Murewa Ayodele Casts Storm Into the X-Men: From the Ashes Era (Interview)

Storm’s fanbase

As a die-hard gamer immersed in the ComicBook universe, I’ve always been a fan of Storm. Her adventures, often shared with other characters, have kept me hooked for years. When it came to envisioning a solo comic book for her, certain themes immediately caught my attention as being vital to explore.

Murewa Ayodele: Storm is an intricate and nuanced character, delving into various themes across her literary journey. Here are some of the main themes I plan to delve into with her solo series, along with many others:

1. Redemption: Like Wolverine and Gambit, Storm has a criminal past and strives to be a hero.

2. The Character Storm: Similar to Superman, who is an alien raised in Smallville but resides in Metropolis, Storm is a mutant born to human parents from distinct worlds, left as an orphan in Cairo, grew up in Kenya, and later became a hero in New York City (now Atlanta). Just like Superman, she can be seen as an immigrant metaphor.

3. The Designated One: Storm’s abilities stem from a unique blend of mutation and a mystical genetic trait passed down from her maternal lineage. Over the course of her written history, she discovers that with this immense power comes an even heavier burden… much like Spider-Man does.

4. Hard Work: Despite possessing immense mutant abilities, Storm spent a significant part of her life without fully utilizing them – facing the perilous reality of mortality similar to Batman and Daredevil. In challenging circumstances, she honed her skills in close-combat and knife fighting. She didn’t have a wealthy or even middle-class upbringing. Instead, she lived on the streets, learning to survive for herself from a tender age, much like Naruto.

5. Feminism and Motherhood: She shares similarities with characters such as Wonder Woman, displaying both strength and tenderness. Despite her association with strong male figures, she unapologetically expresses her femininity. Kitty Pryde and T’Challa, son of T’Chaka, have frequently observed this softer side of Storm.

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Storm’s new status quo

It appears that in X-Men: From the Ashes, each X-Man is reconsidering their future under the current non-Krakoa situation. Storm seems particularly focused on preserving Earth, which seems like an extension of her role in Arakko. Could being part of Arakko’s Great Ring significantly influence this new mission she’s embarking on?

Initially guarding a small Kenyan village, later reigning as queen over Wakanda, and even assuming control of Arakko (Mars) during the Krakoan era, Storm’s role has expanded significantly throughout her comic book journey. Her evolution into Earth’s protector is thus a logical progression, stemming not just from the Krakoan Era but encompassing her entire publication history. With the fall of Krakoa causing immense distress among mutants and potentially endangering their world, Storm is resolute about preventing such a catastrophe from recurring.

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Storm joining The Avengers

As I joined the ranks of The Avengers, was Storm’s inclusion in the works simultaneously? It’ll take some time for me to fully embrace her as a part of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes rather than the X-Men squad she’s traditionally been associated with. So, what unique abilities and perspectives do you think Storm will bring to this team?

Upon my arrival at the X-Office, Jed MacKay and Tom Brevoort had previously delved deep into Storm’s character. Tom Brevoort had proposed to Jed MacKay that Storm would be a valuable addition to the Avengers, well before I stepped in. To be honest, I’m thankful this decision was made. It presented me with opportunities to place Storm in uncharted, invigorating, and captivating scenarios that would have been overly complex if she were still an X-Man. When crafting characters as enduring as Storm, a shift in status quo is always welcome.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but wonder about Storm’s role within the Avengers team. It’s the responsibility of the writer, Jed in this case, to delve into that in the upcoming issues of the Avengers comic (2023) #17. My task, on the other hand, is to weave an intricate and exciting adventure series for her standalone comics, brimming with tension and excitement.

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Storm vs. Doctor Doom

In the third edition, the title “Impending Doom” suggests an upcoming confrontation between Doctor Doom and Marvel’s latest Sorcerer Supreme. Can you share some insights on what sets these powerful figures against each other?

Under the upcoming title “One World Under Peril,” it’s foreseeable that there will be a confrontation between the destructive force, Doom, and the world’s guardian, Storm.

Storm #2 variant cover by Ernanda Souza

Storm’s new costume

As a massive fan, I was curious if you had the chance to contribute any ideas regarding Storm’s new look, which Lucas Werneck designed in our collaboration on ‘Storm’? And speaking as an admirer of his work in ‘Sins of Sinister’ and ‘Immortal X-Men’, is there a particular visual he created that left you so excited that you can hardly wait for readers to see it with their own eyes?

As far as I’m aware, Lucas Werneck was solely responsible for designing Storm’s new black-and-gold costume. He was appointed to design the costume prior to being assigned as the series artist for Storm. However, going forward in the series, each Storm appearance will be a collaborative effort between writer and artist, with Lucas handling the main part of the work. In essence, one can describe a look using words or mood boards, but it takes the creative hands and mind of a gifted artist to transform those elements into a truly breathtaking (and memorable) design.

I’m thrilled beyond words to collaborate with an artist widely regarded as one of the finest in our field for this project. The whole thing has me buzzing, and I can hardly wait for everyone to see it. As for Mateus Manhanini on covers and Alex Guimar?es on colors, their work is simply outstanding in this series.

2024’s Storm series promises an exhilarating watch, with its quality likely outshining even your highest anticipations. As we countdown to its October premiere, take this opportunity to heighten your excitement levels!