#Inferno V1 1#SecretWars 2015Magik succumbs to her Darkchild personaA year later, Colossus gathers a team that includes Kitty Pryde, to rescue his beloved sisterIt does NOT go well for anyone involved
#Inferno V1 2#SecretWars 2015Darkchild is having a hard time breaking Kurt, so she rips out his soulA demon updates her that Colossus, Madelyne Pryor, Kid Cable, and Domino are coming for herDarkchild reveals she has own personal Nightcrawler, so she's not that worried
#Inferno V1 3#SecretWars 2015Inferno has been unleased on Earth! Darkchild is taking the fight to the X-Men, including Kitty PrydeThey are definitely way too much for the X-Men to handleMagik easily defeats Captain Britain & RogueMagik then defeats Cyclops pretty easily as wellShe's won
#Inferno V1 4#SecretWars 2015We open with a reminder how sweet young Illyana wasSnap cut to the present, where we find Darkchild just plain enjoying her big winSheriff Strange acknowledges that Baron Summers has last control, and promotes her to Baroness Darkchild
#Inferno V1 5#SecretWars 2015I really like how a defining trait is that Illyana likes to eatDemons are slaughtering X-MenColossus vs Darkchild, she is winning until she threatens Domino, then Colossus slays herMadelyne Pryor arrives & absorbs Darkchild's Limbo energies
Issue opens with Rocket and Groot playing a table top game. Rocket is still upset that StarKat has broken up, as they were so happy.
The Collector, looking more like the Joker here than himself, wants to know why the two Star Lords broke up.
Pryde has learn how to swear in other space languages, it is because she hangs out with Rocket so much.
In the audience, we see Doop, the truly horrible Starfox and Gatecrusher & Hard-Boiled Henry (the Tweedy Bird looking fellow).
Collector wants to know if there is any chance the two of them will get back together.
Both Star Lords want the other to apologize.
Collector has quite the collection and now he is moving onto higher concepts. Collector was quite taken with Quill, having recently learned his origins. So I’m taking it this storyline is going to havesome meta references.
The Collector wants to relive their big breakup.
Pryde calls the Collector, a creepy emotional vampire. Pryde says some harsh things, but dead on, about how she doesn’t want her personal life to be yet another part of some spectacle for a lonely, pathetic, emotional stunted fanboy. So there’s some meta there, I hope I wasn’t part of that group. Especially as I’m not all that lonely or emotionally stunted.
Collector turns on the shock treatment and it must have really hurt as look how distraught Kitty looks in the middle panel.
Quill whispers his plan to Pryde, to stall and make up things to buy time. Quill says he will protect her but she counters that she’ll end up protecting him – which has to be true.
Quill clicks his boots together, which should be sending a distress call.
Collector threatens to rip them down to the molecule level, if they don’t share everything.
Collector reveals that Skrulls are going to be performing reenactments. They were also the ones who were fighting the Star Lords in former costumes. They are the Skrull Dining Theater Thespians.
20 Minutes Later. Quill fakes that Pryde broke up with him as he cheated on her with all three – She-Hulk, Storm & Scarlet Witch. Kitty will hate both the player and the game. Which is a super fun line!
Pryde is ashamed and insulted that is the story Quill made up.
20 Minutes Later. So I imagine that they have to write the story, someone turns it into a script and then the SDTT rehearse it and we are seeing it now.
Quill confesses why she should break up with him –
He has broken every promise
Has the wandering eye of a 14-year-old
He talks over her
His jacket stinks
Pryde is the Superior Star Lord – a spin off title I would totally buy! We had Superior Spider-Man, how about Superior Star Lord!
Pryde could be dating a younger version of Jeff Goldblum.
This begins the two of them trying to one up the other. Quill tells that Pryde couldn’t handle his success as a football player, she being his cheerleader. Pryde, as Captain Marvel (Carol’s current costume) punching him in the stomach, as she was too intimidating for him. Which I can totally buy.
Quill says their schedules couldn’t match – we get a bit of a Slave Leia Pryde. Pryde says they were in different places in their lives.
The two start just shouting differences at each other.
Quill is clearly really upset that she stole his hero name and look. Pryde repeats that someone had to pick up his slack. Quill, maybe revealing some secrets here – states that Pryde doesn’t care about helping people, she’s all about making sure people love her and to make him look bad.
This stuns Kitty, as clearly anyone would love her if you just read anything that features her. She’s the best!
Pryde starts to cry, as Quill is a big time jerk. She made him look bad as she is clearly better at him at so many things.
Quill tries to apologize. Collector wants to know how Pryde is feeling and she’s simply done. She’s willing to be fried to death, to just end this. Collector must be a good host and producer as he calls this a day. The two get another shock treatment.
