closer to that figure over the years. Example (http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/5/53216/1101670-colossus_and_emma.jpeg): "You're never alone, Peter."

I don't think the characters are interchangeable. But, again, there isnt a spot for Jean's role at this moment in the X-Men. She was the heart of the team, the soul, the team "mom" so to speak. That was when the X-Men was much more balanced in terms of soap opera elements vs. super heroics. Now, we don't see much soap opera on Utopia. It's been made quite clear that the X-Men on Utopia are an army, not a family. Editorial ALWAYS refers to Cyclops as a general, and both characters and creators have made it quite clear that the X-Men have had to change their game to survive. They dont have the luxury of living in a mansion as a family anymore.

[shades of eternity]

Colossus

he came back from he dead and being heavily influenced by a power more powerful then himself.

The actions that will damn him are his good, honorable and self-sacrificing nature

plus he's being really passive towards scott right now. :p

[NewMutant]

Rachel Grey/Summers... There is a reason why the second Jean dies Rachel comes back. Then when Jean returns Rachel is shuffled into limbo.

[Washout]

Emma was a bit more maternal than she should have been under Fraction, but Gillen does her justice. No one is really being the Jean right now. Kitty is the matriarch at the JGSHL, but she isn't mature enough to come of as jean-like; she's more fun.

[Home made ectoplasm]

This thread has made me realise current X Comics have fewer strong female characters than they did when I was a teenager :frown:

[Lady_Alternate]

What's Fish Girl's personality like?

You'd think "bubbly" but probably not. Also, I feel a bit cheap for having made that pun.

[.A²]

I'm glad you brought this up, because although the comparisons between Emma and Jean are only natural, they do a disservice to both characters and the work that Morrison did playing them off one another. Jean doesn't have Emma's acerbic sting, and Emma lacks Jean's (generally) altruistic heart.

I stuggle to think who's taken on Jean's role, mainly because I don't think it quite fits into the current status quo of the X-Men. With all the tension surrounding the schism, Charles seemingly retired, and Storm only just recovering from her recent character assassination, someone with Jean's role just doesn't belong anywhere at the moment. As for personality, in a vague way I can almost see Rogue as having taken on certain qualities from Jean ever since she's mellowed, or "matured". It's not really a great fit, but I do see some overlapping.

[xhx23x]

It's like some have said here, right now, Jean's role in the X-Men doesn't really fit to the story. And like I said before, people like her, or Nightcrawler, make more sense dead to the characters (Cykes and Logan primarily) general directions right now.

The closest would be Kitty, and maybe Rogue, but I don't think either has stepped their game up to Jean's level yet.

[Meehl]

The only thing Jean and Emma share in common are some really superficial traits: sex with Cyclops and TP skills. That's sort of the totality of their comparison.

There is practically nothing about Emma that makes Jean redundant. They share nothing in common personality wise (Jean had no personality and Emma is a bitch). Emma is a second class TP compared to Jean. They have different hair color, Emma is like twice as skinny and has bigger boobs. Emma has better breeding.

I don't think Jean was replaced by Emma as much as the writers had some ideas for how they wanted to use Emma and no one had any ideas about how to use Jean so Jean stayed dead.

[eso_teric]

Storm. They've always been the closest in personality to each other, not to mentioned most aligned with each other's vision.

[Optic Rage]

The only thing Jean and Emma share in common are some really superficial traits: sex with Cyclops and TP skills. That's sort of the totality of their comparison.

There is practically nothing about Emma that makes Jean redundant. They share nothing in common personality wise (Jean had no personality and Emma is a bitch). Emma is a second class TP compared to Jean. They have different hair color, Emma is like twice as skinny and has bigger boobs. Emma has better breeding.

I don't think Jean was replaced by Emma as much as the writers had some ideas for how they wanted to use Emma and no one had any ideas about how to use Jean so Jean stayed dead.

It's a lazy comparison and an ironic backhanded insult when coming from Jean fans, but it's mainly due to her lack of a relevant voice under Fraction. Gillen has a good handle on her..it's not the best the character has ever been written, but it's solid. She just needs to play more of an active role in shaping the A story line, which is all Hope/Cyclops/Wolverine with a bit of Cable on the side.

