The first instalment of the X-Men ’97 season finale dropped last week, and it’s caused quite the stir on the interwebs. Fans are buzzing about a pair of mutants who popped up in Cable’s flashback to the future during Tolerance in Extinction (Part 1).

The enigma of these two mutants, seemingly without comic book ancestors, could very well be buried in the annals of time.

Back in 1992, when the animated series burst onto the scene, Marvel Comics jumped on the bandwagon and transformed the first three seasons into comic book gold. These comics were crafted from the original scripts that brought the episodes to life, which means, every now and then, you’d spot some quirky differences between the printed page and the animated stage. It’s like playing ‘spot the difference’ with superheroes – and who wouldn’t love that?

X-Men Adventures #13 kicks off with a scene that fans of Days of Future Past (Part 1) will recognize, albeit with a twist – our mystery mutants from the animated series make an appearance, sporting some fresh (but also much more familiar) looks:

Indeed, the mutant heroine goes by Rachel, and if we’re diving into the Days of Future Past saga, her partner in time-traveling shenanigans just might be Franklin Richards from the Fantastic Four. And why Franklin, you ask with bated breath? Well, in the classic Uncanny X-Men #141-142, that’s precisely the dynamic duo we encounter before Franklin sadly makes a similar demise on panel:

Rachel is eventually unveiled as none other than Rachel Summers, the offspring of the iconic X-Men duo, Scott and Jean.

Case closed! But only if you’re willing to twist the canon just a tad.