WARNING: This article contains spoilers for Extermination #2 by Ed Brisson, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and VC's Joe Sabino, on sale Wednesday, August 29.
The Original Five X-Men are still reeling from the deaths and attacks that took place in Extermination #1. Not only did they lose a teammate when Ahab, the mutant-hunter from the future killed Bloodstorm, but Iceman has gone missing, and a long-standing X-Man was also murdered in cold blood.
Of course, it was revealed that Cable's death came at the hands of a much younger Cable, but these are the complications that arise when dealing with time-travel events. Just to give an idea of the type of time paradoxes in play, we have Charles Xavier's original class of X-Men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Iceman and Angel) from the past, Cable and Ahab from possible future timelines, and the mysterious deaths of all the X-Men twenty years from now.
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While we wait to learn how Young Cable factors into the X-Men event, along with why he's determined to ship the original X-Men back to the past, a preview of Extermination #2 sees Nathan Summers add another individual to his kidnapping list when he stuns Calvin Rankin in a supermarket. If the name doesn't ring any bells for you, this is also the real name of the X-Men friend/foe, Mimic.
Just what Young Cable needs Mimic's services for remain to be seen. Calvin always seems to come in conflict with the X-Men, with their first confrontation taking place in 1966's X-Men #19. As his name indicates, Mimic has the ability to duplicate the powers of anyone he comes close to, even absorbing the abilities of the original X-Men permanently. Mimic also has the distinction of being the first non-mutant to join the X-Men.
Writer Ed Brisson said in an interview months before Extermination began that the event would have deep ties to Uncanny X-Men's backlog, and the addition of Mimic is our first example of this being true.
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“Our mandate going into this was, ‘Your back issues matter,'” Brisson told Marvel.com. “Every single Uncanny X-Men story involving the Original Five X-Men matters. If the X-Men are here, then they’re not where they’re supposed to be, fighting those they’re supposed to fight. What happens when that past starts to unravel? What’s the butterfly effect on our present?”
Mimic's history with the Original Five X-Men may be the reason why Young Cable set his sights on the would-be hero. Could Calvin Rankin hold the key to returning the young X-Men back to their proper place in the timestream? Or does Young Cable have something different planned for Mimic? Having someone on your side who can duplicate the powers of your enemies can only help in a fight, and Cable (young or old) is known for being a strategist.