X-Men: Phoenix Endsong

From Barbelith

trnoletooloc Greg Pak is an independent filmmaker. His most famous film is Robot Stories (2002) (science fiction with a heart). His first comics work for Marvel Comics was Warlock, which was soon followed by this five-issue mini-series.

Phoenix Endsong follows on from events played out in Grant Morrison's New X-Men. The Phoenix Force, having been attacked by Shi-Ar warriors, has been splintered and driven insane. Finding her way to Earth it/she seeks out the X-Men, believing that it/she can find love there. But the Phoenix Force finding it's/her omega mutant host Jean Grey dead decides to ressurect her - against her will - and again possess her. In it's/her weakened state the Phoenix Force needs energy to gain strength, so she tricks Wolverine into killing her (again and again and again etc. Artist Greg Land draws an entire page with Wolverine in slaughter mode with Phoenix always coming back ... stronger). She also tricks Scott into using his optic blasts to attack her ... soaking up the energy ... making her more powerful.

The X-Men manage to trap the Phoenix in an "egg" (much like the one Grant Morrison used in the Here Comes Tommorow story), but only after it has possessed Emma Frost (yep, Emma Frost: Dark Phoenix). But things get really hot when another omega-level mutant Quentin Quire (Kid Omega) gets loose. Not wanting to accept the fact his love Sophie (one of the Stepford Cuckoos) is dead, he attempts to resurrect her. Failing that, and realising the Phoenix is back, seeks her out to bring Sophie back.

The big theme of this mini-series is love. Jean Grey's love for her friends and former team-mates. The love that Scott now holds for Emma Frost and the love he still holds for Jean after finally letting her go. Quentin Quire's unrequited love for Sophie. The love the X-Men have for Jean Grey.

The Phoenix concept is also an important recurring theme in the X-Men mythos. As important as the X-Men's relationship with Magneto and the history of Wolverine the Phoenix theme complicates the "dream" of peaceful integration with humans. A being as powerful as the Phoenix and her need for Omega-level hosts (ordinary mutants cannot sustain the Phoenix presence for long), creates a powerful threat that makes mutants dangerous to ordinary humans, and also to all life (not to mention the arrival of vengeful aliens out to destroy "her").

Pak brings back the concept of Dark Phoenix and the threat that it implies. The X-Men - Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, Angel, Storm and Nightcrawler - have no choice but to again kill Jean Grey.

The mini-series also helps to clear up the ongoing mysteries surrounding the relationship between Jean Grey and the Phoenix. It is revealed that Jean Grey and the Phoenix are the same being. While others have only served as hosts of the force, Jean is its avatar (Because I am you! Now get out of that stupid body). Jean and the Phoenix merge together and become the White Phoenix. In the end, Jean protects all of the X-Men from the Shi-Ar blast and asking Scott to see his eyes for one last time, she disappears to get the scattered parts of herself to the "white hot room" in order to become whole again. It also appears the Phoenix force is splintered and is seeking new hosts, possibly including the Stepford Cuckoos. Thus, the groundwork for a sequel is laid.

Phoenix Endsong is illustrated by Greg Land, with colors by Justin Posner. A hardcover collection of the series appears in July, 2005.

Pak is also the author of Marvel Nemesis, House of M: Iron Man and 1602: New World. He is currently (May 05) in post-production on a documentary film about American Wolves ('Brother Killer Wolf').


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