Favorite Rachel Moments!

**slively** · 12-27-2005, 03:03 PM

I have not read many issues with Rachel (Yes, I am still finding my way! :o ), but I was quite taken with the character as she appeared in recent issues of Uncanny and New Excalibur.

Would you all please share your favorite Rachel moments with me? I am trying to go back and read as much about the character as I can.

Heck, I would even be interested in reading her worst moments. :D Anything that helps define the character. She has me intrigued!

**Hi-Fi** · 12-27-2005, 03:06 PM

I'm not a big Rachel fan but i love the arc where Wolverine almost killed her. It was a time when the X-Men were living with the Morlocks.

She was cool during Asgardian Wars too.

I can't remember the issues. Someone will, though. Probably DDM. : )

**The Lucky One** · 12-27-2005, 03:07 PM

I think pretty much everyone would agree that the most visceral Rachel moment of all time would be when she tried to kill Selene, requiring Wolverine's intervention. I'm not going to spoil what happened, and I can't remember the issue number offhand (but someone will chime in with it soon), but it was one of those moments that occured so often in Claremont's run where fans' mouths gaped open and they said, "Holy freakin' cow, I can't believe he did that!"

Beyond that, early issues of Excalibur delved pretty deeply into Rachel's character. And of course Days of Future Past, her first appearance, is one of the best X-stories of all time... tell me you've read it by now, slive.

-D

**Jake V** · 12-27-2005, 03:08 PM

Remember that time, somewhere between Cable #95 and X-Treme X-Men #44?

yeah, that was my favorite moment.

**slively** · 12-27-2005, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Hi-Fi

I'm not a big Rachel fan but i love the arc where Wolverine almost killed her. It was a time when the X-Men were living with the Morlocks.

She was cool during Asgardian Wars too.

I can't remember the issues. Someone will, though. Probably DDM. : )

I finally tracked down a copy of Asgardian Wars!! It is on it's way. I am so excited. Marvel needs to do a re-print.

Why did Wolvie try to kill her?!

**slively** · 12-27-2005, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by The Lucky One

I think pretty much everyone would agree that the most visceral Rachel moment of all time would be when she tried to kill Selene, requiring Wolverine's intervention. I'm not going to spoil what happened, and I can't remember the issue number offhand (but someone will chime in with it soon), but it was one of those moments that occured so often in Claremont's run where fans' mouths gaped open and they said, "Holy freakin' cow, I can't believe he did that!"

Beyond that, early issues of Excalibur delved pretty deeply into Rachel's character. And of course Days of Future Past, her first appearance, is one of the best X-stories of all time... tell me you've read it by now, slive.

-D

I have read it!! I read it over the holiday break. It was the first step on my Rachel quest.

Why did she try to kill Selene? I must know!

**Jellobay** · 12-27-2005, 03:39 PM

My favorite Rachel was those early Ex-calibers issues. She was a real heavy hitter then.

**Brian M.** · 12-27-2005, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Jake V

Remember that time, somewhere between Cable #95 and X-Treme X-Men #44?

yeah, that was my favorite moment.

Mine too. I liked that part where she was called Jean and was good.

**Jack Flash** · 12-27-2005, 03:46 PM

my fave arc for Ray has to be DOFP.

**DDM** · 12-27-2005, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by slively

Why did Wolvie try to kill her?!

Wolverine was still in recovery with his battles with the Omega Sentinels via the Beyonder in Uncanny X-Men #202-203 & his battle with the adamantium enhanced new transformed into a cyborg, Lady Deathstrike in Uncanny X-Men #205.

Rachel almost died while fighting Freedom Force--Blob, Spiral, Avalanche, Pyro, & Spider-Woman II-- in San Francisco in Uncanny X-Men #206. Therefore, to atone for her ghosts, she believed by executing the Lords Cardinal, the Inner Circle of the Hellfire Club, would redeem herself. In this same issue, the X-Men stay with the Morlocks in an attempt to heal Wolverine faster with the Morlock, Healer's help. The other X-Men are mad at Rachel for using them in trying to destroy the universe in her attempt to kill the Beyonder. Rachel supercharges Wolverine's healing factor as Phoenix, but something goes wrong. Instead of healing Wolverine, Rachel creates a psychic rapport between herself & Wolverine. In the dreams, either Wolverine kills Rachel or Rachel kills Wolverine.

To free herself of her ghosts, she uses her psi-powers to infiltrate the Hellfire Club to kill the Lords Cardinal. Only Selene, the Black Queen, is present. Rachel turns into Phoenix in Selene's suite & attacks the Black Queen. Caught off-guard, Selene tries in vain to hold Rachel back. But Rachel, as Phoenix, is too powerful. In the heat of passion, just when Phoenix is about murder Selene, Wolverine interupts Rachel. Wolverine tries to reason with Phoenix. But nothing works. In Wolverine's weakened state, he stabs Rachel through the heart & lungs. All of this occurs in Uncanny X-Men #207.

Phoenix lives, but she is mortally wounded. The X-Men, the Lords Cardinal, & Nimrod are all after Phoenix. However, Spiral renders Phoenix amnesiac & takes her to Mojo World to be his slave Uncanny X-Men #208-209

Rachel's next appearance is Excalibur Special Edition #1 fleeing from Mojo's Warwolves in London.

**DDM** · 12-27-2005, 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by slively

Why did she try to kill Selene? I must know!

Selene covets Rachel's powers as Phoenix. Selene first fought Rachel in Uncanny X-Men #184 then again in Uncanny X-Men #189. Rachel has an intense hatred for Selene because she is evil & she became the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club, her mother's title which lead to Phoenix's transformation into Dark Phoenix.

**DDM** · 12-27-2005, 04:01 PM

My favorite Rachel moment is Uncanny X-Men #207-209.

**ibrakeforchinwe** · 12-27-2005, 04:02 PM

I pretty much love all of her appearences written by Claremont. He created her and truly seems to get her.

**xakko** · 12-27-2005, 04:25 PM

I love the Rachel/Jean and Rachel/Cable interaction in Excalibur #71. I love her in the whole Asgardian Wars- X-Men & Alpha Flight and Uncanny Annual #9.