Comics Why are the X-Women made more powerful than the men?

[ProfeZZor X]

I've noticed over the years that most of the X-Women have been written as being more powerful than the men. This is not limited to their roles on the team, to the drama in their lives, to secondary mutations, to other significant issues that arise within the teams... Is it that male writers prefer women characters over men?.. Maybe the scales should be tipped and we get some women writers that take more interest in the male characters.

I know Claremont is particularly fond of women characters, but I haven't seen any other writer take interest in any dramatic and memorable occurances with the male characters... With the exception of Wolverine.

Beast - is turning into the resident "professor"
Bishop - has his own demons to deal with
Colossus - is becoming a background character
Cyclops - seems more withdrawn from the team
Gambit - seems dumber as a horseman that normal
Havok - is unpredictable with leading and his love life
Iceman - is still a unachieving comedic background character
Nightcrawler - doesn't seem to be going anywhere on the team

 

[javon]

I have noticed that as well. Jean, Storm, Rogue...heck even Jubilee. They all seem to be more powerful than the men for some reason. And most of the men don;t have LOCALIZED powers. Jean can communicate froma miles away (i guess thats localized), we all know Storms power is localized, Jubilees....well I take her back...and Rogue...but she has Sunfire's power so...

 

[Harlekin]

Domination fetishes.

 

[ProfeZZor X]

Domination fetishes.

So why not have an all women team and all male team. Get the male equivalent of the women team mates, in terms of powers, and you got yourself a "good old boys" club.

This is probably why I'm not as interested in many of the X-Men characters, just because of this issue. Colossus used to be my number one character, but after he fell off after taking the legacy virus cure, he hasn't been that interesting, besides being the jaded and optamistic "muscle" of the team. I say give him a secondary mutation, or have Sage advance his mutation to liquify and reshape his metal body. Or take on the same properties like Metalhead in X-Men 2099.

 

[javon]

Weel I don't really read the ud-to-date comics like that cilcil war and stuff so I can't say.....

 

[gambitfire]

I've noticed over the years that most of the X-Women have been written as being more powerful than the men. This is not limited to their roles on the team, to the drama in their lives, to secondary mutations, to other significant issues that arise within the teams... Is it that male writers prefer women characters over men?.. Maybe the scales should be tipped and we get some women writers that take more interest in the male characters.

I know Claremont is particularly fond of women characters, but I haven't seen any other writer take interest in any dramatic and memorable occurances with the male characters... With the exception of Wolverine.

Beast - is turning into the resident "professor"
Bishop - has his own demons to deal with
Colossus - is becoming a background character
Cyclops - seems more withdrawn from the team
Gambit - seems dumber as a horseman that normal
Havok - is unpredictable with leading and his love life
Iceman - is still a unachieving comedic background character
Nightcrawler - doesn't seem to be going anywhere on the team

Jerk ....lol sorry but that wasn't nice.

How is Wolverine the exception of the list? i don't mean drama wise but power wise.

Mainly i think the whole thing is a femenist movement ........., could be.

I think it's a guy thing, i honeslty do. I have a female character and she's not the main hero but she kicks more ass than he does. The writers like these girls and they want too make them kick ass. (it must turn them on )

 

[gambitfire]

I have noticed that as well. Jean, Storm, Rogue...heck even Jubilee. They all seem to be more powerful than the men for some reason. And most of the men don;t have LOCALIZED powers. Jean can communicate froma miles away (i guess thats localized), we all know Storms power is localized, Jubilees....well I take her back...and Rogue...but she has Sunfire's power so...

Cyclops can destroy mountains and more , Iceman can probably freeze half the ocean, Bishop can absorb enough energy to wipe out a city, Gambit can charge enough energy to destroy a world, and Colossus is practically invulnerable.

I think story wise they make the females seem more powerful, but the guys are just as strong.

 

[Majik1387]

Cyclops can destroy mountains and more , Iceman can probably freeze half the ocean, Bishop can absorb enough energy to wipe out a city, Gambit can charge enough energy to destroy a world, and Colossus is practically invulnerable.

I think story wise they make the females seem more powerful, but the guys are just as strong.

I agree.

 

[War Lord]

It's called PMS people.

Men just can't stand up to that power.

 

[Cosmic Mind]

hmmmm.... women powerful than men...... they should expand the guys powers. Cyclops powers seems to be strong, but they havent go beyond, they just limit it to the eyes... Gambit...poor guy. he deserves justice, the same goes to Iceman. those three guys make me sad because the writers hasn't explore their potential not only on their powers but in themselves as humans (because they are humans, they have feelings, they can think, reason, decide for they own, the only difference is that they got powers, that's all).........

 

[ProfeZZor X]

I agree.

I don't mean in terms of what they can do (well, sort of), I'm talking about some great drama in their lives. The can blast, destroy, freeze, or pummel all they want. It still doesn't change the fact that besides these powers of theirs, the men seem boring. Or are perceived as dumb, ignorant and inexperienced (Gambit & Iceman). The only true relationship is Cyclops and Emma.... Now Storm & Black Panther. None of the other guys are involved with anyone, let alone have any bastardized kids.... Which is another whole topic in itself (Why don't any of these ADULTS have kids by now).

 

[triplefive]

Perhaps just to offer something different to comic-buyers. You've got Superman, Spiderman, Batman, etc... yeah, there are some female superheros, but then those end up being like "grrl" comics. It's a little bit like affirmative action if you think of it in that sense.

