Marvel Heroes (UK Magazine) #16 (Story 1)

Background

Marvel Heroes is the third UK Spider-Man/Marvel Magazine title from the Panini stable. The others are Spectacular Spider-Man (UK Magazine) for early teens, and Spider-Man & Friends (UK Magazine) for the pre-school market. Marvel Heroes is a recent replacement for the relatively short-lived Rampage (UK) which was also aimed at the mid-late teen market.

This magazine features 36 glossy pages. As the title indicates, the content is 100% Marvel related, and most of the major Marvel Heroes get a look-in from time to time. The audience is clearly early/mid-teens, with plenty of DVD, movie and video-game link-in. Over time, the excessive self-promotion which marred earlier issues was gently scaled back to more acceptable levels.

Spider-Man occasionally throws in an appearance, but this ain't one of those times. This issue, we're continuing a story from last issue in which the impending mega-doom of "The Fury" (a techno-organic ultra-cyborg) is pitted against the might of... well, a good cross-section of the major Marvel heroes.

Their only hope of salvation is to send the Silver Surfer on a space-quest to borrow the Ultimate Nullifier from his former master, Galactus.

Story 'The Quest'

Following the recent pattern of this title, the conclusion of this story is told in two halves. Both are scripted by prolific Marvel UK writer Ferg Handley. Part one is shorter than usual at five pages, while the concluding half is longer than usual at eleven pages.

In part one, Silver Server takes Captain Britain to Galactus' giant world-ship "Taa II" deep in space. After confronting Terrax (Galactus' current Herald, number six to hold that post), the heroes receive an audience, despite the deep mistrust of Galactus to the Silver Surfer who once betrayed him in order to save Earth.

The Silver Surfer tells Galactus of the Fury and his mission to destroy all super-beings in the dimension, which would eventually include Galactus. After a mind-probe to confirm the news, Galactus agrees to lend the Ultimate Nullifier to Captain Britain (as his pink-lordliness does not trust the Surfer). However, Galactus also promises that if they fail, he will destroy all of planet Earth in order to eliminate the threat of the Fury.

Well, that's pretty much it for part one. The heroes go to ask for the Nullifier and receive it. No real conflict, surprises, shocks or discussion. Can we borrow a cup of sugar please? Oh yeah, and the Ultimate Nullifier too? Sure, here you go. End of story.

General Comments

Now, if Galactus could destroy the Fury in that way, how come he believes that the Fury could destroy him? Does this make sense? No, it does not. Of course, nonsense is a specialty in these UK magazines. Ask not for logic, for you will not receive it.

Overall Rating

This really is the low point of the four-part arc. After a promising start last issue, this segment falls completely flat. The attempt to give a sense of "cosmic significance" is well-meaning, but it fails to fire.

Two webs.

Footnote

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Furby