Days Of Future Present

If yesterday’s post was too straight forward, today’s will be a little more complicated. “Days Of Future Past” brought on the super epic “Days of Future Present” and ties together the X-books of the time with the Fantastic Four. This ran through four annuals (Uncanny x-Men, X-Factor, Fantastic Four and New Mutants) in the summer of 1990. And it all pivots around Franklin Richards.

An older, adult Franklin from the alternate future where “Days of Future Past” happened travels back in time to the then-current day Marvel Universe, which causes all kinds of craziness with the Fantastic Four and the young, child Franklin. It also causes problems with Rachel Summers, who was originally from the same timeline as adult Franklin where they were romantically involved with each other  and she assumed he was dead. It only gets more confusing as it is revealed that when Rachel traveled back in time, an evil Sentinel/cyborg hybrid called Ahab had followed her, planning on not only killing her but several mutants and super humans who would become in the future. It’s a lot like Terminator 2: Judgement Day, only coming out the summer later.

And as this is going on, both Franklins are having trouble controlling their mutant ability to war reality, which makes things all the more difficult.

The story is a little long at times, but the writing team of Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson and Chris Claremont manage to make it cohesive enough to be enjoyable. But then again, during this time any book that was associated with the three of them was great.

On the art side of things Jackson Guide, Jon Bodganove and Art Adams did a great job. The three of them have unique and timeless styles, and nothing felt out of date save for some of the fashion choices.

Main story aside, there are some other cool moments. We are introduced to Gambit for the first time, who debuts helping Storm (who has been turned back into a teenager) break into the X-Mansion. There is also the first time that Jean Grey meets Rachel, her possible daughter from an alternate future. That must have been awkward.

Speaking of awkward, we also get scenes (like the one pictured) that have both Cable as an adult and as a child in baby Nathan. That’s possible, since Nathan gets sent to the future to be raised, only to come back as Cable. But at the same time I wonder if that aspect of the character’s life was planned out yet.

X-23 #18

The Adventures In Baby Sitting storyline continues in this issue with X-23 having to save Val and Franklin Richards from the large dinosaur from last year. Turns out not only is it a large dinosaur, but it’s a fire-breathing dragon flying through Manhattan. This is turning out to be the worst babysitting job ever.

X-23 and the Franklin kids are able to stop the dragon, with a little help from Hellion (who seems to be a little upset with how the awkward conversation from last issue). Because this story arc isn’t done yet, things can’t be so simple. The four of them are transported to  a planet of junk.

So who’s behind this? Alien super collector the Collector, and he’s no longer as silly looking as he is pictured to the left. He wants the admantium claws and some DNA samples from X-23, who obviously doesn’t want to share them; it would kill her. Things get more complicated as she and Hellion have to figure out how to escape, as well as figure out how to save the Franklins.

Eep.

There’s a great cut too Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman, who are wondering how their children are dealing with their new babysitter. Not that they think that X-23 is a problem, but more so that their super smart children are more than a handful.

I don’t want to be a complainer, but the pacing in this issue was really quick and it didn’t take that long at all to read. I like my comics a little more meatier, but I was still happy with this one.