COVER STORY: The X-Cellent #1

What makes the best comic book covers? It is a great topic for debate. For us, as individuals, there is no wrong answer, of course; it is purely subjective. But, with a little thought it’s possible to explain what it is about a particular image that grabs you. The best images are the ones that make you stop and check out something you weren’t previously planning to purchase – and in some cases, you even end up picking up a title you’ve never even heard of before.

Author Dan Raviv’s 2004 bestseller Comic Wars describes one-time Marvel President of Publishing and New Media Bill Jemas as coming from places of trading cards – be it Fleer or Skybox. At the time, Jemas was a 42-year-old executive who “actually read Marvel’s comics.” Joining forces with editor in chief and artist Joe Quesada, the two heads of the publisher often strategized that if the comic book market in the turn of the new millennium said goes right, the duo would immediately turn left.

They did things their way, and opposite of the status quo. And it aided Marvel and its various products – and some say comics, in general – be profitable again, while making Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar household names. Jemas’ reign at Marvel also brought Vertigo creators Peter Milligan and Michael Allred to take over Rob Liefeld’s pride and joy, X-Force. The team then renamed their version of the young super-team into X-Statix, who ended up facing everyone from themselves to the flagship team, the Avengers. 

Now the world’s weirdest mutants have evolved again into The X-Cellent. And the cover of the first issue pays homage to X-Men #100 from 1976. Taking note from Dave Cockrum pitting the new team of the Children of the Atom against old, the cover of The X-Cellent #1 pits members of X-Force and X-Statix against the new team of the X-Cellent.

Needless to say, lots of Merry Marvel Mayhem ensues – for the better!

-Scott Braden