Now that would be some pretty impressive precognition. You're sure somebody said that way back when? I guess they could be talking about some other similar image I'm unaware of, but it wasn't included in the manga compilations of the 90s, it would have been some outside promotional image. But the book clearly cites that epilogue to 2005, which is nearly the earliest time it could be for its use of the X8 characters. I'd heard a lot of rumors about X4's manga, like people who claimed Cain was shown dying in it, which he is not. Maybe that was some rumor that managed to eventually hit the mark... Unlikely as that would seem. But maybe that pose in general (X standing, holding helmet, can't see his face) isn't that original. Anything more accurate than that, though, seems very curious.