Welcome, X-Fans, to another uncanny edition of X-Men Monday at AIPT!
A purple-costumed variant of Phoenix has unleashed a squad of multiversal Wolverines to stop a variant of Onslaught, who just so happens to have been birthed by Magneto and Jean Grey’s consciousnesses. Also, did I mention one of the Wolverines is a zombie? Clearly, there’s a lot going on in Marvel’s Weapon X-Men mini-series, so writer Christos Gage is here to break it all down.
X-Men Monday had the privilege of announcing Original X-Men, the one-shot that kicked off this multiverse-spanning saga, so if you missed our first conversation with Christos, click here. If you’re all caught up, then let’s get started.
AIPT: Welcome back to X-Men Monday, Christos!
Christos Gage: Thanks for having me! Always a pleasure.
AIPT: Let’s kick things off with a question from X-Fan Nate, who was curious to learn how you came up with the idea for Weapon X-Men?
Christos: Nate, first of all, sorry about Weapon X-Men #2. (That’s an in-joke you’ll understand after you read the issue.) Secondly, I can’t take the credit for coming up with the idea for Weapon X-Men. It was editor Sarah Brunstad who approached me with the idea for a one-shot involving the original X-Men being plucked out of their timeline and sent to an alternate world, after which there would be a mini-series featuring alternate universe X-characters battling a threat that rose out of the one-shot. And I think Sarah may have suggested the possibility of a team made up of variants of all one character, such as Wolverine.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Initially, I think I was worried about such a series being too one-note, but as I suggested more and weirder versions of Wolverine and Sarah liked the ideas, I became more interested in the concept, especially as I gravitated toward the premise of “broken” Wolverines… a premise I obviously have some affinity for since it’s also how I chose the faculty of Avengers Academy.
AIPT: Which, I’d like to add, was an excellent series. So, you’re writing multiple versions of Wolverine at once. Which version is the most fun to write?
Christos: It varies. I had a feeling Earth X Wolverine would be a lot of fun, and he was. But a surprise winner was Zombie Wolverine. He’s not a bad guy, he’s just SO hungry! I essentially wrote him like me on a diet. And it really bothers him when people discriminate against him for being a zombie. Now that Phoenix made it so he doesn’t need to eat flesh, he’s not even going to bite you. Probably.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: Speaking of Wolverines, X-Fan Richard Gunn asked if we’ll see any other alternate-reality Wolverines before your mini-series wraps.
Christos: Richard, you sure will. Each of the worlds the team finds itself visiting over the remaining issues has its own Wolverine. You might only spot them in passing. Some might be in better shape than others. But they’ll be there.
AIPT: Obviously, Weapon X-Men isn’t all about Wolverine — we’ve already met not one but two versions of Jean Grey. What’s your personal take on Logan and Jean’s relationship across the multiverse?
Christos: Well, obviously there’s something between them that crosses universes, but that’s true for her and Cyclops as well. And as we saw in both issues 1 and 2, there are worlds where Jean is on her own, and at peace with that. It always seemed to me that with all the countless possible variant universes out there, surely there would be somewhere Jean was just, like, married to a car salesman, or gay, or not interested in marriage at all.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
That’s why in Weapon X-Men #1, the Jean Grey we saw there expressed the complicated feeling that, even though she grieved for her Scott and Logan, who had died battling the Badoon invasion of Earth, she was also kind of glad she wasn’t defined by her romantic partner the way other Jeans in other universes were. And in Weapon X-Men #2 we see how team leader Jean has more or less married her job as protector of her universe, while her Scott and Logan have settled down with others. Not that I have anything against Jean being with either Scott or Logan… I personally ship Earth X Logan and his homeworld’s Jean quite fervently.
AIPT: X-Fan Emily was wondering if there’s a reason why Phoenix is wearing purple. Was it just to set her apart from different versions we already know? Or is there more to it?
Christos: Emily, this was an artistic choice by our Original X-Men one-shot artistic team of Greg Land, Jay Leisten, and Frank D’Armata, so only they know for sure, but I do think it was to set her apart from other versions.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: One more from X-Fan Emily — Will Weapon X-Men explore the differences between Onslaught influenced by Jean vs. Onslaught influenced by Charles?
