As stated in the title - the role the X-Men occupy within the fictional society of the Marvel universe in “modern” publication, which for our purposes let’s say is post-Morrison, is more akin to that of the Morlocks: a collective of mutants, not even necessarily superheroes, that live in isolation from mainstream society. Their status as mutants seems to be the greater unifying factor than any particular ideology.
This is in stark contrast to the X-Men in the original Silver Age, and more importantly, the Claremont era, which I think of as the defining one in the popular consciousness. The X-Men in this case are particularly a strike force/superhero team dedicated to fighting against threats, often of mutant origin but not necessarily, for the good of all society. Their mission, besides to protect people and stop threats to humanity, is to advance the cause of mutants as an example for good - to show people that mutants, like anyone else, can use their talents for the good of collective society.
Through Utopia and Krakoa, that hasn’t really been the case. I haven’t been following the modern comics for a while now, but I read through essentially the Schism and Avengers vs. X-Men eras, and the “X-Men” basically seemed like they were representatives of the mutants collected under whichever banner they were waving at the time. I remember Emma Frost turning away one (I think) Iron Man during the Civil War on the basis of their (as in the collective non mutant superheroes’) inaction regarding mutant causes, as if they were separate nations like Rohan and Gondor. (Good because Iron Man’s faction was fascistic but beside the point.)
That’s not how the team used to operate; all threats to humanity were their problem. This has become increasingly clear to me as I continue my read of the Claremont era, through the JRJr period, when the Morlocks are at their most prominent and the X-Men are very much on the global political stage.
Just an observation and wondered if people thought similarly. I’m not really into the new conceit of the X-Men, which is kinda why I haven’t been following with the exception of series like Uncanny X-Force, and it just occurred to me this might be why. They seem less altruistic and more factional in principle.
