So, in this three part series I’m going to be considering Marvel’s Battle of the Atom along three lines: Power/Knowledge, fate vs. free will and the issue of child soldiers in the X-Men. First, however, I have two disclaimers that I’d like readers to be aware of. The first two topics relate to areas that I’m interested in and as such, they’re likely to be recurring themes; however, the last is more specific to the X-Men or Marvel Universe in general, though it could easily be employed in analyses of other texts, elsewhere. So, look for connecting threads between posts, and we might see some development of these ideas further. Also, I’m going to try to keep this blog as critical as possible, but in the absence of my books, or access to the internet at times, we may need to rely somewhat heavily on my memory or my own understanding about such issues; I’ll try to be clear at times when I am stating my own opinions or theories, and I welcome criticisms or comments if I ever stray from academic understanding. With that said, I’d like to begin with part one, power and knowledge as it relates to Cyclops from the X-Men.
Power/Knowledge relates to the theories of Michel Foucault, French philosopher and genealogist who studied the relationship between power and knowledge throughout history, finding that they could be used to exact a kind of social control over people. Through societal institutions, such as schools, universities and prisons, documented knowledge of people could be used to classify and determine an individual’s position within society, or an institution, monitoring them in a way that pressured people into self-regulation, compliance or the adoption of their given role. Power/Knowledge relations can be used to explain societies’ treatment of those demeaned other; the upholding of social norms in terms of behaviour or morality, such as within gender roles; and the physical regulation of bodies in time and space.
So, why is this relevant? Well, I was learning about Foucault’s theory around the time of Utopia, when Cyclops moved the mutant population out of Xavier’s mansion and onto the floating asteroid that was once Magneto’s stronghold. I quickly noticed some very problematic things happenings: total psychic surveillance; a secret prison, complete with A.I round the clock security; and a severe restriction of physical freedoms. At the time, I was fascinated because it was the first time Cyclops had ever mattered to me, and I generated a strong dislike for the character whereas I had previously shown him little care or attention. However, if we contrast this earlier version of Cyclops with the Scott Summers of today, some very interesting changes have taken place. Cyclops, under the influence of the Phoenix force, killed Professor Xavier and in order to suppress his guilt, revolutionised his mission. He now operates outside of the main X-Men, as a fugitive from the law, along with Emma Frost, the Stepford Cuckoos, Magik, Magneto and his new recruits. In my eyes, he has become instantly more appealing as a fanatic, as an outward expression of the insanity he hid on Utopia, justifying that entire story because it helped to lead us here, where Cyclops continues to interact with power/knowledge relations in interesting ways.
With Cyclops back on Magneto’s asteroid, there are many ways in which he still manipulates and controls the people under his charge, but there’s more to it, as I shall demonstrate. For example, his new students are there for their own ‘protection’ and we’re shown what happens when one of them tries to leave. The police get involved, S.H.I.E.L.D gets involved, it’s all pretty messy and so naturally, back in Cyclops’ secret bunker is where poor Gold Balls belongs. However, there’s something equally interesting about the way Cyclops and his people, as fugitives, are being watched every time they leave their sanctuary. The tables have been turned; and even more interestingly, Cyclops is using surveillance in a new way whenever he uses social media to further his campaign. It could be that, without his clout, Summers is learning what it means to be a victim of power/knowledge relations through his portrayal in the media and under the watchful, judgmental eyes of the other X-Men, Avengers, etc. Through his Mutant Revolution, he could be seeking to redefine mutants as an act of resistance, but I think it’s too early to say fully what the end result is intended to be.
Secondly, Cyclops has kept with him, some of his most powerful agents of control. Although without her powers of telepathy, Emma Frost remains an expert in psychic surveillance and mental manipulation and control. Through the Cuckoos, she is able to utilise her skill set, but in new ways. For example, in Uncanny X-Men #12, the four of them mind-link with young Jean Grey in order to share intelligence. Since, according to power/knowledge relations, typically intelligence should be restricted in order to enact control over others, sharing information weakens this ability. That’s in contrast to the future X-Men who refuse to allow Jean Grey access to their thoughts. As one Cuckoo remarks, “You don’t block someone like that unless you’re hiding something.” Therefore, Cyclops is diminished as a threat, and his band of mutants start to function less as an institution of control, and more as a site of resistance and opposition.
Finally, let’s consider Magneto and Magik. Magneto was the X-Men’s original antagonist, now Cyclops’ right hand man. Cyclops has adopted his cause for mutant freedom, except with less murdering regular humans. However, Magneto is working as a double agent, and forgive me but I can’t decide which side he’s really on. Is he spying on Cyclops for S.H.I.E.L.D, or the other way around? Either way, Magneto is acting as an agent of knowledge/power relations. Whether that is in our ‘hero’s’ benefit, it yet to be seen. And then there's Magik, demonic sorceress and teleporter through time and space, whose limbo dimension acts as the site of threat and punishment for Cyclops’ charges. Their fear of her motivates their compliance in many ways. She was even once a prisoner on Utopia. She knows what it's like! However, Magik, similarly has an access to secret knowledge, and is sharing it for the benefit of others. When she sees the X-Men who have travelled from the future, she immediately leaves only to return with the ‘real’ X-Men of the future. In this sense, she too, is a complicated agent of power and knowledge.
Though it is as of yet too early to see where this thread is going – and I’m sure many of you have your theories – it presents an interesting area for consideration. However, as comics are a continuous thing of evolving continuity, this topic will not be concluded along with the Marvel event. It’s something I’m deeply interesting in and I want to see how it pans out. If you’re similarly interested, either stick around or share your comments, engage in discussion, disagree, pose alternatives, point out things I've missed, criticise my entire premise, whatever you like. Part Two will be along shortly, I hope, where I’ll be looking at Jean Grey and the issue of fate vs. free will and whether or not the original X-Men should return to their time. Thanks for reading.
