The Order #10 *Spoilers*

[drwho]

The good news about this issue is everyone did not die. The bad news is I think there was a definite gap in quality from all the issues that came before it.

In this issue the team is depowered and Heavy is dead and the team steal a SHIELD flying car to go save Mullholand whom Stane's son put her up on an antenna platform while everyone in Los Angeles starts rioting. In the end Hellrung either smothers, or snaps Mullhollands neck because she doesnt know how to shut off her powers. Stane's son seems one dimensional claiming he did all this to hurt Tony. In the end the team is repowered.

A few problems I had with this were comments like tony saying this team was a social experiment. For what? Who knows, but it seemed like a dumb idea. Also Tony said they would be made a full fledged initiative team, but have to go through training. Is it just me or was this not advertised as being an initiative team already and to have them out super heroing if they didnt go to super hero school seems hypocritical of Tony. Also the Tony came off so distant an emotionless to these people that he has a history with. I didn't like the ending much, but hopefully Fraction writes Iron Man better than what we got here. I also hope there is more to Stane's son than just wanting to hurt Tony.

[Expletive Deleted]

Fraction had to wrap everything up, even the stuff that never really got off the ground in the first place. So . . . yeah, with that kind of remit, it's hard to really pull off a satisfying finale. And this wasn't. It was okay, but it wasn't up to the standards of previous issues of the series.

Not having Kitson on full pencils for the finale was a disappointment, too. Saltares isn't a bad penciller, but his pencils just didn't work for me, here.

Still, it was a fine series and I look forward to INVINCIBLE IRON MAN.

[Karthak]

Hellrung KILLED Mulholland? He smothered my favorite character in the series? Now who at Marvel do I need to bribe to get that @%#¤¤ killed?

[HeckBoy]

Given its cancellation, it doesn't surprise they rushed out an ending like that. So who's left on the team? Henry, Veda, Calamity, Supernaut, and Becky? I wonder if they'll be popping up in one of the Iron Man books now. I think I remember seeing Pepper in her Hera gear in some of the preview pages of Invincible.

[TotalWorldDomination]

Good issue, but I'm pretty sad I can't buy this every month anymore. Glad they are intigrating The Order into the Initative perhaps that means these people will have there powers for more then a year?

Fairwell Order. You shall be missed.

[Teh m0nk3y]

Not quite happy with the issue, but at least there's been laid seeds for future use in Invincible and the Initiative.

[mikekerr3]

Hellrung KILLED Mulholland? He smothered my favorite character in the series? Now who at Marvel do I need to bribe to get that @%#¤¤ killed?

Herny worked for Stark, killing was the pragmatic solution. They could have put her in the shuttle and flown here out to see but killing here worked fasters and was less bother.

[Teh m0nk3y]

Herny worked for Stark, killing was the pragmatic solution. They could have put her in the shuttle and flown here out to see but killing here worked fasters and was less bother.

The poor woman was in severe pain and had no control of her powers.
The collateral damage was increasing by the second.
It seemed like the most humane solution.

That and it wasn't explicitly shown that Henry killed her.
Him saying sorry could have been because he had no solution, and Mullholland might have died of a severe seizure caused by her uncontrolled powers.

So either Henry committed a coup de grâce/mercy killing or Mullholland died from her condition.

[Expletive Deleted]

Yeah, it seemed deliberately ambiguous.

Personally, I thought it was a touching moment.

[Teh m0nk3y]

Yeah, it seemed deliberately ambiguous.

Personally, I thought it was a touching moment.

I was hoping for some kind of last minute miracle, but found the moment touching as well.

[Lunal]

Yah I don't think he killed her, I think she died of a seizure. Does it matter? I think so, because the Order is all about teamwork and sticking up for their own. Especially Henry, killing her even out of mercy just seems out of character for him.

Anyway, this was a great series that ended a little abruptly. C'est la vie, I'm glad I was there for the ride.

[StoneGold]

Fraction's been saying the book is basically the prequel for Invincible Iron Man. It always was. Yeah, that's it, that's the ticket.

[bulbasteve]

A few problems I had with this were comments like tony saying this team was a social experiment. For what? Who knows, but it seemed like a dumb idea.

