Random Happenstance

We had previously seen the Doom/Rancor subplot seemingly conclude, but I'm a little dismayed to see it had been in play for over seven issues. Well, maybe there's more in today's book: from 1993, Guardians of the Galaxy #32, "We Who Are About to Die Salute You" Written by Michael Gallagher, pencils by Kevin West, inks by Steve Montano.

This issue opens with the fight from the previous one's cover, with Nikki vs. Charlie-27: the Guardians present, namely them and Talon, had agreed to face a champion of the Badoon to settle things gladiator-style. Both gung-ho for vengeance, they were willing to smack each other down for a shot at their hated foe. Charlie accidentally knocks out Talon, and is getting madder and madder as Nikki hits him with a succession of cheap shots, culminating in a burst of flames to his face! I don't know that she was always able to do that, if I remember my OHOTMU: sometimes it claimed Nikki's hair was just done in a style to resemble flames, other times it may have been a temperature-regulating function of humans genetically altered to survive on Mercury. It works today, anyway.

Meanwhile, after a seedy torture scene with people I don't recognize, Doctor Doom explains his master brainwashing plan to Rancor and her mutants, by brainwashing them. And in the 20th century, Major Victory (aka Vance Astro) and Captain America are visiting Doctor Strange: the Major needs the Doctor's assistance to return to his team. The trip would involve going through the Dark Dimension, and as such be mind-numbingly dangerous, so it's a no from Strange until the Major calls him "ancient one." You wouldn't think that would motivate him to help, but Strange sees in the Major's future he was as the Ancient One had been to him.

While they make the trippy trip, Charlie-27 arrives in the Badoon arena, now bald from Nikki's fire attack. He had left Talon and Nikki tied up so they couldn't interfere, but they can't help when they see his opponent: a Badoon with the power of Captain Universe! Nikki realizes that's why they wanted a one-on-one fight, as Charlie starts to get beat down. He's no match for cosmic power, but can take a lot of hits. A shadowy figure zaps Talon and Nikki, as the Major and Strange push past the Mindless Ones, to arrive as Captain Badoon Universe is about to deliver the killing blow...! So, this issue ends with the scene from the cover! Maybe next month they would be caught back up. It feels like things were moving quickly here, which still makes it weird that the Doom/Rancor thing ran so long.