Ultimate Marvel Handbook #209

Features

Hey all and welcome to the Marvel Handbook. I‘m Jim of course and you all know Daron by now. Hey Daron how‘s it going

It’s going pretty well. I’ve been extremely tied up with work. Transferred stores last week, and now I’m at a store that hasn’t opened yet, and it’s causing some “scheduling issues.”

It‘s going good here but I‘m not getting much sleep with the heat. Not that I won‘t catch up or it‘s a big deal though.

No doubt it hasn’t been under 100 for over a week here, and we’ve hit 104/105 a couple times…

Before we start though, I would like to my well wishes to the friends and family of Mike Wieringo. As most of you probably know by now, the talented artist was taken away from us much to early. Mike was 44 and succumbed to a heart attack yesterday. Rest in peace, Mike, our thoughts are with you and your family.

Kairow emails

First, much love to the work the both of you do.

Thanks Kairow.

My question is this:

Since S.H.I.E.L.D. is everywhere now in all the books (Don’t get me started on S.W.O.R.D) I noticed that everyone’s uniforms are the black jumpsuits with white on belts, holsters, cell phone holders, bandoliers, ect. I clearly remember Marvel U. Handbooks saying that S.H.I.E.L.D. uniforms were different colors based on what they do or what their rank. Only Fury wore white accents, leaving like blue, red, ect for engineers, security, and so on When did this start, or is this another case of continuity
minutia.

I believe it changed around the 90s when the new SHIELD group was formed. Strategic Hazard, Intervention, Espionage Logistics Directorate replacing the old Supreme Heaquarters, International Espionage, Law-enforcement Division after the Deltite Affair.

With SDCC, comes the Marvel Panel and the ball and shell game of dropping hints and clues about the next 18 months.

While most people are fuming about the Race To Kill MJ, I found something else a little more bothersome to me.

I’m not sure MJ is dying or that the couple are splitting up.

The next question concerned why certain costumes were changed for the Ultimate Universe, and Loeb said there’s a reason for it, and used as an example that you’ll find out that Scarlet Witch’s costume looks the way it does because of “her mother,” which
you’ll find more about in Ultimates 3 V3.

Newsarama’s notes from the Ultimate Forum:
Marvel Ultimate

In the preview art, Wanda’s costume is no longer the Ultimates style geometric unitard, but the traditional, 616 version complete w red headband, cape and corset Her mother?

Well we need to think. This is ultimate. A different universe. Anyone could be her mother. It could be anything.

My gut reaction and knee jerk guess is they are planning to make The Ultimate Universe a “Wanda has crazy powers and created a pocket universe and dreamed it into existence” thing.

The Ultimate Universe has been hit or miss. Ult Spidey is gold wrapped in gold. (It’s what I buy for my nephew to get him hooked), Ult X Men has floundered of late, which is strange because when you look at who’s been writing it, makes no sense), I like Ult FF most of the time, and The Ultimates is wide screen goodness. (I have a bet with the owner of the local comic book store that Axl Rose’s Chinese Conspiracy will be Released before the last issue of Joe Mad’s run.)

My questions are these:

Do you think the Ultimate Universe is ready to be wrapped up?

I‘m not possitive about this one but I do know the line itself is about to get hit by a decrease in titles from the rumors. You may see the end of Ultimate X-Men soon as well as maybe the Ultimates after the next series ends. It‘s much like how the MC-2 line was taken to 1 title.

Well I for one can say with all enthusiasm that I won’t be sad to see it go…In fact Jeff and I will probably go have a party when they announce the demise of the Ultimate U.

Has it served it’s purpose?

Very possible. We could see this line taken to Ultimate Spidey like how Mc-2 is just Spider-Girl.

I guess that really depends on you see it’s purpose as. In my eyes the Ultmate U was Joe Q and Bill J’s way of letting writers tell stories with Marvel characters without having to deal with “continuity.” And now that they have been doing that same thing in the main universe for years now (obviously finding that they can get away with it), I guess you can say that the Ultimate U has severed it’s purpose. I.E. the harbinger of the death of continuity…

Are they just rehashing 616 stories with a twist? (Cable is Logan from the future, Young Gwen Stacy looks like Uma Thurman , Cap nails The Wasp)

They will continue doing it till the line ends.

Just another annoying thing about the Ultimate U. Why just retell old stories over again? It makes no sense, but to each their own I guess. I know I for one would much rather write something new rather than rehash something that’s already been done before.

If they use the “Wanda Reset Button”, would this take away from the line historically?

No most fans of the line will recall it for what it was like New Universe and 2099.

Sounds about right to me, I honestly be surprised if they did it any other way.

I like the Ultimate line, and would hate to see it end up like Bobby Ewing never really dying and it was just a dream.

Thoughts?

I do think the reality will exist. I think the way Ultimate Spider-Man sells alone the line won‘t be totally taken apart.

I personally am not and have never been a fan of the ultimate line, however I think Marvel owes it to their fans to at least give the line a “proper send off” if it is in fact going the way of the 2099.

Soak posted

thanks for the very brief description of the history of juggs there jim. anyway in the newest issue of world war hulk doc strange turns into something called ZOM. or at least unleashes the power of ZOM or something. what is that all about?

