Phoenix & Mystique’s Comic Book and Movie Futures

 

Uncanny X-Men #466 courtesy Marvel

  Is Rachel Summers ready for a big comeback? X-Men: Days of Future Past is based on the classic story that introduced the daughter of Scott Summers and Jean Grey from a future timeline so it’s possible the character could appear in director the Bryan Singer directed sequel.

  In comics Professor X is dead. Emma Frost is on the run. Rachel is the most powerful telepath at the Jean Grey School. Wolverine and the X-Men writer Jason Aaron teased Rachel’s future is his book:

“…she’s the top telepath at the Jean Grey School. That’s already a pretty huge role. Assuming she survives the current Murder Circus craziness, I’d expect to see Rachel getting back to what she was doing in issue #19: namely doing whatever she can to track down the Hellfire Club. For those that want to see more of Rachel unleashed, believe me, it’s coming,” Aaron told a fan on X-Position on Comic Book Resources.

 

X-Men #190 courtesy Marvel

Another movie/comic connection to ponder:

Jennifer Lawrence will reprise her role Mystique in X-Men: Days of Future Past. In the Claremont storyline the shapeshifter leads the Brotherhood of Mutants in an attack on a Senator. The X-Men must prevent the assassination to prevent a future in which Sentinels rule.

  Mystique has been a key player in Rick Remender’s final Uncanny X-Force arc The Final Execution. Raven will be a huge villain in All-New X-Men and Wolverine and the X-Men.

  “I can’t say too much about what she’s up to without spoiling one of our big arcs for next year. But she’s obviously still working with Sabretooth’s crew, along with Lord Deathstrike and the new Silver Samurai, who are all currently being contracted by the Hellfire Club to track down some of the new mutants popping up around the globe. As for what happens when they find those mutants… well, I expect we’ll have an answer soon enough,” Aaron said.

By Editor

Top 5 Comic Book Picks for 12/5/12

All-New X-Men #3 courtesy Marvel

All-New X-Men #3 The original five X-Men have been brought from the past into there present day. How will Cyclops react to his younger past self?

Avengers #1 Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are “going large” under new creative team Jonathan Hickman (Fantastic Four, FF, SHIELD, Manhattan Projects) and Jerome Opena (Uncanny X-Force) Who will answer the call when Captain America expands the team roster to take on threats around the globe and into space.

Hawkeye #5 Caught on tape! A hero’s shocking act. Can the Avenging Archer recover “the tape” before the revelation changes his status with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes? Will Kate Bishop’s masquerade among a who’s who of Marvel villains backfire on her?

Hellboy in Hell #1 Hellboy is dead and facing familiar faces in Hell in a brand new story written and drawn by Mike Mignola!

Kevin Keller #1 “Oh My!” Kevin and Jughead go on a quest to find Star Trek legend George Takei for a school assignment but the famous actor has a big surprise planned for the Riverdale High gang!

By Editor

All-New X-Men #5 Preview

All-New X-Men #5 courtesy Marvel

 

History in the remaking? Past is meeting present in this preview of All-New X-Men #5 courtesy Marvel. Stuart Immonen is winning raves for his portrayals of the X-Men from all eras.

 

All-New X-Men #5 courtesy Marvel

Brian Michael Bendis is the new mastermind of the Children of the Atom. New mutants are emerging. The X-Men are mourning the loss of Professor X and afraid their former leader is stirring up a revolution that could doom all mutants.

Beast brought the original five X-Men into the present in hopes of making Cyclops change course. Will Hank live to see if it works?  Beast is mutating again and it’s killing him.

 

All-New X-Men #5 courtesy Marvel

Beast’s mutations are part of the mutant resurgence. As new mutants appear around the globe Scott swoops in to rescue and recruit them for his army.

From this preview art it appears Cyke will be confronted by Cyclops before spiriting away the newest mutant to appear.

All New X-Men #5 is out 12/3/12. #3 is out this week!

