In The Uncanny X-Men #135, “Dark Phoenix,” Jean Grey becomes the Dark Phoenix and attacks her fellow X-Men. She tells them, “I didn’t want this, my dear ones—and yet, it was something I had to do. By striking you down, I cut myself free of the last ties binding me to the person I was, the life I led. You and I are quits now, X-Men. Our paths will cross no more. My destiny lies in the stars!” In her mind, she sees the X-Men as holding her back and needs to get rid of them in order to move on and develop into her new persona, the Dark Phoenix. The Dark Phoenix is Jean Grey’s evil alter ego which I found to be similar to the dualism concept we discuss in class all the time. Jean Grey is overwhelmed and taken over by her other self, the Dark Phoenix and can’t control it. In this sense, the Dark Phoenix is who Jean Grey would see herself more like just as Bruce Wayne would identify himself as Batman more than Bruce. An interesting aspect I’ve seen in Marvel comics is the crossing over of superheroes into other comics. In this specific comic, the cop says, “You want results—call the Avengers, or The Fantastic Four, or SHIELD.” We also see Reed Richards, the Silver Surfer, Dr. Strange, and Spider-Man in this comic as well to demonstrate how powerful the Dark Phoenix is and how they all detected her increasing power. I find the crossover of superheroes in other comics to be an interesting technique that demonstrates the versatility of Marvel superheroes and their comics.
This comic illustrates death in a twisted beautiful way. For instance, “On the planetary dayside, they see the light first—the awful light of Armageddon—filling the sky from horizon to horizon ten minutes after leaving the murdered star. Many who see this light—the last thing they will ever see—are confused, frightened, a very few—who realize at once what has happened—have time to curse cruel fate or make their peace with their God. Then, they all die.” This is similar to the way people see the light before their lives are taken in reality. By seeing the light, they are given the opportunity to see something beautiful before their life is taken. Something extremely relevant and relatable about death is stated, “But half the world dies in its sleep. They are the lucky ones.” This quote is heartbreaking yet true. Those who die in their sleep, die peacefully without feeling any pain and their life comes to an end in the comfort of their own sleep. This concept is so poetic that it made the comic more relatable to real life rather than just being about superheroes. Everyone experiences death in their lives because it’s inevitable. Another Marvel concept I discovered was the similarity to teenage heartbreak illustrated through the superheroes. For instance after Dark Phoenix leaves, Storm says, “Ever since, we returned from New York, Scott has just sat there—not eating, not speaking.” Many of us have experienced heartbreak in our lives and this concept is very similar to a teenage heartbreak. With Jean Grey gone, Scott is torn and unable to talk or eat because the love of his life is gone. Heartbreak seems to be a recurring theme within Marvel Comics just as we saw in The Fantastic Four comics with Crystal and Johnny being torn apart from each other resulting in Johnny’s determination to do anything to be with Crystal again despite the unrealistic conditions of their relationship.
In The Uncanny X-Men #136, “Child of Light and Darkness,” Jean Grey and the Dark Phoenix become separated. An interesting relatable concept described in this comic is the way Jean’s dad says to her, “You’re not mine—not any part of me! I deny you! I cast you out!” It’s heartbreaking to see this interaction between Jean and her dad but understandable. Her family fears her because of the abilities she possesses which is similar to the way people are feared for being different from everyone else. A recurring theme I found throughout the X-Men comics is the understanding that although everyone is different, that’s not something to be scared of. This concept isn’t just about mutants but regular people as well. It’s so common for people to fear those who are different from them yet by judging, bullying or excluding them, it’s interpreted as being normal is what’s right compared to being different.
