Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities X-Statix

Well, I guess it's making some sort of waves if even the AOL splash page is "reporting" on it... the upcoming appearance of a resurrected Princess Diana in the pages of X-Statix, that is.

According to the blurb (actually from Entertainment Weekly online), Princess Di will have mutant powers and join X-Statix to fight a bunch of Euro-trash villains. The story arc will be titled (no joking) "Di Another Day."

There was also a poll about whether people thought this was appropriate. I dunno... I don't think using a dead "real life" personality is inappropriate per se -- would anyone really complain if Benjamin Franklin were brought to life to fight alongside X-Statix? (Well, maybe the legion of rabid Ben fans who bought out all the copies of the special Ben Franklin issue of Time last week might...) I think the issue here is the perceived exploitation of a recent (and still) raw wound for commercial purposes.

What do y'all think?

P.S. Allred's rendition of Diana leapfrogging over Phat was pretty memorable...

I'll probably pass. I've avoided this title since it started and don't see a reason to start now. I'm happy with Exiles and Ultimate X-Men as my only X titles.

I'm all for freedom of speech and creative freedom, so they should publish whatever the hell they want. Personally, I can't help but feel that even the title itself is tasteless. If this were a movie or something that needed to attract a lot of business, I'd say that it was a mistake because the public would be put off, but since it's a comic book which is a niche market and will probably only attract readers by the publicity rather than drive off anyone who normally buys X-Statix, then it's fine for them.

I think the Di thing is too far...but I stopped buying this title when X-Force ended...so no big shake for me.

I just think it's in poor taste...as I've seen mentioned elsewhere, her death was at least in part caused by media, and now she's being brought back in a comic book...

I'll trust Milligan and Allred to do right by me in the 'Di Another Day' arc.

Their X-Force/X-statix has thoroughly entertained me thus far and there's no reason to doubt this arc for me.

Where was this uproar when Princess Di put in an appearance in Penthouse Comix? Though I can't remember if it saw print before or after she died, and I don't think there was any nudity for her, there was an implied lesbian encounter, and much nudity and sex otherwise. All this to-do is INTENTIONAL, part of Nu-Marvel's self-promotion. :rolleyes:

Whether you were for or against the Di storyline is all moot now. The latest from Marvel via CNN:

Marvel scraps plan for comic book Princess Di

Storyline was to be called 'Di Another Day'

Friday, July 11, 2003 Posted: 5:47 AM EDT (0947 GMT)

Marvel intended to introduce the Princess Diana character as one of a team of super-powered mutants.

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A U.S. comic book publisher has decided to let Princess Diana rest in peace, dropping plans to reincarnate her as a mutant comic superhero this fall, the company said Thursday.

Marvel Enterprises Inc. said in a statement that "upon reflection" it will remove Diana and all references to the royal family in its upcoming "X-Statix" monthly comics.

The about-face follows a recent announcement by Marvel Comics that it planned to introduce Diana as one of a team of super-powered mutants in a five-series storyline called "Di Another Day."

Company spokespeople were not immediately available to elaborate on the decision.

Diana was to have been a character in a satirical look at fame and pop culture, Marvel said earlier this week.

Buckingham Palace called the idea "utterly appalling" and a "cheap attempt to cash in on Diana's fame and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death."

Wow, I can't believe Marvel folded so QUICKLY. Obviously, Lawyers got involved.

I'm sure Milligan will proceed with the story anyway sooner or later, changing certain names.

Yeah, they'll probably just pick another dead icon instead. Maybe he'll use Katherine Hepburn. This is not the Marvel I grew up with.

How about Jackie O? She's been dead awhile -- she can come back as "Jackie X" (or is that in bad taste as well?)

Never heard about that one.

It is looking more and more like that mighty Marvel machine is rollong through fandom again. Publicity for all!!!

It's one thing to parody a celebrity when they are alive, within reason, but I think it was pretty tacky to have planned a storyline like this in the first place. The woman was loved and respected the world over, and she died a tragic death. To resurrect her as a mutant for a story arc was just in excessively poor taste... regardless of how they planned to tell the story. There are limits to the lengths one should go to shock and inspire interest, I think, and I believe that Marvel nearly went beyond them.

You know, I'm really of two minds about this. On one hand, you have "X-Statix," where something like Diana coming back would fit right in to the book's satirea nd underground charm, and I honestly think Milligan and Allred would have handled it well.

On the other hand, you have a practically universally-beloved still recently-departed cultural figure. You have to admit, without knowing what X-Statix is about, it sounds to the casual observer as a shameless attempt by Marvel Comics to raise sales and make a few bucks by sensationalizing a tragedy that is obviously more fresh in people's minds than they thought.