Here is fraction talking about that idea from an interview:

MF: I hope that, as The Order carries on, we'll start to see that it's a kind of social program rather than a, well, military or security initiative. That it's a kind of exception to The Initiative proper -- that it's a kind of living experiment in social responsibility. Tony's plans for it are very much about empowering "regular people" as a way to incite us all towards our best behaviors. Why don't we treat cops and firemen like superheroes? Why is it that it takes a real-life tragedy to remind us what they sacrifice for us? Why is it that only the very worst of events brings out our very best behavior?

What if helping people became a kind of social revolution?

Of course you hit on the problem with this....it never happened, hell it wasn't even hinted at anywhere in the series before this issue. Which is the thing that either makes me very worried (or very happy depending on the quote) about Invincible Iron Man. The guy can talk a good game...but if you don't actually show it at some point in the comic it kinda takes the piss out it, dontcha think?

[StoneGold]

Of course you hit on the problem with this....it never happened, hell it wasn't even hinted at anywhere in the series before this issue. Which is the thing that either makes me very worried (or very happy depending on the quote) about Invincible Iron Man. The guy can talk a good game...but if you don't actually show it at some point in the comic it kinda takes the piss out it, dontcha think?

Except it did happen. Look at the characters. A cast that easily could have turned into the Authority in its more excessive moments, and yet, they were the exact opposite. Yeah, the overall social changes never went anywhere, but there were 10 issues, what do you expect?

[Lunal]

The whole purpose of the team, as stated from the start, was to be a registered hero team located in California. Not an A list team like the Avengers, but more of a workman type of team that handles the smaller stuff. And the idea seemed to be that they would replace the entire team regularly - presumably to keep the heroes from allowing the power to go to their heads? Not clear on that one.

The rules of conduct for aspiring heroes was kind of a social experiment. The whole first team was discharged because of breaking those rules. The heroic aspect of the characters is what made them a cohesive group, and what bonded them ultimately. So in a sense, I could see it having been a "social" experiement to find the permanent team.

In fact, it concerns me that Tony is making the Order more of a military unit now. They will be asked to compromise, you just know it.

[StoneGold]

In fact, it concerns me that Tony is making the Order more of a military unit now. They will be asked to compromise, you just know it.

Maybe not, but just because from the interviews, IIM isn't going to be that deep. And high on the superheroics. Assuming Fraction is staying true to his advance hype, it's more likely because the Order is going to be his direct sidekicks. Or, in other words, the guys who get their asses handed to them, so Zeke can look like a total badass before Tony eventually lays down the hurt.

[jackolover]

The poor woman was in severe pain and had no control of her powers.
The collateral damage was increasing by the second.
It seemed like the most humane solution.

That and it wasn't explicitly shown that Henry killed her.
Him saying sorry could have been because he had no solution, and Mullholland might have died of a severe seizure caused by her uncontrolled powers.

So either Henry committed a coup de grâce/mercy killing or Mullholland died from her condition.

Yeah, the seizures were a progression of the condition, but she didn't appear to be thrashing around, or shivering.

To me, it looked like Henry snapped her neck. I don't know much about the The Order, but did Henry really have it in him to kill one of his own team, considering he assembled them to specifically go out and find Mullholland Black? Like Mikekerr3, I thought there could have been some other way found. It didn't look like the situation had got out of control, or that Henry could read that this was going be a death mission. Black just saved Henrys life by pulling him back up onto the platform, and he turns around and kills her?

If this is how Henry handles these kind of situations, and the others saw him do it, too, does this set a precident in their ranks? That if anyone of them gets overtaken by something bad, the others are tasked to kill them? Is this the social experiment Tony Stark was talking about? And why Tony has sent the Order back to basic training, because they failed this first test of being a hero?

Is it a big reveal, or does everyone already know that Tony Stark has been the intervuer of the Order over the 10 issues. I wasn't aware of that.

[Teh m0nk3y]

Yeah, the seizures were a progression of the condition, but she didn't appear to be thrashing around, or shivering.

To me, it looked like Henry snapped her neck. I don't know much about the The Order, but did Henry really have it in him to kill one of his own team, considering he assembled them to specifically go out and find Mullholland Black? Like Mikekerr3, I thought there could have been some other way found. It didn't look like the situation had got out of control, or that Henry could read that this was going be a death mission. Black just saved Henrys life by pulling him back up onto the platform, and he turns around and kills her?