That's one of my complaints about Gillen's Uncanny...the individual story arcs of each character should be a little stronger than what's currently going on, bar Cyclops and Hope. AVX should have some great character moments though.

[DurararaFTW]

Can't really say there is a Jean shaped hole in the X-cast when the X-cast when she was alive didn't even remotely look the way it does today. When Jean was alive, Xavier was in charge, Wolverine wasn't Headmaster, there was no Hope, Cyclops wasn't trying to rally all of mutantkind under his banner as an army. I'd agree that Storm is the closest to presenting what Jean would think and do during all this but there's that idiotic marriage to the Black Panther, so not really.

[xhx23x]

The only thing Jean and Emma share in common are some really superficial traits: sex with Cyclops and TP skills. That's sort of the totality of their comparison.

What bugs me most about it is that by these standards Psylocke should totally be in getting accusations too. Sure she never did Scott perse, but it's as flimsy a logic as the Emma argument. She's even appearing in more X-Books! Jean fans should go after her! How dare she be top telepath of every x-team!

[Optic Rage]

What bugs me most about it is that by these standards Psylocke should totally be in getting accusations too. Sure she never did Scott perse, but it's as flimsy a logic as the Emma argument. She's even appearing in more X-Books! Jean fans should go after her! How dare she be top telepath of every x-team!

It's more got to do with the fact that Emma is now the Alpha female X-Man, which used to be Jean's place...rather than any real similarities in characterization.

[xhx23x]

It's more got to do with the fact that Emma is now the Alpha female X-Man, which used to be Jean's place...rather than any real similarities in characterization.

I think Storm is, or well was, far better suited for that description. And her losing it has more to do with the Black Panther mess than Emma being pushed to that.

[fortyseven]

Another similarity that Jean and Emma have:
They both love to manipulate the love lives of others. Emma broke up Cyclops/Jean. Jean broke up Storm/Forge.

[xgeek52]

ecto (or hme or jau or hell take you pick) has made an interesting point in terms of strong female characters and i fault the marvel/x-men editors for taking the 'easy' way out...

much could have been made of the character dynamics betwee emma frost and jean grey...for the most part alot could have been of the character dynamics between any of the female characters...but the marvel/x-men writers and editors chose to do what they did instead of flexing their 'creative muscles' and built good soild character driven stories around emma and jean; emma, jean and ororo -- ect., ect. so on and so on...

shame they didn't...

[Optic Rage]

I think Storm is, or well was, far better suited for that description. And her losing it has more to do with the Black Panther mess than Emma being pushed to that.

You could look at it from two ways, Jean being the first girl and the legacy of that plus the Phoenix Saga vs Storm's more active role as an x-man leader and shaping the team/dream.


ecto (or hme or jau or hell take you pick) has made an interesting point in terms of strong female characters and i fault the marvel/x-men editors for taking the 'easy' way out...

much could have been made of the character dynamics betwee emma frost and jean grey...for the most part alot could have been of the character dynamics between any of the female characters...but the marvel/x-men writers and editors chose to do what they did instead of flexing their 'creative muscles' and built good soild character driven stories around emma and jean; emma, jean and ororo -- ect., ect. so on and so on...

shame they didn't...

Don't worry, i'm sure there will be plenty of Emma/Jean once she gets back. They've been building up the anticipation of that for years.

[Ingonyama]

Another similarity that Jean and Emma have:
They both love to manipulate the love lives of others. Emma broke up Cyclops/Jean. Jean broke up Storm/Forge.

Jean didn't do it intentionally. She simply gave Forge the best advice she could think of given what she knew of her friend, and didn't pry into her head with her telepathy to discover the truth like Emma or Betsy would have. It's Forge's fault for not going to Ororo directly with his worries about their future, but instead trying to seek advice from a third party.

[Meehl]

Forge asked Jean if Storm loved him, right? It was a clever question. Jean wouldn't lie to him so she said nothing and looked sad.


What bugs me most about it is that by these standards Psylocke should totally be in getting accusations too. Sure she never did Scott perse, but it's as flimsy a logic as the Emma argument. She's even appearing in more X-Books! Jean fans should go after her! How dare she be top telepath of every x-team!

