Rachel X

Cross-Time Conspiracy Theories

conspiracies

Unique in the multiverse
According to Rachel Summers' creator Chris Claremont, the Rachel Summers that currently appears in Earth-616, who was originally from Earth-811, is unique in the multiverse and has no alternate timeline counterparts. This development for Rachel's character was highlighted in Uncanny X-Men 462, but was evident as early as the Cross-Time Capers story arc of Classic Excalibur. The Rachels that have appeared in What If... stories and other titles are apparently not alternate versions of the Rachel Summers of Earth-811, but characters that might have the same parentage, name, or the same powers, but are not connected due to aspects of Rachel's genetics or history. The reason for her unique nature is still unknown. Some theories include her genetic connection to the Phoenix Force (something to do with the Christian Holy Trinity -- God/Phoenix, Mother/Jean, Daughter/Rachel -- where Rachel is the product of asexual reproduction), her contract to Mojo and Mojoverse (which is also unique in the Multiverse), or her mutant ability to manipulate time (her emission of a fourth dimensional pulse, which protects her from changes in the timestream, might also prevent her from producing any alternate counterparts).

Whedon and Rachel Summers
Joss Whedon has stated, "If there's a bigger influence on Buffy than Kitty, I don't know what it was. She was an adolescent girl finding out she has great power and dealing with it." Whedon forgot to mention Kitty's friend Rachel Anne Summers, who has a curiously similar name to his character Buffy Anne Summers. These two heroines share several similarities: both are whiners that revere their mothers and have estranged relationships with their fathers. Both Rachel and Buffy have a computer-genius, sorcery inclined, Jewish best friend and both must rely on the assistance of their friends. Both have left their college studies prematurely and both have lead and trained a sisterhood of slayers/askani. They also have mysterious siblings that appear as an Apocalypse rises and ultimately sacrifice everything for that sibling. Moreover, both suffer from inferiority/superiority complexes; Rachel and Buffy isolate themselves, believing that they are solely responsible for saving the world, while desperately wishing that they could be 'normal' girls. Finally, both characters have been resurrected after defeating a powerful being from another dimension and their power (Phoenix/Slayer force) is transferred to other hosts. Oh, and both are fashionistas and have dead soulmate/boyfriends that come back to make out with them, then leave again.

Another Whedon character that is similar to Rachel is River Tam of the Firefly series. River like Rachel was experimented upon as a teenager -- made into a telepathic weapon -- and after she is saved by her brother, remains erratic and unable to control her abilities.

Blah blah Blaquesmith
In Cable 85, writer Robert Weinberg questions the role of Blaquesmith in several events throughout time. He was one of the first characters to befriend Rachel in the Time of Apocalypse and became her first acolyte -- the only male Askani. He is also instrumental in aiding the Chosen One after Mother Askani 'dies' and in bringing Rachel back from the End of Time. Was Blaquesmith and Rachel's first encounter coincidence or planned by some other force? Former CABLE writer, Robert Weinberg, reveals some of his intended story arcs that include Rachel and Cable fighting for control over the Multiverse.When Weinberg brought back Rachel Summers, he also introduced several future plot ideas: the Pirates of the Timestream, the Million Years of Darkness and the Three Sisters, who were connected to the Lords of Probability and Possibility. Rachel was essential in the battle against these Lords because of her knowledge of the Timestream. Could it be that this mysterious Lord is Blaquesmith? He looks a lot like those aliens with the probes; don't turn your back on him.

Excalibur 52 and the 'one true Phoenix'
Why would a cosmic entity lie? The intention of "All you ever wanted to know about Phoenix ...But were afraid to ask" is to clarify the numerous misconceptions about the history of Rachel Summers and the Phoenix. Writer Alan Davis delivers a thorough account of the Phoenix chronology, while guest artist Will Simpson adequately fills in the predominantly narrative imagery. Davis places the Phoenix in a role similar to Jacob Marley, to reveal its history with humanity and the horrific details of Rachel's history. In this case, it's the Phoenix who seeks forgiveness and redemption. Davis has adapted the facets of Rachel's past to create a plausible interpretation of continuity, which defines any previous continuity as false memory implants. Yet, this current and definitive relation of the Phoenix's history has become a definitive example of a troublesome retroactive continuity.

