Uncanny X-Men: Winter's End # 1 (2019) is a one-shot comic focusing on Iceman (Bobby Drake), who is confronted by a grim, older future version of himself called Ice Master who warns him to give up being a superhero to prevent a galactic catastrophe.
The story takes place on Iceman's birthday and revolves around the central conflict between the current Bobby Drake and his future self.
- A Warning from the Future: The older, morose Ice Master arrives from the future to convince his younger self to quit being a superhero, claiming that Bobby's optimism and a relationship with Daken ultimately lead to a major cosmic disaster involving the M'Kraan Crystal.
- A Birthday Party and Confrontation: Most of the X-Men are gathered at the Java-a-Go-Go to celebrate Bobby's birthday. This is interrupted by the conflict between the two Drakes, which quickly escalates into a physical battle involving ice golems.
- Bobby's Growth and Acceptance: During the conflict, the present-day Bobby and Jean Grey address the lingering bitterness from the time Jean forcibly outed the younger, time-displaced Bobby, allowing the present Bobby to gain closure and assert his own path.
- The Resolution: The present Bobby uses his emotional maturity and newfound self-acceptance to counter Ice Master's nihilistic warnings. He argues that even if he makes mistakes, he should live his own life and not be dictated by a bleak possible future.
- A New Beginning: Ice Master, convinced that his younger self has grown and can change his destiny, fades away, having found peace. Bobby then uses a large financial donation from Christian Frost to help the Morlocks, effectively using his resources to make a positive impact outside of traditional superheroics and cementing his "peak me" status.