X-Men: Impact of a Legend

What do you get when humanity evolves from its relative identity and leaps forward on the evolutionary ladder? According to comic book writers Stan Lee and Jack Kirby you get mutants, but since no one in 1963 knew what mutants were they just decided to call them X-Men and 37 years after they first evolved into the world of literature they made their leap to the big screen in a way that elevated the brand of Marvel into what we know today.

Released on July 14, 2000 and written by David Hayter and directed by Bryan Singer, X-Men chronicles the story of mutants, genetically evolved humans with special powers and abilities who struggle to find their way in a world where they are misunderstood by the masses of humanity. The film’s primary protagonist, James “Logan” Howlett also known as the Wolverine is a mutant on a journey to rediscover who he is in this world under the guidance of mutant scholar, Professor Charles Xavier and his school of loyal followers who call themselves X-Men, short for Xavier’s Men. The X-Men work to create peace and battle against the hostility of humanity. At the same time they battle against the malevolent supremacy side of mutation as well by fighting against Xavier’s former friend turned nemesis, Erik Lensherr also known as Magneto.

Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry, Ian McKellen, Famke Jenssen, and James Marsden, X-Men was both a critical and commercial hit in theaters leading to the formation of a hit franchise and opening the door for further Marvel based characters to touchdown on the big screen. The X-Men series would of course become attractive because of its well known comic history which was already expanded into a largely successful cartoon series long before the live action film ever hit theaters. The complexity of the story and characters is what landed the most with fans.

Here you have all these mutants with different powers and abilities that either make them very loved or very hated and feared by humanity and the X-Men struggle to navigate this troubled world of division under Xavier’s guidance. Most of the X-Men’s story is told from the perspective of the adamantium claw wielding and also regenerative flesh having Wolverine who’s past constantly intersects with the fate of the X-Men and their foes.

The diverse sense of story and characters in X-Men has led to a still growing franchise of sequels, solo films, origin stories and spin-offs which have all been a complicated and confusing mix of success and some misfires. A big backdrop that aided in the quality of the X-Men lord is how it was inspired by the struggle of African Americans during the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights movement. Professor Charles Xavier and his friend turned nemesis Magneto are inspired by Black leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X , respectively.

Honestly I don’t know too many people who are as big an X-Men fan as me. I’ve been an X-Men fanatic since my toddler days long before the movies ever came out. I was one of those kids who would wake up every Saturday morning and watch the X-Men cartoons on Fox Kids on the weekends. Because of its great and complex sense of story and characters X-Men has inspired my sense of versatility as a writer. I love how X-Men could be deep and intellectually in a way that reflected civil rights heroes like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, but at the same time the brand is filled with the raunchy, yet oh so lovable humor of the charismatic and incredibly funny Deadpool, portrayed by the big personality that is Ryan Reynolds.

X-Men played one of the biggest roles in opening the door of the powerhouse that we now know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I’m also glad to see that the X-Men have now been integrated into the MCU and like all big Marvel fans I’m glad that the X-Men are still running stronger than ever on the big screen and I can’t wait to see all the great works that they’ll be part of next.