This November, Si Spurrier and Tan Eng Huat’s X-Men Legacy will no longer feature a team led by Rogue as Professor X’s son, Legion, takes center stage.
MTV Geek got all the necessary information from writer Si Spurrier. Here are few excerpts:
On what led up to X – Men: Legacy taking a new direction:
I’d go so far as to say the title’s historically had a second constant too: a certain focusing of perspective; an earnestness and personality-led truth which comes from experiencing things through the eyes of a single character rather than bouncing between all the members of a team. It’s a more direct narrative POV, essentially. In the past the title has been principally preoccupied with Xavier, then Magneto, then Rogue… Now it’s David’s turn. The whole point of doing things this way is that we get a really unique perspective on the Marvel Universe in general and its mutanty side in particular. I tend to think things take on a richer, more truthful flavour when they’re being processed through a character’s direct filter, and it opens the door (or in David’s case, ha, doors) to a lot of interesting new stories. As for the vibe you identifed – the (literal) legacy of the x-verse – yeah, that’s still hugely important. We’re going to be bumping into a lot of surprising but familiar faces and concepts along the way. Part of my original pitch was to treat one half of David’s tale as if it were a homage to Claremont-era X-Men, then juxtapose and strike sparks off it with the other half. Which I can’t really talk about at all.
On Legion’s personality:
Does he have a core personality? Yeah, definitely. It’s debatable whether that’s something which has historically always been the case – he’s passed through so many writers’ hands and been characterised with so many different psychic flavours – that I’m not sure it’d be possible to really say “this is what he’s always been like”. But there are clues in the mix, and recurring themes, so this title is really our opportunity to coalesce everything and say “this is the definitive David Haller.” I hesitate to say too much about him because part of the journey we’ll be taking is about meeting this amazing guy properly for the first time. But there are a few obvious notes you’d expect to see: he’s haunted by the trouble he’s inadvertently caused in the past, he’s shaped to a certain extent by his relationship with his father, and he’s constantly anxious about his own mind. He’s got a fascinating setup: he’s one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe but he can’t trust his own brain. That’s a fantastic, and often spooky, tension.
Spurrier talks about how intends to make Legion a lead character in his book:
I’ve made a few other stylistic choices too, because all too often David’s been treated as a Walking Plot Point rather than a fleshed-out character – it’s vital to reverse that trend. People tend to forget he grew up on Muir Island, so I’m instilling him with a faintly British – even slightly Scottish – accent. It lends itself well to sarcastic sniping, and I’m finding that as I get to know David he’s kinda characterised by a rich vein of black gallows humour. He’s seen so much tragedy and trauma, but he’s witty and sharp and able to force a sad smile in any situation. One snarky sod, basically – although underneath it all he’s the same frightened kid, scared of himself, as ever. Above all he’s a good guy. He wants to help – to matter – to make the world a better place. It’s just that he’s completely conflicted, not to mention constantly facing violent opposition, whenever he tries to figure out how to go about it.
On whether or not Legion will team up with other X – Men:
Actually, no – sod it – I think I’m probably allowed to say: this isn’t a “team book”. At least, not in the conventional sense — and to start with not at all. Whiiiiiich isn’t to say we won’t have appearances by big, recognisable characters in every episode, because we will. David’s story is very much a part of the X-Universe’s own developing yarn – it’s simply that he’s not going to be wearing a brightly coloured supersuit and having team-up banter. In fact, he’s very aware from the getgo that in a certain light the X-Men are kinda obliged to regard him as a villain.
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