They say the Holidays are a time for family togetherness, but that can go two ways. On the one hand, you’ve got the picture-perfect Norman Rockwell-style warm and happy holiday. On the other, you’ve got the kind of dysfunction and simmering resentment that provides the formula for all those twisted holiday comedy movie things that seem to come out at about this time.
The Writing Challenge for this particular holiday season is to write a holiday-themed Family Reunion story, dysfunctional or picture-perfect, it’s up to you. You can use any autumn/winter holiday from Thanksgiving (November 27) through Epiphany (January 6). This story can focus on a single X-Man or a single bad guy, or even on the X-Men or a group like the Brotherhood as a family in themselves. There are a lot of interesting choices here. For example, you’ve got Scott Summers and his space-faring parents, the mystery of Wolverine’s past, Colossus and his family—including his powerful sister, Magneto and his children, Xavier and his brother, and of course you’ve got Nightcrawler. What could be more dysfunctional and twisted than Nightcrawler’s family/families?
If you don’t feel like using one of the established X-Men or one of their enemies, another option is to come up with an original character. One of the most difficult things in the X-Men universe is having to face your parents once the mutations and powers manifest—or returning to face them after years of estrangement. What would your character’s mutations be? How would the family react to their child's manifestation or their return? It’s all up to you.
There is no page limit for this story. It can be as short or as long as you feel is right. The only limitation (aside from its holiday reunion theme) is that it must be completed and posted by or before the deadline in order to be eligible for the poll.
The Deadline for this Holiday Reunion Challenge is January 7, 2009. January 7 is the last day entries will be accepted. All entries must be in at or before midnight that night.
I hope you like this new challenge. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
[Edited on 27/11/2008 by Rowena]
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