Uncanny X-Men: Gail Simone on Bringing Dragons, Gothic Horror, and Frisky Business to Marvel’s Mutants (Exclusive)

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As a lifelong fan of the X-Men, I must say that the current roster for “Uncanny X-Men” is reminiscent of the classic team lineup that I grew up with. The characters chosen are not only recognizable but also embody distinct personalities and roles within the group – from the heart (Gambit and Rogue), the joy (Jubilee and Nightcrawler), to the grit (Wolverine). The addition of the Outliers adds an element of mystery and chaos, which I find intriguing.

The Uncanny X-Men have made their return! Following the “From the Ashes” period for Marvel’s mutants, which started in July with X-Men #1, this week has seen the release of Uncanny X-Men #1, or Uncanny X-Men #701 if you prefer the legacy numbering. This title is one that many fans consider to be the main X-Men book. Alongside X-Men and the upcoming Exceptional X-Men, writers Gail Simone and artists David Marquez present a unique tone in Uncanny X-Men #1 compared to X-Men #1. They aim to achieve editor Tom Brevoort’s goal of having books with distinct objectives that showcase mutant teams with differing viewpoints on Professor Xavier’s dream.

In a fresh take on the classic Uncanny X-Men comic, Simone infuses her unique wit, as well as an undeniable spark of romantic energy between characters like Rogue and Gambit. This modern rendition also incorporates unexpected elements such as a shapeshifting dragon and strong horror genre undertones. A fresh batch of mutants known as the Outliers and a new Louisiana-based headquarters serve as the backdrop for this team, consisting of Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee. ComicBook had an exclusive chat with Simone regarding the debut issue of this exciting new series. The conversation can be found below.

Upon finishing Uncanny X-Men #1, my initial curiosity revolves around the possibility of the horse being a mutant.

Gail Simone: It’s great to see your curiosity! I’ve merely hinted at Jitter so far, but she’s one of the Outliers who arrives at Haven. Her unique mutant ability allows her to master any skill for a single minute. For instance, she could become a Bruce Lee-level martial artist for just one minute. She uses a timer on her watch to keep track of this time, as when it ends, she returns to a normal state. This situation will lead to some intriguing complications for her. Regarding the horse, I’d rather not reveal its connection or the mutant powers of the other characters just yet. Among these four new figures, some deny their mutant status, while others are reluctant to accept it. Some embrace it and are still discovering their abilities as we progress through the story, learning alongside them.

As a dedicated fan, I must express my appreciation for the chilling horror element you’ve infused into this book, particularly the eerie happenings within the woods. Yet, there’s an added layer that resonates deeply with me – it’s as if Wolverine is grappling with an existential dread and a palpable sense of his own mortality. I was wondering if this was part of your intent, or perhaps you were more focused on the monster-in-the-woods aspect? Your work has certainly stirred up complex emotions in me!

In reality, it encompasses both aspects. As we delve deeper into the problems, things become increasingly intense. A truly terrifying antagonist is soon to emerge.

The scenario initially unfolds with a clash between the X-Men and a dragon – an unexpected turn of events. Typically, the inception of a new X-Men storyline involves conflict with Sentinels or the updated Brotherhood. What prompted this creative twist of having them engage with a dragon instead? David Marquez skillfully illustrates it; was this merely to offer him an intriguing task, or was there a strategic intention to deviate from the norm?

In the past, while penning several issues of Iron Man, I introduced a character named Sadurang who embodies dragons or monsters from various regions across the globe. Hence, his appearance is unique to each location. This dragon serves a specific role and its encounter with Remy will reveal that purpose. It’s an exciting development, and I can’t wait for readers to see how it transforms Remy’s character.

In your question, you’re asking if I had a long-held idea for Uncanny X-Men when Marvel approached me to write it, or if this concept emerged from discussions about the current state of the X-Men post-Krakoa. Additionally, you want to know more about how the series came into being, my vision, and how it differs from Jed MacKay’s work in X-Men.