Real Name: Zom
Identity/Class: Extra-dimensional demon
Occupation: Destroyer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Ancient One, Dr. Strange, Dormammu, Faeries of Dr. Strange’s sanctum, Living Tribunal, Rintrah, Umar
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Zomling
Base of Operations: Currently unknown; formerly within an amphora (a type of vase) in an unnamed dimension (possibly outside the timestream)
First Appearance: Strange Tales I#156/2 (May, 1967)
Powers: Zom has vast mystical power, dwarfing that of adepts such as Dr. Strange, or even of extremely powerful beings such as Umar. However, his own power is far below that of a virtually omnipotent being such as the Living Tribunal. He uses his powers primarily to destroy everything around him. Apparently his long lock of hair acted as a mystic shield which protected him from the detection of more powerful mystic entities. The removal of this forelock awakened the “sense of evil which had slumbered for ages in the bosom of the mystics of mankind.”
Height: 20′
Weight: 9 tons
Eyes: Yellow
Hair: Brown

The Zomling possessed the tiniest fraction of Zom’s virtually limitless power. However, it absorbed magical energy to grow in size and power. At some point, it would become powerful enough to completely reform Zom, and regain its full power.

History: Zom is an extra-dimensional monster of unknown origin. He claims to have been created to destroy, but his creator and the methods of his creation are unknown. Ages ago, he was defeated under unknown circumstances, which may have involved a union of several other extremely powerful beings, including Dormammu (the ruler of the Dark Dimension) and Eternity (the cosmic being representing the entire temporal axis of the Earth dimension). To protect the universe from his might, Zom’s hands were bound with Chains of Living Bondage by Dormammu. Zom was forced to wear a Crown of Blindness, and his essence was imprisoned by Eternity within an Amphora in a “world beyond all worlds” in a “time beyond all time.”

When Dr. Strange first encountered Umar, the sorceress of the Dark Dimension, his power and training were insufficient to oppose her directly. Under the guidance of his mentor, the Ancient One, Strange journeyed to the extra-dimensional realm which held Zom’s prison, and shattered the vase. Zom instantly began to rampage, tearing off his crown and bringing down the temple which formerly held his prison. Dr. Strange got Zom’s attention and opened a portal, pretending to flee from him, and led him to Stonehenge, and to Umar. Zom recognized Umar as the sister of Dormammu, who had been involved in his previous defeat. Confronted with Zom’s immense power, Umar immediately fled back to the Dark Dimension. However, Dr. Strange and the Ancient One were now faced with the question of how to get rid of Zom, who shattered his bonds and threatened to shatter the entire Earth.

Zom attacked the Ancient One, fusing his form with the rock of Stonehenge–but not before he could say, “The–Forelock–“, and pass his mystic might on to Dr. Strange. Strange had no idea what this meant, but he managed to stay out of the path of Zom’s attacks until he could rip off the “Mystic Topknot” (I kid you not). Zom screamed in pain and anguish, but recovered and attacked Strange, telling him he had brought about the destruction of them all. Zom assaulted Strange, but then the Living Tribunal appeared and banished/dispersed Zom. The Tribunal told Strange that his actions awakened a sense of evil on Earth that necessitated the destruction of the entire planet.

Following Zom’s banishment, Strange magically stitched the Amphora back together and sealed it with a spell.

A struggle in Doc’s sanctum shattered the Amphora. A remnant of Zom’s evil essence, the Zomling, was released. The only one who saw the Zomling was Wong’s then-fiancee, Imei Chang, but the Zomling magically stopped her from mentioning it. The Zomling scurried around the mansion, absorbing power from various sources. After growing in power, it discovered the Faeries who inhabit the sanctum, and managed to capture the Faery Queen.

Strange discovered the shattered Amphora and sent his associates on a mission to locate the Zomling. Rintrah found it and attacked it before it could consume the queen, but Rintrah’s magical attack only made it all the more powerful. However, Strange then arrived, and knowing that 1) The Zomling fed on magical energy, and 2) It was composed mostly of energy, but also of the dust it had consumed in the process; Strange used a vacuum cleaner to suck up and entrap the Zomling. He then magically repaired the Amphora and reversed the suction on the vacuum to spit it back into its prison. Strange resealed the Amphora, and then put it a little more out of the way, where it was unlikely to be shattered again.

Nice avoidance of the Juggy thing there, Jim.

Cory emails

Fellow Marvel lovers, T’is I Cory….joking. Sup Guys…let’s go!

Hey Cory

1. I been thinking and discussing a question I asked awhile ago, about who would win in a fight between the old Blob & old Juggernaut. I dont know!! But I do know who loses…THE EARTH. I believe that gravity and the Earth loses. Immovable vs. Unstoppable. What you guys think?

You could very well be right. I don‘t think the Earth could withstand this fight.

I think, considering all the craziness the Earth has withstood during Marvel’s history, that you’re giving these two WAY too much credit.

2. My comic book store owner was telling me about a tale where Unus the Untouchable’s powers went outta control and was reversed. With this he was unable to eat, and had to be fed by the Blob. This true, if so any more details to this tale?

