Had a total meltdown trying to explain the X-Men timeline to my mom at a family dinner

We were at my aunt's house in Phoenix last Sunday, and my mom asked why there were so many different Wolverines. I started with the original comics, then the 90s cartoon, then the Fox movies, and tried to mention the Krakoa stuff. Her eyes just glazed over and she said, 'So it's all made up as they go?' I mean, I guess she's not wrong, but I felt like I failed as a fan. How do you guys explain this stuff to non-readers without sounding crazy?

2 comments

2 Comments

ellis.victor13d ago

My mom still asks if my Netflix shows are on regular TV. Modern storytelling expects you to follow a dozen threads across different platforms, and it's exhausting for anyone who didn't grow up online. Trying to explain any big universe now just ends up sounding like conspiracy theory homework.

the_wyatt13d ago

Honestly your mom hit the nail on the head, it is all made up as they go and that's the fun part. Trying to make it all fit together is a trap for fans, not the point for casual people. Just pick one movie or show you like and talk about that character, nobody needs the full timeline. Ellis.victor has a point about it being exhausting, but that's only if you feel like you have to explain everything. My dad loves Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and has never read a comic, that's a totally fine way to enjoy it. The complicated backstory stuff is just extra for people who want it.

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