If its seems illogical to call one telepath a replacement for another telepath all the while ignoring the other telepaths it is because it is illogical. This is just some weird attempt to troll both Jean fans (haha, look, you've been replaced!) and Emma fans (haha, look, you've been reduced to a second-rate replacement character!) simultaneously.

[darknessatnoon]

Psylocke has been trying to act like Jean lately, and it's utterly ridiculous.

[Ingonyama]

Psylocke has been trying to act like Jean lately, and it's utterly ridiculous.

What? Huh? Where are you seeing this?

SCANS, I DEMAND THEM

[Deus ex Chris]

I think Storm is, or well was, far better suited for that description. And her losing it has more to do with the Black Panther mess than Emma being pushed to that.
That's not really true. Emma's rise came before the Storm/Black Panther thing. Morrison created the interest and momentum, and Whedon cemented Emma's place as leading X-lady. Storm was left out of the reinvigoration of the X-Men by Morrison and the passing of the baton to Whedon, which is unfortunate. It meant that she didn't really have a place, since her place had traditionally been at the forefront. The Black Panther thing happened, and then she really didn't have a place.

[Meehl]

Hmmm, when making these kinds of threads, hme is a 7 and Badger is a 3 on a scale of 1 to D@n.


That's not really true. Emma's rise came before the Storm/Black Panther thing. Morrison created the interest and momentum, and Whedon cemented Emma's place as leading X-lady. Storm was left out of the reinvigoration of the X-Men by Morrison and the passing of the baton to Whedon, which is unfortunate. It meant that she didn't really have a place, since her place had traditionally been at the forefront. The Black Panther thing happened, and then she really didn't have a place.

Oh yea, Emma's rise began with the Iceman body switch thing and gained all of kinds of gravitas in Gen X. Morrison didn't create this momentum, unless we say that that momentum from Gen X had died and he reinvented it. Storm was at the forefront of CC's extreme book. I wonder if CC requested her or she was Morrison's scraps from which CC had to build a team.

[darknessatnoon]

What? Huh? Where are you seeing this?

SCANS, I DEMAND THEM

It's obvious in the attempt to create drama for her through a lame love triangle, but at least Scott, Jean and Logan had real fire.

http://media.comicvine.com/uploads/1/18863/2141412-picture_4.png

[Ingonyama]

A love triangle, however lame (and no, I don't see the chemistry between Fantomex and Psylocke) does not a Jean wannabe make.

Rogue and Emma have lame love triangles of their own; it's the new trend among X-Women. Doesn't mean they're trying to turn Betsy into Jean.

[xhx23x]

yeah she was sort of left out, but didn't the Black Panther thing take place during Reload? or am I remembering it wrong? My point was it was decided that they wanted to use Storm for that, so the x-writers put less focus on her.

[darknessatnoon]

A love triangle does not a Jean wannabe make.

Rogue and Emma have triangles of their own; it's the new trend among X-Women. Doesn't mean they're trying to turn Betsy into Jean.

No, those other love triangles are completely different. Psylocke's though smacks of Jean Grey drama lite.

[Optic Rage]

That's not really true. Emma's rise came before the Storm/Black Panther thing. Morrison created the interest and momentum, and Whedon cemented Emma's place as leading X-lady. Storm was left out of the reinvigoration of the X-Men by Morrison and the passing of the baton to Whedon, which is unfortunate. It meant that she didn't really have a place, since her place had traditionally been at the forefront. The Black Panther thing happened, and then she really didn't have a place.

I wonder if Whedon would have actually used Storm if Morrison has used her. The wedding still would have happened i bet.

I wouldn't resent CC for keeping Storm(because there is argument to be made there i guess) he did ''make her'' after all...and it was the wedding that really damaged her relevance rather than not being written by Morrison/Whedon.

[Ingonyama]

No, those other love triangles are completely different. Psylocke's though smacks of Jean Grey drama lite.

How? Who's the Scott, the dead-but-not-really Warren? I'd buy him as the Wolverine in the relationship first, with his Archangel side. And Fantomex couldn't be more different from either man, though again, I still don't get why she'd even look at him twice. Ah well, the girl's never had the best taste in men.