Very true story. Marvel Fanfare #7: But then his power, for reasons still unknown, increased to such a high level that he could no longer shut it off and he could barely control it. Unus feared that he would die either of starvation from being unable to touch any food or from asphyxiation, since his power was beginning to repel air molecules. A blow of tremendous force from the Hulk apparently dispersed the field, but it immediately began to build again and run beyond the limits that Unus could control. Unus found himself suspended by his field in the air, finally, unable to eat. Finally, the force field became so strong that Unus was unable to breathe. He blacked out and the force field dispersed, causing him to fall into the arms of his friend, the Blob. The Blob believed Unus to be dead and went off on a grief-stricken rampage

3. LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!! Spidey vs. the Kingpin. Hulk vs. Everyone. Wolverine vs. Sabretooth. Any comments on these main event slobberknockers. I must say that the speech that Spidey told the Kingpin was not only true, but hit him harder than those punches. It would be such a shock if Aunt May survived, and Fisk died from his injuries. Spidey’s a killer, uh oh! No more Sabes…when does the parade start? AHAHA. For the 1st time ever in comics, Creed…cried! After all the stuff he did, especially to women, he deserved it. But he shall return….eventually.

I’m enjoying it. Finally we are seeing the heroes vs. villains again with Spidey/Kingpin and Wolverine/Sabretooth. We need to get on with more of this. With all the hero fighting of late those villains must be enjoying their vacation

4. What’s the purpose and history of Landau, Luckman, and Lake?

a real mysterious group known for interdimensional law firm
that specializes in all kinds o’ shady stuff. They have had Expediter, Noah, Deadpool, Chang, Wolverine, Rose Wu, Tyger Tiger, and Gaia work for them.

Proven fact! Psylocke loves younger men. I mean look at her track record.Cypher and Thunderbird 3. Two sucky guys! I hear she’s now in Exiles, personally do you guys agree with this move? I would personally love to see her in the battles in Endangered Species.

I don‘t necessarily agree with it but I know why it‘s sort of being done. Claremount has a thing for Psylocke. He loves using her. It‘s also going to be pivotal for an upcoming Exiles/Excalibur tie in.

6. Let’s say Alex Cummings was cast in (sorry Daron) X-3. Do you guys think that Nightcrawler, Mystique, and especially Beast would have clashed. I mean 2 blue characters with crazy agility and furry skin?

I‘m assuming that’s why he was left out actually. They had him cast for a time and then that was put aside. I think it‘s the blue factor with Beast that helped him get tossed out of the idea.

Um…no that’s not the reason he wasn’t cast at all. I forget the details exactly, but I do remember Cummings backing out for one reason or another. I personally think it would have been cool to have all 3 of them in it…not that it would have saved the movie though.

7. Also, since Bryan Singer did the past Superman and Ratner did X-3, do you guys think that if they both had switched directing the movies they did, that both movies would have been WAY better?

VERY likely. I think Singer would‘ve definitely made a better X-3 in fact. I mean X-3 could‘ve been a lot better with Singer

Yes and no. If they would have let Singer come back to X3 I think it would have been just as good as the first 2 if not better, and not been nigh-unwatchable as it turned out. And Ratner would have turned Superman Returns into another Superman 4 or worse. Singer did an amazing job with Superman, and I can’t wait for the next installment.

8. About one-sided fights, The Thing in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, Thing was an one-man army. How ddi this occur, what was it about, and what heroes/villians he beat?

Proja, an interstellar fight promoter, and says that he’s come to arrange a fight between Ben and the universe’s most accomplished fighter. The fight promoter soon appears to similar strength based heroes all over the globe, disappearing with them in similar fashion. Champion tells them he recruits the best fighters of every world he comes to to engage him in competition, and that no one has ever lasted past the first round with him. So Thing battles Colossus, Hulk, Wonder Man, Submariner, Doc Samson, Sasquatch, Thor and Champion

9. With Sabes dead, at least the one man who actually scares Wolvie is back aka Cyber. Daken is still alive…for some reason, and now Romulus is the main guy. Will these sudden revelations actually benefit & bring Wolvie back to prominence or plunge him further in bad issues?

I’m hoping it will help bring Wolverine back but the problem still with Wolverine is over exposure. You will have to do more.

Only time will tell, you can’t really speculate at this point.

10. Ummmm, is Cable dead? What did I miss, how?

Cable stays on Providence as it sinks into the ocean and learns that there are others on the island as well who are after the knowledge of the future stored in the island’s computers. Cable sends Deadpool to obtain a backup copy of the information while he goes and destroys the island’s primary power source. Cable is then attacked by Gambit and Sunfire and leads them to the storehouse containing his information on the future. Cable speaks a codeword into his computer and successfully detonates the island’s power source, destroying the island and possibly killing himself in the process.

11. If Reed became evil, Doom would go hero huh? At least anti-hero….that ‘s better. But we all know what Victor’s ego is like, he would never let Reed become a better villain than him, let alone be evil and do it wrongly. That would be like a slap in the face to Doom. Then again he probably would go good just to save Reed from others, so he can be the one to destroy Reed. That’s that ego, guys!

I have to agree. Why I said Doom is the key to stopping Reed.

12. I know about Maggott (RIP) but where are the following at currently: Slipstream, Lifeguard, Thunderbird 3, Marrow, and Dr. Reyes? i’m guessing depowered and laying low.

Slipstream: Depowered
Lifeguard: With Thunderbird still powered
Thunderbird 3: Genosha still powered
Marrow: Depowered with X-Cell group now
Dr. Reyes: unknown but brother is working for O.N.E.

