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X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths
Issue 108: Civilization No Longer Lost Part 3
"Sorry Charles, but you know I've never been comfortable just waiting around for the world to end," said Shaman.
"The world isn't ending. Not while my X-men are still out there," he said strongly, "This whole affair has attained levels of complexity that go beyond magic. First, I'm told Amanda's ailment is somehow connected to the power within Mount Anton. Then I'm told that same power is connected to all the mutants here in Nova Roma."
"You think this is setting a dangerous precedent? Magic mixing with mutation?" said Shaman.
"I can't imagine two more volatile elements. The confirmation that Selene is working with Sinister opens all sorts of possibilities. Perhaps we've only been working with half the story. What if there are mystical elements to mutation? What if there's a connection between the two that we're not aware of?"
It was a troubling suggestion. Magic and mutation were complex enough on their own. This was the first time they had to deal with both. The destructive potential was obvious, as indicated by Mount Anton's current activity. Even if the X-men could somehow put a stop to this, the connection had already been made. Something had to give and there was no telling what form the results would take.
The only one who had a faint idea of the possibilities was Margali Sefton. She didn't take her eyes off her daughter. She lovingly held onto her lifeless hand, scolding herself with each passing moment for letting it get this bad.
"You're not the first person to pose that question, Charles. You're not even the tenth," said Margali, "Magic and mutation each affect the very fabric of our reality. It's only natural they have some connection."
"You sound like you've pondered this before," said Xavier, "Is there anything you can tell us that could be of use? Something I can relay to my X-men?"
"If I knew, I would have told you at the beginning," said Margali sadly, "I come from a family of mystics. We've never been able to ponder the sciences. I only know that there's always the potential. One comes from blood. One comes from spirit. I've never tried to mix the two, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been tried."
"Do you know anyone who has?" asked Shaman.
"Besides Selene? No," she muttered, "The closest I've seen is Kurt's mother and Aazel. I've always suspected that some of Kurt's mutant abilities had connections to mystical forces. We already know that when he teleports, he uses a dimension that is thick with mystical energy. However, most of that is still raw science. The real unknowns are in the spiritual aspects."
"So you've never tried to explore it," Xavier surmised.
"I wouldn't know where to begin," Margali sighed as she gently stroked her daughters face, "Amanda has enough burdening her soul. I chose not to push her any further than I already have. I always figured she and Kurt would just…"
Margali's words trailed off and her expression shifted. Shaman and Professor Xavier looked at her curiously, worried about her dire state of mind.
"Just what, Margali? What did you figure?" asked Shaman curiously.
"Does it have something to do with Kurt's heritage?" asked Xavier.
"Amanda…" she said distantly.
"Yes, I know she and Kurt were involved, but…"
"No! I mean something's happening to Amanda!"
Margali was about to explain when her daughter's unmoving body did the explaining for her. The strange marks on her body started glowing with such radiance that Margali, Shaman, and the Professor backed off cautiously. Then a powerful green light erupted from her eyes and a mysterious halo surrounded her body. There was no spell or ritual to fuel her this time. It was as if everything was coming completely from within.
"By the spirits! What the hell is going on?!" exclaimed Shaman.
"Amanda's mind…it's still active!" said Xavier, clutching his temple.
"That's not all that's active," said Margali distantly.
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In the meantime I've refined my craft through fanfiction. I've written many stories, most of the X-men, on various sites. But none have been quite on this scale. X-men Supreme is my effort to make a true, genuine marvel universe that you would expect in a published comic. I'm treating it as if Marvel Comics themselves tasked me with writing this series. Think of it as another Ultimate universe, the same characters with a new and modern twist. As such, it'll be updated like a real comic. The updates will come bi-weekly and on Fridays. Also like a real comic, I accept criticism from readers and I hope everybody takes the time to provide feedback for each issue or just shoot me a message if you want to hear directly from me. I have many stories to tell and I hope to keep this series going a long time!
I hope you all enjoy X-men Supreme as much as you would enjoy any X-men comics. I look forward to this ambitious project and thank you for being a part of it.
Disclaimer: X-men Supreme is a fan-created series. I do not own any of the characters. They are the property of Marvel Comics and Disney. This series fits under the doctrine of Title 17 section 107 of United States Copyright law whereby use of copyright material is permitted for personal use provided the use is not done for personal profit and acknowledges and credits the original creators. So to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, this is for you. So please don't sue.
November 21st, 2014
One of the greatest appeals of the X-men is how they appeal to concepts of humanity. It goes right to the heart of the idea that the X-men are an analogy of minority struggles. They're different in some very extreme ways, but they're still distinctly human. I've done my best to capture that humanity with the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. I've tried to explore many different kinds of humanity that the X-men struggle with. Beyond the major romantic sub-plots, there are also stories about estranged parents, stories about impoverished communities, and stories about mutants being turned into prisoners. These are all stories that have core X-men elements, but they also have core elements of humanity. And even in an arc that involves Sinister, Selene, and the lost city of Nova Roma, there's room for humanity.
Among the most basic cores of humanity comes from the lengths parents will go to in order to protect their children. In the world of X-men, parents have to not only deal with their children being minorities. They also have to deal with them being a danger to themselves and others. What parent wouldn't go to any length ensure their child avoided such struggles? That's exactly the issue that emerged in X-men Supreme. Within this fanfiction series, the hidden nation of Nova Roma has many secrets. It didn't just conceal itself from the world with the aid of magic. It found a way to avoid the whole mutant controversy altogether. Rather than actually deal directly with mutants and their powers, the citizens of Nova Roma used magic to suppress them. It's a concept that would be unthinkable in most X-men stories, but in X-men Supreme there is a context.
Think of it from the position of someone like Lucius Aquilla. He finds out his daughter, Amara, is a mutant. Being a mutant already killed his wife. As a parent, is he not justified in doing anything he can to protect his daughter from that fate? He may be misguided. His actions have already had consequences, thanks to Sinister and Selene's activities. But he did what he did to protect his child. Even the X-men understand that on some levels. It makes for a much more personal struggle in this dire situation. It's a situation that will have major consequences for this fanfiction series and not just for Lucius and his daughter. The destruction is just beginning. The world of X-men Supreme is about to become a much more dangerous place and it begins in this fateful issue.
The concept of humanity will continue to be a huge theme in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, just as it has always been part of the X-men mythos. These themes, among others, are about to escalate in a major way. There have been a number of emotionally charged sub-plots that I've been building for a while in this fanfiction series. Some will be coming to a head in this arc. Others will unfold in later issues. It's all going to make for some serious upheaval at the end of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. All great X-men stories require upheavel, but they need the right kind of upheaval to be awesome. That's why it's incredibly important that readers send me feedback for this issue, as well as future and past issues. Whether they're posted in the issue directly or sent to me via email, I'm always happy to respond. So please take the time to review. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
November 14th, 2014
Halloween might be over, but there's still plenty of horror to go around in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Selene, the Black Queen, is on the loose again, seeking to reclaim her birthright. Sinister is by her side, eager to mix her magic with his science in more ways than one. I know X-men is famous for a lot of twisted and complicated romances, but these two are poised to take it to a disturbing level that haunting can sufficiently match. It's not enough for them to corrupt cosmic forces like the Phoenix or expose the dark secrets of Weapon X. They're poised to turn Nova Roma, the hidden kingdom housing the last vestiges of the Roman Republic, into ground zero for their wrath.
Selene already fired the first shot when she abducted Colossus' sister, Illyana. The X-men have been seeking a way to strike back ever since. They've faced plenty of daunting threats throughout this fanfiction series, but none quite like this. Sinister and Selene aren't the kind of threat they can take on with cunning, power, and tactics alone. They need help if they're to have any chance at beating them. This means teaming up with the exceedingly hostile authorities on Nova Roma. It's a common challenge the X-men face. Throughout their history and this fanfiction series, they've had to team up with less-than-cooperative allies. This includes "allies" like the Brotherhood of Mutants. But in making this alliance work, they were able to forge the Genosha treaty that has kept the world from descending into a human/mutant war. Can the X-men do the same with Nova Roma?
I've gone to great lengths to give context to how Nova Roma functions in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. I've also just begun to explore the characters most associated with it, namely Amara Aquilla. She was among the New Mutants who ushered in a new generation of young mutants for the X-men during an era when the originals had come of age. I've already shown how she has a few traits that set her apart from her comic book counterpart. I've also done the same with Selene and the Seftons, tying their history into that of Nova Roma. That history is instrumental to the conflict the X-men are now facing. It'll be the key to their victory or the site of their doom. The stakes are getting higher and it's about to reach a boiling point. As always, I've prepared a brief preview of just how volatile it's about to get, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
Exploring new places like Nova Roma and giving characters like Amara and Selene different backgrounds is part of what makes developing the X-men Supreme fanfiction series so much fun and such a challenge. I don't want X-men Supreme to tell the same stories with the same characters. I want these characters to stand apart while still adhering to the core of who they are. These are characters that can only be accessed through X-men Supreme and I want to make them as memorable as possible. Amara Aquilla will be the latest, but she won't be the last. And as I develop these characters, it's very important that people provide feedback so that I know I'm developing them in all the right ways. I know I have a lot of reasons for requesting feedback, but this is an especially important reason because the strength of every X-men story comes from the characters. So please let me know I'm doing these characters justice. Either post your feedback directly in the issue or contact me directly. I would love to chat. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
November 7th, 2014
It's getting colder outside, but things are heating up in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Secrets are being revealed. Old enemies are making their move. And the growing conflict is taking the X-men into dangerous and uncharted territory. On one side, they have Selene, the Black Queen, and her magic. On the other they have Sinister and his science. Together, they promise to do a lot of damage and it'll take more than just the X-men's collective effort to stop them. And doing so will come at a price that will have far-reaching implications for the future of this fanfiction series.
But beyond the threat posed by Sinister and Selene, this arc also explores the hidden world of Nova Roma. It's one of the many exotic locations that the X-men have explored over the years, similar to places like Genosha or the Savage Land. But unlike others, Nova Roma was never really explored all that much in the comics. I always thought it had a lot of potential. Since so much of this potential was unrealized in the comics, I've had to throw in a lot of new details in X-men Supreme. The Nova Roma in this fanfiction series is going to be considerably different from what is shown in the comics, but for good reason. And today, some of those reasons will be explored.
In addition to exploring Nova Roma, this issue will introduce the X-men to some important new allies in X-men Supreme. In the comics, Amara "Magma" Aquilla is the character most associated with Nova Roma. In X-men Supreme, this is no exception. But like Nova Roma itself, I've done a few tweaks to her character. I think it's important to give certain characters an overhaul in this fanfiction series to help make them more unique. I've already done that with characters like Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Emma Frost. Now I'll be doing it with Magma and as the conflict escalates, her role will become much more important in X-men Supreme. And it begins today!
I understand that whenever I introduce new characters and overhaul their backstory, it carries some level of risk. Fans of X-men and every major comic are very picky about what happens to their favorite characters. I myself am guilty of that from time to time. But for the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, I want to make sure that everything I do for these characters makes them more awesome. X-men has some of the best characters in the history of comics and I don't want to undermine that in any way. And to make sure I succeed in this effort, it's very important that people take the time to provide feedback. I don't know how many die-hard fans Magma has, but I'd love to hear from them or fans of any character. So please take the time to post your review in the comments section of the issue or contact me directly. I'm always happy to chat. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
October 31st, 2014
Happy Halloween from the X-men Supreme and in that spirit, I think it's only fitting that the current state of this fanfiction series, we deal with some pretty scary topics. It's not like the X-men haven't fought some pretty scary monsters since X-men Supreme began. They've taken on aliens like the Shi'ar, ancient primordial creatures like the Cambrian, and the walking horror show that is Sinister. In that respect, Sinister is the perfect enemy for the X-men to go up against during Halloween. He can always be expected to unleash something terrifying within this fanfiction series. He already has with what he did to Rogue and the secrets he revealed to Wolverine. Now, with the aid of Selene, he's prepared to unleash a new kind of horror.
But as scary as the threat posed by Sinister might be, there's another horror waiting for the X-men and it has nothing to do with monsters. A major theme of X-men that has persisted throughout its history involves the notion of family. Many of the X-men come from diverse backgrounds. Some come from different countries, like Nightcrawler and Colossus. Some come from different socioeconomic classes, Angel. The challenge has always been getting this diverse group of characters to work together and function like a family. That has been one of their strengths, even as members of that family like Rogue and Angel have left. But like a real family, certain problems bring them together and few problems are as dire as Sinister and Selene.
