May 4, 2017

The X-Men in the Savage Land - Chris Claremont & John Byrne

When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the X-Men they also proposed and developed a rich mythology that would be later re-elaborated and reinterpreted by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. In “Magneto Triumphant!”, the archnemesis of the mutants was redefined in such a way that he became just as fascinating as the heroes he was fighting against.

The next logical step, of course, was to further explore concepts like the Savage Land, which probably originated as a way for Lee to pay homage to old pulp novels and B movies. The “land that time forgot” was a common idea in the 50s, and several comics at the time had an equivalent place in which dinosaurs would roam the forests and primitive cavemen would wildly hunt them down.

In many ways this highly illogical and scientifically inaccurate concept would be considered as something ridiculous nowadays, but Claremont and Byrne treated the Savage Land with respect in “Visions of Death!” (originally published in The X-Men # 115, November 1978). They decided to forget the limitations of rationality and embraced the craziness of the concept. The result is a marvelous tale in which Cyclops and the rest of the team have to preserve the ecological integrity of this isolated land. This would turn out to be a swashbuckling journey, filled with hungry dinosaurs, aggressive tribes, old gods and obsessive priestesses. 

Claremont reintroduces characters that had appeared before prominently or briefly. Ka-Zar was a popular hero at the time (despite his many similitudes with Tarzan and other jungle adventurers of this era) who even had his own ongoing title. The long-maned warrior (and his pet Zabu, a sabretooth tiger) had played a relevant role in the “The Coming of Ka-Zar” and this time he’s also a fundamental part of the story. We also get to see Sauron (Karl Lycos), a mutant with the ability to absorb the life force of his opponents and hypnotize them. 

Byrne reunites all the attributes of a good cover in an impressive image of Sauron, a hypnotized Wolverine and a fallen Storm. In this issue, Byrne also illustrates an absolutely brilliant double page spread, dynamic, graceful and all around beautiful. That image of Wolverine furiously attacking Sauron immediately captures our attention. 

