X-Men Monday #292 – Stephanie Phillips and Roi Mercado Talk ‘Phoenix’

Welcome, X-Fans, to another uncanny edition of X-Men Monday at AIPT!

After Phoenix swept X-Men Monday’s 2024 Reader Survey, you knew it was only a matter of time before Jean Grey’s spacefaring series received another XMM spotlight. With the current arc coming to a close this Wednesday in Phoenix #10, and a brand-new arc featuring the return of Jean’s sister Sara Grey kicking off in next month’s Phoenix #11, there’s no better time to welcome back writer Stephanie Phillips. But what makes this interview eXtra special is new series artist Roi Mercado joins Stephanie! Let’s see what Jean’s creative team has to say.

AIPT: Welcome back to X-Men Monday, Stephanie! And welcome, Roi! I’d like to start by asking how it’s been collaborating on Phoenix so far.

Stephanie Phillips: Working with Roi is great. He brings a ton of energy to the pages and he has this really good ability to hit both quiet moments and the big cosmic moments. I get excited whenever I see new pages from Roi in my inbox. 

Roi Mercado: Collaborating with Stephanie has been incredible. Her dynamic storytelling challenges and inspires me to bring out the complexity of Jean Grey visually. It’s been a truly collaborative and rewarding experience.

AIPT: Roi, so Phoenix readers can get to know you better, X-Fan CosmicJeanix is curious to learn who some of your favorite artists and artistic inspirations are.

Roi: My biggest influences are Stuart Immonen, Travis Charest, and Olivier Coipel, who I had the privilege of meeting at Marvel’s Art Atelier in Paris. Alongside mentors Carmen Carnero, Sara Pichelli, and Adam Kubert — who helped refine my work process — their guidance shaped my artistic approach to Phoenix.

AIPT: Stephanie, now that we’ve seen Jean’s new, powerful form in action, I was wondering if you could share a bit about how this new version of the Phoenix came to be behind the scenes. Especially that new cosmic costume. 

Stephanie: The first two arcs see Jean becoming a part of the cosmos and accepting that position. I wanted to give her a look that truly channels that relationship — we literally see the stars as part of the costume Jean is wearing. And that reflects her new position in the cosmos, as well as her understanding of what her relationship is to the stars. 

AIPT: And a clarifying question about the new form from X-Fan Phoenixx9: Is Jean accessing the same Phoenix powers as before, or are there additional powers?

Stephanie: In this form, Jean is a conduit. She’s pulling energy directly from the stars around her — from the fabric of the universe itself. She’s not just drawing from the Phoenix, she’s becoming something in harmony with it, something more elemental and self-possessed. So, yes, it’s the Phoenix Force that we already know, but it’s entering the chat in a new way.

AIPT: Roi, X-Fan Anna Di’Sorti wants to know how it feels to step in as the new artist for Phoenix and bring Jean Grey to life on the page. Also, what can we expect regarding your take on Jean and the series’ visuals?

Roi: Becoming the new artist for Phoenix is a thrilling challenge and an honor. Jean Grey is an iconic character with a legacy that resonates deeply with fans, so it’s an honor to contribute to her story. My goal is to capture Jean’s humanity alongside her cosmic power while showcasing her personal struggles. I hope to visually portray a more human, relatable side of her.

AIPT: X-Fan XavierKnows wants to know what your favorite aspect of Jean is to draw.

Roi: I love drawing Jean’s eyes — they’re key to expressing her depth and emotions. I’m also excited to depict her in everyday moments, highlighting her relatable, human side.

AIPT: Stephanie, X-Fan @Jean_RED_Grey is wondering — while researching Jean’s history, have you learned anything that significantly changed your perspective on and influenced how you’ve written her? 

Stephanie: Absolutely. I went in thinking I knew Jean — iconic founding X-Man, the Phoenix, the sacrifice, the resurrection. But then figuring out her voice became a challenge because I realized how often we see Jean through the perspective of other characters reacting to her. In part, that’s why we had Jean’s voice/narration in the story as something that gets “unlocked” as she accepts her new position and responsibilities. The story starts with us seeing Jean through someone else’s perspective and, slowly, Jean learns to insert herself into the narrative by taking over… literally saying this is how I feel and think about the situation. 

AIPT: Roi, X-Fan David C. asks how you approach the dual aspect of Jean being a vulnerable human being and a near-almighty cosmic force in your art.

Roi: This arc focuses on Jean’s human side, as it’s a deeply personal journey. I explored her vulnerability while subtly hinting at her immense cosmic power, balancing these two facets.

AIPT: Stephanie, X-Fan avatarkyungsoo imagines writing a character as powerful as the Phoenix, who can create and destroy universes on a whim, can be quite challenging. How do you approach a character like this and find a balance in not making them too powerful that the book is boring and not making them too weak that it becomes a disservice to them? 

Stephanie: That’s the paradox of writing Jean as the Phoenix. She can burn whole timelines down — but what keeps her interesting isn’t what she can do, it’s what she chooses. My goal was never to nerf her or rein her in, but to give weight to every choice she makes. Which is why the series begins with Jean making a choice that has repercussions throughout the entire first 10 issues. Jean then has to wrestle with the choice she made — was it the right choice? Could she have made a different choice?