My question is, what was Marvel Comics THINKING??? They must have KNOWN Buckingham Palace wouldn't stand for that kind of story. We all know Bill Jemas's taste is kind of suspect, but I would have given Joe Q credit for having a little more sense than that.

Oh, and good speed on breaking the story over here, Scott. That report couldn't have been more than an hour old on CNN before you brought it over here.

If I had a suspicious mind, I might think they KNEW they couldn't get away with it, but it would STILL generate a lot of publicity, and maybe some sales.

This thread should be retitled "X-Statix: now without Princess Diana"...

Anyway, I just got the latest issue of X-Statix (#11), and it was mighty enjoyable stuff. Although I enjoyed the Wolverine/Doop two-issue interlude, it was also nice to get back to the rest of the gang.

I liked how the character of El Guapo, which is cheesy on the surface (he uses a flying skateboard), is actually quirky and offbeat and more than he appears. There's also a funny little interlude between Myles and Billy-Bob. And the art, as usual, is very pleasing to the eye.

It reminds of the the soap opera Passions. A couple of years ago, when the show premiered, one of the main characters made a point of talking about how close she was with Di and had even visited with her the night Diana died.

They did the whole sensationalism thing where this character actually had a car accident in the same tunnel and then had an out of body experience where she talked with "Di."

There was a similar furor that happened to Marvel. Soon, all references to Di were eliminated on the soap.

thanks for all the info guys !!!

i have to say, that i hadn't seen anything in the papers or on TV about this storyline, before it was pulled !!!

Matthew.

Well, yank down my drawers and paddle my rosy patoot!

After bitching about the recent lack of X-STATIX, I went to the CBS tonight and there were TWO issues in my pull... 13 & 14!

WOO HOOOOOO!!!!

[paddle paddle]

Yeah, I haven't even gotten around to reading #13, and already #14 is out!

It seems pretty obvious that the back-from-the-dead girl was supposed to be Princess Diana... in fact, in certain panels, it's downright EERIE how much she looks like Diana! I guess giving her black hair doesn't really change her overall appearance that much...

Yep, it didn't dawn on me until I was READING issue 13 that this was the altered "Return of Princess Di" storyline... I guess some changes had to be made which caused the delay in shipping.

So far it is rather interesting.

Hurry up and get # 14 so we can discuss it, Stuey!

I really like this title though I do miss U-Go Girl!

I've got both of 'em in my hot little hands and will read through them properly very soon (I've skimmed) -- along with a HUGE stack of issues I've accumulated. It's gonna be a busy weekend!

Just finished reading #13... once you know that Henrietta was supposed to be Diana, there are a lot of things in the book that seem like they weren't changed much in the editing.

Like the profile of Henrietta/Diana at her ancestral home... or the "tunnel" that she walks down to come back to life -- which seems like it was probably originally a depiction of the tunnel in Paris where Diana died. The biggest gaffe was probably the mention of "British taxpayers' money"...

I have 4 words for you:


Surrender Monkey? tee hee!

OMG -- another issue of X-Statix already?! But I just barely finished reading the other two!

(This is the one with the cover that we'd seen before with Princess Diana "leaping" into action -- though now, of course, it's "pop star Henrietta.")

Still, it's cool -- kind of like when a friend gets you hooked on a new title, and you buy a couple of back issues all at once and read them one after the other over the course of an enjoyable weekend...

I just picked up the last three issues of X-Static...I get to read a three parts at once! Yay me!

Definately a strange read. But then X-Static is a strange comic...

I'm not sure what the point of having Spider-Man there was. He didn't do anything other than exchange a few (and I mean "a few") lines with the X-Statix members, and then disappear abruptly. Most meaningless "guest appearance" ever -- it wasn't even ironic or funny!

And I'm finding it disturbing that some of the images of "pop star Henrietta" (i.e., Princess Diana with black hair) bear an uncanny resemblance to Monica Lewinsky...

I dunno, seems reasonable to me that if one is in the Marvel Universe and go into NY that there's a fair likelyhood of crossing paths with a superhero based there. It kind of made sense to me, Spidey is swinging around, sees some supertypes up to something, tries to stop them, then a whole team of people come in who obviously don't want him there, so he shrugs and leaves since the situation was in control.

Or something...

So his guest-appearance WAS funny & ironic after all! ;-D

I don't have part 3 yet... maybe I'll go to the CBS this week if SUPREME POWER 4 comes out....

Read ish 16 last night, WOW!!!

What happened with Spike Freeman shocked & surprised me! But because of this, I am a little worried about how X-Statix will be able to continue! And what will happen to The Orphan now?

As for Lacuna-- I think (and certainly do HOPE) she's gonna be okay. The *real* cliffhanger was what happed to Spike Freeman.

