hbkabdul
01-19-2006, 12:19 AM
Book opens up with two brothers squabbling in an alley. They've found some spandex and stumbled on what the younger brother believes is a superhero. But the older brother indicates the deceased and badly beaten costumed character is a super villian. The brothers decide to leave the body undisturbed to avoid being blamed for anything as we see the body being dumped into a garbage bin. At no point is it revealed who the super villian is.
The super villian who later coins himself the Pitiful One is traveling what i assume to be the bowels of hell in search for some green blobish substance. His search comes to an end when he finds said gunk.
Elsewhere in the sanctum of Dr. Strange we see him conversing with Wong. Dr. Strange isn't feeling good apparently and seems to be suffering from hemorrhoids according to Wong. Strange conjures up a spell and notices that something is happening in the afterworld. He begins to tell Wong something about who is behind it but stops mid sentence. Strange odd behaviour leads Wong to call another doctor for an appointment for Dr. Strange.
Back in the afterworld we see the Pitiful One along with Mysterio, Kraven, the Anarchist and Miss America I believe. He places the green substance on their foreheads and one by one they fade away.
Later Strange and Wong visit Dr. Young who went to medical school with Strange. Strange complains about not living a normal life etc etc. Young complains about living the mundane life and wishing the roles were reversed. Strange somehow notices that Young is unable to enjoy his life because of minor demon that entered him many lives ago. One quick spell later and he cures Dr Young and leaves.
Back to the Pitiful One and his gang we see they have entered the land of the living via the green substance. It allows them to join the land of the living for 24 hours before being returned to the afterworld. The group takes over the UN building and refuse to speak with anyone except Strange. We briefly see the two brothers from the start of the story but they have grown older. This time around the younger brother doesn't seem so scared of his older brother. Strange encounters the Pitiful One who explains he was a supervillian who got beat up by the Fantastic Four, Thor and Daredevil. Never says exactly who the villian is though. He tells Strange that he wants to live again and knows its possible as Colossus, Elektra and Psylocke have managed to die and be reborn. However some army general intervenes and decides to end negotiations and send in the troops.
Later we learn all the troops were slaughtered and that the dead characters have returned to the afterworld. Strange decides he must do something but knows he needs assistance. Preferably from someone who can move freely through the land of the living and the land of the dead. Last page we see Deadgirl sitting around with Gwen Stacy and Mockingbird.
A decent issue but it feels like Milligan doesn't have a great grasp on Wong or Dr Strange. It's mentioned by both that they seem to be acting out of character but due to some outside forces. Anarchist gets off a few lines and the dialogue feels natural as he is Milligan's creation. The whole story seems to lack a lot of Milligan's sense of humor and satire that was abundant in X-statix. It is there but in small doses. As normal for Marvel stories as of late the lead character doesn't show up until the last page. Mild recommendation to pick this up.
The super villian who later coins himself the Pitiful One is traveling what i assume to be the bowels of hell in search for some green blobish substance. His search comes to an end when he finds said gunk.
Elsewhere in the sanctum of Dr. Strange we see him conversing with Wong. Dr. Strange isn't feeling good apparently and seems to be suffering from hemorrhoids according to Wong. Strange conjures up a spell and notices that something is happening in the afterworld. He begins to tell Wong something about who is behind it but stops mid sentence. Strange odd behaviour leads Wong to call another doctor for an appointment for Dr. Strange.
Back in the afterworld we see the Pitiful One along with Mysterio, Kraven, the Anarchist and Miss America I believe. He places the green substance on their foreheads and one by one they fade away.
Later Strange and Wong visit Dr. Young who went to medical school with Strange. Strange complains about not living a normal life etc etc. Young complains about living the mundane life and wishing the roles were reversed. Strange somehow notices that Young is unable to enjoy his life because of minor demon that entered him many lives ago. One quick spell later and he cures Dr Young and leaves.
Back to the Pitiful One and his gang we see they have entered the land of the living via the green substance. It allows them to join the land of the living for 24 hours before being returned to the afterworld. The group takes over the UN building and refuse to speak with anyone except Strange. We briefly see the two brothers from the start of the story but they have grown older. This time around the younger brother doesn't seem so scared of his older brother. Strange encounters the Pitiful One who explains he was a supervillian who got beat up by the Fantastic Four, Thor and Daredevil. Never says exactly who the villian is though. He tells Strange that he wants to live again and knows its possible as Colossus, Elektra and Psylocke have managed to die and be reborn. However some army general intervenes and decides to end negotiations and send in the troops.
Later we learn all the troops were slaughtered and that the dead characters have returned to the afterworld. Strange decides he must do something but knows he needs assistance. Preferably from someone who can move freely through the land of the living and the land of the dead. Last page we see Deadgirl sitting around with Gwen Stacy and Mockingbird.
A decent issue but it feels like Milligan doesn't have a great grasp on Wong or Dr Strange. It's mentioned by both that they seem to be acting out of character but due to some outside forces. Anarchist gets off a few lines and the dialogue feels natural as he is Milligan's creation. The whole story seems to lack a lot of Milligan's sense of humor and satire that was abundant in X-statix. It is there but in small doses. As normal for Marvel stories as of late the lead character doesn't show up until the last page. Mild recommendation to pick this up.