Hey all. Welcome to yet another Marvel handbook. With a good amount of Q and A this week, it seems our readers are doing their jobs. Wonder though if it can keep up. Let‘s hope so. Hey Daron how are you this fine day?
I’m pretty good, hanging in there. I have to apologize for the lateness this week. My internet has been down for the last few days and I’ve been completely cut off, don’t you love that?
I‘m good old buddy. I just hope this emailing can keep up. I really am liking this.
soak1313 posted
what is the story behind darwin? i saw him in the newest issue of x-factor and he seems pretty interesting.
Armando was born different from other children. By age four, he was bald, his arms were longer than normal, and his eyes seemed to change. His father abandoned them around this time, and his mother blamed Darwin for his mutation. She treated him like he wasn’t her son even at the ages a kid needs attention.
He grew up in the face of rejection, with even his own mother despising him, but he didn’t hate her for that. He did everything he could to make her love him. A day came when he was asked to take an IQ test. Unknown to anyone at the time, Armando’s desire to impress his mother subconsciously activated his mutant power and allowed him to test off the charts. He was quickly enrolled in a renowned boarding school, the Biltmore Academy, but he was sent away mostly because his mother still hated him.
Although his teachers loved him, he was bullied constantly by other students. One day the bullies put his head in the toilet and Armando noticed he could breath underwater. He lifted his head out and began fighting back, feeling his arms become tough, almost like cement when he punched them. The bullies fled and Armando never brought up what had happened.
His mother had become a heavy smoker. One night she had fallen asleep with one of her cigarettes still lit, accidently setting their house on fire. Armando carried her out, unaffected by the flames to the astonishment of firefighters and paramedics. Tests were done at the hospital, and scientists were brought in.
Armando was told he was a mutant and was nicknamed ‘Darwin, the Evolving Boy’ (after Charles Darwin) because he seemed to adapt to every condition the scientists could think of. For example, they placed him in a pitch-black room and he gained night vision. There was even a lengthy report that was published about Armando.
Unfortunately, his mother continued to reject him, denying that she could ever give birth to such a thing. Dejected, he attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the roof. Instead, he bounced off the ground. After talking about what happened with the school psychiatrist, he was told that ‘someone who works with other kids like him’ had read about Armando and was interested in meeting him. This person turned out to be Moira MacTaggert.
Moira MacTaggert recruited Armando as one of her “fosters.” He was in the first team, along with Vulcan, Petra, and Sway to attempt to rescue the X-Men from Krakoa.
While Petra and Sway were killed by Krakoa, Darwin and Vulcan were swallowed in the earth by a combination of Sway and Petra’s dying powers. Darwin absorbed the remains of the two girls and then converted himself into energy to fuse together with Vulcan. This gave Vulcan the powers of Darwin, Petra, and Sway.
Years later, Rachel Summers managed to expel Darwin’s presence from Vulcan, who then took off for space. While dealing with the shocking revelations of the truth about Krakoa and Vulcan, Beast found out that Darwin was still in fact alive. He was brought back to the Institute, where Beast determined Darwin is now a being of pure energy. While not conscious, he was shown to still have brain activity and was still alive, located at the X-Mansion. Once separated from Vulcan, Darwin’s abilities caused him to develop a physical form once more.
He joined the X-Men for a time to stop Vulcan before coming back to Earth and helping the X-Men in Messiah Complex.
Rogue asked
Hey Jim
Do you have any idea who is replacing Ennis on MAX Punisher?
this list will be long once it’s completed
Duane Swierczynski
Gregg Hurwitz
Victor Gischler
After these writers more writers will join the title and do stories on the chiropractor till a full time writer is found.
Lockheed asked
Has there been any talk about how long Bendis will stay on Avengers?
Isn’t it time to have a change already? I didn’t drop the book after Disassembled, I’ve been patient for all these years … is there any chance that I will get anything Avengers written by someone else than Bendis any time soon? Maybe after the Invasion?
With Bendis still going to be the writer as far as we have heard post SI and his contract with Marvel still in effect you might not see him leave the title for some time still
You want Bendis off the book? My best advice to you is quit being patient and just drop the thing. (I did a while back – all Avengers titles actually…as well as just about anything from Marvel not written by Brubaker). The only way to force change in this industry is quit buying something.
Timmeah asked
This is long overdue but WHY THE HELL IS HAVOK STILL IN SPACE?
Its been 23 issues of story involving Vulcan and 17 issues involving Havok and space and nothing has been resolved.
