I've mentioned before, I haven't done a big re-read of the Earth X/Universe X/Paradise X epic for some time; but I keep picking up random issues out of the cheap bins. Could I put together another run of it? Doubtful, that'd be like 40-some books total (if you stick to the original!) and includes #0's, #1/2's, specials...This issue, the Earth X narrator Aaron Stack joins up with this title's narrator, Kyle Richmond--Machine Man and Nighthawk, although neither are near their classic looks! They go after Isaac, the Gargoyle, who had betrayed Kyle to Mephisto in exchange for getting to feel again; but Mephisto tells him, "you could always 'feel' guilt, Isaac."
The current Daredevil was an unkillable, um, daredevil; a circus performer who may or may not have been anyone we actually knew. (At this point, anyway; someone might sub in later!) New York City was basically a colossal riot today, but DD is lamenting the lack of his audience; when he's approached by Ransak the Reject, who was looking for Reed Richards, since he could cure the mutations that had been caused by the Terrigen Mists. Which I don't think would help Ransak; who, like Harvey Dent in Dark Knight Returns, was convinced he was hideous. Ransak doesn't have his usual pal Karkas here, to keep him level. The NYPD, which included Peter Parker and Luke Cage, was all that stood between a colossal mob of mutates bent on destroying the "Human Torch" built by Richards, that was designed to cure humanity. A paunchy, accountant-looking Iceman maintains ice walls around it, while wondering when his old pal Warren became so gloomy...and unstylish. Daredevil confronts "Mr. Church," actually Mephisto, and his Church of Immortus. DD refuses to join, because he wants them to kill him; Warren sees the crowd tear him apart but is unable to help.
There's a brief aside to Wakanda, where Mar-Vell's group asks the Black Panther for the Cosmic Cube: the Panther's Earth X mutation is a rare miss from Ross, since it's just T'Challa with a realistic panther head. Back in Latveria, the reunited Reed and Sue Richards may not have much time left together, as the mob of mutated humanity attacks, and the Tong of Creel is there as well, intent on reassembling the Absorbing Man. The Thing's cheerful kids, Buzz and Chuck, try to defend them; but Creel's head and Doom's time machine are both gone. Ransak the Reject arrives in time, with the "Monster Generation," mutated humans who wanted to be un-mutated.
Re-checking the reading order, the Beasts special was next: it's a dark one!
3 comments:
I do believe ultimately, history has proven Lee right, but I can definitely see Ditko’s point as well, because in real life, you don’t & won’t always know the identity of your attacker even if they were unmasked. But for the sake of dramatic effect, Lee was right to tie the identity of the Green Goblin so closely to Peter’s supporting cast.
I’m still peeved & annoyed at the fact that current day Marvel & its administration is actively ignoring the whole Earth X saga, thus forsaking any chances for potential merchandise, ESPECIALLY action figures! That’s basically leaving money on the table. You can’t tell me an Earth X animated movie adaptation wouldn’t be awesome!
I don’t know- with Hobgoblin, it just made things weird and they kept backtracking and doing those retcons. I’m with Ditko on this one- probably would have been better to have it be a new character.
To each their own, as an argument can be made either way, but I can from a purely dramatic perspective, tying the Goblin’s identity to a known person adds a bit more to the eventual reveal & the fallout from said reveal.
The whole Hobgoblin situation was a preventable clusterf&$k because of it devolving into a case of there being too many chefs in the kitchen. The fact that too many people wanted him to be what they wanted instead of what it ultimately was is why that whole situation happened the way it did.
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