We blogged the first issue of this series a couple months back, but a recent action figure pickup made me give this conclusion another look: from 1997, Imperial Guard #3, "A Mad God Awakens!" Written by Brian Augustyn, pencils by Chuck Wojtkiewicz, inks by Ray Snyder; and dedicated to the memory of Mark Gruenwald.
I had thought the Kree Commando may have been a conscript to the Imperial Guard, but he may have been a volunteer. Or obeying the voice in his head. Still, while his time on the Guard has impressed him of their heroism; as they face Kree convicts on earth, the mysterious voice seemingly abandons him. It may have found a new sucker: perennial hanger-on and second banana Rick Jones, who is being offered the chance to become a hero.
The Kree convicts plan on blowing "nega-energy" all over earth, which their leader thinks will get them both revenge on the Avengers and domain over what's left of the Kree. Rick is given power, which he is able to use to help, but then weakens after taking too much radiation. Gladiator braves it to throw the sabotaged reactor into space, but is then so weakened he will fall into earth's atmosphere and die. Commando saves him, and they return in time for the power to be sucked out of Rick--into the returned Supreme Intelligence! Which isn't a surprise, it's on the cover.
S-I offers Commando a spot at his right hand, but Commando can't get past how it sacrificed 90 percent of the Kree in the hopes of restarting their evolution. The Intelligence leaves, but Commando has earned his place on the Imperial Guard, even if I don't think he would be seen again. And Rick Jones, powerless again, has to comfort himself with the thought that he helped save the world here, as he slinks back to his wife. I'm not sure the Guard would be seen again until maybe Grant Morrison's run, with Smasher?
I picked up the Captain Marvel movie Yon-Rogg a week or so ago; and he has some of the Kree design elements that Commando does: the blaster-gauntlets, the fin helmet, the green. The starburst logo on the figure is stronger, though. Can't wait to see that movie...
1 comment:
Goddamn that artwork here is ugly. Then again I'm just not that much of a fan of Chuck Wojtkiewicz's art period. Too cartoonish and it's all just one huge eyesore to me.
I'm kinda' surprised that didn't included an unmasked version of Yon Rogg w/the figure. Did Hasbro not want to spend the extra money on a likeness of Jude Law or did they think it just wanted that important? Both maybe?
That being said I'd love LOVE to own a an Imperial Guard box-set with all the main characters.
Hell a BAF of the Supreme Intelligence wouldn't be a bad idea either....even if he's just going to sit there and judge you whilst thinking of more ideas to "improve" the Kree race that more than likely include mass genocide.
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