Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Matthew Rosenberg, twitter, uncanny x-men, x-men

Matthew Rosenberg Returns to Twitter with an Important Message About Uncanny X-Men Then Quits Again

Published Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:13:53 -0600

Last updated Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:37:04 -0600

Matthew Rosenberg's award-winning Twitter account is a lot like an Ozzy Osborne retirement tour — every time is your last chance to see it live until the next time. The Uncanny X-Men writer swore off the social media service less than a month ago, but he has continued to sporadically return, usually to promote his comic books. Today, Uncanny X-Men #11 is released, and Rosenberg announced that he would briefly return to Twitter to talk about it and then leave once again.

Back on twitter for a minute to say a few things about X-Men and comics today. But then I'm going to disappear back into the mysterious world known as "not on twitter."

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

Just like his work in comics, Rosenberg continues to innovate in the field of quitting Twitter. In the past, quitting Twitter meant refusing to use the service for a prolonged period of time, but for Rosenberg, every time he logs off he has begun a hiatus until the next time he logs back on. In a way, aren't we all just like Matthew Rosenberg? Don't we, too, micro-quit Twitter every day only to return the next morning?

But all of that aside, Rosenberg had a very important reason for returning to Twitter: to talk about how Uncanny x-Men #11 relates to depression, self-harm, mental illness, and trauma, as well as how the X-Men relate to Rosenberg's personal experience with those. Here's what he had to say, in its entirety and with none of our dumb jokes interspersed between the tweets because it's actually a serious topic.

UNCANNY X-MEN #11 is out today. A special triple-sized issue (yes, it has a double-sized price…), this marks the return of both Cyclops and Wolverine to the X-Men after years, and their first time together in almost a decade. It is such an honor to get to tell that story. pic.twitter.com/IpZs9Fiw8h

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

The colors are by my frequent collaborator and brilliant colorist @rachellecheri. She really captures something so amazing and vibrant about the world we are trying to portray. It's muted at the right times, explosively bright at others, and just gorgeous.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

And then we have a 9 page story about one of my favorite X-Men, Blindfold. It's drawn by someone I've been lucky enough to work with before and hope to work with again, @JUANAN_RAMiREZ. Juanan is so good and I'm excited every time a book comics out and more people discover that.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

I do want to say a couple things about the issue. Nothing I'd consider a spoiler exactly, but there are some sensitive topics in the book that will be upsetting for some readers that I wanted to talk about. If you wish to go in knowing nothing, stop reading here.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

I wanted to tell a story that felt both universal and deeply personal to readers and to myself. There is a bigger story at play throughout the series that is going to deal with a lot of things brought up in this issue, and things aren't going to be exactly what they seem.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

This is probably not the ideal forum but I am someone who has dealt with a lot depression and self harm in my past, both for myself and people I care about. I was in a much darker place when I was younger and one of the things that helped me pull through that was the X-Men.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

The X-Men have been a constant in my life. They are as important to helping shape who I am as almost any other thing in the world. And I have always loved them for their ability to address real world issue and things that affect people. That is why they matter to me.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

I wanted to talk about depression and grief in this book. I wanted to see my heroes have to face down the stigma of mental illness. I wanted to show people that they are not alone in dealing with pain, and loss, and a feeling of helplessness.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

A lot of what we talk about in the book is hard for people to talk about. Hell it's hard for me to talk about right now. But for so many people, including a younger version of myself, it's so important to see real pain, real grief, real sadness, and see the consequences.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

And if you think I did a bad job, or screwed up, I'm sorry. I'm trying to do something personal and very important to me, and I'm hoping others. Talking about big, important things has inherent risks and I will always strive to do better in telling these kinds of stories.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

Anyway, in honor of our story and as a birthday gift to myself I donated a chunk of my paycheck for this issue to various Suicide Prevention and Outreach organizations that are important to me. I urge you to do the same if you have the means. Here are the ones I gave to-

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also runs the Veterans Crisis Line. Suicide among Veterans in this country is an epidemic and a topic that far to few are willing to discuss or acknowledge. If you are a Veteran in need of help, please reach out.https://t.co/NXq3Nfw0lu

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

Sometimes making a phone call seems too difficult or isn't an option. @CrisisTextLine is a 24/7 confidential text support line for people in crisis.

If you need help (in the U.S.): text HOME to 741741 anytime.

To donate: https://t.co/sDowKvxi1N

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

Anyway, those are the organizations I donated to today. If you need to speak to someone, they are there for you. If you have a few bucks laying around, they could use your support.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

But I have also had a very upset people come into my mentions. I just want to say to those people that I also won't be engaging, but I see their messages and am processing them. And I appreciate it as well.

— Matthew Rosenberg (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

With that said, I know sometimes folks feel the need to stick up for people like me in this situation or argue on my behalf. I'm asking that you don't. If people are upset and want to vent, I am here to quietly to listen. Please allow folks to speak their minds. It's ok.

— 𝙼𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚠 𝚁𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚐 (@AshcanPress) February 6, 2019

And just like that, he was gone again (until the next time he returns, which could be later today for all we or even he knows). We appreciate the personal message Rosenberg shared, even if, technically, we must point out that his initial claim that he would return to the service "for a minute" was clearly false, since he was actually back on Twitter for one hour and twenty-five minutes between the time of his first tweet and the most recent as of press time.

Happy birthday, Matt! Uncanny X-Men #11 is in stores now.

Uncanny X-Men #11
(W) Matthew Rosenberg (A) John McCrea, Juanan Ramirez (A/CA) Salvador Larroca
SPECIAL OVER-SIZED ISSUE!
After the devastating events of "X-Men Disassembled," it falls to Cyclops to rebuild the X-Men in the face of overwhelming hatred. Thankfully, he's not the only X-Man to have just returned from oblivion. Scott and Logan are together again, and they are mutantkind's only hope. Writer Matthew Rosenberg and returning superstar X-Artist Salvador Larroca lead the X-Men into their darkest hour…and beyond!
Rated T+
In Shops: Feb 06, 2019
SRP: $7.99

UPDATE: He's back again, this time for a "second."

When you were back for "a minute" last time it lasted over an hour. A "second" is now already up. Does time for Marvel writers pass at the same rate it does for characters in the Marvel Universe?

— Jude Terror (@judeterror) February 6, 2019

The saga continues…

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