However, this story doesn't just involve problems surrounding enemies. There are other family issues to consider during this terrifying time for X-men Supreme. The issues surrounding the Sefton family have been a constant theme for this fanfiction series since they were introduced in the Family and Fiends arc. Amanda and Margali have guarded their secrets closely, including from Nightcrawler. Now, with Sinister and Selene on the warpath, they must return to their homeland, Nova Roma, to stop them. It's an exotic new locale for X-men Supreme and it promises to expose more family conflicts on top of those the X-men are already facing. The nature of those problems are going to have impacts that go well-beyond this arc. For this fanfiction series, those same themes of family and the conflicts that bind them will be vital moving forward. As always, I've prepared a brief preview of what can be expected from this new team, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
In addition, I have an exciting announcement for the X-men Supreme pics section. It's been a while since I've commissioned new artwork for X-men Supreme. Then at Baltimore Comic Con 2014, I had the privlidge of meeting a talented artist named Mack. He and I discussed X-men Supreme and he expressed an interest in doing work for it. I'm glad he did because he submitted a wonderful piece for X-men Supreme Issue 68: The Phoenix Saga Part 6. He brought one of the most defining moments of this fanfiction series to life and I can't thank him enough for it. I hope more pieces like this follow. Remember, if anyone is ever interested in submitting more artwork for X-men Supreme, please contact me and we'll discuss the details.
There are so many elements to capture within the X-men mythos and after over 100 issues, I feel like I've captured plenty here with X-men Supreme. However, I want to keep exploring these themes and I want to keep developing this fanfiction series. I'm still not quite decided on whether I'll continue X-men Supreme beyond Volume 5. I have gotten some promising feedback. I also do have plans for X-men Supreme that go beyond Volume 5. Even if I do continue, I might have to slow them down. But readers can influence this decision-making process. Please take the time to contact me and send me your feedback. I'm always happy to listen and help make X-men Supreme more awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. And again, have a safe and happy Halloween. Excelsior!
October 24th, 2014
With every major arc in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, I try to make sure it leaves a lasting mark. The world of X-men Supreme is a constantly changing, ever evolving mythos. Like the comics, certain events lead to long-term ramifications for certain characters, places, and themes. There have been more than a few here in X-men Supreme. Some have led to massive upheavals in the leadership of entire nations. Some have led to new members and new romantic relationships. Some have even exposed terrible secrets that some have gone to great lengths to conceal. In every arc, the world of X-men Supreme changes dramatically and that's exactly what I intend to do with this new arc, Civilization No Longer Lost.
This arc won't just pit the X-men against the likes of Sinister and Selene again. It'll provide some overdue details about the lives of the Seftons. Since I introduced them in the Family and Fiends arc back in X-men Supreme Volume 2: War Powers, I've kept details about them hidden. Amanda Sefton and her mother are among those who have a significantly different background in X-men Supreme. Their lives, their powers, and the conflicts they face are unique to this fanfiction series. Amanda's close emotional connection with Nightcrawler ensures their conflicts have a great deal of drama. But I've kept the nature of that conflict hidden for a good reason. That reason starts to unraval in this arc.
In X-men Supreme Issue 105: Bleeding Hearts, I revealed that the Seftons don't just have close ties to Nightcrawler. They also have ties to Selene, the Black Queen. The extent of those ties are key to the conflict that's set to unfold. It's been brewing since the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. To say it's ambitious would be an understatement, even by the lofty standards Sinister and Selene have set in the past. What they do and the upheaval it will bring is going to have significant, far-reaching impacts that will play out later on in X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. And it begins here in this arc.
As X-men Supreme continues to evolve, I want to continue making it as awesome as it can be to as many fans as possible. This arc will reveal new characters, new places, and new history. Whenever I attempt such endeavors, I take the feedback I get from readers very seriously. I want this fanfiction series to be something that X-men fans and marvel fans of all kinds can enjoy. And I can't know if I'm doing something wrong if nobody tells me. So please take the time to provide feedback on this and any other issue in this fanfiction series. Either post it in the issue or contact me directly. I make it a point to respond. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
October 17th, 2014
Throughout the history of Marvel Comics, the X-men have traveled to many exotic locations. It's a big part of any epic mythos. There's only so many times the X-men, or any heroes for that matter, can save the day in places like New York City and Washington DC. I've already incorporated some of those exotic locations into the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. The Savage Land and Genosha are places unique to the Marvel Universe and they both have a strong history with the X-men. I've tried to reflect that in X-men Supreme, but I've also tried to find ways of making them distinct for this fan fiction series. Genosha has certainly gotten quite an overhaul, going all the way back to the mutant uprising Magneto led back in X-men Supreme Volume 1: Mutant Revolution. But Genosha isn't the only exotic location that is associated with the X-men. There are other, lesser known places that give the X-men a unique set of challenges.
Since X-me Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths began, I've kept the X-men in familiar territory for the most part. There have been so many problems involving Genosha and the treaty maintaining such a fragile peace that they haven't had a chance to explore new places, as they have in previous volumes. Well with the return of the Black Queen in X-men Supreme Issue 105: Bleeding Hearts, the X-men are going to have to venture into unexplored territory once more. This time, the X-men will find themselves in a place that will give enemies like the Black Queen and Sinister the home field advantage.
This new domain, should this fanfiction series continue beyond X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths, will become very important to X-men Supreme. For that reason, this conflict is help create the biggest arc to date for X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. I've shown through events that began at the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear that Sinister and the Black Queen have been plotting for quite some time. Some of it has involved science, such as Sinister's ploy against Rogue and Gambit in X-men Supreme Issue 103: Shifting Tides. In X-men Supreme Issue 105: Bleeding Hearts, magic got involved through the Black Queen. Now these two powerful sources are set to converge in a major way in this new arc, which I've dubbed Civilization No Longer Lost. It won't just give the X-men an exotic new location to explore. It'll trigger the spark that will lead to some of the most important developments in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series to date. As always, I've prepared a brief preview of what can be expected from this new team, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
Part of making the X-men Supreme fanfiction series appealing and compelling involves exploring new territory for the X-men. I try my best to make every issue and arc feel unique while maintaining the spirit that has made X-men so great over the years. But the longer this fanfiction series continues, the more it'll explore and distinguish itself from other mediums. I want to ensure that these distinctions are still enjoyable for as many X-men fans as possible. And a big part of that involves feedback from readers. So please, if you're enjoying X-men Supreme or if you think it's crap, please take the time to provide that feedback. Either post it in each issue or contact me directly. I always try to respond to address concerns. I understand it's part of the process of making this fanfiction series awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
October 10th, 2014
There are some villains for which there is very little margin for error. The X-men have more than a few villains of that nature and the X-men Supreme fanfiction series has used plenty of them. These villains find ways to do more than just challenge he X-men physically. They make the struggle very personal. One of the major themes of X-men in general is that it's full of personal struggles. The struggle between the conflicting ideologies of Professor Charles Xavier and Magneto is by far the most prominent, but there are plenty of other struggles. X-men Supreme has brought in struggles that involve Wolverine and Weapon X, Emma Frost and the Inner Circle, and Mystique and her children. However, the next great struggle in X-men Supreme will be even more dire than usual because it involves Selene, the Black Queen.
As I've said before, Selene is a character that has been quite a menace in the X-men comics at times with events like Necrosha. However, she hasn't really had an opportunity to show just how menacing she can be. With X-men Supreme, I wanted to give her a bit more depth. I didn't just want to make her part of the Inner Circle. I wanted her to be her own character with her own motivations. That's what led me to link her goals with that of Sinister. They seem like odd bedfellows, if that's not too inappropriate a term. One relies on science. The other relies on magic. By themselves, Selene and Sinister are very dangerous. But team them up and the threat level rises expoentionally.
It's the kind of threat that the X-men have not yet had to confront here in this fanfiction series. They've faced each character individually and triumphed. Now they have to face them together. What kind of danger can they create by combining Sinister's mad science with Selene's magic? That's what the next big arc in this fanfiction series will explore and it starts with this new issue. It has Selene making her presence felt again. She already left some pretty deep scars with Amanda Sefton and her mother. Now she's returning, but not for the reasons she and the X-men might suspect. Her plans, as well as Sinister's, have evolved to become much more devious. It'll set the stage for an arc that will have some significant implications later on in X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths and it begins today.
And since Selene is going to be such a major player in the upcoming issues of X-men Supreme, I think the time is perfect for an update to the pics section. I do apologize if it seems like I'm negating this section. Rest assure I'm always on the look out for awesome images of X-men and beautiful X-women. So anyone who has something they would like me to post is welcome to contact me and help me make the X-men Supreme website more awesome.
Whenever I tell stories like this that have never been attempted in the comics, I try to be careful. I've seen one too many times how an X-men story or a comic book story in general becomes too messy when stories are different just for the sake of being different. I want to tell stories in X-men Supreme that are unique for both fanfiction and comics as a whole. I also want to tell them in the right way. That means making these characters appealing. What I'll be doing in this upcoming arc will change things with certain characters. For fans of those characters, I want to be sure I do it right. So please take the time to provide feedback of this and other issues of X-men Supreme. Either contact me directly or place your comments directly in the issue. I try to respond to every email I get. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
October 3rd, 2014
In every great comic book series and every great story in general, there are certain villains that raise the stakes just by being present. Since I began the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, I've utilized many major X-men villains. I've used plenty of familiar faces like Magneto, Weapon X, the Inner Circle, and Mr. Sinister. I've even created one unique to X-men Supreme in the Cambrian. A big part of what makes X-men such an endearing mythos is the quality of their villains. But there's one villain in particular that I think has a very powerful presence, yet hasn't been heavily utilized in X-men. That villain is Selene, the Black Queen.
She's been part of a handful of stories in the X-men comics. However, her character and her motivations have not been heavily explored. Since I introduced Selene in the Phoenix Saga, I've given her history and the threat she brings to the X-men a bit of an overhaul. I've only lightly touched on that history, but it's about to take center stage in the X-men's next major challenge. Their still struggling to find their place in this world governed by a fragile treaty between Genosha and the rest of the world. They got a much-needed boost from Emma Frost and her new Academy of Tomorrow. But every now and then, the X-men have to face a much less complicated threat and this is one of them.
The first hint of this threat has already reared its head. In X-men Supreme Issue 103: Shifting Tides, the X-men found out that Sinister was up to no good again. He put Rogue, Gambit, and Psylocke in a difficult position in the middle of the day in a busy public street. And it was already revealed back in X-men Supreme Issue 71: Election Day that Sinister and Selene were working together in more ways than one. One has vast mystical talents. The other has vast scientific talents. Put them together and you've got a very volatile threat that will test the X-men in ways they've yet to be tested in this fanfiction series. And that threat begins in the next issue. As such, I've prepared a brief preview of what can be expected from this new team, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
There are so many diverse threats that the X-men take on. I didn't want to limit those threats here in X-men Supreme. I want this team of X-men to take on the dangerous humans, mutants, aliens, and mystical beasts that have helped shape them into the icons they are today. It helps create a rich diversity within this fanfiction series that I hope adds to its appeal for X-men fans and comic book fans of all types. In my efforts to make sure that the X-men Supreme fanfiction series appeals to as many people as possible, it's vital that I continue to get feedback from readers. If I slip up somehow, I want people to let me know. Please do so by placing comments in the comments section in each issue or contact me directly. I'm always happy to chat and I try to respond to every single email I get. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
September 26th, 2014
The X-men Supreme fanfiction series keeps growing with every issue. But every now and then, it grows in a way that opens a whole new avenue for awesome stories. Sometimes it happens when I introduce new characters like Sinister or the Shi'ar. Sometimes it happens when I incorporate classic X-men stories like the Phoenix Saga. I hope this latest growth is just as productive because it creates a new yet familiar dynamic to X-men Supreme that many X-men fans should appreciate.
Over the years, there have been many other teams that have spun out of the X-men. There's X-Factor, X-Force, Young X-men, and plenty of others. A big part of what makes the X-men so strong as mythos and a brand is the wide variety of teams and characters. Since I began X-men Supreme, I focused primarily on established characters that are trained adults. To be fair, they really have to be trained adults in order to take on the kind of challenges they've faced in this fanfiction series. There are some young characters like Iceman and Shadowcat who capture the more youthful spirit of X-men. But to date, this fanfiction series has only followed one team of X-men. That changes today.
That change comes courtesy of Emma Frost. Despite having recently lost two of her daughters in the Prison Break arc, she's been working on this change for quite some time. A former X-man herself, she's a teacher and an educator at heart. That's a big part of her character in the comics and one I seek to capture in X-men Supreme. Now that she's free of Sebastian Shaw's influence, she can focus on building something that reflects her passions. This is what leads us to the Academy of Tomorrow, a new institution inspired by the Xavier Institute. But unlike the X-men, the students involved are all young, having not yet found their place in the world as mutants. Now in this issue, the X-men see just what sort of world these young mutants will find for themselves under Emma Frost's leadership.