13. Daron, so what other X-franchise characters are “half-though-out”, to name a few? Also out of the many, without the mainstays what X-characters deserve that “push” or have that star potential? I like Hellion for some reason.

I‘ll let Daron handle this.

I honestly think that the easier question to ask is which ones aren’t. From the two main books (Uncanny and X-men), I think just about everyone who has appeared post Giant X-Men #1 were not very well thought out. The only exception that springs to mind is Bishop, who was a very well thought out character…who no one really seems to know what to do with anymore. Most others since then have been cheap gimmicks in costumes, and a few like Gambit and Psylocke have even had to have their origins rewritten a few times because no one could figure out what the hell was up with them. Unfortunately the rewrites have only made them even less understandable.

The peripheral books (like X-Factor, X-Force, etc) have done a much better job of fleshing out their characters though since they didn’t really have to deal with giving the “big name” characters time to shine in their books.

14. About the mutant siblings question from last week, regarding characters…what other siblings would be immune to each other? Cable & Rachel Summers Quicksilver, Scarlett Witch & Polaris The Guthrie family? Shard & Bishop?

Yeah someone cleared something up. Wanda can effect her family but that might be because of her magic.

Cable/Rachel can communicate but not sure about fighting if powers effect but Rachel does have Phoenix so likely they can harm each other.

Guthrie‘s not sure powers effect each other.

Shard/Bishop no evidence here

15. Drowning Wolvie? That maybe one way, but he swims pretty damn well for carry like 100lbs of metal in him. How bout asphixiation from exposure to outer space or for him to die the same way as the Terminator at the end of the 2nd Terminator movie??

Both of those ways may be two other ways Wolverine could get it.

16. My Deadpool casting call. Deadpool= Ryan reynolds. T-Ray= HHH. Outlaw= Trish Stratus? Blind Al= Shirley Jones from Grandma’s Boy. Weasel= Richard Belzer from Law & Order: SVU. Bob from Hydra= anyone. Copycat= Hmmmm. Agent X= hmmm. Gotta go Colin Farrell for Bullseye if another villain is needed…or Taskmaster. Next week….well go for one of my fave titles out now…Heroes For Hire. Also don’t forget to finish the X-relationships question. Because my next one will be for the Avengers.

Good casting so far. I agree anyone can be Bob. Copycat should be interesting. We can do most any female. Agent X in a duel role Ryan Reynolds pulls it off.

How about Ali Larter as Copycat?

Thanks for the reminder on the X-relations:

Emma/Cyclops
Colossus/Kitty
Iceman/Mystique
Wolfsbane/Rictor
Rachel/Korvus
Havok/Polaris
Rogue no one but likely could resolve the Gambit thing
Armor no one
Beast at the moment single to busy with Endangered species
Caliban is single
Cannonball single
Darwin single
Hepzibah just lost Corsair but Warpath has interest in her
Nightcrawler single
Wolverine single

New X-Men

Surge single
Hellion some interest in X-23
Rockslide single
Dust single
Mercury single

Most of the students have shown some interest in each other but it hasn’t grown to much.

That’s all for me. I’ll save the rest for next week. Thanks a mil, See ya in 7, and Make Mine Marvel.

See you next week.

Wolverine history lesson Part 2. Continued from last week.

Since HOM:

Astonishing X-Men #15 (Aug 2006): Logan is mentally regressed by Cassandra Nova to his childhood. Among the many things we learn about young James Howlett is that he likes to cut out paper chains.

Astonishing X-Men #16 (Oct 2006) : While still mentally regressed to his childhood, Logan gives another clue to his childhood as James Howlett during a fervant plea to God. “Oh Lord, I am heartily sorry for having offended thee and for any wrongs I have done in your sight including that dream I had about the chambermaid that spoilt my bedlinens.” Later, he shows his courage by trying to assist Kitty Pryde. “You’re a girl, and if there’s danger about, I… well it isn’t right for a Howlett to hide behind someone’s skirts. I shan’t prize my life above my honor.”

Astonishing X-Men #17 (Aug 2006): In the final moments of his mental regression to childhood, Logan reveals a few more things about his early attitudes, referring to the Japanese language as “heathen funny talk” and that “one reads about George the Third bumbling away the Americas.”

House of M #8 (Dec 2005): After the reality-changing events of House of M come to a close, Logan finds that he remembers his entire past.

House of M #3 (Sep 2005): Logan specifically remembers confronting a wolf with his bone claws. This is a clear indication that Logan remembers the events of Wolverine: The Origin.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #37 (Feb 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part II”: With his memories intact from the events of House of M, Wolverine dreams of Rose.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #48 (Jan 2007) – “Vendetta — Epilogue: Knocking on Heaven’s Door ”: Enduring a near-death experience, Logan has visions of his childhood as James Howlett and the death of Rose at his own hands.

Wolverine: Origins #6 (Nov 2006) – “Savior, Part One ” : When Cyber tells Wolverine about the prominence of the Hudson family throughout Logan’s life, Wolverine flashes to when he worked for the Hudson Bay Company.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #52 (May 2007) – “Evolution, Chapter Three: Blood on the Wind ”: Logan explains, “I was bumming ’round Tokyo, running away from whatever personal demons I had on me at the time… when I got picked up by the Hand.” Logan is handed a sword by a cloaked stranger who speaks Japanese with an Italian accent and is told to dispose of a foreigner who has been killing prostitutes. Under the threat of execution by the Hand, Logan complies and quickly tracks down the foreigner, a man now known as Victor Creed, but later to be known as Sabretooth. Logan cuts off Creed’s hand with his sword, but is shocked when Creed reattaches his own hand and it heals back to normal almost instantly.

