x-men – My Geek Wisdom

“Please, do not make me let you down.”

From: X-Men ’97

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Magneto

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the Disney+ animated show, X-Men ’97. Based on the Marvel comics series, X-Men ’97 is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series. The world thinks Professor X is dead and Magneto, the X-Men’s greatest villain, now is in control of the X-Men.

The quote comes from the second episode, entitled Mutant Liberation Begins. Magneto (voiced here by Matthew Waterson) subdues an attack by the Friends of Humanity on the United Nations during his trial. He mentions how he would’ve killed everyone in the past, especially due to how the X-Cutioner managed to remove Storm‘s mutant abilities during the battle. However, Professor X challenged him to try a different path and he is trying to be a better person. He closes the monologue by delivering the quote.

Geek wisdom: Sometimes, people would like to change and change for the better. However, a lot of us have difficulty letting go of the past. With that in mind, we should never try to hold them back just because of their past mistakes. In fact, we should encourage these people and help them as they are trying instead of telling them they cannot change. At the very least, get out of their way when they are trying to better themselves.

“Don’t be what they made you.”

From: Logan

Genre: Movies

Who said it?: Logan/Wolverine

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the 2017 superhero/post-apocalyptic film, Logan. Based on Marvel’s X-Men’s characters, the film focuses on the former mutant known as Wolverine. Now going by his “real” name, Logan, he has to get a bunch of child mutants, along with his clone, Laura/X-23, to safety as they are hunted down by the mysterious group who created them as living weapons.

The quote comes from the end of the film. Logan (played by Hugh Jackman) is slowly dying as his healing factor is all but spent fighting off an evil version of himself. Laura (played by Dafne Keen) wants to help his adoptive father but Logan, with his dying breath, tells her to run as she doesn’t have to be the weapon she was created to be.

Geek wisdom: We choose who we want to be and we don’t have to go with whatever someone else thinks is best for you. It’s always up to you to decide your destiny.

“I’m the best there is at what I do. But what I do isn’t very nice…”

From: X-Men

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: Logan/Wolverine

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from Wolverine, everyone’s favorite yellow spandex wearing, cigar chomping Canadian mutant. He is probably the most popular and most recognizable X-Men character in the world today. Which is kind of astonishing since, originally, his first appearance was in Hulk #181 (as an opponent to both The Incredible Hulk and Wendigo). It wasn’t until much later that Logan joined a new group of X-Men to rescue the original members.

Logan pretty much acknowledges that he is a vicious killer and will do things that may seem unnecessarily violent. But he does recognize that his skills do serve a purpose as noted by his catchphase.

Geek wisdom: Everyone has his or her own special talent and, no matter what it is, it’s something that you should be proud of. There may be times when you feel your special gift should be hidden away or it should be something you should be ashamed of. But everything you’re good at has to be shared with everyone… because it deserves to be shared with others.

“This one’s for you, Morph!”

From: X-Men (cartoon)

Genre: Cartoons, Television

Who said it?: Wolverine

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the excellent animated X-Men animated series which ran from 1992 to 1997. The show is based on Marvel comics popular team of mutants. The show did a great job of translating some of the story lines from the comics it was based on, even if it did introduce some new elements…

One such element was the introduction of a character named Morph, who has the mutant ability to shapeshift. It was implied that he was a close friend of Wolverine. Unfortunately, Morph is killed in Episode 2. Wolverine does manage to get some manner of revenge by wrecking a couple of Sentinels. In fact, the quote comes from Wolverine while destroying one of the mutant hunting machines.

Geek wisdom: Just because someone dies, it doesn’t mean that they are gone from our lives. We still have the memories of our times with them. In fact, we can actually gain strength by the severe loss of a loved one. We can honor their memory by going through life and recalling happy memories with our dear departed ones once in a while.

“The whole world is watching us now. We must be nothing less than fabulous.”

From: X-Men

Genre: Comics

Who said it?: Emma Frost

The story behind the quote: When Emma Frost first appeared in comics, she was a villain, fighting against the X-Men. However, after numerous battles with them, she eventually joined the X-Men and actually took over as headmistress of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning and she took her job of preparing the student of the school seriously.

During one of her speeches to the student body, Emma announced that they will be changing the way they will be taught but they will be educated on how to deal with a world that shuns mutants. During the end of her speech, she comments that the students who are complaining about the harsh teaching methods of Wolverine/Logan are wasting their breath. She then delivers the quote as she expects them to be ready for anything.

Geek wisdom: The worst things can happen at any time, especially when you least expect it. Rather than scramble and jump in to fix it, it’s always a good thing to be ready for it. Like Emma Frost said, the training that the students are doing may be difficult but it is actually for their own benefit as people are looking at them closely. If they’re going to slack off and not be able to control themselves during something that’s planned, it’s going to be much worse when real danger rears its ugly head.