Dark Avengers Annual #1
Shortly after Noh-Varr (aka Marvel Boy) was recruited by Norman Osborn, he fled the Dark Avengers.[1] Since then, he has assumed a civilian guise and has been hiding among humanity in plain sight. While avoiding detection from the likes of Osborn, the Fantastic Four, and SWORD, Noh-Varr has constructed a communications device. With it, he sends out a message to Kree space in order to make contact with this reality’s Supreme Intelligence and find out what his purpose on Earth is.[2]
While he waits for a response, Noh-Varr decides to spend his afternoon in Washington Square Park, lost in thought. He has come to the conclusion that his wants are no aligned with humans. He soon takes interest in a young woman name Annie who is angrily breaking up with her boyfriend. Intrigued, Noh follows after the girl to make sure she wasn’t hurt. When he catches up with her down the street and asks her if she is ok, Annie lashes out at him thinking he is trying to pick her up. She quickly realizes that this strange is genuinely concerned and apologizes. They share names and Noh-Varr tells her his name is very foreign, but doesn’t mention that he is a member of the Kree. The two bond over the fact that they desire to become superheroes. About the break-up, she said she ended it with her current boyfriend because he betrayed her.
The whole time, Annie can’t help but find Noh-Varr familiar but cant’ place where she might have seen him before. He continues to be evasive until the Sentry (Bob Reynolds) finds him. With orders from Norman Osborn to take Noh-Varr dead or alive, a battle breaks out between the two. This forces Noh-Varr to use his hidden alien blasters to fend off the neigh invulnerable Sentry. Reynolds doesn’t understand why Noh-Varr is resisting, prompting the Kree to explain how Norman Osborn is a criminal who is manipulating everyone. Bob doesn’t buy this and continues to fight. Watching the struggle from the ground, Annie digs through Noh-Varr’s backpack and finds another alien weapon and uses it to shoot the Sentry from behind.
This attack distracts the Sentry long enough for Noh-Varr to gather up his arsenal and flee the scene. When the Sentry returns to the ground, he finds no trace of his quarry.
Noh-Varr returns to his hideout where he once again sends a message out to the Supreme Intelligence for guidance. This time he finally makes contact. He learns that the Kree empire is currently pre-occupied dealing with the final remnants of the Skrull empire.[3] However, the Kree value the planet Earth and as they have provided protectors for the planet in the past, they shall do so again.[4] The Intelligence has chosen Noh-Varr to fill that role and endows him with bands that are similar, but different, to the ones worn by the original Captain Marvel. These bands gives Noh-Varr a new costume and he is dubbed the Protector.
Meanwhile, back at the scene of the battle, the rest of the Dark Avengers — Iron Patriot (Norman Osborn), Ms. Marvel (Karla Sofen), Hawkeye (actually Bullseye in disguise), Spider-Man (Mac Gargan and the Venom symbiote posing as the web-slinger), Wolverine (actually his son Daken) and Victoria Hand search the scene for clues. Unfortunately, not even Daken’s enhanced senses can pick up the trail. This annoys Osborn who orders his team to question the crowd to see if they can learn anything from them.
This is heard by Annie who decides to flee the scene through an alleyway. There she runs into Noh-Varr, who tells her that he is going to lay low and wait for the right moment to strike against Osborn. Annie tells Noh-Varr that she has developed a sense of companionship with him and asks that he find her again once he has dealt with Osborn. Noh-Varr agrees and teleports away, leaving a glowing object with her so he might do so. Annie is impressed and admits to herself that Noh-Varr is definitely boyfriend material. As she walks away, she is unaware that she is being observed by Captain America (James Barnes) and Steve Rogers (the original Captain America) from a nearby rooftop. They are impressed with the Protector and believe he will be valuable in a coming war against Norman Osborn.[5]
Recurring Characters
Protector, Dark Avengers (Iron Patriot, Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Ares, Sentry), Annie, Victoria Hand, Supreme Intelligence, Captain America, Steve Rogers, (in flashback) Fantastic Four (Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing), SWORD (Abigail Brand)
Continuity Notes
Noh-Varr was recruited by Norman Osborn to be his “Captain Marvel” in Dark Avengers #1. He fled the team in secret in issue #6.
As per Marvel Boy (vol. 2) #1-6, Noh-Varr was part of an exploration mission from another reality who found himself stranded on Earth-616 and was captured shortly thereafter. He was held prisoner within the Cube prison until Norman got him out in Dark Avengers #1. Per Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #5, Noh-Varr’s native universe has been designated Reality-200080.
This story takes place shortly after a failed invasion of Earth that has left the Skrull empire in shambles. This story was primarily told in Secret Invasion #1-8.
The Supreme Intelligence is referring to Mar-Vell, the original Captain Marvel who was assigned to protect Earth on behalf of the Kree empire back in Captain Marvel #17. Marv defended Earth for years until he died of cancer in Marvel Graphic Novel #1.
This final conflict will primarily be told in Siege #1-4. However, Noh-Varr won’t be involved in said conflict at all. He will turn up again in Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #50.