Logan does speak Japanese well enough to notice the cloaked stranger’s Japanese is horrible and seems to be streetwise enough to realize, “I’d met enough men like that to know you do what you’re told if you wanna keep on living.” On seeing Victor Creed in Tokyo, Logan confirms this was their first meeting, “All I thought was… that an animal or a man? …He smelled more like… me.”

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #53 (Jun 2007) – “Evolution, Chapter Three: Blood on the Wind ”: Logan continues to attack Victor Creed, impaling him with his sword when an unknown stranger stops the fight.

While the finale of this first battle is still hidden in the mists, it seems that Logan returned to Canada and settled down in a Canadian frontier town. Victor Creed followed, setting up what was previously thought to be their first encounter. I am presenting this sequence in the order that the stories were published, instead of a strict chronology, to give a better sense of how this storyline evolved over the years.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #37 (February 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part II”: With his memories restored from the events of House of M, Wolverine dreams of Silver Fox.

Wolverine: Origins #5 (Oct 2006) – “Born in Blood, Part Five” : Logan flashes back to his life with Silver Fox. “She was Blackfoot an’ her husband had died three winters before. I used to see her out in the woods when I went huntin’. Maybe it was ‘cause she didn’t have anyone else… but eventually, she became my woman. She was a beautiful woman, an’ strong—she taught me how to trap. She taught me that it was alright to love again. When I came back, she was dead. It didn’t take me long to figure out who killed ‘er. We fought. I lost.” As Logan lay on the ground in defeat, Sabretooth explained why he killed Silver Fox. “Them folks livin’ in that dirt patch of a town over there? Ones you thought were your friends? Well, they ain’t. They’re scared o’ you, boy—they don’t want ya around. So they got rid o’ the one thing that was keepin’ you here.” After Sabretooth finished filling in more details, it seems that a mysterious individual added a few final words. “You have no thoughts of your own. You are not entitled to them. You are not entitled to anything. You are not a man… you are a weapon. My weapon.” While Logan sensed Sabretooth was lying, he, nonetheless, used an ax that Sabretooth had left to kill everyone in the town.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #48 (Jan 2007) – “Vendetta — Epilogue: Knocking on Heaven’s Door ”: Enduring a near-death experience, Logan has visions of Silver Fox and is haunted by her death

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #50 (Mar 2007) – “Evolution, Chapter One: First Blood”: During an especially brutal fight with Sabretooth, Wolverine blacks out and flashes back to his life with Silver Fox. “Ain’t many times in my life I could call… ‘happy.’ But… this… this was definitely one of those times… when I was in love with Silver Fox.” The story follows along similiar themes as before, but this time we are given details that in the past we could only suspect. Sabretooth rapes Silver Fox on Logan’s birthday before brutally killing her. Logan and Sabretooth fight, and after Sabretooth defeats Logan, he says cryptically, “Quod sum eris.” What this mean exactly, aside from the literal translation of “I am what you will be,” remains to be seen as Jeph Loeb wraps up his six-issue run on Wolverine.

Wolverine: Origins #12 (May 2007) – “Sweet and Terrible, Part 2” : A newly resurrected Cyber explains that he used to be known as Silas Burr and “…train bad guys to be worse. Not many people liked me back then. Especially the ones I trained. One, in particular, took it very personally.” Cyber’s memory flashbacks confirm that person to be Logan, and judging from the artwork, it would seem that Cyber, as Silas Burr, was Logan’s drill sergeant from the World War I era. It also seems that Silas Burr murdered Logan’s girlfriend Janet and ripped out Logan’s eye when they fought after her death.

Wolverine: Origins #14 (Jul 2007) – “Sweet and Terrible, Part 4”: Cyber tells Logan, “You never were afraid to take a beating,” and later admits to being transferred to a military base in Canada by Sabretooth in 1912 after committing a series of brutal murders as a Pinkerton agent in Sioux City, Iowa.

Wolverine: Origins #15 (Aug 2007) – “Sweet and Terrible, Part 5 ” : Cyber relates more of his time in Canada to Logan, confirming that a man by the name of Hudson was responsible for bringing the two of them together and ordered him to kill Janet. As Hudson explained to Silas Burr about Logan, “We don’t want him to be under control — we want him to be what he is: an animal, born and bred to kill. The only measure of control we want to establish — the one thing we want him to learn and never forget… is that if he ever stops being the predator he is meant to be, if he ever tries to be anything else, like a man… if he ever tries to reach out to anyone… that person will die.”

House of M #8 (Dec 2005): After the reality-changing events of “House of M” come to a close, Logan finds that he remembers his entire past.

House of M #3 (Sep 2005): Logan specifically remembers fighting against the Hand with Captain America.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #54 (Jul 2007): Logan remembers fighting alongside Captain America in the Italian Alps in 1942 in an attempt “to close the border.” Logan with his now familiar samurai sword is in charge of the mission, ordering Captain America to take out a tank. When Logan goes after the German commanding officer, he is shocked by the C.O.’s feral features and his ominous words, “You won’t even remember today until he wants you to.” A hand grenade shatters the battle and Logan finds himself at the feet of a mysterious figure who utters the equally mysterious words, “Quod sum eris” — I am what you will be.