I thought the first half of the issue was kind of rambling. I'd thought they were going to get rid of Henrietta by now -- I think her appearance would have worked much better as a three-issue thing, rather than a more long-term storyline.

But those last couple of pages -- SHOCKING. SHOCKING. SHOCKING.

It just goes to show how you can never assume anything where this book is concerned! (Which is one reason I like it so much. )

Stuey, I'm almost wondering if they aren't gonna just KEEP Henrietta on the team! Now that she's not "Diana" and all...

What did you think about the fate of El Guapo? And is he still officially on the team or not...?

Y'know, I'm starting to think the same thing about Henrietta. But every time I start thinking something about a character on X-STATIX, they go and pull the rug out from under me! So I'm really not sure where they're gonna go with this...

After last issue, I had thought that they were just going to write El Guapo out altogether, but he did show up briefly in this issue -- although it sounded like he was no longer part of the team. He didn't participate in any of their discussions -- but I guess he DID show up in the roll call on the first page.

I was frankly a little disappointed that they started to create some interesting story lines with El Guapo and his sentient skateboard, and now this happens... I would still like to see those followed up on, even if only in the background.

HMMMMMMM

Over the past few nights, I reread my entire Milligan/Allred collection-- X-FORCE 116-129 and X-STATIX 1-16.

What a rollercoaster ride!

I'd easily rank the "Bush-Rangers" story (X-FORCE 125-128) up there with the finest, most suspenseful stories in comics.

And Doop.

What IS it with Doop?

It was hinted at early on that he might have his OWN agenda... and recently Myles speculated that Doop was controlling them all. Was he right or just trying to justify the wretched behaviour of the X-Statix?

Certainly, the horrific backup CODE X in X-STATIX # 1 reveals that Doop is FAR more-- and far more SINISTER-- than he seems!

Has anyone else read #17 yet? What did ya think?

(I'm not posting any spoilers just yet...)

I've got it, Stuey... I'll read it today!

Me too -- let's check in with our thoughts later!

Well, I guess we know now if Henrietta's gonna stay on the team. How... anticlimatic. How.... X-Statix (and I don't mean that negatively).

Sometimes life is VERY anticlimactic.

Spike Freeman's fate seems rather fitting.

Hope Lacuna gets out of that hospital soon. I found myself rather irritated with her last issue, falling all over The Orphan. I thought she might hook up with The Anarchist.

And I wish they'd stop having El Guapo on the covers and roll call if he isn't gonna be in the issue.

Stuey, I'm not sure how to put this in words... It feels like I'm enjoying reading the individual issues of X-Statix less. Yet when I go back and read 'em all back-to-back I love 'em large. Weird, huh?

X-STATIX is currently the only comic I go back and reread the full run of every few months. Despite what I said above, I'd daresay it's my favorite comic.

Yeah, I understand what you're saying about enjoying the individual issues less. I've been becoming less excited about reading the new issues of X-Statix as they come out.

However, when I go back and read a story arc all at once, I'm still glued to my seat. Not sure why that is.

I heartily concur with you about El Guapo. What's the point? And I wouldn't mind the anticlimactic resolution of the whole Henrietta thing, except that it feels to me like they might have changed it at the last minute because they swapped out Princess Diana. I wonder if they'd had some other resolution written for that character before? (Maybe the book should be called ANTICLIMACTIX... )

I think the book took a slight hit with the death of U-Go Girl.

I like Venus and Dead Girl just fine, but they simply don't compare to Edie, visually OR personality-wise.

Wow -- I just finished X-STATIX #18...

*MINOR SPOILERS*

Dayum, they're dropping like flies...! At this rate, we're going to need a serious membership drive, and SOON.

Though there were plenty of shocks in this issue, and I liked the whole urban legend twist to the story, I thought that the story arc kind of ended with a whimper. It felt pulled together at the last minute, and didn't really hang together very well. A bit of a disappointment, really -- but I'm still looking forward to the next issue, to see how the group is going to move ahead from here...

I DEFINITELY felt like this issue was glued together at the last minute (probably due to the changes that had to be made to the original Princess Di storyline Henrietta's tale replaced).

But unlike you, I quite enjoyed it. That last page was pretty chilling!

I kind-of think there was more that could have been done with Phat, but I felt no remorse at his passing. I think El Guapo would have been interesting to keep around as a handicapped-sex-symbol but I guess Milligan & Allred figured this was a good time to clean house.

When did Guy take back the moniker "Mr. Sensitive"?

So we're down to Guy, Anarchist, Venus, Dead Girl and Myles. Looks like we're due for TWO new members....

My question is: who was Mr. Code?

And are we going to find out soon? I sure hope so...