Pryde wakes up first, she’s exhausted.
Pryde repeats Quill’s foolish plan. Quill was faking his rage but then some hard truths came out.
Collector wearing that, what is it, a bathroom? A skimpy robe of some tiger print – it is not very flattering. Reminds me of something Joan Rivers might wear, which isn’t great.
Quill tries to threaten Collector but he is only here to talk to Pryde. He wants to give her a tour of his collection. He wants to show her Puck’s ex-wives axes and Wolverine’s browser history – neither sounds all that interesting.
She does take him up on his offer, I imagine as it is something to do. Pryde threatens to phase away but he knows she won’t do that, as he still has Quill captive. Collector knows that Pryde still loves Quill. Which may be true but people break up with those they love, as life happens.
Collector offers to free them, if she reveals the truth of why they broke up. If she doesn’t, he’ll keep her as part of his collection and kill Quill.
Collector reoffers for her to tell him the truth. Meanwhile, Quill keeps clicking his heels.
We catch up with Rocket and Groot, as they are too busy fighting over their game (well, Rocket is the one fighting Groot) so the call goes unnoticed and unanswered.
After wasting five issues and months, Sam Humphries gets back to writing who he writes best!
That isn’t fair, I’m sure Marvel told him that he had to spend five issues reexamining Peter Quill’s origins, even though no other All New All Different Marvel title spent five issues retelling anyone’s origins. Did Marvel want StarKat to be over? Did Bendis want it? If Bendis wanted them broken up, did he not want to deal with the heavy lifting of examining that plot in his Guardians title? Both Bendis and Humphries write a terrific Kitty Pryde so last long as both get to keep doing it, I’m okay with her being out of the relationship.
I really enjoyed Garron’s work on Secret Wars 2015’s Inferno miniseries, his Nightcrawler redesign (if that’s even the word for it, transformation might be better) and how delightfully evil Darkchylde was, he got to handle some twisted material. I”m glad he got this opportunity to do some lighter fare.
Issue opens with Pryde and Quill evoking Kitty’s classic “Xavier is a Jerk” phrase. We also begin a nine page sequence where we get both of these character’s point of view. It climaxes in an awfully fun way.
Quill is talking to Gamora, who has no sympathy for him. Pryde is talking to Rocket, who really need a buddy book! Garron does a great job of staging with these mirrored pages.
Humphries gets crazy amount of points for having Pryde be on the planet of the Kymellians, the horse race that gave Power Pack their powers.
Rocket mostly wants Pryde back as she has made game nights so much better. I want an issue of those, or at least, the ending scenes of those. I do like the tight continuity of Pryde’s complaints about the weird steam shower that they have to use on the Guardians’ ship. Grimm enjoys it.
She doesn’t want to live on the same ship as Quill but he has moved to his own ship, to avoid her.
Pryde implies that she was the one that was dumped, which surprises both Rocket and myself. I would always imagine that she just came to her senses.
Gamora is right, that Quill is the jerk in this situation.
Both Quill and Pryde evoke Taylor Swift’s “we’re never ever ever getting back together again.” Both of the other Guardians recommend the other talk to the other.
We get the highlight reel of StarKat. Quill proposing to Pryde during Black Vortex. Holographic Pryde breaking Quill out of prison during Legendary Star Lord 3 and one of their later dates (issue 6). They finished with Quill apologizing to Pryde, in snow -from Legendary Star Lord 4.
One of the Kymellians invites Pryde to the Twilight Festival but she’s exhausted. I do like her in her outfit there.
Kitty is watching James Stewart’s Oscar-winning performance in The Philadelphia Story – an amazing film! Humphries is continuing proving how big of a Katherine Hepburn fan Kitty is. She can’t sleep and decides to text Quill.
This begins a bit of a textng-athon.
This climaxes in the two of them coming together, which is a pretty sensational way of bringing the mirroring to an end. I like how both of them instantly regret doing this, which feels super real.
The two try to begin an awkward conversation, they finish an old joke –
A joke that I’ve never heard of before and had to look it up as I wasn’t sure if it was from a movie or not. Took me a second longer than I care to admit for me to get it.
Quill, proving he is the worst, really is upset that Pryde took the name “Star Lord” while he was King of Spartax. Of all of the childish shit to be upset over. I’m glad she didn’t change the moniker to something silly like “Star Lass” or some other knock off of a Legion of Superheroes name. I also don’t think she really needed to take the name either but in a very short time, she proved his superior – again.
Pryde is right that Quill abandoned his job, his team and her. He’s right that she is in fact the galaxy’s sweetheart. They both get calls and part ways.
Back on Quill’s ship, his computer Lydia, is giving him a hard time for being a colossus idiot. He gets a call to meet Tony Stark, a previous member of the Guardians – under Bendis’ tenure. Quill thinks Stark is super kewl, so they are both idiots. Stark needs Quill for a mission but not just Quill.
