The Many Looks of Jean Grey Part Seventeen... Jean, Phoenix and Maddie the Original Tale.

 This is where the story gets even more complicated.  Marvel Comics wanted Jean Grey back amongst the living, as she was going to have a pivotal roll in the new " X-Factor " series.

These days if any character is killed off, plans are made to how (if needed) bring the character back to life in the future. ..... But way back in the 1980's, when a Hero died... they stayed  dead.

This is how things originally happened...... (In Marvel Comics I mean !)

 Jean Grey had appeared to Die at the end of  X-Men 100 #  1976 escaping from Trask's Space Station.

Jean was reborn as the Phoenix the following issue  X-Men 101 #

Jean calling herself Phoenix helps the X-Men once again. Even helps save the Universe with her new found Cosmic Level Powers.

Over a number of months, Jean's mind was manipulated by Mastermind and until she becomes an evil version of herself.  Jean is now The Black Queen of the Hellfire Club X-Men 132#

Lady Jean Grey, The Black Queen of the Hellfire Club

Jean became more unhinged and evolves into The Dark Phoenix in X-Men 134 #

Dark Phoenix Arises 

After causing destruction and death, Jean is temporary captured and depowered to her pre Phoenix power levels of Marvel Girl......X-Men 136#

BUT

For the Last Time Jean dresses as Marvel Girl

The Phoenix returns .... 

Jean  knowing she will never be able to fully control the power of the Phoenix , commits  Suicide in X-Men 137 # 1980

and Jean is incinerated and Dies in front of Scott.

In the following issue  Funeral is held for Jean Grey and a broken hearted Scott Summers leaves the X-Men, and travels the world.

Scott Summers later would meet Madeline Pryor. X-Men 

Scott marries Madeline, and later has a son with her called Nathan Christopher.

Unfortunately  Jean was Dead, she was not the only X-Man to ever die. Remember what happened to Thunderbird in X-Men  ?   One of the Shortest lived members of the X-Men . (Apart from SunFire ok he did not die, he just went back to Japan )

Thunderbird died in X-Men 95 # after being a being on the team for only 2 issues !!!!!

John Proudstar aka Thunderbird Deceased. 

The Story of Jean Grey was now over....... or it was for the next 6 years anyway.

Next Time Jean's past is changed to allow here a future.

Until then ENJOY!

The Many Looks of Jean Grey Part Sixteen .... Looking for a replacement for Jean !

With adding either Maddie Pryor or The Scarlet Witch to the New X Team that was planned a total no go, Marvel had to think again.

 After looking through all the available "X Ladies" on their books, 2 other contenders came up for  consideration.

Angelica Jones, aka Firestar..... and Alison Blair, aka  Dazzler. Both relatively "New" heroes. Both not without issues to consider.

Firestar had originally been a Character that had been specially designed to be part of the Saturday Morning Cartoon Series Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.

Firestar's Original look from the TV series Spiderman and his Amazing Friends.

Her hair and costume were drawn symmetrical, to allow for easier animation. 

 Firestar proved popular, and would later end up as a real character in the Marvel Comic Universe, with connections to the Hellfire Club and Emma Frost the White Queen. She even had her own mini series.

The Fun fact was that in the Cartoon the line up was supposed to be Spiderman, Iceman and the Human Torch.  However, as Marvel had temporarily signed over the Tv and Film rights at the time to Universal Studios who had plans for the Human Torch, but never did anything about it. Thus Herbie the Robot replaced Johnny in the FF Cartoon. 

As  Marvel wanted their Cartoon series to have Spiderman teamed up two other characters , one with the Power over Ice and the other with Fire based abilities it made sense to cast Bobby Drake aka Ice-Man from the X-Men and Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch from the Fantastic Four. As mentioned The Human Torch could not be used, so a new character was designed to fulfil the Flaming Hero roll.. Angelica Jones aka Heatwave, that name later changed to Firestar

 She like Ice-man she would be a mutant. Where Johnny Storm had obtained his powers from Cosmic Ray, Angelica Jones would be a Mutant who could generate heat via omitting self generated Micro Waves.  This was the early 1980's after all, and the must have gadget of the time was the Micro Wave Oven, with their  invisible  beams that heated things. So a hero with Micro Wave abilities made sense at the time. The fact that Micro Waves are dangerous would later be dealt with in the comics when it was found that the radiation emitted when  Angelica Jones used her powers was killing her.  

   Another Fun fact was Firestar was designed to be a Redhead, a nod to Peter Parkers' Girl Friend Mary Jane Watson who was originally going to be the alias of Firestar. This idea was quickly dropped, and the name Angelica Jones substituted. If  you view the cartoon series,  you can see that when Firestar was seen in her civilian guise of Angelica Jones, she looks very much like Mary Jane Watson was depicted in the pages of Marvel Comics. 

    A slight new look, less symmetrical, and a little bit more "flame - boyant"  

After reviewing the matter, Firestar was rejected. Too New, Not a Team Player and as she was a teen ager, was far to young. Years later Angelica "Angel"  Jones would prove she was a real team player when she became a foundering member of the New Warriors and after that an Avenger.

Alison Blare aka Dazzler was also considered for a roll in the new line up that would consist of the four original X-Men. Dazzler had been around since X-Men 130#, when she had been introduced and had played a part in what would been called The Dark Phoenix Saga. At the end of the part she played in the Dark Phoenix Saga, Dazzler was invited to join the X-Men. This offer she declined at the time, as she felt that she was not really fit for the Super Hero business. 

Alison Blare the Disco Queen that became DAZZLER

Alison was a Mutant, who could generate light based powers from absorbing sound. Being a singer, she used these powers initially to entertain the audience of hers concerts with spectacular light shows.

