from the ashes
The adult Jean Grey is making a comeback in fiery comic Phoenix Resurrection
Given her codename and having already returned from the grave once, you would think that defying death is a vital part of Jean Grey’s character. But writer Matthew Rosenberg cannot confirm how such qualities fit into Phoenix Resurrection: The Return Of Jean Grey, his new mini-series which will see the adult version of the former Marvel Girl restored to the land of the living.
“That’s a tricky question for reasons I can’t quite go into,” teases Rosenberg, who will be paired with artists Leinil Yu, Carlos Pacheco, Joe Bennett, Ramon Rosanas and Khoi Pham on the weekly five-parter. “Death and resurrection are essential to what the Phoenix is. The problem comes from the fact that Jean herself is just a person, or she was. Seeing those differences between what the Phoenix is and what Jean is will be the key to understanding both of them. In the past, some creators have approached their relationship like that of a woman going crazy, but that’s not what the story is at its core. They’re in a relationship but they’re not the same being.”
While Rosenberg won’t reveal too many details about what to expect, some clues can be found in Dennis Hopeless’s young Jean Grey title, in which the X-Men Blue member is pursued by the malevolent Phoenix Force. “We went to great lengths to make sure the stories work perfectly well on their own, but put together there are pieces in each which impact the other story,” says Rosenberg. “The big thing is that we’re trying to tell a story that balances Jean and the Phoenix, who they are and what they mean. It’s a huge, potentially cataclysmic, earth-ending event, but it’s also a small personal story about a woman and her teammates. So I hope those who come to see epic fights can find some joy in the more intimate story we’re telling.”
Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey #1 is published on 27 December.