Tony needs two Star Lords! Pryde even looks better in that outfit than he does!
Neither one can believe the other is tagging along. How did Stark even convince her to go on this mission? Once they are gone, we see that he was really Raksor the Skrull.
Raksor has eight appearances to his credit. His first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men 137, Phoenix 1 is in my wishlist. He was part of a Fantastic Four (Annual 19) and Avengers (Annual 14) crossover. He naturally was in the Skrulls 1 one-shot in 2008, which I own and is a complete history handbook style book, so he first appeared in 1980, showed up in an issue that explains the background of the Dark Phoenix Saga and then appeared in a comic properly four years later for those two annuals. He took off for 23 years for that one shot retrospective and isn’t seen again in an official capacity until Humphries brought him back in Legendary Star Lord 5 & 6 in 2015, another seven years later but a full 30 years after his last in-story appearance. That’s some deep backlog searching and I’m all for it.
On a frog shaped space ship. The two Star Lords are bickering as this is clearly a fool’s errand. While investigating the ship, they end up fighting alternate outfits of themselves. We see classic X-uniform Kitty, Excalibur blue sweater Kitty, the classic roller skater outfit from Uncanny X-Men 149 and her green Ariel outfit.
I’ve seen these previous outfits of Quill’s before and I’m not impress.
Both Star Lords enjoy punching the Quill outfits, they have to be Skrulls, right?
Both Star Lords are knocked out and wake up strapped to chairs. Pryde lets us know that the chairs are comfy.
The Collector, who Howard the Duck recently took care of (and Kitty was part of that adventure, in a smaller role) is back hosting the galaxy’s hottest talk show – Kiss and Tell!
We’re for sure getting next issue, these are exciting times for this title!
Another terrific Secret Wars 2015 miniseries, comes to an end.
Inferno. The Outer Boroughs. Darkchild is eating hot dogs, watching her demons wreck havoc. She’s pretty bored. N’astirh arrives with news.
I adore how much Darkchild isn’t dismayed that N’astirh is holding his head in his hands. He tells her that her brother is the one that beheaded him, and that he has her soulsword. The only news that fazes her is that Madelyn Pryor has tamed Bamfy, the deformed Nightcrawler.
Darkchild does like knowing that all of her enemies are united and down in the sewers.
The Sewers Beneath NYC. Sinister is trying to get people pumped. He has been stuck, for five years, in the sewers and he will not let Darkchild stop him from enjoying the surface. Sinister has faith in his clone army but Scott Summers points out how she defeated the vast number of X-Men, in minutes. Sinister wants to use Colossus and the soulsword, against Darkchild – the combination is most likely, Illyana’s only weakness.
While Sinister goes on, Madelyn relives her origins. Sinister and the X-Men will fight off the demons, as Colossus finds and fights his sister. Madelyn, not listening to any of this, charges at Sinister. She controls the Boom Boom Goblin hybrids and they start attacking Sinister. One of them attacks Havok.
With Sinister out of commission, Colossus and Domino reach out to Tabitha. Bamfy starts to take out the rest of the hybrids.
A giant battle occurs – X-Men v Demons v Goblins v Hybrids. It is chaos. Scott looks up, as things are about to get worst.
Darkchild has arrived to the battle. She has brought along another army of demons.
Colossus starts slashing away at demons, trying to lead Domino and Meltdown to safety.
Colossus is about to come out of the sewer, and his sister brings him up, the rest of the way. Darkchild really enjoys mocking her brother. He has committed to the fact that she is pure evil.
I really like the color contrast between the Rasputin siblings, Sotomayor does a great job here and with the entire issue.
Colossus finally gets enough courage to try to fight slash save his sister. He had to get angry enough but he is ready to attack her with her own sword. She plays a sinfully delightful mind trick on him, making him see her as the sweet snowflake that she use to be.
As Charlton Heston taught us, so many years ago – on Space Ghost Coast to Coast – thou shall not hesitate! As Colossus didn’t see that episode, Episode 53 – Dam – so he gets his chest ripped apart.
Domino isn’t going to just stand by and watch this happen.
Darkchild uses black magic, so she can make Colossus bleed. As he has never bled before, in his armor form – he rightfully freaks out.
Darkchild trips over some rumble and has fallen before her brother. He goes in for the killer strike, but she plays another mind trick on him.
Domino shouts to man up and slay the demon spawn.
Pretty great that Colossus even tries to go through with it, I’m sure it would be a moment that haunts him.
Darkchild parries and is straight prepared to murder her older brother.
Garron has really brought it this issue. Look at Colossus’ innards! This issue is pretty intense.
