Chris Claremont is in a love-him-or-hate-him situation lately. Maybe that’s because most recent work seems to be hit-or-miss. This one man helps define the Children of the Atom for an entire generation; now he’s more of a trophy Marvel keeps on their payroll. But what did he do so well that people try to emulate him? Better yet why are people thinking twice about him. Let’s find out.
Chris Claremont: Child of the Atom
Claremont’s childhood is one of constant movement. Due to his parents busy lifestyles, settling is something the young Chris cannot afford. Not fitting in with other youths, Claremont encounters comic books as a gift from his grandmother. Superheroes, however, are not his go-to. That honor goes to the adventures of Dan Dare; Brits love science fiction. For Claremont though, he wants to create stories that will touch people in a big way. So he studies political science in college while doing activities like acting and writing.
Funny thing is, Claremont like many thought, comics were a dying art form. I wonder how surprised he was when working in Marvel as an editorial assistant. It just goes to show that things work out in the strangest ways. Claremont works as editor and scripting for a time, eventually meeting his creative partner John Byrne. Pretty soon Len Wein gives Claremont the opportunity to work with a team he bonds with. And like a chemical reaction, Claremont’s method acting techniques reconstitutes the X-Men.
Inclusion by Mutation
The X-Men adapt and change into new characters unrecognizable from the original Stan Lee concept. Jean Grey quite easily gets the most development. Most comic writers in the old days don’t really interpret women all that well; none of them really knew how. Jean during those times was really just a token X-Man with weak telekinesis. Wonder how Stan and Kirby would do Jean justice; they did it for Sue Storm. But I think Claremont had a better idea thanks to the women in his family. His mom wasn’t just a caterer, she was a pilot too. Don’t forget his grandma who is the reason Claremont discovers comics. There are so many female characters taking center stage, the X-Men serve as a gateway for even more readers.
Sometimes, Claremont collaborates or entrusts others to have the X-Men dive into more scenarios. Louise and Walt Simonson for epic battles against Apocalypse; Frank Miller for a self-reflective journey of Wolverine; even a crossover with the Teen Titans. For seventeen years, the X-Men becomes a franchise that expands beyond the Marvel universe. Unlike Spider-Man and the Avengers, Claremont touches all parts of life. From immigration, PTSD, and parenthood the X-Men become a household name.
The Legend of Chris Claremont
If anyone is familiar with the X-Men, it is in some part because of Claremont. Most of the X-Men’s most famous depictions in television and film take inspiration from these series. Unfortunately, that’s also what holds the X-Men back most of the time. With all of Claremont’s success, there comes the expectations of comparable results. Take for example the Dark Phoenix Saga, one of the most iconic events in comic book history. It is equal parts a tribute to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s era and a way to push boundaries. Jean gains greater power from an event not unlike the Fantastic Four. Unfortunately, her power becomes so overwhelming it consumes her as the Dark Phoenix.
The subsequent parts of the series show the X-Men at their most vulnerable. Unlike Magneto, the Hellfire Club, or even the Purifiers, Dark Phoenix is a great tragedy. Jean is one of their own and is not even in control of her powers. She is essentially drunk on power and is on trial for something she has no autonomy over. Even Claremont didn’t know how to handle it without outrage. Dark Phoenix is a truly heart-breaking moment that changes the X-Men forever. That’s really saying something with comic’s cyclical nature.
Trying to Emulate
Now let’s look at the adaptations of the Dark Phoenix Saga. The 90s X-Men series probably does it best, arguably even better than Claremont. Not an insult, I swear! Wolverine and the X-Men meanwhile distills the event down to the point that it feels kind of shoehorned in. But at least it focuses on Jean’s relationship between her, Cyclops, and Wolverine. As for X-Men Evolution, things build up to the event but the series got canceled before anything happens.
Now let’s look at the movies; X-Men: The Last Stand cheapens the source material by showing Jean as being evil for no reason. In a cynical surprise, she murders some of the people she loves. The attempted reboots meanwhile don’t even know how to display the Phoenix persona. It’s either something Jean has in her all along or from an accident. It’s place in X-Men: Apocalypse even feels like betraying the source material. Dark Phoenix meanwhile shows the Fox Movies at their lowest point. Makes me wonder how Jean will appear in the MCU.
