I sure hope one of my favorite comic book characters isn’t going to die next week, but it’s not looking good. If you recall my epic review from a few weeks ago, the Mimic is currently guest starring in a two issue story in X-Men: Legacy. It’s one of those auxiliary X-Men titles; not one of the main franchise leading titles. It’s almost specifically set up to star the B and C-list X-characters, because they all have fans and slapping ‘X’ onto a comic really helps it sell.

And since I’m a huge fan of the Mimic, I was overjoyed at his appearance! But I’m also afraid that it’s going to end badly!

Handsome sumbitch, ain't he?

So why do I think he’s going to die? Join me after the jump for the disturbing evidence!

The Mimic is Calvin Rankin, a man with the super-power to absorb and copy other characters’ super-powers. He was created in the 1960s as a villain for the original X-Men, back when they were first created. So Mimic had all the powers of the original X-Men: optic blasts, telekinesis, ice control, flight and super agility. Plus he could copy other powers beyond those five. There’s no real limit to the number of powers he can control.

Or how adorable he can be

In a twist that surely planted the Mimic in my geeky heart for all time, the Mimic actually ended up joining the X-Men rather than fighting them. On his second appearance against the team, he switched sides and became a hero – though he was still an arrogant jackass. Mimic was a member of the X-Men for about 3 issues before he was booted by Professor X for being a jerk. Because Professor X’s tolerance only goes so far.

Since then, the Mimic has popped up now and again. Since the 60s, he’s probably had less than 10 total appearances in various comics. Sometimes he’s a villain, but mostly he’s been this lonely, confused soul who just ends up with the wrong crowd. He’s not evil, he’s not a bad guy, he just keeps getting in over his head.

He also had an epic beard for a spell

Most recently, the Mimic was a member of the Dark X-Men. He thought he was doing good, but they were actually run by a secret bad guy. Anyway, flash forward to X-Men: Legacy, and the Mimic’s most recent appearance. He and his friend Weapon Omega (who also served with the Dark X-Men) have come to the normal X-Men seeking help. Omega’s powers are out of control, and he’s going to explode. By the end of the issue, however, the Mimic has absorbed and copied Omega’s powers, and now he’s about to explode as well!

It’s not looking good for either of them. The story picks up on Wednesday in X-Men: Legacy #265.

Mimic didn't even make the cover

So why do I think the Mimic is going to die? Here are the facts:

1.) In an October 2011 interview with iFanboy, writer Christos Gage teased the appearance of Mimic and Omega and had this to say about them, “In my second arc, we’ll see Mimic and Weapon Omega show up, and chances are good that at least one of them will be around for a while.”

So one of those two characters is going to stay in the book. But why only one of them? Mimic and Omega are best friends, according to Gage, and they don’t have anyone else to turn to, no family or anything. So why would only one of them join the X-Men? Why would one of them go away and not also join the X-Men?

The only reason I can think of is because one of them dies. Or loses his powers.

2.) The preview pages of next Wednesday’s comic seem to focus on the Mimic, going so far as to flash back on his history. It looks like Mimic is getting something of a spotlight in the upcoming issues.

What better way to kill off a character than by first celebrating his life?

3.) Mimic is on a redemptive arc. Based on those preview pages, and how Mimic was acting in the previous comic, he’s clearly starting to recognize how wrong he has been in his life. So he’s looking for redemption. What better way to achieve that redemption than by doing something drastic and sacrificing himself to save the life of his best friend!

4.) The entire story is about Mimic and Omega coming to the X-Men for help because Omega is going to blow up. It doesn’t strike me as very heroic if the X-Men fail to save Omega. It would defeat the entire purpose of the story if Omega dies in the end, because that means the X-Men have failed.

5.) Plenty of other of my favorite obscure comic book characters have been killed recently. Why should my luck change now?

So with all of that evidence, I don’t think things are looking good for my boy Mimic.

Although this sketch is looking very good

However, there’s also the possibility that maybe Mimic is going to join the cast of X-Men: Legacy and Omega will be the one who dies, or at least loses his powers.

1.) None of the preview solicitations or announcements have mentioned someone dying. Marvel often likes to note that kind of thing, because it sells comics. More people will buy the issue if they think somebody is going to die in a comic. But no death has been mentioned, so maybe there won’t be a death at all. And considering Mimic’s history with the X-Men, Marvel could have teased all manner of things with his death: “One of the original X-Men dies!” or maybe “What longtime X-character will die in this issue?” That kind of thing – we got none of that.

2.) Those very same preview pages could simply be giving the reader background on Mimic before he joins the cast. We haven’t gotten that same background for Omega. Clearly Mimic is getting the spotlight, and he definitely had the spotlight in the previous issue. Mimic has shown real depth in his appearance so far, whereas Omega is just a plot device. Why give Mimic so much depth unless he’s going to actually join the cast?

3.) Joining the X-Men would definitely help with that redemptive arc.

4.) In a February 2012 interview with CBR, Gage had this to say about Mimic, “I’ve been a Mimic fan for ages. I just think he’s an awesome character with a cool look. I’m also a sucker for characters who have failed to live up to their potential.”

So that’s a pretty clear indicator that Gage actually loves the Mimic! You don’t see Gage saying that about Omega. So perhaps that’s the best sign of all that Mimic might be the one to survive and join the team. If I were going to write a comic book, you can be damn sure I’d put characters in the cast who I really like.

Be cool, Mr. Gage, and don’t kill Mimic! Keep him around and I will be the happiest fanboy you ever did see!

Consider this the perfect Christmas or birthday present