Here Comes Tomorrow
Encyclopedia
"Here Comes Tomorrow" is the eighth and final story arc in Grant Morrison
's run on the Marvel Comics
series New X-Men
, which ran from issues #151-154 (2005). The storyline featured many controversial elements, such as Cyclops
moving forward with his relationship with Emma Frost
(prompted by his dead wife), the Stepford Cuckoos
being revealed as a development in the Weapon Plus Program
, John Sublime being a sentient bacteria bent on bringing evolution to a halt and hints that the Xavier Institute student Ernst and Cassandra Nova
are the same person.
The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes has given the numerical designation of Earth-15104 to the Here Comes Tomorrow timeline.
evades a pack of Crawlers (foot soldiers genetically engineered from Kurt Wagner
's DNA, along with the powers of other X-Men, namely Madrox, Scott Summers
, and others) amongst the ruins of the X-Mansion
. His Sentinel partner, Rover, dispatches the Crawlers. Tom is met by E.V.A., a representative of the Xavier Institute
, now an interspecies organization. Together, they transport the Phoenix Egg
, found on the moon, to the X-Men's secure headquarters in the Manhattan Crater. But a Crawler has hitched a ride inside the compound, replicating itself with Multiple Man DNA and attacking with the force of an army with Cyclops' DNA. E.V.A. and Tom are rescued by the efforts of a bird-man named Tito (descended from Beak), but the Phoenix
Egg is teleported back to the Crawlers' master and creator: The Beast, a white-haired Henry McCoy
.
The "Three-in-One" Stepford Cuckoos relate the downfall of human civilization throughout history to Wolverine
, to which Cassandra Nova adds recent bad omens. She says that something in the past went wrong to give the Earth such a dystopic future, but no one knows what exactly. One hundred-fifty years in the past, at the grave site of Jean Grey
, Cyclops gives up on superheroics and changing humanity, turning down Emma Frost's offer to re-open the Xavier Institute as well as her offer to begin a real relationship with her.
Back in the future, Tom Skylark relates how the Proud People of the Starlight City, the last free outpost in Europe, fell to Apollyon the Destroyer, hinted to be Fantomex, herald of the Beast. Their sacrifice allowed him to escape with the Phoenix Egg, but Tom laments his losing it. E.V.A asks him to join the X-Men for one last direct assault against the Beast. The Cuckoos speak before Wolverine and Cassandra Nova of the consequences of defeat: genetic enslavement by the Beast, loss of all natural evolution and species propagation. When asked to look hard and unblinking at the future, the Cuckoos see judgment by the Phoenix. As Beast hatches Jean Grey, a living fire-goddess, from the Phoenix Egg, she recognizes him as Henry, but he says he is much older than that, that now his name is Sublime.
The Phoenix annihilates the Terminds, an insect species, in Panafrika, but an encounter with X-Men liaison Bumbleboy spurs old memories in Jean's mind, calling Beast's plans of destruction into question. At the edges of Beast's Transatlantis territory, the X-Men engage the Crawler army, but despite a minor victory, Wolverine sees Jean Grey amidst the reinforcements, clad in a revealing black variant of her Dark Phoenix outfit. Cassandra, working in the X-Jet
with No-Girl, instructs her to remove the Phoenix Crown, which gives Jean back her memories and returns her to a human form. Logan shows Jean the truth of Beast's history: John Sublime was a host for the Sublime bacteria, a sentient lifeform billions of years old that infected countless species and sowed aggression and conflict to ensure its genetic dominance, so that no one species would ever be hardy enough to outlast it. U-Men
, super-Sentinels
, nano-virus
es, etc. all created by an underlying disease. When Scott Summers left the Institute, Hank McCoy tried to manage things, but things fell apart, and when he tried the drug Kick to cope with the stress, he was infected by Sublime (the true nature of the "drug").
Cassandra, pleased with her work, exchanges one more conversation with Martha before the Beast, possessed by Sublime and with the power of the Phoenix, kills her. The other X-Men all perish at the hands of the Beast, who declares himself supreme, ready to 'Remake God in [his] Image!' - only for Jean to reveal that they were not an attack force, just a distraction. Smiling, she removes Sublime from Beast's body, briefly returning him to normal. Seconds after apologizing, putting on his glasses and wondering how he ever survived that long with his asthma
, he is decapitated by Apollyon, who promptly unmasks, and finds the world not as perfect as hoped. In an extra-dimensional plane within the ancient M'Kraan Crystal
called the White Hot Room, numerous other hosts of the Phoenix (most notably Quentin Quire
) instruct Jean, now dressed in a white and gold version of her Phoenix costume (thus establishing her as the White Phoenix of the Crown), to repair the broken timeline. Reaching back in time, Jean pushes Scott "to live". Cyclops agrees to re-open the Institute, and stand side by side with Emma Frost for the future.
who befriends future X-Man Marrow
.
Here Comes Tomorrows plot and story is a homage to The Wizard of Oz
movie, with the Beast as the Wicked Witch
, Tom Skylark and Rover as Dorothy
and Toto, Flying Nightcrawlers as the Flying Monkeys
, Tito as the Cowardly Lion
who wishes to be brave, No-Girl as the Scarecrow
who wishes she had her brain, and Wolverine as the Tin Man
who wishes he had his heart (Jean Grey). The Phoenix in the end acts as another Dorothy surrogate who wishes something to be true (for Scott and Emma to come together) and it becomes true when she goes to the wizard for help (Quentin Quire).
:
As well as:
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
's run on the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
series New X-Men
New X-Men (2001 series)
New X-Men was an American comic book ongoing series, written by Grant Morrison and featuring the mutant superhero team, the X-Men. It was a retitling of the ongoing then-second volume of the main X-Men series, and shares the series' numbering, as opposed to creating a different ongoing series with...
, which ran from issues #151-154 (2005). The storyline featured many controversial elements, such as Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
moving forward with his relationship with Emma Frost
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
(prompted by his dead wife), the Stepford Cuckoos
Stepford Cuckoos
The Stepford Cuckoos are a set of fictional mutant psychically linked quintuplets . They are students at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning and appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
being revealed as a development in the Weapon Plus Program
Weapon Plus
Weapon Plus is a fictional clandestine program that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. It was created by Grant Morrison during his run in New X-Men. The program's purpose is the creation of supersoldiers intended to fight the wars of the future, especially a Mutant-Human war...
, John Sublime being a sentient bacteria bent on bringing evolution to a halt and hints that the Xavier Institute student Ernst and Cassandra Nova
Cassandra Nova
Cassandra Nova is a fictional enemy of the X-Men in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, Cassandra first appeared in New X-Men #114 . Cassandra is a "mummudrai," a parasitic life form born bodiless on the astral plane...
are the same person.
The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes has given the numerical designation of Earth-15104 to the Here Comes Tomorrow timeline.
Plot
In the far future, human X-Man Tom SkylarkSentinel (comic book)
Sentinel is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics as part of the Tsunami imprint. It is written by Sean McKeever and illustrated by UDON.- Publication history :...
evades a pack of Crawlers (foot soldiers genetically engineered from Kurt Wagner
Nightcrawler (comics)
Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
's DNA, along with the powers of other X-Men, namely Madrox, Scott Summers
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
, and others) amongst the ruins of the X-Mansion
X-Mansion
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
. His Sentinel partner, Rover, dispatches the Crawlers. Tom is met by E.V.A., a representative of the Xavier Institute
X-Mansion
In the fictional Marvel Comics universe, the X-Mansion is the common name for Professor Xavier's mansion. It is the base of operations and training site of the X-Men and the location of a school for mutant teenagers, the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning, formerly Xavier's School for Gifted...
, now an interspecies organization. Together, they transport the Phoenix Egg
Phoenix (comics)
The Phoenix Force is an entity in the Marvel Comics fictional universe which has bonded with other characters, who often used the alias Phoenix....
, found on the moon, to the X-Men's secure headquarters in the Manhattan Crater. But a Crawler has hitched a ride inside the compound, replicating itself with Multiple Man DNA and attacking with the force of an army with Cyclops' DNA. E.V.A. and Tom are rescued by the efforts of a bird-man named Tito (descended from Beak), but the Phoenix
Phoenix (comics)
The Phoenix Force is an entity in the Marvel Comics fictional universe which has bonded with other characters, who often used the alias Phoenix....
Egg is teleported back to the Crawlers' master and creator: The Beast, a white-haired Henry McCoy
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
.
The "Three-in-One" Stepford Cuckoos relate the downfall of human civilization throughout history to Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, to which Cassandra Nova adds recent bad omens. She says that something in the past went wrong to give the Earth such a dystopic future, but no one knows what exactly. One hundred-fifty years in the past, at the grave site of Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
, Cyclops gives up on superheroics and changing humanity, turning down Emma Frost's offer to re-open the Xavier Institute as well as her offer to begin a real relationship with her.
Back in the future, Tom Skylark relates how the Proud People of the Starlight City, the last free outpost in Europe, fell to Apollyon the Destroyer, hinted to be Fantomex, herald of the Beast. Their sacrifice allowed him to escape with the Phoenix Egg, but Tom laments his losing it. E.V.A asks him to join the X-Men for one last direct assault against the Beast. The Cuckoos speak before Wolverine and Cassandra Nova of the consequences of defeat: genetic enslavement by the Beast, loss of all natural evolution and species propagation. When asked to look hard and unblinking at the future, the Cuckoos see judgment by the Phoenix. As Beast hatches Jean Grey, a living fire-goddess, from the Phoenix Egg, she recognizes him as Henry, but he says he is much older than that, that now his name is Sublime.
The Phoenix annihilates the Terminds, an insect species, in Panafrika, but an encounter with X-Men liaison Bumbleboy spurs old memories in Jean's mind, calling Beast's plans of destruction into question. At the edges of Beast's Transatlantis territory, the X-Men engage the Crawler army, but despite a minor victory, Wolverine sees Jean Grey amidst the reinforcements, clad in a revealing black variant of her Dark Phoenix outfit. Cassandra, working in the X-Jet
Blackbird (comics)
The Blackbird is the aircraft used by the fictional superhero team the X-Men. There have been several incarnations of this craft over the years, with Cyclops and Storm as the main pilots.-History:...
with No-Girl, instructs her to remove the Phoenix Crown, which gives Jean back her memories and returns her to a human form. Logan shows Jean the truth of Beast's history: John Sublime was a host for the Sublime bacteria, a sentient lifeform billions of years old that infected countless species and sowed aggression and conflict to ensure its genetic dominance, so that no one species would ever be hardy enough to outlast it. U-Men
U-Men (comics)
The U-Men are a fictional group of villains, owned by Marvel Comics and existing in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:In the Marvel Universe the U-Men are a collection of characters that first appeared in Grant Morrison's run on New X-Men. Their name is an allusion to the early Seattle...
, super-Sentinels
Weapon Plus
Weapon Plus is a fictional clandestine program that appears in books published by Marvel Comics. It was created by Grant Morrison during his run in New X-Men. The program's purpose is the creation of supersoldiers intended to fight the wars of the future, especially a Mutant-Human war...
, nano-virus
Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally, nanotechnology deals with developing materials, devices, or other structures possessing at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometres...
es, etc. all created by an underlying disease. When Scott Summers left the Institute, Hank McCoy tried to manage things, but things fell apart, and when he tried the drug Kick to cope with the stress, he was infected by Sublime (the true nature of the "drug").
Cassandra, pleased with her work, exchanges one more conversation with Martha before the Beast, possessed by Sublime and with the power of the Phoenix, kills her. The other X-Men all perish at the hands of the Beast, who declares himself supreme, ready to 'Remake God in [his] Image!' - only for Jean to reveal that they were not an attack force, just a distraction. Smiling, she removes Sublime from Beast's body, briefly returning him to normal. Seconds after apologizing, putting on his glasses and wondering how he ever survived that long with his asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, he is decapitated by Apollyon, who promptly unmasks, and finds the world not as perfect as hoped. In an extra-dimensional plane within the ancient M'Kraan Crystal
M'Kraan Crystal
In the fictional Marvel Comics Universe, the M'Kraan Crystal is a gigantic crystalline artifact that lies at the nexus of all realities. The Crystal contains a negative galaxy, a source of near limitless power, which pulls and traps all matter inside. The Crystal plays a prominent role in several...
called the White Hot Room, numerous other hosts of the Phoenix (most notably Quentin Quire
Quentin Quire
Quentin Quire, also known as Kid Omega, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in New X-Men #122 , although he went unnamed until New X-Men #134...
) instruct Jean, now dressed in a white and gold version of her Phoenix costume (thus establishing her as the White Phoenix of the Crown), to repair the broken timeline. Reaching back in time, Jean pushes Scott "to live". Cyclops agrees to re-open the Institute, and stand side by side with Emma Frost for the future.
Major consequences and revelations
- At the end of the story, Cyclops accepts to become the new Headmaster of the Xavier Institute.
- It is revealed that Sublime is a sentient bacteria and that the drug Kick, consumed by Kid Omega and Xorn, was Sublime's means to infect mutants.
- Wolverine reveals to Jean that "Magneto killed you on orders he never understood", presumably referring to him being infected by Sublime after taking Kick.
- It is hinted that Ernst and Cassandra Nova are one and the same, although Martha Johannson (No-Girl) is stated to have Alzheimer's just before Nova tells her "you can still call me Ernst".
- The Stepford Cuckoos are revealed as Weapon XIV.
- The so-called Judgment of the Phoenix, to burn away what does not work, was to destroy Sublime for being an evolutionary dead end.
- This is the only time that No-Girl has ever said anything; as Wolverine lies dying, he appeals to her, but she mentally comforts him by claiming they were going to 'The White Hot Room'.
- Quentin QuireQuentin QuireQuentin Quire, also known as Kid Omega, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in New X-Men #122 , although he went unnamed until New X-Men #134...
turns out to be one of the many incarnations of the Phoenix, and warns Grey to turn back the future - though in his opinion, it would be better off dead.
Modern characters referenced
Many characters from the modern X-Men/Marvel timeline were shown to be alive or have someone carrying on their legacy in this possible future timeline, whether as direct references, red herrings, or plot twists:- An older WolverineWolverine (comics)Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
. - Hank McCoyBeast (comics)Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
and John Sublime as The Beast. - Cassandra NovaCassandra NovaCassandra Nova is a fictional enemy of the X-Men in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely, Cassandra first appeared in New X-Men #114 . Cassandra is a "mummudrai," a parasitic life form born bodiless on the astral plane...
Xavier, paired with Martha JohanssonMartha JohanssonMartha Johansson, also known as No-Girl, is a fictional mutant character, an isolated brain, from the New X-Men comic book series, set in the Marvel Universe and published by Marvel Comics.-Fictional character biography:...
, also known as No-Girl. - Juston Seyfert and his SentinelSentinel (comic book)Sentinel is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics as part of the Tsunami imprint. It is written by Sean McKeever and illustrated by UDON.- Publication history :...
as Tom Skylark and Rover (note, however, that one of the Sentinel Squad O*N*E pilots is named Tracy Skylark, and is thus a possible ancestor to Tom Skylark). - NightcrawlerNightcrawler (comics)Nightcrawler is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He has been associated with both the X-Men and Excalibur, originally appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Len Wein and artist Dave Cockrum, he debuted in Giant-Size X-Men #1...
as the Beast's teleporting "Crawler" henchmen, additionally equipped with the powers of ArchangelArchangel (comics)Warren Kenneth Worthington III is a fictional character, a comic book antihero in the Marvel Comics universe. Originally known as Angel and later Archangel, Worthington is one of the founding members of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-creator Jack Kirby, he first appeared in...
, CyclopsCyclops (comics)Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
, and Multiple Man. - E.V.A., Fantomex's independent nervous system as an A.I. humanoid. It is also hinted that Apollyon the Destroyer is in fact Fantomex, as when he unmasks, a dying E.V.A says "Ffzzzzzannnttommzzzk???? Izzi That u?", which could be interpreted as "Fantomex, is that you?".
- Beak's grandson Tito serves in the X-Men. The version of Beak may still one day exist, as the original Beak's son of the same name still possesses his Mutant Powers after M-Day.
In other media
Rover the Sentinel appears in an eponymous episode of Wolverine and the X-Men. Rover is a Sentinel reprogrammed by PolarisPolaris (comics)
Polaris is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular the X-Men family of books. Created by Arnold Drake, Don Heck, Werner Roth and Jim Steranko, Polaris first appeared in The X-Men #49...
who befriends future X-Man Marrow
Marrow (comics)
Marrow , is a Marvel Comics character, associated with the X-Men. She is a mutant whose bones grow out of her skin and can be removed from her body, providing her with potential knives and clubs as well as body armor....
.
Here Comes Tomorrows plot and story is a homage to The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
movie, with the Beast as the Wicked Witch
Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character and the most significant antagonist in L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
, Tom Skylark and Rover as Dorothy
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is the protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L. Frank Baum, and the best friend of Oz's ruler Princess Ozma. Dorothy first appears in Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels...
and Toto, Flying Nightcrawlers as the Flying Monkeys
Winged monkeys
Winged monkeys are characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, of enough impact between the books and the 1939 movie to have taken their own place in popular culture, regularly referenced in comedic or ironic situations as a source of evil or fear.-Details:In the original Oz novels, these were...
, Tito as the Cowardly Lion
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
who wishes to be brave, No-Girl as the Scarecrow
Scarecrow (Oz)
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
who wishes she had her brain, and Wolverine as the Tin Man
Tin Woodman
The Tin Woodman, sometimes referred to as the Tin Man or the Tin Woodsman , is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum...
who wishes he had his heart (Jean Grey). The Phoenix in the end acts as another Dorothy surrogate who wishes something to be true (for Scott and Emma to come together) and it becomes true when she goes to the wizard for help (Quentin Quire).
Collected editions
The series has been collected into a trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
:
- Here Comes Tomorrow (collects New X-Men #151-154, ISBN 0-7851-1345-2)
As well as:
- New X-Men OmnibusMarvel OmnibusMarvel Omnibus is a line of comic book series collections published by Marvel Comics. These collections provide full color compilations of several comics, aiming at complete runs...
(collects New X-Men #114-154 and Annual 2001, 992 pages, December 2006 ISBN 0-7851-2326-1) - New X-Men by Grant Morrison Ultimate Collection: Volume 3 (collects New X-Men #142-154, 336 pages, December 2008, ISBN 0-7851-3253-8)