| "Revolution" thematic stories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Publication information | |||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||
| |||
| Formats | Multiple, thematically linked individual issues from multiple ongoing series. | ||
| Genre | |||
| Publication date | May – June 2000 | ||
| Number of issues | 9 | ||
| Creative team | |||
| Writer(s) | Warren Ellis Chris Claremont Ian Edginton | ||
| Reprints | |||
| Collected editions | |||
| Counter-X: Volume 1: X-Force | ISBN 0-7851-3304-6 | ||
| Counter-X: Volume 2: Generation X | ISBN 0-7851-3305-4 | ||
| Counter-X: Volume 3: X-Man | ISBN 0-7851-3306-2 | ||
"Revolution" was the title given to the May 2000 revamp of Marvel Comics' X-Men-related comic books, timed to coincide with the publication of X-Men vol. 2 #100.
In each series, the "Revolution" issue represented a jump of six months after the previous issue's events. In most cases, "Revolution" also marked an attempt to send each title in a new creative direction. To this end, new creative teams were assigned to the titles. Many characters' costumes were redesigned, and a "Revolution" logo was printed along the right-hand side of each issue.
The most publicized of the changes was the return of writer Chris Claremont to the flagship titles X-Men vol. 2 and Uncanny X-Men, after nearly a decade's absence.
The event also included nods to early-1990s marketing strategies, such as printing variant covers[1] and including trading cards.[2]
The excitement of the event was dampened by Marvel Comics' timing, as most of the series involved had launched with all or part of their new creative teams a month before the event, even though the "Revolution" logo was still printed on the May issues. Uncanny X-Men did not join the "Revolution" event until its June 2000 issue. Furthermore, Claremont stated in later interviews that he had ghostwritten several issues of various X-Men titles before the event.[citation needed]
As part of the Revolution event three X-titles, X-Man, X-Force, and Generation X were to be show-run by a longstanding creator working with new writers and artists. Originally Rob Liefeld had been approached to take over the titles, but turned down the offer when he found out he would be unable to hire his own colorists.[3] Warren Ellis was then approached, and the Counter-X line was born. Ellis plotted the general direction for each of the Counter-X books, and initially co-wrote each title with Steven Grant on X-Man, Ian Edginton on X-Force, and Brian Wood on Generation X.
The "Revolution" event was poorly received by fans and critics, leading to Claremont leaving X-Men and Uncanny X-Men after nine months. The X-Men line of books were revamped again in July 2001 with Grant Morrison writing New X-Men, Joe Casey writing Uncanny X-Men, and Claremont writing the new title X-Treme X-Men.