We’re I in a position where I could influence, I would advocate for a three-arc structure that would bring Wolverine and the X-Men into the fold, while updating the concept of the X-Men to address Deadpool’s astute observation in DP2 that the X-Men are a dated metaphor for racism in 1960s America. Despite the paranoia sold to the masses by an increasingly bias media, most prejudice in America doesn’t begin with race these days, but often collective judgements against groups of people that are usually sparked by security concerns. For instance, growing up in a pre-9-11 world, most people I knew had no idea what a Muslim really was (self-including). No one harbored any ill will towards them at all. I only knew of Islam because I worked with a
Muslim, and he was one of the coolest people I ever had the honor of working with. Post 9-11, everyone felt they knew what a Muslim was, and sadly that came with increased mistrust and fear.
As an individualist, I have always been sharply critical of collectivism, as it causes us to make assessments about people based on their group identity, rather than individual character. But if you confront people about this, they insist this has nothing to do with skin color. Regardless, it’s still bigotry, and we can update the X-Men metaphor so that it more accurately reflects the
problems America faces due to collective judgment.
My treatment would adapt the following:
Uncanny X-Men # 1, Avengers Annual # 10 (1981)
Hulk 181
Finally, Uncanny X-Men #158, and 171.
It should be noted these would be loose adaptations, and may
borrow story beats from other books.
We also make the following assumptions for the Post-Endgame MCU:
Captain America perishes
Captain Marvel becomes the new leader.
Iron-Man survives but retires.
Obviously, Hulk survives, but as Professor Hulk. We may have to modify some aspects of 181 to accommodate this change.
Captain Marvel 2: (Inspired by 1981’s Avengers Annual # 10.)
At first, despite her growing popularity with the public, Captain Marvel is having difficulty as the new leader of the Avengers. Many feel she is too new to lead, others feel like she upstages them at every turn. Concerned, Carol visits Tony Stark who advises her on how to connect better with her team and encourages her to avoid being like him. She decides to take his advice and begins to try and build a stronger bond with her teammates. She is successful.
In the post-endgame world, Carol Danvers has shifted the attention of the surviving Avengers towards Skrull hunting, as she remains concerned about a secret Skrull invasion. She becomes aware of a growing group of social outcasts led by a wanted terrorist who goes by the moniker, “Magneto.” She believes he is a Skrull, because Eric Lensher was a survivor of Auschwitz and he should have died of natural causes by now, yet somehow, he is not only alive but appears in his late Middle Ages. What’s worse is that his 2nd in command is a woman who calls herself Mystique, and she is undeniably a shapeshifter.
Magneto attacks a Nuclear base with the intent of stealing nuclear missiles he intends to use against the US government. This attack takes place early in the film. The X-Men (Cyclops, Storm, Jean, Beast, Ice-Man, and Angel) show up to assist the Avengers (minus Hulk, who is visiting Canada) and are able to help capture Magneto, but the rest of the brotherhood (Mystique, Rogue, Blob, Avalanche, Toad, and Pyro) gets away. Captain Marvel asks the X-
Men who they are and why they showed up. They explain that they are mutants who have been in hiding and were worried about how people would perceive Mutants if all they see was Magneto’s act of terror.
The Brotherhood then goes about trying to rescue Magneto by splitting their forces into two groups. One, led by Mystique, will attack the Avengers Headquarters. The other would blow try to blow up the Golden Gate Bridge. The rationale is that by luring the Avengers so far away, they won’t have time to deal with the assault on their HQ. When Captain Marvel becomes aware of the plan, she takes the bait, leading her best team away and leaving behind only minimal security. That smaller team left behind would include Scarlet Witch, who has been talking with her father, and unbeknownst to Captain Marvel, is starting to question her loyalties.
Mystique and her crew attack the Avengers HQ and meet greater resistance than they anticipated, but eventually overcome the security when they convince Scarlet Witch to switch sides and help her father. She does and helps to free Magneto. Meanwhile, the Brotherhood’s B-Team is fighting the Avengers A-Team and are losing badly until Rogue communicates to Mystique (via communicator) that she has a chance to subdue Captain Marvel. Mystique orders Rogue to take hold of her and spells out... without gloves. Rogue nearly panics over the order but complies. Captain Marvel is distracted by someone else, and Rogue latches onto her, skin to skin. She finds Carol’s powers to be overwhelming, but Mystique orders her to keep
a hold on her. The other Avengers try to rush to the aid of their leader, but the process of absorbing Carol’s powers is an explosive process, and no one can break Rogue’s grip. Finally, Carol is drained to the point where she is just shy of looking like a corpse. In a panic, Rogue uses her new powers to fly high into the sky and releases an energy burst that brightens the night sky. Realizing Carol is near death, Rogue panics again and tosses Carol into the river below before screaming and flying off at top speed. Once Rogue is gone, the remaining Brotherhood successfully blows the bridge and escape, leaving the Avengers humiliated and defeated. The media then begins reporting on the mutant menace and calling for action from the government. Action, the remaining Avengers support.
Magneto celebrates their victory. He declares that Mystique has given him two great gifts, a
reunion with his daughter, and the ultimate weapon for Mutant supremacy. He then orders the
Brotherhood to find Rogue. Meanwhile back at the X-Mansion professor X warns his students that they must find Rogue before anyone else does, and they’re the only ones who can help her now.
A post credit scene reveals a small town in Canada that’s been utterly decimated. A military general is on the phone chastising General Ross over the phone for losing track of the Hulk. He makes it clear he has to take action to protect the interest of Canada. He hangs up the phone, then turns to another military man and nods. That other man puts his phone to his head and says, “Department H, we are go... send in the Wolverine.”
End Capt. Marvel 2
Next: 181: Ultimate Hulk vs Wolverine
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