If read in the context of the queer metaphor of X-Men (what scholar Ramzi Fawaz calls “queer mutanity”) UXM’s repeated exploration of parental estrangement and possible reconciliation can hold a particularly poignant resonance. #xmen 1/6 Image
Character arcs built around reconciliation w parents are extensive in the Claremont run and feature prominently in the stories of major characters such as Cyclops, Rogue, Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler and Rachel. 2/6 Image
These arcs consistently explore themes of familial estrangement and the emotional fallout that results, whilst building tension toward a possible reconciliation and even sometimes resolving with an actual reconciliation and the catharsis it can produce. 3/6 Image
This all depends on the quality of the parent, of course, and the extent to which they deserve forgiveness: Jean > Corsair > Mystique >Sabretooth (depending on your perspective, of course – mileage may vary). 4/6 Image
These narratives also foreground the concept of found family in X-Men (a key aspect of Fawaz’s exploration of queer mutanity) with Xavier, or the school, or one of the senior X-Men quite often fulfilling a substitute parental role for an estranged mutant. 5/6 Image
The point is that Claremont is building narrative tension and character development out of a longing for parental reconciliation that may have universal symbolic resonance (who doesn’t crave their parents love and approval?) but with specific value to the queer metaphor. 6/6 Image

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with The Claremont Run

The Claremont Run Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @ClaremontRun

19 Dec
In Excalibur #23, Claremont revisits one of his greatest character projects: Illyana Rasputin. Rather than take the AU story in the direction of the better-life-not-led, however, Claremont adds depth to Illyana’s 616 sacrifice by showing us the alternative. #xmen #Magik 1/8 Image
In the pages of UXM, Magik, and The New Mutants, Claremont built Illyana up as a deeply symbolic character, exploring childhood trauma through an abstract metaphor of surviving hell and having to integrate back into a more innocent world. 2/8 Image
It was Louise Simonson, however, who wrote Illyana’s ending (with some co-ordination from C) in which Illyana sacrifices the life she’s struggled to build to prevent the hell of her making from overtaking others. It might be the finest writing of Simonson’s storied career. 3/8 Image
Read 9 tweets
18 Dec
The Wolverine/Storm relationship, in all its facets, is one of the most complex and longstanding in the entirety of Claremont’s run, focusing on his two most foregrounded characters as they mutually support each other’s development and growth as characters and as people #xmen 1/7 Image
The pair is defined through mutual respect, intimate trust (something that does not come naturally to either), romantic subtext, and an implied casual sexual relationship that gets interrupted by circumstance, but could easily have been happening the entire time, off-panel. 2/7 Image
Author Miles Booy argues that in early portrayals, Wolverine is symbolic of a primitive masculinity (through “ferocity”) while Storm symbolizes, in contrast, “feminine grace” through her primitive closeness to nature (26). Sort of Adam and Eve of the X-Men. 3/7 Image
Read 7 tweets
14 Dec
In “Mutant Mutandis: The X-Men’s Wolverine and the Construction of Canada,” scholar Vivian Zenari explores the portrayal of Canada within the X-Men narrative and how that portrayal informs the character of Wolverine (and vice versa). #xmen #wolverine 1/7
Zenari sees Logan’s nationality as a somewhat lazy product of international market-building, with Wolverine’s Canadian-ness generally underconsidered in terms of its connection to his character/identity. 2/7
"The imagined Canada of Wolverine is for the most part the imagining of another country. At the level of language, a Canadaphile will notice factual errors, such as misspelled place-names…and incongruous terminology… that could be chalked up to a careless copyeditor.” 3/7
Read 7 tweets
13 Dec
Amidst the chaos of UXM #272, Claremont gives Gambit a moment to shine at a time when he was still largely an unknown to both the X-Men and the readers. In addition to saving the team, Gambit’s actions relay a ton of information about his character. #xmen 1/7
Gambit plays an essential role in the X-Men’s escape, first by perceiving and supporting Cable’s own attempt, then by using that as a ruse by which he can obtain the means to execute a secondary escape attempt thereafter, at great personal cost. 2/7
Cable attacks their jailers and Gambit immediately follows suit. Cable is, however, talked down by Hodge threatening Psylocke. When Hodge fires at Cable anyway, Gambit heroically dives to save Cable, taking a spike to the thigh in the process. 3/7
Read 8 tweets
12 Dec
One of Claremont’s goto strategies for character-building revolves around creating conflict out of character dualities in which their superpowers put them at odds with their personal goals and ambitions, ultimately distancing them from their own sense of humanity. #xmen 1/7 Image
This strategy is very very old. Nietzsche identified something similar in Ancient Greek Tragedy. It’s also quite foundational to Marvel (and other) comics of the era, most easily recognized in the Spider-Man aphorism of “with great power…..” 2/7 Image
Claremont’s approach, however, is individualized. So Logan is animal/man, Storm is goddess/woman, Kitty is child/adult, Colossus is muscle/imagination. Havok is raw power/pacifism, Dazzler is fame/normality, Cyclops is mission/well-being. On and on. 3/7 Image
Read 7 tweets
11 Dec
Despite the expectations that come with a young cast of characters (but also because of them), The New Mutants is a deeply dark, highly traumatic series. New Mutants #37 takes this to a new level by portraying -on panel- the violent deaths of each character. #xmen 1/6 Image
Woven into the critically maligned “Secret Wars II” event, the New Mutants have rejected the indoctrination of the Beyonder and, insulted by this, the Beyonder arrives to claim their lives if he can’t have their loyalty. As Dani astutely observes, it’s no contest. 2/6 Image
The Beyonder toys with the team before killing them in nightmarish ways. Rahne’s death, an execution while she kneels in her prayer, is particularly horrific, while Doug’s casual death while espousing the value of friendship is symbolic of the lack of plot armour. 3/6 ImageImageImageImage
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

:(