Whose War is it Anyway?

This story continues from Infinity War #4…

Traveling to the Dimension of Manifestation, Quasar and the Contemplator have found and confirmed that something has knocked Eternity into a comatose state.[1] While Quasar wants to return to his native dimension and investigate things further, the Contemplator decides to remain behind and meditate on what they have just witnessed. Quasar gives the Elder of the Universe a signal beacon made out of quantum energy should he require any assistance and then departs.

Deciding to explore further, the Contemplator goes to another part of the dimension where he sees the manifestation bodies of carious cosmic entities the time they confronted the Beyonder.[2] He notices that one of the beings present was his fellow elder, the Gardener, and wonders what significance this has, but decides to venture onward to see what else he can learn.

Meanwhile, Quasar appears over the Earth and heads to the Four Freedoms Plaza where Earth’s heroes have all gathered for a meeting. He is surprised to see that the roof of the building has blown sky high.[3] There he meets with Captain America who has gathered a team to confront their foes. In order to get the massive group — which includes of members of Alpha Flight, both Avengers teams, the Fantastic Four, the New Warriors, the X-Men, X-Factor and the Hulk — a group of mystics are working together to cast a spell to teleport them across the universe. Quasar quickly joins with the group and is welcomed by his old friend, Ben Grimm, aka the Thing.[4] Quasar is a little uncomfortable about the idea of using magic to transport people, but soon the spell is completed and they vanish from sight.

Meanwhile, on the alien world of Scadam, Kayla Ballentine and Holly Steckley are greeted by their abductor an alien called the Grand Examiner. He has brought them to his world because it is under threat from the deadly Black Fleet and, apparently, Kayla has enough power to help win the coming war. He explains that Kayla’s power comes from a star shaped tattoo hidden under her hair on the back of her head. Kayla who has had nothing but trouble over the last few weeks is relieved that it wasn’t her imagination and is gladly willing to give up this power. However, when the Grand Examiner attempts to use a device to remove it, there is a surge of power that kills him. Before the two Earth women can make sense of what’s going on, the Black Fleet arrives and begins laying waste to the planet around them.[5]

At that same moment, Captain America’s squad appears on an alien world and come face-to-face with Thanos, Adam Warlock, Gamora, Pip the Troll and Moondragon. Warlock explains that they have formed a group called the Infinity Watch and that Thanos is not their true enemy this time. Quasar wants to hear them out and erects a protective quantum bubble around them. Unfortuantely, this doesn’t work out as many of the heroes Cap brought out begin attacking the bubble in an effort to get at the Infinity Watch.[6] As the battle rages, Captain America and Quasar stand from the sidelines trying to figure out a way to reign everyone in. That’s when Professor X finishes his psi-probe and confirms the identities of the Infinity Watch. Captain America is surprised to learn that Adam Warlock is still alive, little knowing that Warlock had previously erased all memory of his recent resurrection from the minds of others.[7] Unfortunately, the Professor can’t learn anymore because his mental probes are being blocked out by Moondragon.

Captain America tries to take control of the situation by ordering his army to stand down so they can lower the protective dome. Inside, Adam Warlock wonders why Moondragon hasn’t used the Mind Gem to force everyone to stop. When she explains that Professor X is blocking her mental attacks as much as she is blocking his, Pip decides to take matters into his own hands. Using the Space Gem, he teleports out of the bubble and attempts to knock out the Xavier, but his blow is deflected by a protective shield created by Quasar.

Having had enough, Thanos uses his power to blast through the barrier and fight back against his attackers. With the situation getting out of control, Quasar uses his Quantum Bands to create protective armor and a lance and leaps into the battle to try and break everyone up. Seeing that Warlock is the leader of this group, Quasar descends upon him and pulls him away from a battle between Cyclops and Havok. Warlock is still spoiling for a fight, but Quasar begins using his Quantum Bands to absorb the energy coming off from Adam’s Soul Gem, weakening him. Demanding to know what’s going on, Warlock explains that the Infinity Watch was formed to keep the Infinity Gems away from the Magus, his evil counterpart from another dimension.[8] Quasar can’t be sure he can believe everything Warlock is saying and decides to try and remove the Soul Gem from his brow to play it safe. However, in making the attempt he is blasted by the gem for his trouble.

