Jean Grey – In the Top 5 of Comic Book Heroines
FemaleNetwork.com has published a Top 20 Comic Book Heroines We Love list and included Marvel’s favorite red head at #5. While the ranking is a little low in our opinion we can appreciate the other gals on the list. Wonder Woman was ranked #1, in case you were interested.
Marvel Girl #1
Jean Grey’s absence from the Marvel Universe is keenly felt by virtually all X-Men fans, so this one shot (out of continuity though it may be) offers some measure of respite for those of us who want to see more stories featuring the character, as she receives headline billing for the first time in years.
Set in the “First Class”-verse, the story chiefly deals with Jean’s attempt to properly come to terms with the death of her friend, the event that prematurely awakened her powers so many years before. It’s just a shame the issue itself doesn’t fully explain that aspect of the story, reducing the explanation to an early caption box where it should really have been made into a wider point during Xavier’s initial dressing down.
Still, if you can get past that, it’s an enjoyable little story, though with an oddly bleak tangent about the way Jean sees the people she left behind when she moved to Xavier’s. It’s particularly refreshing to see a Jean Grey story that doesn’t heavily involve her romantic relationships with Cyclops and/or Wolverine, and which isn’t explicitly about the Phoenix. Aside from the fact that the First Class universe shows Jean’s powers (and, for that matter, her personality) as far more developed than they were in the original X-Men run, there’s nothing here that couldn’t be considered canon if you want it to be. It’s recognizably the modern Jean Grey as she would have been as a teenager, rather than the teenage Jean Grey, if that distinction makes any sense.
While writer Joshua Hale Fialkov does a decent enough job with the writing (although the story does struggle to fit inside a single issue, resulting in some odd plot leaps on occasion) it’s Nuno Plati’s art that really sells it. Plati’s artwork is graceful and feminine without being overtly sexualised. The storytelling switches effortlessly from the dramatic to the subtle, every facial expression packed with emotion. Plati’s choice of palette, in particular, is fantastic: bright and airy, making fantastic use of computer effects. It has an almost animated look to it, which is certainly no bad thing.
Although this kind of story is never going to win an Eisner, it’s the sort of book that’ll scratch any itches you’ve got about seeing Jean Grey in action. It’s a competently executed and enjoyable read, and while it works as a stand-alone story, it also manages to inform the character in her other appearances. It’s likely that if you were ever interested in buying this, you already own it. If you’re still on the fence, give it a chance to entertain you.
source: http://www.comicbookresources.com
Get the book from Marvel.
How to draw Jean Grey
X-Men is one of the oldest and still coolest comics from the Marvel universe. So many likable characters and story lines that it’s a blast to read. Many fans of the comic book have their favorite characters, but one of the most popular is that of Jean Grey or Phoenix. She has an interesting story and great mutant powers. So in this sped-up tutorial, you’ll see how to draw Jean Grey in your X-Men outfit. So good luck, pay attention, and enjoy!
For more free tutorials, many in real time, check out http://ipaintgirls.com
Jean Grey and Wolverine – Lost Loves
The romance between Jean Grey and Wolverine has been by far the most mishandled, misconstrued, and at times destructive pairing in the history of X-men. I know that’s saying a lot, but given how long this plot has been used I think we can objectively say it ranks right up there. I’ve never come across a comic book couple that has such ardent detractors and die-hard supporters. As a fan in general, I think it’s one of those “good on paper” type ideas that just was so poorly fleshed out that it’s become an open scab throughout the story of the X-men. Part of the problem was how it started. Chris Claremont originally had Logan attracted to Jean Grey because he just soured on Cyclops and Jean Grey. He has gone on record as saying he completely despised the Scott/Jean romance after what happened with Madelyn Pryor and had he stayed on board, he would have broken them up and put Jean with Logan. He’s already shown this in his X-men Forever series. It was one of the many reasons he split with the editors at the time. I think this sort of sets the tone because it wasn’t so much done because these characters complimented each other. It was done more so as a foil to the Scott/Jean romance. That just really doesn’t work. That would be akin to being a soccer fan just because you hate American football.
Phoenix Artwork by Todd Nauck
Phoenix Artwork by Todd Nauck.
Todd Nauck is a well-known veteran of the comic book industry and works regularly for Marvel and DC Comics, with 15 years of credits including Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Amazing Spider-Man Family, Teen Titans Go, Young Justice as well as countless others. Earlier this year, Nauck created exclusive Super Bowl heroes on behalf of Marvel Comics featured in the ESPN Super Bowl Sunday Countdown show. He also writes and draws his creator-owned title, WildGuard, through Image Comics.
Kotobukiya White Phoenix Statue
In addition to the Phoenix and Dark Phoenix statues being released by Kotobukiya, I found this gem, which is a San Diego Comic Con International Preview Night only release:
http://marvel.com/images/733363./from/content.story.12155
The White Phoenix of the Crown, based on the design from Phoenix: Endsong.
submitted by Mir
Marvel Bishoujo – Phoenix & Dark Phoenix Statues
Thanks to Mir Hite for this find.
I’ve been a big fan of Jean Grey and the X-Men for as long as I can remember. And I’m also a big fan of anime and Japanese culture. When I heard that Japanese figure making company ‘Kotobukiya’ was making a line that they called Marvel Bishoujo, I was really excited! They started off with Rogue, Black Widow, and Scarlet Witch… now, they’ve added not only Psylocke to their repertoire, but…
Jean Grey as the Phoenix! You can see more images and order from here.
And also as the Dark Phoenix! You can see more here and even pre-order.
They’re not Bowen Designs figures, but they’re definitely Jean, and they capture her rather nicely in both figures. The links that I provided have not only pictures, but you can also put in pre-orders for both versions–I definitely did!
Hope you enjoy these links!
-Mir
Jean Grey Returns to Marvel…in a Calendar
Is Jean’s return scheduled for this year? Many readers think so and Marvel has added her to the cover of their Women of Marvel 2010 Wall Calendar.
You can buy it from Amazon by clicking this link: Women of Marvel 2010 Wall Calendar
Here is the back of the calendar.
X-Men Origins: Jean Grey
This is a great cover featuring Jean Grey as Marvel Girl. Just gorgeous…the cover, I mean. 
X-Men Origins: Jean Grey #1
This review from Comixology, click here for the full review.
…expanding on her established background from a black-and-white story in Bizarre Adventures #27 that most current readers probably don’t even know exists. McKeever sticks to telling the story of Jean’s traumatic telepathic awakening, adding just a little extra to what we knew to provide a sense of resolution.
But the real reason to get this issue is the artwork. Mayhew’s cover is nice, but his interior artwork is also painted and is superior throughout. Not only does everything look wonderful, but his storytelling skills are more than up to the challenge of showing us all the things here that happen in Jean’s head without major action scenes to drive them.
Jean is Back…kind of
Scott Kurtz from the critically acclaimed webomic PVP has brought Jean Grey back, in a fashion. In the lastest storyline dealing with a genius cat bent on world domination vs a determined Santa Claus, Scott has created the Jingle Force Five, lead by Professor X-mas. The whole team bears a close resemblance to the original X-men. We get a peak at Mistletoe, who is a ringer for Marvel Girl. Thanks, Scott for bringing Jean back, if only in a parody. Nicely done as always. Be sure to read the entire storyline which also introduces Kringernaut, a parody of Juggernaut.
I have placed a copy of the first comic, but visit PVP to read from the beginning of this storyline.
