****I had already loaded this once, then a few hours later I discovered two ridiculous "typos" and felt I should "fix and reload" it -guess that's why I'm and artist and not a magazine editor (lol)...So let's try this again. We were snowed in a couple weeks ago here in Atlanta (no less than a few days after I became a member of BSFS) ..which gave me a while to think about what part I would play on this remarkable site. I'm a graphic artist. I work in Marietta most of the week so when I'm not busy doing artwork I like to relax.... by doing artwork(lol!) Storm has always been one of the most intriguing black superheroes to me firstly and particularly because (According to Marvel) her whole life story began with Malcolm X (and his travels to Africa, after leaving Mecca) ...Of Course you can get the whole scoop on everything "STORM" by goin' to Marvel.com Anyway, what most inspired me to do this "Initiation Piece" (commemorating my finally becoming a BSFS member), was witnessing all the hate pointed at STORM's character by the internet comic "blog heads" that seem to habitually take pot shots at STORM's relevance over and over again through internet polls that continuously have STORM rated as #1 on the list for "Most Overrated X-man". This is a pattern I've noticed for the last 5 to 6 years....and I'm sick of it. What a great way to "downplay" one one the ONLY "Level 5 Mutants" in the whole X-Men/Marvel universe.(Unreal) For me, STORM has always represented a comic "totem" that is mainly two-fold: 1)The Black/African Plight (Born to royalty, only to have her parents assassinated, their names tarnished, their land AND her "birthright" stolen -destined to grow up wandering alone in the streets of Cairo) ...and 2) Mother Nature Incarnate (Regal Powers, Maternal Foresight) Though I enjoyed the X-men movies,....I can't begin to describe the frustration I felt toward the movie-making establishment for rolling Halle Berry into that immensely "watered-down" version of STORM. They basically turned her into a petty,fearful,teenager -resentful toward humans with minimal knowledge of her powers. -Which is a complete "slap in the face" to the fact that STORM grew up "tough" as an orphan, running with a notorious band of pick-pockets and thieves on the streets of Cairo...which became her "family". She grew and so did her mutant abilities. ....and in time she would be WORSHIPPED as a "goddess" by many tribes (humans) up and down the great plains of Africa. STORM has also repeatedly displayed great leadership ability and has led the "X-men" on many crucial missions , and has even twice defeated CYCLOPS in "Captain challenges" to prove her will to lead (the second time she wooped him she didn't even have her powers) STORM has been through it all - orphaned street-urchin, she killed her attempted rapist as a teen, gained powers, lost powers, re-gained powers, been mind controlled, did the nasty with WOLVERINE in an "alternate universe"...you name it......and now 'MARRIAGE (LMAO) to some guy name T'Challa -I think he's an African King or somethin' : ) I was also inspired by an artist on this site for their "Storm on Ebony Mag's cover" design and thought I might "match one' and bring it "back to the block" lol. It was mad fun building this piece over the last couple weeks during this winter "downtime" . I'm glad I was able to finish it -as I am doubly glad to be a member of BSFS....Enjoy. ...and thank you all. -Marcellus PS. STORM is a "Level 5" mutant, and her powers have developed to incalculable strengths -officially making her an "elemental being" -she once diverted the jet stream so as to create storms over the entire East Coast of the United States...and yet, the limit to the size of the area over which Storm can manipulate/and now generate the weather is still unknown. Does that sound like a "punk" super-heroine to you?
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