The German C.O. is revealed to be Wild Child, a mutant that Logan will not run into again until the 1970s. This is especially confusing since this is the first time that Wild Child has been given a preternaturally long lifespan. The mysterious figure is undoubtedly the new Wolverine uber-villain Romulus.

…By mid-1942, Logan officially joins the Canadian war effort…

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #42 (Jul 2006) – “Vendetta” : In discussing his opposition to superhero registration, Wolverine tells Luke Cage, “Few years back, few decades actually, I had some friends in Germany. ‘Had.’ Registration didn’t work out too well for them.” This is perhaps a reference to the prisoners Logan knew from the Sobibor death camp.
…Logan escapes from the Death Camp in time to join the “Devil’s Brigade” in Canada on July 9, 1942…

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part V”: Logan, having regained his memories after the events of House of M, tells the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, of going to Jasmine Falls, where he curiously wore a patch over his left eye. Logan’s former sensei, Ogun, told him to find Bando Suboro there when he was ready to seek redemption. Bando accepts him into the village of former ninjas who have learned a better way of living. Logan builds his own home, learning to create instead of destroy for the first time.

We shall see if the existence of Logan’s patch is meant to place his first encounter with Cyber (Silas Burr) just prior to this flashback. If so, then Logan trained under Silas Burr after his time with Landau, Luckman and Lake but before his journey to Jasmine Falls.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part V” : At Jasmine Falls, Logan meets and marries a beautiful village woman, Itsu, and in the fourth year of his training, she becomes pregnant with his child. In an elaborate ceremony to celebrate their impending child, Logan faces off against the former ninjas in a test of worthiness, strength and honor. Logan avoids each attack in an elegant dance, but an explosion rocks a nearby mountain and Logan pops his claws by accident, injuring several of his attackers. Everyone departs for Logan has failed his test. Suboro explains that the explosion was caused by Muramasa, an immortal “…who uses men’s souls to create greater and more terrible weapons, capable of only destruction.” Suboro cryptically warns that Logan will meet him one day for a final test. Dishonored, Logan prepares to leave Jasmine Falls, but discovers that Itsu has been murdered. Logan later learns that Bucky Barnes was responsible for her death in order draw Logan out of hiding and back to Madripoor. But instead, Logan disappears and finds Muramasa who promises to turn Logan into “…a mighty blade, greater than any the world has ever seen and against which no man or beast that walks on the earth can stand.”

That Logan is capable of popping his claws is quite shocking, and no one, including Logan, seems surprised at their appearance. It is my belief that his claws are still of bone (even though they look metallic) and that he rediscovered their existence during his years training at Jasmine Falls (or in some previously undocumented adventure from this era). The reference to Madripoor suggests that Logan worked out of Madripoor to a more significant degree after World War II than previously noted. Since it is later revealed that Logan’s memory of these events were erased, it is possible that Path of the Warlord represents Logan’s memories of this era instead of the actual events, thereby explaining away the appearance and disappearance of Logan’s eyepatch.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #39 (April 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part IV” : When Logan first began his search for the Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes, he claims, “He an’ I go way back. Used to be Captain America’s partner ‘til he got mind-wiped an’ reprogrammed by the Reds an’ turned into a hatchet man.”

Wolverine: Origins #5 (Oct 2006) – “Born in Blood, Part Five”: Logan learns from telepath Emma Frost that his son survived Itsu’s brutal slaying, having inherited Logan’s healing factor. He was delivered and taken by a mysterious person who we are led to believe may be Sabretooth but more probably is the same individual who spoke to Logan after the death of Silver Fox.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part V” : Bucky Barnes explains that Logan disappeared for over a month after the murder of Itsu.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #38 (March 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part III” : Wolverine remembers being suspended from a tree as Master Muramasa and a group of samurai discuss a mysterious process that Logan has begun. Muramasa cuts Logan down and the samurai remove Logan from the area. When Logan next awakes, he is on the ground next to a dead samurai, as the remaining samurai defend themselves against an unknown assailant. When Logan tries to join in, the mysterious figures expertly manhandles him. The figure then kills the remaining samurai, disappearing into the night. It is interesting to note that Logan does not wear or need an eyepatch, suggesting that his eye may have been healed earlier than we realized.

Wolverine (Vol. 2) #40 (May 2006) – “Origins and Endings, Part V” : Bucky Barnes admits the he was responsible for killing Muramasa’s men. Logan was then extracted eight hours later by an unknown entity for parts unknown.
It seems that Logan was then deployed as an agent for this unknown entity across several varied locales…

Wolverine: Origins #9 (Feb 2007) – “Savior, Part Four ” : Logan explains that his mind was wiped clean of the events at Jasmine Falls including that of Itsu’s fate, and that he was sent on his first mission for this mysterious group. Presumably in the Soviet Union, Logan protects a young Natalia Romanov as their train comes under attack. The bloody ambush was planned by Natalia’s father, Taras Romanov, an agent provocateur, as a ploy to convince the world that Natalia and Logan were in fact dead. For the next two years, Logan learns the spycraft under Taras’ expert tutelage and teaches Natalia how to fight. Finally, one night, the web of deceit that entangles everyone comes to an end. Natalia is revealed not to be Taras’ daughter, Logan was not sent simply to learn from Taras, and Tara knew more of Logan’s employers than he let on. The result is the death of Taras at Logan’s hands, the escape of Natalia to parts unknown and the return of Logan to his mysterious employers.

