X-Cellent #1 marks the return of one of Marvel’s most obscure and forgettable X-Men teams, providing an update on what they’ve been up to.
Warning: The following contains spoilers for X-Cellent #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
X-Cellent #1 (by Peter Milligan, Mike Allred, Laura Allred, and Blambot’s Nate Piekos) spotlights two competing media-savvy teams, X-Cellent and X-Statix, even though the modern mutant timeline seems to have forgotten them. However, both of these X-Men teams have a rich history and are formidable on their own despite their constant obstacles.
X-Cellent and X-Statix both once wore the title of the respectable X-Men team, X-Force. Long before The Boys depicted the drama and danger of superheroes in our media-rich, corporate world, Mike Allred was tackling these issues by way of these two teams, which were owned and managed by corporate powers. The focus of these mutants was on video rights, clips, likes, and followers, with the approval of the public being the driving force behind this unusual but socially relevant team.
In 2001, X-Force #116 (by Peter Milligan, Michael Allred, and Laura Allred) introduced a whole new team that consisted of Zeitgesit, U-Go Girl, Doop, the Anarchist, and other characters with odd abilities who went on wild adventures across the globe. The biggest difference between them and other X-Men teams was that everything they did was recorded and streamed out to the public. Almost all of the original team died in their first appearance and a whole new roster appeared consisting of Mr. Sensitive (the Orphan), Phat, Bloke, Vivisector, and Saint Anna. The series focused on classic X-team elements: they rescued a powerful mutant child, faced off with Wolverine, and traveled into space. To this, the series added the reality show drama of groupies, wannabe members, Hollywood agents and contracts, while also tackling real-world issues such as addiction, racism, and death. The unusual mix was something entirely unique that had not been seen before in other mutant titles.
X-Force ended with issue #129 (by Milligan, Duncan Fegredo, Laura Allred, and Blambot’s Nate Piekos) and the team returned in the X-Statix title in 2002. That series ended with the team facing a disastrous and deadly final mission. 2019 saw a single issue return of the team in Giant-Size X-Statix (by Milligan, Michael “Doc” Allred, Laura Allred, and Piekos) where the two different teams that used the name X-Force (aside from the original team of the ’90s) reassembled. There it was revealed Zeitgeist had never died, and formed a new team called the X-Cellent. The new issue is a direct follow-up, and shows the fallout of the two team’s first violent encounter over the abduction of Katie, U-Go Girl’s daughter. The battles are fought in public, the video clips are doctored, and the winner is decided by public opinion.
The new mutant age of Krakoa has brought nearly all mutants under a single umbrella, but not all mutants are embracing the vision and identity of the new mutant society. The modern timeline seems to have forgotten about these odd teams and their members. With the exception of Doop and Dead Girl, the members of these teams have been largely absent since the formation of the new mutant society.
This absence could be explained by both X-Cellent’s and X-Statix’s desire to avoid connection with the classic mutant teams. Early on, the team drew the concern of the Avengers, who saw the media-hungry mutants as irresponsible. An ensuing battle earned them Captain America’s respect, but the team questioned how they had become so mainstream, a question that may continue to plague them in their newest incarnation. They have no desire to be accepted by the older generation of heroes.
Nonetheless, the X-Statix team is not completely disconnected from the Krakoan mutants. Mister Sensitive owes his life to Professor X, who designed a special suit to reduce the stimuli that he experiences, allowing him to live a normal life. Team member Doop was on staff as a receptionist at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning and even attempted to join the mutants on Krakoa. Dead Girl has also appeared recently as a school counselor at the Strange Academy.
These two teams are filled with powerful characters who have earned the respect of other classic Marvel heroes, and it probably won’t be long before these two teams are made to confront the new reality mutants now face. Their position in the eye of the public is likely to make their views on Krakoa very important, and ignoring these two teams might prove to be a mistake from a public relations standpoint.
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