[darknessatnoon]

Whedon's characterization of Storm was the best I've ever seen.

http://i54.tinypic.com/4kw4fr.jpg

[Deus ex Chris]

Oh yea, Emma's rise began with the Iceman body switch thing and gained all of kinds of gravitas in Gen X. Morrison didn't create this momentum, unless we say that that momentum from Gen X had died and he reinvented it. Storm was at the forefront of CC's extreme book. I wonder if CC requested her or she was Morrison's scraps from which CC had to build a team.
I would hardly call spending the last half of the 90's in a largely irrelevant ancillary title gaining momentum, especially since Morrison basically ignored her time in that book.

As for Storm, Claremont definitely wanted her. I think it's been mentioned that she wasn't even on the table as an option for Morrison or Whedon.

[Deus ex Chris]

I wonder if Whedon would have actually used Storm if Morrison has used her. The wedding still would have happened i bet.
I thought it was mentioned in interviews that they weren't given the option to use her. If they had, I doubt the wedding would've happened. Had Storm been integral and central to the narrative at the time, they wouldn't have removed her from the books.


I wouldn't resent CC for keeping Storm(because there is argument to be made there i guess) he did ''make her'' after all...and it was the wedding that really damaged her relevance rather than not being written by Morrison/Whedon. Of course there's an argument to be made. His books were considered largely ancillary and in play specifically for him and his fans. The overall direction of the line--as well as what was considered the "marquee" team--was coming from New X-Men and then Astonishing. The marriage was the final nail in the coffin of her relevance, but she was definitely already in the coffin.

[Optic Rage]

Hmmm, when making these kinds of threads, hme is a 7 and Badger is a 3 on a scale of 1 to D@n.



Oh yea, Emma's rise began with the Iceman body switch thing and gained all of kinds of gravitas in Gen X. Morrison didn't create this momentum, unless we say that that momentum from Gen X had died and he reinvented it. Storm was at the forefront of CC's extreme book. I wonder if CC requested her or she was Morrison's scraps from which CC had to build a team.

Morrison requested Rogue, Colossus and Storm for his team. He was blocked use of Rogue(who he intended to kill off) and Storm as they were to be in XTreme and Colossus was due to be written off so he used Emma and gave her the secondary mutation instead. At least, that's how i think it went.

[darknessatnoon]

Morrison requested Rogue, Colossus and Storm for his team. He was blocked use of Rogue(who he intended to kill off) and Storm as they were to be in XTreme and Colossus was due to be written off so he used Emma and gave her the secondary mutation instead. At least, that's how i think it went.

He also wanted Moira and Gambit.

[Scarlet Silence]

Morrison requested Rogue, Colossus and Storm for his team. He was blocked use of Rogue(who he intended to kill off) and Storm as they were to be in XTreme and Colossus was due to be written off so he used Emma and gave her the secondary mutation instead. At least, that's how i think it went.


He also wanted Moira and Gambit.

Is there a place on the Internet I can see this? I know that there is a Morrison Manifesto, but I do not remember reading about his reach for Storm and Gambit.

[darknessatnoon]

Is there a place on the Internet I can see this? I know that there is a Morrison Manifesto, but I do not remember reading about his reach for Storm and Gambit.

Morrison never wanted Storm. lol. He wanted Gambit so that he could date Goth Zombie Rogue. He also wanted Zombie Computer Moira, but was only allowed temporary access to Computer Sage instead.

[Optic Rage]

I thought it was mentioned in interviews that they weren't given the option to use her. If they had, I doubt the wedding would've happened. Had Storm been integral and central to the narrative at the time, they wouldn't have removed her from the books.

Yeah, CC was using her in XTreme and Uncanny when both of them came on. I always kind of figured that the wedding happened thanks to Hudlin wanting Storm for BP and Joey Q kind of gifted her to him.


Of course there's an argument to be made. His books were considered largely ancillary and in play specifically for him and his fans. The overall direction of the line--as well as what was considered the "marquee" team--was coming from New X-Men and then Astonishing. The marriage was the final nail in the coffin of her relevance, but she was definitely already in the coffin.

Yeah, of course, i mean, i wouldn't hold it against him. I'm sure from his POV then and now he was doing what he thought was best for the character. It must have been..a bit of a shock to see this guy come in and basically take control of the franchise from right under him.

