Have you seen Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Everyone’s talking about it. Finally, a major character has appeared in the MCU: Jean Grey. She’s a core member of the X-Men. We’ve seen her in previous movies and in the old animated series, but it’s always cool to experience a new take on the character.
Sadie Sink was simply fantastic as Jean. Since she’ll be back in the next X-Men movie, we’ll definitely be seeing a lot more of her. That makes perfect sense, because her story in the comics is massive.
Jean Grey is at the center of so many great X-Men stories. She holds her own on her own, but she’s even better when she’s with the whole team. Even though she appears as the antagonist in Spider-Man: Brand New Day as an antagonist, she has a long history in the comics. If you’re not very familiar with Marvel yet, you should definitely check out these comics. They showcase the key moments in her life that will likely be significant for her future in the MCU.
THE X-MEN INTRODUCED THE CHARACTER
Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created a super-famous comic in 1963. It was the first issue of X-Men. The team was just being formed back then. It included Beast, Cyclops, Angel, Professor X, and Jean Grey. They fought against Magneto. This comic laid the foundation for everything, and the MCU will likely draw on some of that.
Back then, she was still called Marvel Girl. Jean didn’t quite know yet how powerful she actually was. She also wasn’t entirely sure what role she was supposed to play on the team. It’s really fun to read these old issues. You can see how Marvel developed all these great ideas at the same time.
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS IS A CONTEMPORARY LOOK AT THE EARLY TEAM
The first X-Men issues were great for kickstarting the story. But X-Men: First Class did a great job of introducing that era to new readers. Although there was a movie with that title, Jean didn’t appear in it.
This series was published in 2006. It was created by Jeff Parker and Roger Cruz. The MCU will certainly take this series as a model when developing its own version of the X-Men. It’s very straightforward and entertaining. It’s like a new take on the old story, but it gives Jean more depth. This makes her character seem much more real.
X-MEN ORIGINS: JEAN GREY IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE STORY
We’re familiar with the major team-up comics. But there’s another comic that explains her backstory really well. X-Men Origins: Jean Grey tells exactly how she gained her powers. It also shows how Professor X found her. That was a pretty scary experience for her.
This is the best version of her origin story. If there’s ever a flashback to her childhood in the movies, they’ll probably be based on this comic. It’s also known for its really cool, realistic artwork. Sean McKeever wrote the script, and Mike Mayhew did the artwork in 2008. If you want to know who Jean Grey is, start here.
THE “DARK PHOENIX” SAGA REMAINS AN ICON
This story is so famous. It’s appeared in the original “X-Men” movies, the reboot movies, and the animated films. It’s one of the greatest moments in Marvel history. In this story, Jean Grey goes off the rails. She’s corrupted by something called the “Phoenix Force.”
It appeared in 1990 in “Uncanny X-Men”. Chris Claremont wrote the story, and John Byrne illustrated it. It’s a very sad story about self-sacrifice. Jean realizes what she has done and must face the consequences. The Phoenix Force keeps coming back, and the MCU will almost certainly adapt this story for the screen one day.
INFERNO BRINGS THE HEAT OF THE X-MEN
Have you seen X-Men ’97? That’s where Madelyne Pryor was brought back into the story. She’s a clone of Jean Grey. In fact, she had been secretly infiltrating Jean’s life for quite some time. In the comics, all of this came to light during the Inferno storyline in X-Factor. Pryor even started a relationship with Cyclops.
Louise and Walter Simonson wrote this in 1989. They turned her into the Goblin Queen. The story is insane. There are demons and a huge battle between the two Jeans. It changes everything for her. The MCU would be well advised to tell this story at some point.
THE X-MEN HAVE FINALLY MADE IT OFFICIAL
In X-Men Issue 30, things finally got serious. Cyclops and Jean Grey got married. That’s a huge deal. At Marvel, there aren’t many weddings that actually turn out well. Most end in total disaster. It’s actually nice to see that they’re still together today.
Fabian Nicieza wrote this in 1994, illustrated by Andy Kubert. This marked the beginning of a whole new era. The MCU loves good love stories. Even in these movies, there aren’t many weddings. That strikes me as a great story that could be brought to the big screen.
“FALL OF X” CHANGED JEAN GREY’S FUTURE FOREVER
Let’s move on to the new comics. Jean Grey played a major role in the Krakoa era. She was brought back to life, but then the entire nation fell apart. “Fall of X” is a massive story. It’s a turning point for Jean.
She actually saves the mutants. For a long time, people were afraid of her, but she rose to the challenge. Although she’s killed early on, she returns and merges with the Phoenix Force. She sacrifices everything. This makes her feel like a deity. It’s a bit complicated, but it shows just how powerful she really is.
“AGE OF APOCALYPSE” SHOWS THE RELATIONSHIP EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR
Everyone wants to know more about Jean Grey and Logan. They’re caught in a love triangle with Cyclops, which creates plenty of drama. In Age of Apocalypse, an alternate reality, it was cool to see Jean and Wolverine come together as a couple.
It was published in 1995. In it, Jean was a soldier. She was a fighter who stood up for her beliefs. In the end, she died a hero’s death. It’s a classic story that the MCU could adapt for the first time.
A.X.E.: “Judgment Day” Forces Grey to Face Judgment
For a while, people thought the MCU would adapt “Judgment Day”. That hasn’t happened yet. But it’s still a great story. The Celestials pass judgment on all of humanity to decide whether Earth is worth saving.
Jean must face her own judgment. In A.X.E.: X-Men Issue 1, she has to come to terms with the guilt from her past. The story delves deeply into the Dark Phoenix Saga. If the MCU goes down this path, it might even pick up on Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
PHOENIX IS A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF THE HEROINE
One of the latest solo stories is simply titled Phoenix. It began in 2024. Stephanie Phillips wrote it, and Alessandro Miracolo illustrated it. Here, Jean Grey fully embraces the Phoenix Force. She embarks on adventures across the cosmos.
The story does a great job of showcasing her relationship with her family. She grapples with memories of her sister and her father-in-law. She tests just how strong she can be. An absolute must-read if you want to see what’s inspiring the latest MCU projects.
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