The Effect in Comics
After Claremont’s X-Men run ends after such a long time, writers and editors try to recreate that success. But most of the time they’re just cheap recreations. God Loves, Man Kills is about how people such as William Stryker take advantage of other people’s insecurities to further agendas. Nowadays, he’s just a vehicle to tell a redundant story that loses its grit. In fact, prior to Hickman, the best X-Men run comes from X-Men Red by Tom Taylor. Despite mutants being the target of oppression again, this series shows how perceptions trump truths. All courtesy of artificially induced barriers. It’s a two-way view both in and out of universe for new X-Men stories.
More importantly, Claremont’s X-Men run isn’t just about tragedies and fighting oppression; there are plenty of humorous moments and down-to-earth depictions of characters as people. These later runs make the mutants feel like there are only two dimensions to them.
Chris Claremont: Trying to Get Back
In fact, while on that topic, Claremont’s more recent comics detail one of his more famous creations, Nightcrawler. Kurt is a joyous and misunderstood swashbuckler. Nevertheless, he is a man of faith who finds love and hope in the best places. Unfortunately, a lot of the things that occur in this run happen too fast. Conflicts get a resolution rather quickly, save for those single times of Kurt spending time with friends. His eulogy at Wolverine’s funeral is a very high point. Even that however takes a backseat when a concept has competition. It turns out Mark Waid’s Daredevil already occupies a big spot in swashbuckling.
Afterward, Claremont does not really have much work aside from a few celebratory collaboration issues. Unfortunately, much like the rest of the X-Men, they’re stuck in the past. Which isn’t a bad thing, the Gambit mini-series is a fun romp with kid Storm. Meanwhile X-Treme X-Men is enjoyable but forgettable. Claremont himself is under contract with Marvel for a time he does not share publicly.
The Memory of Chris Claremont
Since none of these series were bestsellers, I wonder what’s going on in Marvel’s heads. Are they just gonna put him on the sidelines again? If that is the case, it actually reminds me about a non-X-Men character Claremont works with, Carol Danvers (as Ms. Marvel). Claremont helps develop this character at a steady pace in a manner similar to the X-Men. Carol develops as a character and even establishes herself in the Marvel Universe. But when she doesn’t perform to the standards the higher ups expect, Carol gets pushed aside in the worst way. I only hope that Claremont can find a way to get around like Carol does.
At the same time, I believe Claremont realizes why this is the case. In the 90s, Claremont almost helps found Image comics with The Huntsman. It’s essentially an attempt to give depth to a WildC.A.T.s character he creates. Unfortunately, his artist gets a better offer and any replacement goes to the X-Men or Image. Claremont decides to work in novels for a bit, feeling betrayed from an industry that values art and editing more. Sure he gets the chance to publish his character in somebody else’s series; but it doesn’t change the situation.
The Influence
Chris Claremont might not be doing anything major, but people who grew up with his stories are. Some of them even right the wrongs from Claremont’s X-Men cancellation. For example, Psylocke is back to being Betsy Braddock in body and soul. Those editors could’ve saved a lot of headaches. Even now, Claremont continues to be an influence that inspires many. His words of Never Looking Back is something that Marvel (DC even) needs. The MCU even has a way for Betsy to be separate from Psylocke.
The Future of Chris Claremont
Right now the best that Claremont can do is an original graphic novel like New Mutants: War Children. No continuity other than his own and putting his best foot forward to be someone’s first comic. At least he’s doing something there. But these days, he’s more or less nostalgia bait. Mostly because he’d rather finish what he didn’t have time to do before. Not that Marvel’s letting him. Plus he gets under people’s skin because his sense of humor comes from the UK. Well… nobody’s perfect.
At this point, it’s obvious that Claremont should take his own advice and never look back.
Thanks for coming and as always, remember to look between the panels.