With the introduction of the Academy of Tomorrow, the scale and scope of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series gets just a little bit bigger. As it grows, my ability to utilize all the dynamics that go into making X-men awesome will be tested. I have every intention of rising to the occasion. I believe I can keep making X-men Supreme awesome in new ways that appeal to X-men fans of all kinds. But to ensure those skills are up to part, I need plenty of feedback from my readers. I've noticed some who have gone through the trouble of going back and leaving generous comments in past issues. These readers are a bit part of what inspires me to keep making X-men Supreme awesome. I hope others follow their example. Please do so by posting your comments directly in the issue or contact me directly. I'm always happy to chat X-men. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
September 19th, 2014
Over the years, the X-men have evolved to take on many different roles within many different conflicts. Sometimes they are teenagers struggling with both the rigors of having mutant powers and growing up. Sometimes they are a team of superheroes on part with the Avengers, taking on powerful enemies that others are not equipped to handle. As I've developed the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, I've done my best to capture as many of those roles as possible. But one core role that has always helped the X-men stand out is the role they play as teachers and educators. While the X-men will always be seen as heroes in some respects, education is a big part of their mission. Professor Charles Xavier is, after all, a professor.
I've highlighted the X-men's role as students and teachers at many points during X-men Supreme. This fanfiction series actually started off with the Xavier Institute getting a new teacher in Storm. But more often than not, the X-men's role as students often gets interrupted by conflicts created by the likes of the Brotherhood, enemies like Sinister, and even ordinary humans seeking to undermine human/mutant relations. It's a difficult challenge for the X-men, being students and heroes. It gets quite overwhelming at times. The world in X-men Supreme has grown so big that it's hard for them to keep up now. They can no longer do it on their own. That's exactly why this fanfiction series is set to evolve in another way in that the X-men are about to get some badly needed allies.
During the recent Prison Break arc, it was revealed that Emma Frost had been putting together a team of her own since the events of the Phoenix Saga. That team consists of young, largely inexperienced teenage mutants who only recently got their first taste of what it's like to be an X-man. They were tasked with protecting the Stepford Cuckoos while Emma Frost worked with Cyclops and Phoenix to take down Shanobi Shaw. They succeeded in their role. Now they're ready to see that role expand. X-men Supreme is now ready to expand the number of mutant teams in this fanfiction series. Emma Frost is about to open the doors to her mutant school, the Academy of Tomorrow. It's an exciting time for the X-men and for mutants as a whole. I've prepared a brief preview of what can be expected from this new team, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
Throughout the history of X-men, there have been many different teams with varying casts of characters. Their methods might be different, but their goals are usually similar. They seek to confront the challenges facing mutants the same way the X-men have. I feel it's a natural progression from the events I've developed in X-men Supreme, having a new team enter the picture. That means a whole host of new and familiar characters will be showing up in the issues that follow. I'm hoping this further expands the appeal of this fanfiction series. But as always, I strongly encourage readers to provide feedback to let me know if my efforts are working. Please contact me directly or post your comments in the issues. Either way is fine. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
September 12th, 2014
We're only a few issues into X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truth and already there has been plenty of upheaval. The X-men are dealing with a new world that is build on a fragile peace with plenty of dark forces looking to shatter it. The treaty with Genosha has fueled an economic boom that is keeping conflict between humans and mutants at bay. But the Prison Break arc revealed just how easily that conflict could escalate. While the X-men were able to prevent the likes of Shanobi Shaw from undermining this treaty, they've also experienced just how cunning their enemies can be. The X-men Supreme fanfiction series has introduced plenty of crafty enemies for the X-men to take on. Now they're about to go up against one that knows how to hit them on a profoundly personal level.
While every enemy the X-men have encountered create deeply personal conflicts in their own right, few have struck with as much force as Sinister. This man made his clashes with Cyclops and Jean Grey a family affair in the Sinister Intent arc, as well as The Good, The Bad, and the Sinister arc. He's also found ways to torment characters like Rogue and Wolverine on a very personal level. While he hasn't confronted the X-men in a while, I did hint at the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear that he was up to no good again. And like his previous conflicts, it's safe to assume he'll find a way to make this one very personal for the X-men.
Of the many personal issues that the X-men deal with, the issues between Rogue and Gambit have been mired in some of the most unique complications. For that reason, their issues haven't really gotten the spotlight in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. It also doesn't help that Gambit is dating Psylocke at the moment, but this relationship also is mired in plenty of issues, many of which are linked directly to Rogue. Now Sinister is set unleash a new round of complications that are sure to evoke plenty of personal issues. It's the kind of relationship drama that has made X-men such a compelling and successful mythos. And I look to continue that spirit here in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series.
There's a whole host of new conflicts just on the horizon for the X-men. Expect this fanfiction series to explore new territory that cannot be found in the comics, movies, cartoons, or anything else. As X-men Supreme continues to evolve, I'll continue finding ways to make it more unique. That'll especially show with the way I develop things between characters Gambit and Rogue. I know that these characters have some very passionate fans. I also know that X-men fans in general are very sensitive to how their favorite characters explore new stories. For that reason, I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to review and provide feedback for each issue of X-men Supreme. I know I say that a lot, but it's always worth repeating. Either post it directly in the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine. Thank you very much to those who have reviewed and I hope others follow your example. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
September 5th, 2014
One of the most endearing appeals of X-men are the relationships between the characters. Some call it shipping. I call it a reflection of everything that appeals about romance. Throughout the history of X-men, there have been many diverse relationships and romances. I've captured plenty of them in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. For a time, I had Wolverine and Jean Grey be romantically involved in a way that never occurred in the comics or movies. For a time, I also had Wolverine and Storm involved, another common pairing that has shown up in the comics in recent times. And since X-men Supreme Issue 34: Sinister Intent Part 3, Cyclops and Jean Grey have been an ongoing romance, as they are considered by many to be the most iconic romance in the history of X-men. But there's one romance that has been developing behind the scenes and it involves Rogue and Gambit.
In many mediums for X-men, especially the 90s cartoon, Rogue and Gambit have been one of those romances that defies the usual traditions. There was always plenty of chemitry and I've certainly gone out of my way to capture that in X-men Supreme. But they've always had a lot of forces pulling them apart. Whether it's Rogue's inability to touch or Gambit's questionable loyalty, they've struggled to forge a solid relationship. In X-men Supreme, they did have a chance to get together for a time. Then due to the efforts of Sinister, Rogue lost control of her powers. Even though this didn't stop them from getting closer, it eventually caught up with them when Gambit got together with Psylocke after the events of The Lotus and the Warrior.
The current situation for Rogue and Gambit in this fanfiction series couldn't be more difficult. Rogue left the X-men along with Nightcrawler, partly due to the lingering emotional strain between her and Gambit. However, I never intended her to stay out of the picture for long in X-men Supreme. I also never intended to negate this popular and often controversial relationship. While they have a lot of forces separating them, those same forces will lead their paths to cross again in the next issue of X-men Supreme. It's an issue that provides the first clues of the next big event in this fanfiction series and it's going to involve more than a few familiar foes. Once again, I've prepared a brief preview on this website, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
Of all the topics discussed among X-men fans, character relationships are often the most heated. I understand that there are a lot of fans that are very passionate about these pairings, so much so that it often makes it difficult to develop these relationships in a meaningful way. When I began X-men Supreme, I wanted to place a special emphasis on making the relationships between the characters compelling and believable. Even if the relationship didn't last, I wanted it to be something that fans and critics alike of the pairing could appreciate. I did it with the likes of Cyclops and Jean Grey. Now I seek to do the same with Rogue and Gambit.
But if I'm going to do justice to these relationships, it's very important that I continue to get feedback from the fans that support them with such passion. I'm open to hearing from fans and critics alike of every pairing. Please take the time to contact me directly or post comments directly in the issue. Either way is fine and I take every word seriously. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
August 29th, 2014
In many great conflicts there are no clear winners, but there are no clear losers either. Throughout the history of the X-men and Marvel Comics, some of the greatest conflicts have had incomplete or unbalanced resolutions. They don't always end in tragedy, but they don't end in triumph. There have been a few instances in X-men Supreme where the X-men have been victorious over the likes of the Brotherhood or the Phoenix Force. But at other points in this fanfiction series, the X-men have been unable to achieve a clean resolution. Oftentimes, this uncertainly leads to further conflict. This is the situation they find themselves in with Prison Break.
This first arc of the X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths is a fitting representation of the current conflict in this fanfiction series. The resolution that Professor Xavier arranged with help from General Grimshaw and Wanda Maximoff in wake of Magneto's previous attack was incomplete. While it created peace between Genosha and the rest of the world and ushered in a wave of prosperity, this peace was fragile and opened the door to many new conflicts. This is how Shanobi Shaw, Colonel Wraith, and Reverend William Stryker have been able to make their move. The X-men were in a position to fight them, but they weren't able to stop them.
This has created a volatile situation where heavy losses have already been sustained. Emma Frost has suffered the worst by far. In her effort to free herself from the grip of Sebastian Shaw, his son ended up finishing what his father started. Now two of her daughters, Sophie and Esme, are lost. But this loss is just the tip of the iceberg. The conflict that Shanobi fueled had many far-reaching implications. Now, as the dust settles in the final issue of this arc, the seeds of the next great conflict will be sewn.
This first arc of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths will set the tone for upcoming conflicts within this fanfiction series. This is the tumultuous world that X-men Supreme has become. It is not a simple matter of confronting Magneto or battling killer Sentinels. The X-men are trying to forge a new kind of peace, but now they have allies like General Grimshaw and Emma Frost. And to build upon this peace, the story will continue to expand. New and old characters alike will show up to contribute. The world of X-men Supreme will grow in a way that I hope will only make it more awesome.
But to ensure it expands in all the right ways, it's very important that people take the time to provide feedback. I know it's still early in X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths, but there has been a noticeable drop in feedback already. I hope to change this in order to have enough support to continue X-men Supreme beyond Volume 5. So please, to all those who read and support this fanfiction series, post your feedback directly in the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
August 22nd, 2014
Some of the most defining moments in the history of X-men and comics in general are built around loss. These characters, like real people, are profoundly affected when they experience a significant personal loss. Throughout the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, the X-men have endured their share of losses. Wolverine has lost multiple women that he cares deeply for. Cyclops has lost his parents and is alienated from his brother. Professor Xavier lost the use of his legs to his battle with cancer. Rogue lost her ability to touch. These losses have had a major impact on these characters and I've made a concerted effort to capture that impact throughout this fanfiction series. Now Emma Frost is the latest character in X-men Supreme to suffer such a loss.
In both the comics and in X-men Supreme, Emma Frost is one of those characters who come from affluent means. She has money, power, and undeniable beauty that has drawn the eye of devious men like Sebastian Shaw and good men like Cyclops. However, she has dealt with her share of profound losses over the course of her life. These losses are a big part of what gives her a sense of humility. That humility is what led her to run away from the Inner Circle in X-men Supreme and join the X-men. However, her past ambitions and greed caught up to her and the Prison Break arc, Sebastian Shaw made her pay.
The price in this instance came in the form of her clone daughters, the Stepford Cuckoos. These girls represent the only offspring Emma Frost can have in X-men Supreme. Sebastian Shaw made sure that she could not bear any children other than the ones he allowed. She managed to save three, but she needed Cyclops and Phoenix's help to save two more. Now, due to the devious plan of Sebastian Shaw's son, she is on the brink of losing them. Such a loss will have profound implications for Emma Frost in this fanfiction series. These implications will be a big part of the final act of the Prison Break arc. There will be heavy hearts and heavier losses, but it will be a memorable moment for the annuls of X-men Supreme. I've prepared a brief preview of the final issue of this arc here on this website, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
As I've said before, the Prison Break arc is slated to be Emma Frost's most defining story in X-men Supreme. I hope to tell it in a way that Emma Frost fans of every kind will enjoy. There are so many great characters in X-men. I want to give as many of them the defining stories they deserve as I can. So for all you Emma Frost fans out there, I hope this arc has a special place in your heart. I especially encourage feedback from these fans, as well as every other X-men fan for this and every issue of this fanfiction series. Please post your comments directly in the issue or contact me directly. I'm always happy to chat about characters, X-men in general, or comics in general. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
August 15th, 2014
There have been many big battles over the course of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Some have been on a global scale. Some have even been on a cosmic scale. But oftentimes, the battles that are the most personal are the battles that have the greatest impact. Some of the most important battles in the history of X-men, and the history of Marvel Comics in general, have had a very personal touch to them. The Phoenix Saga is the best example, but it need not be on a cosmic scale and it need not involve overwhelming power. In X-men Supreme, numerous personal battles are often fueled by vendettas and the Prison Break arc is no exception.
Numerous conflicts have unfolded thus far in this arc. Wolverine is taking on a new role on Genosha as an extra set of eyes to oversee the treaty with Genosha. The Purifiers, with help from Colonel Wraith and Arcade, are seeking to free Graydon Creed from his prison cell, but ended up releasing the unstoppable Juggernaut in the process. But the most personal conflict has come from Emma Frost. In X-men Supreme, Emma's history is filled with instances of her being caught up in someone else's vendetta. Since her role in the Phoenix Saga, she has been seeking to free herself of this burden once and for all by taking away the leverage that Sebastian Shaw used against her for years. But to do so, she has to go through Sebastian's son, Shanobi Shaw, whose devious ambition is the key to all these conflicts.
