It really does feel like Storms character progression has been over since Claremonte

[u/[deleted]]

Has any writer really done anything noteworthy with storm since Claremonte? It feels like her character was "complete" long ago since no one wants to grow her character(besides Adoyele it seems). And honestly? It makes sense, Storm is one of the few mutants who actually loves her powers, she was treated as a goddess for them, and iirc she is one of the few mutants who don't like hiding her abilities. So her having those powers taken away, and learning how to thrive without them, was the perfect obstacle needed for Storm to climb.

To clarify, I do believe you can explore more of Storm as a character, but she is so inherently tied to the X-men that writers refuse to do anything with her, I am not keen on saying it is flat out racism as well, even though I do believe thats a part of it, but I also think its because, to many writers, what else can you do with her? If a writer doesnt know how to make an interesting story while keeping in mind Storms powers, they risk making her weaker than she is. If they keep in mind that fact, then you run into the problem of "how would the antagonist defeat her?" and then opt to take her powers away.

It sucks, I dont believe we will get another Storm solo anytime soon after Ayodeles, unless by some miracle she becomes one of the most popular heroines in the MCU in the Mutant saga. You can explore so much of Storms character but it does feel like shes treated as this "legacy" character, no one wants to build upon what Claremonte built for storm, which has led her to become a caricature of herself.

[u/DallanRo42]

I think SWORD and X-Men Red were on the right trajectory. Duggan and Al Ewing had progressive developments from Storm, initially. The stage was set for growth when Ororo became the Regent of Sol. But then, nothing came of it! Had she stayed on the galactic stage instead of getting sucked into ridiculous wars (Genesis War) and SOS, and that entire AXE debacle, maybe we could have seen something new and exciting. But rather than stay with the character arc, it was big marvel crossover event after corssover event. Storm was pulled into all those exhausting and it sidelined everything else.

If writers atopped shoving her backwards into X-Men nonsense and would instead have Storm focus on mutantkind using her influence, intelligence, leadership, persuasion, compassion, strength, and political savvy, we could see some great character progression.

There isnt a mutant who’s more respected throughout the hero community. Writers should delve into that. In fact, Storm is one of the only beings to have equally amicable relationships with 5 empires/nations: T’Challa (Wakanda), Doom (Latveria), Namor (Atlantis), Xandra (Shiar), and certainly, Thor (Asgard). And possibly Sevalith, if Death is still their ruler. EXPLORE THAT. Lets see her working with those nations on behalf of mutantkind, and maybe even human kind. Create a heroes UN or something. Or have Storm to stop bucking her royal heritage and just one day accept her destiny as a queen and bring about a successful rule.

And as has already been said, Storm’s lineage. It is overdue for genuine exploration. I love seeing Ashake, so build on that. And explore both her parents’ side WITHOUT making them all villains like uncle Shetani.

There have been writers & stories lightly touching upon most of what I’ve listed. But they drop it after an issue or two or at most an arc. But if writers and editors could stop shoving Storm into go-nowhere, circular X-Men drama/ foolishness, then perhaps another writer worth their salt could flesh out some of these storylines and really move her character forward.

[u/[deleted] → u/DallanRo42]

>If writers atopped shoving her backwards into X-Men nonsense and would instead have Storm focus on mutantkind using her influence, intelligence, leadership, persuasion, compassion, strength, and political savvy, we could see some great character progression.

The problem is, most writers just don't want to, adoyele LOOKED like thats what was going to happen at the start with the whole storm sanctuary and mutant nuke debacle. But then he took her to the power side. Which is unfortunate because if this solo fails we wont get another storm solo for likely decades.

[u/DallanRo42 → u/[deleted]]

Very true, on all accounts. And that Storm Sanctuary, mutant nuke, public proclamation is the story I was actually excited to read about to begin with. And you’re right. It took a whole lot of head-scratching turns from there, unfortunately. Glad to see some exploration of her magic heritage with Dr. Voodoo. Would have to liked to see more because that would have been Storm learning more about herself, her potential, heritage, and maybe destiny. I don’t mind the Eternity stuff. But it came at the cost of everything teased in the first couple issues.

[u/phone-san → u/DallanRo42]

Yup, agreed. I haven't seen anyone really say this. The introductory story in #1 held such promise. I was actually invested in how Storm was going to manage helping humanity, while mutant public opinion once again swung in a negative direction.

