X-Men Relaunch Wishlist: 7 Things We Want To See

The X-Men have a problem with time travel that goes beyond the one caused by their younger selves arriving in the present. If I talk about a character from the franchise whose origins include an alternate/possible dystopian future, am I referring to Rachel Summers, Cable, Bishop, Hope Summers or Nate Grey? The answer, of course, is all of the above. It seems the “present” Marvel Universe is a popular destination for mutants from the future as well as the past.

Though their origins are convoluted, these names are some of the most popular X characters around, so it’s not like they can be swept under the carpet and ignored, but we don’t have to repeat the same mistakes that led to multiple alternative versions of the same people. While the obvious goal of ResurrXion is to gain back readers who’ve abandoned the X books, they are being released with an eye toward gaining new readership (as usual). The uninitiated might be scared away like a frightened squirrel if Marvel whips out its fifty-year-long continuity. Explain who these characters are quickly and simply to those who don’t know and then concentrate on using them in good stories that take place in the present.

Also, dystopian futures have become a lot more tiresome since Days of Future Past came out in the ‘80s. Geekdom loves a post-apocalyptic world so much that it’s practically the nerd rapture. It’s tired and played out. At this point, it would be way more shocking for an optimistic future where humans and mutants can coexist. Imagine the bittersweetness of knowing that, even though you have a boot on your neck now, someday your people will gain equality, but you yourself will never experience it. That’s a little more dramatic than, “Hey, guess what? I’m your KID! From the FUTURE!” “Me too!”

What’s on your X-Men Wishlist? How would you save the franchise?