Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Today may be the biggest day at the movies for comic book lovers.
The highly-anticipated "X-Men" movie premieres around the country today.
"They've been rumoring about making this movie for the last 15 years," said Nick Kelley, owner of Chimp's Comics, 919 E. Winona Ave., Suite 5, Warsaw.
What? Don't know who the X-Men are?
"Basically, (they're) a comic book superhero team that has been around since 1963," said Kelley. "It's actually the No. 1 selling comic book. It has been No. 1 for a number of years."
He said X-Men are bigger than Batman and Superman. At Chimp's, the X-Men are bigger than Batman and Superman combined.
Each of the X-Men is "just a mutated person. They have a gene in their body that when they hit puberty, it kicks in and gives them special powers," said Kelley.
In the comics, they are not, however, superheroes loved by the masses like Superman or Batman. There are groups of non-mutant humans, including some politicians, who hate and fear any mutants good or bad and want them destroyed.
The mutants' struggle for acceptance is in many ways parallel to the civil rights struggle of the last century.
"That's what is different with the X-Men," said Kelley. He said the X-Men comic has deep drama, more drama than actions sometimes. Moviegoers will see that in the movie.
Professor Charles Xavier (played in the movie by Patrick Stewart, "Star Trek The Next Generation"), a mutant himself, founded the X-Men. Xavier believes mutants and humans can live together as equals. Many compare his character to Martin Luther King Jr.
However, his good friend Magneto (Ian McKellen, "Gods and Monsters"), is often compared to Malcolm X. He doesn't believe homo sapiens and homo superiors (mutants) can ever live together. He believes mutants need to conquer the humans and rule the earth. He is also a Holocaust survivor so he knows how tyrannical man can be.
Members of the X-Men team under Professor Xavier include Rogue, Wolverine, Storm, Jean Grey and Cyclops.
Rogue can absorb people's memories and powers just by touching their skin. Wolverine is a man with an adamantium skeleton. Adamantium is the strongest metal in the universe. He is also a rapid healer and has heightened senses and three claws on each hand.
Jean Grey and Cyclops are engaged. Grey has telepathic and telekinetic powers. Cyclops was born with optic blasts that shoot out of his eyes. He has to wear a ruby quartz lens visor or sunglasses to help control the blast.
Storm is known as a goddess in her native African land. She can control the weather with her thoughts and use the wind to make her fly.
Fighting against humanity and the X-Men are Magneto's team, comprising Sabretooth, Toad and Mystique.
With all the hoopla surrounding the movie comes the memorabilia. Kelley said, "There's been an increase among the comic fans (for it). They want to get the cards, the toys." As for non-comic book fans, he hasn't seen any increase - yet.
"I think (the movie) will translate (to the mainstream). The cartoons they had on were very much like the comic book and that lasted five to six years," said Kelley. "The movie is similar."
Kelley and a group of friends are going to meet at the comic store today and go see the movie. A friend is going to buy the tickets as early as possible. After they watch the movie, they will go eat afterwards, possibly to discuss the movie.
"I waited a long time for the X-Men movie and it better be good," said Jason Spore.
Fred Burger, 18, said, "I've been anticipating this movie ever since I was born because most of the other comic book movies weren't very good at all."
Chimp's Comics is open Monday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday 12 to 5 p.m.
They sell used video games, action figures, Magic cards, comics, comics-related magazines and anime videos. Other items such as posters and T-shirts can be special-ordered.