She debuted in the 1980, and was dressed a bit like a Disco Diva, all Glittery Jumpsuits, Farrah Fawcett Hair, Kiss looking Face Makeup and Roller Skates. Before the Name Dazzler was agreed on, the Caracter was going to be called  "The Disco Queen".   

This look was a little bit old fashioned at the time if you look back on it, but Marvel invested a lot into this new Heroine. After a popular first appearance, Marvel gave her her own Comic Book series that ran for 42 issues before being cancelled.  Her own series these days not now seen as anything special, as at times had over tones of her being more Soap Opera Star that a true Super Hero. She was basically a stage performer who played hero when she had too.  In the early run of the series she teamed up with the Crème du la crème of the Marvel Universe, but this tailed off after a while. People seemed to only buy her book due to the guest stars appearing alongside her. 

Like a lot of new  Super Heroes and Villains that debuted in the in 1980's many had a major design flaws. They either looked outdated and old fashioned very quickly or the powers that they had been given gave no scope to evolve.  which basically summed up Dazzler.

Dazzler, Marvel's own  Disco Queen already looked dated when she first appeared  in 1979 in Uncanny X-Men 130#.   A year after cancellation Dazzler joined the Uncanny  X-Men in issue 214 # in 1987, where she has stayed  as a team member off and on ever since.  

A few issues before cancelation, Dazzler did get a make over, and started wearing more modest Blue Jumpsuits. With her own book cancelled in 1986 around the time the "New" X-Men team book was due to go into production, it seemed she was ideal for the 5th Member of the Team.  

No More Roller-skates for the Disco Queen.

However, her powers did seem a little lame, and they only worked if she either had sound to convert to light in the first place.  In her own series, Dazzler had used a portable "Walkman" to help provide her with the musical sound track and boost she needed. 

Also, although she had spent most of the issues of her own series working along side most of the big named heroes in the Marvel Universe, Dazzler was not really a team player at that point.  No Alison Blare was not right for this new team, but would later find her place with the X-MEN.

Without a suitable replacement for Jean Grey on the team, the Guys at Marvel looked again  at the original problem. This was how could they bring Jean back from the dead ?

The answer was easy ..... What if Jean had never really died ?  What if Phoenix had died on the moon, but Jean had somehow survived ?

Next Time the return of Jean Grey, but at what cost to Maddie ?

Until then ENOY.

The Many Looks of Jean Grey Part Fifteen ..... A dilemma for the Writers at Marvel ?

   Scott had been married to Maddie for some time, they even had a new born Child Nathan.... but Scott missed the adventure of being a Full Time X-Man. What was he to do.

Now this is where the Guys and Writers from Marvel came into their own.

The back room guys at Marvel had decided to put the band back together. They wanted to have a new title that would feature the Original Members of the X-Men. That would include Cyclops, Iceman, Angel, Beast and Marvel Girl. 

The fly in the ointment was Marvel Girl aka Jean Grey was dead.

 Originally it was suggested that the Fifth Member of the Group needed to be female, and the first suggestion was Maddie, Scott's Wife. Could it be relieved that SHE WAS really Jean after all, or a Reborn Jean a result of the Phoenix force ?. That would be a tough ask for all the readers.  Over  the past number of years Marvel had played games and toyed with both the X-Men , and the readers. Telling them that  Maddie one minute was Jean, and the next she wasn't. 

Although Maddie on the surface looked like Jean, she did not act like Jean. She had a complete different personality.  It had been suggested and considered that this new "Jean" could be called Marvel Woman. Better than the old Marvel Girl and a new costume was designed.   Could Maddie be seen as an evolved version of the original Jean Grey. Could Maddie become Jean ? , could both identities become one ?. This way both characters could exist in the same body, borrowing elements from both characters ?

The All New, All Different Marvel Woman. 

However, after much time, and a lot of effort by the writers at Marvel, It had finally been settled that Maddie Pryor was NOT Jean Grey. She had never been Jean Grey. She was not even a Mutant..... and she had no powers.  Ok she had been granted powers as a healer by Loki whilst she and the X-Men and The New Mutants had had an adventure in Asgard. But those were now long gone.  So NO, Maddie could not be considered as a Team Mate. So the concept of a "New" Marvel Woman was not developed any further.

 Some names where  then explored and suggested.

Unlike today when there are many Female Mutants featured in Marvel Comics,  back in the mid 90's there were much fewer. A person who was suggested, but quickly dropped was The Scarlet Witch. She had history with the X-Men.  In another life, she and her Twin brother Quicksilver could have been X-Men.

Wanda had once been a criminal, a member of Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. She was well known as being a Mutant, who did not try to hide what she was , and who she really was. Publicly her identity was known. It was also known she  had married the  artificial being  called The Vison.  She was accepted as such and as one of the members of the premiere team of heroes, The  Avengers. A team of individuals who banded together for no other reason than being the right thing to do. No Team Uniform, or shared Logo. Just individual Heroes working together. She was a Hero, who just happened to be a Mutant.

Not like most of the X teams of the time.  They had a much different agenda. Where being a Mutant was first and foremost in their lives.  Fighting to protect people who disliked and distrusted them because they were Mutants. Usually from other Mutants that wanted to enforce their superiority over the masses. The X Family were proud to be Mutants and dressing to reflect their unitality.  

Wanda was proud to be a Mutant, but at that time of her life, being a Mutant was not how she wanted to be labelled.  So The Scarlet Witch was rejected as a replacement for Jean Grey. Years previously  Charles Xavier had offered The Scarlet Witch and her brother Quick Silver a place with the X-Men on more than one occasion, but both siblings had rejected his offer. They were sick of fighting a war based on Good Mutants Battling  Evil Mutants. They had been manipulated by Magneto for years, why would they agree to be manipulated by Professor X now ?