[.A²]

Morrison requested Rogue, Colossus and Storm for his team. He was blocked use of Rogue(who he intended to kill off) and Storm as they were to be in XTreme and Colossus was due to be written off so he used Emma and gave her the secondary mutation instead. At least, that's how i think it went.

In the Morrison Manifesto he requested Moira Mactaggert, whose discovery of imminent human extinction was later given to Beast, while Storm was mentioned as being in Genosha. In that way Storm became Emma, but it was more of a throwaway reference. I can't remember what he had planned for Colossus.

[darknessatnoon]

while Storm was mentioned as being in Genosha.

Too bad Morrison didn't get his way.

[.A²]

Too bad Morrison didn't get his way.

Hate to disappoint you, but I think it was post-destruction relief aid.

[Ingonyama]

I would hardly call spending the last half of the 90's in a largely irrelevant ancillary title gaining momentum, especially since Morrison basically ignored her time in that book.

Maybe she didn't stand out in pop culture, but that doesn't mean her character didn't grow and change over those years. That''s the kind of momentum I think Meehl meant.

[Deus ex Chris]

Yeah, CC was using her in XTreme and Uncanny when both of them came on. I always kind of figured that the wedding happened thanks to Hudlin wanting Storm for BP and Joey Q kind of gifted her to him.
As with most things, I imagine timing played a part. Claremont's Uncanny wasn't working out, and pulling Storm from the X-Men wouldn't have any impact.


Yeah, of course, i mean, i wouldn't hold it against him. I'm sure from his POV then and now he was doing what he thought was best for the character. It must have been..a bit of a shock to see this guy come in and basically take control of the franchise from right under him.
I'm not holding anything against him. I'm just making observations about Storm's decline.

[Deus ex Chris]

Maybe she didn't stand out in pop culture, but that doesn't mean her character didn't grow and change over those years. That''s the kind of momentum I think Meehl meant.
No, I don't think so. He'd be better able to answer. However, we were talking specifically about her rise to lead female, so I'm not sure why he'd be talking about her growing and changing in the Generation X years. Her growth and development in those years were jettisoned in the run in which she gained that momentum.

[Ingonyama]

Her growth and development in those years were jettisoned in the run in which she gained that momentum.

Unfortunate but true. I liked Gen X Emma a lot; having her backslide into the b!tch-queen fresh out of the Hellfire limo was a horrible decision IMO.

[Optic Rage]

As with most things, I imagine timing played a part. Claremont's Uncanny wasn't working out, and pulling Storm from the X-Men wouldn't have any impact.


I'm not holding anything against him. I'm just making observations about Storm's decline.

lol i know, and i didn't suggest that you were. I was just saying how i wouldn't hold anything against him even though there is argument to be made that her current irrelevance is thanks to him.

[Optic Rage]

Unfortunate but true. I liked Gen X Emma a lot; having her backslide into the b!tch-queen fresh out of the Hellfire limo was a horrible decision IMO.

It turned out that it was a smart decision as it's generally regarded that Morrison's version of Jean and Emma were the best those characters were ever written, and that Emma was the break out star of the entire run.

[Swashbuckler]

Mystique is the ultimate Jean Grey replacement.

[Deus ex Chris]

It turned out that it was a smart decision as it's generally regarded that Morrison's version of Jean and Emma were the best those characters were ever written, and that Emma was the break out star of the entire run.
Yeah, I know I certainly didn't give a shit about Generation X Emma. I mean, the "Auntie Em" version in Counter X was great, but that's it. Before that, I hadn't really cared much for the character since the story where Jean stole her body out of fear of dying (again).

[Scarlet Silence]

It turned out that it was a smart decision as it's generally regarded that Morrison's version of Jean and Emma were the best those characters were ever written, and that Emma was the break out star of the entire run.

I feel this is definitely true.

[Meehl]

No, I don't think so. He'd be better able to answer. However, we were talking specifically about her rise to lead female, so I'm not sure why he'd be talking about her growing and changing in the Generation X years. Her growth and development in those years were jettisoned in the run in which she gained that momentum.