Christos: Definitely, Emily! As you will see in future issues, Jean’s childhood trauma of experiencing her friend Annie’s death after being hit by a car, and Jean’s newly activated telepathic powers causing her to feel it at the same time, are major motivators in what Onslaught is trying to achieve. But being Onslaught, I’m not saying it will be dealt with in the healthiest way…
AIPT: Weapon X-Men #1 was loaded with cameos, but X-Fan Josh was especially happy to see Transonic. Josh wanted to know what inspired you to include her in your Uncanny Avengers line-up.
Christos: Josh, I’m glad you enjoyed seeing Transonic! I got to write Transonic some years ago in Avengers Academy during the “Avengers vs. X-Men” event. Apparently, that was (gulp) 12 years ago, when I was a wee lad of 40 and some readers may not remember it, so briefly: while I can’t recall why, a bunch of mutant kids were put in Avengers Academy headquarters for part of the Avengers vs. X-Men hostilities, and Transonic was one of them. Essentially, the Academy kids and the X-kids got together and decided they didn’t want any part of their elders’ stupid arguments, and they made friends. The whole thing ended with the line, “If they are wrong, the mighty Hercules does not wish to be right,” which is one of the few lines I’ve written that I look back on and say, “Damn, that’s good.”
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Anyway, I recently got a comp copy of the Avengers vs. X-Men Omnibus, and I looked at that storyline and, after admiring the lovely art by Tom Grummett, Cory Hamscher, and Chris Sotomayor, I remembered how much I enjoyed writing those X-kids, especially Transonic, who had cool powers. So, when figuring out who to put on this alternate Earth team of Uncanny Avengers, I picked Transonic. Hope that answers your question!
AIPT: On the art front, what’s it like collaborating with artist Yildiray Cinar? Based on all the Marvel characters who appeared in Weapon X-Men #1, you’re certainly keeping him busy!
Christos: Boy, you said it! I was a little worried Yildiray would want to kill me, but he seemed to love it! Which is one of the reasons I compare him to the late, great George Perez, whose work I grew up loving. Not in that their styles look the same, but in that Yildiray does an amazing job at handling lots of characters. If you look at the crowd scenes, every character is doing their own thing, has their own body language, and their own expression. That is so important when your main characters are literally the same person!
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
I can’t tell you how great Yildiray is to work with. His storytelling is second to none, he’s as good with action scenes as with quieter scenes, and you always know what the characters are feeling. I quickly realized that I could write in the panel descriptions that a character feels a certain way that is different from how their dialogue suggests they feel… for example, their dialogue makes it sound like they’re angry but in reality they’re ashamed. I would love to work with Yildiray again, any time!
AIPT: Looking ahead, Weapon X-Men #2 features “one happy Wolverine.” What can you tease about the Logan who got what he wanted?
Christos: I don’t want to give away too much, but let’s just say he has a happily ever after, and clearly it’s not with Jean, since this is Phoenix’s home world and she’s with our five alternate Wolverines. And once again, Ylidiray and color artist Nolan Woodard did a terrific job setting that Wolverine apart from the others. Seeing him next to Earth X Wolverine, you’re not going to confuse them.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
AIPT: And then, Weapon X-Men #3 appears to feature fan-favorite X-villain Selene. What made you want to include this wicked External?
Christos: Again, not to get into spoilers, but the Earth in Weapon X-Men #3 has a bit of a Marvel Horror feel to it, and Selene is perfect for that, with her tendency to feed on life force. She’s not the only villain in the story, either. I know you can get your Dracula fix in Blood Hunt (and I have a story in Blood Hunters #1 too, about Man-Wolf and his Dad, the legendary J. Jonah Jameson, so don’t miss that!), but if you want Gene Colan-style Jack Palance Dracula, you can only get him in Weapon X-Men #3!
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
And now I’ve said too much… here comes Zombie Wolverine, I’d better run for it… thanks for having me!
Not you, Zombie Wolverine… I’m outta here!
AIPT: Zombie Wolverine — you were NOT invited to this edition of X-Men Monday! But you were, Christos. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!
X-Fans, before I join Christos in avoiding getting turned into a zombie, here’s an eXclusive look at Weapon X-Men #2 interior art plus a variant cover for Weapon X-Men #3 by Whilce Portacio, courtesy of our friends at Marvel.
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Courtesy of Marvel Comics
Until next time, X-Fans, stay exceptional!
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.