The X-Men reach a milestone

"Uncanny X-Men," the flagship of Marvel's mutant books, will ship issue No. 500 July 23. How special is that? By my count, there are only eight current titles of the hundreds being published that have passed that milestone.

(Which ones? You'll have to wait until the end to find out. And no peeking!)

To celebrate, Marvel is shaking up the book both inside and outside the covers. In the real world, regular writer Ed Brubaker ("Criminal," "Captain America') is being joined by writer Matt Fraction ("Invincible Iron Man," "Immortal Iron Fist") and artists Greg Land ("Sojourn") and Terry Dodson ("Wonder Woman"). In the fictional world, the X-Men are relocating to San Francisco and changing their mission. And it wouldn't be the X-Men if the team didn't change its roster willy-nilly -- which it does.

What does this mean? I asked Fraction and Brubaker those very things.

Captain Comics: Why San Francisco? Is it because of strong associations with the gay subculture, to emphasize the X-Men's status as a persecuted minority?

Fraction: Well, it's not just gay subculture -- almost any subculture has found its voice and power in the Bay Area. Whether it's underground comics or the anti-war movement or ... or you name it. The Bay Area is where the underground goes overt. And it's a city known worldwide for its tolerance, acceptance and celebration of the unique and rare.

Brubaker: Yeah, it all came out of one of the early meetings ... I just said, "Why don't they live in San Francisco?" If I were a mutant, that's where I'd be. Somewhere you can walk down the street with your wings out and no one will give you a second look. It just seemed to fit. Also, why keep rebuilding the giant target of the Xavier Institute?

CC: Are all mutants relocating to SF?

Fraction: The X-Men go, at first, and act as vanguards, almost, for the rest of the surviving species who begin to gravitate there.

Brubaker: Yeah, it sort of becomes the mutant go-to spot in the U.S. Like a haven for mutantkind, where they can walk around freely and without fear. At least, that's their hope.

CC: There are only around 200 mutants left in the Marvel Universe now, which means that the old Charles Xavier struggle for integration is almost moot. What's the X-Men's mission now?

Fraction: To rage, rage against the dying of light. The X-Men, Children of the Atom, the post-humans on the vanguard of science, the very definition of evolution made manifest, have taken a leap of faith with regards to their own survival. What happens when science smashes into faith? The raison d'etre of the X-Men now ... is to believe.

Brubaker: And to take charge of the future, in doing that. They're not just playing Charles' game anymore; Scott is leading them into the future and he wants them to be unafraid.

CC: Speaking of Professor X, he's no longer in charge -- Cyclops is. How will Cyke's team be different from "Xavier's Dream"?

Brubaker: That's one of the big things being explored, and something that Scott is asking himself, even: What is his version of the X-Men? What is their goal, or their mission statement, and how is that different from Professor Xavier's ideals? In some ways they're similar, but in others, Scott is pushing the boundaries.

CC: Current issues of "Uncanny" focused on Angel, Colossus, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Nightcrawler and Wolverine. And I see Pixie on the cover of No. 500. Will they continue in the book?

Fraction: Yes, they will. Part of the reason we're moving the team to a whole town is so the cast can expand, contract and redefine itself. Cannonball, Karma and Dani Moonstar show up early on in the run.

CC: Can you name your own favorite of the last 500 issues?

Fraction: The cover of "Uncanny X-Men" No. 208 (1986). Hooked me instantly.

Brubaker: I think that first issue where Jean Grey becomes the Phoenix, actually ("Uncanny X-Men" No. 101, 1976). That was the first moment I realized what a bizarre and cool comic this was.

CC: And you really can't do better than having the writers be fans themselves.

As for the other comics that have passed 500 currently on the stands, they include Action Comics, Amazing Spider-Man, Archie, Batman, Detective Comics, Fantastic Four, Superman and Walt Disney's Comics and Stories. Pretty good company for our mutant misfits!

(Contact Andrew A. Smith of the Memphis Commercial Appeal at capncomics(at)aol.com or visit www.captaincomics.us.)