Random Happenstance

Hawkeye can stay dead. We miss you, Quasar.

From Annihilation: Nova #3, "Safety in Numbers" Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, pencils by Key Walker, inks by Rick Magyar.

Abnett and Lanning work together a lot, and had a good run of Legion a while back, but I associate them with Star Trek: Early Voyages (which was actually Dan Abnett and Ian Edginton). The book was cancelled midstream with #17, with what would have been the start of a four-part storyline. Abnett and Edginton noted they had the plot and story, but weren't going to tell us. At first, that had the reek of sour grapes, although I thought it was cheekily amusing; but then, these guys aren't paid to give away story ideas.

Not to damn with faint praise, but DnA do a good job of Blue Beetle'ing Quasar here: Marvel fandom had a pretty good idea poor Wendell was doomed as soon as they saw him on the solicitations for this issue. But then Gabrielle Dell'Otto makes him look cool as hell on the cover. And DnA don't mock or belittle Quasar, even though he wasn't the most popular character even when he had his own book. (60 issues, kids! By comparison, WildC.A.T.s has had three different series since 1992, and still hasn't had 60 issues total. Also, Grifter sucks.) Quasar's confident, likeable, and kicks some ass, then goes out fighting Annihilus. Here's hoping he'll be back.

But how does Quasar get his hair like that in space? My wife was at a loss for any man-made product that could get that effect; but I must say it has to look better than Nova's. After wearing that bucket all day, his hair has got to be all greasy and blah. This is why Marvel's space characters are traditionally either bald (the Surfer, Drax, Thanos), or rock the 'Firestorm' do. Just so you know.

Plus, over at Comic Book Resources, there's a possible spoiler about the upcoming Quasar limited series! I'm not sure how I feel about it, but may have to give it a try.