Comic Book Syndicate has posted video segments of Chris Claremont’s panel at the Motor City Comic Con, which includes Chris talking about how much detail he puts into scripts. He uses as an example Rachel and Kitty’s room End of Greys (Wand’ring Star), and goes on to explain how he uses small details like this so that readers can identify with the characters.
The specific part relevant to Rachel starts at roughly 2:30.
All has been quiet on the War of Kings’ front since the announcement last month in San Diego, but hopefully there will be some news soon.
IGN talked to Marvel editor Tom Brevoort about Secret Invasion, and how it is connected to War of Kings:
IGN Comics: We get a lot of questions about this, so we thought we’d ask since details are a little scarce at the moment. Is War of Kings a direct follow-up to Secret Invasion or is it only related in that the Skrulls’ obsession with Earth further alters the balance of galactic power?Brevoort: It’s a direct follow-up, although the more complete answer is that it’s a little from column A and a little from column B. War of Kings springboard directly out of Secret Invasion, and there’ll be a Secret Invasion: War of Kings special in January that’ll show you just how that happens. But once War of Kings proper starts, it’ll be its own thing.
So, it looks like Secret Invasion: War of Kings might kick the event off in January with the first of the War of Kings mini-series starting in February?
Marvel still has not announced the line-up for War of Kings, which is expected to start in December or January. Marvel November solicitations came out today, and included Secret Invasion: Inhumans #4, which serves as a lead-in to War of Kings, but no direct tie-ins.
Marvel will have an X-Panel at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto on Friday evening, and Cup o’ CB panel on Saturday afternoon, so an announcement could be coming then.
On a completely different tangent, Rachel was mentioned in last week’s Comic Urban Legends. Brian Cronin blogs about the uncanny number of eerie coincidences in John Byrne’s projects and his propensity for foretelling tragic future events. Rachel’s flashback to her future in Uncanny X-Men 189, showing the destruction of the World Trade Center (which looks horribly similar to 9/11) was referenced. (Although, not written by Byrne, DoFP was co-created by him).
Comic Continuum has a six page preview of the What If: RaFotSE, which is out on December 5th.
From the first look art that was released several weeks ago, it looks like a good Summers Family issue.
Comic Continuum has a five page first look at the art for the What If? X-Men: The Rise & Fall Of The Shi’Ar Empire one-shot that will be in stores on December 5th. The fifth preview page reveals some rather special guest appearances. 
In the letter page in Uncanny X-Men 487, it says, “a mini-series that will be coming out in the fall, expanding on events in the Shi’Ar Empire storyline. So Havok, Marvel Girl and Shi’Ar fans — prepare to have your faces rocked off.”
No word yet on who the creative team will be. Brubaker confirmed that he is not writing the Starjammers mini-series. Top candidates to write it would include Christopher Yost (who Brubaker suggested should write it at WWLA), Christos Gage or Chris Claremont.
Of course, there have been mini-series announced in letter pages that have gotten fans hopes up and then never been released.
If you don’t want to know what happens in UXM 486, don’t read this. (Spoilers, obviously):
- Vulcan kills Corsair and remains Shi’Ar Emperor
- Rachel does very little in the issue
- Alex becomes the new leader of the Starjammers
- Rachel, Korvus and Lorna join the Starjammers
- The Starjammers’ mission is to avenge Corsair’s death and restore Lilandra to
the throne.
- Since they aren’t X-Men any longer, they are free to kill Vulcan.
Updated to add more details:
- The team becomes split-up when Lilandra tries to get Xavier away from Vulcan and Alex, Lorna, Rachel and Korvus are all left behind.
- They’re stuck in space, but send a message back to Xavier and Beast that they’re going to stay and fight Vulcan.
- The team that returns to Earth consists of: Xavier (repowered), Nightcrawler, Warpath, Darwin, and Hepzibah
If you recall from the X-Panel at Wizard World Los Angeles in March, Ed Brubaker and Marvel marketing exec Jim McCann said there are no plans for a Starjammers series, but there might be if there is enough demand. We aren’t falling for their trap. Just Say No to the Starjammers!
Mike Carey said he wanted to do a Rachel & Cable reunion! Rather than Rachel rotting in space, Carey should get Rachel in Adjectiveless X-Men!!!
The Bring Rachel Home campaign has been launched!!
Pop Culture Shock has posted a six page preview of Uncanny X-Men 486. Rachel does not appear, but there are some major developments for the Summers family. The issues will be in stores May 16th.
Marvel has the full cover for Uncanny X-Men 486 (which includes Rachel) and three pages of art (Rachel is on the last page).
Marvel describes the issue as:
It’s been a long year for the team of mutants in Uncanny X-Men, as writer Ed Brubaker has put them through the paces for the last 11 issues, all leading up to this moment! Uncanny X-Men #486 brings readers the conclusion of “The Rise and Fall Of The Shi’ar Empire” and not everyone will be returning to Earth! We’ve got the M’Kraan Cystal, a psychotic man atop the Shi’ar throne and a girl with the power of the Phoenix Force – what more do you need to know?
Marvel Editor Tom Brevoort posted Marvel’s direct sales figures from April 1984. (Direct sales are to comic book stores. In 1984, most of Marvel’s sales was to convenience and grocery stores).
April 1984 was a big month for Rachel Summers, since that marked her first appearance in X-books since Days of Future Past.
Uncanny X-Men #184 was the second highest selling Marvel comics with 223,500 copies sold (to comic book stores). Next on the list was New Mutants #18 (where Rachel first arrived) which sold 184,500 copies.
Nowadays, Uncanny X-Men averages around 84,000 copies direct sales.
Pop Culture Shock has posted a six page preview of Uncanny X-Men 485. Rachel doesn’t appear, but there are some interesting developments. UXM 485 will be in stores April 11th.
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