Throughout this fanfiction series, I've given many characters big moments. Wolverine had his in The Lotus and the Warrior. Jean Grey had hers in the Phoenix Saga. Gambit had his in Cajun Chaos. Now Emma Frost is about to have hers. I intend this arc to be Emma's defining moment in X-men Supreme. The fight to save her clone daughters, the Stepford Cuckoos, will reveal the strength and depth of her character. Her past in the context of this fanfiction series, as well as the future of her character, will be revealed through this struggle. I know Emma Frost has many passionate fans out there and I believe this arc will ensure that X-men Supreme has a special place in their hearts.
Defining character moments are among the most satisfying moments in comics. They are also the most difficult in terms of crafting. I've tried to make sure there are plenty here in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Expect plenty more moving forward. I want fans of characters like Emma Frost to cherish these moments in X-men Supreme as they do in the comics. That's why I'm especially interested in hearing from Emma Frost fans for this arc. I'm always interested in hearing from any type of fan, but it's important to me that fans of certain characters feel like I've handled them with care. So please take the time to send me your feedback directly or post your comments directly in the issue. There are plenty more defining character moments to come in X-men Supreme and I am committed to making them all awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
August 8th, 2014
A big milestone has been achieved by the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and now work begins on the next. Thanks again to all those who took the time to acknowledge the 100th issue anniversary of X-men Supreme. It's milestones like this that help me remember just how far this fanfiction series has come. It also reminds me of just how much more I hope to accomplish. I've worked hard telling epic stories and developing characters. I've given big moments to characters like Wolverine, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Storm, Charles Xavier, Nightcrawler, and Rogue. I've even found time to develop my own original characters in General Grimshaw and Captain Jack Freeman. However, there are still some characters I haven't sufficiently explored in X-men Supreme that are overdue for some development.
Emma Frost is one character I know has a very loyal legion of fans. She has always had a complicated role in the history of the X-men. I wanted to capture some of those complications in X-men Supreme, but in a more balanced way. I began that process when she was introduced in the X-men Supreme Phoenix Saga. Since then, I've only hinted at her development. Given her prominent role with the X-men, she's a character I want to develop in the best possible way. I began that process recently in X-men Supreme Issue 99: Escaping Destiny. I look to take a big step in the current arc, which I've entitled Prison Break.
Emma Frost has finally revealed some of her darkest secrets to the X-men. She revealed why she ended up leaving the X-men years ago and why she ended up betraying them during the Phoenix Saga. It all comes back to Sebastian Shaw and the Inner Circle. They've had a very powerful leverage over her in the form of five cloned daughters, which Shaw dubbed the Stepford Cuckoos. These innocent girls have been used against Emma Frost for years. Now, with help from Cyclops and Jean Grey, she's hoping to end the Inner Circle's hold on her for good. However, that promises to be easier said than done.
Emma Frost's battle against Shaw is only part of a much larger conflict that is unfolding behind the scenes. In addition to the battle against Shaw, Colonel Wraith and Reverend Stryker seek to free Graydon Creed from a prison in Colorado Springs. This operation is supposed to further their goals, but to accomplish it they had to work with Shanobi Shaw, who has been handling his father's affairs in his absence. It's part of an escalating conflict that will soon consume the X-men and many more. The nature of that conflict will become much clearer in the next issue. As always, I've prepared a brief preview of this looming conflict here on this site, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
But it isn't all conflict. I still try and find time for the less complicated aspects of X-men Supreme. That means another update to the pics section. There are a few beautiful X-women who deserve some additions. This time, it's Storm, Rogue, Mystique, and Psylocke who gets their turn.
The X-men Supreme fanfiction series now continues to its next milestone. I don't know what it will be. I don't know what form it will take. But the more I develop X-men Supreme, the more I realize just how much more I want to do with it. A big part of that effort requires plenty of support. I can't know that I'm developing X-men Supreme in the most awesome possible way without getting sufficient feedback. So please, take the time to review each issue of X-men Supreme or contact me and tell me what you think. I'm always happy to chat if it helps make this fanfiction series more awesome. Until the next milestone, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
August 1st, 2014
Today is a date that has been nearly five years in the making. It marks one of the biggest milestones to date for the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Throughout the history of comics, longevity has been the standard by which greatness is measured. By that standard, the X-men as a whole certainly qualified. Just last year, they celebrated their 50th anniversary since their creation by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. I did my best to commemorate that moment with my work in X-men Supreme. Now this fanfiction series has achieved something else worth celebrating. This vast world of X-men that I've painstakingly created has reached 100 issues.
It's amazing to think that this fanfiction series has been going this long. When I started X-men Supreme, I didn't have a clear idea of how far I would take it. I just laid out a series of concepts and started building this fanfiction series from here. Now after 100 issues, I can't help but take a step back and marvel at how vast this structure has become. So many well-known, iconic characters have been developed. I've even created new ones in General Grimshaw and Captain Freeman that are unique to X-men Supreme. This fanfiction series has come a long way and there's still so much more story to be told. I would love to take some time and have the world of X-men Supreme celebrate this milestone, but there's an ongoing crisis underway.
This milestone issue marks the beginning of the first major arc of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. In many ways, this arc is the spark that ignites the explosive plots that were developed in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. The recently demoted John Wraith and Reverend William Stryker, along with the recently-enlisted hacker known as Arcade, hacked the Xavier Institute's computers to locate the prison holding Graydon Creed. The last time this man was allowed to act, he unleashed Bastion on District X. He's a dangerous enemy to mutants everywhere and a critical ally for Wraith and Stryker. Now they're ready to set him free.
In order to do this, they've ironically enlisted the help of another mutant, Shanobi Shaw. As the son of Sebastian Shaw, who played a significant role in the X-men's struggle against the Inner Circle and the Phoenix Force, he has resources that they need to rescue Graydon Creed. Now he's poised to do so by utilizing the Stepford Cuckoos, the cloned daughters of Emma Frost that Shaw created from her. It's a bold move and one that promises to have far greater implications than any of them can imagine. It'll send the X-men and their enemies on a path of no return that will set the stage for what can be expected over the course of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths.
It has been an amazing experience, developing the X-men Supreme fanfiction series over the course of 100 issues. It has given me a new appreciation for the challenge that the writers at Marvel face in developing these characters that so many fans love and cherish. There aren't a lot of X-men comics, or comic books in general, these days that make to 100 issues. Even fewer are able to be released on a consistent, bi-weekly basis. Over the past four years, I've gotten a lot of support from friends and fans. At times that support seems to wane, but there are those who go out of their way to remind me that they support X-men Supreme. Some have done so since it began and for that, I am very grateful. And I want to keep expanding on that support. I want X-men Supreme to be an experience that X-men fans can cherish in their own special way. X-men Supreme has now grown to a point where it has achieved something special and I want to keep achieving. So please, to all those who read and follow X-men Supreme, take the time to provide feedback so that I can continue making this fanfiction series awesome for as long as I have epic stories to tell. Either contact me or post your feedback directly in the issue. Here's to 100 awesome issues of an epic fanfiction series. To all those who have supported X-men Supreme, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Excelsior!
July 24th, 2014
The X-men Supreme fanfiction series is nearing its biggest milestone to date. I know there have been many over the five-year history of this fanfiction series, but this one is definitely special in its own right. Since comic books began, certain issues were recognized for being significant accomplishments and lasting 100 issues is one of the most notable. Very few series ever make it that far and even fewer make it without having to relaunch or reboot. When I began X-men Supreme, I set out to develop it with a singular, focused vision so that it could reach that milestone so long as I had the passion and support. Well after over five years of developing this fanfiction series, I'm set to reach this very special milestone.
A lot has transpired in X-men Supreme over the course of 100 issues. Magneto has launched his own uprising on Genosha, Senator Robert Kelly became President of the United States, new members have joined the team while others have left, and the X-men have saved the world from the likes of aliens, cosmic forces, and ancient creatures. Along the way, powerful relationships developed. Some blossomed into passionate romances while some ended. Entirely original characters have entered the series, complete with their own history and influences, to go along with more familiar characters that have a very different background. Yet despite all these uncanny developments, there are still so many stories I want to tell with X-men Supreme. And with this milestone, I hope to show just how far this fanfiction series has come.
I've already set the tone for X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. The X-men find themselves in a more complicated world, having to maintain a fragile peace that had been forged from the ashes of Magneto's devious plans. This peace is built on the prosperity offered by the alien technology being exported by Genosha, which is now under the leadership of the Scarlet Witch. But as we saw in Issue 98: Tech Spec Terror, there are those who seek to subvert that peace for their own gain. And in this case, that effort is very personal.
This is where Emma Frost's story comes in. She revealed to Cyclops and Jean Grey that Shanobi Shaw, son of her former mentor, Sebastian Shaw, has imprisoned two of her cloned daughters. These girls, the Stepford Cuckoos, were cloned from her without her knowledge and used as leverage against her by the Inner Circle, which led to her betrayal of the X-men during the Phoenix Saga. Now she seeks to atone and needs help from her former teammates. However, her desire to save her daughters is only part of a much larger conflict that Shanobi Shaw has been hatching and should he succeed, the fragile peace that has held the world of X-men Supreme together will be shattered. I've prepared a brief preview of this looming conflict here on this site, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
It's hard to believe that I've been working on the X-men Supreme fanfiction series for this long and come this far. Reaching 100 issues in this fanfiction series is truly astounding and I couldn't have done so without the support and inspiration I've had from my readers. I hope this can continue for another 100 issues. But as I've stated previously, I am not yet decided on whether I will continue X-men Supreme after X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. That's why I urge everyone who follows X-men Supreme to submit your reviews and feedback to me. Either contact me directly or post your comments directly in each issue. Every bit of feedback helps make this fanfiction series more awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
July 18th, 2014
When I began planning X-men Supreme, I did so with the understanding that certain characters inspire a certain level of passion amongst fans. X-men has many diverse characters that resonate with many diverse fans. Some of these characters are their own fandom in and of themselves and satisfying such fans in this fanfiction series is very challenging. That meant that I had to put a great deal of care into how I was going to develop these characters, especially if that meant retooling their history. For some characters, their history isn't really that different from the comics. Professor Charles Xavier, Cyclops, and Beast are among those whom I've kept fairly consistent with the comics. But others such as Nightcrawler, Rogue, and Thunderbird have undergone significant changes, undergoing shifts that make them more unique to X-men Supreme. Well now I'm going to explore more changes with a character that inspires a special set of fans in Emma Frost.
I introduced Emma Frost to the X-men Supreme fanfiction series during The Phoenix Saga. I've already briefly explored her history. Like the comics, she comes from a wealthy family, she once worked at the Hellfire Club as a stripper, and she uses her business savvy skills to run her own company. But unlike the comics, she never became a full-fledged member of the Inner Circle. She also joined the X-men for a time, where she became Cyclops's first lover. However, there are many questions left unanswered about Emma Frost in X-men Supreme because she didn't stick around after the events of The Phoenix Saga. But there's a good reason for that and that reason is about to become much clearer.
In this issue of X-men Supreme, we catch up with Emma Frost and find out what she has been up to since the events of The Phoenix Saga. I've already hinted in previous issues that she has been working on redeeming herself in the eyes of her former team. She also has her own plans that she has been pursuing while the X-men have been busy establishing a fragile peace with Genosha. Now those plans are entering a very sensitive, and very personal, phase. The Emma Frost of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series has her own unique story to tell and the heart of that story begins here.
And since this issue will be exploring Emma Frost so extensively in the context of X-men Supreme, it's only fitting that she be the subject of an overdue pic update. I'm always on the lookout for quality artwork of my favorite female X-men. Emma Frost has always been the most photogenic. So to commemorate this issue, I've updated the pics section for Emma Frost and Jean Grey/Phoenix. If anyone wishes to contribute something else, please contact me.
I understand, as the writers and editors of Marvel Comics understand, that it's impossible to please every fan. With X-men Supreme, I am making a concerted effort to give fans of every character something they'll find satisfying. This issue and the arc it leads into will reveal the depths of Emma Frost's character in this fanfiction series. Emma has a unique personality that is all her own and I want to do that personality justice. As always, I'm deeply interested in knowing what fans think of my efforts to do these characters justice. I'm really hoping to hear from Emma Frost fans for this issue. Please take the time to send me your feedback via email or post it directly in the issue. I'm always happy to chat about the merits of my work and all things X-men. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
July 11th, 2014
X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths is off to a good start. I was pleasantly surprised with the generous feedback I received via email and as reviews on Fanfiction.net. It really is refreshing to see that there are people who are genuinely passionate about this fanfiction series, which has been going on for over five years now. It's especially satisfying because X-men Supreme is nearing a major milestone. This fanfiction series is only one issue away from its landmark 100th issue. In comics, issues like that are a big deal and usually marketed alongside a major event. With X-men Supreme, I intend to follow a similar path because the first major arc of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths is set to begin.
