From: jwlr@gauguin.cc.rochester.edu (James Willer)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.xbooks
Subject: Re: Rachel Summers' Timeline problems
Date: 31 Aug 92 02:54:58 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <1992Aug27.124810.28672@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> mcollins@nyx.cs.du.edu (Killans - First And Last And Always) writes:

>Actually, the two timelines (hers and 'ours') diverged before that - Jean never 
>became Dark Phoenix, never died, and gave birth to Rachel. As far as I 
>remember, Dark Phoenix happened before the assassination (I'm willing to be
>told I'm wrong!), so the timelines diverged before Dark Phoenix.

You are absolutely correct!!  Dark Phoenix emerged at the end of the first
Hellfire Club story (129-134) and was taken out in the classic #137.
As the Xmen were escaping the HC (just barely), Senator Kelly was making
overatures to Sebastian Shaw (or vice-versa) regarding Project Wideawake(tm).

In the also classic Days of Future Past story (141-142) Rachel projects Kate
Pryde's mind back (insert appropriate number here) years into 1980 in order
to prevent the assasination of Senator Kelly, which is implied to be the
start of the Anti-Mutant-Election Backlash(tm). The assasination is foiled
by our heroes, but Senator Kelly, seeing the havoc they wreak and the danger
they present vows to bring Project Wideawake(tm) to fruition. 

PS Although it is never mentioned directly, Rachel is *supposed* to be
the daughter of Jean Grey and Scott Summers. Rachel's future was the
one where Claremont/Byrne were not forced to kill Jean Grey.  Instead,
the Shi'ar(tm) removed all parts of her brain that related to her powers.

However, there are still contradictions between things Rachel remembered
after she first came back in time and the tale of the Phoenix in EX 52.

>>In THAT timeline it is the detonation of a nuclear device in Pittsburgh
>>(did anyone catch this reference to the PITT saga of the New
>>Universe, don't frett I JUST noticed this myself.) by Mastermind that
>>created the mutant backlash and Xavier is killed in his mansion as
>>oppossed with Robert Kelly as described by Kate Pryde.

Robert Kelly *was* supposed to be dead in the future of #141-142. But
this Rachel may not be the same Rachel in #141-142. She may be from an
alternate alternate future. (ie a slightly divergent version of that Rachel)
God knows there were no 'hounds' or 'Ahab' in the Days of Future Past
storyline, and one would think that the Sentinels would be smart enough
to use them to catch the renegade mutants, if they had them.

>>There are two solutions to this:
>>1) Marvel's writers forgot the cause for Rachel's timeline
>>or 
>>2) Phoenix LIED about Rachel's timeline

or
3) They are *not* the same timeline...

>					Alan Davis seems to be more
>competent than most Marvel 'writers' and seems to care more about
>continuity, so I'm not sure if he'd make such an obvious error.
>Unless of course the mistakes were introduced during Lobdell's run
>on Excalibur (which I gave up on), in which case I'd *definitely*
>agree with you. Nonetheless, it's possible that Davis, if he sees
>the mistakes and ever returns to the Phoenix for more stories, may
>work the mistakes into the story, explaining them perhaps as you have.

Here, here!!
					James Willer
{the opinions above are probably NOT those of
 anyone at all.}