Huh, I didn't think this one was that recent. From 2025,
What If...? Galactus Transformed Rogue? #1, written by Ann Nocenti, art by Stephen Byrne.
This is set earlier in the continuity than you would figure: sometime after
Fantastic Four #50, although the Surfer is Galactus's herald again at the start; and well before
Avengers Annual #10 or what would've been Rogue's first appearances in
Ms. Marvel. Young Rogue finds the fallen Surfer, recently again discharged from his job for having the temerity to try to steer Galactus to worlds without intelligent life. Charged with the power cosmic from kissing the Surfer, Rogue knows the score right away, and takes off into space, probably forever.
Rogue is seemingly then chosen, or more accurately conscripted, as Galactus's new herald; but she isn't real impressed with the new powers, costume, cosmic grandeur: she sees "Big G" as a toddler with no impulse control. Attempting to get out of the job by being bad at it, she takes him to a planet seemingly infested with dragons, which trouble Galactus for about a panel: he could see in her mind, and she needed to know her place. Swatted like a bug, Rogue crashes through the Watcher's house, and he gives her some advice, while seemingly sweeping ants out of his place. (Moon ants!) He suggests challenging Galactus, not directly, but with wit. Galactus lets her touch him, to see what the universe would be like if he didn't eat planets: namely, backsliding into the Big Bang; but he does grant her a boon. Rogue chooses, saving at least two from every planet Galactus destroys, a "Celestial Ark." Galactus agrees, but seemingly because he knows selecting who would live and who would die would change her...and Rogue wonders, about the possible life, love, and family she was leaving behind on earth.
Pretty good, but I thought Galactus was already doing the ark thing? Or maybe more like Superman's zoo, just a few interesting specimens. I was thinking of
ROM #26, but that looks like more saving some culture than any people.
A quick one but not a bad one honestly. Rogue’s absence from from the lives of her family, friends and foes would definitely be a mixed bag, but overall & off the top of my head, I’m thinking maybe it wouldn’t be so bad compared to some of the other X-Men Galactus could’ve conscripted to work for him. I bet Logan would’ve been a hoot & Hank would’ve just rolled over joined in on the galactic genocide just to satisfy his scientific curiosity. So yeah, Gambit & Rogue surprisingly turned out to be two of the overall better heralds Galactus could’ve ever had. Imagine that 🤷♂️
ReplyDeleteOh, and I know she didn’t get to do it often for her liking, but I’m pretty sure her Aunt also warned her about the dangers of kissing random strangers, especially random strangers that fall out of the sky, much less aliens
THAT’S how you get a bad reputation 🤦♂️