If this is how Henry handles these kind of situations, and the others saw him do it, too, does this set a precident in their ranks? That if anyone of them gets overtaken by something bad, the others are tasked to kill them? Is this the social experiment Tony Stark was talking about? And why Tony has sent the Order back to basic training, because they failed this first test of being a hero?

Is it a big reveal, or does everyone already know that Tony Stark has been the intervuer of the Order over the 10 issues. I wasn't aware of that.

Blood was dripping out of Mullholland's mouth and nose at one point.
Stane commented that the seizures would hit her.
He even described her as a "roman candle shooting fireballs towards the sky".
Then told her it was time for the "inevitable burn" out.
It's pretty easy to see that Stane indicated she would die in the process.
And if you look at it from that angle, it's also not that hard to accept that The Order was to late to rescue her.
The woman was basically out of it because of the pain the condition put her in.
The reason she was able to save Henry was because his voice temporarily gave her hope. Hope gave her what little strength she needed to pull him up. Now remember that Stane said he was unable to cure Mullholland's condition even if he wanted to stop. He "uncorked" her and this was the result. Also towards the end her voice seemed weaker by the moment until she fell silent.

[Tobias Drake]

Huh. You know, I thought Hellrung killed her too, but I'll need to go back and reread. It is starting to sound like it was the seizure that killed her.

I'm honestly fine with it either way. This was one of those extreme situations that, in my opinion, honestly does justify killing someone. She was burning out and was going to die, no matter what they did. So the only real question was, does she die now, or does she die later, and how many people will be killed in unstoppable endless psychotic riots until that later?

The city was burning and people were dying every minute that her existence continued, and there was no way of saving her and stopping it; the two goals were mutually exclusive. If Hellrung did kill her, I honestly can't disagree with his decision. But it is starting to sound like it was the seizures that took her, and not Hellrung. So I'll need to reread it.

[bulbasteve]

Yeah yeah it's 10 issues but there was certainly enough holywood nonsense that could have been replaced with the heroes taking some sort of proactive role in society. Of course when you are cancelled there is always gunna be the metatextual reading...the book was just as much strangled in it's crib as the team was. So I don't begrudge him too much...but 10 issues is a lot and the dude has to know the business by now...

Is it a big reveal, or does everyone already know that Tony Stark has been the intervuer of the Order over the 10 issues. I wasn't aware of that.

There was that "I thought you would have been into metal" line from one of the interviews.

[StoneGold]

Yeah yeah it's 10 issues but there was certainly enough holywood nonsense that could have been replaced with the heroes taking some sort of proactive role in society.

I think you misunderstand the gist of the social experiment. The idea wasn't that they were going to be picking up trash on the highway. It was that, being people who chose to be superheroes, as opposed to those who were forced into it by tragedy or accident of powers, and the idea that anyone could save the world, at least for a year, it would help bring humanity one step closer to superheroes, and vice versa. Citizen soldier-like.

[bulbasteve]

I think you misunderstand the gist of the social experiment. The idea wasn't that they were going to be picking up trash on the highway. It was that, being people who chose to be superheroes, as opposed to those who were forced into it by tragedy or accident of powers, and the idea that anyone could save the world, at least for a year, it would help bring humanity one step closer to superheroes, and vice versa. Citizen soldier-like.

To keep quoting Fraction (Back when the title wasnt still Champions!):

"The Champions are different from the rest of the Fifty States Initiative. It's of course about protecting people and keeping them safe but there are other more interesting social studies and experiments being done with the way the Champions are assembled. It could only work in California [laughs]."

These are all people who have had some degree of fame and heroism in their lives in the past and lost it. It's sort of a social experiment for Tony Stark. It's almost more about the people than it is about the heroes and as it's the California team and it's totally touchy feely, that's perfect for California [laughs]."

Fraction plans to use his unique cast of characters and distinctive setting in "Champions" to tell a variety of stories. "I think there's space for everything," he stated. "It's a big family and there are a lot of different stories to be told. There's a Hurricane Katrina story that we're going to have to deal with. There will also be some stories dealing with the ecological and environmental disasters in California history."


I wish those issues were there an not "hey zombie hobos!", it's all good fun and stuff...but there was a hell of a lot more that could and should have been done (and yes that includes glorified trash pickup).