My main goal with X-men Supreme Issue 98: Tech Spec Terror was to properly convey the new set of circumstances in which the X-men must operate. Their missions are now less about confronting the Brotherhood of Mutants and more about working with international authorities to maintain the fragile peace that has emerged in wake of Magneto's departure. I keep saying it's fragile because so much of it is based on a deal between two sides, President Robert Kelly and Wanda Maximoff, who have a lot of reasons not to trust each other. Right now, the foundation of this peace is built on economics, which is inherently chaotic. We've seen what kind of chaos this causes with the appearance of Agent Zero. His role has revealed that old enemies like Colonel Wraith and William Stryker are still plotting and they're just about ready to make their move.
But in addition to old threats, a new threat is set to emerge in this first arc of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. And it's a threat that actually will emerge from one the X-men have already confronted in the past. Back in X-men Supreme Volume 3: Ashes of Hope, the X-men confronted the Inner Circle during the Phoenix Saga. That battle ended with Sebastian Shaw becoming seriously wounded and much of the Inner Circle being decimated. However, they weren't quite decimated as much as the X-men thought. Now they're set to emerge again under the leadership of someone every bit as devious as Sebastian Shaw himself. And it will require help from an old friend who recently betrayed the X-men in order to stop him. I could say more, but I would rather let the preview I posted on this website and the extended preview I placed on the X-men Supreme Official Blog do the talking.
This next issue will set the stage for X-men Supreme's 100th issue and the first major arc of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. It represents a major milestone for this fanfiction series. With this issue, X-men Supreme will match the length of other X-men comics like Ultimate X-men. That's a big deal, even for a fanfiction series. I hope this shows just how dedicated I am to making X-men Supreme as awesome as it can possibly be. I don't know how many more issues I'll write for it, but I will make sure that every issue I write is as awesome as possible. To do that, it's very important that I continue to get feedback and support for this fanfiction series. Either contact me directly, post it in the issues on this site, or post a review on Fanfiction.net. Any way is fine and I'll always do my best to respond. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
July 4th, 2014
Happy 4th of July everybody! Hope everybody has a chance to see some fireworks today. If not, there are plenty of fireworks to go around in the first issue of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. Sometimes, the circumstances of this fanfiction series work out perfectly. I don't always plan for it to, but I do my best to make sure the events in X-men Supreme feel appropriate. It happened when The Wolverine came out alongside my Lotus and the Warrior arc. I'm not sure this is quite at that level, but I think it'll feel appropriate given the context of the story. This is a day meant to celebrate all things American and a number of those American values will be on display in this tumltuous time for X-men Supreme.
Fittingly enough, the biggest development at the end of the X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear had to do with the American government. General Nathan Grimshaw and President Robert Kelly were on the brink of another war with Genosha, but at the last moment the X-men helped Wanda Maximoff negotiate a fragile peace. It wasn't the kind of peace won by force or rhetoric. This peace is driven purely by economics. Even in the world of X-men Supreme, money and resources go a long ways towards influencing politics and society. The extent of that effect will be fully on display in the first issue of X-men Supreme Volume 5. Some of it will be good. Some of it will be not so good. And in both instances, the X-men will play a major role.
Under the Scarlet Witch's leadership, the mutant nation of Genosha has sold its most precious resource to the world. Back in X-men Supreme Issue 46: Paradise Mystery, the X-men helped Magneto discvoer a crashed Shi'ar ship. This ship contained technology decades, if not centuries ahead of its time. At first, Magneto tried to use it to further his own goals. Now this same technology that nearly ended the world is being used to help save it. The Scarlet Witch and President Kelly agree that prosperity is more preferable to war and few things drive the economy better than technology. This alien technology promises to usher in a whole new era of prosperity. But as with every new advancement, there are new problems that emerge. One of those problems attacks in the first issue, which promises to set the tone for what the X-men will deal with in X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. This fanfiction series has put the X-men in some difficult positions, but none like this and it begins today.
This is a new era with many new struggles for the X-men. There will be some big moments for certain characters and some of them have been brewing for a long time. Since I'm still undecided on whether or not I'll continue X-men Supreme after Volume 5, I'm going to make these moments as meaningful and awesome as I possibly can. There are still so many things I want to do with this fanfiction series. I probably won't get to them all, but I know what I want to accomplish with X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths and this first issue will put everything on the right track. However, I can only accomplish so much. I still need feedback from others to let me know that this fanfiction series is as awesome as it needs to be. In recent months, some wonderful people have contacted me and shared their support for X-men Supreme. I hope more follow their example. Please feel free to contact me at any time or post your comments directly in the issue. I'm always happy to chat and answer questions. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
June 27th, 2014
The next era of X-men Supreme is almost upon us and I couldn't be more excited. This fanfiction series is set to enter a bold new world that has risen from the ashes of the events in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Professor Charles Xavier and his X-men have always fought for peace. However, the very nature of peace tends to be fragile. And the peace that was forged through Xavier, General Grimshaw, President Robert Kelly, and Wanda Maximoff promises to be more fragile than most.
That peace is built entirely around the alien technology that Genosha has been harboring for centuries. This is the technology that Cameron Hodge used to wage war on mutants in the Uprising arc. Magneto used this same technology to nearly destroy the entire human race during both the Overlord arc and the Cambrian arc. Now Wanda Maximoff is ready to use this technology in a different way. The world of X-men Supreme could be vastly improved by this alien technology. It's value as a commodity is much greater than its value as a weapon. By exporting this commodity, Genosha becomes an engine for prosperity rather than conflict.
It's a dynamic that often plays out in the real world and one that will drive many of the new conflicts in this fanfiction series. When new precious resources are discovered, societies naturally seek a way to make use of these resources. In most cases, maintaining peace is preferable to endless conflict. And after battles against the likes of the Cambrian, the world of X-men Supreme has had all the conflict it can stomach. To govern this peace, Professor Xavier and the X-men must work with General Grimshaw and the Scarlet Witch to enforce the peace treaty that meant to give order to this new state of affairs. But in the first issue of X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths, the X-men will be faced with some of the very real challenges that these new affairs will bring. With that in mind, I've prepared a brief preview on this site and an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
I've really enjoyed developing the various dynamics that fuel the story in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Like real life, I see it as an ever-unfolding process. One of the problems I have with the comics is that it just seems to go from crisis to crises, never taking note of the bigger picture. I want to great a bigger vision with this fanfiction series and that will definitely show in X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Truths. As always, the success of that vision depends heavily on the feedback and support I get from readers. So please take the time to contact me or post feedback directly in the issues. I'm always happy to talk about X-men Supreme or X-men in general. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
June 20th, 2014
Another era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is officially in the books. With the completion of X-men Supreme Reflections Volume 4, I can now say that this fanfiction series can move forward from events and changes brought on by X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. As with every new volume, I intend for the next era of X-men Supreme to be a jumping on point for new readers. I know Marvel throws that term around all the time with its comics, but I want to make it work here. I want someone to pick up the first issue of a volume and be able to follow along without having to read the entire saga of X-men Supreme, which has grown to such an extent that this would be exceedingly difficult. While the circumstances and setting of these volumes of X-men Supreme will be different, the qualities that make X-men so awesome and compelling will be the same.
This brings me to X-men Supreme Volume 5. Every volume of X-men Supreme is built on a foundation of upheavals and that couldn't be more true this time around. The world of X-men Supreme underwent many changes at the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Magneto has gone into exile and Wanda Maximoff has once again resumed control over Genosha. In addition, General Grimshaw and President Kelly have established a treaty with Genosha that creates a fragile yet beneficial peace. That peace was vulnerable the moment it began. Charles Xavier helped create it and that was difficult enough. Now he has to maintain it, which promises to be a much greater challenge.
The circumstances he and the X-men created are actually not unlike the circumstances in the real world. Whenever there is conflict between peoples and nations, one of the best ways to mitigate it is through mutually beneficial trade. When there's an economic incentive to avoid war, it usually wins out. It might not be peace for the right reasons, but it's still peace none-the-less. It's not quite the peace Charles Xavier envisioned when he formed the X-men, but it's the best he could manage right now. One of the drawbacks of this peace is that when it is strained, it reveals its flaws and the harsh truths behind it. That will be the prevailing theme for this new world the X-men now find themselves in. That's why I'm proud to announce the title to the next era of X-men Supreme.
I do not have a preview to share at the moment. Due to the lack of feedback and the various other publishing projects that I am pursuing, I am unable to update X-men Supreme as regularly as I have in the past. This means that the biweekly update schedule that I've worked so hard to maintain since the X-men Supreme fanfiction series began might have to change. But I can promise that I will complete X-men Supreme Volume 5: Dark Turths. I'm still undecided as to whether I'll continue this fanfiction series afterwards. Even if I do continue it, I might put it on haitus for a while. I've yet to decide. But for those of you who have supported this fanfiction series, I can't thank you enough. I hope your support continues as X-men Supreme continues to grow. If ever anybody has any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at any time. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
June 13th, 2014
I've faced a lot of challenging tasks in developing the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. That's to be expected for any reimagining of a mythos as vast and as expansive as X-men. But this latest round of X-men Supreme Reflections has posed a special kind of challenge. I didn't just have to explore characters like Psylocke and Colossus, who only recently joined the X-men during the events of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. I had to explore one of my OCs, General Nathan Grimshaw, in a way that made him compelling in a world where he has no equivilent in the current Marvel comics. These characters had considerably different circumstances compared to other reflections I've done. It's part of my ongoing effort to make X-men Supreme more distinct. However, I've saved the most challenging for last.
Few characters have had more upheavals in the comics recently than Wanda Maximoff. When I started X-men Supreme, she was still guilty of inflicting mass genocide on the mutant race through the events of House of M. Being Magneto's daughter is hard enough. Being guilty of crimes that have determined the course of the X-men comics for nearly a decade is even harder. It has been a long time since the Scarlet Witch was more than just a criminal or an Avenger. At one point, she was just Magneto's estranged daughter. But as egregious her crimes might be, I've alawys had a soft spot for the Scarlet Witch. I think she embodies Magneto's ideals better than Magneto himself. Like her father, she seeks to protect the mutant race and ensure their survival. But unlike her father, she is willing to fight for both peace and war when necessary.
X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear put the Scarlet Witch in some impossible situations. After the events of Overlord, she gladly stepped down from her leadership position and let her father take control over Genosha. But as ruler of Genosha, Magneto only ended up raging war again by attempting to use the power of the Cambrian. He ended up nearly destroying humans and mutants alike, becoming mentally unstable in the process. Now the Scarlet Witch once again has to assume leadership of Genosha. She managed to negotiate a fragile peace with the rest of the world after her father fled, but it's a fragile peace at best. So what does this mean for Wanda Maximoff and her future? What is driving her to do what she's doing? That is what has made this by far the most challenging entry of Supreme Reflections to date, but I believe I succeeded in capturing all the right moments for the character.
This insallment of X-men Supreme Reflections is now officially done. There were a lot of raw emotions exposed towards the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Expect many more emotions to follow as this fanfiction series enters its fifth volume. As I've said before, I have every intention of completing X-men Supreme Volume 5 and the entry of X-men Supreme Reflections that will follow it. However, I have not yet decided whether I will continue this fanfiction series after. If I do, I might end up making these updates monthly rather than biweekly. That depends largely on the amount of time I have and the level of feedback I get. Feedback has been inconsistent at times, but I am always open to it. Some have gone out of their way to converse with me and for those wonderful readers, I thank you and hope others follow your example. If ever anyone has any feedback on this issue or on X-men Supreme as a whole, please post it directly in the issue or feel free to contact me at any time. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
June 6th, 2014
When I began the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, I knew I would be taking certain characters and making them very different from their comic book counterparts. In order to tell the story I want to tell with X-men Supreme, I had to sigificantly change the background and circumstances of these characters in order for them to fit into the narrative. This was especially difficult for the Scarlet Witch. She was a character who, until recently, had lost a great deal of cedibility as a hero. In Marvel's main universe, she went crazy and nearly wiped out the entire mutant race during the events of House of M. It is a crime that still haunts the Scarlet Witch to this day in the comic and one that has come to define her character. But in the X-men Supreme, she has no such burden. She also doesn't have her legacy as an Avenger in her background. So within the context of this fanfiction series, she is very much tied to the struggle of the X-men and Brotherhood of Mutants.
This has created a Wanda Maximoff that is quite different from the character that emerged in the comics. But like every character I've brought into X-men Supreme, I wanted to make sure I maintained her core persona. Unlike Quicksilver and Magneto, the Scarlet Witch is not blind with hatred. She takes a more balanced approach to the human/mutant conflict. She does not agree with Professor Charles Xavier. She does not think that peaceful coexistence between humans and mutants is possible. She is not afraid to defend her fellow mutants from aggression and she will fight with her father to accomplish this goal. But unlike her father, the Scarlet Witch does not seek to wipe out humanity or rule over them. She just wants mutants to prosper on their own without having to live under the constent threat of violence. In many ways, this makes her the balanced character in the human/mutant conflict.
