I discussed this topic on another board and it was pretty cool to see a few different ideas, so I thought I'd try and kick-start it here...If you were given free rein to reorganise the X-Men franchise, using only the characters still alive, how would you do it? You can invent new titles and throw characters wherever you want, just as long as they're currently on the board.
Here are my ideas:
Uncanny X-Men
Main Cast: Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast, Angel, Shadowcat, Colossus, Dazzler, Namor
Supporting Cast: Professor Xavier, Black Panther
Based on the island Utopia, this team is the public face of mutantkind. Realising the error in his militaristic turn, Cyclops chose to embrace the new Heroic Age and sought to realise Professor Xavier's dream like never before by opening Utopia to the world as a sovereign state, welcoming both mutants and humans alike. He selected his team carefully: Emma, his partner and a redeemed villain to show the public how accepting mutants can be despite their bad press; Beast, publicly renowned for his tenure with the Avengers, who agreed to return to keep the team morally grounded but still has tension with Cyclops; Angel, the wealthy owner of Worthington Industries and Utopia's main financial backer; Shadowcat and Colossus, a likeable, 'normal' long-term couple; Dazzler, a famous pop star; and Namor, another former Avenger and the king of Atlantis.
Working alongside this team is Professor Xavier himself, who provides guidance when needed, and the Black Panther, who has pledged to use his political power to help establish Utopia.
This title would focus on the team dealing with mutant affairs largely outside of Utopia, as well as attempting to improve the image of mutantkind as a whole.
X-Men: Legacy
Main Cast: Professor Xavier, Magneto, Madison Jeffries, Dr Cecelia Reyes, Dr Nemesis, Dr Kavita Rao, Danger, Omega Sentinel
Supporting Cast: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, the population of Utopia
With Cyclops leading his team of X-Men, the running of Utopia fell to the unlikely partnership of Professor Xavier and Magneto. The former friends, still uneasy around one another, are forced to work together to hold Utopia together as it experiences an influx of humans, mutants, and publicity. Hoping to keep order, they appoint certain members of the mutant population into positions of authority, creating a ruling council that democratically and informally governs the island. The three remaining members of the X-Club, Madison Jeffries, Dr Nemesis, and Dr Kavita Rao, become the heads of science and technology, while Dr Cecelia Reyes assumes responsibility for Utopia's medical services. Xavier reluctantly allows Danger to be placed in charge of security, and Omega Sentinel acts as her assistant - the council's eyes and ears around Utopia, as well as the head of an informal police group.
Cyclops acts as a consultant to the council, while Angel and Beast retain their connections to the X-Club and are often brought in to cope with particular problems (for the former, financial issues, and for the latter, scientific difficulties). Everyone on Utopia - from Avalanche to Northstar, from Magik to Toad - is under the council's watchful eye.
This title would focus on the inner workings and politics of Utopia, as well as the slow reuilding of Xavier's friendship with Magneto.
X.S.E. (X-Treme Sanctions Executive)
Main Cast: Storm, Captain Britain, Peter Wisdom, Sabra, Darkstar, Sasquatch
Supporting Cast: Steve Rogers
A United Nations-backed worldwide police force, this is the official international team that hadles human/mutant disputes. As the founder, Storm was elected leader but was handed a list of names from which to select her team by the UN, who hoped to ensure multi-national diversity. She chose Captain Britain to be her co-leader and also called upon his fellow Englishman, Peter Wisdom; from Israel, she enlisted Sabra due to her past experience with the X-Men during Operation: Zero Tolerance; from Russia's Winter Guard, she recruited Darkstar; and from Canada came Sasquatch. They handle any assignment given to them by the UN and operate across the globe, fighting for peace wherever needed with Steve Rogers as their UN liaison.
This title would essentially be an international, government-mandated version X-Men, giving more obscure characters a chance to shine.
X-Force
Main Cast: Rogue, Havok, Wolverine, Iceman, Cannonball, Gambit, Psylocke, Polaris, Marvel Girl
Supporting Cast: None
Unlike the previous incarnation of X-Force, this version of the team does not kill. It does, however, operate out of the public eye and not in connection with Utopia. Rogue felt that Utopia's status as an official state restricted the team's ability to truly protect mutantkind and so broke away from the main group. Iceman and Cannonball, having worked under her before, agreed to follow her despite their reservations about being part of a covert squad. Wolverine, Psylocke, and Gambit were all perfect fits for the team, having had much experience in lying low and doing what is necessary. Rounding out the group is the newly returned spacefarers: Havok, the team's co-leader, Polaris, and Marvel Girl.
This title would follow this secretive team as they worked proactively to take down threats to mutantkind before those threats escalated into the open.
Generation X
Main Cast: Danielle Moonstar, Karma, Sunspot, Husk, Hope Summers, X-students [Surge, Hellion, X-23, Mercury, Anole, Rockslide, Armor, Blindfold, Dust, et al.]
Supporting Cast: None
Realising that Utopia may not be the best place for the students to hone their abilities due to it suddenly being such a public domain, Cyclops asked Danielle Moonstar and Karma - both former leaders - to return to the newly rebuilt X-mansion and train the next generation there. Their old teammate Sunspot decided to accompany them, as did Hope, who found herself forming friendships with some of the younger students, and Husk, who was eager to find a new purpose. Not all of the kids returned to the mansion, but those who did continue to train and develop under the watchful eyes of the former students - the generation that preceded them.
