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.

If I had to choose one look for Jean, as the prototype, I think I would have to choose her Marvel Girl costume. Sure, the Phoenix costume has all the flash and that defines her more than anything, but seeing Jean in the Marvel Girl costume harkens back to a simpler time for her and her merry band of mutants. Plus, I am a sucker for miniskirts.

Thanks to kelldar for letting us post her homemade costume of Marvel Girl.

A look at the relationship between Scott Summers and Jean Grey:

From the moment they were both placed on the X-men, Scott Summers and Jean Grey immediately fell in love with each other. Their romance was slow to start due to Scott believing he could never have a relationship with Jean due to his powers and Jean believing that Scott was too busy with leading the X-men to be with her. However the two were soon drawn to each other and after they shared their first kiss they would become one of Marvels premier couples.

As Cyclops and Marvel Girl the two did leave the X-men for a brief time after they believed Xavier to be dead. Scott pursued a career in radio presenting while Jean decided to become a swimsuit model. The two did eventually return to the fold and continued their relationship, much to the delight of the readers at the time.

When the second genesis of the X-men were formed Jean and the other old team members decided to leave to pursue normal lives for a while. Jean was saddened when Scott decided to stay and lead the X-men and for a while it looked like their relationship might have ended. Jean gradually became more involved with the X-men once more and after her transformation into the Phoenix she decided to become a full time member. On one mission when the team faced Magneto Jean and Scott believed each other to be dead but despite their strong love for each other Scott revealed to Storm that he didn’t feel any emotion concerning the supposed death of his lover.

Scott and Jean were reunited and their relationship started to develop more with Jean establishing a psychic link between them. When Jean became the Black Queen, Scott was determined to free her from Mastermind’s control even going as far to try and defeat him on the Astral Plane. Jean soon snapped out of Masterminds control but his tampering soon led her to turn into the Dark Phoenix.

Jean Grey’s personality slipped into dormancy and the Phoenix took full control of her. The Dark Phoenix battled the X-men and defeated them. She then travelled into space and devoured an entire planet before returning to earth again where Professor Xavier discovered the psychic barriers placed in her mind had been destroyed by Masterminds doing. He replaced them and Jean appeared to be back to normal and without the power of the Phoenix. Scott held her in his arms and proposed to her. She accepted but before the couple had the time to celebrate they were teleported to Shi’ar space where Jean was to be executed for her gruesome deeds as the Dark Phoenix.

Jean took on the mantle of Marvel Girl once more and the X-men were teleported to the moon where they faced off against the galactic warriors, The Imperial Guard. The Guard quickly took out all the members of the X-men except for Scott and Jean who were confessing their love for each other and saying goodbye if the worst came to the worst and Jean was to be executed. The two star struck lovers gave it all against the Guard but when all appeared to be lost Jean transformed into the Phoenix again! Realising that she had to be stopped the X-men tried to defeat her. Jean herself too realised that she had to be stopped and before exchanging a sorrowful goodbye to Scott she committed suicide on the moon.

However death was not enough to defeat Jean Grey and years later she awoke from a cocoon placed at the bottom of Jamaica Bay. Scott and Jean were reunited but this time it appeared that Jean and the Phoenix had always been two separate entities with the Phoenix stealing Jeans identity and life within the X-men for many months. Scott at the time was married to Jean Grey’s clone Madelyne Pryor and decided to keep this secret from Jean as she had lost her telepathic powers after her return. Jean eventually put the pieces together and discovered the secret for herself.

Hurt, Jean believed Scott had taken advantage of the situation and it looked like there was no chance of the couple getting back together. After X-factor defeated Apocalypse and used his base as their own Scott and Jean made love to each other for the first time since Jeans rise from the depths. The two decided to reunite and overcame many challenges to their relationship like Madelyne Pryor who had since made a deal with the demon N’astirh becoming the malicious Goblin Queen. Madelyne Pryor at the time was also revealed to be Jean Grey’s biological clone and this created some problems for herself and Scott. Madelyne’s agenda was to sacrifice her son and other babies so she could open a gateway from Limbo into Earth and she and her demonic forces could rule the world. Madelyne and her servants were defeated and Scotts child was saved in the process. Jean and Scott looked after baby Nathan until he had to be sent to the future in order to be saved from the terminal condition known as the techno organic virus.

Eventually Scott and Jean returned to the X-men where Scott appeared to be greatly attracted to the Asian telepath Psylocke. Psylocke seduced Cyclops and after Jean found out about this she confronted Psylocke. The two women eventually sorted out their differences and Jean forgave Scott. Jean also proposed to Scott and the pair got married with Professor Xavier and the X-men attending the service.

On their honeymoon Scott and Jean were sent into the future to look after and protect Nathan from various threats. After this ordeal the two soon made an early retirement away from the X-men but were drawn back into the team after they required their help. In another battle against Apocalypse Scott apparently perished and Jean was left to cope with his death on her own. It was revealed that Scott had in fact not perished and had merged with Apocalypse. Jean thought she still felt Scotts presence within Apocalypse but Professor Xavier said he didn’t feel anything remotely close to Scotts being in the monster. Jean outraged at the X-men and Xavier for dragging them back into the team instead of letting them enjoy a normal life left the X-men.

She eventually returned and she and Cable (her stepson from the future) discovered that Cyclops was alive but was trapped under Apocalypses influence. Jean using her telepathic powers separated the two beings and Cable defeated Apocalypse. Cyclops was finally freed from the ancient beings control.

