Xman (sometimes referred to as XMAN) is Michael Brodsky's third novel. It tells the parody philosophical tale of Xman, a universal nobody who arrives in Manhattan and drifts between arguments, interviews, accidents, hospitals, derelicts, terrorists, and death.
Xman is noted for its lack of conventional characters or dialogue. The plot is picaresque. Ontological discussion is the norm, especially in regard to symptoms, labels, captions, bracketing, impersonation, and the true work.
Xman was described as a "highly regarded avant-garde novel," an example of what small presses are capable of.
Of Xman's background, we learn he was born an oversized orphan in Eunuque Falls, Iowa, a suburb of Old Balls, raised in an orphanage outside of Cincinnati, and ended up in the city C or C— some time before the novel begins. Xman had minutes of experience in podiatry school, after which he worked on a construction gang in the Berkeley hills.
Xman, seeking to make himself unique, takes a cab to the airport, flies to New York City, then rides a bus to Grand Central Station. He walks up Second Avenue, sometimes giving derelicts a few cents. He finds the hotel his friends recommended, the Microtraumata Royale. Taking a room, he listens to an argument in the room next door between Fatima "Fa", and a man that Xman dubs (-)Xman.
Nathaniel "Nate" Grey (X-Man) is a fictional superhero appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those related to the X-Men franchise. Created by writer Jeph Loeb and artist Steve Skroce, he first appeared in X-Man #1 (March 1995).
X-Man is an alternate version of the regular Marvel Universe hero Cable, hailing from the "Age of Apocalypse" (Earth-295) reality. He is the biological son of his dimension’s Scott Summers and Jean Grey, born of genetic tampering by Mr. Sinister. His first name is derived from his creator; Mr Sinister's real name: Nathaniel Essex, and his last name from his genetic mother Jean Grey. Due to not being infected by a techno-organic virus as Cable was, X-Man achieved vast telepathic and telekinetic powers (reflecting those that Cable would have had without the virus) and was one of the most powerful mutants in existence during his lifetime.
X-Man was originally a four-issue mini-series replacing Cable during 1995’s “Age of Apocalypse” alternate reality storyline. However, Marvel transported Nate Grey to its regular shared universe after the storyline ended. The series ran until 2001, during which Nate struggled with being the most powerful person in a strange world. The series ended with his seemingly sacrificial death.
In the dearth of the Light
Under the eye of Rhianonn´s land
A strange moon shines upon tonight
The world will break like stone into sand
I feel the breaking of the Maelström
Cornish’s spirits shall hunt thy souls
The hearts of men pierced by a thorn
Some might hear their weapons call
Chorus
The shores seems to rise
An earthquake begun
The moon seem to cry
The men are waiting, but can’t feel anything
Swords still in their sheath
The fire is near…
A deadly army arrived
“To arms” shouted the king of clan
Druids prepare yourselves in time
For the battle has begun
From the earth and seas and heavens
Cornish´s spirits are on their way to war
The hearts of men possessed by ravens
Courageous and brave fight under the stars
Chorus
The horses ride pride
Men show their wrath
Although they will die
The spirits approach
Arrows fly on Ymbolg
Swords raised claiming blood