Logan is shown to heavily rely upon his mutant animal-like senses, noting that Taras’ heartrate increased almost imperceptibly when he lied and that Taras and Natalia were not related based on their smell. There is also no reference to Logan having saved her life before World War II despite the use of “Little Uncle” in both stories. Again, we may need to wait for Daniel Way’s run on Wolverine: Origins to finish before we fully understand the relevance of this flashbacks.

Wolverine: Origins #3 (Aug 2006) – “Born in Blood, Part Three” : In Dayton, Ohio, 1953. young Frank Simpson is terrorized by his domineering mother. After his parents go out for the evening, Betsy, the babysitter, convinces Frank to kill his mother by pushing her down the stairs. Later, Charles, Frank’s father, drives Betsy home, but is pulled over by a police officer. The officer, revealed as Logan, shoots and kills Betsy with what turns out to be Frank’s gun. Convincing Charles that it looks bad for him, Logan gives Charles his gun with one bullet. Charles complies with the unspoken request and commits suicide in the car. Logan reports in; it’s clearly a black ops mission to orphan Frank Simpson. Arriving at the Simpson’s residence, Logan finds that Frank has killed his mother as planned and drives off with young Frank in his police car.

Logan clearly has some discomfort with this mission (as does this reader) and it seems that he had no memory of these events until he recovered his memories in the aftermath of House of M. This would suggest that Logan was brainwashed after these events as he was after Jasmine Falls.

Wolverine: Origins #2 (Jul 2006) – “Born in Blood, Part Two” : Logan acknowledges, “I wasn’t in control of my own mind most of the time.”

While it is unclear what happened after the events involving Frank Simpson, it seems Logan extricated himself from this mysterious organization and travels the world, starting with Rio de Janeiro …

We’ll stop here and next week start off with Team X

Initiative update

Fantastic Four #548: The frightful Four hold Sue believing the FF to be dead. They begin to torture poor Sue. The FF survived thanks to Panther wanted to make sure of no traps. Wizard continues to torture Sue until a hologram of Reed contacts him. The Other villains get nervous wishing to run for it and take Sue with them. The FF go to face the Frightful Four. On the Frightful Four ship the FF invade without notice and the fight starts. Reed and Wizard battle each other as the other villains are defeated as the FF confront Wizard only for him to bring Klaw back

Ms Marvel #18: Puppet Master commands a group of soldiers to attack the raft to free Midas only to be stopped. Carol goes to see Beast about turning blue and Beast examines her. Arana fights crime on her own without letting her father know about it and the Initiative. Carol battles Battleaxe after visiting William Wagner only to run into the soldiers under Puppet Master’s control. Later Machine Man and Sleepwalker are introduced to Carol and report to be under her command. We see Carol’s agent confronts Jonah about pictures of Carol and Simons smooch hitting the papers. SHIELD contacts Arana’s father asking if she knew Dusk, Silverclaw, Stature, and Tigra getting no where. Carol talks to Machine Man to learn more about those army guys. We go to Puppet Master who’s formed an army of super powered women under his control and capturing Arana.

New Warriors #3: The detectives check out the remains of the New Warriors with Night Thrasher’s death being in question. The Warriors train facing Nimrod. We learn some of the other members Skybolt, Tempest, Decibel and Blackwing. After the training Jubs talks to Kaz and Grace about possible villains out there and their base Arcades murder world. Tony and Carol see that the Warriors defaced Stark Tower. Later Jubs and Sofia talk about things like their past with the X-Men. The detectives go to see Bandit about Thrashers’ death. Jubs and Barry talk as they working in the sewers. Wolverine shows up and confronts Jubilee. The detectives continue their investigation only to run into Night Thrasher.

Thor #2: Don visits a diner owned by three brothers to eat and the man there at the time ask him if he’s a doctor which Blake admits to before leaving. Don goes to the middle of no where becomes Thor and recreates Asgard. The people of the town notice this event as a storm cloud forms from no where. A few cops go to see Thor and say he can’t keep Asgard on the ground. So Thor lifts Asgard to float over a big hold where it was placed. The cops leave and contact the owner of the land who talks to Thor and is payed in gold for the land. Thor remembers what Blake said about the Asgardians and being in the minds of others knowing he must find them he heads off

New Avengers #33: We see Cap dealing with his Avengers in the past and Hawkeye especially which takes us to the present where Hawkeye tells the team how he learned to fight. Cage takes out his frustration of the Skrulls out on Spidey as the team learns about the Ultron affair on tv as their food arrives. Madame Masque, the Crimson Cowl, Jonas Harrow and the Wizard meet the Owl over the auctioning of Deathlok. John King arrives and tells them this will not happen again. Owl starts arguing until Hood arrives and shoots him down. The Avengers leave the Sanctum to clear their heads after arriving home. Cage and Jessica get in an argument as well. Wolverine goes to a bar only to find Hood there.

Omega Flight #5: Sasquatch attacks the group under the spell of Tanaraq as Beta Ray Bill tries to stop him. Talisman tries to free Sasquatch of the spell with her pouch. After he is freed the spell also weakens the Wrecking Crew as Sasquatch goes after them instead. Bill deals with the Demons leading them into the portal and having Guardian destroy it after. The team talk of what happens next as Bill continues to face the Demons.

