Editorial: Why the Classic/X Crossover is a Good Idea

by Mighty No. X

There are some worlds that are not meant to collide. Seinfeld made clear that some friends should not be introduced to others, while Ray Bradbury’s famous short story The Sound of Thunder made clear the future should not explore the past.

For many fans, the Mega Man Classic/Mega Man X crossover now made official by Archie’s solicitations may seem like the blending of oil and water; the simple Classic is happy and bright, the darker X is melancholic and meditative. Any attempt to combine them would meddle with series canon and trivialize the mystery of the infamous Classic-X series link.

However, this is by no means true; in fact, I would argue that it may well be a breakthrough moment for the comic series.

There are many possible Classic/X crossover ideas that wouldn’t work. For example, I would strongly oppose any cross-series blending in games beyond the level of “Mega Man Unlimited.” But the comic is far different from the games; it takes its pleasure in making filler episodes deep, planting subtle hints for long-time fans, and generally developing characters in a believable and very human way.

I’m confident the interactions between the two eras would be something more meaningful than Rockman Xover, as the Classic series is early enough along that Wily could never link the Maverick Virus with Roboenza, and Bass couldn’t recognize Zero. Although the writers could simply torture readers by teasing a reveal about the end of the Classic series, it is much more likely the series will aim for a deeper and more revealing juxtaposition. Sigma could bring out the darkest side of Wily, X and Blues could discuss being the first of their kinds, and Zero’s complexities could play off of Rock’s determination and optimism.

The Sonic the Hedgehog/Mega Man crossover, “Worlds Collide,” was a tremendous success; despite a largely stagnant second act, it served to gain new fans and created a larger meta-continuity around the two franchises with post-crossover issues specifically designed to be newcomer-friendly. Imagine if the new crossover were used as the launching point for a standalone Mega Man X comic; any reluctance over the arc would surely be overshadowed by the ability to ensure a wide readership for X from the first issue. In addition, the dissonance in tone between the two continuities will legitimize the Classic series’ existence, giving it a unique voice and preventing it from being overshadowed by the X series.

Of course, all of these statements are contingent on the writers making the crossover a strictly non-canon affair. It would ruin all the mystery of Wily building Zero, for example, to know he was simply replicating what he had already seen. The Sonic/Mega Man crossover was cleverly handled in this manner; it was canon, but completely forgotten by everyone involved in the Mega Man universe (although Sonic and friends remember Rock and the others).

Time travel is an element of the Classic games, and perhaps this can segue into the adaptation of Quint from the Game Boy games; in trying to obtain a future Mega Man, Wily takes X. The story possibilities are almost endless and can almost certainly play off of canon events before being erased.

I am sure that the first cover of X and Rock together will face endless backlash. However, in retrospect, I believe this crossover will only be regarded as a good thing. Alone, Classic and X stories have deep stories waiting to be told; by combining them they will have limitless potential, albeit not without limitless danger.

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Mighty No. X is a member of The Mega Man Network’s User Content Submission System, and the views expressed here reflect the views of the authors alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mega Man Network.

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