Exiles #38

Background

The book Exiles can best be described as that television series Sliders meets What If? in the Marvel Universe. The characters are typically alternate forms of the ones we know, giving tons of creative freedom to do with them as they wish. A team is picked by some being known as the Timekeeper and sent to some alternate world with a mission to 'set things right', meaning fixing that given reality.

The team can rotate around, sending members back to their world and replacing them with others from different realities. I should also say that so far there seems to be two distinct teams performing their missions in this title, usually alternating over to the other teams adventures with each story arc. One team is the Exiles, still adhering to their morals and principles as they try to complete their mission. The other team is Weapon X, and they will do whatever it takes to get home.

Our interest lies in the form of an alternate Spider-Man, a member of Weapon X, he is Peter Parker the Spider, joined with an alien symbiote. The differences are this Spider looks more like Carnage, not to mention he has all the murdering tendencies to boot. Yes, this Spider is a stone-cold killer. The team leader is Gambit, others include Ms. Marvel, Storm, Colossus, and Vision.

Story Details

Last I knew this group was in With An Iron Fist so slight change to the team, most notably Ms. Marvel has replaced Angel. I guess one has to presume that they have been on a few missions 'off book' while the title featured the Exiles team. It opens up during the last moments of a current mission, which is to stop Dr. Bruce Banner (From doing what is never revealed).

Spider suggests killing him to end it quickly, and while Colossus doesnt share his view, Vision mentions that solution would be best and Ms. Marvel has no problem carrying out the sentence by crushing Banners head. Sometime during the mission Storm must have been critically wounded, as she quickly fades away in Gambits arms. The team finds themselves in a new reality, with Storms new replacement, Hyperion (Marvels version of Superman).

While Gambit goes off by himself, clearly angry about the whole situation he has been put in, and with Storms death, Colossus points out they arrived at Xaviers school. Or whats left of it anyway.

In orbit above Earth is asteroid M. An asteroid converted into a space vessel, the home of Magneto. Quicksilver is there, and they talk of how the Sentinels have destroyed the school. It seems a Mutant/Human war has been raging on for some time now, and Magneto has plans to bring it all to an end.

A question is brought up by both Spider and Hyperion. What if they dont complete the mission they are supposed to? Ms. Marvel is with Hyperion and she goes on to explain that the consequences could be that all realities may cease to exist, under the weight of some 'cosmic error'. Hyperion doesnt seem to believe this, and notices that Ms. Marvel is being a little more than friendly. This Hyperion isnt about to turn down Ms. Marvel and before you know it lips lock. Since Exiles is not an adults only book, they cant show you what happens next.

While Ms. Marvel and Hyperion are getting lucky, Vision has collected Gambit and informs the others of their current mission. Extermination of all remaining mutants. There are 10 left (not counting those in their own group of course), 3 on Earth and 7 aboard asteroid M.

Hyperion must perform at super speed since he is already done with Ms. Marvel, but then hey, there is a page count to stay within here. While Hyperion gets dressed, he realizes someone is in the closet. Its Shadowcat, who was hiding from the Sentinels. Ms. Marvel freaks for a minute thinking she was watching all along. Hyperion attempts to hide her but as soon as she sees Colossus she is all over him, thinking he is from that world and was killed.

Colossus explains to Kitty who he really is and their mission, and asks Hyperion if he could kill her instead, but Hyperion has other ideas. Hyperion means to rule this world, and to do that they need to stay on it, which means not killing the remaining mutants. You may not know it yet but I will tell you now, this Hyperion is a class one A-hole.

Magnetos plan is nothing short of total world destruction. He means to let loose an asteroid on the Earth (a different asteroid than the one he is on if you can believe that), and then travel space to try to take over another world.

Vision heard Hyperions idea and quickly dismisses it, to which Hyperion responds with an eyeblast, blowing Vision apart. The others are stunned to say the least. Hyperion tells the others his idea to rule that world, assuming none of them have much to go back to. Gambit raises a good question, as he does not believe Hyperion is so willing to share such power.

Spider is all for it, that is if he can still at least kill some random humans to make up for sparing the mutants. When Hyperion approves, Spider quickly becomes his new lap dog. The others appear to agree to the new plan, albeit somewhat reluctantly. Since Vision is not completely dead, no replacement has shown.

Back up in space, Quicksilver tells Forge to release the asteroid...

General Comments

Well, this is interesting stuff for starters. But let's wait to see where it goes.

Overall Rating

Four webs for now.