Patriarchal Competitions as Character/Story Structure in Early X-Men

Early X-Men comics highlight the role that performative masculinity often plays in the character arcs of Silver Age heroes whose potential to subvert masculine norms can be undermined when their success is still modeled and measured by patriarchal standards. #xmen 1/12

From the outset, Kirby and Lee base the X-Men’s internal character conflicts around two forms of patriarchal validation: The first (and most obvious) is the internal competition amongst the male teammates (and even Prof X) for the affection of Jean Grey. 2/12

Jean is literally a trophy in this competition, which is established right from her first appearance. Similar “alpha male” competitiveness for female affection can be seen to define the character arc of numerous other Marvel heroes, (including Spider-Man). 3/12

Despite fierce competition from the other X-Men, each of whom conform to concepts of hegemonic masculinity in different ways (charisma, handsomeness, raw physicality, success), it is ‘Slim’ Summers, aka Cyclops, who ultimately wins the Jean prize. 4/12

The second form of patriarchal validation comes from the internal competition for the male X-Men to win the approval of their patriarch, Professor X, whose validation is largely dependent on conformity to his established belief system. 5/12

On the very first page of UXM #1, Professor X summons the team for the first time: “Attention, X-Men, …this is Professor X calling. You are ordered to appear at once. Tardiness will be punished.” The first to answer is Cyclops: “Cyclops present and accounted for, Sir!” 6/12

By issue #7, Cyclops receives his atonement with the father, so to speak, when Xavier names him leader of the X-Men. “I have decided that you, the X-Man known as Cyclops, shall be group leader until I return.” 7/12

Cyclops expresses immediate shock at the revelation. “Me?? But, Sir – the Beast is a better scholar – while Angel is more aggressive, and –!” Xavier cuts him off mid-sentence, however, to note “But it is you who possess the rare quality of leadership! My decision stands.” 8/12

Xavier’s favoritism of Cyclops conveys a form of patrilineal approval in which Cyclops exchanges his individual agency (any sort of rebelliousness that might be associated with being a teenager) for the position of prominence amongst his peers. 9/12

Importantly, Cyclops is also the main viewpoint character in Silver Age X-Men comics and the most obvious reader-surrogate. The battles with Magneto or Mesmero or the Sentinels are all episodic in this era – the continuous conflict is to be ‘the man.’ 10/12

As the anointed leader of the X-Men, and with Jean Grey on his arm, Cyclops wins the race to the position of prominence within patriarchal culture by the standards and norms through which success is measured in a patriarchal society. 11/12

That this is Cyclops’ ‘hero’s journey’ is emblematic of a broader Silver Age trend: while Kirby/Lee complicated the alpha-male masculinity of Golden Age superheroes with wimps, losers, and slims, they still measured the success of their heroes through patriarchal standards. 12/12