Articles for November, 2017
Psych Ward: Klaw
by Marvel Comic Book News | November 29, 2017 at 12:29 am
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Ulysses Klaue is a former human male who now exists as a being of pure sound. He still presents as, roughly, human in form, and is able to hold himself together barring any significant disruptions in concentration or attacks on his physical form. His medical records indicate he is otherwise healthy although this writer has been unable to parse exactly what that might mean. Because of his “condition,” his voice has been altered. He remains understandable but the electric hum quality to his speech can prove difficult to listen to for extended periods of time leading to headaches and difficulty maintaining focus. The therapist is continuing to work on solutions to this situation so the client can receive his full session but currently the only workaround has been to be take a brief break around the halfway point for this writer to leave the room, take some ibuprofen, clear my head, and then return for the remaining time. While not ideal, the client has asserted he has no objection to this—beyond his existing objection to having see a therapist at all—and therefore will continue to be utilized until some other solution is found. The client has a long history of criminality dating back to early young adulthood. According to his own disclosure and reports from others in his life, he began his criminal career seeking vengeance for his family name against the Royal Family of Wakanda. However, after that, most of his criminal activities seem predominantly motivated by greed and self-interest. That Wakanda has often been the target of those greedy and self-interested behaviors would suggest, though, that revenge remains, at the least, a subconscious motivator. Black Panther (2016) #167 As of late, however, Klaue’s motives have become a little more difficult to discern. With the loss of his physical body and therefore a loss in the ability to experience pleasure, he has pursued activities that seem at least somewhat out of character, such as attacks on Daredevil or attempts to aid the Wizard in the claiming and controlling of an alien symbiote that, when merged with Cletus Kasady, is known as Carnage. He has declined to discuss such matters with this therapist insisting he has always acted as he wanted and these choices are merely an extension of that. What the writer has had more luck exploring with the client is his near death experience. After being stabbed by the above mentioned Carnage, Klaue appeared to burst and dissipate. He was, however, able to stay cohesive enough to help subdue the symbiote when it appeared the alien might kill Klaue’s teammates. However, the client believed that that effort had cost him his last bit of strength and resigned himself to full dissipation. While unclear as to how he survived or what exactly occurred between that moment and when he was able to “pull together” fully again, he is not unclear on the emotions both realizing his death was imminent and then being proven wrong evoked in him. He endorses what sound to be like some PTSD symptoms, a sense of mental disorganization, and some halting steps towards re-evaluating current choices. He also finds himself obsessing over what it might mean for him to die, as he is purely sound, regardless of the presence of an afterlife or not. More concerning to him is the possibility that he might not be able to truly die, only dissipate and reform, ad nauseam, in ways that are largely beyond his control. The idea that not even death is something he can count on anymore have led to moments of dissociation, panic, depression, and even extreme euphoria. It also makes him feel isolated and lonely, as it represents a reminder that his humanity is something he only maintains from memory. Black Panther (2016) #168 Unfortunately, though the client denies, another side effect of this thought seems to be the idea that if he is no longer mortal, he has no reason to hold back, no reason not to attack who he wants, when he wants, with as much bloodshed as might occur, as long as it slates whatever psychological hungers he is experiencing. Due to this therapist’s recommendation and referral, the client will attend an appointment with Doctors Ta-Nehisi Coates and Chris Sprouse so they can evaluate him regarding his state of mortality at this time. The appointment will be December 27 and any and all information gained will be available in file BLACK PANTHER #168. Psy D. Candidate Tim Stevens is a Staff Therapist who is also a being of pure sound, but his sound is deep, soothing, and very danceable.