Domino is tired of watching her boyfriend get completely outmatched. Her guns have no effect on Darkchild. Domino gets to close and Darkchild is about to add two more dead X-Men, to her already impressive resume.
This is all the motivation Colossus needed and he cuts Darkchild straight down the middle!
Instead of seeing some innocent form, of Illyana, all that is on the ground is an empty husk. Now that Colossus’ burden of his sister, has been lifted, he shifts back to boyfriend mode with Domino. I really like these two together.
Tabitha breaks up the genuinely nice moment. Tabitha informs the couple that most of the X-Men are dead and the sewers are being overrun with demons.
Colossus hears a voice in his head, telling him that he may be able to teleport with the soulsword – which actually works. The trio are going to hop regions as they are okay with letting this region burn. Which goes back to my theory about living in a world that knows about alternate universes. If you have any slight thought that the world you live in, isn’t the real world – the stakes are always low. Especially if you can hop to other universes.
Later. Madelyn and her son, Nathan, arrive at Darkchild’s dead body. Darkchld had so much power, that hours later, she is still bleeding power. Nathan wonders where it is going. Madelyn steps into the flames and comes out, looking even better!
Shame this won’t go anywhere, except that I do believe she did appear in Secret Wars 2015 6, but in a more traditional Goblin Queen outfit.
Hopeless makes the good call to have this issue open with a pleasant memory of Illyana, as she has nearly killed the X-Men last issue.
Limbo, Now. Colossus is force to look outside of the barrier and see a destroyed New York City.
Darkchild is walking the streets, like the boss that she is! Look at those goat legs! She has nicknamed the deformed Nightcrawler, Bamfy. Darkchild is growing stronger, as she stands on this side of the field.
Longshot is sneaking around, thinking he has a chance to take on Darkchild. Which, with his luck powers, his chances may be pretty good.
The top panel confirms that this issue takes place before Secret Wars 2015 5. Strange is here to offer Darkchild the position of Baron. Scott Summers is no longer fit for the job, as the domain is clearly no longer under his control.
Meanwhile. Jean seeks out Scott, as he is in his own head – making plans. Longshot interrupts their conversation, to tell Scott that he is no longer Doom-chosen. Even with this news, Scott doesn’t want to abandon the city.
Scott is tired, they allowed Illyana to take Limbo and now, after five years, she’s taking New York. They shouldn’t allow this to progress, as there will be no place to hide.
Bamfy brings the demon horde to the remaining X-Men.
Elsewhere, In Limbo. Colossus, Domino and their new alliance with Madelyn Pryor, Havok and young Nathan Summers. They are trying to get to the end of Limbo, but in seven blocks, they have fought five groups of demons. They are losing goblins (as Maddie is the Goblin Queen) but Maddie doesn’t seem to mind. They get respawned after five days. Sym is part of this traveling band, so he is going to try to undermine the team. That’s what Sym do. Havok is prepared to shut him down. Maddie needs to take the fight to Illyana, as the alternative is to wait around until a super strong Illyana comes to rule the entire domain.
Meltdown comes out of the ground, to rejoin Colossus and Domino. They are happy to see that she isn’t dead, like they thought. Tabitha takes the Limbo folks into the sewers. Maddie doesn’t really like the idea, but who would?
Madelyn is suspicious of why Boom Boom isn’t more hurt. Tabitha had her guts hanging out of her, but she is ready for round two.
Colossus hears demons and knocks down a sewer wall, which I’m not sure if that was the best way to handle the situation. Are sewer walls expendable? I would imagine they are serving an important function. Bamfy is leading the demons. By knocking down the wall, Colossus’ side and Madelyn’s side have joined the X-Men. Jean is overwhelmed by Bamfy, as she doesn’t want to hurt her friend. Plus, she’s the weaker of the two, between her and Madelyn. I do like how much Pryor has about how Kurt is dead as she tames Bamfy.
Colossus cuts down the head of Darkchild’s lieutenant, a horse heade red demon, with wings. Once that is over, Colossus takes the time to apologize to Scott, as Scott was right about his sister.
Cyclops straights blasts the dude, as OF COURSE HE WAS RIGHT!!! Darkchild has been tormenting peeps for years and they were losing people, trying to reach out to her. Colossus feels like he has been blasted enough, so he clearly doesn’t know how much damage his little snowflake has truly caused.
Mister Sinister arrives, with his own demon horde. He introduces himself, as he doesn’t believe he has met all of them. I’m not sure how that lines up with the original timeline but I’ll take it for the truth. Goblin Queen is surprised that Sinister lives, she thought Havok killed him. Havok had that same thought.
Two page house ad for 50 Years of SHIELD, which is pretty amazing. I do like how the characters of the Agents of SHIELD show are now proper Marvel characters. Of the six issues spotlighted, I’ve bought SHIELD 10.
