To Be or Not To Be

This story takes place during the events of Infinity War #5…

Earth’s heroes have joined forces to save the universe from the Magus. Quasar has joined a team of heroes consisting of members of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and X-Men on a scout-ship owned by Galactus. En route to the Magus’ citadel in space, Thanos has suggested that they use the Ultimate Nullifier to destroy their foe and convinced Quasar to wield it. Captain America thinks this is a bad idea since he knows that the Nullifier also destroys the user and could blank out all existence as well. Quasar assures everyone that he can use the weapon successfully.

In order to protect everyone else, Quasar erects an opaque quantum energy dome around himself. He then contacts Epoch and asks if she knows anything about the weapon. Other than the fact that both Galactus and Thanos fear the weapon, she knows little about it. She can, however, point him to the largest repository of information in the universe in the hopes they can learn how to correctly wield the Nullifier and quantum jumps to that location.

Meanwhile, on the planet Scadam, the Black Fleet invasion of the planet is well under way. Trapped on this world were Earth women Kayla Ballentine and Holly Steckley, who were abducted by the Grand Examiner who had hopped to tape the Star Brand in Kayla’s possession to repel the invaders. With the Examiner dead, Holly convinced Kayla to try and use the power herself but she was incinerated moments after trying and is now dead. Mourning the loss of her friend, Holly is shocked when Kayla’s skeleton begins to glow.[1]

Elsewhere, Quasar arrives near the planet Rus, which is the academic center of the tri-galaxy area. When he arrives at the megalopolis devoted to learning to try and get help the aliens there back away in fear because Quasar is carrying the Ultimate Nullifier. This and a lanuage barrier prevents Wendell from explaining why he has come. Epoch decides to help in person and emerges from the portal in Quasar’s cape and assumes the form of a human infant, much to his surprise. Epoch also tries to ask for help, but people are still too frightened of the Nullifier to be of much use. They manage to find an administrator who gives them an access-disc that will allow them to access the archives of knowledge on the planet.

As Epoch gets to work learning what she can about the Ultimate Nullifier, Quasar is suddenly ambushed by his old foe Deathurge. Quasar isn’t interested in a fight, but Deathurge has come as an agent of Oblivion because the possible use of the Ultimate Nullifier is of great interest to him. In order to give Epoch the time she needs to research, Quasar takes off to the skies, prompting Deathurge to follow after him.

Meanwhile, Her and Makkari are still aboard the world ship of the Mourners, a religious sect that mourns great losses in the universe. The Mourners have been drawn to the planet Scadam where the Black Fleet is still laying waste to the planet. Her is disgusted to learn that Fath and his followers haven’t come to intervene but to only stand by and let the slaughter of the Scadamites happen so they can mourn their losses. She decides to do something about the Black Fleet and heads out to fight them.

Back on Rus, Quasar and Deathurge battle over the megalopolis over who will get to wield the Ultimate Nullifier. In the ensuing battle, Deathurge tries to equate himself as a protector of the universe just like Quasar, explaining that oblivion is the natural order of things and life is an aberration. Quasar doesn’t buy any of this but is no match for Deathurge who manages to skewer the hero with swords made of dark matter.

While in orbit over Scadam, Her exits the Mourner ship and begins using her cosmic power against the Black Fleet. At the same time, on the planet surface, Holly tries to figure out what to do next when she is suddenly visited by the partially reformed body of Kayla Ballentine![2]

At that same moment, on Rus, Deathurge has Quasar at his mercy. He then reveals that he doesn’t want the Nullifier but wants to encourage Quasar to use it, saying that he has to fully embrace the void if he wants to survive. Quasar flat out refuses and blasts away all the dark matter from his body. Confident that his foe will fail Deathurge disappears, looking forward to seeing Quasar on the other side of oblivion. When Quasar returns to Epoch to see what she has learned about the weapon, he discovers that records on the Ultimate Nullifier are sparse. Nobody seems to know who invented it and for what purpose. Epoch is concerned about her protector’s well being and asks him to reconsider using the weapon. Quasar is touched by this and when he suggests its time to return to Galactus’ ship, Epoch decides to remain behind and continue learning everything she can from the archives of Rus.

Back at the ship, Earth’s heroes wait patiently for Quasar to emerge from his protective bubble. When he returns, Quasar decides that he is going to use the Ultimate Nullifier after all as soon as he asks Thanos where to point it.

Recurring Characters

Quasar, Thanos, Deathurge, Avengers (Captain America, Thor, Vision, Hercules, She-Hulk), Living Lightning, Wonder Man, Fantastic Four (Invisible Woman, Human Torch, Thing), X-Men (Professor X, Cyclops, Jean Grey, Archangel, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Rogue), Moondragon, Sasquatch, Nova, Hulk, Kayla Ballentine, “Holly Steckley”, Epoch, Her, Makkari, Blackfleet

Continuity Notes

1. Kayla Ballentine was given the Star Brand when Quasar inadvertedly transferred it to her in Quasar #31. She and Holly were kidnapped by the Grand Examiner in issue #36. She was seemingly killed last issue.

2. Kayla’s reforming body has loose skin hanging off her body. This is not unlike other Star Brand wielders who have reformed their body. We first saw this in Star Brand #12.

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