The tension comes from the fact that she could unmake a planet with a thought… but she’s still Jean. She’s still someone who cares about people. She still wants to do good. So, the question becomes: What happens when someone that powerful starts to doubt what ‘good’ even means? And we’re going to see those choices amplified even more in arc 3 with Jean’s sister, Sara, returning to the mix. It’s really going to push the emotional weight of Jean’s powers and decision-making.  

AIPT: Since you mentioned Sara, let’s look ahead to the arc kicking off in Phoenix#11. So far, Phoenix has presented Jean a chance to settle into a new life among the stars, interact with characters and entities from the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, and battle adversaries a lot more powerful than the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. What can readers expect from the next arc, and how will it differ from what we’ve seen so far? 

Stephanie: Well, Sara Grey is returning. I think this might be my first resurrection… you always remember the first. But, really, I this new arc will focus on the psychology of what’s happening between Jean, Sara, and Cable (since we’ve now shown he will be involved as well). 

AIPT: First, X-Fan Venus has loved all the issues so far and says you’re a great writer, Stephanie.

Stephanie: Thank you so much, Venus!

AIPT: As for Venus’ question: Now that we know about Sara Grey’s return — and without spoiling — can you tell us more about how you’re writing her personality? As Sara wasn’t a significant X-character, are you approaching her with a new perspective or through the lenses of her classical appearances? 

Stephanie: Sara Grey is one of those characters who kind of existed in Jean’s shadow and that fascinated me when we discussed bringing her back. Her few appearances painted her as a kind, grounded person — a sister, a mother, someone with a ‘normal’ life that stood in contrast to Jean’s cosmic adventures. So, rather than ignore that, I wanted to lean into it. I’m writing Sara as someone who’s been through the fire in her own way. This isn’t just a nostalgic cameo — it’s a reckoning. She’s still Sara, but she’s no longer just ‘Jean’s sister.’ She’s coming in with her own story to tell. 

AIPT: Roi, X-Fan Patorokurosu is wondering about Sara Grey’s design. What’s it like redesigning or just drawing a character who is simultaneously so important to Jean, yet lacking in visual iconography of her own?

Roi: For Sara’s design, I was inspired by Stephanie’s vision of her as a leader playing a vital role in the story. I used simple shapes and a clean design to make her memorable while emphasizing her connection to Jean.

AIPT: X-Fan Kent adores Phoenix — it’s such a powerful and moving story, and Kent is always blown away by the depth of its characters and themes. Kent thanks you for your incredible work and can’t wait to see what’s next.

Stephanie: Thank you, Kent! Really appreciate the kind words.

AIPT: Kent is also really excited to hear you describe the next arc as “full of emotion,” and would love to know more about your creative vision for it. Specifically, what kinds of emotions are you hoping readers will experience in this upcoming arc? Are you aiming for heartbreak, catharsis, hope, or something else entirely? And how do you plan to weave those feelings into the story, whether through character arcs, pivotal moments, or even the pacing and structure?

Stephanie: I think the next arc is the most emotionally raw piece of the story so far. I want to explore what it means to be haunted by the past while still trying to grow beyond it. I want readers to feel like they’ve been through something by the end of this. Nothing about this arc is going to be easy on the characters involved… but what makes the Phoenix myth so enduring is that it’s not just about destruction. It’s about becoming. And I think we definitely get that in this new arc.

AIPT: As we wrap up, based on Rod Reis’ variant cover to Phoenix #11, we see that Sara isn’t the only member of Jean’s family who’ll be making an appearance. What can you tease about Cable’s role in the arc, and can we expect any flashbacks (err, flash forwards?) to the future we saw in The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix? 

Stephanie: I won’t spoil what we’re going to be doing with Cable, but I am so excited to get to bring him into the story and Roi Mercado draws an amazing Cable. I love his personality and I think his past with Jean will offer a really interesting foil to what is happening between Jean and Sara. These are the kinds of moments that ground Jean and make a giant cosmic force someone we can all relate to.

AIPT: And finally, as Jean’s writer, what do you find appealing about her relationship with Cable that you’re interested in exploring? 

Stephanie: Jean and Cable have one of the most complicated, beautiful, and underrated relationships in the X-corner of the Marvel Universe. There’s this quiet tragedy in the fact that Jean’s been a mother figure to him (kinnnnnd of) without ever truly raising him. She’s supposed to be this cosmic powerhouse, but with Nathan, she’s also a woman staring at a child who’s already lived a thousand lifetimes. So, there’s this tension between closeness and distance. They know each other, but they don’t always understand each other. 

AIPT: I’m looking forward to seeing all these Greys and Summers interacting in the issues to come. But on that note — Stephanie and Roi, thanks for stopping by X-Men Monday! X-Fans, remember to pick up Phoenix #10 this Wednesday (April 9, 2025) and Phoenix #11 on May 14, 2025.

As this week’s X-Men Monday eXclusives, first, we’ve got a few of Roi’s unlettered pages from Phoenix #11.

And here’s your first look at artist Lucas Werneck’s cover to July’s Phoenix #13.

Mom’s mad!

Until next time, X-Fans, stay exceptional!