We mentioned waiting for the Marvel Legends Hyperion figure the start of February, and well, we're still waiting. So I did hop on this issue when I saw it, though: Marvel Two-in-One #67, "Passport to Oblivion!" Story by Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio, pencils by Ron Wilson, inks by Gene Day and friends.
The cover makes it seem like this issue is going to be wall-to-wall Thing vs. Hyperion slugfest, and it's really not. While the Thing wraps up the Serpent Crown (with appearances by Quasar and Giant-Man) Hyperion is bringing the extra-dimensional amazon Thundra to his employers, the Nth Project. (Or alternately, the Nth Command, although that may have been their goon squad.) The Nth Project was an offshoot of Roxxon, the evil oil conglomerate in a number of Marvel books, and had developed technology that enabled travel to alternate realities. Because of the Marvel Universe's time-travel rules, even though Thundra's homeworld was merged with another; there are alternate versions that she could go to. Thundra promptly steals an Nth Projector, before they could even offer her a job or anything; and takes off, planning to have Reed Richards use the machine to get her home. Hyperion, who's a bit smitten, follows, but then gets in a scuffle with Ben, since they hadn't met.
Although Hyperion is basically Superman, Ben doesn't know the meaning of quit, and they punch it out briefly. Thundra fights the Nth Command's thugs, but one tells her the Project will activate the self-destruct if the projector isn't returned. Thundra uses the projector immediately, giving Ben a quick head's up about "the enemies of Project: Pegasus" and a kiss good-bye. Ben considers following her, but as Hyperion flies after Thundra, the portal closes seemingly behind both of them; and Ben wonders if he's made a mistake.
I don't think Hyperion made it to Thundra's world, for whatever reason; but I'd have to really look for his next appearance.
I think his next appearance was in the Squadron Supreme mini-series, issue 7, which is how I know he didn't make it to her world. Some bad guy (master Menace?) pulls him into the Squadron's world, and Hyperion tells how he leapt in after her, but wound up in some hazy void, all alone, until the baddie pulled him out. Then he agrees to replace good guy Hyperion, and falls in love with Power Princess.
ReplyDeleteThat's it! I have most of the old Squadron Supreme miniseries, but only remembered he didn't get to Thundra's world because of Hyperion's Marvel Handbook entry!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Gruenwald had that planned all along...
Poor Ben:( He always gets the short end of the stick in the love department. I read and older article online arguing that someone like Thundra was a better match for Ben than Alicia, because he did't have to be afraid to hurt her physically, and that they were essentially equals. I have to say I kinda agree with that assessment.
ReplyDelete