This is a theme we’ve seen a lot this decade ( Uncanny Avengers was deliberately tackling this idea on the heels of Avengers vs. You could also make a case that the Illuminati’s treatment of Beast – the lone mutant – is a reflection of the Marvel Universe’s general dismissal of mutant rights. Is Hickman less interested in Beast, or did he simply want to avoid wading in to the murky waters of the timey-wimey absurdity All-New X-Men writer Brian Michael Bendis had cooked up? It’s tough to say for sure why this is the case. Whereas every other player has an easily definable arc or role to play, Beast is left to tech support and teaching prisoners Latin. Of the entire Illuminati lineup – Doctor Strange, Reed Richards, Black Bolt, Iron Man, Captain America (kinda), Namor, T’Challa, Doc Green (eventually), and Beast – I’d argue Hank McCoy gets the least attention.

It’s almost easy to forget, but Beast is a formative member of Hickman’s New Avengers Illuminati, filling the mutant slot formerly held by the then deceased Professor X. Prior to the below inclusion of various mutants in his Avengers and Ultimates runs, Hickman also scripted issues #4 and #6 of the Avengers vs. Just ask Secret Wars (2015) Mister Sinister: FF readers know this perfectly well, but because of the ambition and world-ending seriousness that his most well known comics tackle, it’s often lost that Hickman can write some very funny, charming moments as well. While die-hard X-Men fans may not consider Deadpool a part of the franchise, I highlight this early mutant writing simply to illustrate the humor and style that Hickman can bring to a project.

Here’s how the X-Men have fared under the pen of Jonathan Hickman:īefore his Avengers epic wove in various elements of Marvel’s merry mutants, Jonathan Hickman wrote an extremely fun short story in Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu, in which Deadpool and Shang-Chi compete in a Mad Max style motorcycle race.

Support CBH on Patreon for exclusive rewards, or Donate here! Thank you for reading! When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a qualifying affiliate commission.Ĭomic Book Herald’s reading orders and guides are also made possible by reader support on Patreon, and generous reader donations.Īny size contribution will help keep CBH alive and full of new comics guides and content.

Secret wars by jonathan hickman