[DeeSnider]

I was pretty dissapoointed by thie issue after having loved the first 9. Definately seemed rushed, and like it was frantically trying to tie up loose ends. That's to be expected I guess with it being abruptly cancelled.

I was dissappointed though that Supernaut and Aralune seem to be back to their independant identites at the end. I kind of liked the whole idea of Hybrid, and two people having to fuse together to become their hero identity. Does marvel have any other example of that ala Firestorm at DC? Can't think of one myself, and I liked the concept.

[StoneGold]

I was pretty dissapoointed by thie issue after having loved the first 9. Definately seemed rushed, and like it was frantically trying to tie up loose ends. That's to be expected I guess with it being abruptly cancelled.

I was dissappointed though that Supernaut and Aralune seem to be back to their independant identites at the end. I kind of liked the whole idea of Hybrid, and two people having to fuse together to become their hero identity. Does marvel have any other example of that ala Firestorm at DC? Can't think of one myself, and I liked the concept.

Off the top of my head, there's always the Uni-Mind. And certain iterations of the Destroyer. And Starhawk. I probably should have though of him/her first.

[Tobias Drake]

I'm about 65% sure that The Order were slated to return as characters in Invincible Iron Man. I know I saw an interview somewhere that said such. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

[StoneGold]

I'm about 65% sure that The Order were slated to return as characters in Invincible Iron Man. I know I saw an interview somewhere that said such. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

I'm 100% sure. Apart from the fact that they are in the solicits, Fraction's been saying that The Order book is basically serving as a prequel to IIM.

[Magneto Rocks]

While it was far from the best issue, I thought it was a fitting conclusion. The scene with Mulholland's death was pretty tragic. And the sad fact is, I cared a LOT more when Mulholland died than I have when most characters died lately- from all the guys in The Initiative we thought were dead down to Hell, Bart Allen at the Distinguished Competitition. A shame this series could never really live up to its potential, but a fine ending.

Herny worked for Stark, killing was the pragmatic solution. They could have put her in the shuttle and flown here out to see but killing here worked fasters and was less bother.

It's funny because that's not even vaguely, remotely suggested by the book, was never even meant to be a slight theme, is very, very clearly not true and, well, seems to be supported by nobody. You may hate Stark, but there's absolutely no need to blame other characters for merciful actions (While condemning said actions) just because they're associated with him. Seriously, depending on your interpretation it was euthanasia for the sake of the city or just consolation as she died, but I cannot honestly see how it could be seen in ANY way to be out of practicality, particularly given how radically unpractical Henry has spent the series being.

[jackolover]

Huh. You know, I thought Hellrung killed her too, but I'll need to go back and reread. It is starting to sound like it was the seizure that killed her.

I'm honestly fine with it either way. This was one of those extreme situations that, in my opinion, honestly does justify killing someone. She was burning out and was going to die, no matter what they did. So the only real question was, does she die now, or does she die later, and how many people will be killed in unstoppable endless psychotic riots until that later?

The city was burning and people were dying every minute that her existence continued, and there was no way of saving her and stopping it; the two goals were mutually exclusive. If Hellrung did kill her, I honestly can't disagree with his decision. But it is starting to sound like it was the seizures that took her, and not Hellrung. So I'll need to reread it.

It's the moral decision to terminate a life that bothers me. Heroes don't usually make those decisions. But I hope we get a ruling from the writer as to what happened here.

[jackolover]

I think you misunderstand the gist of the social experiment. The idea wasn't that they were going to be picking up trash on the highway. It was that, being people who chose to be superheroes, as opposed to those who were forced into it by tragedy or accident of powers, and the idea that anyone could save the world, at least for a year, it would help bring humanity one step closer to superheroes, and vice versa. Citizen soldier-like.

Failed experiment?

I'm not sure that was achieved here, except for Hammond. He ended up a pretty well rounded character. He took charge, he put it up to Namor, and he could kill when the situation required. If anything, Hammond showed my Stark traits than Tony, but then maybe he had a good teacher. I wouldn't mind seeing Hammond in the armor.

[Expletive Deleted]

Hellrung, not Hammond.

[StoneGold]

It wasn't achieved. It only lasted 10 issues. Obviously it was a failure, both in story terms and in real life. But it doesn't mean the attempt wasn't there.

