X-men Supreme Issue 139: Outer Limits Part 3 PREVIEW!

It’s a fine line to walk, tweaking and twisting the X-men mythos in a novel and interesting ways. From both personal experience, as well as the sentiment I glean from my fellow comic book fans, I know that people are very sensitive about what happens when their favorite characters change in some way. The X-men are no different and they have been subject to their fair share of changes over the past 50 years. There are retcons like Madelyne Pryor, the heritage of Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch, and the apparent death of Jean Grey during the Dark Phoenix Saga. Some of these tweaks pan out better than others, but with the X-men Supreme fanfiction series, I like to think I can make the right kinds of tweaks.

Make no mistake. Some major tweaks are coming, so to speak. I’ve already established that the Shi’ar and the Phoenix Force operate very differently in the world of X-men Supreme. The ending of the X-men Supreme Phoenix Saga already did plenty to shift the mythos of the Phoenix, especially compared to the X-men movies and the comics. Well now, with the Outer Limits arc in full swing, I’ll be revealing a few more major changes that you can only find here in this fanfiction series and not in any X-men comic. They’re changes that I hope appeal to even long-time X-men fans.

I’ve dropped a few hints thus far, starting with X-men Supreme Issue 136: Stranger Things. With this issue, I did more than just introduce Stranger, an obscure X-men character that even seasoned X-men fans probably don’t know about. I set the stage for a deeper exploration of the Phoenix Force and the Shi’ar. The Phoenix Saga already gave some clues as to how the Phoenix Force functions in this fanfiction series. For one, Jean Grey is not the sole avatar, nor is she the first. This cosmic force has had more than its share of hosts. It’s a concept consistent with the Phoenix Corps, which has been explored in the X-men comics.

However, that’s where the similarities end. When Jean Grey and Cyclops survived the original Phoenix Saga in X-men Supreme, they fundamentally changed the nature of how the Phoenix Force operates. That operation became part of Jean Grey’s development as a character, manifesting in arcs like the Cambrian Explosion. Now, with the Shi’ar entering the picture again, the Phoenix Force, Jean Grey, and the rest of the X-men will undergo a major upheaval that will have far-reaching implications.

I know I say that about a lot of arcs with X-men Supreme, but I mean it even more with Outer Limits. It’s not just Jean Grey, the Phoenix, or the X-men that will undergo changes. The very nature of the Shi’ar and the larger universe of X-men Supreme will be revealed. It will be different than the X-men comics. Those differences are going to be key as this fanfiction series continues to evolve. X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation is about to enter some major turning points that will shake the foundations of X-men Supreme to its core.

The beginning of those turning points will start to unfold within the Outer Limits arc. The X-men are now deep in Shi’ar territory. Jean Grey is in a coma, Cyclops just learned that Corsair is his long-lost father, and D’ken working hard with Mastermind to finish his plan before they can stop him. On top of that, Charles Xavier has returned to the front lines, albeit in a very messy way. What sort of complications can that bring? Time is running out and you’ll want to keep up. As always, I’ve prepared a preview of the kind of complications you expect the X-men to encounter.

‘Destruction…pain…sorrow…it won’t end. Every mind sharing the same agony. It’s…too much.’

The swirling thoughts of Charles Xavier plagued him even in his unconscious state. From the moment he confronted the Phoenix, his mind was awash with nightmares. The power of the M’krann Crystal kept crying out to him. It practically yelled into his ear, showing images of it’s the destructive potential. Then a new voice rang out over the crystal.

‘Charles…it’s time to wake up. You must hurry. Time is running out for all of us.’

Charles Xavier’s head throbbed as he was jolted from his nightmares. He opened his eyes to find that he was in a special bed of sorts. It was shaped like an egg and had a series of soft padding lined with special wires. Above him were several figures. There were three Shi’ar doctors. Scott Summers was standing next to them. The one that lingered closest was Lilandra, her angelic face looking down on him with tears of happiness and concern.

“Lilandra?” he said in a daze, “Did…did we make it?”

“Yes…in a manner of speaking,” she said distantly.

“We’re at a Shi’ar rebel base, sir,” said Scott in a more assertive tone, “Jean got us out of Genosha. She ended up transporting us into the midst of an alien civil war.”

“The danger hasn’t passed though,” said Lilandra, “We arrived safely, but my half-brother is stepping up his efforts. I know you’ve felt it and now I’m feeling it too. We must act.”

“D’ken…Jean…I remember now,” he said, “I must speak to her!”

“Charles wait…” began Lilandra.

Professor Xavier didn’t heed her warning. He rose up swiftly from the bed. It was at this moment he made a startling discovery.

“My legs!” he gasped, “I…I can feel them.”

“That’s what I was about to warn you about. I suppose it’s not necessary now,” she said.

“Guess it never hurts to thrust some good news into a crisis,” said Scott, his tone still strangely flat, “While you were out, the doctors demonstrated the wonders of Shi’ar medicine. Talk to Hank later. He’ll fill you in on all the details.”

Xavier’s excitement nearly overshadowed his anxiety. It had been so long since he had felt his legs fully. His cancer rendered them weak and useless. Now he was feeling them the same way he felt them when he was a younger less sickly man. It was awkward at first. He needed to hold onto Lilandra to maneuver his legs up from the bed. He kept leaning to her as she helped him off, allowing him to stand for the first time in years.

As he felt his legs under him once more, he made another discovery. The pain from his addiction wasn’t plaguing him anymore. His head and his body felt stronger than he could remember. It was like he was in his twenties again. Everything had been healed. When Lilandra stepped away and he stood fully, he smiled for the first time in what felt like a new life.

“This is incredible! I…I can walk again!” said Xavier, beaming with energy.

This arc is going to bring a lot of changes to the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. Marvel will bring its share of changes to the X-men comics as well thanks to the upcoming Death of X arc. I like to think that X-men Supreme won’t make things so dire. As I’ve noted before, this fanfiction series has yet to resort to time travel or alternate universe versions of characters. I hope to avoid those tactics. I want to give X-men fans something they can turn to when the X-men comics become too frustrating to follow. That means making X-men Supreme as awesome as possible is important to me and that makes the feedback I get doubly important. So please help me make X-men Supreme awesome. Either contact me directly with your feedback or post your comments in each issue. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack