Comic books were no different. You had Action Comics, Superman, Batman, Strange Tales, and a maybe a dozen or so more. Now there are hundreds and hundreds.
The thing that never changed, though, was the backstory. Superman was still from Krypton. Spider-Man was still bitten by a radioactive spider. Batman's parents were still shot and killed in an alleyway. Frankly, it was rare that you ever revisited a backstory let alone change it.
Now things change almost weekly.
DC is having yet another rebirth hot on the heels of its Convergence event.
Marvel is talking changes again hot on the heels of their Secret Wars.
But what about a FUTURE story instead of one redefining the past?
This is the classic series that defined them all....Earth X.
If you don't remember, Earth X and it's sequels Universe X and Paradise X, sought to tell the story of a dystopian future of the Marvel Universe. What made this so different from the rebirths and backstories of today? It was done as a story told from one being to another and it was done in exquisite detail with no stone unturned or question unanswered.
As a matter of fact it may be the only time such a detailed story was told in such a manner.
For those of you still in the womb when these were released you should know that it was told in 3 parts; Earth X, Universe X, and Paradise X.
Earth X was done in 1997 and involved multiple storylines...none of which will be spoilers if you wish to continue reading. In the story, Earth X is one of a number of planets that is implanted with something called a Celestial egg. As with any story of this magnitude one expects the presence of a Watcher and, not to disappoint, Uatu is recruited. This is where things go astray. During certain Earth changing events Uatu is blinded and needs to recruit a new Watcher to take his place. He calls on X-51 (Machine Man) and brings him to the moon to be his eyes.
What does X-51 witness? Changes that redefined the Marvel Universe in a drastic manner. (Spoiler alert!)
-Captain America kills the Red Skull and quits the Avengers
-Namor kills Johnny Storm
-The Absorbing Man absorbs Ultron
-Norman Osborn is elected President
-Thor is changed into a woman
And the list goes on and on. It ends with Galactus consuming the Celestial egg after killing the Celestials and X-51 realizing Uatu's true purpose (to watch over the Celestial egg because one of the other Watchers killed an embryo). In response he destroys Uatu's ears and decides to destroy all the Celestial eggs.
Here endeth Earth X and the scene is set for Universe X. Look for my next blog!
