Writer Charles Soule
Enhanced Pencils Ario Anindito
Enhanced Colors Sonia Oback
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
The road to the finale begins here!
The Changeling. Six Miles Above the Atlantic Ocean. Two Hundred Miles West of the Azores. Issue opens with Shogun spitting blood into a sink.
Shogun is spitting blood, as the Paradise folks’ expiration date is coming upon them. Junk reveals that he is a little further along the path, as he now has tar like veins on his arms, and they are spreading. Neither Junk or Shogun are thrilled that their time seems to be shorter than they had expected.
Junk is now learning more about his powers, he just learn he has chameleon abilities. Junk really was hoping to join the side of the heroes and maybe one day, being an Avenger. Shogun calling Junk, brother, seems odd to me. Maybe the real Sharp is coming out now that Ogun may be completely out of his system. Shogun is curious about Mystique’s plan but they can’t wait for her time table.
Junk can’t believe how far off course the Paradise team has come. They keep getting distracted by the Wolverines nonsense. Though he makes a point of liking Fang’s adventures, which I can only imagine is a meta message, as fans have to be like me, right? In that Fang was the detour from the book proper?
Junk calls the Wolverines, all of them, monsters, as X23 walks into the room. Which is bad timing as she is the best one there.
Rome, Italy. The Arcadians, the ones the Paradise folks were being experimented on for so that the Arcadians can get the good material. They are attacking Endo (who is not dead, apparently), Skel and Neuro – which a handy editorial note that we first met this group in Weapon X Project 5. Neuro and his crew seem to be beating back the Arcadians, rather easily. Some more Arcadians show up and Neuro surrenders.
Epsilon, the field leader, goes on television and announces who The Arcadians are. On the Changeling, they are watching the news coverage. Junk really doesn’t want to leave his former allies behind in the hands of the clear enemies.
The Changeling Deck E — Detention. Mystique is checking in on Portal, who looks a tad by Wolverine – out of costume. Portal and Mystique don’t have any history together. She doesn’t want him as an enemy but she wants to save a friend, which I’m sure we haven’t had Destiny hinted or mention since issue two or three. Siphon is sleeping in the next cell.
Junk wants to go save his friends. Shogun has to explain who the Arcadians are, to Sabretooth, even though Sabretooth was in the room when the news was being aired. Daken brings up the good point that Neuro wouldn’t go save Junk and Shogun, so maybe they shouldn’t go after them. Shogun has to agree with Daken but Junk doesn’t care – Neuro may be horrible but he liked Endo and Skel.
X23 offers to help Junk save Endo and Skel, as they did seem like nice people. With X23 on board, Shogun is happy to go through with the mission. Which makes sense, he doesn’t want to be the sole fighter so that he has to do all of the fighting and still watch out for Junk.
Mystique comes in and does the one thing one shouldn’t do with this group. Mystique tells Junk and Shogun that they can go, but she still needs X23 for her primary mission. So X23 is definitely going now and Sabretooth and Daken are now a go for the mission to, as screw Mystique! Which I really like that turn of events.
Daken is definitely growing his hair out, so he is now going to look like a tall (Dark) Wolverine with a missing arm and eye.
The Gulf of Mexico. Arcadia. Later. Lady Deathstrike has also joined the team, Shogun tries to talk to Lady Deathstrike but she has no interest in him now that Ogun is no longer around. The team makes very short work of the Arcadians. It helps that the Arcadians are fake, as they are weak shells of people, filled with foam (or something).
The team opens the door and sees the real Arcadians but they are all dead. Mystique warns them to get out of there but they continue on. That Mystique, she doesn’t take any hints.
Neuro shows up and reveals that Mister Sinister is behind all of this. He wanted to get the team out into the open. Some light blue bald Mister Sinsiter cronies show up and pop two claws each, per hand – so Sinister really used Daken’s arm to beneficial results. The issue ends with Sinister on deck.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 