The conversation between the Dark Phoenix and Scott Summers seemed to be the most romantic encounter I’ve been exposed to within comics. Jean first says to Scott, “Dark Phoenix knows nothing of love!” But Scott disagrees by saying, “Oh? For love of the X-Men, you sacrificed your life. For love of me, you resurrected yourself. For love of the whole universe, you almost died a second time to save it. Know nothing of love?! Jean, you are love! Your existence, your very creation, springs from love, from the noblest emotions a human can attain. And now you want to deny that? To deny yourself?” Scott’s love for Jean Grey is so empowering and demonstrates what true love is. He wants nothing more than to get his Jean back and does and says everything he can to make her come back to him. Jean responds, “Yes! No! I…hunger, Scott—for a joy, a rapture, beyond all comprehension that need is a part of me, too. It…consumes me.” In that quote, we see the Dark Phoenix persona falter as Jean tries to overcome the Dark Phoenix’s possession of her body and demonstrates her ability to understand both Jean and the Dark Phoenix’s needs. The comic ends with Scott proposing to Jean after the Dark Phoenix no longer is within her which is very romantic.
In the Uncanny X-Men #137, “The Fate of the Phoenix,” Jean Grey’s life is at state when the Empress’s people want her dead because of all the lives she took as the Dark Phoenix. Yet, Professor Xavier challenges the Empress and her people to fight for Jean’s life. Jean’s character is empowering and understanding. She’s aware of what she does as the Dark Phoenix and accepts responsibility. She says, “I was terrible—yet beautiful. An angel. I didn’t want that awesome power. I didn’t mean to do what I did. But I did it just the same.” As Jean Grey, she recollects everything she did as the Dark Phoenix and regrets it but can’t dismiss the fact that she is responsible for all the lives she took and destruction she caused.
The comic illustrates again the love Scott Summers and Jean Grey share. Scott says, “There’s so much I want to say to you—so much that I feel. I…don’t have the words.” Jean responds by saying, “Where I’m concerned, it’s the thought that counts. And yours—like you—are beautiful. You’re a special man, Scott Summers.” The love they share is evident in this comic just through the simple conversation they have. The love they have for each other can’t be explained and is simply just felt which in my opinion is what true love is all about. The passion they have for each other needs no words it’s just evident when looking at them and their interactions. My heart literally broke when Scott realizes Jean’s plan the whole time was to die because it was the only way to save everyone. Scott explains, “You…planned this, didn’t you?! From the moment we landed on the moon. You shielded your intentions from our rapport, but just the same I should have guessed, I should have realized…that you could not become Dark Phoenix and remain true to yourself, the Jean Grey I knew, and fell in love with. So, you took steps to ensure that, if Lilandra couldn’t stop you, you’d do the job yourself. You must have picked the minds of the kree and skrull observers, learned what ancient weapons were hidden here. Then, you used your fight with the X-Men to drain you of enough energy to make you vulnerable. And, finally, when you were ready, you…you…” After reading that, I was so sad at the fact that Jean Grey sacrificed herself to save the universe and Scott tried so hard to help her become Jean Grey again but her death was inevitable. The way Scott describes her plan is so heartbreaking because he finally puts everything together only to realize that Jean knew what needed to be done and that Scott would stop her, thus she shielded her intentions. Jean provides such an empowering female symbol from being the loving Jean Grey to the destructive Dark Phoenix, she shows her strength through choosing to die instead of letting the Dark Phoenix rise to become a God. Her understanding of the consequences of her actions as well as the importance of mankind demonstrates her ability to see the big picture and strive to do what’s right no matter what happens.
In the New X-Men #114, “E is for Extinction,” we’re introduced to a newer version of the X-Men comics that illustrates to be targeted to a more mature audience. For instance, Beast says, “I suspect my latest beast form is connected to this year’s mutant baby boom. Sunspot activity, manic depressive mood swings, I feel like a Hindu sex God, Jean.” This comic demonstrates relating to reality and even has a touch of humor by referring to Beast as a Hind sex God. The comic also illustrates the scenes to be very bloody and violent which also relates to targeting a more mature audience. The panels were so graphic demonstrating the development of illustrations from the first X-Men we read to this newer version.