When first asked to join the Professor and his team, the X-Men  were still dressing in their Blue and Yellow Uniforms. I am not sure that Wanda and Pietro could have rocked that look !  Magneto had been a fanatical and cruel leader, but he did design them both  great costumes. Costumes that gave them an identity. 

Where on the other hand, being on Professor X's team, would come with its advantages.  Although you would still been seen with some indifference by most of the non mutants on the planet, you would be under the care and tutorage of Charles Xavier, who would train you to develop and become the best version of yourself.  All you would need to do is allow him complete control over how you went about developing yourself. Charles was a strict teacher, who demanded his charges to do their best at all times. But being a X-Men would never be an easy choice for anyone. Here is how Wanda and her brother may have looked if they had of said yes to joining The X-Men. !

The Scarlet Witch and Quick Silver as they looked under Magneto

How Wanda and Pietro would have looked like as Students of Charles Xavier.

The X-Men a Team, a  Family....which a classic costume..... and a lack of individuality at times.

No Marvel would need for a more suitable replacement for Jean.

Next time two more contenders..... and a solution.

Until then ENJOY ! 

The Many Looks of Jean Grey Part Fourteen.... The Story So Far............ Hellfire Breaks Out.

Before we get back To Our Story....... first a recap on what had gone before...... 

Jean Grey aka  Marvel had died in X-Men issue # 99, only to be reborn with much more power as Phoenix in issue #100.

For the next few issues we would see Jean start to discover and enjoy her new powers as Phoenix. Powers that seemed to be without limits.  She would aid the X-Men in their battles, but after saving the universe Jean found herself  some what depowered. She was still the most powerful member of the X-Men, and in fact still one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe, but Jean had started to change. Small changes at first, but Jean was becoming something else.

Jean had taken a leave of absence from the X Team and had decided to do some travelling. She had started to have doubts about where her future was going.  On her many travels she had met so many interesting people.   All of whom she found friendly, and would offer her advice. These people turned out to be not what or whome she believed them to be. Jean would return back to the ranks of the X-Men. All seemed to be good with her...... But

Jean was back with her family of X-Men, her understanding and control of her Phoenix powers was never better so she thought. Others on the X-Men had noticed that Jean would at times would use her powers with little regard to the safety of others. She started to show off her abilities. She would do things a little bit out of character for her. She thought nothing about controlling others if she believed this was for the best.

At same time, Jean was starting to experience episodes where she was living in the past. When this happened she was living as the Lady Jean Grey in  18th Century England..... Later episodes she found herself on a Ship sailing to America to marry her beloved, a noble man named Sir Jason Wyngarde. A marriage that resulted in her being named and becoming The Black Queen of the Hellfire Club. Jean believed that these were either fantasy dreams or possibly events of a previous life that had been revived by the power of the Phoenix.

At the same time, Professor Xavier had returned to the X-Mansion after months away in Space. He was annoyed with Scott and his leadership. He felt that whilst he had been away, Scott had let standards slip.  Scott had explained that the "New" X-Men could not treated like a bunch of Teen-agers as the Original X-men had been.  The Old Team needed Professor X's tutorage and help.... They needed his strict guidance and accepted his no nonsense approach to training.  Where the New Team, all of which were already adults, needed to be treated in a different way.  Scott tried to argue his case, but the Professor dismissed him as if he was the young Scott "Slim" Summers, the boy that had first encountered and needed the help of  Charles Xavier.   

Before Scott could try to convince the Professor or discuss some of the recent issues he had noticed in Jean, Cerebro ( The X-Men's super computer that helped scan the world for any new potential Mutant allies or possible threats ) detected two new Mutants. One in New York and the other in Chicago.

Without discussing the matter with Scott, the Professor ordered the team to split into two teams. One consisting Scott and Jean along with Nightcrawler would go to the New York location, whilst he  would lead the 2nd team of Storm, Colossus and Wolverine to Chicago.

The New York Team would discover Alison Blare, a performing singer who used her Mutant gift of light manipulation to enhance her stage show. Leaving Kurt outside the Night Club as back up, Scott and Jean attempted to make first contact with this new mutant who would go by the name Dazzler. Before they could they were attacked by men wearing suits of armour what seemed to be more than equipped to deal with their powers. The three  X-Men some took on the Armoured attackers believing they were there to abduct Dazzler. With Dazzler's help they won the day and defeated the attackers. Jean read the mind of one of the attackers and discovered that the other team that had gone to Chicago were also on danger. 

Meanwhile, the other team had arrived in Chicago and had made contact with a young 13 year-old girl called Katherine Pride. Katherine or "Kitty" to her friends and family,  at the time was oblivious to the fact she was a mutant, or even what amazing powers that she had started to develop. As the Professor and the X-Men arrived at the Pride residence they briefly meet a Blond imposing Woman they would later learn was called Emma Frost. Ms Frost had been visiting to try to enrol Kitty in her Private School in Massachusetts. 

Ms Emma Frost Principle of the Massachusetts Academy

 There was more to Ms Frost than met the eye. She too was a Mutant. A very powerful Telepath, and was the Owner and Principle of the Massachusetts Academy. A private School that catered for students of rich families that could be manipulated if needed by Ms Frost. Also the school had a bigger secret. Ms Frost had amassed a number of Mutant Children herself, and was training them as her own private army. She called her students The Hellions.  Most of this information the X-Men would not learn until much later.

As well as running the school, Emma Frost was a successful business woman, who had come from a rich and powerful back ground. Using her own powers of telepathy she had built a large powerful empire of companies called Frost International, a company originally built up by her Father Winston using wealth amassed from way back in the infancy of the Americas.