By Editor

Cyclops vs. Cyclops

All-New X-Men #3 courtesy Marvel

  The original five students of Professor X are here in the Marvel Now in All-New X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. Professor X and Jean are dead. Mutants are hated more than ever. In this week’s All-New X-Men #3 the young heroes from the past rush into action to save a new mutant. The modern-day Cyclops and his team (Magneto, Emma Frost, Magik) have been rescuing and recruiting new Children of the Atom for his revolution. Will Cyclops meet Cyclops this week?

All-New X-Men #4 courtesy Marvel

  Beast hopes the idealistic young Scott Summers and the original X-Men could be the key to preventing what could be the end of the mutant race. Comic Book Resources had the exclusive first look at the covers for All-New X-Men #3 and #4 by Stuart Immonen featuring Cyclops against Cyclops. Will past and present Scott go to war with each other?

  In case you missed it here’s my op/ed on the transformation of Scott from hero to zealot to hopes for his redemption.

By Editor

Bendis Teases Death in All-New X-Men

 

All New X-Men #1 courtesy Marvel

Brian Michael Bendis really affected the X-Men when he was writing the Avengers. Can you imagine what the writer will put the Children of the Atom through now that he’s writing the X-Men?

From the first issue of All-New X-Men #1 we know that Beast’s days may be numbered due to his mutation…mutating.  Henry brings the original five X-Men into the Marvel Now hoping to make the modern-day Cyclops change the path he’s taken. Will this blast from the past end in death for a modern mutantr one of Xavier’s originals? Bendis talked with MTV Geek about his past, present and future impact on the X-Men.

 “All-New X-Men” is an entry point into a brave, new, angsty mutant-filled world for Bendis who’s been the number one “Avengers” guy for years. He said, “I had done a lot of stuff to the “X-Men” universe without being an “X-Men” writer. Like, “House of M” gave Wolverine his memories back, I killed Charles Xavier, I know it shows a lot of destruction, but it showed to me, a lot of love and affection for the X-Men.”

All-New X-Men #1 courtesy Marvel

According to Bendis, “All-New X-Men” is really about looking back and paying tribute to the Silver Age adventures of the “X-Men,” while pushing the title forward into an exciting, unexpected and “All-New” future.

Many Avengers died under Bendis’s watch. The writer is teasing death in this rebirth of the X-Men:

“Which one of them dies, what happens then?”

You can see Bendis and Editor Nick Lowe’s interviews at this MTV Geek link.

By Editor

Ian McKellen On His X-MEN Return!

AvX Consequences #4 courtesy Marvel

  Ian McKellen is talking about his return “under the helmet” as Magneto in in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Earlier this week Bryan Singer (director of the first two films in the X-Men series) tweeted that McKellen and Patrick Stewart would return to the franchise in the next film.

  While promoting The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey McKellen told Huffington Post:

 “What a gas! I mean, Patrick Stewart and I have been have just been playing “Waiting for Godot” throughout England and in the West End of London. So, we’ve stayed in touch. We can’t believe it [laughs]. I thought these were Fassbender and McAvoy’s parts, but — no, no — we’re back. We’ll give them a run for their money. I mean, I haven’t read the script, so I don’t know how much we’ve got to do. But, to be back in that world, and for Bryan to be doing it — with all the success he’s had in the meantime — it’s wonderful. Wonderful.” 

  Fassbender and McAvoy played the young Magneto and Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class. The new film is based on the classic storyline involving time travel, a team of X-Men from the future trying to influence the past and SENTINELS!

  Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine. I expect we might hear a Storm warninig about talks with Halle Berry soon?

By Editor

All-New X-Men Time Warping & Heartbreaking!

 

All-New X-Men #2 courtesy Marvel

  All-New X-Men is perfect for an X-virgin but even better for a veteran! Brian Michael Bendis set the stage for the future of the Children of the Atom: New mutants are emerging around the world. Cyclops is racing to recruit them for his revolution. Wolverine, Storm, Kitty, Iceman and Beast are trying to teach young mutants and keep the peace. If Scott could only see young man he used to be. The only hope for the future of mutantkind is in the past.

Beast has been the heart and moral compass of the X-Men for years. Bendis made the perfect choice of having Henry as the balance between hope and destruction, past and present. Beast brings the original X-Men into the present. A desperate act of a dying X-Man.

