Riot at Xavier's
Encyclopedia
"Riot At Xavier's" is a four part storyline that ran from New X-Men
#135-138 (2003). It was written by Grant Morrison and features artist Frank Quitely's last work on the title. The story centers around an original character of Morrison's, the teenage mutant Quentin Quire
.
's mutant school at the X-Mansion
. When he finds out he is adopted, and a mutant celebrity called Jumbo Carnation is killed by anti-mutant racists, Quire begins to mock Xavier's pacifistic teachings, hero-worships the mutant supremacist Magneto
, and assembles a gang of militant class mates to kill humans in retaliation. Their rage is fueled by consumption of the fictional drug "Kick", which supercharges their mutant abilities.
Side-plots are the workings of mysterious mutant teacher Xorn
, Quire's crush on Sophie of the Stepford Cuckoos
, the relationship between flirty Angel Salvadore
and the ugly Beak and the growing estrangement of Cyclops
from his wife Jean Grey
, causing Emma Frost
to start a psychic affair with him.
When "Open House" Day at Xavier's arrives, Quire's so-called "Omega Gang", made strong and volatile by repeated consumption of "Kick", capture Professor X and spew anti-human sentiment against the school's human visitors, stating they are avenging Jumbo Carnation. However, Beast
tells them Carnation killed himself by an overdose of Kick. Helped by the Stepford Cuckoos, who collectively inhale Kick to match Quire's power, the X-Men subdue the Omega Gang, but Sophie Cuckoo—Quire's crush—is killed. Breaking down emotionally and because of Kick's side-effects, Quentin collapses and turns into a disembodied state. As a consequence, Professor X resigns.
" arc, and also the supplier of the Kick drug. However, the decision to interpret the Holocaust survivor Magneto as a genocidal, drug-crazed mass murderer was met with disdain by editorial, and was subsequently rewritten by later authors. The arc also set up the Scott Summers / Emma Frost
relationship, a staple of the Astonishing X-Men
comics by Joss Whedon
.
:
As well as:
New X-Men
New X-Men was a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics within the X-Men franchise. After the end of Grant Morrison's run on X-Men , titled New X-Men, the title was used for a new series, New X-Men: Academy X, serving as a continuation of the second volume of New Mutants...
#135-138 (2003). It was written by Grant Morrison and features artist Frank Quitely's last work on the title. The story centers around an original character of Morrison's, the teenage mutant Quentin Quire
Quentin Quire
Quentin Quire, also known as Kid Omega, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in New X-Men #122 , although he went unnamed until New X-Men #134...
.
Plot synopsis
In this arc, Morrison writes a story centering around Quentin Quire, who had appeared at first in issue #122. Quire is fleshed out as a super-intelligent young teenager, who is a pupil of Professor XProfessor X
Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
's mutant school at the X-Mansion
X-Mansion
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
. When he finds out he is adopted, and a mutant celebrity called Jumbo Carnation is killed by anti-mutant racists, Quire begins to mock Xavier's pacifistic teachings, hero-worships the mutant supremacist Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
, and assembles a gang of militant class mates to kill humans in retaliation. Their rage is fueled by consumption of the fictional drug "Kick", which supercharges their mutant abilities.
Side-plots are the workings of mysterious mutant teacher Xorn
Xorn
Xorn is a fictional character published by Marvel Comics. First appearing in New X-Men Annual 2001, Xorn was a new addition to the X-Men membership during writer Grant Morrison's revamp of the franchise....
, Quire's crush on Sophie of the Stepford Cuckoos
Stepford Cuckoos
The Stepford Cuckoos are a set of fictional mutant psychically linked quintuplets . They are students at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning and appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
, the relationship between flirty Angel Salvadore
Angel Salvadore
Angel Salvadore, also known by her codename Tempest, is a fictional character created by Grant Morrison and Ethan Van Sciver, appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She first appeared in New X-Men, vol. 1 #118. She is portrayed by Zoë Kravitz in X-Men: First Class...
and the ugly Beak and the growing estrangement of Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
from his wife Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
, causing Emma Frost
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
to start a psychic affair with him.
When "Open House" Day at Xavier's arrives, Quire's so-called "Omega Gang", made strong and volatile by repeated consumption of "Kick", capture Professor X and spew anti-human sentiment against the school's human visitors, stating they are avenging Jumbo Carnation. However, Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
tells them Carnation killed himself by an overdose of Kick. Helped by the Stepford Cuckoos, who collectively inhale Kick to match Quire's power, the X-Men subdue the Omega Gang, but Sophie Cuckoo—Quire's crush—is killed. Breaking down emotionally and because of Kick's side-effects, Quentin collapses and turns into a disembodied state. As a consequence, Professor X resigns.
Aftermath
In the following arcs up to issue #154 (the last issue of the Morrison run), Xorn was originally revealed by Morrison to be Magneto, harbouring a genocidal hate against mankind in the following "Planet XPlanet X (comics)
"Planet X" is 2004 storyline published by Marvel Comics that ran from New X-Men #146-150. The story is the climax of Grant Morrison's run as writer on the X-Men, and features the return of Magneto and the death of Jean Grey.-Plot:...
" arc, and also the supplier of the Kick drug. However, the decision to interpret the Holocaust survivor Magneto as a genocidal, drug-crazed mass murderer was met with disdain by editorial, and was subsequently rewritten by later authors. The arc also set up the Scott Summers / Emma Frost
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
relationship, a staple of the Astonishing X-Men
Astonishing X-Men
Astonishing X-Men is the name of three X-Men comic book series from Marvel Comics, the first two of which were limited series. The ongoing series began in 2004, with its first run written by Joss Whedon and art by John Cassaday. It was then written by Warren Ellis with art by Phil Jimenez. Daniel...
comics by Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
.
Grant Morrison on his arc
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Riot at Xavier's (collects New X-Men #134-138, ISBN 0-7851-1067-4)
As well as:
- New X-Men OmnibusMarvel OmnibusMarvel Omnibus is a line of comic book series collections published by Marvel Comics. These collections provide full color compilations of several comics, aiming at complete runs...
(collects New X-Men #114-154 and Annual 2001, 992 pages, December 2006 ISBN 0-7851-2326-1) - New X-Men by Grant Morrison Ultimate Collection: Volume 2 (collects New X-Men #127-141, 360 pages, August 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3252-X)