Ms Frost had everything. She was rich, powerful and a Mutant. But the cherry on the cake was she was part of the Inner Circle of Infamous Hellfire Club. Emma Frost was their White Queen.  On the surface this was a Private Members Club of Multi Millionaires and People of Note from all around the World. In truth this was a group of People who used their influence to control world affairs for their own selfish needs. .... but that's enough about The Hellfire Club for the moment.

  

Ms Emma Frost aka The White Queen

This new chapter now opening for our heroes would end up bringing Jean and the X-Men to become involved with the Hellfire Club.  This resulting with  Jean's evolution into the Dark Phoenix  and her nearly destroying the X-Men and Planet Earth.

This would lead to Jean's Death in issue # 137, Scott leaving the X-Men   and  ultimately finding love with Maddie Pryor, a Jean Grey look a like who was introduced in issue # 168 

Now the story continues.

Now Maddie was Happily married to Scott, and the couple had now welcomed baby Nathan into their lives......... Things looked perfect. But things were not going to stay that way.

Next Time Scott makes a choice, and it would not go down too well with Maddie.

Until then ENJOY !

The Many Looks of Jean Grey Part Thirteen.... How do we use a Character like Maddie ?

 Maddie Pryor had been introduced in the X-Men's Universe with a view to hopefully get things back on track. Firstly Scott Summers would be given a chance of finding love after the death of Jean. A chance to let the the character move on from the X-Men and finally grow up to be more of himself and less than just the right hand man of Professor Charles Xavier. He had spent most of his life trying to make Professor X's dream come true...... but what  dreams did Scott have himself. ? Allowing him to leave the X-Men gave Cyclops a chance to be Scott Summer full time. Maybe the Hero he really deserved to be ?

As mentioned in previous chapters, Scott left the X-Men and went exploring the world. On his travels  he met many lady friends, even ended up at time aiding his fellow X-Men at times, but finally on a visit to see his grand parents in Alaska Scott bumped into Madeline Pryor who was working as a Pilot for his Grandfathers Air freight business.

Scott was attracted to Maddie at first sight, as was Maddie with Scott. However, Scott's initial attraction of Maddie was solely based on the fact she was the spitting image of his lost love JEAN. Maddie on the other hand was slightly troubled once she found out she looked like her new boy friends ex girl friend. His deceased former Girl Friend to boot. This would have had anyone, especially a normal Girl  heading for the hills.... but Maddie did not know why, but she was falling in love with Scott.  Was it Kismet ?  Fate ? or was it something else ?.  She would find out much later that their love for each other  had been "Planned and Designed" by a Third Party.

As their love grew, Scott could not get over the feeling that Maddie was really Jean.... a Jean reborn  as she had done once before when Jean had be reborn as the PHOENIX after the Space Shuttle Crash.  Maddie's back story would reveal that on the very day that Jean had died on the Moon, Maddie walked away from a plane crash that was fatal for everyone on board except Maddie herself. A crash that had resulted in  robbing her of all of her past memories of who she really was. This lack of a real back ground gave light to the theory that Maddie was really Jean. Maddie started to have doubts. Could she be in fact really be this mysterious Jean that had been the love of Scott's life ? Was this even possible ? Maddie was confused herself. 

 Who was Maddie ? Was she or was she not  Jean Grey . This mystery went on for a while, until Scott discovered that his old adversary Mastermind had used his influence to manipulate both Scott and Maddie to believe that Maddie was truly a reborn JEAN GREY.

When Scott finally defeated Mastermind, aka  Jason Wyngarde, Mastermind  admitted he wanted to punish Scott for what the Phoenix had done to him after she had discovered that he had been manipulating her for months resulting Jean becoming the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club, and causing her to evolve into the Evil entity that was called The Dark Phoenix. This version of the Phoenix had taken revenge on him, causing Mastermind to spent months locked inside his own mind going mad. How Mastermind broke free from this is not clear. 

 

After finding out Mastermind had created the myth that Maddie was Jean, Scott could now make sense of the situation and move on. Now with it now clear that Maddie was NOT Jean,  Jean was dead. Scott got on with his life finally Marrying Maddie. Maddie liked being the Wife of Scott, but was less keen on being married to one of the X-Men.

Presenting Mrs Scott Summers.

Scott and Maddie tried their best to live a life away from the X-Men, but  Scott  started to spent more and more of his time as Cyclops, and less as Maddie's loving  Husband.

At times Maddie got involved in the adventures of the X-Men.  During one she was granted powers from the Norse God Loki.   She was renamed Anodyne, meaning Healer. She found that she was able to "Cure" her husband Scott of his inability to self control his Optic Blasts.  She also "Cured" other members of the Mutant X-Men who too had  issues living with their Uncanny Abilities, like Rogue's inability to touch people without absorbing their powers and psyche as a result.

Maddie now had Super Powers as Anodyne the Healer.

 However, Loki's gift of her powers would be short lived, as he was forced to strip her of her Healing abilities meaning that all that she had helped reverted back to how they were before hand. The upside of having these abilities Maddie discovered she was now pregnant. A few months later she gave birth to a Son they called  Nathan Christopher Charles Summers.  Christopher after Scott's father Christopher Summers aka The Space Pirate called Corsair of the Star Jammers. Charles after Charles Xavier aka Professor X who was had been Scott's mentor and Father figure most of his life. Maddie chipped in the name Nathan. Not knowing why, Maddie knew she liked the name. Later she would find out why she had chosen that name. 

Maddie and Scott hoping that Baby Nathan did not inherit his Father's Eyes. 

All was good in the Summers'  house until...... the Guys at Marvel Comics wanted to bring back the Original X-Men as a Team.... 

