New Warriors (Vol. 5) #4

Background

The New Warriors haven’t officially formed yet, but so far we have the major players. Last time, Scarlet Spider, Nova, Hummingbird, and Water Snake officially met after being taken prisoner by the High Evolutionary. Before they could escape and stop the High Evolutionary from completing his plans though, the group was overrun by his minions.

Story Details

Several months before the start of our story, the High Evolutionary and one of the Evolutionaries are both “called” to the Afar Depression in Ethiopia. Both were summoned by a mysterious entity which claims they have both been on the wrong path to saving humanity, and only by following him/her/it, would they achieve their goal. Back in the present, the High Evolutionary muses to himself on humanity’s role and his attempts at saving it. The Evolutionaries are about to kill our heroes when Speedball, Justice, Sun Girl and Haechi teleport in. Of course, a battle ensues, much to Humminbird’s pleasure.

As the group comes under attack, Mark (or Haechi, I suppose) absorbs the enemy attacks like before. However, this time he transforms into a dragon-like monster due to the absorbed energy (I assume). In the midst of battle, Speedball believes Water Snake is in fact Namorita.. The High Evolutionary takes this time to run off and activate his machine, which targets people with powers. Since Sun Girl’s “powers” come from her technology, she is unaffected. The High Evolutionary explains that he needed Nova’s helmet to make it more precise, but this will have to do. He has decided that if one person could be sacrificed to save one thousand, then why a hundred thousand to save seven billion. Sun Girl…disagrees…and blasts a hole in him and his machine.

The High Evolutionary becomes enraged, stating he was given one last chance to save humanity from the Celestials. With the other heroes recovered, the High Evolutionary and the Evolutionaries escape. Justice congratulates Sun Girl on her work, though she doubts if she did the right thing. When Justice suggest they form a team, all but Hummingbird immediately shut him down.

Meanwhile, at an undisclosed location, the High Evolutionary explains to the “leader” of the Evolutionaries they this was all a minor set back. With the samples he gathered from the New Warriors, he has all he needs to wipe out those with powers. And with this, the second Evolutionary War is beginning…

General Comments

While a bit fast and sort of too neat of a wrap-up, I did enjoy this issue. It’s very similar to what Yost has done before where a story seems to get a quick end so we can begin the next phase. Of course, we’re still lacking in any real character development, but at least Mark seems to be doing more? Kind of? He’s definitely supposed to be the reluctant hero type, but again, team books don’t always let one character shine.

Still, based on this, I plan to continue reading the series and see where it takes us. I know I want to see more Kaine as Scarlet Spider, and if this is where I have to go to get it, then that’s ok with me!

Overall Rating

Another decent enough issue. We see the team officially form and we give them a common enemy and larger threat. Of course, this level of threat seems to be more “Avengers” territory than the rag-tag team of misfits and all, but in a way, it legitimizes the team to a degree as well. But can they handle Celestials?