Marvel Heroes (UK Magazine) #15 (Story 2)

Background

The backup story continues from the first part in Marvel Heroes (UK Magazine) #15. "The Fury" is coming. The who? The what? Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Story 'Countdown'

And... cut to Tony Stark's alpine retreat. Crisis meeting. Present are Dr. Strange, Captain Britain, Namor, Reed Richards, Silver Surfer, Professor X, and the heavyweights of the Avengers - Hank, Captain American and Iron Man. Subject: The Fury.

You've never heard of the Fury? Well, me neither. But a one-page recaps explains that The Fury is a self-regenerating techno-organic cyborg created in an alternate reality by a mutant politician named Mad Jim Jaspers and charged with the destruction of every super-powered being in existence. Yadda-yadda. Usual story. Never gives up. Indestructible. Learns from it's mistakes. What-evUH!

Seems that Captain Britain was "fused" to the creature, and both got transported to another dimension. Now Cap B is back, the Fury can somehow teleport and track Captain Britain's DNA to return to Earth. And here he is now. Fight time!

Count 'em down. The heroes charge into battle, but Fury defeats Dr. Strange, Namor, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, and everybody else! Oh, wait, it was just a simulation. But every simulation ended the same way. The good guys just can't defeat The Fury alone. They're going to need a weapon. Something like The Ultimate Nullifier - which is currently in the hands of Galactus.

So lucky Silver Surfer gets sent off to wander the spaceways trying to track down his former master Galactus, and ask if he can borrow a cup of sugar and an Ultimate Nullifier. To be continued...

General Comments

Recent issues of Marvel Heroes have tied the two 7-page stories together to make one complete tale (but with different writers and artists). This is the first time we've seen a storyline cross over more than one issue. And given that this magazine exists mostly to promote DVDs and computer games, I have to say they've done a surprisingly good job of assembling a reasonable story arc.

Regular UK writer Ferg Handley scripted both tales. And while this isn't Pulitzer prize stuff, it's more than adequate for the task at hand. I'm almost curious to read next issue, and that doesn't happen too often with these UK magazines!

Hey, relax. I said almost curious.

Overall Rating

Once again, there's a definite sense of purpose in this tale that is rare in these UK magazines.

Admittedly, it does make it harder to take any story seriously where the primary villain was "created in an alternate universe by a mutant politician called Mad Jim Jaspers" who (according to the flashback depiction) dresses like a 1920's bookmaker, or perhaps an 1970's Pimp. But putting aside that one corny element, the rest of the tale almost manages to muster an air of seriousness.

Three and a half webs. Mind you, there's a good chance next issue will stumble and ruin the build-up.