Well I‘ll tell you this might get resolved more in an upcoming story:
War of Kings: writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and editor of Bill Rosemann have given for War of Kings, a major Marvel outer space spectacular building through the remainder of this year and exploding in 2009. Tying together elements from major events including Secret Invasion and Ed Brubaker’s work on UNCANNY X-MEN, “War of Kings” promises upheaval through the cosmos that will make even Abnett and Lanning’s previous tour de force in ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST seem like an interstellar picnic.
Dirk emails
Great column again this week guys. I’m not a member of the forums or anything, I just started coming here about 3 months ago and really got into the Comic Columns.
I know you guys don’t deal with it, but what’s up with Who’s Who? Is it dead or on another site now? It’s been a looong time since the last one was posted.
Daron you got anything you know that can help our emailer?
Yeah, Who’s Who seemed to have been on hiatus for a bit, but it’s back now. Check it out!
Anyway, I hope it’s okay if I ask questions here. If not, someone comment back and I’ll email them. (yes, I’m lazy and at work, so sue me.)
1. After being out of comics for a very long time, I picked up Spider Man a few months ago just in time to see Aunt May come back to life, Parker and MJ were never married, etc etc.
…
Why?
Allow me.
This might take a bit:
ONE MORE DAY:
Peter Parker’s Aunt May is slowly dying from a gunshot wound sustained during the events of Civil War. Peter Parker is forced to ask Tony Stark for financial assistance; Peter then sets out to help Aunt May any way he can.
Peter seeks council with Doctor Strange. Strange informs Peter that he can do nothing to grant Aunt May her life back. However, he helps Peter seek the aid of several others including Doctor Doom, the High Evolutionary, Reed Richards, and Doctor Octopus. Peter attempts to go back in time using a magic spell without Strange’s approval, harming himself in the process. Strange heals his wounds and sends him on his way, encouraging him to be by his Aunt’s side at her death. On his way to the hospital, Peter is confronted by a little girl, who says she holds the answer to his problem.
Peter talks to the little girl, who runs off. While pursuing her, Peter encounters men whom a woman in red informs Peter are alternate versions of himself, from alternate timelines where Peter never became Spider-Man. The woman transforms into the demon Mephisto, who tells Peter he can save Aunt May. As payment, Mephisto wants not Peter’s soul, but his marriage to Mary Jane. Peter and Mary Jane are given until midnight the following night to decide their answer.
Peter and Mary Jane agree to the deal after several hours agonizing over the choice. Mary Jane whispers an offer to Mephisto in return for removing the knowledge of Peter’s identity from the world. Mephisto then changes history so that Peter and Mary Jane never married, and no one remembers whose face is underneath Spider-Man’s mask. Peter wakes up alone in bed, living again with Aunt May.
The short answer…Joe Quesada power trip. The short solution don’t buy it.
I understand the main reason of probably wanting to do something to stir up interest in the book, because as Eric Bischoff says: Controversy Creates Cash. Still, it’s ridiculous. May honestly doesn’t even need to be in the comic, since Parker is an adult and has been Spider Man for a long time. Isn’t she essentially now a worthless character?
Well many fans have argued the same thing you have. The fact is JQ is behind this event. He has searched for a way for spliting Spider-Man and MJ. He never has liked the marriage. He couldn‘t divorce them. He couldn‘t split them up. He couldn‘t do anything. He needed to use magic.
2. Do you really think things will stay like this with Spider Man? Will they push the reset button and fix things or just let MJ/Pete get back together in another fashion?
oh it will be fixed. Everything will go back to the way it was when the fans start dropping it and continue to complain. Give it like a year and likely everything will change back
3. Am I the only one who is sort of glad this happened? Now people can stop bitching about Clone Saga. I enjoyed Ben Reilly as the Scarlet Spider, so it kind of sucks that he died, but May is STILL alive.
oh don‘t you worry. People still complain about the clone saga.
Okay, I guess those questions were really more rants, but hey, I had to post.
Please keep up the great work. This column (and Who’s Who) is seriously the only reason I even come to Inside Pulse. (sorry, but the layout sucks for trying to find stuff)
Anyway, have a great week guys!
we‘ll do our best
Secret Invasion Synopsis
Avengers Initiative #15: Crusader’s powers throw off 3-D Man’s glasses to see everyone but him as Skrulls. 3-D Man steals a quinjet and crashes it. War Machine is effected by the virus only for the Baron to help him. The recruits are told of the Invasion with Crusader knowing Pym is Skrull and how he himself came to Earth. The Crusader is almost revealed in the fight
New Avengers #43: Cap fights Spidey, Shanna, and Kazar till a dart hits revealing Cap as a Skrull. We see the Skrull who became Cap and how they gained his memories and was put with the others. We see how they came to Earth as well. He is killed as Spidey leads the others towards gunfire.