And the characters were really written as people trying to do right by life. Hell, who didn't think Calamity was going to bust the guy who crippled him's head open? And then they just ended up playing Wii? Who thought they would empathize with the Brittney analog? Or that the bitchy supermodel was the most altruistic of them all?

[jackolover]

It's funny because that's not even vaguely, remotely suggested by the book, was never even meant to be a slight theme, is very, very clearly not true and, well, seems to be supported by nobody. You may hate Stark, but there's absolutely no need to blame other characters for merciful actions (While condemning said actions) just because they're associated with him. Seriously, depending on your interpretation it was euthanasia for the sake of the city or just consolation as she died, but I cannot honestly see how it could be seen in ANY way to be out of practicality, particularly given how radically unpractical Henry has spent the series being.

Also, I forgot Tony did it to Happy in IM #15.

[Cosmik Debris]

Liked the issue, but man was it depressing, and not just because it was the last issue of the series, but because the goodguys were struggling so much. It was such a one sided loss and to a really lame villain also. Really big bummer, hopefully they will at least get the a single shot at Stane if they do guest star in Iron Man's new comic.

[Monty_Cristo]

It wasn't achieved. It only lasted 10 issues. Obviously it was a failure, both in story terms and in real life. But it doesn't mean the attempt wasn't there.

And the characters were really written as people trying to do right by life. Hell, who didn't think Calamity was going to bust the guy who crippled him's head open? And then they just ended up playing Wii? Who thought they would empathize with the Brittney analog? Or that the bitchy supermodel was the most altruistic of them all?

maybe the tag line should have been "good guys finish last."

[Tobias Drake]

It's the moral decision to terminate a life that bothers me. Heroes don't usually make those decisions. But I hope we get a ruling from the writer as to what happened here.

But sometimes they have to, because no one else can. Heroes have to do what no one else can, and sometimes that does include making the decision to terminate one life in order to save countless more. It's on them to make the hard choices that no one else can make, and the hardest choice is one where people will die no matter which choice you make.

[jackolover]

But sometimes they have to, because no one else can. Heroes have to do what no one else can, and sometimes that does include making the decision to terminate one life in order to save countless more. It's on them to make the hard choices that no one else can make, and the hardest choice is one where people will die no matter which choice you make.

Yeah, I know. It's alway tough, because the hero than looks calous. When Tony turned off Happy's life support system, and when Tony killed his old University professor, there were benefits to both these actions, but it made Tony appear like a butcher. There is the meat, now lets chop it up. Doctors have to make these decisions in hospitals every day, but it doesn't make it feel any easier knowing this.

[Tobias Drake]

Yeah, I know. It's alway tough, because the hero than looks calous. When Tony turned off Happy's life support system, and when Tony killed his old University professor, there were benefits to both these actions, but it made Tony appear like a butcher. There is the meat, now lets chop it up. Doctors have to make these decisions in hospitals every day, but it doesn't make it feel any easier knowing this.

I guess it all depends on where you stand in terms of violence. For superheroes, beating someone into a coma is okay, but outright killing them is not. Breaking their limbs and leaving them with several months of recovery is par the course, but removing limbs entirely is wrong. Destroying an entire city is perfectly okay, as long as not one innocent person was killed; there are no problems with infinite collateral damage, just with loss of life.

I just see killing someone as a possible result of any fight on the scale that superheroes fight on. So it's weird to me to see that killing is made such a big deal, when everything else is fine. To me, if you don't want to hurt the opponent, why are you fighting in the first place? Violence, by its very nature, cannot end without at least one side coming away worse off than when he went in.

So, yeah. I guess I'm just weird. But I see the possibility that someone may be killed as just part of what superheroes do, and it's strange to me that certain heroes would rather die, or even stranger, allow a massacre of hundreds of people to continue, in order to avoid their having to kill a single person.

[StoneGold]

maybe the tag line should have been "good guys finish last."

Get canceled, anyway. Guess they should have anally raped more people.

[Jack]

Ah, the Order. I will miss you.

[1WEBHEAD]

The Order will be missed. Hopefully they will show up around Avengers: Initiative and/or the new Iron Man book. . .

It's a shame that Kitson could send the book off with his awesome art because the art in this issue wasn't all that great.

Divito should have been all over this. . .