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From: harry@ucbvax.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.comics
Subject: Rachel of the X-family
Message-ID: <8787@ucbvax.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 4-Jul-85 20:17:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.8787
Posted: Thu Jul  4 20:17:21 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 6-Jul-85 05:32:08 EDT
Sender: harry@ucbvax.ARPA
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Lines: 60

From: harry (Harry I. Rubin)

If I understand this correctly, Rachel is from a future version of the X-Men's
and New Mutant's world, but it seems to be a different future than the one
toward which Our Heros are headed.  For example, in "this" world Scott
(Cyclops) Summers is married to Maddy Pryor, but in Rachel's past, Scott
is married to Jean Grey.  Rachel's original world/time is definitely the pits:
anti-mutant hatred has led to something like martial law, with extermination
programs against all mutants.  Everyone Rachel knew and loved has been killed,
nay, slaughtered.  Now, suddenly, Rachel finds herself in "our" "present" world,
an "alternate history" for her.  Everything is, well, not quite rosey,
but definitely not too bad.  Let us consider for a moment the psychology,
the state of mind of this person in this situation.  How do you think she
would or should react?  Should she mourn for all her departed friends and
lovers?  Should she work to return to her world/time?  To the "proper" history
of her world/time?  Should she stay where she is and work hard to make sure
that "this" world/time doesn't go as bad as hers?  I suppose any of these are
not unreasonable.  My gripe is that she does not seem to be doing any of them.
She is just hanging out with the X-people, going on their adventures.  Has she
decided to remain with them, to "adopt" this world/time?  It doesn't say.
Yes, she does occasionally has flashbacks and bouts of angst - good for the 
writers says I, they shouldn't forget the extreme mental stresses of Rachel's
subjective past - but these are isolated incidents, suddenly appearing and
instantly forgotten.  Where is the soul-searching, the questioning of purpose,
the questioning of her own right to be alive when all her friends have died?
Most of us "belong" in our worlds and times, to just muddle through and make
the best of it usually seems purpose enough in life, but in view of her
personal past, I don't think that's good enough for Rachel.  This is tough
stuff to tackle anywhere, let alone in a comic book, but I think it is the
logical consequence of Rachel's story.  I'd like to see it in the book.

Another random thought:
The X-people's present world *seems* to be different from Rachel's past,
but is it really a different past?  Consider:
	o anti-mutant sentiment is rising, slowly but surely
	  (good for the writers, developing a long-term theme!).
	o Jean Grey is returning!!  Who says Scott and Jean can't be
	  Rachel's parents?!?
	o In Rachel's original world/time, Peter and Kitty (Kate) were married.
	  "Our" Peter and Kitty seem to be working out their problems
	  (again, hurray for long-term character development).
	  Their new relationship seems to be more of a mutual respect,
	  a more mature kind to attachment than the earlier crush/infatuation
	  relationship.  (I don't want to get into a flame-fight about
	  relationships and maturity; I'm willing to give up on this point.)
So what do you think?  Could the current X-Men's world really be Rachel's past?
Could Scott end up married to Jean yet?

One more, straight out of left field:
Scott's current wife is Maddy Pryor.  The lead singer of an English folk-rock
group called Steeleye Span was named Maddy Prior.  Do you suppose ....
It *could* be just a coincidence ....  What kind of music does Claremont
listen to, anyway ....?
(Steeleye Span has broken up.  Maddy Prior has at least one solo album out - 
"Woman in the Wings.")

Replies to the net, please.  Cheers,
						Harry Rubin
						harry@Berkeley
						...!ucbvax!harry