The next time Adam appears is in X-Men #39 – in a story that all but confirms that Katherine Summers was indeed Adam’s mother through more suggestions in this issue! Let’s talk about it, shall we?
X-Men #39 begins with Phillip Summers – the grandfather Of Scott (Cyclops) and Alex (Havok) Summers – remember the joy of flying – but those memories are from his time in the war – in present time, Phillip Summers in the plane he is in – has crashed in the Alaska woodlands.
Adam’s heightened senses pick up the scent of smoke and gas – he knows it’s not a car that deep in the woods – and guesses it’s a plane – and begins running through thick snow – covering miles in a very short amount of time.
Adam manages to get to Phillip Summers and pulls him out of the wreckage of the burning plane – and as he begins to run while carrying Phillip Summers – the plane explodes! Adam has saved the life of Scott (Cyclops) and Alex (Havok) – but now they must survive the cold night!
Cyclops gets a call from his grandmother, that his grandfather took a plane – didn’t plan a flight path – and hasn’t come home, fearing the worse. Cyclops says he’s going out to Alaska and Jean offers to go too, to use her telepathy to try and help find him.
Despite the anguish and pain Adam endured from the burns and busted ankle he suffered from the explosion, Adam refuses to slow down, carrying Phillip Summers, to try and outrun the approaching snow storm – Phillip regains consciousness and asks Adam where they are.
Phillip Summers explains that he’s losing his vision and had to fly one more time – and when Phillip looks at Adam with his hair down – he says that he looks like someone he knows. It’s insinuated that it’s Katherine Summers who he’s reminded of.
It’s interesting to note that Phillip mentions 
that Adam has an accent – but throughout the issue, there’s no pink, edgy dialogue bubbles. I believe this could be an artist thing – or that Adam isn’t in fighting mode – so his dialogue is more passive. He even calls Philip “Sir.”
Adam mentions that there’s a storm approaching and that he had better built a shelter and fire – but Phillip tells him that the mountains will drop to 40 degrees below – and that a shelter and fire won’t help – that they would freeze to death by morning.
Despite the odds that they will freeze to death when the storm hits, Adam explains that he’s never given up – and fought every stretch of the way when he’s had to. Phillip says he reminds him of young men he knows (his grandsons, Scott and Alex aka Cyclops & Havok).
Phillip explains that he only recently was reunited with his son (Christopher, Corsair) and his grandson (Scott & Alex). Adam explains it must be nice to have family and have a place to belong. It’s a tender moment shared between Adam and Phillip.
Inside the tent, Adam tries to hide it, but he’s genuinely concerned about Phillip’s declining health – and approaching storm that will plummet the temperature well below 40 degrees below 0, which is more than enough to kill a healthy person.
Adam cradles Philip Summers, trying to use both the fire and body heat to stay warm as the storm approaches and threatens to plunge the temperature well beneath any hope of Phillip Summers – and perhaps Adam – of surviving. But Adam tells him he will not leave Phillip to die.
When Phillip pushes about where Adam is from – Adam elludes to the truth – and Phillip discovers that Adam is an alien (which he’s not too shocked about – having reunited with his own son – Christopher – Corsair, leader of the Starjammers).
Phillip Summers, feeling his life ebbing away, asks Adam to show him where he’s from. Adam points out to the stars and Phillip says he can see it clearly – but he realizes that what Phillip sees is the snowfall from the storm.
Phillip Summers states that it must have been amazing to be among the stars; but Adam tells him that his heart was empty; he’s missing something – his family – and so, while he was among the stars, he was too busy searching for answers to appreciate them.
Phillip Summers, feeling his life ebbing away, assures Adam that if he’s to die tonight, he’s honored to die in Adam’s company since Adam has been to the Stars – a place Phillip has always dreamed of going. It’s a gut retching and tender moment.
Those who dislike Adam should read this issue – knowing that the storm will plummet to below 40 degrees, Adam cuts Phillip Summers’ hands then holds him close for body heat then uses his mutant powers in a unique way that keeps Phillip Summers’ body temperature from dropping.
The following morning both Adam and Phillip Summers are spotted by a helicopter and rescued. Phillip Summers is immediately rushed to the hospital, having survived the entire experience (from the crash to the storm), thanks to Adam.
It’s noted that when Phillip was rescued he was all alone; but they know that someone had somehow helped him survive near 40 below temperatures that he would have never been able to survive himself.
Phillip has lost his sight completely and downstairs Jean senses an unqualified – yet somehow familiar – presence and goes up to Phillip’s room to examine what’s happening.
She goes up to Phillip Summers room and finds Adam – who until now she’s never met, yet felt his mind “felt somehow familiar.” Adam explains that he’s not the enemy and that he was here to check on Phillip.
Jean reads Adam’s mind and learns his name and discovers that he’s the one that saved Phillip Summers’ life. Adam is genuinely curious how Phillip is doing and Jean confirms his loss of eye sight.
Adam says that he wants to give something special to Phillip Summers and since Jean is a telepath she can help Adam achieve what he wants. He asks Jean to link his mind with Phillip so he can share some memories.
Adam shares his memories flying Shi’ar ships in space. Along with those visuals, Adam shares the emotions behind it all so that Phillip Summers can – literally – live vicariously through Adam exploring space as he had always dreamed of. The memories confirm Adam as part Shi’ar.
Jean thanks Adam for sharing those memories, which leaves Phillip Summers joyfully crying. Adam assured Jean that it’s the least he could do – for the first time since being on Earth – he has hope in his heart thanks to Phillip Summers.
As Adam leaves he’s unaware that he’s being monitored by someone in a red glove (this turns out to be Erik the Red of the Shi’ar). Erik the Red is unaware he’s being observed by someone who turns out to be none other than Mr. Sinister!