Garokk, a self-proclaimed divinity, and his priestess Zaladane, have altered the delicate ecological balance of the Savage Land. Although at first Cyclops is reluctant about participating in a battle that has nothing to do with the X-Men, in the end he decides it’s time “To Save the Savage Land” (The X-Men # 116, December 1978). Once again, Byrne and Austin produce a striking cover; and the interior art is spectacular. There is a double page in particular that simply left me in awe: it’s a panoramic view of the city of Garokk, this is a highly detailed image with a delightful composition that only a master like Byrne could’ve achieved. 
Wolverine, Storm & Colossus
In “Psi War!” (The X-Men # 117, January 1979), the focus shifts to Professor X. Unable to enjoy his vacations in the Greek islands, he has returned to his Westchester mansion with Lilandra. After the events of “Desolation”, Charles Xavier is convinced that all his X-Men, with the exception of Jean Grey and the Beast, have died. He feels terribly depressed. Lilandra understands his pain and tries to comfort him in a very touching scene. Byrne excels at transmitting the emotion of the characters and he’s also especially careful with the background elements he includes in the panel. For instance, next to Xavier, we find the X-Men graduation photography taken during “The Return of the Blob”.
Wolverine versus Sauron
Charles Xavier tells Lilandra about his first encounter with a powerful mutant named Amahl Farouk (AKA Shadow King), in the streets of Cairo. In fact, he even mentions the presence of a young Ororo (years before joining the X-Men as Storm) who manages to steal his wallet. Xavier has a fight to the death against Farouk, the entire confrontation takes place in the psychic plane. The cover of the issue was drawn by Dave Cockrum and Terry Austin. For some inexplicable reason, the editors decided to ask Cockrum to start doing the covers again, even though Byrne was doing a superb job.
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Cuando Stan Lee y Jack Kirby crearon a los X-Men también propusieron y desarrollaron una rica mitología que luego sería reelaborada y reinterpretada por Chris Claremont y John Byrne. En "Magneto triunfante", El nemesis de los mutantes fue redefinido de tal manera que se hizo tan fascinante como los héroes contra los que luchaba.
Ka-Zar & Zabu
El siguiente paso lógico, por supuesto, fue explorar aún más conceptos como la Tierra Salvaje, que probablemente se originó como una manera en la que Lee pudiese rendir homenaje a viejas novelas pulp y películas de serie B. La "tierra que el tiempo olvidó" era una idea común en los 50s, y varios cómics en ese entonces tenían un lugar equivalente en el cual los dinosaurios recorrían los bosques y los primitivos hombres de las cavernas los cazaban.
Ka-Zar, Zabu, Cyclops, Colossus, Nightcrawler, Storm, Banshee & Wolverine
Es cierto que este concepto altamente ilógico y científicamente inexacto sería considerado como algo ridículo en la actualidad, pero Claremont y Byrne trataron la tierra salvaje con respeto en "Visiones de la muerte" (Publicado originalmente en The X-Men # 115, noviembre de 1978). Decidieron olvidar las limitaciones de la racionalidad y aceptaron la locura del concepto. El resultado es un relato maravilloso en el que Cyclops y el resto del equipo tienen que preservar la integridad ecológica de esta aislada tierra. Esto se convertiría en una gran aventura, llena de dinosaurios hambrientos, tribus agresivas, viejos dioses y sacerdotisas obsesivas.
The City of the Sun God / la Ciudad del Dios Sol
Claremont reintroduce personajes que habían aparecido antes prominente o brevemente. Ka-Zar era un héroe tan popular en ese entonces (a pesar de sus muchas similitudes con Tarzan y otros aventureros de la selva) que incluso tenía su propio título. El guerrero de larga melena (y su mascota Zabu, un tigre dientes de sable) había desempeñado un papel relevante en "La llegada de Ka-Zar" y esta vez también cumple un rol fundamental en la historia. También podemos ver a Sauron (Karl Lycos), un mutante con la capacidad de absorber la fuerza vital de sus oponentes e hipnotizarlos.
Garokk & Zaladane
Byrne reúne todos los atributos de una buena portada en la impresionante imagen de Sauron, con un Wolverine hipnotizado y una Storm desmayada. En este número, Byrne también ilustra una página doble absolutamente brillante, dinámica, elegante y sobre todo bella. Esa imagen de Wolverine atacando furiosamente a Sauron capta inmediatamente nuestra atención.

Garokk, una divinidad autoproclamada, y su sacerdotisa Zaladane, han alterado el delicado equilibrio ecológico de la Tierra Salvaje. Aunque al principio Cyclops es reacio a participar en una batalla que no tiene nada que ver con los X-Men, al final decide que es hora de "Salvar la Tierra Salvaje" (The X-Men # 116, diciembre de 1978). Una vez más, Byrne y Austin producen una portada llamativa; y el arte interior es espectacular. Hay una página doble en particular que simplemente me dejó impresionado: es una vista panorámica de la ciudad de Garokk, esta es una imagen muy detallada con una composición deliciosa que sólo un maestro como Byrne podría haber logrado.
Charles Xavier & Lilandra
En "Guerra psíquica" (The X-Men # 117, enero de 1979), el enfoque se traslada al profesor X. Incapaz de disfrutar de sus vacaciones en las islas griegas, él ha regresado a su mansión de Westchester con Lilandra. Después de los acontecimientos de "Desolación", Charles Xavier está convencido de que todos sus X-Men, con la excepción de Jean Grey y Beast, han muerto. Se siente terriblemente deprimido. Lilandra entiende su dolor y trata de consolarlo en una escena muy conmovedora. Byrne sobresale al momento de transmitir la emoción de los personajes y además es especialmente cuidadoso con los elementos de fondo que incluye en la viñeta. Por ejemplo, al lado de Xavier, encontramos la fotografía de la graduación de los X-Men, tomada durante "El regreso de Blob".
Professor X & Moira MacTaggert
Charles Xavier le cuenta a Lilandra sobre su primer encuentro con un poderoso mutante llamado Amahl Farouk (conocido como el Rey Sombra), en las calles de El Cairo. De hecho, incluso menciona la presencia de una muy joven Ororo (años antes de unirse a los X-Men como Storm) que logra robarle su billetera. Xavier tiene una lucha a muerte contra Farouk, toda la confrontación tiene lugar en el plano psíquico. La portada de este número fue dibujada por Dave Cockrum y Terry Austin. Por alguna razón inexplicable, los editores decidieron pedirle a Cockrum que volviera a hacer las portadas, a pesar de que Byrne estaba haciendo un trabajo excelente.

