Contains Spoilers for Storm (2024) #1!
TheX-Menfranchise just revealed the most popular mutant within the Marvel Universe, and it’s not Wolverine, but ratherStormwho has managed to rise above the contentious relationship between the public and the world’s foremost mutant heroes. However, with Storm making an announcement in her comic that turns the public against mutants yet again, this popularity may be short-lived.
Storm#1 – written by Murewa Ayodele, with art by Lucas Werneck – continues the character’s rapid ascent to prominence in Marvel Comics, as the longtimefan-favoriteX-Menpowerhousehas become one of the pillars of theX-franchise’s new “From the Ashes” era. Narration at the start of the premiere issuereveals that Storm is the most popular mutant with the general non-mutant public.
In addition to being a long-time pivotal member of the X-Men, Storm’s high-profile marriage to Black Panther, andher renewed Avengers membership, have clearly contributed to her in-universe reputation.
If this first issue is setting up anything however, it’s Storm’s fall from grace, at least temporarily. InStorm#1, she discovers that a disaster at a nuclear plant was due to the manifestation of a young mutant’s powers.Storm decides she cannot hidethis from the world and, despite knowing what it’ll do to the reputation of mutants, announces it publicly. While this is the honest thing to do, there’s little upside to be found. Storm knows that this will negatively impact the public’s view of mutants and, by association, of her.
Storm’s New Costume Gives Her Iconic Silver Suit A Redesign For X-Men’s New Era
Storm has a new costume to kick off a new era for Marvel Comics, which represents her journey as a solo hero and Omega-level superstar.
Among the mutants with a high public profile,Storm is one of the few without some sort of public controversy.Professor X has always been controversial among humans for his activism, and the one-two punch of Krakoan statehood followed by Xavier seemingly murdering humans inFall of the House of Xhas made him a pariah with everyone. Cyclops and Magneto, the other most popular mutant figureheads, don’t fare much better. Both of them have been considered terrorists at various times in the past and aren’t making any effort to be popular right now.
Storm’s Prominence In The Marvel Universe Offers A Different Perspective On The Perception Of Mutants
A More Complex Portrayal
The most recentFrom the Ashesstatus quo is an X-Men era that’s fascinated with, if inconsistent about, mutant popularity among the general public.Teams like X-Factor are explicitly seekingand garnering public approval – admittedly manufactured – whileCyclops’ X-Men teammaintain a frosty relationship with the wider world. Readers can buy that different people feel different ways about mutants, but some sort of definite status quo would be nice. Taking the oppression of mutants seriously demands that said oppression is clearly defined, and not just something taken for granted.
Storm’s actions in her solo book should be felt in other titles, especially when those books are purportedly about the public’s perception of mutants and the X-Men.
The most successful examination so far hascome in the newNYXseries, which has shown the spectrum of mutant acceptance and has made these tensions feel like a core part of the book. With the line so supposedly interested in the question of human/mutant relations, the hope is that books likeStormandNYXcan lead the way in actually taking these questions seriously;Storm’sactions in her solo book should be felt in other titles, especially when those books are purportedly about the public’s perception of mutants and theX-Men.
Storm#1is available now from Marvel Comics.
X-Men
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