My reaction to Emma gaining a major role in Morrison's X-men was something like, "Oh cool, I really liked reformed-bad-girl-and-better-than-you Emma from Gen X, and it seems plausible that Morrison would give more attention now." Implicit in my reaction is the notion that if Morrison was using her this much, other people must also have enjoyed her character.

And if we're going to complain about redundant characters, Fantomax is just Gambit. Why the hell did Morrison make a second master thief with +10 charm and agility and a faux french-ish speaking disorder?

[Henry T.]

Jean has always had personality. Remember her first appearance where she was sassy and twirled Beast in the air because he was being too forward. She also tk'ed the chair to herself and told the boys that she didn't need their help. In the second issue she got jealous when 6 women were all over Warren so she tk'ed them unto the roof of a nearby building.

By the end of the green mini dress era she developed her characteristic confidence and fiery temper and became much more out going which continued during her Phoenix years.

She was also the compassionate one and embraced her mutant powers and Xavier's dream. Even back then she would angst about Scott and their budding love.

Morrison once mentioned in an interview that he considered Jean to have an off center personality.

[Phoenix Egg]

Was supposed to be an edit...whoops.

[Phoenix Egg]

I just can not wait for nice, sweet Jeannie to go off on someone U-Men, Sabretooth or Emma style. Those moments are always great.


She's a sweet girl, but if you manage to piss her off, she will throw a mattress at you.

I was reading Endsong the other day and Scott mentions to Emma that they work because she won't blow a hole in the wall and fly away when they fight.


Jean's low-key fiery temper is the best part.


All sweet and then...BAM! She just tore into your mistress' mind or ate your sun or whathaveyou.

[coveredinbees]

Which current X Character is filling the Jean Grey role in terms of personality?
Rogue

[motherofpearl1]

This thread has made me realise current X Comics have fewer strong female characters than they did when I was a teenager :frown:

I loved these comics purely because there were so many interesting role models for females, but since the 'army led by a general' took over from the 'family of superheroes' there's so much testosterone about there isn't any room for strong women nowadays. They're all busy servicing their men. The strongest female left is Psylocke, and all we hear of late is Remender banging on about how 'things are going to change for her.'

she'll probably end up polishing Fantomax's love tool and not much else.

[Dr. Sonic]

I loved these comics purely because there were so many interesting role models for females, but since the 'army led by a general' took over from the 'family of superheroes' there's so much testosterone about there isn't any room for strong women nowadays. They're all busy servicing their men. The strongest female left is Psylocke, and all we hear of late is Remender banging on about how 'things are going to change for her.'

she'll probably end up polishing Fantomax's love tool and not much else.

Respectfully disagree. Go back a decade or two and you have Rouge as this lost confused damsel who couldn't get by without Gambit, Psylock was simple cheesecake, Jubilee was comic relief, Storm was relegated to only appearing in X-treme, and Jean was little more than window dressing. Now Rogue is leading her own team and book, Psylock has been the main character and saves-the-day hero in the last two arcs of X-Force, Twilight-Jubilee is basically the star of adjectiveless (although that book currently stinks), Storm plays a major role in three x-books and is also a current Avenger, and, in Jean's abscence, Emma has been crafted into a compelling, albeit flawed, fully-rounded character. On top of that, the whole AvX mega-event or whatever is centering around Hope and Scarlett Witch; that and X-23 and Gen Hope were basically X-books staring female X-men...
I'm not saying that all is well in the world, but I would hardly say that the x-books have been void of strong, interesting female characters.

[bobbyraw]

Jean had a personality? News to me. She always seemed completely generic.

[ExodusCloak]

It's more got to do with the fact that Emma is now the Alpha female X-Man, which used to be Jean's place...rather than any real similarities in characterization.

That was Storm.

1963-1986...Jean was either repressed, evil or dead.

And she's been dead from 2004-2012


Jean had a personality? News to me. She always seemed completely generic.

When she was created she was basically an Invisible Girl clone. I never saw her as that compassionate before she died...when she came back she become more of a "mother hen" type character basically an Invisible Woman clone. I think what kept her going was nostalgia. I wonder what would have happened had Dazzler been put in X-Factor instead of Jean like how they originally intended. Only ever liked her under Grant Morrisons pen.

