issue summaries

Artwork from the Unpublished Phoenix Unlimited Series:

Images from Dennis Pu

The Phoenix Limited Series was to reveal what happened to Rachel Summers while she was in Mojoworld following Uncanny X-Men 209. At the end of that issue, the severely injured Phoenix had been lured into a trap set by Spiral and disappeared. While there, Rachel would be haunted by her past and her betrayal of the X-Men. Fans were promised by the X-Men editors that "This series should answer all your questions about Rachel and them some!"

Chris Claremont wrote the script for at least the first few issues. Leonardi penciled the first issue and a few pages were inked and lettered. You can view them here. (Note: that site is confusing the Phoenix Limited with True Friends)

The difference between the Phoenix Limited and True Friends:
True Friends, which was originally intended to be published as Excalibur Special Editions 3-4, was abruptly halted when Claremont left Marvel, and later published several years later when he returned. True Friends is an Excalibur adventure where Phoenix and Shadowcat travel back in time to WWII, meet up with Wolverine and save the Queen of England. Learn more about True Friends)

The Phoenix Limited Series was first announced in the letter page of Uncanny X-Men 208:

As you have no doubt seen from this issue, Rachel's going to need all the friendship and support and affection she can get, not simply in the X-MEN but also in the upcoming PHOENIX Limited Series we have planned for later this year, which Chris Claremont will be writing and Rick Leonardi penciling. We think it'll be something as different and special as the lady herself. (X-Men Assistant Editor Terry Kavanagh)

More details were giving in an article in Marvel Age 43 about the series:

Excerpt from "Coming Soon: The Phoenix Limited Series":

The plot of the Limited Series deals with the villainess Spiral (remember her from LONGSHOT and, more recently, the Freedom Force?) and lots of psychological ramifications and complications.

It examines how Rachel is coping with being in a past that resembles - but isn't quite- the one that preceded her world. She will meet Power Pack in the first issue and see little Franklin Richards. In her time, Rachel is in love with a grown Franklin! Here he is a child, and she is much older than him, and this situation will cause her to do some serious soul searching.

There will also be lots of cameos and guest appearances, lots of flash-fowards, and lots of fantastic visual by Leonardi and Green. We'll have more information on the Limited Series as its publication approaches, so stay tuned.

Written by Bill Slavicsek

You can see a scan of the full Marvel Age article.

As of the letter page in Uncanny X-Men 213 (January 1987), it had been delayed until Winter 1987:

Reader Byron Go had asked the following question: Also, why did she (Rachel) wind up wearing a red costume instead of Phoenix's normal green one? Could this be an omen?

Assistant Editor Terry Kavanagh replied: And, sadly, it appears the red costume was an ominous harbinger for Rachel as the Phoenix. The next stage in her career can be seen this winter in the PHOENIX Limited Series, scripted by Claremont with art by Rick Leonardi and Dan Green, so it should look spectacular.

The Phoenix Limited Series was also promoted in the Uncanny X-Men 215 letter page, when a fan asked what happened to Rachel:

As you may already know, Julie, we have a PHOENIX Limited Series in the works, written and inked by the X-MEN team supreme of Chris Claremont and Dan Green, and penciled by the aforementioned Rick Leonardi! This series should answer all your questions about Rachel and them some! (X-Men Assistant Editor Terry Kavanagh)

The reason it was never released is not known.

Claremont did later explore Rachel's relationship with Franklin in the Days of Future Present crossover.

Eventually Rachel would emerge from Mojoworld in Excalibur Special Edition 1: The Sword is Drawn with no memory of what happened to her there.