Tabitha vouches for Sinister, as he saved her. She tells them that Sinister’s demon horde are actually clones of Tabitha, and I figure they must have demon blood in them. Maybe it is goblin blood, now that I think of it. They are definitely red. Sinister explains that they are a mix of Tabitha’s blood and three succubus, and they are a mutant / demon hybrid clone army. He also reveals that he has tinkered with Tabitha’s brain, to make her more subservient. Explaining one of the bigger reasons why I don’t care for Sinister.
Issue ends with Sinister stating that he will be the heroes’ villain later, today, he is their savior.
Limbo. Illyana’s Lair. Colossus, finally at the spot where he failed a year ago – stands before Illyana’s black onyx door.
There is an ad for the Powers Season 1 BluRay, now I can watch that show! I do like how Michael Avon Oeming’s name comes before Brian Michael Bendis’, that is a nice touch.
The problem is that Darkchild is not at home. Madelyne Prior is also surprised that Darkchild is not sitting on her throne but she doesn’t care. The empty seat is ripe for the taking, and that’s all Maddie wanted.
Colossus and Domino share a moment, he is worried about their limited time in Limbo. Domino is whispering but that is pointless as Maddie has telepathic powers. Maddie can see what Darkchild is up to.
X-Headquarters. Unfortunately, Darkchild is about to switch targets in this war.
Scott shits himself, as the demons and their leader, are right outside his door.
Colossus wants to take everyone home to fight off his sister’s army. Havok and Maddie (and the others) laugh at the idiot. There is a giant forcefield that is keeping everyone inside Limbo. Darkchild and her army are no longer stuck, as they can use Nightcrawler, who is soulless now and being ridden like He-Man’s Battlecat. Colossus is sadden over Kurt’s current state.
Pryor tries to draw attention to the bright side of this. She is the new Queen of Limbo and Colossus got his evil sister, out of Limbo. Maddie implies that Darkchild was all powerful in Limbo, but out there, she is limited in her resources.
See an inch below Banshee? That’s Shadowcat, taking names!
Jean, who apparently didn’t die in the first issue, refers to the Nightcrawler themed creature as, Bamf Dragon. She reads its mind and realizes that it is Nightcrawler. This information stuns Scott.
Darkchild makes short work of both Captain Britain and Rogue. I sort of love this Illyana, completely free of her good side and playing for keeps.
Scott calls his X-Men, to him. They must keep the forcefield up or the entire city will be destroyed. The magic crew – Brother Voodoo, Forge, Nico, Vision and Broo come onto the scene. Scott isn’t happy as they are needed to keep the magical forces at bay. Forge claims that Beast and Doctor Strange can hold the forcefield together. That is when Scott realizes that Darkchild is not on the battlefield. With the protection spells, in place, Illyana can’t teleport into the building.
Beast and Doctor Strange are taken by surprised when Darkchild, riding Nightcrawler, comes into their room.
Domino has a quick chat with Colossus. She tries to finally get him to recognize that his sister is lost. Colossus has to realize that their fight is over. They kiss, as that’s all that they really can do.
Maddie calls the lovers’ attention to outside, as the forcefield crumbles.
Scott can’t believe that Darkchild has allowed this to happen. He asks her, foolishly, what is she doing. Her response is so awesome – I’ve won. Next issue is going to be intense!
Meanwhile, the issue ends with the reveal that Mister Sinister is the puppet master. It makes sense that he will show up, in this series, as he is the only player from the original crossover that hasn’t appeared yet.
Issue opens with a Morlock looking dude dragging Meltdown’s almost dead body to his master. Who is a scientist.
Goblin District, Inferno. Maddie Pryor has summoned the bulk of her horde. She introduces Colossus to them and then throws him down at them. I love her insults about Colossus, and his tiny red shorts.
S’ym and Havok have a quick discussion, explaining (to us, I imagine) what the Goblin Queen’s true intentions are. She is hoping to incite a riot and force Colossus to fight back the masses and earn their respect.
One of the demons, riding a giant green T-Rex like demon, takes the first shot at Colossus. The goblin has the ability to possess anything demonic – so he is able to control Colossus’ right arm that Darkchild twisted and corrupted.
Colossus has already spent six of his allotted twenty four hours. I don’t quite recall what happens at the twenty four hour period, besides Cyclops getting to say, I told you so. Colossus gets mad enough to drop the goblin.
Maddie Pryor is happy that her scheme is working. Colossus discovered Illyana’s soulsword and grabs it. His Rasputin blood makes it so that he can wield it. It helps that he uses his demon enchanted hand. It makes him radically stronger (and cooler). The horde now both fear and respect him. He can be the leader now.
