Marvel Comics is taking all of itsX-Menheroes to a dark place in the upcomingAge of Revelationcrossover, but some fans are concerned that it is going to have a lasting negative impact on one mutant in particular: Quentin Quire.The new storyline reverts the antagonist-turned-hero back to bad guy status, but could the move have lasting consequences?
It isconfirmed that Quentin plays a role as a villain, inAge of Revelation, casting him in the extremely grim role of the “spymaster” for Revelation, the mutant warlord and “big bad” of the crossover.
Fans of the character have decried the “full-on fascist” turn for Quentin, suggesting that it will tarnish his well-earned position as a stalwartX-Menhero.
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For starters, it is important to note thatAge of Revelationis a story that is just at its beginning;the possibility remains for Quentin Quire to be redeemed within the context of this dark, futureX-Mentimeline, or to be revealed as a mole in Revelation’s organization, something to bring the character back into firmly heroic territory.
It appears that Quentin is set to play the role of evil psychic puppeteer, in the service of Revelation’s totalitarian regime, and that doesn’t quite sit right with fans who have followed the character’s arc
That said, the set-up for the story paints a bleak picture of Quentin. The primer issue,Age of Revelation#0,establishes his “spymaster” role, which includes his authoritarian use of mind-controlled children to spy on dissident parents.More about theAge of Revelationversion of Quentin’s character will be elucidated when the tie-in seriesOmega Kidsdrops.
For now, though,it appears that Quentin is set to play the role of evil psychic puppeteer, in the service of Revelation’s totalitarian regime, and that doesn’t quite sit right with fans who have followed the character’s arc, from hisorigins in Grant Morrison’sNew X-Mento his current membership on Cyclops’ X-team.
The expectation among fans is that the changes to familiar characters made byAge of Revelationwon’t be long-term, butX-readers are rightly concerned that if the event takes Quentin Quire to too dark of a place, it could have an unintended influence on his reputation. For worse, not better.
Quentin Isn’t An Unequivocal Hero On Wolverine Or Storm’s Level
To be fair,Quentin Quire isn’t the only mutant hero Marvel is turning into a dangerous villaininAge of Revelation. The publisher has revealed that characters like Storm, Wolverine, Magik, and more will be breaking bad too. Still, people familiar with theX-Menfranchise aren’t worried about these characters in the same way they’re concerned for Quentin.
If Quentin proves to be a memorable villain inAge of Revelation, that is going to influence how readers feel about him, even if/when the franchise’s status quo is reset.
That is because of Quentin’s early tenure as a powerful antagonist for theX-Men. While Storm, or Wolverine, are never going to be permanently rebranded as baddies,the same can’t be said for the original Kid Omega. It is possible Marvel might decide that the character is ultimately better suited as a villain than a hero.
And even if that is not the case,the real issue at stake is fans’ perception of the character, which is still vulnerable, in comparison to other legendaryX-Menheroes.As gamechangingX-Menauthor Jonathan Hickman once said: “continuity is what people remember,and what sticks.” The creative peril of villainizing Quentin Quire again is that it could stick.
If the powerful psychicQuentin proves to be a memorable villain inAge of Revelation, that is going to influence how readers feel about him, even if/when the franchise’s status quo is reset.Especially if he crosses a Rubicon of malevolence, something early warning signs aboutAge of Revelationseem to point to.
Marvel Successfully Turned Quentin Quire Into A Hero, But Now It Is Putting That On The Line
Age Of RevelationIs A Turning Point For The Young Mutant’s Reputation
There is significant overlap between comic book storytelling and professional wrestling, but one thing that stands out isthe idea of the “heel turn.“That is, making a hero into a villain. Of course, there is then the opposite, the “face turn,” in which a bad character is redeemed and becomes a fan-favorite,something Marvel successfully pulled off with Quentin Quire.
Despite over twenty years ofX-Menlore to his credit, Quentin Quire is still very much cementing his place in franchise lore.
However, once a wrestler has turned heel, or a comic book hero has gone bad, the possibility of turning them back again hinges on their actions when they were bad. Even if they are subsequently returned to the heroic side of the ledger,if their villainy was truly heinous, that is what many readers will always associate the character with.
This is whatX-Menfans are concerned about, when it comes to Quentin and his heel turninAge of Revelation. If Marvel truly follows through on making him as sinister as he’s set up to be inAge of Revelation#0, it will be hard to just flip the switch when it comes to returning to “normal” for the character.
Despite over twenty years ofX-Menlore to his credit, Quentin Quire is still very muchcementing his place in franchise lore.Age of Revelationcould turn out to be a pivot point for his character, and it could solidify him as an inherently villainous character, at least in the minds of readers, if Marvel takes him in too dark a direction.
