apachefirecat

Meggan is one of those characters who has always seemed to be forced to take a minor role in the comics. I admit there does appear to be SOME starring moments, but she's never really gotten the limelight I personally think she's long deserved. In Excalibur, she was often pushed to the corners or primarily kept to a love interest role, and before and after, she's been mostly Captain Britain's lady and very little is seen with her alone. Brian IS the reason she has a life now, having rescued her when she was stuck in her "Werewolf" form that she'd taken because it was what the village people seemed to expect of her and having had no idea what she truly was, but she is still a strong character and deserves to be able to shine on her own. We've had a few issues, I admit, but far from enough, or even what many of the other X-Women have had.

Meggan first drew me for her love for and connection with animals. I was in my Pagan time when I first read Excalibur and thought everything Witchy and magickal was very cool, even though, looking back, I can admit now that I knew little about the actual religion. I have no problem with Pagans, but it's not for me, and I know that many are like myself and are drawn to it because they think they can find more acceptance in that religion's followers than in many (fake) Christians and/or think it's cool because of certain TV characters ("thank you", Willow, Charmed, and Xena/Hercules.)

But there are other things about Meggan, especially about her connections with others, that have made me feel closure to and a deeper respect for her over the years. Brian was not always a good guy. My Father, God rest his soul, was alcoholic, and my husband had trouble with the fire "Demon" as well until he was finally able, thank God, to successfully kick the habit. Like Meggan, I have felt the abuse of those I love and wondered why I was not enough -- and striven hard to become enough until I finally realized that I wasn't the problem. I like to think that, after Brian came back and made right by Meggan, she was finally able to get the healing journey she deserved to. But I do also like to play with the healing journey. One of the earliest fanfics of which I have fond memories to this day of reading was part of a series called Girl Talk where the X-Women were there for one another and helping each other through everyday things and more serious problems that we "normal" women face, including the X-Women coming together to help Meggan and make Brian realized he had to shape up. (The scene with Kurt and Brian facing off against Wisdom in the bathroom, and "chatting" with him about his relationship with Kitty comes to mind, but this was quite less violent, at least as I remember it. :)) There's a connection there with Meggan now that was never there when I was younger reading the comics as I had not yet realized that I was not to blame for my parents, but I'll always have a special fondness for this character for that shared trauma.

Another reason I love Meggan is because I have ALWAYS loved everything British, and she was as much the X-Woman of Britain as Brian was/is the Captain America of Britain. I've wanted a Union Jack shirt like she wore in one of the Excalibur issues ever since seeing her in it. Wish I could find the picture, but I have not yet come across it. :) Meggan was COOL, in so many ways, to me as a kid, and I still have great respect and affinity for the character to this day. And I STILL want that shirt! :) I'd also love to find that Girl Talk series again!

Please note that the following is VERY image-filled (heavy loading) and still under construction! This text will disappear once this post is "finished", but I'm probably going to return to it at later dates to add stuff. :)

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