At first the line up was going to be Cyclops, Beast, Angel and Ice Man from the Original line up, plus Angelica Jones aka Fire Star would make up the quintet as the new female Red Head on the team .... But Marvel Comics  wanted the Original  Red Head on the team..... They wanted  Marvel Girl aka  Jean Grey on the team... But this character was dead..... How could they achieve this... ? 

Next time the solution is revealed, one that would sacrifice one Character in favour of the return of  a Fan Favourite.

Until then ENJOY!

 

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Twelve .... How do you solve a problem like Maddie ?

 Now here we go again, I know that Madeline Pryor was not really Jean Grey, but in some sense she was.

Originally she was used as  a  "was she or was she not Jean Grey"  ploy .  Maddie had been  manipulated by Mastermind to get his revenge on what the Phoenix had done to him.  Scott was drawn into the illusion also along with some of the other X-Men. In the end the goodies triumphed and leaving everyone finally knowing that Maddie was not Jean.

Maddie character was originally  designed to allow Scott to finally cut all ties with the X-Men, a chance to let he have the happiness he had never  managed to find in his past.  However, Cyclops was such a popular character  with the fans he would always seem to end up aiding the X-Men all of the time. 

Maddie resented this, but would have to accept that Scott would always be an X-Men. Maddie at times would end up involved in some of the X-Men's adventures. At one time she had super powers herself. She ended up having the power of  health and healing bestowed on her by the Asgardian God of Mischief Loki.  She took on the name Anodyne. 

She used these new abilities to cure Scott's lack of control of his optic blasts. She allowed Rogue the ability to touch people without absorbing their powers and memories. However, these powers were flawed, and Loki was ordered to remove them from Maddie. At the same time this returned everyone she had cured back to their original state of being. 

One good thing that would come out of this was that Maddie discovered she was pregnant with Scott's child.  He would later move Maddie into the X-Manson whilst she was pregnant. Maddie accepted this but still thought her husband was spending too much time with the X-Men. She wanted him with her, not off fighting evil and putting himself in danger.

Now as plans were being made to "Maybe" allow the Real Jean Grey to return to the realm of the living, a more complex back story was being drawn up.  The truth of who or what Maddie was and how she became part of Scott's world. Originally it was thought that Mastermind had caused  Scott and Maddie's first meeting..... but this readers would find out that this meeting had been arranged by someone more Sinister. 

Lots of small hints had been made over the years that Madeline Pryor had first walked onto the scene. The choice of name Madeline was a hint.  Madeline was an  old Jewish word with many meanings, one of which is a Woman of Strength a Tower. The name Madeline is most closely associated with Mary of Magdala sometimes called Mary Magdalene a prominent followers of Jesus from the Biblical times.

Then there was the surname Pryor, there are more than one connection. Pryor could have meant that Maddie had a Prior life or existence ? The word Pryor can also mean a Monastic Leader. And finally the word sounds like Fire. 

All these elements could connect Maddie to The Phoenix. A leader or Great Power. A person who may have  had a Previous Life.  A Woman of Strength that had witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

All these elements made a compelling argument  that Maddie could be Jean or the Phoenix Force reborn.  Maddie admitted she had no memories of her life before she had walk away from a fatale Plane crash that killed everyone accept her. She had  walked out of the flames, and ashes a Woman Reborn. An accident at the same time  and on the same date as The Phoenix had allowed herself to die on the Moon. Maddie said all she remember was a giant bird made of flame rising up in front of her.

Now, we all know that some of Maddie's memories would be proved to be false. Many had been implanted in her subconscious  by her "Creator". It would be a while before  Nathan Essex aka as Mr Sinister would confess this to her. 

Sinister had spent many decades trying to "Develop" the ideal Mutant Child.  Essex was born in 19th Century in England. Was driven by the views that mankind could not be allowed to develop on its own. Natural selection worked, but was slow and did not always give the desired results. Defiantly not the results he wanted.   Mankind  needed a little bit of help from science too. His type of science. 

Essex realised that at times small natural mutations did happen in Humans and Animals. He soon realised he could successfully manipulate matters. He took subjects that interested him and started his own "Breeding" program. Soon found he could speed up the process, by changing his subjects very body cells. He started experimenting on himself, as he wanted to live and see his experiments at their very climax. 

This changed his appearance, and he found he could "Clone" his own DNA and build better versions of himself.  Over the next few decades, study of others had allowed him to select two subjects that would be the ideal parents of his goal...... The Ultimate Human or as he referred them as Homo Superior. Tracing back both of their family trees, Sinister knew he had found what he was looking for.

These would be Scott Summers and Jean Grey. These both showed him these would be the best combination of Powers, Personality and Potential.  These were ideal accept for two issues. Both Jean and Scott prematurely been able to access their Mutant abilities at a much younger age than usual. Both had had trauma as young children.

 Jean's Telepathy emerged when she witnessed that death of her friend Annie Richardson when they were both young Children. As Annie lay dying in Jean's arms, Jean connected to Annie's mind. Causing Jean to experience Annie's painful death as if it was her own.

Then there was Scott, a head injury as a Child had not just unleashed the Power of his Dangerous Optic Blasts, it had him unable to control them without his Ruby Quartz glasses or Visor. 

Both of these youngsters had with the help of Professor Xavier would later have better control over their powers. Jean's Telepathy was basically turned off  by the Professor until a time her mind could cope with it. Her Telekinetic Powers that had also emerged at this time , and these were developed with the help of Professor X over the years before she finally joined the X-Men. 

Scott was not as lucky as Jean, Professor X would not learn about him until many years later.  Scott had ended up in an orphanage. No one wanted him as he was now a very dangerous Child with eyes that could kill or maim. As a result he spent most of his time unable to see as his eyes needed to be closed and bandaged. Unknow to anyone that Scott did not end up in this Orphanage by chance, this institution was run by Nathan Essex. Who had his Lab and Workshops hidden metres below the large mansion. 

