Timeslide #1’s Breakdown of Marvel Comics’ Future Explored

As Laura Riding and Robert Graves once noted, “the future is not what it used to be.” This is particularly true in the Marvel Comics timeline, where a number of conflicting futures have given rise to multiple characters. However, the recent Timeslide #1 special has offered a glimpse at what events may come to pass in Marvel’s immediate future.

Written by Steve Foxe, with art by Ivan Fiorelli. Timeslide sends Cable and Bishop on a trip across time. Born of two different futures, Cable and Bishop don’t get along for a number of reasons. However, they are united in the cause of stopping a villain from unraveling the relative stability of Marvel Comics’ timeline.

In their travels, they encounter a future version of the Mutant hero Bronze. She complied a list of major events that created her future, hoping someone might use this information to avert disaster. Unsurprisingly, Bronze’s list references several current and upcoming storylines from several Marvel Comics’ series. This suggests the other events listed might be glimpses of unannounced events yet to come in 2025.

The Eight Deaths

The first item on the list is easily the most straight forward. “The Eight Deaths” refers to the current storyline in Amazing Spider-Man. Here, Peter Parker was charged by Doctor Doom to act as Earth’s champion in a contest against the Scions of Cyttorak.

One World Under Doom

The second item on the list of future Marvel events is also straight-forward. One World Under Doom is slatted to be the publisher’s biggest company-wide event in 2025.

Rise of the New Champions

The last team to use the Champions name in at Marvel in 2016 was a group of idealistic teenagers. The New Champions are also teen heroes, but most are more jaded for various reasons. The first issue of New Champions #1 releases on January 8. 2025.

The Eternal Storm

The Eternal Storm is a reference to the recent events of the Storm solo series. There, Ororo Munroe was chosen to act as an avatar of Eternity. This has imbued the already powerful Mutant with the Power Cosmic, basically making her a true goddess.

The False Metal

This is the first unclear entry on the list from Timeslide #1. The most likely candidate is a new “adamantine” that was recently introduced in Wolverine. However, it may also reference a counter-metal to Vibranium introduced in Ultimate Black Panther.

Who Waits Within The Last Egg?

This entry is also ambiguous. The most likely answer is that it ties into Egg, a Mutant whose powers lay at the heart of the X-Men resurrection protocol during the Krakoa era. However, it could also refer to one of the cosmic eggs often associated with Adam Warlock.

Strange of Asgard

This is a surprisingly clear reference to the upcoming Doctor Strange of Asgard series. Denied the office of Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen Strange will travel to Asgard to seek new magics rarely explored by mortal men.

Galactic Leaders Assassinated and The Time of Strife

Certainly the assassination of multiple leaders could lead to a time of strife. In this case, however, strife may be a mistaken use of the name Stryfe; the evil clone of Cable. It is also worth noting that the current Phoenix storyline has seen multiple galactic leaders plotting with Thanos against the cosmic heroine, Cable’s genetic mother. This could mean a connection between these two entries.

Dormammu Invasion of Earth

Dormammu is widely known as one of the more powerful cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe and has often tried to invade Earth. The big question here is if this invasion is provoked by the absence of Doctor Strange or the actions of Doctor Doom.

Ms. Marvel – Second Genesis

Originally, Ms. Marvel was thought to be an Inhuman. However, she was later determined to also have an active Mutant gene. While accepted into the X-Men, her Mutant power has yet to manifest. It would seem this “Second Genesis” will bring about that awakening.

Ultimate Incursion

Another seemingly simple entry with big implications. In the cosmology of Marvel, an incursion is when two conflicting realities collide. In this case, it would seem Earth-616 is about to have an incursion with the new Ultimate Universe.

Who is the Man With the Hammer?

This would seem to be a clear reference to Thor or someone masquerading as him. The most likely answer is the false image of Thor put forth by Roxxon in the pages of Immortal Thor.

The Ghost Fist Walks

Danny Rand died in the most recent Iron Fist series. However, a QR code in the final issue showed the image of a spectral hand punching out of his grave. This suggests he is coming back as a ghost. However, the line “the ghost fist walks” evokes the name of Ghost Rider, suggesting a connection to how Danny Rand returns.

Where is Spider-Man?

Another seemingly straight-forward entry, suggesting Spider-Man will disappear. However, this entry could reference either Peter Parker or Miles Morales on Earth-616.

What Became of Emily Bright?

Introduced in 2020’s Strange Academy, Emily Bright was an young magician of exceptional power. She was almost taken over by the influence of Dormammu, but was freed before being sent somewhere else. Her return may be tied into the aforementioned invasion of Earth by Dormammu.

The Will of Doom

This seems to be another clear reference to Doctor Doom. However, does it refer to his desires? Or to a Last Will and Testament delivered at the time of his future death?

Utgard Rises

Also known as the Shadowlands and Land of True Things, Utgard is a realm outside realms and home to various elder gods. The opening events of the current Immortal Thor series have seen the Odinson doing battle with the powers ruling this realm. Apparently the battle is to be renewed.

Age of Revelation

“Age of Revelation” seems similar in cadence to Age of Apocalypse. With 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of that classic alternate X-Men timeline story, a sequel may be in the works.

Beware the Spider-W-

This part of the text is obscured. However, it mimics the original Spider-Woman series name, Beware the Spider-Woman. This signals something in the works for at least one of the characters sharing the Spider-Woman name at the moment. However, as with the missing Spider-Man entry above, it is impossible to say which one.

Who would trade away immortality?

“Who Would Trade Away Immortality?” Quite a few people in the Marvel Universe, whose long lives have brought them little but grief. This is another entry that is too vague to offer many clues. However, with a new Deadpool & Wolverine series in the works, this question may come up between the two fast-healing heroes.

XVX and 3K Gene Bomb

3K is a sinister new anti-Mutant group introduced in the pages of X-Men. The final entry regarding a gene bomb is almost certainly tied to their goals. The previous entry, XVX, however, seems to point to a war within the Mutant community.

Timeslide #1 is now available at comic shops everywhere.