This title would focus on the idea of one young generation - Moonstar, Karma, Sunspot, and Husk - teaching another - the kids and Hope, who continues to learn more about herself and her role as the 'mutant messiah'.
Here are my ideas:
Uncanny X-Men
Main Cast: Cyclops, Emma Frost, Beast, Angel, Shadowcat, Colossus, Dazzler, Namor
Supporting Cast: Professor Xavier, Black Panther
Based on the island Utopia, this team is the public face of mutantkind. Realising the error in his militaristic turn, Cyclops chose to embrace the new Heroic Age and sought to realise Professor Xavier's dream like never before by opening Utopia to the world as a sovereign state, welcoming both mutants and humans alike. He selected his team carefully: Emma, his partner and a redeemed villain to show the public how accepting mutants can be despite their bad press; Beast, publicly renowned for his tenure with the Avengers, who agreed to return to keep the team morally grounded but still has tension with Cyclops; Angel, the wealthy owner of Worthington Industries and Utopia's main financial backer; Shadowcat and Colossus, a likeable, 'normal' long-term couple; Dazzler, a famous pop star; and Namor, another former Avenger and the king of Atlantis.
Working alongside this team is Professor Xavier himself, who provides guidance when needed, and the Black Panther, who has pledged to use his political power to help establish Utopia.
This title would focus on the team dealing with mutant affairs largely outside of Utopia, as well as attempting to improve the image of mutantkind as a whole.
X-Men: Legacy
Main Cast: Professor Xavier, Magneto, Madison Jeffries, Dr Cecelia Reyes, Dr Nemesis, Dr Kavita Rao, Danger, Omega Sentinel
Supporting Cast: Cyclops, Angel, Beast, the population of Utopia
With Cyclops leading his team of X-Men, the running of Utopia fell to the unlikely partnership of Professor Xavier and Magneto. The former friends, still uneasy around one another, are forced to work together to hold Utopia together as it experiences an influx of humans, mutants, and publicity. Hoping to keep order, they appoint certain members of the mutant population into positions of authority, creating a ruling council that democratically and informally governs the island. The three remaining members of the X-Club, Madison Jeffries, Dr Nemesis, and Dr Kavita Rao, become the heads of science and technology, while Dr Cecelia Reyes assumes responsibility for Utopia's medical services. Xavier reluctantly allows Danger to be placed in charge of security, and Omega Sentinel acts as her assistant - the council's eyes and ears around Utopia, as well as the head of an informal police group.
Cyclops acts as a consultant to the council, while Angel and Beast retain their connections to the X-Club and are often brought in to cope with particular problems (for the former, financial issues, and for the latter, scientific difficulties). Everyone on Utopia - from Avalanche to Northstar, from Magik to Toad - is under the council's watchful eye.
This title would focus on the inner workings and politics of Utopia, as well as the slow reuilding of Xavier's friendship with Magneto.
X.S.E. (X-Treme Sanctions Executive)
Main Cast: Storm, Captain Britain, Peter Wisdom, Sabra, Darkstar, Sasquatch
Supporting Cast: Steve Rogers
A United Nations-backed worldwide police force, this is the official international team that hadles human/mutant disputes. As the founder, Storm was elected leader but was handed a list of names from which to select her team by the UN, who hoped to ensure multi-national diversity. She chose Captain Britain to be her co-leader and also called upon his fellow Englishman, Peter Wisdom; from Israel, she enlisted Sabra due to her past experience with the X-Men during Operation: Zero Tolerance; from Russia's Winter Guard, she recruited Darkstar; and from Canada came Sasquatch. They handle any assignment given to them by the UN and operate across the globe, fighting for peace wherever needed with Steve Rogers as their UN liaison.
This title would essentially be an international, government-mandated version X-Men, giving more obscure characters a chance to shine.
X-Force
Main Cast: Rogue, Havok, Wolverine, Iceman, Cannonball, Gambit, Psylocke, Polaris, Marvel Girl
Supporting Cast: None
Unlike the previous incarnation of X-Force, this version of the team does not kill. It does, however, operate out of the public eye and not in connection with Utopia. Rogue felt that Utopia's status as an official state restricted the team's ability to truly protect mutantkind and so broke away from the main group. Iceman and Cannonball, having worked under her before, agreed to follow her despite their reservations about being part of a covert squad. Wolverine, Psylocke, and Gambit were all perfect fits for the team, having had much experience in lying low and doing what is necessary. Rounding out the group is the newly returned spacefarers: Havok, the team's co-leader, Polaris, and Marvel Girl.
This title would follow this secretive team as they worked proactively to take down threats to mutantkind before those threats escalated into the open.
Generation X
Main Cast: Danielle Moonstar, Karma, Sunspot, Husk, Hope Summers, X-students [Surge, Hellion, X-23, Mercury, Anole, Rockslide, Armor, Blindfold, Dust, et al.]
Supporting Cast: None
Realising that Utopia may not be the best place for the students to hone their abilities due to it suddenly being such a public domain, Cyclops asked Danielle Moonstar and Karma - both former leaders - to return to the newly rebuilt X-mansion and train the next generation there. Their old teammate Sunspot decided to accompany them, as did Hope, who found herself forming friendships with some of the younger students, and Husk, who was eager to find a new purpose. Not all of the kids returned to the mansion, but those who did continue to train and develop under the watchful eyes of the former students - the generation that preceded them.
This title would focus on the idea of one young generation - Moonstar, Karma, Sunspot, and Husk - teaching another - the kids and Hope, who continues to learn more about herself and her role as the 'mutant messiah'.