Next Time Maddie back story finally revealed.

Until then ENJOY !

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Twelve Marvel Girl gets a New Look.

 As explained last time, the original X- Men had formed a new group calling themselves X-Factor. This was a very public group that presented themselves at Human's who hunted down rogue and dangerous Mutants. This was a ruse as the group were in fact Mutants themselves who were trying to help other Mutants  who were being hounded by the general public.

At the same time the original X-Men needed at times to use their abilities as themselves. They could not call themselves The X-Men so another name for the group needed to be found. This is where the X-Terminators came to be. This was a name suggested by Warren Worthington III's right hand man Cameron Hodge. Warren aka Angel was financing the whole X-Factor programme but unknow to him that Cameron was a Mutant hater himself, and was planning the down fall of his employer and all Mutants.

This would come to light later on in the series where the X-Terminators were outed as being X-Factor.

The "New" X-Terminators wore costumes based on a similar design. A full body suit with a large Yellow-Gold X motive on it. The Only difference each member had was that they were all different colours.  These colours very much took there lead from the costumes that they had received when the Graduated. Cyclops wore Dark Blue, Angel wore Red, Iceman wore light Blue (Which was never really seen in his ice form) Beast would not wear this costume at first as he was still Big Blue and Furry, but once he looked more Human again he wore a Brown costume. And Finally Marvel Girl wore Green.

At first Jean wore a full cowl, but later she adopted a more open mask.

When the X-Terminators were outed at being X-Factor, the group adopted the name X-Factor. Jean change her colour to red. As now Angel had now transformed into a Blue Skinned Metal Winged razor sharp instrument of Death, Jean choose a Red costume which was a nod to her time linked to The Phoenix Force. This link not known at the time would remain with her for the foreseeable future.

Here is Jean's Red X-Factor Uniform.

Next time we find out what the Ex Mrs Scott Summers was getting up to, and it is revealed who she really was. 

Until the ENJOY !

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Eleven.... Jean is Back and gets a New Uniform for her Day Job !

In the past when a comic hero died, they died and that was the end of things. These days when a hero or villain dies in comics,  give them a couple of weeks rest, and bingo they return to the land of the living. Bringing Jean Grey back was a risk, but with good writing it turned out to be a great move.

 When Jean finally arrived back in the Marvel Universe many things had changed.

Firstly she had to deal with that an Alien force had replaced her as one of the X-Men . Who not only looked like her, acted like her, was accepted as her.... But believed itself to be her. Then she had to deal with it falling in love with her boyfriend Scott Summers, AKA Cyclops. Jean then learnt that this other Jean had  gotten manipulated by Mastermind and end up turning into a Monster that destroyed planets and millions of lives. She nearly managed to kill all of her friends and family at the same time.  However it had sacrificed  itself to save the people it , or the part of her that was Jean, loved.  It had died a Hero. Its body was then buried and mourned by the people who cared for her. People who loved the real Jean Grey.

To say that was hard  enough for Jean to take all of these facts on was bad enough but there was more.....  Jean learnt that after " Her" death,  Scott had found love with other Women, ending up marrying a Woman that looked exactly like her, and having a child with her.  If Scott had really loved her, why did he move on so fast ?   Why did he forget all about her ? How could he ?

Jean was made aware that there was a small matter of a Young Girl calling herself Rachel Summers who clammed to be her and Scott's daughter from an alternative future, who had some how adopted some of the Phoenix Force.... Also there was  a old guy with a metal arm and glowing eye who loved big Guns called Cable, who may be or may not have been a future version of Scott and Maddie's son Nathan.  Yes Jean had a lot of catching up to do. She realised she need her family around her.  Her real family ... her old school friends, the Original  X-Men

During the time she had been "away", the World's hatred of Mutants had grown out of control. Mutants were being hunted down and killed by Human's worried that Mutants were going to take over the world. The Cherry on the the top of the cake was that her mentor and hero Charles Xavier, aka Professor  X  and the Current  X-Men were now working hand in hand with Magneto. Jean could not comprehend why they would work along side such an evil presents as Magneto.  The X-Men who had fort for years to try to united Mutants and Humans in peace, were now seen as part of the Evil Mutant Menace themselves.

Jean was confused, but knew that she needed to take a part of trying to sort out all of this mess. 

This is how it all started back in  1986 and X Factor 1 #

The story was simple. The 5 Original X-Men. Cyclops, Angel, Iceman, Beast and Marvel Girl would pose as Humans who worked as Mutant Hunters. The idea that they would rid the streets of any  rogue Mutant menace for a fee. Most of these Mutants they targeted were young, many of which could not control their powers very well. Thus bringing them into the public gaze and much fear.  When they had captured each Mutant, the group calling themselves X-Factor  would contain them at their Head Quarters - Compound where they could be dealt with. In fact what they were doing is help find Mutants in need of help, take them back to their compound where they would try to teach them how to handle their powers without causing them to be feared by the general public.  Doing something like what  Professor X had done with her and the Original X-Men. The main difference in this plan would be,  where the Professor had trained his X-Men as his personal army to fight against the threat of any Evil Mutants. X-Factor would be different and  help its charges to control and understand their powers so to be able to live side by side others mutant and non mutant in peace.

This series was a success, and introduced many new characters into the Marvel Universe like.

Artie a young deformed boy who could not speak but could communicate using mental projections.

 Rustie, a young teen lad who could produce and control fire. Not very well at first. 

Skids a Young teen girl who's body was surrounded by an invisible force field. Making her unable to truly touch anyone.

Rictor a Teen boy who had  little control of the powers over the earth, and causing earthquakes. 