Punisher War Journal #10: GW and Hate Monger face off as hate Monger’s base is taken out. GW frees Frank to help Micro who’s destroying Hate Monger’s compound. Punisher saves Micro as he takes out the Hate Mondger. GW lets Frank leave in peace calling SHIELD after. GW gets a call after SHIELD Arrives

Endangered Species Update

Uncanny X-Men #489: Police try to contain the train attack as the media cover the event. Storm with Thing’s help uses one of Reed’s devices to find where the Morlocks may be located. Johnny talks to the others while waiting. Thing offers the FF ‘s help. Xavier and Kurt continue their search for Magneto finding his last location to be a grave of one of his former henchmen. Masque makes a statement that hit’s the media. ONE arrives at the Morlocks location. Xavier and Kurt catch the statement as well. The X-Men arrive at the location the Morlocks where to find ONE defeated and Skids hurt. A sentinel attacks the X-Men only to be confronted by Storm and later Skids who is working for SHIELD.

In Neverland Beast and Dark Beast discuss the horrors that happened there which sicken Beast. Dark Beast gives Beast a file on the people who caused all that happened at Neverland. Dark Beast in the end offers to help Beast only to have him accept.

X-Factor #22: The young friend of Layla’s goes to a park. Jamie and Isolationist talk in a bar. M and Siryn continue their investigation only both get knocked out in the end. Rictor and Wolfsbane talk about what happened only leading to more until Strong Guy shows up. Siryn and M are being held by Solo and Clay we learn. The group gathers with the Isolationist talking to them about mutants being an Endangered Species. M breaks out in the middle of no where. Layla is attacked in the park by her friend and left in the lake.

Beast and Dark Beast talk while traveling to their next location about AOA and Phoenix as well as Nate Grey and a possible way to bring Nate back before they arrive at Chernobyl

World War Hulk Update

World War Hulk #3: General Ross remembers past events in his life that involved the Hulk and some of the things Hulk had done as his people attack. Strange uses this time to get into Hulk’s mind and contact Bruce and talk to him about things and what happened. Hulk tricks him to get close enough to change and break Strange’s spell and hands. Hulk’s mind returns back to the conflict and attacks Ross. The Warbound crew find Strange’s place and Rick Jones there. They confront Jones as the remaining New Avengers take the battle to them. The Warbound Crew fight past them and invade Strange’s place with Hiriom in the lead using his abilities with a weakened Strange. Strange escapes only after drinking an elixir to free Zom. Hulk sits on a throne as Rick is brought to him. Hulk wishes to hold gladiator games with mention of him being the Worldbreaker. Strange arrives now enhanced with Zom’s abilities.

Incredible Hulk #109: Herc introduces Hulk to people who have come to aid him from Earth as Ross attacks. Cho and the others help Hulk and Warbound deal with the attack. Rick Jones is captured by Scorpion and Gabe Jones in the end. The Renegades and Warbound make an alliance. Rick tries to talk to Hulk only to have Hulk attacked again. Hiriom and Warbound leave telling Cho to follow Hulk’s orders but that he and his friends can roam freely. Gabe takes command of Cho’s crew as they help refuses in New York. Everyone watches Hulk create an arena. Cho goes to see Hulk giving the Renegades orders of what to do. Scorpion follows Cho into Hulk’s bade and they find the captured heroes being tortured as Hulk arrives

WWH Frontline #3: Sally watches as an old woman won’t leave her home even under the orders of army. Jonah and Robbie discuss the war. Ben and Sally watch the army face off against the Hulk as the old woman’s place is destroyed in the process. Korg and Danny continue the murder investigation as they see a man named Thermo about the murder which leads them to finding the last location of Arch-E-5912. We learn also that Rhode Island’s Initiative is the Slingers

Annihilation Conquest synopsis

Wraith 2: Ra-Vann and her crew face the Phalanx. We learn Prax, Super Skrull, and Ronan are all captured and being turned to join the Phalanx as well as now Wraith. Ronan is ordered to interrogate Wraith and gives him his name. Wraith tells Ronan his origin which includes being the son of Sim-Del and how he witnessed his parents murders and lead him to meeting the Nameless and becoming one of them as he is bonded to Exolon. In the end Ronan places devices on Ronan to make him Phalanx

Nova #5: The Phalanx Space Knights go looking for Rich only to run into Ko-Rel now Nova 0001 and get defeated. Afterwards she returns to her crew who have brought Rich on board to watch him heal and protect him. After talking to one of her crew the ship is attacked and she protects Nova from the Phalanx. Gamora sneaks on board to find Rich and makes him one with the Phalanx.

I thought it was an enlightening column as always. What did you think Daron?

Definitely some interesting stuff this week.

I had a ton of fun as normal. Hope we get more emails next week.

Indeed, keep those emails coming everyone, and see ya in a few.

1. Digital comics Comics you can read online

2. Marvel is in the process of adding new bios and added a ton of new ones. Check them out here

3. As always your opinions on anything in the article or out on the shelves is welcome. After all you never know what type of response you will get.

4. Keep those emails coming and make sure to label them Marvel Handbook. The more emails the better the article is. Till next week Make Mine Marvel

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