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Invincible Iron Man: Armor on Armor
by Marvel Comic Book News | November 29, 2017 at 12:21 am
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The history of the Marvel Universe’s shown time and time again that everybody thinks they can do it better than Tony Stark…until he proves otherwise. The man himself’s gearing up for a big return beginning in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #595, out December 27 from writer Brian Bendis along with the art team of Stefano Caselli and Alex Maleev, and every suit of armor on the planet’s seizing up in anticipation. Why? Because, as we’re about to show you with a few examples of Iron Man’s armored adversaries through the years, there’s only one Tony Stark—accept no substitutes! Crimson Dynamo
Perhaps the quintessential armored Iron Man adversary, The Crimson Dynamo stood as Russia’s answer to the “Stark Problem.” Over the years, many wore the powerful suit, but in the end, our favorite billionaire playboy won the day every time.Titanium Man
Yep, another Russian “iron man” and another beatdown for the bad guy. Like the Crimson Dynamo, more than one Titanium Man attempted to over-armor Stark, but he broke their mold with some hot iron on cold, cold steel.Doctor Doom
So, yeah, Doctor Doom devised his armor not in response to Tony Stark’s handiwork, but for his own nefarious purposes—which still placed him in direct conflict with Iron Man on more than one occasion. Who’s the best? That answer’s still on the wind, True Believer.Iron Monger
This represents one of those dark times when the world turned without the original Iron Man and evil opposites rose up in his absence. Tony’s rival Obadiah Stane thought he’d seen the last of Stark, but trotted out the Iron Monger armor to put him down when he showed his armored face again. Too bad for Stane, of course.Armor Wars
Iron Man versus multiple armored foes, and even a few friends and acquaintances? Trust us—these “Armor Wars” proved that nobody, and we mean nobody should ever dare to “borrow” Tony Stark’s technology ever again. ‘Nuff said.Sentient Armor
They say everyone must face their own inner demons at some point, but when that went down for Tony Stark it meant contending with his own armor which had developed its own independent life. More than a guy in a suit, the sentient armor became one of Iron Man’s greatest challenges and remains so to this day.Ezekiel Stane
Ezekiel Stane—familiar name, but all-new menace. Zeke wanted to be better than his father, Obadiah, and his way of reaching that pinnacle involved destroying Tony Stark. Armor versus armor again, and when the dust cleared, the son ranked no higher than the father on the steel-clad super villain scale.Detroit Steel
Tony’s got to do something about these kids who try to out-evil their old men. This time it fell to Justine and Sasha Hammer to seek revenge on Stark for their dad, Justin, with Detroit Steel, one of the wickedest and wildest suits of weaponized armor ever. Iron Man performed some Motor City madness on the beast and once again illustrated why the first and original’s always going to shine the brightest…“The Search for Tony Stark” hits another gear with INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #595 from Brian Michael Bendis, Stefano Caselli, and Alex Maleev, coming December 27!
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Secret Warriors: Underground
by Marvel Comic Book News | November 28, 2017 at 11:06 pm
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It makes sense that a dude who has an obsession with evolution would go after the Inhumans. But that infatuation soon becomes an existential threat, forcing the Secret Warriors into hiding. On December 13, writer Matthew Rosenberg joins artists Javier Garrón and Will Robson to deal the Inhuman squad an impossible hand in SECRET WARRIORS #10! So how will they play their cards? We caught up with Rosenberg to get a few ideas. Marvel.com: What do you think makes Mister Sinister such a great antagonist for the Secret Warriors? Matthew Rosenberg: First of all, he’s amazing. So there’s that. I’ve always loved Sinister because he is the classic mad scientist of the X-universe. He’s smart, driven, and more than a little psychotic, and that can be such a great combination. And obviously we all know him as an X-Men villain, but here he gets mixed up with our little team. I think the idea of them getting mixed up with one of the most dangerous X-villains just makes sense. This team only works well when they are in over their head and can’t turn back. Marvel.com: Sinister has a fascination with the science of human evolution, so it seems likely that he’d be interested in the Warriors and their Inhuman DNA… Matthew Rosenberg: I think Sinister is fascinating because of his obsession with genetics and evolution. We spend all this time reading about the adventures of these super heroes who differ genetically from the average human, and he’s the villain that has as much of a fascination about that as we do. He doesn’t take mutations and Terrigenesis for granted. He wants to know how they work, to conquer them. It’s a logical idea, but also terrifying, because he will do anything to get his answers. He is a man ruled by obsessions and that obsession is now Inhumans. For the Warriors, jumping in between Sinister and the Inhumans he’s after definitely won’t be good. But that might be what makes them heroes…or just dumb. I guess we’ll find out which. 
Marvel.com: Sinister has a pretty complicated history with mutants. Does this inform his views on the Inhumans and the Warriors? Matthew Rosenberg: Yeah, I think Sinister really likes two things: figuring out the things no one else can figure out and preying on the vulnerable. Those go hand in hand for him. Mutants, as a group, have amazing powers but are hated and feared by society. That makes them easy targets for Sinister. The Inhumans, put into labor camps, having lost their leaders, with no chance to continue the species without the Terrigen Mists, seem just like the type of vulnerable that Sinister loves. So the shift in focus for him has been an obvious one. But, much like with the mutants, his relationship to the Inhumans isn’t quite what it appears. He hurts people and does unconscionable things, but he has a goal. And that goal might not be what people expect. Marvel.com: As someone who values science and scientists, going up against Mister Sinister has to have an impact on Moon Girl, right? Matthew Rosenberg: In a lot of ways this will be a real fork in the road for Lunella. She is a good person, no question. A hero and sweet kid, but she’s also a genius. She values science and exploring new ideas above almost anything else. In that way, Sinister looks like a cautionary tale for her. What happens when the pursuit of science and knowledge lacks humanity? It might be easy to see how Lunella could be seduced to Sinister’s way of thinking—she finds most people kind of annoying. But will she be willing to do what’s morally right to stand in the way of his quest for knowledge? I mean, probably. But read the book. Marvel.com: Final thoughts? Matthew Rosenberg: Mister Sinister has always been one of the great Marvel villains and I’m so happy to get the chance to throw our Warriors up against him. This will really be a test that will make or break them. Either way, there will be some crazy science, insane fights, and ice cream breaks along the way. SECRET WARRIORS #10, by Matthew Rosenberg and artists Javier Garrón and Will Robson, drops on December 13!
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