One of Marvel’s biggest initiatives this year has been the relaunching of the X-Men. Beginning with “X-Men Prime,” each corner of the X-Men universe will be covered by brand new series with new creative teams. Last week, we talked with Marc Guggenheim about “X-Men: Gold” and this week, we’re talking with writer Cullen Bunn about “X-Men: Blue.” “X-Men: Blue” will also be bringing together a classic X-Men team, but with a twist. These are the time displaced original five that Brian Michael Bendis brought back in his run on “All New X-Men.” Bunn discussed the series with us and what his plans for these characters are.
“Inhumans vs. X-Men” left things really changed for both factions and while the X-Men are still on Earth, they aren’t doing all that great. Cyclops is gone and Emma Frost has really leaned into the villain side. Where will your team be when the series begins?
Cullen Bunn: While there is now a new school for mutants on Earth, my X-Men have jumped ship and struck off on their own. Surprisingly, they have thrown in with their oldest enemy–Magneto–and are running around on missions of their own. They have a new patron, a new mansion (in a location I’m keeping a secret for now), a new Blackbird, and a new attitude! Of course, the question is WHY the Original Five would team up with Magneto, and those answers will be provided in the first 3 issues of the new series!
You’re just coming off of writing “Uncanny X-Men” which ended in a big way with Psylocke and Magneto having a huge fight. Is this something we’ll see some fall out from in “X-Men: Blue?”
CB: To some degree, yes, but I’m not going to dwell on it. The biggest takeaway is that the fight between Psylocke and Magneto was a bit of a new start for Magneto. For years, he’s felt that the world need a man like him, a man who would do anything to protect his people. Now, though, he has come to believe that his efforts have hurt mutants more than helped them. Magneto died in the battle with Psylocke, and even though he is up and walking again, he believes it is better to remain dead. That doesn’t mean Magneto has given up on scheming entirely, though. Of course, he has something up his sleeve!
The X-Men have such a long history and even explaining the last few years to someone can be confusing. Will “X-Men: Blue” be approachable for a new reader?
CB: I’ve written this book in such a way that the only thing you need to know when opening the first issue is that the X-Men are mutant superheroes. Everything else will be threaded into the story in (what I hope will be) a very organic and natural way. I’m not ignoring the long X-history. I’m embracing it, in fact, but I want new readers to be able to get swallowed up by that history without getting scared off by it.
The “original five” are still around in this timeline and this is another title that they’ll star in since being brought to the present day. What can you talk say about their current position in this book? Is returning to the past still something on their minds?
CB: In “All-New X-Men,” we see the Original Five return to their original timeline, and they see that the X-Men are there already. That can be troubling for them for a number of reasons. First of all, it could mean that this is not their timeline at all. It could also mean that it is their timeline and they have already been reverted to their former selves and sent back. That would mean, it is a definite eventuality at some point in the future. So it is safe to say that the idea of returning to their timeline (or never returning to it) is always on their minds. In “X-Men Prime,” I introduced the idea that no matter what reality they came from, somewhere out there, there is a world without X-Men. That’s something that will become important in the series.
Jean Grey in particular is a fascinating character because she’s got the most to gain or lose by leading a team in the present day. I think she’s had the chance to really blossom into more than just a vessel for the Phoenix Force since being brought here. What can you say about her plans for this team?
Continued belowCB: Jean is the reason the team is back together and working with Magneto, so she certainly has a lot to prove. She wants the X-Men to do great things for mutantkind and for the world, and she wants to do it publicly. She also wants her team to be the best they can be. That means training. That means building the team a bit. That means exploring new skills. She knows there is a fight ahead of them, perhaps the battle they were always destined to face. It’s one of the reasons she has put the X-Men in the position they are now in.
Lastly, I assume, every issue won’t be about some huge, Earth shattering event so what kind of stories can we expect from this series? What will make “X-Men: Blue” stand out from the rest of the lineup?
CB: There will be a couple of earth shattering events over the course of the series, but–no–every issue will not feature that kind of tale. The tone of this book is quite different from what you will see in the other X-titles. And while this is the Original Five X-Men, I’m embracing a sort of Claremont approach to the stories. These are crazy… maybe even Uncanny… adventures. I’m making delicious sandwiches out of the bread and butter of the X-universe. I have long story arcs plans. Seeds planted in issue one will pay off slowly over dozens of issues. We’ll be building slowly from issue 1 into something big and exciting and wild. If you already love the O5, you’ll see them here in a different light. If you haven’t fallen for the O5 yet, I plan on changing that. And if you’re one of those who have already made up your mind that you’ll NEVER like the O5, then I’ll have so many classic X-villains and guest stars in this book, you’ll still want to read it!
“X-Men: Blue” #1 is in stores now!