Back in the Dimension of Manifestation, the Contemplator continues exploring the myriad realm. In one chamber, he witnesses the Magus using Manifestation Bodies to create twisted doppelgangers of Earth’s heroes to be his army. Finding this interesting, the Elder of the Universe wonders if this has anything to do with the crisis that Quasar is investigating. He attempts to contact him telepathically, however Quasar is knocked out in battle.

While on Scadam, Kayla and Holly have run for cover from the barrage from the Black Fleet. Holly tells Kayla to use her powers to fend off the invasion but the frightened woman doesn’t know how. At Steckley’s insistance, Kayla goes out to at least try and is vaporized by a weapon blast moments later.[9]

… This story continues in Infinity War #5.

Recurring Characters

Quasar, Thanos, Infinity Watch (Adam Warlock, Pip the Troll, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Moondragon), Magus, Contemplator, Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Vision, Hercules, She-Hulk), Doctor Druid, Avengers West Coast (Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, Living Lightning), Fantastic Four (Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing), X-Men (Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Archangel, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue), X-Factor (Havok, Polaris, Strong Guy), Alpha Flight (Guardian, Sasquatch, Northstar, Aurora, Shaman), Nova, Hulk, Chief Examiner, Kayla Ballentine, “Holly Steckley”, Eternity, Celestials, Watchers, Master Order, Lord Chaos, Living Tribunal, Death, Gardener, In-Betweener, Beyonder, Anthropomorpho, Blackfleet

Continuity Notes

1. This was done by the Magus, as seen in Infinity War #1.

2. The confrontation with the Beyonder was originally depicted in Secret Wars II #6.

3. This was caused by a gamma bomb planted by a doppleganger of Mister Fantastic in Infinity War #2. This damage will be eventually repaired by Fantastic Four #385.

4. The Thing first met Quasar back in his days a head of security at Project PEGASUS, starting in Marvel Two-In-One #53.

5. There is a lot going on here so the facts:

   • The Grand Examiner had previously examined many of Earth’s heroes in order to duplicate their powers and use against the Black Fleet. See Questprobe #1-3 and Marvel Fanfare #33.

   • Kayla Ballentine’s power is the Star Brand, which Quasar brought home with him in Quasar #31 and inadvertedly transferred to her. How is not explained until Quasar #49.

   • Holly Steckley is not who she appears to be. In Quasar #49-50, she is revealed to be the Deviant known as Eriskengal who has been getting close to Ballentine in order to steal the Star Brand for herself.

6. This battle is expanded upon in the page of Infinity War #4, Alpha Flight #111, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #14, and Fantastic Four #369.

7. Warlock had sacrificed himself to stop Thanos years earlier in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #2. More recently, he had been resurrected in Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #46. Following the events of Infinity Gauntlet #1-6, Warlock erased all memory of his resurrection (among other things) from the minds of participants in order to prevent them from interfering with his plans for the Infinity Gems.

8. Warlock’s explanation for the Magus is not entirely correct. Indeed, he has previously fought a version of the Magus, an evil version of himself from an alternate future. This took place in Strange Tales #178-181 and Warlock #9-11. However, this is not the same Magus. Instead this is the personification of Warlock’s dark side that was expunged from his body and manifested in physical form after he attempted to eradicate all human influence from his mind when wielding the Infinity Gauntlet in Infinity Gauntlet #6. This is all explained in further detail in Infinity Crusade #1-6.

9. Kayla is not actually dead. The Star Brand allows her to reform her body, as we’ll see next issue.

Infinity War Reading Order

Infinity War #1, Alpha Flight #109, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #7, Fantastic Four #366, Spider-Man #24, Captain America #408, Deathlok (vol. 2) #16, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #42, Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #67, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #43, Infinity War #2, Fantastic Four #367, Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #68-69, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #44, Guardians of the Galaxy #27, Quasar #37, Infinity War #3, Marvel Comics Presents #108-111, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #8, Fantastic Four #368, Alpha Flight #110, New Warriors #27, Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #4, Marc Spector: Moon Knight #41-42, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #13, Nomad (vol. 2) #7, Quasar #38, Daredevil #310, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #45, Infinity War #4, Alpha Flight #111, Silver Sable and the Wild Pack #5, Guardians of the Galaxy #28-29, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #9, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #14, Marc Spector: Moon Knight #43, Quasar #39, Infinity War #5, Sleepwalker #18, Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme #46-47, Fantastic Four #369, Warlock and the Infinity Watch #10, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #15, Infinity War #6, Fantastic Four #370, Marc Spector: Moon Knight #44, Alpha Flight #112, Quasar #40