X-Men is one of Marvel’s most famous and most ambitious comic book series. It started as a metaphor for racism in the early ’60s, using the X gene to demonstrate that not only could people hate one another simply based on biology, but also how young readers could see the thing that made them different could be the source of their power. As time passed, the X-Men comics continued using their storylines to discuss social issues. The “Legacy Virus” talked about the AIDS epidemic of the ’80s. “The Mutant Cure” can be seen as a metaphor for conversion therapy in the LGBTQ community. And the Nation of Genosha in the mutant world is similar to the South African Apartheid.
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At its core, X-Men is about a struggle to be accepted. And many diverse and disenfranchised groups are reflected in the stories created by the comic book writers. X-Men is in a unique position to talk about these things in a way that is friendlier and acceptable to more audiences than a heavy-handed political discussion. With the X-Men soon entering the MCU, Marvel now has an opportunity to spread this message of acceptance and harmony in a fashion true to how X-Men has always existed.
X-Men: Violence vs. Education
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One of the oldest debates in the X-Men universe revolves around the conflict between Professor X and Magneto. Leaders of two opposing mutant groups, Professor X attempts to prove to humanity that mutants are worthy of acceptance by showing that they can help each other. At the same time, Magneto is confident that, no matter what, humanity will continue to threaten mutant kind. The struggle reflects the conflicting philosophies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, who were both at the height of their political power in the ’60s. The X-Men became a friendly way of discussing an incendiary political issue and used its medium to champion the altruism of Dr. King.
But even though this political environment was somewhat of an impetus for creating the X-Men, the superheroes were so popular with their special powers that they continued to exist while social injustice kept changing in America. And beyond just the reflective metaphors of Dr. King and Malcolm X, Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lehnsherr (Magneto) grew to have a complicated relationship that would create an incredibly nuanced conversation on ethics over the years.
There are many times in the comics when greater threats had arisen – like Hydra or the villain Apocalypse – and Magneto could easily put his ego aside to help the X-Men. Likewise, there have been many times when Xavier could have killed Magneto or chosen an easier route to defeat his nemesis, but he always attempts to rehabilitate him. Over the years, the two become old friends, exemplifying, most importantly of all, that despite their disagreements and constant fighting, these two enemies can grow to respect one another and live together peacefully.
In more recent X-Men comics, the landscape changed yet again. When Magneto was killed defending the mutant nation of Genosha in one storyline, he became something of a martyr, and the X-Men community – both in the comics and in real life – began a “Magneto Was Right” movement. The slogan was styled similarly to the Che Guevara t-shirt fashion and argued that the violent persecution of mutants was inevitable. This led to a similar saying a few years later when Cyclops, up until then a very straight-edge X-Man, was radicalized into leading the X-Men in a militaristic fashion until he too was eventually killed. This led to a similar “Cyclops Was Right” movement.
This fundamental question of violence or education as a method of change is continually vacillating throughout the X-Men.
X-Men: A Message of Unity
We have seen this struggle in previous X-Men movies. The early Sony films were primarily focused on Wolverine and the part he played in the superhero group. But we did get to see Charles Xavier go toe to toe with Magneto. Their relationship was never really put under a microscope until X-Men: First Class and then again in X-Men: Days of Future Past. So Marvel has an opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction. Out of all the X-Men movies Sony has made, there haven’t been many good ones, so the MCU could take this chance to drastically change the type of mutant-related film they make.
Given the X-Men’s history in comic book lore, it would be a nice refresher to see a message of unity be the star of the show instead of a specific hero or villain. While it’s cool to see the long journey of an immortal like Wolverine, or the massive power of the Phoenix Force, X-Men creates a unique opportunity to spotlight how certain people can be easily shunned or maligned. And it can do it without making a divisive statement that will drive people out of the theater. The X-Men are a different people. They have their own culture, challenges, and lifestyles. And it’s because they’re different – it doesn’t matter how – that we can all find a reason to relate to their story.