I absolutely loved this week’s All-New X-Men #2. Bendis just nails the wonder and innocence of the “little X-Men” as Logan calls them. The writing captures the relationships between the original five X-Men. You really get a sense of their youth, hope and inexperience as they grapple with what Beast is telling them. When they arrive in the present you understand the team’s fear and disbelief over how their lives are radically different and how Xavier’s dream could have gone so wrong.

Bendis and Stuart Immonen create an incredible issue packed with drama, humor and excitement. There’s a heartbreaking moment between the young Jean Grey and modern Beast that just signals the powerful stories that will be told. Past meets present and future of All-New X-Men will be a thrilling ride.

By Editor

My X-MEN: Days of Future Past Wish List

Uncanny X-Men #141 courtesy Marvel.com

With the exciting news that Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen will join the cast of X-Men: Days of Future Pastmy geeky brain starting thinking of what else would make this sequel even more thrilling for longtime X-fans:

Hugh Jackman leading the real Last Stand! In the classic Days of Future Past storyline Logan leads the underground resistance in a future North America ruled by Sentinels.  Magneto, Storm, Colossus and Kitty Pryde (now Kate Rasputin) are the only surviving X-Men. The heroes eventually break out of their concentration camp and join Logan on a suicide raid on Sentinel headquarters. Hugh Jackman is now in talks to join the film.

 

Uncanny X-Men #466 courtesy Marvel

Rachel Summers! The daughter of Scott and Jean is the key to the story. Rachel is telepathic and telekinetic like her mother and uses her psionic powers to send Kate’s mind into the present day body of a younger Kitty Pryde who must convince the X-Men to prevent an assassination that will lead to this dark future. Bryce Dallas Howard (yes I know she’s already been in a Spidey movie) would be perfect as tragic daughter of Scott and Jean. Rachel was forced to be a “Hound” and track down fellow mutants. In the comic books Rachel escaped the future and went into the past became the new Phoenix and joined the X-Men. She currently teaches as the Jean Grey School.

Franklin Richards! The last surviving member of the Fantastic Four is in love with Rachel. The son of Reed and Susan Storm Richards is in the camp with the surviving X-Men and I won’t reveal his final fate. Mark Millar’s new role as Creative Consultant for the Fox controlled Marvel franchises includes the upcoming reboot of Fantastic Four. This film could serve as a reboot point for both franchises similar to J.J. Abrams’s Star Trek.

Kitty Pryde/Kate Rasputin! Could Singer recruit Ellen Page to reprise her role? In the future Kate is married to Colossus (as it should be!) but agrees to have her mind travel into the past to rally the X-Men to stop a chain of events leading to the dark future. I think this is unlikely given the time period of the previous film.

Frenzy! I think the movie version will still have a Brotherhood of Mutants attempt to assassinate a Senator. The killing leads to the creation of the Sentinels. Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) will need new members of their Brotherhood. Why not have the gorgeous and formidable Frenzy aka Joanna Cargill on the roster? This would be a good way to have an African-American character in this retro time period as a way to explore race relations and the human/mutant conflict. In the comics Frenzy is a former mutant terrorist (who followed Apocalypse and Magneto) but joined the staff of the Jean Grey School.

X-Factor #243 courtesy Marvel

Polaris! Before I knew the X-Men: First Class sequel would be Days of Future Past I was hoping Magneto’s children (Polaris, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch) would appear in the sequel. Polaris aka Lorna Dane is a green haired mutant with magnetic powers and falls in love with Havok (played by Lucas Till.) Polaris is one of the most tragic characters in X-history and having her could lead to romantic scenes with Till and powerful scenes with the men who would be revealed as her father (Michael Fassbender, Ian McKellen.) I think maybe Lorna would be the mutant sent back to save the future instead of Kitty.

Halle Berry returns as Storm! Ororo joins Logan in his assault on the Sentinel HQ in the future. I would love to see Berry (and Daniel Cudmore as Colossus) join Hugh Jackman in what is one of the most gripping scenes from the comic book series as the older broken heroes go on a suicide mission to save humanity one last time.

I’m sure I’ll think of more!

By Editor