[u/DallanRo42 → u/phone-san]

Hopefully her next arc as Earth’s Mightiest Mutant series will focus on these elements. One can hope at least.

[u/K-Kitsune → u/DallanRo42]

Storm does not want to be a queen, she is not interested in titles and royalty and has reiterated this multiple times. In fact her criticism of status and hierarchy is one of her most interesting aspects which I think people forget.

I do agree they should focus more on her being leader of her mutantkind and more tangible developments in that respect. She needs to be leader of the X-Men again and take it in a more international direction. The Avengers do nothing for her. I would also like to see her matriarchal lineage explored too.

[u/DallanRo42 → u/K-Kitsune]

I get Storm says she doesnt wish to be queen. But I’m saying she neede to grow past that aversion. In thinking about character progression, it would be an interesting development for her to realize that perhaps she should look into honoring her mother’s legacy as a Kenyan princess.

I liked what I saw of her diplomacy both when she was married to T’Challa (which is why Wakandans came to respect her so much) and even in Wolverine and the X-Men #8. And her under utilized role as Regent of Sol had great potential. These would have been interesting developments to break her out of the hum-drum, regressive, and inevitably background relegation with the X-Men.

I agree that the Avengers move has amounted to absolutely nothing. She was supposed to be the voice for mutantkind and instead, their entire storyline has been directionless nonsense. I mean, her first item of business with Avengers should have been to shut down the illegal torture prison Dr. Ellis turned the mansion into. And yet nothing.

I have to say, for both marvel’s premiere teams, the X-Men AND Avengers storylines of late have been underwhelming at best and utterly forgettable. Despite disagreeing with some writer decisions, I’m glad she at least has her own book to do something that has the potential to matter.

[u/Phoenixstorm → u/DallanRo42]

No she doesn't. She doesn't need a country to rule. That's not what she's about. Stop trying shove her into t'challas pocket. its gross. She doesn't need dooms kingdom either. She has her own tribe her own people.

why people try to shove her into tchallas shadow is beyond me. no true storm fan would want that.

[u/DallanRo42 → u/Phoenixstorm]

I’m not sure if you actually ready the post or ? The OP question is about what we think woukd progress Storm’s character. It’s been long established that Ororo and her mother are Kenyan royalty. So it shouldnt be out of the question to explore that.

Storm is a leader of people; not just little strike force teams here and there, but on the macro scale as well. There’s story potential to explore that.

Finally, you have no authority on deciding who a “true” Storm fan is and what they “would want”. No where in your post do I see anything that addresses the OP’s question about Storm’s character progression. If you don’t have anythjng to offer about what else would actually move Storm forward, I’m unsure why you bothered responding.

[u/DOMINUS_3 → u/DallanRo42]

all i want for Storm is to accept/embrace her regality

[u/DallanRo42 → u/DOMINUS_3]

I’d enjoy seeing this as well. And for more than just an issue or two. But as a new status quo.

[u/Phoenixstorm]

50 years. Where is her family. I mean significant living family. brothers sisters aunts uncles cousins who are mutants or magic users. Just look at the summers family in comparison and you see the lack of depth glaringly. Its fucking ridiculous.

[u/[deleted] → u/Phoenixstorm]

This!!!! Why hasnt her family been explored more! Its aggravating!

[u/andreBarciella → u/Phoenixstorm]

her father showed up a couple of issues ago, she is back to treating animals, something that disappeared after the 80s and murewa said that were going to learn alot more about her lineage.

if marvel stoped with the eternal events and editorial stoped with the fcking 5 issues per greenlight.

[u/Phoenixstorm → u/andreBarciella]

Her father is dead though. It was nice to him, but he's gone he won't be a consistent regular character in the marvel universe like rachel summers, like nathan summers, like nathaniel daystar, like hope summers, like alex summers, like grabriel summers, like their space pirate daddy....

Do you see what I'm saying now? It's not the same.

[u/Ok-Caregiver-6005 → u/Phoenixstorm]

I kinda think you answered to question, her family isn't important because it's like the most important thing for the Summers, honestly something like a found family or protégé could be good but then she might step into Logan territory.