But what drove the Scarlet Witch to become this unique view that exists somewhere within the divide between Charles Xavier and Magneto? What is it that makes her the kind of person that will stand by her father, but also step up to act as a ruler and a leader when she is needed? Her story is one of my proudest accomplishments in X-men Supreme. Given the recent events of the comics, I believe the strength of Wanda Maximoff's character are best displayed when she has to act as the balance between Charles Xavier and Magneto. She has so much to deal with, yet she still finds the strength to keep fighting, even after the events of the Cambrian Explosion. Because of the many recent upheavals in her life in both the comics and in this fanfiction series, I couldn't think of a better character to round out the final entry of X-men Supreme Reflections Volume 4. Once again, I've prepared a brief preview on this site, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
Since this will be the last entry of X-men Supreme Reflections Volume 4, I want to treat it as teaser of sorts for the conflicts to come in X-men Supreme Volume 5. As I've stated before, it is possible that X-men Supreme Volume 5 will be the last entry in this fanfiction series. Support and feedback for recent issues of X-men Supreme have been flat or non-existant. I would like to change that and I hope that by putting a new spin on characters like Wanda Maximoff, I can appeal to X-men fans seeking a change of pace from the current crop of Marvel comics. And to make that spin as awesome as possible, it's very important that readers provide feedback. I'm always happy to hear it and discuss it. Please send it to me directly by contacting me or post it in the comments section of each individual issue. I make a concerted effort to respond to every email I get. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
May 30th, 2014
I'm sure X-men fans everywhere are still excited with the box office success of X-men: Days of Futures Past and I hope that excitement extends into the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. It's a great time to be an X-men fan. They have a successful movie and the comics are still going strong. I hope to add to it this summer with some significant developments in X-men Supreme. I am still hard at work on X-men Supreme Volume 5, but I have two more vital entries into X-men Supreme Reflections before that story can begin. Both these reflections will involve characters that promise to play an important role in the future events of this fanfiction series. And Polaris has been playing just such a role since the earliest days of X-men Supreme.
Few characters have faced the kind of upheaval as Lorna Dane. When she first entered the picture, she was just Iceman's love interest. Then she became Magneto's estranged daughter. Then her mother fell ill and she became desperate to save her. Then she became the only one who could get through to Magneto when he was at his most powerful. Polaris' influence in X-men Supreme has been great, but her future remains unclear. She has never truly favored a side in the conflict between the X-men and the Brotherhood of Mutants. At times, she has fought alongside the X-men. In other instances, she has fought alongside the Brotherhood. But she has always been caught up in the heat of the conflict in some form or another. How does she deal with all this conflict? That's something I haven't had a chance to really explore in X-men Supreme, but that's what I intend to do here.
Polaris has been a reluctant participant in many of the conflicts throughout this fanfiction series. Unlike her half-siblings, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, she did not grow up with Magneto influencing her. She was raised by a single mother who struggled with severe health problems. Her mother saw in Magneto some good that was worth saving. Polaris had to see it as well during conflicts such as Overlord, but that good wasn't enough to save him during later conflicts, such as the Cambrian Explosion. Now her future is uncertain and for the events she'll be facing in X-men Supreme Volume 5, it's important to know how she got to this point and what is still driving her.
Polaris is one of those characters that has taken on many different roles since the X-men Supreme fanfiction series began. Every character undergoes a certain level of evolution. Some evolve more drastically than others. And Polaris is just one of the characters that will undergo some significant evolution in X-men Supreme Volume 5. That evolution is a big part of their appeal as characters. That's why it's so important that I get feedback from readers regarding the development of these characters. These are characters that inspire a lot of passion among fans. The X-men movies have proven that and I want to excite those passions in X-men Supreme. So please take the time to post feedback of this and any other issue in the official comments section or contact me directly. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
May 23rd, 2014
The X-men Supreme fanfiction series has been unfolding since January 1, 2010, and in that time it has had its share of tragedies. Throughout the X-men mythos, there are many characters who are defined by the tragedies that have shaped their lives and their character. Some of the most famous stories in the history of X-men, such as the Phoenix Saga, are built on tragedies. Some of the most famous characters in all of comics, from Batman to Spider-Man, are shaped by tragedy. There are times I feel that too much weight is given to tragedy when developing a character, but the very nature of tragedy makes it difficult to get around. It will always have a profound influence of sorts. And few characters in X-men Supreme have been more defined by tragedy than Lorna Dane.
When I first introduced her, she was merely Iceman's love interest, a cute teenage girl with green hair who just happened to have mutant powers similar to Magneto's. Naturally, I didn't beat around the bush with her origins. I made revealed early on that Polaris is Magneto's daughter and the half-sister to Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. But I didn't want that to be the most defining aspect of her character. I wanted her to have a different motivation in this fanfiction series. That's what led me to develop the story around her mother's illness and her subsequent death. This tragedy, which became part of the emotional upheaval at the end of the Overlord arc, is what put Polaris on her current path. She is part of the Brotherhood of Mutants and served as an emotional anchor for Magneto up until the events of the Cambrian. This role and everything that led to it is full of so much emotion and loss, which is why I've made her the next subject of X-men Supreme Reflections.
There's a lot to explore with Polaris. In many ways, she has undergone the most emotional strain of any character since the beginning of this fanfiction series. So much of her life has been disrupted by forces beyond her control. Yet she didn't lose herself or make excuses. I think that's a big reason why she can reach someone like Magneto when nobody else can. Now in wake of the events of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear, she has to deal with a tragedy of another kind. As hard as she tried to save her father, she couldn't stop him. The reason she left her old life behind is now gone. So what does that mean for her in the future of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series? That's something that will factor heavily into her reflection. I've prepared a brief preview of what to expect, as well as an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
I also have a quick update for the pics section. In the nearly five years since the X-men Supreme fanfiction series began, I've made a few friends. Some of them are generous enough to provide the feedback I ask for every week. One of them, Callum, was dedicated enough to submit some fanart that I proudly added to the pics section. Thank you, Callum! And as always, anyone out there who wishes to submit artwork and receive my undying praise, please contact me.
Like every character in X-men Supreme, I've tried to treat Polaris with the utmost care. That has involved changing a number of things about her history and giving her roles that she has never had in the comics or cartoons. But I always strive to ensure that a character remains true to their core. Polaris might not be on the same level as Wolverine or even the Scarlet Witch, but she has a place in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and it's important that I ensure this place works. So please, whether you're a Polaris fan or not, take the time to provide feedback so that I know I'm doing her justice. Either post it in the comments section or contact me directly and send it. I'm always happy to chat X-men and story development. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
May 16th, 2014
Every so often, I encounter a part of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series that is both incredibly challenging yet deeply rewarding. For a fanfiction series this big, there have been more than a few parts like that. Arcs like the Phoenix Saga, the Cambrian, and Overlord rank very highly in terms of those I'm most proud of in creating X-men Supreme. However, I take a special kind of pride in creating the two original characters that I've incorporated into this fanfiction series, Captain Jack Freeman and General Nathan Grimshaw.
As I've said before, incorporating original characters into a fanfiction series is very challenging and very easy to mess up. I knew at some point I was going to create my own characters to help X-men Supreme become more unique. I waited until X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear because I wanted to make sure I had developed as many X-men characters as possible. When the time came to bring General Grimshaw and Captain Freeman into the mix, it had to be under just the right circumstances. And I think I created just that with President Kelly's mutant initiative and the ongoing conflicts with Reverend William Stryker. Since then, General Grimshaw has become an X-men Supreme mainstay, positioning himself on the front lines of these conflicts. And when X-men Supreme Volume 5 unfolds, he will remain in that position. That makes him an important character for the future of this fanfiction series. As such, it's important that readers know who this man is and why he does what he does.
For this reason, General Grimshaw's entry into X-men Supreme Reflections is probably the most important reflection to date. I won't say it's required reading for X-men Supreme Volume 5, but I will say that it helps put some of the future events into perspective. It also will give readers a better sense for how General Grimshaw's role will develop. He said from the beginning that he can be the X-men's greatest ally or worst enemy, depending on the choices they make. He is very different compared to President Kelly or Reverend Stryker. His history and his ambitions will drive him in a way that will make him a force to be reckoned with. So with that, I am very excited to release the inner reflections of Nathan Grimshaw. He's not just my own creation. He is a man on a mission who promises to have a major impact on the future of X-men Supreme.
Take note in that General Grimshaw cannot be found in any of the X-men comics, cartoons, or movies. He is an X-men Supreme exclusive. And because of that, I am extra motivated to make him as awesome and memorable as possible. For that same reason, it's even more important that I receive input and feedback from readers on him and his counterpart, Captain Jack Freeman. Again, I understand that X-men fans want stories about the X-men. And rest assured, these characters will not detract from the X-men. But I want General Grimshaw to help make the X-men and the X-men Supreme fanfiction series more awesome. So please, my fellow X-men fans, take the time to provide feedback and comments on this entry of X-men Supreme Reflections. Either post it directly in the issue or contact me and send me your remarks. I'm open to either one and I will gladly respond to every inquiry. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
May 9th, 2014
I hope everyone is enjoying this latest installment of X-men Supreme Reflections as much as I'm enjoying writing it. The X-men have one of the biggest cast of characters in all of comics. It's a big reason why this fanfiction series has grown as large as it has. It won't be long before X-men Supreme celebrates it's 100th issue. It promises to be a major milestone and one I intend to cherish. But 100 issues is not enough to capture the essence of these iconic characters. I've already explored new ground with Psylocke and Colossus in their entries of X-men Supreme Reflections. But the next character I intend to explore presents a much greater challenge.
Part of what made X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear special was that it marked the point in this fanfiction series where I began integrating two new original characters into the world of X-men Supreme. As I've said before, original characters in fanfiction tend to have a certain stigma attached to them. All too often, original characters either come off as too flat or they take too much away from other characters. I didn't want to do that when I introduced Captain Jack Freeman and General Nathan Grimshaw into X-men Supreme. They both made their debut in X-men Issue 75: Renegade. And it was General Grimshaw who thrust himself into mutant affairs amidst escalating conflicts between the X-men, President Robert Kelly, and mutants as a whole. He was the visionary behind the Mutant Security Agency and he is leading the charge in President Kelly's effort to police growing mutant unrest. But his role in this fanfiction series has only begun. And that's why I'm so excited to explore who Nathan Grimshaw is.
When it comes to the military and the authorities, the X-men have had a very rocky relationship to say the least. In both the comics and even in X-men Supreme, the military has been an obstacle more than an ally for the X-men. I always had a problem with that because like so many things, the military is more than just a bunch of men with guns. There are those who seek war and those who seek peace. And I wanted a character who understood that. General Nathan Grimshaw is not trigger happy, but he's not afraid to shoot either. He looks at mutants from a very different perspective compared to President Kelly, Professor Xavier, or Reverend Stryker. He sees mutants in a strategic sense. He's willing to be their ally, but he's not afraid to become their enemy. I haven't revealed the extent of his ambitions just yet. I have every intention of doing so as X-men Supreme continues to unfold. That's why I think this is the perfect time for readers to know who General Nathan Grimshaw is. He can't be found anywhere else other than X-men Supreme. He has no comic book counterpart or even someone closely related to him. So his entry of X-men Supreme Reflections is going to be so important. I've prepared a brief preview of what to expect and an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
I know that original characters tend not to draw a lot of fans in fanfiction. The main reason people read fanfiction is for the same reason they read comics, which is to see their favorite characters in exciting stories. I understand that General Grimshaw is on nobody's favorite character list. But he is an important part of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and it's important that readers understand him since he's going to remain a significant player in X-men Supreme. As such, I hope that readers take the time to provide constructive feedback on General Grimshaw. I know he doesn't inspire the same passion as characters like Wolverine or Storm, but it's very important that I know I'm not making the same mistakes with this character that many other fanfiction writers have made with their original characters. So please take the time to contact me and provide feedback. Or if you prefer, post your comments directly in the issue. As always, I appreciate all those who continue to support the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
May 2nd, 2014
Spring is in the air. It's warming up outside. Everyone is sick of winter. It doesn't seem very fitting for a fanfiction series to focus on a hardened farm boy from Siberia like Piotr Rasputin. But disagree. I think it's the timing is perfect. Colossus is one of those classic X-men characters who is awesome in any weather. And I've made it part of my mission to capture everything that makes him awesome in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. While he has been a powerful pillar of the X-men mythos since the All New, All Different era of X-men, he's actually a newcomer to the team in X-men Supreme. His story has been revealed, but it hasn't been explored in great detail. That's what X-men Supreme Reflections Volume 4 is going to change.