[pariah-1972]

Storm is probably the most similar to Jean personality wise right now.

[MarvelMaster616]

Now it's certainly true to an extent in that Emma has a similar powerset and that she's currently sleeping with Scott. However on another level I think it's selling Jean short. The two characters aren't really at all similar if you look at their personality - and AFAIK Jean's personality is as big a part of her popularity as her powerset.

Saying Emma replaced Jean could arguably be true on a literal level but it degrades Jean to consider them interchangeable. (MM616 and Ricky - I'm not suggesting your quoted posts mean you think that)

Do you think there is a current character that has a similar personality to Jean and fulfils the narrative function she did? Or is there still a hole in the X Family only Jean can fill?

I never meant to suggest that Emma's replacement role was solely due to her being the top telepath. I apologize if I gave that impression. My point about Emma replacing Jean isn't just about her being a psychic and sleeping with Cyclops. When I read how Emma was portrayed by Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon and then read how she was portrayed after, I see a stark change in her personality and character. She used to be much harsher and more distinct compared to Jean. But ever since House of M, her personality has been heavily watered down. She's no longer that tough, crude woman that would rip into people and not apologize for it. She's just Cyclops's arm candy who occassionally makes dirty jokes and is only good for a few titilating bed scenes. I think it's because she's in the same position as Jean Grey once was that the writers have really softened her character and basically given her a free pass to be more innocent than she ever was. That's why I say she's been forced into Jean's role because she's basically been watered down to the point where she can fit that role. The only one that ever could or even should take Jean's role is Rachel, but at least you can tell her apart from Jean Grey and she doesn't look like a de-aged Jean Grey like Hope. She has her mother's flare, but it's Emma Frost who has been forced into that role and I think it's been bad for her character and for Cyclops and Jean as well.

[ExodusCloak]

I never meant to suggest that Emma's replacement role was solely due to her being the top telepath. I apologize if I gave that impression. My point about Emma replacing Jean isn't just about her being a psychic and sleeping with Cyclops. When I read how Emma was portrayed by Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon and then read how she was portrayed after, I see a stark change in her personality and character. She used to be much harsher and more distinct compared to Jean. But ever since House of M, her personality has been heavily watered down. She's no longer that tough, crude woman that would rip into people and not apologize for it. She's just Cyclops's arm candy who occassionally makes dirty jokes and is only good for a few titilating bed scenes. I think it's because she's in the same position as Jean Grey once was that the writers have really softened her character and basically given her a free pass to be more innocent than she ever was. That's why I say she's been forced into Jean's role because she's basically been watered down to the point where she can fit that role. The only one that ever could or even should take Jean's role is Rachel, but at least you can tell her apart from Jean Grey and she doesn't look like a de-aged Jean Grey like Hope. She has her mother's flare, but it's Emma Frost who has been forced into that role and I think it's been bad for her character and for Cyclops and Jean as well.

Rachel is nothing like Jean Grey either.

[witness]

Mr Lebeau has been doing a wonderful impression of the 90's mumsy Jean Grey in X-men legacy for the past couple of years.

Seriously though, I think as far as personality goes, Marvel have deliberately steered clear of her "type". Emma seems to have become the prominent female "role model" in the X-men, she has more in common with Claremont era Storm than Jean. I blame the aforementioned 90's version of Jean Grey, it ruined her credibility (particularly the animated version). I doubt she appealed to the average independent teenage girl (or indeed boy) of that time. Every girl I knew at the time wanted to be either Storm or Rogue and saw Jean as a 50's housewife throwback.

[Confuzzled Mutie]

Seriously though, I think as far as personality goes, Marvel have deliberately steered clear of her "type". Emma seems to have become the prominent female "role model" in the X-men, she has more in common with Claremont era Storm than Jean. I blame the aforementioned 90's version of Jean Grey, it ruined her credibility (particularly the animated version). I doubt she appealed to the average independent teenage girl (or indeed boy) of that time. Every girl I knew at the time wanted to be either Storm or Rogue and saw Jean as a 50's housewife throwback.

True about the animated series massacring Jean's personality to comical levels. Who can forget the *Faint* *faint* *faint*?