Scott and Jean did in fact stay with the X-men but grew apart due to Scott’s encounter with Apocalypse and Jean’s re-emerging Phoenix powers. Scott even refused to sleep with Jean and decided to receive some marriage counselling with the sultry Emma Frost. The two soon began a psychic affair with Jean soon finding out about it. Jean tore through Emma’s mind and both embarrassed and tormented her for seducing her husband. Scott took a temporary leave of absence from the X-men as he needed time to think about his life and process his love for Jean and Emma. Scott returned to the X-men when Magneto who was in fact a clone called Xorn attacked the X-men from within their ranks. Jean was killed in combat by Xorn and she died in the arms of Scott again. She told Scott to live and to not mourn her death for long. The two lovers embraced each other for the first time since his psychic tryst with Emma Frost and Jean soon died again.

Scott surprisingly moved onto his relationship with Emma very quickly after Jeans death, much to the disagreement of the other X-men members. Nevertheless Jean is always in his heart and he still thinks about her from time to time much to the dismay of Emma.

Scott and Jean were one of Marvels main couples for a long time and it remains to be seen if they will reunite once more when Jean returns.

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.

This review is from Comics Bulletin, click here for the full review.

McKeever and Mayhew have two main challenges in this story: to capture a teenage Jean Grey who is recognizably different from the adult warrior who fought so valiantly in the X-Men, and to make an oft-told story fresh again. They succeed admirably on both counts. Mayhew brings a compelling realism (which is still a far cry from anything resembling photo-realism) to the initial introduction of Professor Xavier to the Grey family (who are both wary and desperate concerning the condition of their traumatized daughter after the shocking initial manifestation of her powers).
Mayhew comes up with many masterful views into Jean’s private turmoil, in a delicate and straightforward watercolor style that foregoes heavy inks but still manages a full range of value. Jean’s red hair unites page after page, as do her signature green eyes.

The scenes where Xavier discusses his plans with Jean’s parents recall the scenes with Angel’s parents from X-Men #2. Professor Grey’s affiliation with Bard College is recalled, and throughout he and Mrs. Grey are every inch the concerned, caring, worried parents, good people who obviously contributed to Jean the basis for a stable and nurturing core personality.

And it’s here in this story in a crucial scene where Jean plays hooky from Xavier’s first Academy and ends up embroiled in another car accident in Westchester Center, where she uses her considerable telekinetic gifts to save the day.  Jean looks like Jean throughout, and in this nuanced and detailed exploration of her psyche in her early adolescence, McKeever too has painted a fascinating portrait of one of Marvel’s major mutant stars in her formative years.

photo credit: popculturegeek.com

Can there be a more perfect family? Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Wolverine (the black sheep obviously) phoenix and dark phoenix.

You have to love the commitment from a family willing to go all out like this.

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.

photo credit: leandro_rab

Jean Grey through time and reality. Here are the many versions of our favorite x-woman.

- Phoenix: Green, Red, White
- Here Comes Tomorrow Phoenix
- X-Factor Jean: Red, Blue, both Green.
- Gold and Blue Jean (Normal and Ponnytail).
- Age of Apocalypse: First costume, Weapon X and Phoenix.
- Marvel Girl: Original Costume, original variation, Green Skirt..
- Muir Island Costume.
- 3 X-men Movie
- X-men Evolution
- Wolverine and the X-men.
- Alex Ross Milennium.
- 1602
- Amalgam: Green Phoenix, Mary Marvel Girl, Black Jean, Firebird.
- Revolution
- New X-men: Green Shirt, Yellow Jackey, Coat.
- X-men the End.
- X-terminators
- Jean first Look.
- Jean in the cocoon.
- Ultimate X-men
- Earth X Phoenix and dead Phoenix.
- X-men Mangaverse (2 Variation)
- The Future adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix.

P7250490 – The family that cosplays together…

Originally uploaded by danregal

Marvel Girl leads a little Phoenix and miniature Wolverine. Ah, if only my family had been so devoted to the X-men lifestyle. Of course my crush on Jean Grey would be even creepier if Mom or my sister was involved.

Depends on the writer, and the time period.

Originally, she was known as Marvel Girl, one of the founding members of the X-Men. When the 2nd line-up formed (Storm, Wolverine, Colossus) she and Cyclops took some time off…

After re-joining the X-Men, she sacrificed herself by piloting a space shuttle back to earth, even though the pilot’s seat was being buffeted by deadly radiation. What happened next is a little open to interpretation.

Originally they said that she bonded with an alien entity called the Phoenix force, which protected her from the radiation, and gave her new powers. She then called herself Phoenix, but eventually became Dark Phoenix, which was portrayed as an evil character. (The Hellfire Club also mind-controlled her and turned her into their “Black Queen” somewhere along the way)

The Shi’ar kidnapped the X-Men and put Dark Phoenix on trial for destroying an entire galaxy – but Jean Grey’s personality re-surfaced, and committed suicide to save the universe from Dark Phoenix.

Later on, they discovered the ruins of the space shuttle in New York harbor, and found Jean Grey in a cocoon – so it turns out that Phoenix was an alien force that only LOOKED like Jean Grey – so Phoenix was evil, Jean Grey was good.

Then it gets more confusing – largely because so many different writers have worked on the X-books. There was a clone of Jean Grey, the Phoenix Force came back, Jean Grey died, was resurrected, died again. At some point Jean Grey bonded with the Phoenix Force (for real this time) and began using the name “Phoenix” again, before dying again.

Check out the recent miniseries Phoenix: Warsong, and Phoenix: Endsong for the latest chapters in this saga.

honky275

Jean Grey isn’t “evil” but the when the phenoix is released like escapes the mind block the professor has on it then she is capable of anything shes the most powerful of all mutants in the pheonix form unfortunatley she doesn’t know how to control it.

PhillyFlyers

Of course Jean is fabulous in all of her forms, but I’m sure there is one that stands above the rest in each person’s mind. So let’s put the issue to rest and decide how we like Jean the best.

What is your favorite version Jean Grey?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.