Will Adam Warlock be around?

[The Anti-Existence]

It's a big cosmic event...where's Adam?

[Expletive Deleted]

I haven't heard anything either way about him appearing.

[Deadpooligan]

It's a big cosmic event...where's Adam?

This question was a pretty big one for Andy Schmidt when Annihilation first started up. (I think?)

Beta Ray Bill too. Readers (like me!) were hoping he'd have a role too.

From what I can remember, he's either OK in space somewhere after chillin' with Thanos in Thanos #1-6, or he's (assumably) braindead after Reed Richards took his Soul Gem for New Avengers: Illuminati #2.

[The Anti-Existence]

1. How can he be with Thanos? Thanos is with Death.
2. Why would taking his Soul Gem make him braindead?

[Deadpooligan]

1. How can he be with Thanos? Thanos is with Death.
2. Why would taking his Soul Gem make him braindead?


Oooh! Numbered questions!

1. This event was before Annihilation in Thanos' (Solo series/Maxi-series?) book. (2004, actually).

2. It's happened before, IIRC. The Soul Gem sustains his mental state because he is an artificially created human.

[Cthulhudrew]

2. It's happened before, IIRC. The Soul Gem sustains his mental state because he is an artificially created human.

Warlock doesn't need the Soul Gem- he lived long and prosperously before ever having been given it by the High Evolutionary, and he's lived without it afterwards.

That said, they do have a symbiotic relationship, and Warlock certainly views himself as the best possible guardian for its parasitic tendencies, so it's kind of unusual that he's allowed it to fall into other hands.

(In any event, I'm still suspicious that the Magus may be the the threat behind Annihilation: Conquest, which would likely make Adam Warlock his prisoner- thus explaining his absence.)

[Captain Mobra]

This question was a pretty big one for Andy Schmidt when Annihilation first started up. (I think?)

Beta Ray Bill too. Readers (like me!) were hoping he'd have a role too.

From what I can remember, he's either OK in space somewhere after chillin' with Thanos in Thanos #1-6, or he's (assumably) braindead after Reed Richards took his Soul Gem for New Avengers: Illuminati #2.Oh eff yeah. I would have marked straight out for any number of suprise moments that Bill could have been involved in.

Man. Now I'm hoping Omega Flight fails so they can stick him in Anni: Conquest.

[jsf]

It's a big cosmic event...where's Adam?

There's been some speculation that he might be evolving into the Magus, and hence one of the bad guys ('cos there's been an indication here and there that there might be more than one).

Love Warlock and would hate to see him go ... but that would definitely be an interesting development of the character.

[XPac]

I wonder if there isn't a lack of love for Warlock without Starlin around.

They gave his girlfriend to Nova and they gave his soul gem to the Illuminati. They are using so many of the characters elements in major storylines without actually using him... it's like they're going out of their way NOT to include the poor guy.

It's a shame, because Warlock is actually a pretty cool character.

[Siddon]

I love Warlock but I would rather see the finale Annhilation story have the big guns the return of Thanos, Silver Surfer, Warlock, Annihilous, Captain Marvel, and Ronan.

[firestarfan]

If Adam Warlock is not involved in Conquest, it really, really, really, really, really, REALLY needs to be explained a) why not, and b) what he's doing instead.

Yes, Starlin turned him into a bit of a Cosmic Deux Ex Machina (although they were some of the best stories Marvel's ever told) but he holds such a giant role in Marvel's Cosmic goings-on, he at least deserves a mention.

[agrich]

I wonder if there isn't a lack of love for Warlock without Starlin around.


My guess is that the reverse is true.

I think there is a great respect for Starlin's handling of the character among creators with a cosmic bent, and moreover the real sense (proven by the lousy Tom Lyle Warlock miniseries a few years back where he fought Blastaar and somebody else) that no one else really gets the character, or at least has the same understanding of how best to use him. Yeah, they used Gamora, and maybe his soul gem is in the hands of the Illuminati (or was at some point), but I don't think Warlock is being excluded because no one thinks he's a great character, but because they're wary of screwing him up. And in truth, not only has the character only ever been good when done by Starlin, but he was kind of overexposed for a while, and getting a rest from the landscape will benefit the character in the long run, I think.

He's my favorite character, but when I see everyone wishing he'd come back in some way, I have to wonder if they're sure. I'd rather him not come back than come back and be handled badly (or killed off), either of which are real possibilities.

Starlin and Marvel have their differences right now, but the fact is they've had differences which resulted in Starlin quitting Marvel 3 or 4 times in the last 30 years, but eventually he'll probably come back, and when that happens, I won't mind not seeing Warlock until then.

Granted, he might be in Annihilation: Conquest, but I think them not rushing his return is a good thing. I'd rather not see him than see him done poorly.

[XPac]

My guess is that the reverse is true.

I think there is a great respect for Starlin's handling of the character among creators with a cosmic bent, and moreover the real sense (proven by the lousy Tom Lyle Warlock miniseries a few years back where he fought Blastaar and somebody else) that no one else really gets the character, or at least has the same understanding of how best to use him. Yeah, they used Gamora, and maybe his soul gem is in the hands of the Illuminati (or was at some point), but I don't think Warlock is being excluded because no one thinks he's a great character, but because they're wary of screwing him up. And in truth, not only has the character only ever been good when done by Starlin, but he was kind of overexposed for a while, and getting a rest from the landscape will benefit the character in the long run, I think.

