Universe X #5

Background

Isaac Christians has been chronicling the prophesies of Kyle Richmond. Viewing the past, present, and future, the two work to record the events transpiring three years after the lighting of the first Human Torch which so far include the resurrection of the Invisible Woman and the journey of Captain America and the newly reborn Captain Mar-Vell to collect various artefacts of the Marvel Universe.

A group of individuals known as the Tong of Creel has assembled to collect the pieces of Absorbing Man (Crusher Creel) in order to rebuild the villain who had been shattered by Vision several years ago. Belasco has also been inadvertently awakened by Captain America and sent back in time from his prison in limbo. Immortus's church falls and Loki begins to make a move against the Asgardians.

While trying to retrieve a dimensional doorway, another one of the items that humanity might use against itself, Captain America is killed leaving Mar-Vell to continue his quest alone.

Story Details

We begin with an overview of the history of the Microverse, or more specifically, Subatomica. We learn a little bit about Psycho-Man and The Micronauts and how the Emotio-Caster was used to drive the residents of Subatomica mad. The Enigma Force which sustained the world departed when its last user died and it transferred itself to Captain Marvel in the world of the dead.

At the funeral for Captain America several heroes pledge their support to Mar-Vell, save for Redwing who finds him to be a bit suspicious. Loki shows up to tell Thor she should remain as she is, apparently deciding she'd do more good thinking she were an Asgardian. Loki is driven away as Thor threatens him with her hammer.

In Britain, Brian Braddock along with the Iron Avengers, and a few other heroes attempt to fend of the Tong of Creel. They fight well, but are unable to prevent the chest piece of Creel from being taken.

In the Prometheus Pit which holds a portal to Subatomica, Mar-Vell and his large group of heroes go to pick up Psycho-Man's Emotio-Caster. The remains of Man-Thing, who had used his body to seal the portal as its resident went mad, begins to crumble and Subatomica is no more.

On the moon, Machine Man leaves Uatu as he realizes that the last resident of Subatomica was a man named Galan. The former name of Galactus. The living sun that held the sword used to forge Subatomica was actually the sun Reed Richards had turned Galactus into centuries before. So, the spirit of Glactus has lived all this time in the Microverse, and he will soon be reborn with its destruction. Machine Man unearths the Supreme Intelligence from the ruins on the moon and makes note of the cyclical nature of his universe.

General Comments

I suppose even Captain America can't stop death. With the heroes now joining Mar-Vell, it does raise the question as to why they didn't help Cap to begin with, but I suppose helping out now will at least ensure Mar-Vell isn't killed.

The Subatomica references left me largely in the dark as I have little knowledge of the Micronauts and their world. Still, it wasn't too confusing, and tying its universe into the regular one is an interesting twist. The revelation of the cyclical nature of the Marvel Universe is a fascinating one, though the mechanics of how Subatomica can exist through that cycle is a bit confusing. The nature of time itself could use some more explaining as well since it would be hard for anyone to visit a universe that is supposed to be first created centuries or more into the future.

The small references to Phoenix and Charmer and basically any small panel addressing the history of the characters can be occasionally jarring, though it hits more than misses. It's a small, but welcome facet of the series.

Overall Rating

I'm sorely tempted to bump up the score because of a quote from one of my favourite books, I Am Legend*, but I should try and be fair.

Footnote

* Book > Movie