The Latest on the Vulcan Saga, Divided We Stand #2, and MCP #8

In this week's X-Position, once again the future for Rachel, Alex and Lorna brought up, but no knew information to report:

2) Chris, has the third part of the “Emperor Vulcan” story been written? Will Polaris, Havok, and Marvel Girl be the ones to defeat Vulcan? Or will other X-Men join the fight?

Yost: There has been talk. I can say no more.

X-Position also had two pages from the upcoming X-Men: Divided We Stand #2 story featuring Havok and Vulcan, written by former X-Editor Andy Schmidt with art by Frasier Irving. So far no word whether or not Rachel will appear (someone needs to save poor Alex).


Also, next week Marvel Comics Presents #8 is in stores, and that features a story (also by Schmidt) about Cyclops dealing with the aftermath of Rise & Fall of the Shi'ar Empire and the death of Corsair.

Marvelnoise.com has a multi-page preview, including a scene where Alex sends word to Scott about their father's death, but no indication yet if Rachel will or won't be mentioned in this.

What If? X-Men: The Rise & Fall of the Shi'Ar Empire Preview

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.

Marvel Girl Mention in New X-Men 42

Rachel was briefly mentioned in New X-Men 42.

Teenage telekinetic Hellion (Julian Keller)'s powers have been out of control and he's been waiting for Rachel to get back from space to help him learn how to control his telekinesis.

Poor Julian is going to have to wait a bit longer...

Chris Yost Interview with Preview Art from X-Men: Emperor Vulcan 2

Pulse News has interviewed writer Chris Yost about X-Men: Emperor Vulcan, and posted several pages of preview art from the second issue.

Here are the Rachel-centric highlights from the interview:

THE PULSE: With a miniseries the trick is getting the reader excited about the next issue and totally vested in coming back for more. What are some of the things you’re going to be doing to get your audience putting this series on their pull list? What’s at stake in these five issues that even has Havok teaming up with Vulcan?

YOST: Issue 2 raises the stakes incredibly, and issue 3 puts our heroes in an impossible position. Havok and Rachel especially will have to do things that will make everything in them scream against it. Every issue has the situation getting worse and worse and worse for our X-Men, and quite literally the fate of the universe is on the line.

THE PULSE: How, if at all, does what’s happening in these pages affect the bigger Marvel mutant picture?

YOST: Beyond ‘fate of the universe?’ On the last page of issue five, things will be changing for the X-Men in general.

Chris Yost on X-Position Week 9

It was Chris Yost's turn in the hotseat in X-Position this week:

A couple of weeks ago, Ashley Keller had sent in a question to Brubaker about Rachel Summers. He claimed ignorance, as the events she asked about would possibly take place in "Emperor Vulcan." Well, since you're the one writing that mini, I'll let her ask again ...

"Will we be seeing any reaction from Rachel in regards to Cable's death (if he is dead) in 'Emperor Vulcan?' Since Rachel has a strong psi-bond with Nathan, she would instantly feel his death. Considering everything she's gone through to try to protect her 'baby brother,' she should be one of the characters most impacted by his death, shouldn't she?"

Yost: Rachel would absolutely be affected by Cable's death. He's her brother, and if she were aware of it, she'd be devastated. That being said ... we don't really know that Rachel would instantly feel his death. After all, how do you test that out? And given she's in a whole other galaxy, their link is strained as it is. But when she does learn of his death, I expect Rachel to react and act accordingly. Gambit and Sunfire better start running if she gets back is what I'm trying to say.


"If she gets back?" And as long as we're being a bit morose, Brian Moranor had a question about another death: "Are we going to be seeing some reaction from Havok and Rachel regarding the death of Corsair (his father/her grandfather) in 'Emperor Vulcan?' I know the mini takes place some time after the 'Uncanny' arc (or does it?), but I was wondering if we'd get any insight to their feelings."

Yost: Of course. Corsair's death affected Havok deeply and is influencing every decision he's making now, for better or worse. And Polaris has to deal with extra-angst Havok.

Rounding things off about the "Emperor Vulcan" miniseries, AZPolaris wanted to know more about – surprise! – Polaris: "I am a huge Polaris fan and would love any info about her that you can share. Are she and Havok officially a couple? Will Lorna discuss any of the turmoil that her life was in before she left Earth? I hope to see a bond form between Lorna and Rachel (Havok's 'niece') – will this occur in 'Emperor Vulcan,' or will it be nonstop action?"

Yost: I'm a huge Polaris fan as well, and yes – she and Havok are officially a couple. The insanity of Lorna's life will get brought up, and while what she's up against now is extreme, it's a little more straightforward. Except when Doop shows up to kill Vulcan and take over the Shi'ar empire. No one's going to see that coming.

Lorna and Rachel are definitely going to bond, and drink. After all, the two hottest women in the Shi'ar empire have to stick together. Plus, they've both got man troubles. I lean toward non-stop action, but I try to take breaks for angst.

Want To Ask Yost A Question About Rachel or Emperor Vulcan?

CBR's X-Position is taking questions for X-Men Emperor Vulcan writer Chris Yost for next week's column. You can email your questions for Chris to george@comicbookresources.com.

Chris Yost Talks Emperor Vulcan

Newsarama has posted an interview with Chris Yost, who is writing the X-Men: Emperor Vulcan mini-series:

NRAMA: So where and when does Lord Vulcan pick up? How soon after the events of Uncanny X-Men #486 do we find the characters?

CY: Months later. Much has changed, in somewhat surprising ways. Proclaiming yourself Emperor is easier than being one. The Shi’ar people suddenly have an insane mutant earthman on their throne. It doesn’t sit well. Which actually helps out the X-Men quite a bit.

NRAMA: Are there any characters that you came in, automatically liking? Any that you gave the hairy eyeball to?

CY: I really like Havok, Marvel Girl, Polaris, Raza, Ch’od, Vulcan, Korvus, the Major General and Lilandra. I hate Chancellor Araki! I just don’t trust that guy.

I wrote a short 11 page thing on Havok and Marvel Girl back in X-Men Unlimited, the two of them never really got a chance to just sit down and talk before. They’ve got a lot of shared history, in an alternate timeline uncle/niece way. But Polaris is quickly becoming a favorite. And I do like Ch’od and that weird ferret he’s got.

NRAMA: Any words on Deathbird? The Imperial Guard?

CY: They're all in there, and they're hugely important to the story. Personally, I'd like to see a Marvel Girl/Gladiator throwdown.

Rachel Mentioned in New X-Men 33

Rachel is briefly mentioned in issue 33 of New X-Men. Beast is helping train Hellion (Julian Keller) to control his telekinetic powers. Beast tells him, "You're more powerful than before. It's going to take you time to adjust. But until Marvel Girl returns for some tutoring, I suggest you practice. Perferably away from others."

So Rachel maybe will be appearing in New X-Men when she gets back!