X-Men and the Dark Phoenix saga

Writing about Phoenix real estate is a tough ask, seeing as though I know absolutely nothing about real estate in general. So, rather than prattle on about something I know nothing about, how's about I provide a summary of the "Dark Phoenix Saga", a storyline from the X-Men comics.

The movies X-Men 2 and 3 both touch on elements covered in the Dark Phoenix saga series. The Dark Phoenix saga is also one of the most popular, not to mention referenced, story arcs in comic history.

As Jean Grey returns from a mission in space, she is exposed to some hard core deadly radiation of a solar flare, and briefly achieves her ultimate potential as a telepath and telekinetic. In that instant, Jean became a being of pure thought.

"Reforming" herself upon return to Earth, with the new costume, identity and power of "Phoenix", Jean repairs the fractured M'Kraan Crystal, and then voluntarily restrains her powers in order to keep them under control.

She is targeted by the illusionist Mastermind due to her vast potential. At the time, Mastermind was attempting to prove himself in order to join the prestigious Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club. With the help of the then evil Emma Frost (aka. the White Queen), Mastermind (using the alias Jason Wyngarde) was able to project his illusions directly into the mind of the Phoenix.

It was these illusions that caused Jean to believe that she was reliving the memories of her ancestor, Lady Grey, who in Mastermind's illusions, was Wyngarde's lover. This mind trickery was how the Phoenix was convinced to join the Hellfire Club as their Black Queen. As the Black Queen Jean/Phoenix was exposed to the extremes of human emotion and this in turn began to break down the barriers that she had erected in her own mind.

When the X-Men came to her rescue, they were captured by the Inner Circle, and Jean's true love Cyclops faced Mastermind in a psychic duel. Long story short, Cyclops won. Jean/Phoenix opened a worm hole and retreated into space. She killed billions of aliens and was known to be more dangerous than Galactus.

Beast and Professor X come up with a plan to neutralize the Phoenix, which results in Professor X rebuilding the 'psychic barriers' in Jean's mind, allowing her to retake control.

The Shi'ar then abducted the X-Men, in retaliation for the intergalactic killing spree Dark Phoenix was responsible. The Shi'ar insist that Jean/Phoenix must be put to death because of this.

Professor X challenges the Shi'ar to a duel to decide the fate of Jean/Phoenix. When Cyclops is injured in the duel, Jean loses control and the full force of the Phoenix is once again released.

In the end, Jean sacrifices herself in order to protect the X-Men and the solar system. Lots of tears all around.

The story ends with Uatu the Watcher:

"Jean Grey could have lived to become a god, but it was more important to her that she died as a human."

So there you have it. If you want to know where part of the inspiration for the two X-Men sequels came from, check out the Dark Phoenix saga.

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