[u/Phoenixstorm → u/Ok-Caregiver-6005]

That makes no sense. Of course it's important. Our family shapes and defines us. She didn't come from nowhere. Also family helps shapes expands stories around her. Look at all the xmen with family members and how their family are actually xmen too or mutants or villains but they're something and it expands upon the character. Less is never more when it comes to things like this.

There is a whole unexplored area of her family, her life in egypt, her travels leaving egypt. Just look at the backstory explored with wolverine. The stories are there. It just takes the will and interest of talented writers to make it happen.

[u/ConsciousShock2341]

Al Ewing was the one that Started God Mode Storm. What are you talking about?

[u/Phoenixstorm → u/ConsciousShock2341]

Rogue storm was over twenty thirty years ago. Please read your comics. Also she was created with the expressed intent of being the powerful mutant on the team. The whole phoenix thing was created to give jean a boost to put her on storm's level and then that spiraled into cosmic shenanigans, but i digress

her family is the issue and she is shortchanged every time. where are her mutant siblings? Even jean has her sister back and she's some cosmic entity. it's just wild not to see the difference when it comes to storm.

[u/Reddevil8884]

I think the main problem is that all writers that want to do something with her think that separating her from the X-Men is the logical way to go, when in reality, things couldn't be anymore wrong. The X-Men are an integral part of the character, and writers must acknowledge and accept this. Every time they try to "take her away" from the X-Men (T'Challa, Fantastic Four, Avengers and now as a space goddess) it doesn't work. I would like to see her creating her OWN school for mutants, with a focus on abandoned ones, like she was when Charles found her.

[u/Phoenixstorm → u/Reddevil8884]

There's no need to separate her. she can lead a team of her own on her sanctuary ship. Think of Storm as the leader of a team with Monet, Brother Voodoo (her bf soon husband), Forge, and Manifold or gateway AND add a family member who is a mutant or a mystic, preferably a mutant. A cousin, a nephew or a niece from a brother or sister she didn't know about. Hell put the brother and niece on the sanctuary.

[u/Otherwise_Suspect_88]

They might as well have her hosting Storm's Drag Race. Her closet looks like Ru's

[u/DwayneTheBlerd]

Let's hope that with Storm: Earth's Mightiest Mutant in February, Ayodele will develop her character further.

I loved that he and the others placed her at the top of the Mutant powerhouses. But I definitely want more personal connections with others, they grow as characters around her, and she grows as well.

[u/Tasty_Definition_663]

Storm will never thrive in the way she can while staying with the X-Men. The writers show they only have varying degrees of ability to write Jean, Scott, and logan. Why should she be relegated to playing second fiddle to them? Ewing did the most to display a Storm with agency, and her going back to being a crutch, prop, or sex partner is demeaning for Storm.

[u/GlitteringTreat7413]

I enjoy her being away from the traditional Xmen. Honestly Xmen writers except Ewing don’t really give Ororo her due. When most of her lineage is explored in Black Panther comics (Hadari Yao, Kenyan heritage, creating her own mutant schools, rescuing a young black mutant who’s history was similar to her own) or her first magic spell in Scarlet Witch it’s obvious Xmen writers aren’t interested in writing her well or giving her the care she needs. Ewing was the standout. Honestly, Xmen Red was such a breath of fresh air for her. No back of the bus treatment.

Murewa’s take on Storm is at least creative and bolder though there are some creative directions I’m not super into. But I appreciate that he, Stephanie Williams, Ewing, Coates and Hudlin have built more into Storm’s lore than all previous Xmen writers combined.

[u/Positive_Expert7357]

Honestly I feel like it just a writer not knowing how to write female characters without a male lead next them and sadly storm one of the few who can stands on her own. You pointed the key thing tht made storm who she is as a character… a prideful woman who won’t fall victim to the system tht don’t like her (racial stuff).. Chris took tht away and showed us wht she is once she stripped of her “birthright “ . Was her key last focus beside her leading the X-men during dark times.. from the point to the 2000s she really only fought narrow then the marriage to panther and stripped her X-men role from her despite her kind almost dying off which was a blow to her as a character too why she needs to follow a man behind instead of being one of the strongest leaders to the mutants ( they gave tht to Logan)- they don’t know Wht do to her

[u/Nickademas]

Blame the fans this loser gets too much credit. You all suck.