The Goblin Queen’s Prision. Meanwhile . . . Domino runs into young Nate Summers, whose Techno-Organic virus is running rampant over his left side of his body. They are getting along nicely, which is an awesome call back to their friendship in the former Marvel Universe. They bond over their mutual love for armory.
The Darkchild’s Base of Operations. We see what Darkchild is up to with Nightcrawler, it isn’t good.
Darkchild has been torturing her former friend (it has been five years so the friendship is probably waning). as another demon watches and enjoys the show. The demon’s name is, N’astirh. Kurt makes the mistake of referring to his soul, which Darkchild is attempting to break.
Poor poor Kurt. He gets his soul ripped out of him! This title just got even more intense!
Colossus wants to know where Maddie got his sister’s sword. Illyana, apparently, got cocky and dropped it and never came back for it. Colossus starts to have a running commentary in his head but Pryor can read his mind, which is new.
The Goblin Queen suggests a partnership, as they both want the same thing – Illyana Rasputin, back to the way she was.
Colossus wants Illyana alive and Pyror doesn’t necessarily need that to be the case. She explains that the soulsword, used against the Darkchild, should save her.
A grenade is dropped into the room and Colossus takes the blunt of it. Domino comes in, armed and Nate can’t believe what his new friend is attempting to do. Nathan is upset as he doesn’t want his mother to be harmed. Colossus strikes Nathan, which is harsh as he is a man and Nathan is barely a teenager.
This may be my favorite page of the issue. I sort of love seeing Maddie being a mother to Nathaniel, we barely got to see that in the proper issues.
Nathan wants to be called, Cable and the look on Maddie’s face is awesome and priceless.
Colossus is reunited with his girlfriend, Domino, so he only needs to find Kurt and Meltdown now.
Gagzee, a spy – I imagine – quickly tells Darkchild that her brother not only has her souldsword but has aligned himself with the Goblin Queen.
Darkchild isn’t even breaking a sweat.
The issue ends with Darkchild revealing Nightcrawler’s current state, which looks like an awesome dragon thing. It most likely resembles a proper nightcrawler, but larger. Shit is getting real, yo!
It isn’t that as a nightcrawler is a worm, which I forget that.
I had to add the Adi Granov variant to my wishlist as Hastings didn’t get the variant for this issue or Secret War Journal.
In this region of Battleworld (but it doesn’t have the Battleworld banner, for some reason), Limbo won Inferno instead of the X-Men. Now it is five years later.
Inferno : Year Four. Empire State Building. Colossus is Cyclops’ perfect soldier, all year long. But on the anniversary of the X-Men’s defeat, Colossus gets to lead a team into the Limbo controlled section of the realm and attempt to save Illyana.
On the fourth year, the X-Men got closer than they have ever been before. This level’s boss fight is with N’astiah — Silver-tongued demon lord. The X-Men on this mission are – Nightcrawler, Boomer, Cyclops, Jean, Beast and Colossus.
Jean uses her telekinesis to throw Cyclops at N’astiah. In a counter attack, N’Astiah deeply hurts Cyclops. This enrages Jean and it blows up the top of the building.
Colossus sees his younger sister, for the first time in four years. Instead of being a baby, she is still a teenager. Illyana plays sweet and innocent to get him closer and then she turns all types of evil.
Illyana converts to Darkchild, Illyana Raputin’s demon form, ruler of Inferno. In doing so, she twists Colossus’ dumb arm so much that it is no longer functional.
364 Days Later. (so the present day).
6am – Colossus has been awake and his girlfriend, Domino, is now waking up. I do enjoy the Colossus / Domino relationship, I’m glad that their relationship has survived into Secret Wars 2015.
6:01am – They talk about how tomorrow this the big day.
6:13am – They bone in the shower
6:48am – Colossus is reviewing his former paintings of his sister. Domino rather they used the room as a guest room or a gym.
7:23am – The couple go on patrol.
11:45am – They fight Inferno-infused Omega Red.
1:19pm – They chase down Pyro.
5:32pm – Boomer can’t wait for tomorrow.
11:11pm – Colossus has marked the day off.
3am – Colossus can’t sleep.
Inferno. Year Five. X-Headquarters. The couple, plus, Boomer, are excited about who the team and what supplies will they be bringing. The X-Men have learned that they need to combined magic with technology, if they are to ever stand a chance. Doctor Strange, Wiccan, Nico (of Runaways fame) and a fourth person, make up the magic side of the research time.
Colossus asks Beast about what tech they are bringing. Beast doesn’t know how to respond. Turns out, earlier, when the narration box states that Scott’s sacrifice was enough to set Jean off, they just meant his use of his legs. Scott, of course, is in a hoverchair, just like Professor X, but he gets to keep his hair. Scott says that last year’s price was too high and they are no longer going to do this. Which seems like a dick move, to not tell Colossus prior to this day.