Tom Brevoort approached me and I’ve worked with him a couple of times before on The Variants and a couple other things in the past, and he explained to me that the Krakoa era was ending and that the X-Men were going to be scattered all over, and they wanted to have a bunch of different books with different tones and different purposes and different reasons for them to exist, which right there, I’m interested because it gives the opportunity to have different tones and talk about different aspects of grief and the things that they’re going through. And he wanted Rogue to be in it, and then they wanted Jubilee to be part of the Free Comic Book Day story, and then I felt like, well, if she’s going to be part of the Free Comic Book Day story, then she should be in this book with Rogue. And then with Rogue comes Gambit, of course.

As a gamer immersed in the X-Men universe, I began pondering over the destinations and the emotional journeys these characters would undertake. What if Rogue, who’s heart was once mended by Professor X’s vision, found herself grappling with Krakoa’s downfall? Where would she go to mourn, to heal?

Over time, different creators have taken varying perspectives when working with the X-Men. They’ve delved into the mutant metaphor, explored evolutionary themes, tackled political issues, or simply enjoyed the soap opera element. What is it about the X-Men that captivates you?

What initially captivated me about the X-Men is their ability to resonate with my personal experience. I find it fascinating that each character seems to harbor an unique, peculiar trait – something they might be hesitant to disclose. This sense of secrecy and individuality mirrors my own feelings, making the X-Men feel remarkably relatable.

In the X-Men series, there’s a consistent debate among characters about the team’s purpose and direction. For instance, Cyclops continues to pursue global initiatives, while Wolverine appears disillusioned with this strategy. You brought up Tom Brevoort discussing various philosophies for each series. Will we witness these contrasting approaches within the storyline? I’m curious as to whether this internal conflict might lead to a significant event like another Schism, or if it will play a substantial role in the stories you’re creating?

Since Rogue remains loyal to Xavier’s vision, contrasting with many of the X-Men who no longer hold that belief. This distinctive viewpoint will distinguish Rogue and this book from other X-Men stories. For example, there’s a story set in Chicago where Kate has distanced herself from it due to trauma. She’s currently fragmented, and we’ll observe if she voluntarily re-engages. However, Rogue maintains her commitment to the cause, which sets her ideology apart significantly from X-Men and other related titles. This belief system clashes greatly with Cyclops’.

Could you provide some insights about the latest antagonist, Dr. Ellis? She appears captivating due to her unique approach of targeting dreams rather than mutants physically. In particular, she’s causing trouble at Professor Xavier’s mansion by transforming it into a prison. I’m curious if you could share some details about her background, her motivations, and what makes her distinct from other adversaries of the X-Men?

I’m utterly captivated by her intelligence and ambition – she aims to rally more X-Men to her cause. There are intriguing developments brewing within Graymalkin that will gradually unfold, revealing distinct differences between her intentions and those of Rogue, for example. She firmly believes herself to be the champion destined to protect mutantkind, though not everyone may find her methods palatable.

So it’s almost like she’s trying to wake them up from the dream, or snap them out of it?

As a seasoned writer, I understand the importance of maintaining suspense and intrigue when crafting a compelling narrative. From my years of honing my skills, I’ve learned that revealing too much about a character’s motivations too early can rob readers of the thrill of discovering their story as it unfolds. Keeping certain details hidden allows the audience to form their own interpretations and engage more deeply with the characters, making the overall reading experience richer and more immersive. So, when faced with a situation like this, I would choose to keep quiet about her motivations and allow the story to reveal itself over time. After all, the journey is often more intriguing than the destination itself.

In your writing, there’s a distinctive style that often incorporates an element of flirtatious sexuality among your characters, which has been evident throughout your work, including X-Men. Considering this pattern in your stories, would you say that the expression of these traits seems more organic or effortless for these specific characters compared to others you’ve developed?

In this comic book series, particularly Rogue and Gambit’s storyline in the X-Men universe, you’ll find a lot of steamy, romantic, and sensual moments. It’s not just action and adventure; their relationship is deeply explored under extreme circumstances, making it an exciting read. I’ve always wanted this aspect to be part of the narrative right from the start when discussing the book.