Davis' retCon is notably suspicious in regard to Kate Pryde-Rasputin's description of events (X-Men 141), versus what the Phoenix cites as the instigating event which outlaws mutantkind. The Phoenix explains that action was taken after the destruction of Pittsburgh by a nuclear device detonated by Mastermind. Previously, Kate Pryde-Rasputin cites the Brotherhood's assassination of Senator Kelly as the instigating factor that actuated the genocide of mutants.

The catastrophe that destroyed Pittsburgh also claimed the life of Jean Grey. Davis reasons that the X-Men of Rachel's timeline, never encountered the Phoenix. These events preclude that the 'Days of Future Past' timeline delineate from the Mainstream (616) timeline before the incident in which Jean sacrifices herself over Jamaica Bay, (X-Men 101). The previously accepted point of divergence was the conclusion of the Dark Phoenix saga, where the Shi'ar lobotomize Jean, (Phoenix: The Untold Story).

The Phoenix became aware of reality through contact with Feron. It returned to steal Jean Grey's identity. Then, as Rachel's astral form was investigating an alternate past, the Phoenix force merged with her. All these events happened in the mainstream Marvel (616) timeline, which makes this timeline unique because the Phoenix is aware and chooses to merge with human avatars. The writer presumes that the Phoenix should exist in only one timeline, or at least gain consciousness through an Avatar of one timeline. However, the Phoenix should permeate all timelines if it derives from the psyches of all living things. This interpretation of the Phoenix as a separate force draws from a retCon introduced when Jean Grey returned from death in the mid 80s. Previously, the Phoenix was a part of Jean Grey, the greatest extent of her psionic powers. Thus, when Rachel became Phoenix, Uncanny X-Men 199, she was actualizing the greatest extent of her own powers. After the retCon, the Phoenix Force became a separate cosmic entity, representing the passion of creation and destruction that formed symbiotic relationships with hosts. But the Phoenix never seems to learn from humanity, it eventually consumed its host only to be reborn.

"Rachel claimed my power as her own. Freely and without reservation." The Phoenix states it chose to merge with Rachel in order to learn from her. It also admits to manipulating Rachel and shattering Rachel's memories. Although, the Phoenix sought to empower Rachel and grant her freedom, it ultimately denied Rachel of her identity. The Phoenix accepted its role in impairing Rachel's mind, even though it admired Rachel's indomitable will and ability to escape her previous victimization.

The concepts presented in this issue will divide readers between those who acknowledge the history of the Phoenix as an extension of Jean Grey and those who identify the Phoenix as a separate cosmic entity, which gains maturation through rebirth. With these concepts, the Phoenix and Davis hope to secure trust and truth with the audience. Yet, for all intentions to clarify the story of the Phoenix, Davis only creates chaos - but that is the nature of the Phoenix.

Noteworthy - The Phoenix first encounters Rachel Summers after detecting a psychic resonance almost identical to that of Jean Grey. In the aftermath of the Dark Phoenix Saga, it finds Rachel's astral projection and follows her back to the 'Days of Future Past' timeline.

The Phoenix states it never encountered the X-Men of Rachel's timeline. This supports the notion that the Phoenix Entity only exists in one timeline. This also contradicts Rachel's initial origin that connects her to the Phoenix Force from birth -- her mother being the Phoenix.

At the request of Kate Pryde-Rasputin, the Phoenix sends Rachel into the past, and grant her a second chance at life. Moreover, a posthypnotic suggestion was supposed to suppress Rachel's painful memories and prevent knowledge of how to return to her original timeline.

The Phoenix coveted Rachel's spiritual strength, as Rachel has endured obscene abuse, resisted reconditioning, and ultimately reclaimed her humanity.

911 and Rachel's timeline

The Twin Towers, Uncanny X-Men 189 and the cancelled Phoenix limited series.
In January 1985, Marvel published the story "Two Girls Out To Have Fun!" from the Uncanny X-Men title, which depicts scenes from character Rachel Summers' memories of the future where the twin towers in New York, United States were destroyed. Rachel Summers left the title in late 1986, her story to be continued in a self-titled limited series. Promotions were made in the letters pages of The Uncanny X-Men and in Marvel Age 43, however, no limited series was published. Images of the artwork by Leonardi have been released 20 years later:

http://www.comicartfans.com/Gallery...ge=1&GSub=12823
http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryRoom.asp?GSub=34543

There are several panels in this limited series that eerily illustrate the real life tragedy of the September 11, 2001 terrorist suicide attacks on the United States.