8 comments:

  1. A lost world seems a bit ridiculous even in the 70s with all the satellites and such. I assume the Shadow King survives; he was a big part of the TV show Legion so I would guess he's not a one-and-done character. Byrne really draws Wolverine with a lot of body hair; it's a bit different than Hugh Jackman in "The Wolverine."

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    1. Well, you could always say that Google Earth didn't exist back then. But yeah you're right. Byrne really established Wolverine's for the next decades.

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  2. I just got Legion's show spoiled...............

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    1. Hi César, I'm pretty sure the show won't have anything to do with the comic, but even if it did, there is nothing about Legion in the Claremont / Byrne era, because the character was created in the 90s, long after both authors were off the X titles.

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    2. "Hi César, I'm pretty sure the show won't have anything to do with the comic, but even if it did, there is nothing about Legion in the Claremont / Byrne era, because the character was created in the 90s, long after both authors were off the X titles."

      I know Fox mainly stays away from the comic sources, but I meant the fact the Shadow King appears in Legion (the TV show) was spoiled. I have not watched the show, but I suspect something like that would be a revelation for later episodes...

      And now I am surprised by what you said. Legion appeared in the 80s, in The New Mutants, written by Mr. Claremont.

      Details of the comic book stories of Legion and the Shadow King follow. Please do not read if you do not want them spoiled.

      Charles did not know about David at all. Gabrielle went to Moira for help, but asked her not to tell him. David had been in a terrorist attack as a child. As a result of this experience, his powers manifested themselves, but his identity shattered into many different personalities. He also absorbed the mind of the terrorist who attacked them.

      Of all the personalities, the strongest ones were Cyndi (a teenage girl who controls and generates fire) and Jack Wayne (the stereotype of a great hero children could idolize, even if he was not exactly heroic, who has telekinetic powers).

      All the personalities try to be the dominant one, and Jemail, the terrorist, tried to help David by merging all of the pieces into a single personality. David's real personality remained that of a child, so he needed Jemail's protection. When Moira has to bring Charles to help his son, the New Mutants think Jack Wayne is good and Jemail is bad, though.

      In the 90s (I think it must have been in 1990 and/or 1991, right before the new X-Men title (when the two teams structure was created) Legion was still in Muir Island and fell into the influence of the Shadow King. He killed Destiny, which is why Mystique is hunting him before Legion Quest/The Age of Apocalypse.

      As for the Shadow King, Farouk is dead, but the King still remained as a menace to the X-Men through the 80s and most of the 90s. He appeared in a very important Karma story in The New Mutants. He destroyed Muir Island and helped launch the new X-titles and teams in 1991. He battled Storm and Candra in the mid-90s. He was finally defeated by Psylocke in Psi-War, but she had to give up her telepathic powers, because they were completely and constantly needed to keep him in check.

      That is the last time I saw him. I do not know if he escaped recently (after or during 2010, which is when I stopped buying everything). But yeah, we can say he definitely survived the issue of X-Men you reviewed.

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    3. Oh wow, sounds like you're an expert! I've only read a couple of stories about Shadow King or Legion, and I'm still in the process of buying Claremont's run on New Mutants (I only have the first tpb). And I barely have a handful of Marvel comics from the 90s.

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    4. Heheheh, thanks. I was there for most of the 90s (starting with a few English issues in 1993, then continuously from the last half of 1994). Even though imported comics were so much cheaper in 1993, I was only 13 years old, so I still had to rely on what was brought by local translators.

      I have some 80s X-Men, but I have all of the New Mutants (except the graphic novel that started it all).

      You will love Claremont's New Mutants. Weezie could come up with good stories, but she presented them as if they were for a cartoon for very young kids: the characters would overexplain everything, or would use a simple excuse to force their actions and the plot.

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    5. Yeah, I can see you had a special connection to the 90s.

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