It appears to me that you’ve assembled quite an iconic ensemble of X-Men characters in the “From the Ashes” series. Could you elaborate a bit on the process of forming this roster, your intentions behind it, and how each character was chosen to fulfill specific roles within the team?

Essentially, my primary objective was to create a welcoming atmosphere and make it effortless for people to join. Consequently, these characters are quite familiar, but once you have Rogue, Gambit follows suit, and Jubilee was introduced due to the free comic book storyline. If you include Rogue, then Nightcrawler becomes necessary, and Wolverine is added because Gambit and Rogue form the core of the book. Jubilee and Nightcrawler bring the fun element, while Wolverine provides the toughness. This is how I assembled that particular team. The arrival of the Outliers, however, stirs up complete chaos.

Regarding the Outliers, I understand you want to keep details minimal for now, but could there possibly be any historical events or parallels within X-Men lore that you can hint at? It seems to me that people might initially assume these are a new group of young mutants, however, this may not be accurate.

Initially, it’s uncertain if they belong to the category of ‘good’ or ‘bad’. We haven’t determined their allegiance yet. I intended to introduce what I call ‘invisible mutations’ into them, similar to an unseen disability. This means that from an external perspective, they won’t appear as typical mutants with characteristics like blue skin or retractable claws. Some might even deny being a mutant at all because their issues seem less obvious compared to other mutants, who deal with more traditional, contemporary problems.

The X-Men have moved around quite a bit, and fans all have their preferred locations, be it the Outback Era, the school, or something else. Now they reside in Haven, located in Louisiana. Since we’ve described the book as Southern Gothic, what kind of mood and atmosphere are you aiming to create with David Marquez and the rest of the team? How does Louisiana influence this story?

As a gamer, I yearn for that sense of familiarity, and Gambit leads Rogue to Haven, a place I once called home. It was a sanctuary during my younger days, where anyone was welcome, even orphans. However, the woods surrounding it were downright terrifying; I mean, heart-pounding scary! But there’s an element of fun too, as the mansion and school are long gone, replaced by a makeshift Danger Room hidden within the woods, perfect for training. So, it’s thrilling, yet chilling in equal measure.

Although you might not be able to share too many details, the term “Endling” seems quite foreboding in relation to this X-Men team. Can you offer any clues or tantalizing insights as to what it could signify for them?

As a devoted fan, let me share this intriguing tidbit: The term “Endling” refers to the last surviving member of a specific species. In an extraordinary twist, there’s a character who yearns to be the final remnant of a mutant species. That’s about all I can divulge on the subject.

That sounds like it’s probably not good for them.

It might become an issue.

Despite the grandiose dragon battle, this book maintains a character-centric, conversational tone throughout. This is particularly evident during the hospital scene where the X-Men attend to a terminally ill mutant child, only for a heartbreaking event to occur. Could you elaborate on that pivotal scene, as it seems reminiscent of a type of scene that has become less common in contemporary superhero narratives, given the shift towards larger, more operatic hero actions and fewer quiet moments?

Here are a few things to consider: I’m laying groundwork for future story developments, and following the fall of Krakoa, Rogue is in a particularly low state. As you may have noticed in my previous work, I enjoy bringing characters to their lowest points before helping them rise again. With that said, Tom has asked me to cause some emotional distress among readers, making them feel sad and possibly even cry. However, I’ve also been given the green light to elicit other emotions like excitement and fear as well. So, Rogue’s journey might involve a heart-wrenching experience, but there will be other feelings mixed in too.

Is there anything playful or additional that you might want to share with the readers as we conclude?

I can’t praise David’s artwork enough, especially his unique interpretation of the script and the stunning results. The cover for issue #4, with Rogue in that chilling gothic posture, is simply awe-inspiring and eerie at the same time.

Uncanny X-Men #1 is on sale now.

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2024-08-08 22:11