 

[ProfeZZor X]

Perhaps just to offer something different to comic-buyers. You've got Superman, Spiderman, Batman, etc... yeah, there are some female superheros, but then those end up being like "grrl" comics. It's a little bit like affirmative action if you think of it in that sense.

I have no problem with powerful women.. heck, look at Oprah...

But in terms of the men, there haven't been any interesting stories on any of them in years. Most of them are still single, none of them really have a life outside the mansion (compared to Johnny Storm and his social life), and their only focus is to bring down the next super villain.

It's almost a biased situation.... Most of the X-women have relationships, and none of the men really do. The women are given additional powers, whereas the men just have power boosts...

 

[Sloth7d]

I've noticed over the years that most of the X-Women have been written as being more powerful than the men. This is not limited to their roles on the team, to the drama in their lives, to secondary mutations, to other significant issues that arise within the teams... Is it that male writers prefer women characters over men?.. Maybe the scales should be tipped and we get some women writers that take more interest in the male characters.

I know Claremont is particularly fond of women characters, but I haven't seen any other writer take interest in any dramatic and memorable occurances with the male characters... With the exception of Wolverine.

Beast - is turning into the resident "professor"
Bishop - has his own demons to deal with
Colossus - is becoming a background character
Cyclops - seems more withdrawn from the team
Gambit - seems dumber as a horseman that normal
Havok - is unpredictable with leading and his love life
Iceman - is still a unachieving comedic background character
Nightcrawler - doesn't seem to be going anywhere on the team

A more important question is why is X-men originated from the civil rights movement?

 

[Chasers1984(2)]

With great power comes a sudden resistence to clothing.

Think about the "steriotypical" comic audience. Now ponder the above statement. Now ask yourself how incredibly sexist it is.

 

[triplefive]

I have no problem with powerful women.. heck, look at Oprah...

But in terms of the men, there haven't been any interesting stories on any of them in years. Most of them are still single, none of them really have a life outside the mansion (compared to Johnny Storm and his social life), and their only focus is to bring down the next super villain.

It's almost a biased situation.... Most of the X-women have relationships, and none of the men really do. The women are given additional powers, whereas the men just have power boosts...

Many of the X-Women who are in relationships are in them with X-*Men*, no?

 

[gambitfire]

I don't mean in terms of what they can do (well, sort of), I'm talking about some great drama in their lives. The can blast, destroy, freeze, or pummel all they want. It still doesn't change the fact that besides these powers of theirs, the men seem boring. Or are perceived as dumb, ignorant and inexperienced (Gambit & Iceman). The only true relationship is Cyclops and Emma.... Now Storm & Black Panther. None of the other guys are involved with anyone, let alone have any bastardized kids.... Which is another whole topic in itself (Why don't any of these ADULTS have kids by now).

what are you reading?
Up until recentley Gambit and Iceman have had relationships. As for the characters being dumb, i don't recall this can you show me a specific panel where they come off as dumb? and i don't mean anything within the last year because it's been established that this past year has been a mess for Gambit and prob. Iceman. So as far as them being dumb i think that's your opinion.

As far as them not being used in any good stories ill agree they arn't and let's face it Marvel is never going to leave Gambit and Rogue in peace. Just like they will never leave Scott and Jean.

As for Scott and Emma i have nothing against it but alot of ppl do so that all counts depending on who likes it and who doesn't.

 

[toya thegr8]

Meh, in the whole of Marvel the most powerful women derive from the X-Men. If other titles aren't going to produce powerul charcters writers like CC make it happens. Maybe if more non X-Females were powerful, the need for powerful femmes in X-Men will decrease and leave way for male power development. There is only one female(or it is just an "Entity" the Phoenix thing) Omega after all.

 

[X_fan08]

I think that its has do with the fact that as men, we're limited to the way we can express our self but women can do more when it comes to expressions like clothes, shoes, haircuts etc. In power wise women can get away with having outrageous powers like the psychokinetc ability to move her hair any way she wanted. (Medusa of the inhumans.. i think) No character that is of the male gender could pull that kind of power off without being womanly(No offense ladies.) or looked at funny.

 

[masterj]

I think that the reason there are more poweful women is that the audiecne build an attatchment to women easier than they do to men so therefore the writer's give the mroe interestign characetr designs, powers histories etc to the women.

For example there are far more Storm, Phoenix, Rogue and Psylocke fans than there are Beast, Angel, Cyclops and Wolverine fans. It's also visible in other comics and shows such as Buffy and Angel (Granted Buffy is a female orientated programme).

Also I think people find it more interesting to have powerful women as in society women are often shown as physically weaker so it is interesting to see them in a power reversal. Plus it's kinda hot to see a woman indulge in her power.

 

[HandOfFate]

For example there are far more Storm, Phoenix, Rogue and Psylocke fans than there are Beast, Angel, Cyclops and Wolverine fans. It's also visible in other comics and shows such as Buffy and Angel (Granted Buffy is a female orientated programme).

I was with you until the Wolverine part. Logan has a sh1t load of fans.

 

[masterj]

I was with you until the Wolverine part. Logan has a sh1t load of fans.

Yer you're right. But that's only due to his over exposure.

 

[gambitfire]

^here we go again.......MasterJ don't get the Wolvie fans started please.....

Hey i watched BUFFY!!!!

Joss Whedon just loves writing kick ass girls

 

[LittleMissVixen]

"These chicks need to go back to getting captured by villains and designing the team uniforms (ie., Jean, the Wasp). Let the Men take care of the heroics " - Ann Coulter [parody]

 

[gambitfire]

LOL........that's a first, especially coming from a woman.