Leech, another deformed boy who had the ability of taking away the Mutant powers of anyone standing close to him. Useful at times, but could cause issues at other times.

and Tabitha aka Boom Boom who could produce explosive Bombs. She liked blowing things up !

All of these characters still are around today in one form or another. This can not be said for many "New" characters that were introduced in the late 1980's and 1990's by Marvel. 

Now back to Jean

This is how she looked in her "Human" X-Factor Uniform. 

With Glasses

Very 1980's shades. Many of the Marvel Characters adopted this look at the time.

Jean without this fashion accessory... 

All the team wore them. They acted like a bit of a mask. The glasses where really a nod to Cyclops, as it helped him not look out of place as he needed to wear some type of visor to control his optic blasts at all times..  Warren aka Angel wore a back back to hide his wings. He was the person on the team who had the the highest public image. He had outed himself as a Mutant and had continued to build the company he had inherited from his Father over the years. So the glasses help disguise his face. The Beast aka Hank was not a public face on the team, as he was still all big, blue and furry at the time....... but when he got devolved from his Blue Furry Beast form, and now Human looking again was able to go public with the rest of the gang.

Next time we get to see what Jean dressed like when she was playing as a Hero Again

Until then ENJOY

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Ten ..... From the Ashes a new Jean arises ?

 The story that had told  about The Phoenix would later be changed, and whilst the Real Jean Grey lay asleep and recuperating in the depts of Jamaica Bay, another red head appeared in Scott Summers' and the  X - Men's lives. Her back story would be later adapted, but Scott and the other X-Men were about to meet a future Queen.

After Jean's death and her funeral, Cyclops aka Scott Summers took a break from leading the Xmen. He travelled trying find his place in the world. A place without his Jean.

He would return on occasions to help his fellow X-Men, but it always reminded him of his loss.....  On a visit to visit his Grandparents in Alaska Scott bumped into a woman called Madeline Pryor. This woman was the spitting image of Jean. Maddie worked as a pilot who was employed by the North Star Airlines, the company owned by Scott's Grandparents. ( X-Men 168 1983 )

Scott at first believed that this was Jean, and that as the Phoenix she had risen from the ashes, as she had done when the Space Shuttle crashed and sank in Jamacia Bay.  Scott was somewhat taken back when Maddie even explained that she had been the sole survivor of a plane crash, which Scott realised had happen on the same day that Jean had died on the Moon. He was confused. Was this Jean or not.? They looked the same, sounded the same, had the same kind nature...... but to Scott it was clear that they had very different personalities. The Jean Scott had know when his Jean  had transformed into Phoenix she could have  two distinct personalities at times. So he was still not totally convinced.

He tested Maddie at times trying to get her to admit she was really Jean.... but Maddie insisted she was not Jean.... All that she knew was she was in love with Scott.

Later he would be content and believed that Maddie was not Jean. He had loved Jean, but Jean was now gone, However, he was now  convinced he was in love with Maddie.

The two started a relationship and the couple later would marry. They would later become parents to Nathan Summers.

However, Maddie and Scott's relationship would be tested many times. He hated that he missed his time as an X-Man and would be forever going off to aid them leaving her and Nathan at home .Maddie hated that she and the Baby would always come second to Scott life as a X-Man. 

Then one day Scott got a phone call..... Telling him Jean was alive !!!! This would change Maddie's life forever.

He packed a bag and rushed off to see Jean. Maddie was not happy, but she would have the last laugh.... and  everyone would learn WHO, WHY and WHAT Maddie really was !

Next time we meet the "Real" Jean again with another new look..

Until the enjoy

 

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Nine.... Will the real Jean Grey please stand up.

 This is where the story of Jean Grey gets a little bit complicated, and most of what had happened before would turn out to be a lie of sorts.. 

The last time anyone really saw the Real Jean was in X- Men 100 # when she died piloting a damaged space shuttle back to earth to save her fellow X-Men.

Then in X-Men 101#  Jean appeared to have been re born as The Phoenix. This we would all learn later lean that Jean was dying of radiation sickness as she flew the damaged Space Shuttle back to Earth.  Her mind cried out to her loved ones, which attracted what we now know as The Phoenix Force. The Phoenix Force manifested itself to Jean using Jean's own image. 

The Phoenix was some what intrigued with Jean's humanity, and made Jean an offer. That if she allowed Phoenix to merge minds with her she would heal her body. Jean agreed after being told by Phoenix there could be risks attached. All Jean wanted was to be with the person she loved.... Scott. So she agreed.

They merged minds and Phoenix manifested a new costume, and cocooned Jean's dying body so it could heal. The Space Shuttle would crash and end up in Jamacia Bay.  And the Phoenix would first appear to the X-Men.

But this Phoenix looked different as it wore colours more related to colours that Jean wore as Marvel Girl. This was later explained that the something had gone wrong during the Merger, in stead of the Phoenix having the dominate personality, it had taken on Jean's more gentle nature. 

  Not only did The Phoenix look like Jean, it believed it truly was Jean.  And as time moved on the real Phoenix's personally started to take over on occasions, so the real Phoenix was responsible for all the mass destruction in space not Jean.

When  later the Real Phoenix appeared to die on the Moon, the Phoenix force returned to the real body of Jean Grey that had been cocooned in an energy field deep underwater in Jamacia Bay.  It tried to merge with Jean again, but when Jean realised what evil the Phoenix had done she rejected it. The Phoenix returned the part of Jean's psyche it had borrowed, and went off to find another host.  Jean remained still healing in the energy cocoon.

Jean was presumed dead in 1980, but years later in 1986 the Mighty Avengers found a strange object in Jamacia Bay. They took it to Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four so that he could study it.