Scott also mentions how he is the baron of the region, which I’m surprised it isn’t Magik. I imagine Doom can work easier with Scott.
Kitty, according to Marvel Database – but I agree it has to be her, but why she isn’t more interested in pursuing the rescue mission, or on the mission itself, is beyond me. Kitty tells Scott that is is a dick move and he agrees to allow Colossus to go, but he is on his own and with any other fools who want to go with him.
Later. Colossus, Domino, Boomer and Nightcrawler are in Inferno. Kurt had to come to get them in and out of the dome. They take out the first wave of demons, rather easily. Too easily as thousands of demons come at them. Boomer is killed by N’astirh – via arm through her chest.
Darkchild is thrilled to have Kurt, as a prisoner, as he can teleport. I imagine, since Limbo is a place on Earth, that Illyana can’t teleport as she can’t access the other dimension. Darkchild, her right hand demon and Kurt leave.
Colossus attempts to fight his way away from the demons. The day is lost but he won’t know by how much until it is too late. Domino starts being dog piled on by the demons.
The issue ends with Madelyn Pryor — Jean Grey Clone and Goblin Queen, arriving and has grabbed Domino. With her is Alex Summers — former X-Man, current Goblin Prince and Queen’s concubine. Which gives me an awesome Mutant X vibe, and I’m all for that.
This series seems to be about the darker aspects of Battleworld, and i’m all for that. I can only imagine that Magik keeps playing a major role in the series, so I imagine I will be getting all of the issues and I can’t wait!
Inkers Mark Farmer, Javier Garron and Ed McGuinness
Colors Marte Garcia
Letterer Travis Lanham (without VC?)
Black Vortex, Chapter Thirteen
The Final Chapter!
Shadowcat narrates the entire issue, for us. Kitty has been given a cosmic upgrade but has also disappeared in front of everybody.
The combined heroes are fighting off the Slaughter Lords.
We get our first look at, Cosmic Shadowcat! I like Humphries’ reveal of what Kitty likes to do on a Saturday night. She likes to drink tea, under a blanket and watching Katherine Hepburn films. My favorites are – Philadelphia Story, Adam’s Rib, African Queen, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and On Golden Pond.
I’m glad I looked her up, as my mind read it as “Audrey Hepburn” instead of Katherine.
Cosmic Shadowcat has a different outlook on space now, all the things she hated before, seem to have disappeared.
She sees the remains of Hala, Breakworld and Earth. She reaches out and touches alternate realities of Kitty Prydes. The two famous ones are Kate Pryde and Shadowcat of Lighting Force. With Humphries writing “Star Lord and Kitty Pryde” starring the Shadowcat of Age of Apocalypse, I’m surprised that Shadowcat wasn’t on the list. Especially as the other three are just Kitty Prydes over the eyar, from her Original X-Men Uniform, to her Blue Excalibur Costume to Current one, plus the even more current Cosmic Kitty Pryde. I would have included Age of Apocalypse and Ultimate Kitty Pryde, but I can see them not wanting to include Ultimate Shadowcat this close to Secret Wars 2015. If the X-Men Forever Shadowcat had a distinctive look (or was more popular) she could have been included. Cat from Exiles is dead, so that one wouldn’t work.
The Mutant X slash Black Queen Kitty could have been fun. This may be the biggest problem, if you choose two, do you not go with a fuller page with additional ones? With Spider-Verse behind us, I imagine Marvel also wants to avoid that too. Shadowkitty would also have been a cute choice.
Cosmic Shadowcat becomes one with the entire universe. Thus, she is far better than Mastermind, when he had this same experience. I suppose that his was forced on him, and he didn’t have the cosmic power to support it.
Ronan the Accuser, still cosmically powered, has entered the fray. He is seeking revenge for Hala, which he should just be mad at everybody present. Cosmic Gamora, Beast and Warren for destroying so much of Hala and Slaughter Lords as they work for J’Son and he gave the order to rip Hala in half. Which Ronan is clearly mad at them all.
Before more fighting can happen, the astonishing happens.
Spartax and its amber coated top layer, are phased apart. Add Spartax to the list of planets that Kitty Pryde has single handedly saved by herself – the other planet, Earth. Look at that image on the bottom, how awesome that Kitty just straight up phases on a planetary scale.
We will just have to overlook or plain forget that Kitty just killed an entire species of Brood babies.
So great how the people of Spartax will know, forever, the name “Kitty Pryde.”
Look at the . . . how proud, Quill is over his lady love.
Kitty just holds Spartax like it is a basketball.
The Slaughter Lords decide now that is the time to be getting out of there.
Cosmic Kitty is now human size.
