Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site vax2.fluke.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mtung!mtunf!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!fluke!moriarty From: moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Henry Vogel) Newsgroups: net.comics Subject: X-Men Sneak Preview & General comments (by Henry Vogel) Message-ID: <754@vax2.fluke.UUCP> Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 04:43:35 EDT Article-I.D.: vax2.754 Posted: Thu Jun 27 04:43:35 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 28-Jun-85 01:39:30 EDT Distribution: net Organization: Remotely, via MoriartyVision Lines: 71 I'm posting this for Henry Vogel, the writer and former publisher for SOUTHERN KNIGHTS, who has been following net.comics via Jerry and I for the last couple of weeks. And now, without any further delay, here's Henry: [What? No stupid signiture line?] ******************************************************************************* This is my first posting on the net so I'll be touching on a bunch of different things. First of all, the rumor mill has been churning with all sorts of speculation concerning X-Factor. I can safely tell you one of the rumors is now a fact. Jean Grey will return - NOT as Phoenix. This is straight from Marvel's publicity director Steve Saffel. Steve called my publisher - David Kraft. Kraft publishes Comics Interview (and the Southern Knights - am I allowed to plug my own book here?). Anyway, Marvel asked Kraft if he would do an issue on X-Factor to be released after all the exciting revelations have been revealed. Kraft - who wishes he could put X-Men on the cover of CI every issue since sales soar - allowed them to twist his arm and said he would. Saffel then filled him in of some of what will be happening and the Jean Grey tidbit was part of it. I'm going to be interviewing (I hope) Jackson (Butch) Guice - the penciller for X-Factor (and former Southern Knights artist - oops, there I go again) in the near future and will get the whole story which, of course, I'll have posted on the net for me (I have to go through Jerry Boyagian and/or Jeff Meyer since I don't have direct access to the comics.net). A quick note to Ellen Eades. I know several people who can draw comics but don't have their addresses, etc. with me. If you want to, you can write me at the following address and I'll send you what info I have. Henry Vogel P.O.Box 1603 Clemson, SC 29631 On to X-Men controveries! First of all, Ray Chen credited Clairmont and Byrne with "a courageous decision by allowing Jean Grey to kill herself" and then flames Jim Shitter (I like that nick name) for wanting to bring her back. I don't know whether Shitter is behind her return, but he was definately behind her death! Clairmont and Byrne were going to have her powers stripped away from her - leaving her as a normal human. However, Shitter stepped in and forbade it. His reasoning was Phoenix had murdered millions of beings and therefore must die. C&B were not pleased in the least - especially because the order didn't come down from on high until after the pages were pencilled and scripted! I hate to burst your bubble, Ray, but if you liked the death of Phoenix, you have only Shitter to thank! As several people have mentioned recently, the X-Men are definately not what they used to be. I suppose everyone has their opinions as to what has caused this - you'd be surprised how many people blame the fall on Byrne - and I'd like to give mine. I think Clairmont is burning out. He seems to desperately (in my opinion, one of the best extended comic book stories ever). The problem is he seems to have forgotten what made the team special. The X-Men no longer laugh or seem to get any enjoyment from life. Everything they do is cosmic in scope. Somehow, I don't think the present Clairmont could write many of the old stories. Do you remember the issue where Kitty told a fairy tale to Illiana (before Illiana went to Hell)? That was fun. It didn't involve saving the world. That kind of story, I'm afraid, is no more. Maybe he'll break out of it soon - I certainly hope so. I used to dread the idea of Clairmont leaving the book - now I think it may be the only way to save it... By the way, are the rest of you out there as tired of anti-mutant hatred as I am? Personally, if super- powered mutants existed, I think they would organize a congressional lobby, vote as a block, and suddenly begin to receive federal aid for development of their mutations. The Xavier School for Gifted Youngster (a name that should have been changed years ago) would apply for and receive massive federal grants. I doubt they would be treated as they are in the X-Men. (How can the populace of the nation hate/fear mutants and embrace Captain America as a hero at the same time?) Well, I've certainly rabled long enough. More next time! Henry Vogel