Colossus has always been one of those characters who sounds like he should be flat on paper. He grew up on a farm in Siberia. He's super-strong, and super-resilient with his metal skin. He's humble, honorable, and kind. Those qualities alone aren't very interesting. But it's the way they play out in the circumstances of his life that makes Colossus such an endearing character. I've already established in X-men Supreme that Colossus has been put in some pretty tough situations. First, he had to work as a courier for a Russian crime syndicate run by Omega Red. Then he had to work for Magneto, which led to him helping the Master of Magnetism unleash the Cambrian. And it's all out of a sincere desire to help his sister. That's what has been driving him throughout the course of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. But that's not the only thing that makes Colossus tick.
He finally joined the X-men at the end of the Cambrian arc and he has already endeared himself to his new team, especially Kitty Pryde. Many of Colossus's most notable stories in the comics involve either his sister, Illyana Rasputin, or his love interest, Kitty Pryde. But in the same way Psylocke's circumstances had some very personal impacts on her, the path Colossus took to get to this point has had an effect as well. How does he go about dealing with his sister, Kitty Pryde, and the X-men? How does a lovable farm boy like him go through the Russian Mob and the Brotherhood of Mutants? That's what this latest entry of Supreme Reflections is intended to explore. It'll include some important details that will come into play in X-men Supreme Volume 5 in a very personal way.
I understand that every X-men character has their share of fans. Some of those fans are much more vocal than others. These are the kinds of fans that help inspire me when writing something like X-men Supreme Reflections. Strip away the action and conflict, focus only on the character, and it cuts to the core of what makes them tick. It's a lot of fun to do, but it's easy to mess up. That's why I really want to hear from those vocal fans, and even the non-vocal fans if possible, on these Supreme Reflection entries. I want these little vignettes to make readers love these characters even more. So please let me know if I'm succeeding. Submit your comments to me directly by contacting me or post them in the issue. The personal journeys will continue as X-men Supreme Volume 5 draws closer. I hope to make them all sufficiently awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
April 25th, 2014
Part of what makes X-men such a successful mythos is the strength of its characters. When I started the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, one of my top priorities was to treat these characters with the utmost respect. I care deeply about each of these characters and I try to make that show in my writing. All too often, I've seen writers in comics and fanfiction alike write characters that they don't care about. When that happens, the characters might as well be props or tools. I feel that does a major injustice to the characters in the long run and I try to make sure that shows in every issue of X-men Supreme. It's also a big reason why I take a great deal of pleasure in writing X-men Supreme Reflections.
X-men has one of the largest and most diverse cast of characters in all of comics. That is part of what has made it one of Marvel's most successful properties. But since it is very much a team book, it is often difficult to focus on one particular character. No one character makes the X-men in the same way no one player makes a team. And the team I've put together in X-men Supreme has undergone a number of changes. But one of the issues I've often seen in the comics is how the constant flux of the team makes it difficult to follow. I've tried to minimize that in this fanfiction series, but there are some characters that I simply cannot leave out of the mix. One of those characters was Colossus.
I introduced him back in X-men Supreme Issue 26: The Ties That Terrorize. I had every intention of having him join the team. However, I wanted his entry into the X-men to be similar to what I did with Psylocke in that extreme circumstances caused their paths to cross. Those circumstances finally happened in the Cambrian Explosion arc. But before that, Colossus had his own elaborate story in the world of X-men Supreme. I've touched on that story a number of times, but I haven't really had a chance to go into detail. Like Psylocke and many other characters in X-men Supreme, Colossus has a unique history in this fanfiction series that is different from the comics and cartoons. Now with X-men Supreme Reflections Volume 4, I'll be exploring that history in greater detail. It'll paint a more comprehensive picture for Colossus in this fanfiction series. And it's one I think Colossus fans will appreciate. At the same time, knowing his story will help add weight to the role he'll play in X-men Supreme Volume 5. I've prepared a brief preview here on this website and I've posted an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
I understand feedback for issues of X-men Supreme Reflections will be lower than that of the main series. But I'm hoping that with each issue focusing heavily on one character that fans of that character will provide feedback on how I'm handling them. The last thing I want to do is really upset fans of a particular character. I too am very fond of these characters and I know how infuriating it is when a story fails to do them justice. I do not want to do that with the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. So please help me ensure that every X-men character I use in this fanfiction series is awesome. Please send your feedback directly by contacting me or posting your comments directly in the issue. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
April 18th, 2014
Today is a great day to be a Psylocke fans. The X-men's resident ninja/psychic is ready for her turn in X-men Supreme Reflections. She will be the first in a five-issue mini-series that will dig deeper into the characters that had some of the greatest influence on X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Of all the famous X-men characters I've introduced in this fanfiction series, Psylocke holds a special place in my heart. And I hope to show that in this thorough examination of what makes Elizabeth Braddock who she is in the world of X-men Supreme.
I've always felt that Psylocke's origin was a bit too rushed. She was a British woman with blond hair and powerful telepathy who ended up in the body of a female Japanese ninja. That's a pretty severe transition for anybody to endure. And I don't think the nature of that transition was sufficiently explored in the comics. But it's that transition that came to define Psylocke as a character and as a major player with the X-men. However, at times that transition is forgotten. Reading the comics today, who would guess that Psylocke ever switched bodies? That's why I made her body swap such a big part of The Lotus and the Warrior. I wanted it to have an impact. And in this entry of X-men Supreme Reflections, I'll be thoroughly exploring that impact.
A core theme of the X-men has to do with identity. Most of the time, the struggles with identity revolve around being a mutant. But for Psylocke, that struggle is a lot more complicated, especially given the circumstances in X-men Supreme. How does someone deal with having their mind transferred into a new body? What does that do to her identity? That's something that I made sure she struggled with in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. It was a major driving force in the drama that developed between her and Gambit. I have big plans for her character in X-men Supreme Volume 5 and beyond if this fanfiction series continues. That's why this is a very important issue to read for Psylocke fans because it'll set the tone for her struggles as she moves forward in X-men Supreme.
I have a feeling that Psylocke fans are going to enjoy this. I consider myself among those fans. That'll give me all the more incentive to make her story awesome in future issues of X-men Supreme. But I can never have enough incentive to make this fanfiction series and all the characters it contains more awesome. So please take the time to leave a review for this issue, especially if you're a die-hard Psylocke fan. Either post it directly in the issue or contact me directly with your feedback. I'll be more than happy to respond to any questions or concerns. I hope Psylocke fans and X-men fans as a whole continue to enjoy this fanfiction series. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
April 11th, 2014
Well now that everyone has had time to digest the conclusion of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear and see Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I feel the time is right to get started on the next phase of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. As I previously announced, I intend to do another installment of X-men Supreme Reflections. These character-centered vignettes give me a chance to take a step back from the ongoing chaos throughout X-men Supreme and explore some more intimate aspects of certain characters. I find it very satisfying because it helps give perspective for certain characters that otherwise wouldn't be gained from the main series. It's hard to squeeze in certain details when there are much bigger concerns like Magneto, aliens, and government conspiracies going on. And some of this perspective will be vital before proceeding into X-men Supreme Volume 5.
The first character I'll be exploring in this iteration of X-men Supreme Reflections is Psylocke. I've always had a keen fascination with her in the comics and not just because she's another beautiful, head-strong telepath. Psylocke has the added difficulty of having switched bodies. She went from being pretty British blonde to a Japanese ninja. That's quite a transformation and one I captured in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series during The Lotus and the Warrior arc. However, I approached her transformation differently. What happened to Elizabeth Braddock is directly linked to what happened with Kwannon Tsurayaba in the Overlord arc. Their lives are forever linked in this fanfiction series, but I haven't been able to explore that link as much as I would like.
It's a link that has often been overlooked in the comics. Reading about Psylocke these days, it's almost impossible to tell that she ever switched bodies. She shows no real issues with being in Kwannon's body. She just accepts it and functions perfectly fine. But is that reasonable? Does it really not bother her that much that she's living in a body she wasn't born in? That's something I've touched on a few times in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. It has been a major driving force in the romantic drama between her and Gambit. But I wish to take it a bit further in X-men Supreme. When Betsy's mind was transferred into Kwannon's body, it was a traumatic process to say the least. That process left quite a few scars and this first reflection will explore those scars. I've prepared a brief preview here on this website and on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
The end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear brought with it many possibilities. It also brought an extra bit of feedback. I know I've been encouraging it at every turn and it's nice to see some of my urgings heeded. It gives me hope that X-men Supreme Volume 5 will be even more successful and it gives me even more reason to continue X-men Supreme after. I have big plans for this fanfiction series and the more feedback I get, the more incentive I have to realize those plans. So once again, I urge everyone to take the time to provide feedback for X-men Supreme. Either contact me directly or post it in the comments section of each issue. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
April 4th, 2014
It feels like I've been working on the X-men Supreme fanfiction series for a long time. And in many respects, I have. I began this fanfiction series in 2010. That means I've been working on it for four years. There are comic book series that don't last that long, especially those on a bi-weekly update schedule. In that respect, I like to think X-men Supreme has achieved something special in that time. And with the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear, those achievements now have a larger context.
As I've announced before, I have every intention of continuing this fanfiction series into Volume 5. I do have plans beyond that, but I am still undecided on whether I'll pursue those plans. It certainly has helped that I saw a slight uptick in feedback with the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. It also helps that some, such as a very generous reader named Callum, took the time to contact me and helped me find out that there was a problem with my email filters. I want this fanfiction series to keep growing. And I want X-men Supreme's appeal to expand. I know it's difficult generating the same passion with a fanfiction series as the comics. But I'm going to keep treating X-men Supreme with the expectation that it's possible to inspire such passion.
X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear had a lot of upheavals. My main goal with this era of X-men Supreme was to make the X-men's struggle a more global struggle. President Robert Kelly and General Nathan Grimshaw shifted the fight away from battling Sentinels and Magneto to battling public opinion. This culminated with the treaty that was signed in Issue 97: Uneasy Truce that attempts to fight conflict by generating prosperity, courtesy of Shi'ar technology. And while this will create some new conflicts, the next era of X-men Supreme will focus more on personal conflicts.
I already offered a hint of it. Characters like Sinister and Mystique will have some important moments. There's also the matter of Colonel Wraith and Reverend Stryker, who already did their share of damage in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. And don't forget X-men Supreme's newest addition, Weapon X-23. There's a lot to deal with in this new era of X-men Supreme. But before I begin exploring this bold new world, I will be doing another installment of X-men Supreme Reflections. I'll be taking five characters and delving into their psyche, offering a fresh perspective on who they and what they're dealing with. I will announce the first character of focus in one week and I'll be including a preview of it as well.
I am still committed to making the X-men Supreme fanfiction series as awesome as it can be. However, I am also pursuing other writing endeavors. As some already know, I regularly update the X-men Supreme Official Blog with comic book reviews and I am a regular contributor to PopMatters.com. In addition, I am attempting to become a published author. My book, Skin Deep, has been available for a while now and I have every intention of writing more. But because of these efforts, updates might not be as frequent. I'll try to stick to my bi-weekly schedule, but that may change. But make no mistake. I will continue X-men Supreme Volume 5 until it is completed. And regardless of what other projects I have going on, I hope X-men Supreme can help me refine my craft.
But this is not to say that I don't have something to add for this update. Recently, Marvel completed a major crossover event between All New X-men and Guardians of the Galaxy entitled, The Trial of Jean Grey. It was a good story and one I reviewed on my blog. In the spirit of this story, I felt the time was right to do an update to the pics section for Jean Grey. She's becoming an increasingly important figure in the comics. Expect her to do the same in X-men Supreme.
As always, a lot of that depends on the feedback I get from readers. The more support I have, the more confident I am that I can continue X-men Supreme through Volume 5 and beyond. So please take the time to send me your feedback by either contacting me or posting it in the comments section of each issue. I look forward to exploring this next era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Until then, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
March 28, 2014
The end has arrived. A very eventful era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series has come to an end. I'm very proud of what I've accomplished with X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. This was era of X-men Supreme brought a very different kind of conflict to this fanfiction series. It wasn't just about fighting enemies like Magneto or Sinister. It was about making allies like General Grimshaw and President Robert Kelly. Winning battles is easy in the short-term. But winning the peace in the long-term is much more difficult. That's a battle that often gets overlooked in the annuls of X-men. I wanted to show just how difficult it is to create the peace that Professor Charles Xavier dreams of achieving. Now as X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear ends, the conflicts that have been raging are finally winding down and the world is ready for peace.
But even Professor Xavier understands that peace is incredibly fragile. He also understands that peace cannot be built on ideals alone. There needs to be an incentive to maintain that peace for everybody. Many times it requires compromise and sacrifice. The X-men and their allies in General Grimshaw have done more than their share of sacrificing since X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear began. Actions by the likes of Magneto, Colonel Wraith, and the Cambrian haven't made it easy for them. But now they've been given a chance to great the necessary incentives for peace. Ironically, Magneto provided those incentives during the events of the Time Bomb arc. He was able to re-activate recovered Shi'ar technology through Warlock, an AI that controls this technology. When he left, he left behind this powerful technology that happens to be in the hands of Genosha, which is now once again being run by Magneto's daughter, the Scarlet Witch.