It's too bad Karima Shapandar is comatose and currently in limbo. She really had/has the potential of being the closest to displaying the very best(and worst) of Jean personality wise, with an added edge. Kind and nurturing cyborg chick? Pretty damn cool!

[Ingonyama]

True about the animated series massacring Jean's personality to comical levels. Who can forget the *Faint* *faint* *faint*?

It's too bad Karima Shapandar is comatose and currently in limbo. She really had/has the potential of being the closest to displaying the very best(and worst) of Jean personality wise, with an added edge. Kind and nurturing cyborg chick? Pretty damn cool!

I have to say, while Jean started out making a fairly poor showing (for two whole seasons), she held her own in a few later episodes, particularly the finale, where she displayed the strength, courage, and heart that made her one of my favorite Claremazons.

It would be interesting to see Karima come full circle into a cyber-Team Mom. I always thought she had a lot of potential.

[Siena Blaze]

PAD will restore Polaris to her former glory as Jean Grey-lite/Den Mother of the D-listers on X-Factor.

[ExodusCloak]

PAD will restore Polaris to her former glory as Jean Grey-lite/Den Mother of the D-listers on X-Factor.

Polaris was never like Jean either, she was always an erratic quack.

[darknessatnoon]

lol Magneta. I wish Jean called herself Xavieria.

[Aguja]

None of course. There is a reason even in death Jean's character dominates the lesser X-women.

[Omegastorm]

Respectfully disagree. Go back a decade or two and you have Rouge as this lost confused damsel who couldn't get by without Gambit, Psylock was simple cheesecake, Jubilee was comic relief, Storm was relegated to only appearing in X-treme, and Jean was little more than window dressing. Now Rogue is leading her own team and book, Psylock has been the main character and saves-the-day hero in the last two arcs of X-Force, Twilight-Jubilee is basically the star of adjectiveless (although that book currently stinks), Storm plays a major role in three x-books and is also a current Avenger, and, in Jean's abscence, Emma has been crafted into a compelling, albeit flawed, fully-rounded character. On top of that, the whole AvX mega-event or whatever is centering around Hope and Scarlett Witch; that and X-23 and Gen Hope were basically X-books staring female X-men...
I'm not saying that all is well in the world, but I would hardly say that the x-books have been void of strong, interesting female characters.Minor correction, Storm and Rogue were doing well in Xtreme, Jean was awesome as the new head of Xavier's school... Emma was the insecure, scheming shrew, Psylock was dead.

o

[ZNOP]

None of course. There is a reason even in death Jean's character dominates the lesser X-women.

Truth is Jean, at the moment of her latest demise, divided her consciousness into every being one the planet and, is merely biding her time until the right script is written. She will rise again!

[Valeria Kementari]

what's a Jean Grey?

[ohsnapulon5000]

Gambit is filling the role nicely, which I adore. He's such a nuMasculist! Whether in Legacy, X-23, Astonishing, or even back in the Utopia days when he was hanging out in empty corridors- he has always been a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and a voice for guidance.

[ZNOP]

what's a Jean Grey?


http://i863.photobucket.com/albums/ab194/znop/WhatsaJeanGrey.jpg

[celestialbodies]

what's a Jean Grey?




Wait and See:


104945

[Drefan21]

Jean statue

[Pixie_Solanas]

Jean statue

lol, spot on.

[bobbyraw]

Jean statue

XPOTM!!!

10char

[Mitteloss]

Kitty comes closest at the moment...

[Quinnhop]

Kitty comes closest at the moment...

Yeah, but Storm should be the closest thing to a Morrison-Era Jean Grey.

[Aguja]

No mortal woman can fill the role of a goddess. Comparing other X-Men to Jean isn't fair none measure up. That's why you get so many that are bitter and shrewish.

[Babyhater666]

Funny, I don't recall her having a personality. Paragon of virtue or blow up heroine? I choose the latter.

[Deus ex Chris]

Yeah, but Storm should be the closest thing to a Morrison-Era Jean Grey.

No, Storm should be Morrison-penned Storm. He nailed her with one issue.

[godzilla2099]

104945

...great plan Beast

To answer the OP, the closest character I can think of is Rachel Summers

[coveredinbees]

No one is like Jean right now. There's no loyalty!