All-New Marvel Now’s bi-weekly Original Sin series had a stealth debut in All-New X-Men #25. Original Sin #0 followed and retold The Watcher’s origin and also expanded his scope and power set.
Following that, Original Sin #1 and #2 set up the various investigations into the Watcher’s death and theft of his eyes. In addition to Nick Fury Sr. leading the prime investigation at the request of the Avengers’ Captain America, three other groups of heroes are also independently investigating on different planes literally at the behest of a mysterious benefactor:
- Winter Soldier, Moon Knight, and Gamora in space.
- Dr. Strange and the Punisher on the astral plane.
- Black Panther, Ant-Man and Emma Frost close to the Earth’s core.
What ties them together? Monsters and mysterious green bullets? Check out the dramatis personae from issue #5 to the right.
In addition, the preview to Original Sin #3 revealed how the villains identified at the end of last issue got together, namely Dr. Midas, his daughter and The Orb, met here and here.
Before we get to our spoilers, recap and capsule review of Original Sin #3 here’s what you need to know about Marvel Comics’ All-New Marvel Now Original Sin publishing plan:
- Original Sin, the 8 issue (9 if you include the #0 issue) core event book (no “s” at the end), that surrounds the mystery of who killed The Watcher, what he saw and what’s the deal with his eyes; the House of Ideas’ take
on a cosmic whodunit. - We get an interlude in Original Sin with, I believe, with more branding-over-story controversy a.k.a. numerhoaxology from Marvel as Hulk vs. Iron Man gets the Original Sin #3.1 to #3.4 treatment. Did Tony Stark lead to the creation of the Hulk?
- Continuing in that vein, we also have Original Sin #5.1 to 5.5 mini-series called Thor & Loki: The 10th Realm involving the revelation that former Spawn stalwart Angela is the sister of Thor and Loki!
- We’ll get Original Sin tie-ins in some regular ongoing series where we learn of some “sins” of Marvel Now’s heroes and villains. Like with All-New Invaders #6 and many others.
- The Original Sins (with an “s” at the end) is a companion anthology 5 issue mini-series to spotlight Young Avengers in particular, but also showcase done-in-one tales from across the Marvel Universe revealing more sins, but this time for characters who don’t headline their own ongoing series.
Spoilers and capsule review for Original Sin #3 follow.
You have been warned.
Here are the other three covers to the issue to start.
The three parallel investigations bear some fruit:
- Black Panther’s subterranean team discovers that the green bullet is gamma irradiated.
- The Punisher learns that the person that used the gamma bullet in the astral plane made the shot from an impossible shot limiting the possible suspects to a short list.
- The Winter Soldier’s team finds out that this killer also used an almost endless supply of gamma bullets to kill a living planet!
The Orb admits to Nick Fury that he stole the Watcher’s eye, but not to killing him. As Nick Fury ponders this, he is startled and provides part of the Holy Sh*t moment of the issue with his dance partner… the Winter Soldier?
Clearly, there is more to this than meets the eye. The Winter Soldier en route back to Earth destroyed the ship Gamora and Moon Knight were on leading them to believe that HE killed the living planet and the Watcher. Did he?
When the Winter Soldier arrives back in Earth he kills and beheads Nick Fury. What the F is going on?
I have to say, Marvel Comics delivered on his promised Holy Sh*t moment of the issue. We’re now almost half-way through this bi-weekly eight issue series. The mystery deepens and its clear the sins of the past will haunt the All-New Marvel Now for the summer!
I still thinking there is too much and too many overlapping subplots going on. I also am curious who the mysterious benefactor is that because it seems it was alluded earlier in the issue to be Nick Fury Jr., but that seems unlikely due to the cliffhanger; the benefactor was expecting “guests” whereas Nick Fury was surprised by the Winter Soldier’s arrival.
So, what do YOU think is going on in this issue? What did you see, pun intended, that I did not?
Thanks for reading. All feedback welcome.