He's my favorite character, but when I see everyone wishing he'd come back in some way, I have to wonder if they're sure. I'd rather him not come back than come back and be handled badly (or killed off), either of which are real possibilities.

Starlin and Marvel have their differences right now, but the fact is they've had differences which resulted in Starlin quitting Marvel 3 or 4 times in the last 30 years, but eventually he'll probably come back, and when that happens, I won't mind not seeing Warlock until then.

Granted, he might be in Annihilation: Conquest, but I think them not rushing his return is a good thing. I'd rather not see him than see him done poorly.

Given how Quasar and Thanos were handled, I can understand the fear that people might assume he'd be handled badly or killed off (though honestly Warlock fans probably have less to worry about in regards to him being killed off than most... coming back from the dead is pretty much an integral part of his character at this point).

Nonetheless, the fear of the character not being used well simply isn't a deterent in my mind for not wanting him to actually be used. If I had such little faith in the ability of the writers in Annihilation, I wouldn't bother reading their books to begin with. They have used other characters reasonable well, so I won't assume that they are incapable of using Warlock until I see them use him badly.

[agrich]

I agree, anything is possible. Giffen and Co. certainly did fine with Thanos. I definitely have an open mind, and if it does take Starlin another 5-7 years to return to Marvel (as it has in the past), I'd probably rather see Warlock sooner than that.

In any case, I don't think a cosmic event without Warlock is a slight on the character, and I don't think it's essential he be used or mentioned. The universe is a big place, he could be off doing something else.

The original Magus storyline had nothing to do with Earth or any established characters (until Thanos showed up halfway through). I'd be interested in seeing somebody do something completely new with the character down the road -- not have him show up in Nova or something.

[XPac]

I agree, anything is possible. Giffen and Co. certainly did fine with Thanos. I definitely have an open mind, and if it does take Starlin another 5-7 years to return to Marvel (as it has in the past), I'd probably rather see Warlock sooner than that.

In any case, I don't think a cosmic event without Warlock is a slight on the character, and I don't think it's essential he be used or mentioned. The universe is a big place, he could be off doing something else.

The original Magus storyline had nothing to do with Earth or any established characters (until Thanos showed up halfway through). I'd be interested in seeing somebody do something completely new with the character down the road -- not have him show up in Nova or something.

Just my opinion... I don't think a that events occuring without Warlock is a slight against his character in and of itself. But when his girlfriend and his soul gem are being liberally used without Warlock and without any explanation at all, to me it comes off looking off.

To me it would almost be the equivalent of Hawkeye one way walking around with Thor's hammer and dating Jane Foster without any explanation or reference to Thor at all.

[LordEd1976]

Everyone knows Warlock will appear during the thrilling conclusion to yell at Gamora about she's late coming home and he was sitting around bored waiting for her to make dinner.

[agrich]

Gamora showing up doesn't bother me that much. That their relationship might end for one reason or another isn't so unlikely, given Warlock's history of going off on his own or whatever. They were together not as a couple for a whole lot longer than they were a couple.

As for the soul gem, well, I'm a Bendis fan, but I can readily say that after three issues of the Illuminati series, the thing is just a messed-up, near incomprehensible, and pointless exercise that seems to delight in either altering or simply ignoring continuity in the interests of telling a "fun" story. The issue with the gems made little sense, and the issue with the Beyonder was a total waste of time. I'm not going to give the series the respect of getting worked up about there not being an implausible scene where Reed Richards somehow takes the gem away from Warlock. Talk about a classic example of a case where I'm glad the character didn't even appear. We'd probably have seen Echo or Spider-woman sneak the gem off Warlock's forehead while he was sleeping or something.

[Cthulhudrew]

Gamora showing up doesn't bother me that much. That their relationship might end for one reason or another isn't so unlikely, given Warlock's history of going off on his own or whatever. They were together not as a couple for a whole lot longer than they were a couple.

I was just going to say the same thing. Ironically, while Warlock seems to have genuinely changed since his last major death and allowed himself to open up and share his feelings and care about Gamora, given her history and volatile character, I could see where she just wasn't ready for it (despite seemingly wanting to be with him for so long). Sometimes getting what you wish for really isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I'm not going to give the series the respect of getting worked up about there not being an implausible scene where Reed Richards somehow takes the gem away from Warlock.

Yeah, Warlock's given it up before, but the two invariably end up getting back together (they're a dysfunctional couple, which is pretty much par for the course with Adam. Probably no coincidence that his gem and Gamora are both green. ;))

It could be that the vampiric gem finally managed to get itself free- at least temporarily. Maybe Adam decided to give it up for some reason or other (even Elric ditched Stormbringer for a time). Maybe something's happened to Adam (possibly Magus related... hopefully not Goddess related.)

[XPac]

Well, that's just it... there are plausible explanations why Warlock may have given up the soul gem. The writers just never bothered giving it. Likewise, there are plausible reasons why Gamora and Warlock might have parted ways... again, the writers just never bothered giving it.

To me the fact that the writers didn't feel it was important enough to even throw a single line of explanation at least to me is a bit of a put off.