milo manara x-women 1

CBR has a piece on “X-Women”, the X-comic written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Italian eroto-comics master Milo Manara.

For his part though, Claremont had more to focus on than the female figures at hand – namely building a world and characters that were of a piece with the X-Men yet still fitting for the project and market. “In this instance, they wanted to do a book that showcases, I suppose, their perception of Manara’s strengths, which involves women as opposed to men and reality as opposed to superheroes. From my perspective, if you’re going to go to someone like Manara, you don’t go with classic Jack Kirby space adventure superheroes with monsters and and freakish looking characters and monstrously sized figures in armor. You find a story that is exciting and well grounded. By the same token, we’re speaking primarily to an audience that may not be as religiously familiar with the American canon in terms of characters and the world itself, so you want to create a physical environment that is accessible to the broadest possible collection of readers.”


While news of this comic has been floating around for years, this is the first time we’ve seen the artwork, and frankly, we’re appalled that Manara’s name would be applied to anything this tame! Where is the scene were Jean Grey trips, her tiny skirt blowing up and revealing more than she expected, as the pool guy looks on? What about when Rogue is implanted with a device that makes her obey the every whim of her harsh but loving master? What about when Emma Frost was crawling around on all fours?

We mean sure there are some butt shots as the girls ride their jetskis but they are TEENY TINY.

It’s a sad comment on our times.

milo manara x-women 2

28 COMMENTS

  1. Heidi, this is the American edition.

    For the “un-X-purgated” edition, you’ll need to buy a copy of “X-Men: Ragazze In Fuga” (X-Men: The Fornication Regatta).

    DC did the same with “Sandman: Endless Nights”. I think the recent “Inquisition” issue of Madame Xanadu had more sex than the Minara Desire story.

  2. Yeah, sad times indeed…
    Manara’s latest work (I think) here in France, Les yeux de Pandora (Manara / Cerami) by Les Humanoïdes associés, also does not contains so many nude scenes, it’s very frustrating.
    Manara draws such beautiful girls, he really HAS TO get them naked at some point, that should be in the contract. I’m just saying.

    I was actually an intern at Les Humanoïdes associés at the time “Les yeux de Pandora” went out, and when I told one of the editors about my frustration, he answered that erotic/porn comics are dead now, because of Internet nobody will pay for printed butts anymore.
    Yep, that’s just sad…

  3. I’m not sure what the point of the project is. The CBR piece gives the impression that X-MEN: RAGAZZE IN FUGA was done primarily for the European market, since Manara is a high-profile artist there. However, Manara’s solo erotic stories are a combination of writing and artwork. Take the eroticism out of the story, and he’s just another artist, albeit one with an individual style.

    SRS

  4. I think Claremont mentioned that there are certain lines Marvel won’t cross with their characters. It makes business sense that they would tone down the cheesecake to protect their brand. I for one would love to see Manara unleashed on these characters. That where’s all the fun is. A great idea diluted by corporations?

  5. “It makes business sense that they would tone down the cheesecake to protect their brand.”

    Although I do agree with that, I have to laugh when I consider some the other stuff Marvel prints or has printed under its current Editor-in-Chief.” The Greg Horn covers on the Emma Frost book come to mind. (Covers that did not reflect the content of the book at all, I might add. The stories were actually pretty good about a teenager with powers coming to grips with life.)

  6. Torsten, you’ve really shaken my faith in you — “ragazze” is Italian for “girls” not regatta.

  7. What would happen if Marvel announced that High Heeled Jill was going to do an issue of _____ for Marvel? People would buy the book expecting to see the heroines nude or at least in bondage, and when they weren’t — a bunch of cursing and “Liars!”

    SRS

  8. Un milione di Grazie, Signora.
    (I am more interested in the Donnas, Heidi.)
    (And there was a translation at CBR, I was just being humorous.)

    In the recent She-Hulk anniversary issue, there was a “Jill in the Box” restaurant. No comments from anyone that I have seen…

    Nor did anyone blink an eye at the comedian named CLINT WACKY in the recent Muppet Show comic…

  9. Torsten, is “Jill in the Box” really any worse than “Jack in the Box” which is the real name of a (primarily west-coast US, I think) fast food chain.

    And the name “Clint” seems to have been OK for overground comics at least since Roy Thomas revealed Hawkeye’s real name back in the late 1960s.

  10. “The Greg Horn covers on the Emma Frost book come to mind.”

    I sorta remember those… Yeah, Emma’s outfit has always been about the tease (like most female costumes). I guess with the Manara drawing a book you could let it all hang out and use the excuse that he a respected European artist doing what he does best. Approach the T&A in comics on a “mature level.” Artists have been drawing the naked female figure from day one– Wait it’s going to be published in America and comics are just for kids. Never mind…

  11. Isn’t Marvel goint to release the uncensored Frank Cho’s ShannaMax at last?

  12. Kitty Pryde in a thong strikes me as being sooooo out of character and a little disturbing. How old is she in the books these days? Has she even gotten to the age where she could drive yet?

