Why X-Men Don’t Belong in the Marvel Film Universe
I love the X-Men, I really do. I think that as a symbol for social equality, they’re something quite special. They came out in a time where civil rights were a major issue and I think X-Men shaped the minds of several young people, showing them why equality is important. This idea permeates through X-Men to today. X-Men are mutants, a group of people who’s abilities set them apart from the rest of society and who are persecuted. I believe that Bryan Singer was able to showcase this idea quite well, and that might be due to his own sexuality and how at times in his life he has felt like an outsider. But does that theme and those ideas really mesh with the current Marvel film universe? Not really.
People may not really understand the whole Marvel film universe and why we most likely won’t see Fantastic Four or X-Men or Spider-Man teaming up with the Avengers any time soon. Before Marvel was a film studio and owned by Disney, they licensed off their characters to many other companies including Lions Gate, Fox, Columbia Pictures/Sony and New Line Cinemas. Spider-Man is at Columbia/Sony, X-Men is at Fox and there they will stay as long as the studios keep making those movies. While I am sad that Spidey isn’t a part of the Avengers line up, I can’t say I am about Wolverine and other X-Men.
This idea of being social outcasts and being hated on for their genetic make up simply doesn’t work in a world where Tony Stark is praised, Captain America is a symbol for Justice and Thor is a God who people like. These characters would HAVE to deal with the same type of social injustice and hatred as the X-Men would, but that message doesn’t really work.
You can’t have Wolverine on the team and some one calls him a dirty mutant but think that Captain America (who served with Logan in WWII) is fine even though he’s genetically altered as well. The formula simply doesn’t work. Bruce Banner is yet another genetic freak with a ton of issues and yet he’s a big time hero that saved the world and people aren’t up in arms about it.
I simply can’t buy into the “mutant issue” in what Joss Whedon has set up. It almost feels like The X-Men belong in their own universe and even now in the comics it feels that way too.