I never followed X-Force / X-Statix either; yet interesting enough, after Teed's post a few weeks ago, that very same morning, I went to a local comic convention and among the various items I picked up was the above! It was for $0.50 and since it was by Darwyn Cooke, probably my single favorite comic book creator alive today, I thought I must have it!

All in all, a pretty fantastic issue! I could read page after page by Cooke about anything, really, and he did a great job here. The final page with U-Go Girl and the dude with the antennae embracing each other against a cosmic background is absolutely stunning!

In terms of the story, it was a good issue to get introduced to some of the characters. U-Go Girl became an instant favorite, and like so many others before me, the awesome visual of Doop makes it too hard not to accept him as one of your favorites. Milligan has always excelled at these very personal-type issues.

I probably won't be going back to hunt down the X-Statix run anytime soon, but this was a nice introduction. I love Mike Allred's work too, so I'm sure that wouldn't dissapoint.

GASP!!!!!

I strongly advise you TO hunt down the entire run of X-Force and X-Statix by Milligan/Allred!!

That you haven't already read this run makes me feel somewhat cooler for not having previously read Animal Man, Swamp Thing and (insert "snooty" comic book no longer being published, wether or not recently relaunched by DC or not)!

NOTE: It is fine you read the above issue out of order... BUT DO NOT DO THIS WITH THE REST OF THE SERIES!!!!

I never 'got' some writers ideas regarding super-people, and this series was one of those.

'I have acid sweat!' turns into 'I shoot powerful explosive blasts, and can use my powers while hot-tubbing with super-models without melting them like Barbies on the barby...'

I felt like I was reading the Authority, or that silly X-Men run where some idiot had healing powers because of the *black hole in his head.*

Lard Lad's powers make more sense to me.

I sometimes felt like they were throwing darts to design these characters;

"I have the power to..."
<thunk>
"stop people's hearts with a touch, because..."
<thunk>
"my eyes are made of antimatter!"

Some of these too-clever-by-half ideas go right past 'creative' to 'wait, what?'

I've read the two X-Force trades and liked them very much, but I haven't go to X-Statix yet. Is it even in trade form? I picked up a number of the individual issue but they remain unread as there are too many holes in the series still.

http://www.amazon.com/X-Statix-Omnibus-Peter-Milligan/dp/0785158448/

I understand that right now testing out the new DCNu may come first but, everyone, as soon as the first few months are over? Do yourself a favor and check out Milligan's X-Force/X-Statix in some form if you haven't already. It's a fun read and great satire of a celebrity & hero mix. I echo everything Lash said.

If you don't want the omnibus, X-Statix is definitely in trade form. That's how I read the first few issues of that book back in the day.

Good to its all readily available (rather than hunting down back issues)! This should be a cool addition to my 'will buy TPB' list.

Set, since when do super-powers have to make sense?

Speaking of X-Statix, a preview for X-Men '92 seemed to feature the appearance of Orphan among the younger X-students.

Since the X-Men '92 reality set up the X-Men as public faces after winning that off-panel "Magneto/Brotherhood War," the writers have said they're bringing in the X-Statix kids to portray the mutants charmed by the fame and fortune. They'll contrast with the Generation-X students, who will probably be the more traditional heroic types in it for better reasons.

Unfortunately I can't say there was much of that seen in the writing. I believe Dead Girl and U Go Girl were the most prominent of the X-Statix characters seen. I believe Dead Girl had a big role to play in the vampire arc.

I've been able to get my hands on the original X-Force and X-Statix issues by Milligan and Allred, and I... I don't like them. I mean, for the longest time I've only ever had the Dead Girl miniseries and a worn X-Force copy, but being able to read more of the series I find myself disappointed.

I feel the only characters I'm genuinely interested in are Gin Genie and Saint Anna, who both die fairly early in the series. And maybe Lacuna. But the rest of the characters are just... so self absorbed and boring. It's another book that goes beyond deconstructionism of superheroes into a shallow parody of something else. I get that they're not supposed to be seen as paragons (the whole point is that they're not, right?) but nothing I've read has been able to get me to really care about the majority of the main cast beyond saying "I'm ambivalent."

I'm not even sure I get what U Go Girl's appeal is.

It's not going to be to everyone's taste, but what I like about it is the analysis of celebrity culture. The way that the desire for fame and fortune can co-exist with purer motives, and the way the public persona the celebrities create blends with their real selves. That's why I think the Princess Diana story would have been brilliant. Everyone thought it was just going to be poking fun at her memory, but I think it would have been both a parody and a tribute at the same time. "affectionate mocking" usually involves taking light jabs, but in these books Milligan takes vicious jabs while still showing affection for the things he's mocking.