  13. wasn’t this announced almost 10 years ago?

    and why the hell would Manara ever attach his name to something like the X-Men?

    i’m not the world’s biggest Manara fan, but he’s still a damn fine draftsman and better than gigs like this.

  14. “I’m not sure what the point of the project is.

    Take the eroticism out of the story, and he’s just another artist, albeit one with an individual style.”
    -I agree with this

    “Approach the T&A in comics on a “mature level.” Artists have been drawing the naked female figure from day one– Wait it’s going to be published in America and comics are just for kids. Never mind…”
    -I disagree with this.

    To say that the belief that ‘American’ comics don’t have blatant t&a and sex in them is because they are supposedly for kids ignores the fact that most comics try to maintain some sort of STORY within them, and just having scenes of sex in them for titillation most often than not, does not further a story. In fact, if used incorrectly, it very much ‘dumbs down’ the comic itself. And, hell, we all know that there are adult comics out there anyways. So if that’s what you want, it’s not like it’s impossible to obtain such comics.

    “i’m not the world’s biggest Manara fan, but he’s still a damn fine draftsman and better than gigs like this.”
    -obviously not.

  15. There’s a Marvel Universe where ALL the characters are sexualized. Hawkeye’s middle name is “Flicker”. Mutant genes are activated by orgasms, resulting in “cloisters” where individuals try to avoid triggering a mutation. The series shall be narrated by the Watcher.

    Stories include:
    “God Loves, Man F–ks”
    “House of Mmmmmm”
    “Who Do You Trust?”
    “This Man, This Master”
    “Just A Guy Named Joe”
    “I Lost It On Yancy Street”

    Like Dr. Manhattan, the less clothing you wear, the more powerful you are. Residents of the Savage Land engage in pure, natural, animalistic procreation.
    Covers by Kevin Taylor.
    Polybagged in PVC.
    Series promotion: colored bandanas for buying certain issues.

    In a crazy, twisty, Deus Ex Machina, WTF?! ending, it will all tie into Jemas’ Marville miniseries.

    Yeah, there’s enough super erotica out there, both written and drawn. (Herogasm might be the most “realistic” depiction.) Literotica has some good scenarios, and I’ve heard rumors that one professional was discovered while writing slash fiction.

    “Jill in the Box” took me out of the story, then my sick mind connected it to the old KFC slogan… which, given Peter David’s pathological need for word play, I’m surprised wasn’t used in the background. I mean, if Marvel can refer to “teabagging”, why not that?

  16. How old is she in the books these days?

    I’ve been wondering about that, since part of the “illusion of change” entails writing a character at a set age that rarely changes, regardless of the passage of time. Since she was written as a teenager for decades, Colossus could easily be accused of statutory rape for having (implied) sex with her in Whedon’s ASTONISHING X-MEN.

    SRS

  17. Claremont had Kitty working as a bartender in the Mechanix mini-series a few years ago, so that should be an indicator that she is at least of legal drinking age. So Colossus can rest easy.

  18. So Kitty went from 13 to at least 21. Is Franklin Richards still 10 years old? Man comic book time gives me a headache.

    I just looked up what “Jill in the Box” meant, I had no idea. It’s entirely possible the creators of that She Hulk book had no idea either.

  19. Well, Peter David did write the column on why one cannot use the word “FLICK” in a Marvel Comic.

    On the other hand, I’m sure he wouldn’t use it deliberately in a comic such as this, or any comic.

    Still… as we saw with the recent Captain America story, and with Wertham, people will misconstrue lots of stuff. If one overthinks (like I do) while reading, then one will find connections and connotations others have missed, including the writer and artist and editor.

    I’m not a lawman, but I think you can sell and dispense alcohol once one is 18, which makes Katherine an adult.

    Considering the various situations Kitty Pryde has experienced as a teen (The Brood, Arcade, Hellfire Club…), I think she is allowed to have a little fun even if she is not an adult. Early Kitty…a thong is wrong. Current Kitty…no big deal.

  20. Some of those pictured aren’t even women. Psylocke looks like a retarded Japanese hentai elf in her current body and was of mixed ethnicity after the alien Spiral decided to change her based on the desires of an insane Japanese crimelord. Then there was a retcon making her steal another Japanese woman’s body as the crimelord’s secret lover and rival by Fabian Nicieza which made a little more sense but was just as nonsensical as Claremont’s original plot to change her ethnicity and abilities.

    You see, Marvel Comics are funny books and awful plots that take years to resolve but never actually do.

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