As far as X-Men Group Editor Tom Brevoort is concerned there is a moment in Professor X’s story that fundamentally altered him for the worse. Professor X has done some sketchy things to friends and foes alike, but one shocking moment completely violated everything the beloved mutant leader claimed to stand for.
In a post on Tom Brevoort’s Substackthe editor responded to a reader discussing the role of Professor Charles Xavier and why he often features in stories. Brevoort admits that Charles represents authority and most of the stories come from an anti-authority point of view.
Consequently, on several occasions, Xavier has demonstrated himself to be not only flawed but also abhorrent in his actions, betraying the morality he is supposed to represent. Speaking for myself, I feel as if Joss Whedon and John Cassaday The history of danger tarnished the character permanently, and then the revelation of the Deadly Genesis X-Men team that he sent to their deaths and erased everyone’s memories completed that process. There are flaws and then there is a monster, especially in a world where Magneto is increasingly presented as being on the right side of his philosophical argument.
But Brevoort deepens his analysis of Professor Xavier, saying that Charles has frequently demonstrated behaviors unbecoming of a true leader. Brevoort specifically mentions Joss Whedon and John Cassaday “Dangerous” plot of Amazing X-Men “permanently tarnished the character“. Brevoort also mentions Charles’ actions in X-Men: Mortal Genesis as further proof of Professor X’s monstrous side.
Professor X’s dangerous past changed him forever
Charles Xavier continues to prove that he lacks humanity
Charles Xavier did everything he could to make the world a better place for mutants, and it took him to dark places. But every now and then something comes up from your past that has less to do with improving the world and more about hiding your own mistakes and failures. One such event was seen in the “Dangerous” storyline, which revealed that Professor X discovered that the team’s Danger Room was sentient. But Instead of passing this information on to the X-Men, Charles experimented in secret for years..
This, of course, was just one moment in a long series of events that indicate just how secretive and manipulative Professor X can really be. As Brevoort mentioned, X-Men: Deadly Genesis was another low point for the leader of the X-Men, as it was revealed that Charles sent a team of mutants that killed all of them except Cyclops. His way of dealing with the situation was to simply erase Scott’s mind and pretend the team never existed (which only served to further damage Professor X’s relationship with the X-Men years later).
Brevoort is correct, Professor X’s story undermines his message
Introducing Charles Xavier is difficult when he keeps betraying his team
Professor X may be an idealist, but just because he dreams of a better world doesn’t mean he’s absolved of many, many horrible things he did. Brevoort hit the nail on the head when he said it’s hard to single out a man like Charles when he’s constantly doing things that are more suited to a supervillain than a hero. If the strong leader of the X-Men is willing to oppress a life like Danger, It’s hard to see Professor X as someone who can usher in an era of peace.
It’s clear that Professor X will never go away completely, and despite everything he’s done, his team will almost always bring him back into the fold. But as the X-Men franchise continues to grow and change, it will be increasingly difficult to find a place for Charles, especially if more things like Danger’s situation or his past in Mortal Genesis come to the surface. For the X-Men’s For God’s sake, I hope the worst things Professor X did have already been revealed.
Source: Substack