Now in the final issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear, a new status quo is emerging. But this status quo isn't built around as many of Charles Xavier's ideals as the X-men probably hope. It's built around the hope that this alien technology, distributed and sold by Genosha, will create prosperity. And when there's prosperity, there are far fewer reasons to go to war. It's an overly pragmatic, if not downright hallow, means of achieving peace. But after all the damage that Magneto did along with the Cambrian, it's the only way the X-men can hope to salvage some level of peace and security. But before it even begins, some new threats to that security emerge. And the next stage of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is set to begin with this final issue.
In the end, X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear was almsot as long as X-men Supreme Volume 3: Ashes of Hope. The length and scope of this fanfiction series continues to grow. This makes developing X-men Supreme that much more challenging. And even as it has grown, the feedback has remained flat or declined. I really am hoping it'll increase with the conclusion of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. As I said in my last update, some of the emails that have been sent to me through this website have been blocked by my email filter. I have since changed it. I always respond to emails within 24 hours so if anyone has not heard back from me, then something is wrong. Please use Twitter or Facebook to contact me so I can fix it. But now that I've resolved this issue, I really hope to get some feedack now that the fourth volume of X-men Supreme is complete. I'm still committed to making Volume 5, but if support continues to decline it may be the last. So please take the time to provide feedback by posting it in the comments section of the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
March 21, 2014
It's almost over. Another era of the X-men Supreme fanfiction series is nearly complete. The scale and scope of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear has taken the X-men, their allies, and their enemies in many different directions. At times, it has been downright chaotic. So many forces beyond their control have been bombarding them from every possible angle. There have been personal struggles like Wolverine's past in Japan and Professor Charles Xavier's failing health. There have been much larger struggles against the Cambrian and a mentally unstable Magneto armed with alien technology. Those struggles have led to new allies like Colossus joining the team while others such as Rogue and Nightcrawler have taken a leave of absence. Now with the final arc complete, there is just one issue left to close the chapter on this era of X-men Supreme and set the stage for another.
Since I began this fanfiction series, one of my goals was to establish a sense of progression with this incarnation of X-men. A common problem that the comics, cartoons, and movies often face is stagnation. There are only so many times that the X-men can triumph over Sentinels and the Brotherhood before it gets dull. The characters and the world they live in has to keep evolving. While Marvel has done a pretty good job of evolving their characters, I feel as though the world those characters inhabit doesn't evolve enough. I've tried to make the world of X-men Supreme react and change in accord with major events. From the uprising on Genosha to the election of Robert Kelly, I want to treat the world of X-men Supreme as its own character.
Now with the end of the Time Bomb arc, that world is entering a bold new chapter. Magneto attempted one last misguided attack using alien technology. While the X-men and the Brotherhood were able to defeat him, the hostility that has been building since the Cambrian attack has not abated. General Grimshaw and President Kelly have been eager to hold Magneto accountable for his crimes, but now he's gone. So how can any peace come from these circumstances? Well at the end of Time Bomb, the X-men and the Brotherhood were left with an important bargaining chip. Warlock, the AI from a crashed Shi'ar ship, has been activated and is ready for use. This technology is of immense value to a world that is still rebuilding from the Cambrian. And through this technology, a new foundation for peace can be forged. However, that peace will be fragile at best. And that's what I hope to convey in the final issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. I've prepared a brief preview here on this website and on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
Only one issue remains for this era of X-men Supreme. As I've stated before, I already intend to pursue X-men Supreme Volume 5 and another entry of X-men Supreme Reflections. However, the future beyond that point is still tentative. I work long and hard on this fanfiction series. And lately, I've been pursuing other side-projects unrelated to X-men Supreme. And in recent times, feedback and reviews for X-men Supreme have been declining. At this current rate, it will get to a point where I can no longer justify the work I put into this fanfiction series. So there is a chance that X-men Supreme may end at some point. I will not say for certain, but those who want to see this fanfiction series continue can influence my decision by simply taking the time to provide feedback. Please contact me at any time or just post your comments in each issue. I am very good at responding and I'm always happy to chat X-men.
Please Note: I recently discovered that my email filter may have been blocking out messages sent through this website's contact form. I have since fixed this. But anyone who may have tried to send me a message before yesterday might not have gone through. Please re-send your message. It should go through this time. I apologize.
I have big plans for the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and I would hate to have to cut those plans short. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
March 14, 2014
The core theme of the X-men has always been built around pursuing peace over war. I've tried to capture that theme in many ways throughout the X-men Supreme fanfiction series and as the story has unfolded, one thing has become clear. Peace is very hard to achieve, with or without the added complications of Magneto and Sentinels. But that's exactly why Professor Xavier considers it such a worthy dream. He and his X-men have gone to great lengths to forge peace out of the chaos that constantly unfolds around them. Now they'll have to do it again while dealing with a mentally unstable Magneto.
I've taken Magneto down some dark and devious paths in the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. It was only a matter of time before he became so lost that even his own children will no longer stand beside him. But as mentally unstable as Magneto has become, he is still brilliant in his own right. He was the one that initially uncovered the Shi'ar technology from the alien ship during X-men Supreme Issue 46: Paradise Mystery. He also found a way to utilize that technology to locate the Cambrian. Now he's trying to use it again, this time in a much more direct manner. He's unleashed Warlock, the AI that governs this advanced Shi'ar technology. And this AI will allow Magneto to send the entire world of X-men Supreme back to the stone age. There won't be much peace possible after that.
So now in the penultimate issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear, the X-men must work with the Brotherhood of Mutants to stop Magneto. And while they're at it, they'll also have to find a way to prevent General Grimshaw and President Kelly from launching a full blown war to make Magneto pay for his crimes. General Grimshaw has already shown that he's more than willing and he'll have plenty of company if Magneto can't be stopped. Time is running out in this final arc. What will this mean for the future of the X-men and the world as a whole? It's all revealed in this very important issue of X-men Supreme.
In addition, I finally got around to doing an update for the pics section. I know I've been negating it for a while, but I always keep an eye out for great X-men pics. I'm also always in the market for new commissions. I've had a few very generous artists connect with me and bring some very memorable moments from the X-men Supreme fanfiction series to life. I've documented all of them in the X-men Supreme Official Panels section. For anyone else who is interested, please feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to discuss details. Until then, here's a list of the sections I've updated.
There is now only one issue left of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. The world X-men Supreme is about to undergo another dramatic change. The extent of that change will set the stage for the next era of this fanfiction series. While I have every intention of crafting X-men Supreme Volume 5, the future of this fanfiction series remains in question after that. The lack of feedback and reviews for X-men Supreme lately have been discouraging. And depending on how the next era of this fanfiction series unfolds, it may be the last. I hope it isn't. I still have plenty of ideas to pursue for this fanfiction series. But I can't make those ideas sufficiently awesome without support. So please take the time to provide feedback for X-men Supreme. Contact me and send it directly or post it in the comments section of the issue. Thank you to all those who have been along for the ride. Only one issue left of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Until then, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
March 7, 2014
Since the X-men Supreme fanfiction series began, there have been some major turning points that occurred because of fateful decisions.These decisions didn't just have immediate consequences. They affected the overall course of X-men Supreme moving forward. And nobody has had to make more of these decisions than Magneto. He also happens to be the one who has put the world of X-men Supreme on the brink more than anyone else. First he led an uprising. Then he tried to wipe out all of humanity with an asteroid. Then he unleashed the Cambrian. It has finally taken a toll on him, so much so that's no longer in a clear state of mind. This has led to him making a decision to unleash Warlock, a sentient alien technology on the whole world. He is prepared to make one last effort to subdue the human race and the X-men have to stop him. But this time, stopping him isn't enough. Something has to be done about him and about the damage he has done. And that decision will be what leads to the final conclusion of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear.
This has been an interesting and challenging direction for this fanfiction series. With the introduction of General Grimshaw and Captain Freeman as well as new dynamics between the X-men and the human race, I've set up a collection of circumstances that has made X-men Supreme increasingly distinct. The conflicts in this fanfiction series simply cannot be found anywhere else, but it still maintains the core theme of X-men and the characters. And that has been my goal for X-men Supreme from the beginning. I don't just want it to be different than the comics. I want it to uniquely resonate with the themes of X-men. And that's why the conclusion of the Time Bomb arc is so important.
And it isn't just Magneto who will be facing some major turning points. Beyond the conflicts between the X-men and Magneto, there are still many personal conflicts to go around. And no character in X-men Supreme has endured more hardship than Wolverine. Since X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear began, he has endured blow after blow. He learned the horrible truth about his past in Japan. He also had a fateful encounter with Mystique that raised even more questions about his past. But his breakup with Storm has led him to hit rock bottom. He is now in such a damaged state that he struggles to function without the aid of alcohol. But then he encountered a girl who looks strikingly similar to him in X-23. In the comics, she's one of the newer complications to Wolverine's complex history. Now I'm very excited to introduce her to the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. And how she interacts with Wolverine will set the stage for the course of his character. It's also the subject of my preview for the next issue of the Time Bomb arc, which will also act as the penultimate issue of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. I also posted an extended preview on the X-men Supreme Official Blog.
In addition, I know it wasn't long ago that I mentioned X-men Supreme's newest artistic ally, Jack Crowder. He already helped endear himself to this fanfiction series by bringing Captain Jack Freeman and General Nathan Grimshaw to life in his first piece. Well now he has done two more. For the first one, he took a scene right out of X-men Supreme Issue 65: The Phoenix Saga Part 3 where Emma Frost first dawned her uniform in the world of X-men Supreme. For the second, he did a nice solo image of Nightcrawler in a scene taken right out of his Supreme Reflections entry. They're both great moments that I'm proud to add to my pics section.
Time is running out for X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. Another era in this fanfiction series is about to end. The immediate future of this series isn't in question. It will continue. However, the distant future is still not settled. I hope that the end of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear will get people excited about the future of X-men Supreme. I hope that means more feedback and more intrigue. But if it continues to decline and nobody can help me fix it, then my committments to X-men Supreme may have to change. I want to keep writing it, but I want to keep making it awesome and I can't do that without support. So please take the time to contact me and let me know how I'm doing with this fanfiction series. That way I can make sure that X-men Supreme continues to be awesome. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!
February 28th, 2014
Everything that has been unfolding in X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear has been building towards this. The X-men Supreme fanfiction series is about to undergo yet another transformation. In the dead of winter with the prospect of a thaw seeming so remote, X-men Supreme is about to enter its coldest and darkest hour before the dawn. It seems everything has been going wrong for the X-men and Charles Xavier in their efforts to promote peace and understanding. They thought they could take a step forward by partnering with the likes of General Nathan Grimshaw, who formed the Mutant Security Agency as part of President Kelly's new mutant initiative. But due to various circumstances beyond their control, the prospects for peace seem so remote.
While things may seem dire for the X-men and the X-men Supreme fanfiction series as a whole,all hope is not lost. There are still ways for the X-men to forge a new peace out of this chaos. It may seem impossible, but it can be done. That's something that often gets overlooked in the comics, cartoons, and movies. Everything only seems to get worse. There's little sense of progression for Charles Xavier's dream or the mission of the X-men. I don't want to do that with X-men Supreme. I want to show that it is possible for there to be a sense of progression with the X-men's mission. I also want to show that this progression can be made interesting. I've already shown in many instances how bad it has gotten for young mutants in the world of X-men Supreme. But I haven't really shown how it can get better. Well now it needs to get better because Magneto is about to make one last effort to undermine everything the X-men stand for.
Since the X-men Supreme fanfiction series began, Magneto has made many bold attempts to assert mutant dominance over the world. Many of those efforts have failed due to the X-men. But some have succeeded. He managed to become leader of his own country. He established himself as a charismatic ruler and visionary for a large segment of the mutant population. But this wasn't enough. He wanted more for his people. This is what led him to tamper with the Cambrian, a power he neither understood nor controlled. It has left him physically and mentally damaged. Yet he is still capable of pulling off one last attempt to assert mutant domance. And that's what he'll do in Time Bomb, the final arc of X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear. What he does here and what happens afterward will force the X-men, the governments of the world, and humanity as a whole to take a step forward. Because if they don't, all could be lost.
It has been a long, eventful journey since X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear began. The X-men Supreme fanfiction series continues to evolve in many different ways, some of which I never imagined. But as it evolves, I hope it continues to maintain the spirit of the X-men mythos that so many have come to love and anticipate. However, over the past year or so, support for X-men Supreme seems to be flat or declining. This has made it difficult to continue updating at this regular pace. And once X-men Supreme Volume 4: Politics of Fear is over, I may have to re-assess how often this fanfiction series is updated and how long it will go. But readers do have the power to influence these decisions. Just take the time to submit feedback for this fanfiction series. Either post it online in each individual issue or contact me directly. Either is fine. Expect some major announcements about the future of X-men Supreme very soon. But until then, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!