More classic X-Men reading. Had to read a summary of some early X-Factor issues to figure out how Jean came back to life. Um, okay.

Actually, if you can find the issues where the resurrection actually took place, they're worth reading, if only for the laugh factor of Jean calling out "help me!" from her cocoon on the bottom of the Hudson River. I think they were collected in a TPB a while back.

Getting a little tired of the "It wasn't me that died, it was a shapeshifter/alien entity/robot" trope. Also feel like it sort of cheapens some of the Pheonix storyline.

This has been the complaint of XM fans for years.

Also also, if Pheonix wasn't part of Jean, but an alien entity, why is her daughter manifesting the same powers?

Huh. Good question. I think it's been explained that the Phoenix force has an affinity for Jean's genes (heh). Also, Rachel is her daughter from an alternate timeline, where, as far as we know, Jean/Phoenix never sacrificed herself on the moon, went on to marry Scott and had a daughter. So, I suppose she could have inherited the Phoenix force from her mother in her own timeline.

Does the "it wasn't actually Jean" get changed again down the road? Because I know the movies, UXM, and a glimpse of the future we got in X-Men: Evolution all have Jean is the Pheonix.

Jean, at some point, gets all of Phoenix!Jean and (I think) Madelyne Pryor's memories, so she's up to speed on everything that happened while she was dead. Also, it's been fairly consistent that Jean gets the Phoenix force in all AUs that we've seen, except in AOA, where the fact that she never became Phoenix is (indirectly) the reason the world is ending.

Well, I knew Rachel was from an alternate timeline. It just makes wonder now if in that timeline Jean actually was Pheonix or if she's not actually the daughter of Jean but instead the daughter of the Pheonix entity.

Though now I remember Rachel recalling that in her timeline, Jean's parents don't reject her when she comes to them as Dark Pheonix and that's what allows her revert back to normal. Still doesn't explain whether it's real!Jean or alien!Jean in that timeline, but clarifies that's she's the daughter of the original Pheonix, either way.

I've just been introduced to Rachel, with the *fabulous* Essential X-Men #5 (yay!) and think she's cool.

I *love* Amara but that's probably just because she's from Nova Roma.

Rachel is my second or third favourite X-woman. All houndy and stuff?

Love.

Days Of Future Past is one of my favourite subs.

Days Of Future Past is one of my favourite subs

That story was really cool.

I'm going to buy the 1984/85 Kitty/Wolvie mini on ebay sometime. It goes for pretty cheap (less than a TPB) usually, and not a lot of people are bidding on it. But I'm waiting until I have a job, at least.

Man of Steel, Man of Kleenex?

Somehow that brings to mind a short story called "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" (by Philip Jose Farmer?) that asked what kind of relationship Supes and Lois could have if Supes had super sperm that travelled at super speed. That does sound like PJF come to think of it.

Somehow that brings to mind a short story called "Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex" (by Philip Jose Farmer?) that asked what kind of relationship Supes and Lois could have if Supes had super sperm that travelled at super speed. That does sound like PJF come to think of it.

Doesn't just bring it to mind. It's a reference to it. It's by Larry Niven, though, not PJF.

Doesn't just bring it to mind. It's a reference to it. It's by Larry Niven, though, not PJF.

And it's not so much a story as a somewhat satirical essay. IJS.

Speaking of references -- I'm catching up in the Batbooks, and I just read the Batman issue in which Tim goes undercover as a female medical student to break into the pathology lab at Gotham General. He runs into a doctor down there, who then hits on him, thinking he's a girl. Wackiness ensues.

The doctor is named "Erwin Tan." Which made me blink. See, the guy who lived across the hall from me freshman year in college? A pre-med named Erwin Tan. Who, a quick Google search confirms, until recently practiced medicine in San Francisco. A city which, as it happens, I believe writer Judd Winick is familiar with.

Given the extreme unlikeliness of this being a coincidence, I am going to officially declare myself a mere one degree of separation from Tim Drake.

Also, the computer Erwin sometimes let the rest of us use if we just needed to type up a quick homework assignment? The one we were all so envious of? Designed by the company I now work for. Which also pleases me.