Retro Geek Throwback: X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

Today on our Throwback Thursday feature, we are taking a trip back to 1982 and taking a look at one of the best graphic novels featuring the X-Men. I’m talking about X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills, written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Brent Anderson, a great book that inspired the film X2: X-Men United.

This is a very gritty graphic novel in a time where comics went a lot darker compared to their 1970s brethren, a time that also saw the likes of Watchmen and Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns. The plot of God Loves, Man Kills was conceived as non-canon, and even in the first draft (which involved the legendary Neal Adams before handing it off to Brent Anderson), called for the death of Magneto, which would trigger the X-Men to investigate William Stryker. Magneto’s death was dropped once Adams left the project and re-written into the published version. It wasn’t until 2003 that the book was considered canon, when the second feature film X2: X-Men United borrowed heavily from the graphic novel. A sequel series, God Loves, Man Kills II was published in X-treme X-Men #25-30. Here is a summary of the original plot from the 1982 book:

Magneto is investigating the murder of two mutant children who were killed by henchmen of the Reverend William Stryker. Stryker, who murdered his wife and newborn son after his son (a deformed mutant child) is born, seeks the wholesale extermination of mutantkind while presenting himself to the public as a fire and brimstone preacher, spreading a message claiming that mutants are abominations in the eyes of God. After a television debate with Professor Charles Xavier, Stryker (who knows that Xavier is a mutant) kidnaps him, forcing the X-Men to team up with Magneto to find their mentor.

Xavier has been hooked up to a machine that will use his psychic power to kill all of the world’s mutants via cerebral hemorrhage. At a revival meeting, where a popular US Senator (who is a closeted mutant) is in attendance, Magneto and the X-Men confront Stryker and rescue Xavier. In the end, Stryker is shot in the chest by a security guard, after Shadowcat and Nightcrawler successfully bait Stryker into admitting kidnapping Xavier and his plans for mutant genocide.

Magneto and the X-Men part ways, with Magneto politely turning down an offer by Xavier to join the X-Men and renounce evil. However, before he leaves, he reminds the X-Men that Stryker may have the final victory, as already his defenders rally to him as he awaits trial for his crimes.

This is an excellent read; it’s one of the most disturbing, darkest, engaging and brilliant entries in the X-Men franchise, and is definitely a must read for all X-fans. The story is pretty heavy handed and has a great many harsh moments where after you read it, there is a moment where, even 30 years later, you are in shock that they actually just did that. Chris Claremont made this adventure something truly memorable, comparing the lives of being mutants to how minorities are mistreated in society because of things like skintone or religious affiliation. Granted, I know that themes like this have always been a part of X-Men stories and even now are still being explored but not many of them capture the realistic and harsh view of racism and prejudice in our society in the most compelling of ways. For example, right in the opening scene two mutant children are killed and hung from a swing set to be shown as an example about what would happen to other mutants like them; this is extremely disturbing but it really draws parallels to how insane prejudice can get. It’s these moments that make this such a powerful and memorable story.

The artwork of Brent Anderson is great; it has this scratchy feel that looks and complements the story extremely well. It captures the dark scenes in the story, and the colouring gives an incredibly eerie feel, especially the opening scene when it’s given these blue hues that really amp up the disturbing plotline in the story.

All in all, despite the very dark nature of this story, God Loves, Man Kills will remain to be one of the most inspirational stories in X-Men history. It was one of the few stories that actually shows the true dark side of prejudice and even though there were some harsh moments in this story, and I really think it will stand the test of time no matter what generation reads it.

So, if you are looking for a great throwback change of pace check this one out, I highly recommend it.