I like the possible friendship between Magik and Nova, she could use a friend that isn’t related to the X-Men.
Gara prepares to destroy the Black Vortex, she gives those who were enhanced to undo the procedure. There is a risk though, the repercussions are unpredictable.
Gamora and Warren are going to keep their power upgrades. Scott, Bobby, Groot and Beast – all agree to risk the changes and get depowered. Beast reverts back to his latest blue ape form. Bobby, instead of having his default ice form being mostly snow, is now ice. Groot seems to be bulkier.
Scott doesn’t feel any differences. Jean, being the nosy bitch that she is, reads his mind and sees that it his heart that is different.
Kitty offers Gara to join them. Kitty feels pretty comfortable offering positions in the Guardians of the Galaxy.
Look! Someone remembered to include Lockheed! This is already a great issue! He looks pretty soft there. This appears to be a Garron drawn page, I would reckon.
Corsair remains the only member of the Starjammers to be seen. In that Black Vortex trailer, they make a point of naming the Starjammers as being involved but they were barely on four pages. They may be tied with Lockheed for involvement.
Nova and Magik are still chatting about. Is Drax and Storm dancing? Rocket explains that the X-Men are taking the Hot Rod back to Earth, as he doesn’t want to get anywhere near that planet. Corsair is talking to the younger version of his former daughter-in-law. What could Lockheed, Scott and Carol be talking about? Lockheed seems to be very interested in the conversation.
Two people are clearly missing.
Pryde and Quill are floating about space, he is attempting to serenade her. The song he is singing, is “Once Upon a Dream” – which is famously from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
Thanks to YouTuber CurlySVT for hosting the video!
Kitty, even after all of her comments and thoughts about hating space and how it isn’t her jam, she has decided to maintain her cosmic powers. Which seems crazy to me! Then again, I wouldn’t have wanted to risk what would have happened if she gave it up. Especially as she was one with the universe. Kitty does have doubts about not giving it up.
Quill doesn’t care about any of that, as he plain loves her.
Quill starts explaining how much he loves Pryde. Pryde loves the dumb lug.
Bobby, who is the worst, shouts that everyone should come to the window and watch.
Quill straight up proposes to Pryde!
The Collector . . . collects J’Son. Ronan arrives on some Kree planet, I figure, and swears his vengeance!
Thane and the Ebony Maw, plan on tracking down the Black Vortex. Which Secret Wars 2015 coming around the way, I doubt we will actually get any of these unresolved threads will be tied up.
Pryde and Quill are crying. Look at that weird middle panel with all of the headshots, those look so odd.
They see the couple hugging and take that as a ‘yes’!
Look how big Lockheed is there!
Storm asks Rocket if he will be her date for the wedding. Are we going to get a wedding issue prior to Secret Wars 2015?
StarKat make out as the issue ends.
This was such a fantastic crossover! Such a nice ending and it seems like it will have major ramifications for the two series.
This is the first chapter that I almost didn’t buy! No more close ones, ya’ll!
I haven’t bought an issue of this series since the first one but none of that matters, which I like how Layman isn’t trying to bring in other subplots of the year’s worth of series. He has Bobby ask Scott what has been happening but Scott chooses to not get into that.
Last time we saw Cyclops, Iceman and Groot – they were being taken prisoner by the Slaughter Squad. Scott has a fantasy sequence where his father, Corsair, rescues him but it is only a dream.
The trio are in a cell with power inhibitors. Once they are alone, they start a plan that Bobby came up with. Scott uses his limited optic blast, to recreate a finger print on a scanner and the door opens for them. That is some advance skills that Scott has there!
Of course, they escape into the giant room with nothing but armed guards. They turn around and run away. They run into a room with the Black Vortex (naturally). Iceman wants to submit to it, so that they can survive the onslaught that is behind him. Scott isn’t so sure but he has another fantasy involving his father and Jean (his All New teammate) and agrees to submit as well. Groot was okay with submitting, from the beginning. Does anyone know if Geranium’s all are limited to saying only a limited amount of words, or is that a racist question?
Why the heck is that Bobby’s cosmic form? To not appear human, at all? What is the inspiration there? Scott and Groot, both look spectacular!
They make short work of the fools. They get outside and see Nova, Cosmic Warren (so only Hank and Jean don’t get power upgrades, Present Day Beast did though), Drax, Beast, Gamora and Captain Marvel – are all fighting the Slaughter Lords.
Captain Marvel sees the Black Vortex and tells the trio that Kitty needs the Black Vortex. So, with that one line, we are still safe with collecting all ten chapters of this crossover! Can we make it to thirteen? Yes we can! But not after another close call!
The story continues in Captain Marvel 14, part eleven of Black Vortex!
Shadow and Flame with Magik 