With a little help from his wife Sue, Reed managed to find out what was in side..... A Red Headed Woman in a Ripped  Black Evening dress. It was Jean Grey. The Real Jean Grey.

Jean was back, and now wanted it get back into action again.

Next time Jean learns what has been happening whilst she had been away.

Until then ENJOY !

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Eight..... Who's afraid of the Dark Phoenix ?

 Jason Wyngarde turned out to be Original Brotherhood of Evil Mutants member Mastermind. His power was casting illusions, but with the help of a device given to him by the White Queen of the Hellfire Club, Emma Frost he was able to project his illusions directly into Jean's mind.  These illusions seemed to take root in the darkest thoughts and fantasies that Jean's mind. This in turn corrupted her.

Mastermind made big error, not just content that he now had complete control over Jean and with that her amazing power set she had as Phoenix , he decided  to challenge Scott to a duel, where he would kill Scott in Jean's mind.  The horror of Jean seeing Scott die snapped her out of Jason's control, and she helped free the X-Men and defeat the other members of the Hellfire Inner Circle.

Jean confronted Mastermind, and realised his plan was to use her and her Phoenix powers for his own gain.  So Jean who was still a little bit unhinged gave Mastermind what he wanted, access to her Power which connected his mind to the universe.  This was the pay back, and unable to cope with the gift he had been given  Mastermind was trapped forever in a coma.

Although Jean was free of Masterminds control she knew as she escaped the Hellfire Club that she did not feel herself. Something had been released in her, something that repelled her but at the same time excited her. 

Once onboard the X-Men's flying craft and as they were trying to escape she transformed yet again into her Phoenix costume, but instead of Green and Gold..... This was Red and Gold.  She was no longer their friend, she was their enemy' and wanted revenge as she believed they had not protected her.

The Phoenix was now completely unhinged. 

She then attacked The X- Men and short of killing them then flew off into Space. This new version of Phoenix wanted to test her power and in doing so destroyed a Sun and with that a planet containing Billions of Alien Life Forms. Then after attacking some Shi'ar Space Craft she returned to Earth with a view to consume that Planet.

Returning to Earth she visited her parents, who realised that what looked like Jean was not their daughter anymore. Her Father ordered her to go, she did as she knew if she stayed she would kill her family. She once again took on the X-Men who had been joined by her The Beast who had been on monitor duty at the Avengers mansion. 

In a showdown with Professor X  that nearly killed him,  he managed to shut down the part of Jean or her brain that was Phoenix, but the Professor realised that part of Jean fractured mind had allowed him to do this. If he had got it right, Jean could no longer access the power of The Phoenix. 

This turned out not to be the case. 

But were they out of the woods. Was Phoenix really gone ?   Find out next time.....

Next time it is good bye to Jean Grey.

Until the ENJOY !

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Seven....... Enter The Hellfire Club at your Peril

 Now if you go back and read the Phoenix Saga you will see that there are lots of clues that Jean or should I say  Phoenix was having problems mentally. When Phoenix first arrived Professor X was unable to use his mental abilities very much, and may be if he has been fitting fit himself he would have realised something was amiss with Jean.

Now we know why, she was acting strangely.  Her out bursts of aggression at times had all wondering could one person really control all that power or even if they should ? The truth about what really happened to Jean in space  would not come to light for many years.....and when the truth finally came out the story seems to be always gets more complex.

Behind the scenes and unknown to any one at the time, Jean's mind had been slowly manipulated. This had happened  over many months, and soon she would become a pawn of the Hellfire Club.

Bit by bit Jean's mind was being altered. At first she would have flash backs to the 18th Century where she was a noble lady and seemed to be courted by a hansom stranger called Jason Wyngarde.  Jean did not know if these visions were real or not, but what she had trouble with was the person she appeared to be in the past was hard and ruthless, and was not like her at all. However another part of her seemed to liked this "New"  Jean. 

These flash backs kept reoccurring and she realised that she was falling in love with this Jason. At the same time she felt that she was being in some way unfaithful to Scott.  Jean was confused.

The X-Men would discover what was going on with Jean when they finally encountered the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club.

By this point Wyngarde had complete control over Jean, and this new ruthless woman was introduced as the New Black Queen of the Hellfire Club. The fantasy life that been built up around Jean was now a reality. She had become a dark version of herself. 

Next Time we get to meet a new version of Jean. ..... even darker than The Black Queen.

Until then ENJOY !

The Many looks of Jean Grey Part Six From the Flames a New Hero Appears.

 Now the next part of the Jean Grey saga goes a little bit off. There is the story told at the time, then there is the version that no one knew about for years. 

Yes Jean had saved the team by piloting  the damaged space shuttle back to Earth. However, not before the Craft being engulfed in the Biggest Radiation Storm ever.  Everyone else onboard were safe as the shuttle bay had some protection against the radiation. However, Jean was not protected.

Her landing was not perfect, as she crashed landed at Kennedy Air Port and skimmed along the runway and ended up in Jamaica Bay where the shuttle sank. The X-Men managed to escape, and whilst they bobbed up and down in the water they realised the Jean must have perished.

Then out of the water rocketed a Woman Dressed in Green and Gold, It was Jean. 

She announced   "Hear me X-Men, No Longer am I the Woman you Knew . I am Fire and Life Incarnate ! Now and Forever .... I AM PHOENIX  ! "

And with that Jean passed out and fell into the water.

This is my take on The Phoenix from X-Men 101 #

The First take on the Costume showed the Phoenix logo on her chest a little bit smaller that it would later become. But on the whole Phoenix would remain very much the same. 

Here is the same  version with a larger Logos each time. This seems to work better in a larger form. 

Next Time we see the other side of the Phoenix.

Until then  Enjoy.