New Warriors #14: The Warriors have breakfast as the Skrulls invade. The team fight past them to find Thrash. Thrash thinks the original may be alive. Thrash leaves only to be confronted by Counter-Force before the Warriors arrive.
She-Hulk #31: M fights She-Hulk. Darwin and Jaz fight. Jaz warns She-Hulk of the invasion days before. Strong Guy joins the fight. Jaz tells of a talisman that the Skrulls are going to need and they need to find. Madrox fights She-Hulk. Darwin reveals Longshot’s secret.
Thunderbolts #122: Swarm fights the Thunderbolts until Venom takes him out. Norman and Moonstone hold Bullseye out of the fight. Swordsman’s sister returns. Norman believes Zola is behind the return. Swordsman trust her. Mar-Vell attacks and takes out the team as Osborn gives him an offer.
Black Panther #38: Black Panther and Killmonger fight as natives watch. Shari is attacked by Voodoo. Monica tries to free herself. Voodoo is revealed as a Skrull. Monica frees herself and takes out Killmonger. Killmonger’s son watches. Monica goes after the monkey as the Killmongers plot revenge
Black Panther #39: Skrulls arrive in Wakanda to find many dead. Panther has his temple take down the ship before hunting them and taking down as many as possible with his people. We see the Skrulls defeated we learn of a Skrull inside Wakanda
Ms Marvel #29: Ms Marvel fights a giant Skrull and takes him down. Carol finds Sum and teams up with him to fight off the Skrulls. Sum helps many escape. Carol finds many Shield agents and one alive who says Skrulls fear another Skrull
Secret Invasion Fantastic Four #3: the FF are attacked by Space bats and fight them off with Lyja showing up to help. We learn Lyja’s story. The FF go to the prison and find the Tinkerer who helps them out. Lyja stays behind as the FF come home
Skrulls vs. Power Pack #1: Skrulls replace the Power Pack. Franklin and the pack go bowling only to have the group captured by aliens. We learn they are on trial by Skrulls. Franklin begins to work on saving the team
Manifest Destiny
Uncanny X-Men #500: Kingo Sunen signs Blob for a movie and plans to use the Dreaming Celestial for the setting. Guy DeMondue purchases a pair of inactive Sentinels for his show. The new X-Men base is revealed. Storm brings the mayor to see the team. She warns them of the show. The X-Men go as many are disguised as X-Men of the past there. Magneto arrives and takes on the X-Men with the Sentinels. Magneto is revealed to have a suit that mimics his old powers. The Sentinels are defeated. Magneto escapes. High Evolutionary and Kingo use the Celestial eye before Evolutionary leaves. Evolutionary takes Magneto and Blob with him for a goal of his own. Cyclops contacts Mutants with Emma’s powers. Wolverine finds Guy dead. Simon Trask goes to a nightclub. Pixie and Hellion leave a show by Dazzler. The Hellfire Cult strike
Divided We Stand
X-Men Legacy #214: Xavier relives the first day of the original X-Men. Sinister attacks Gambit and Shaw before Mueller captures them all. Sinister breaks free controlling her. Xavier tries to break free. Shaw breaks him and Gambit free. Xavier recalls Stryfe shooting him and faces a Brood and Onslaught as Sinister deals with Mueller. Gambit and Shaw return to fight Sinister with Xavier’s help. The Cronus is attacked and taken down as Xavier defeats Sinister. Mueller goes missing. Xavier leaves Gambit to find Cyclops. Shaw meets with a new Black Queen later by the name Miss Sinister
That‘s it for today. A nice amount of questions and emails. What did you think of the issue Daron?
It was nice to have a bunch of emails all at once. I’d definitely like to see that continue.
I‘ve enjoyed it. I‘m hoping for a lot more emails of course. Maybe Cory emails. Sign off time
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. Next issue is our Skrull issue. We have tons of information and reveals so far. So if you have any questions on Skrulls or opinions on Secret Invasion send them this way
That’s it from here. As always reporting from my corner of the Marvel Universe I’m Jim Trabold. Make Mine Marvel.
And make mine with a side of steamed rice and vegetables. I’m hungry!
