MegaMorphs #3

Background

Previously in Megamorphs...

To protect the Earth from threats too great for even superheroes to handle Tony Stark built the Mega Morphs... giant robot versions of superheroes that are powered by and amplified by the abilities of the heroes who control them. (Really...)

Stark recruited Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Ghost Rider, and Wolverine to pilot the Mega Morphs in their first adventure the team defeated a Mega Morph piloted by Doctor Octopus. (Really?)

Weeks later a robot mosquito landed on Bruce Banner, controlling his mind. Ock escaped from a maximum security prison with the help of the mind-controlled Hulk. Working for the even more evil Doctor Doom, the unlikely duo of Hulk & Doom attacked a super-secret bese under the protection of S.H.I.E.L.D.! (Really...)

Our heroes were alerted to the impending danger by Stark and Nick Fury and flew to the base at top speed. But it was too late, Ock and Hulk found their target: unleashing the 200-foot-tall robot weapon of mass destruction known as the Red Ronin! For those who do not remember, The Red Ronin is the most awesome super robot in the history of the Marvel Universe who was built to destroy Godzilla! Now you know why we aren't getting that Godzilla: DeciMation tie-in. (REALLY!!!)

Meanwhile Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose attempted to compete in the Indy 500 not knowing the fact that the mechanics that Bullwinkle had hired were actually Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale in disguise.

Story 'Red Rampage!'

We fade in to see Hulk starring on blankly as Doctor Octopus uses his computer control panel to boot up the Red Ronin, which as the good doctor explains "is now equipped for REMOTE SYNTHETIC TELEPATHY.." I have no idea what that is but it sure sounds awesome, particularly as the Red Ronin is involved. Doctor Doom who now has complete control of the Red Ronin, promptly thanks Hulk and Octopus for their service and promptly blasts them to kingdom come. "You have served me well... but now your services are TERMINATED!" Doom's a lot like my last employer.

Dr. Octopus realizes he's been double crossed, but the Red Ronin has a Gundam- esc beam saber and wastes no time giving the two Mega morphs a Yoshiyuki Tomino-style thrashing. Various escape shuttles are fleeing from the S.H.I.E.L.D base, but Nick Fury doesn't want to abandon ship, as apparently The Ronin isn't the only valuable thing they have there. Stark reminds Fury that Stark Technologies built the Red Ronin, and under his direction the Mega Morphs can take it down. Wolverine and Captain America's mecha swoop in their "Aero-Slasher" and "Warbird" forms. Ronin easily swats Wolverine's Starscream-esc jetbot away, but thankfully Wolverine's MegaMorph has a mutant healing factor. Really, it makes perfect sense. Tony Stark then radios in Cap and Wolverine to inform them that the Ronin is being controlled by Remote, and not by a 12-year-old Japanese boy like it was designed for.

Wolverine and Cap fire their vehicles laser cannons at the Ronin, but Ronin is safely protected by a blue glowing field of pure awesomeness. Doom taunts Stark and the lackluster performance of his new toys, assuring us that Doom and Hulk are already on the way to the bottom of the ocean. While the tag team of Doom and Ronin are gloating, a gigantic thread of webbing hit's the Ronin's head. Spidey-bot who's having a blast riding around on a giant robot Ghost Rider Motorcycle proceeds to drag the Ronin down a country road. TEE-HEE-HEE! Spider-Man radios Tony to ask if there was a way to scramble the robot's control signal, but alas Stark can't because Doom's using some sort of QUANTUM TRANSMISSION.

Fury points out that this wasn't one of S.H.I.E.L.D's upgrades, but they did make some OTHER modifications. Like a detachable autonomous head. Red Ronin's head promptly detaches and flies around autonomously blasting Spidey-Bot and Ghost Rider-Bot. Meanwhile the Ronin's fires beams at Wolverine-bot and Captain America-Bot. Ghost Rider asks "What is the Metal Beast's Weakness?" Stark helpfully points out that the Ronin's power source is in the robot's lower torso, but is protected by an electro magnetic shield. Good thing that electro magnetic shield's don't block hellfire.

Red Ronin is stunned for a moment... but Doom has seen the Mazinger Z, and the Ronin responds to Ghost-Bot's attack with a ROCKET PUNCH [http://www.engadget.com/entry/2635308107574054/]!!! Spidey-bot attempts to pounce on the Red Ronin's back, but the intense heat from the Ronin's jet pack is too much for him. Wolverine and Captain America's robots attempt a make- shift fastball special, as the Ronin's head re-attaches. But even as a giant robot Wolerine's reach is just too short. *Snicker* The Ronin simply grabs Wolverine's Megamorph and tosses him back at Cap-bot.

"NOTHING can stop Doom now! Do you hear me, Stark? Let it be forever known that on this day DOOM has triumphed over all!" Alas while Doom is busy gloating, Hulk-bot suddenly rises from the depths of the Ocean and knocks off the Ronin's head off with a mighty punch. "No one talks inside Hulk's Brain except Hulk!" Hulk yells, free of Doom's influence. (But does that mean Hulk usually hears voices of his own inside his head?) After Hulk rips a batch of wires out of the Ronin, the mighty robot samurai falls. Upon victory the heroes exit their robots and regroup.

"Hey, check it out, take away Cap... and it's the NEW FANTASTIC FOUR, Together Again!" Spidey says, as the others respond with awkward silence. "Oh, Whatever. I am NOT the only one who remembers that." No Spidey you are not, because THIS is precisely the kind of attention to Marvel continuity that people expect!

Back in Latveria, Doom is furious. Chastising himself for not making sure that he had finished off the Hulk. Doom decides that a change of plans is in order and presses the RED SHINY CANDY-LIKE BUTTON!!!

At she S.H.I.E.L.D base Captain America talks to Bruce Banner who can't remember anything since his last transformation. Wolverine says "If I never get asked to pilot that thing again, I'll die a happy mutant." But Ghost Rider senses that Vengeance has not yet been properly served. "It feels only like... Thee-quarters over." Spidey says. And wouldn't you know it it's not. It turns out that now there's dozens of smaller Doom-Bots flying towards Washington DC. Over in Latveria though Doom has his own problems as Doctor Ock's Octobot has not only survived the Red Ronin's attack, but Octavious has decided to give Doom a house call.

General Comments

More silly campy good-natured fun this issue. Sure it's not deep, and I can sense the steam coming out of "purists' ears but I couldn't help but smile as I read the whole issue. That said I'm kind of torn. On one hand I loved seeing a the Red Ronin in action, there were some cute little references to couple of Super Robot shows, and some of the book's funniest moments fall in this issue. On the other hand Lou Kang only did the story layouts for this issue and the bulk of the pencils falls onto the shoulders of Logan Lubera, who draws in Lou's style but lacks Kang's pizzazz. So I can't give this higher than 3.

Overall Rating

It is a scientifically proven fact that you can not have a bad comic with the presence of the Red Ronin. Personally I hope that Marvel's next big mega event revolves around the Red Ronin so that we may all bask in his magnificent presence.

Footnote

Next Issue:

Doctor Octopus squares off against Doctor Doom! The Mega Morphs take on an even bigger legion somewhat smaller more explosive Doombots! All this and Andy Rooney too. See you next issue!