Exiles #39

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

The White House lawn is scattered with the bodies of the Avengers. From the conversation you can get the sense that the Avengers were not fond of the Govenment Sentinels and their program, and paid for it with their lives. An agent brings news of the imminent destruction of Earth, the asteroid is closing in.

At the Pentagon, Colonel Ross is stuyding a huge map of the US, still trying to get a line on the last remaining mutants. I find this odd, considering they have less than 24 hours to live and are still hunting super humans. Maybe they dont know about the asteroid, but one would think the Pentagon would know before an agent at the White House. They have detected the new arrivals (Weapon X) and are curious as to why their systems are attempting to track the location of Hyperion and Ms. Marvel.

They get their answer as a Sentinel is blown to bits outside the facility and Hyperion, a one man army, continues on inside leveling every Sentinel in sight. Ms. Marvel is right behind him and gets in trouble, as several Sentinels fire upon her. Hyperion turns his attention to the core of the facility while Ms. Marvel screams for his help. With the core destroyed, every Sentinel on Earth is rendered inoperational, including the ones attacking Ms. Marvel.

The rest of the Weapon X team find themselves looking upon Storms city and the field that protects it. At asteroid M, Quicksilver tells Magneto of the Sentinels destruction and how they can now return to Earth, but Magneto doesnt change his mind. Instead he opts to make a last stop to Earth to collect any super beings as servants for the future.

Hyperion has moved on from The Pentagon to the White House, holding up the dead President. Magneto and his group confront Hyperion and Ms. Marvel, telling them of the asteroid and asking them to join with him or stay and die. Hyperion gives Magneto an offer of his own, stop the asteroid and stay on Earth, or die. It is clear no agreement will be reached between these two, so Magento gives his brotherhood the order to kill both Hyperion and Ms. Marvel.

Weapon X still waits outside Storms city when Vanisher arrives. He is there to teleport them into the city. Meanwhile, Hyperion makes short work of Wolverine. The others are not so sure Hyperion can be beaten, and Magneto begins to lose it, threatening Hyperion who then casually incinerates Mystique. Hyperion takes Magneto up toward the asteroid, with the choice of either stopping it or death. Magneto makes his choice and Hyperion blows out the back of Magnetos helmet.

As Magnetos corpse falls to Earth, Hyperion stares up at the unstoppable giant asteroid...

General Comments

I suppose I was hoping for more development, than merely Hyperions attempt at trying to take over everything. What started out as interesting is turning towards average.

Overall Rating

Three webs and heading south.