Nick Peron

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Quicksilver #11

Nick Peron

The Siege of Wundagore Part 2: Anon No More!

Credits

This story continues from Heroes for Hire #15…

After aiding the Avengers in stopping a Kree invasion of Earth, Quicksilver returns Lockjaw to the Inhumans without explanation.[1] He then continues the diary recordings addressed to his wife that he started when he believed her dead, but still continues now for some reason he can’t explain.[2] Concerned about the High Evolutionary, whose persona evolution has been in flux, Pietro races to Haven to check on him.[3]

Once he enters the castle he is shocked to find Heroes for Hire in quite the state. The White Tiger has been seriously injured, while Luke Cage, Power Man, the Black Knight, and Ant-Man have all been de-evolved into apes.[4] When he goes to check on White Tiger the other Heroes for Hire attack him. Needing to get White Tiger to immediate medical help, Quicksilver speeds off at superspeed hoping that what medical needs can be met at Oracle Inc.

Meanwhile, the High Evolutionary and his Knights of Wundagore have fled Haven and are now on a ship heading back to the Citadel of Science on Wundagore Mountain. Along the way, the High Evolutionary is having private council with Lord Anon. The Evolutionary is concerned about the coming battle with Exodus and his Acolytes due to the fact that he keeps on shifting up and down the evolutionary ladder. However, Lord Anon insists that taking back what is rightfully theirs is the right thing to do. Lord Tyger notices that their master is spending a lot of time talking to Anon in private, which has him feeling like something is up and that he can no longer trust Lord Anon.

While deep below the Citadel of Science, Amelia Vought finds Exodus standing around inside an underground cavern. He sense great power hidden here and believes that it rivals even that of their messiah, Magneto himself.[5] She interrupts him to report that the Genoshan Mutates under their command have been put in place as he commanded. Pleased, he heads back topside where the rest of the Acolytes have gathered. With the Evolutionary and his New Men coming, Exodus tells his followers that victory is within their reach. When Cortez asks if Exodus will be leading them into battle, he tells him that he has other work to do to bring Magneto’s dream to reality. When the others asks what they should do if Quicksilver interferes, the express reluctance to killing him since he is the son of Magneto.[6] Exodus understands this, and as their leader, Exodus orders them to bring Pietro to him and he will determine an appropriate punishment for the traitor.

Back in New York, Quicksilver has gotten White Tiger to the Oralce building. There, Jim Hammond and Jane Foster being work on treating her.[7] Needing to get back to Haven, Quicksilver takes off, telling Hammond to have She-Hulk and Thena meet him there as waiting for them would just slow him down. Quicksilver arrives just as a team of Acolytes come arrive looking for Isotope E. Finding the de-evolved Heroes for Hire instead, they try killing the beasts. Quicksilver ambushes them and his attack gives the effects of Isotope E to wear off, allowing Cage and the others to revert back to human form. In the ensuing clash, Luke Cage lets slip that the High Evolutionary and his Knights have already left for Wundagore. Since they have no further reason to be there, Voght teleports the Acolytes back to base. Cage’s loose lips angers Quicksilver who is trying to prevent the Acolytes from obtaining Isotope E.

Meanwhile, the Knights of Wundagore have already arrived at the Citadel of Science. Entering through a secret entrance to the armory, the Knights suit up for battle against Exodus and his army. While they are preparing Lord Anon sees this as his opportunity. Bova is sent down to the infirmary to prepare to deal with any wounded in the coming battle. It’s when she looks through the supplies she finds something that causes her to scream. This brings Sir Ram, Lords Tyger and Gator, and Ladies Ursula and Vermin. Bova’s discovery turns out to be the skeletal remains of a wolf formed New Man that has been stashed there for quite some time. Bova knows exactly who this dead creature is. She explains that after Exodus’ first attack on the Citadel,[8] the High Evolutionary decided that it was time to try and create a New Man out of a wolf. Knowing that past experiences with the Man-Beast would make the other Knights against such a move,[9] he created a suit of armor that hid the animal nature of the newly birthed Lord Anon.

This makes Sir Ram realize that the person they thought was Lord Anon has been an impostor this whole time. Racing out to confront “Lord Anon” they discover that the phony has already defeated the High Evolutionary and stolen Isotope E. It turns out their worst fears are true: Lord Anon had been replaced by the Man-Beast![10]

… This story continues in Heroes for Hire #16.

Recurring Characters

Quicksilver, Heroes for Hire (Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Black Knight, Ant-Man, White Tiger, Hercules, She-Hulk, Thena), Knights of Wundagore (Sir Ram, Lord Anon, Lord Tyger, Lord Gator, Lady Ursula, Lady Vermin), High Evolutionary, Acolytes (Exodus, Cargill, Fabian Cortez, Gargoullie, Kleinstock Brothers, Projector, Scanner, Senyaka, Spoor, Unuscione, Voght), Jane Foster, Jim Hammond, Bova

Continuity Notes

  1. Quicksilver aided the Avengers in stopping the Kree Lunatic Legion from transforming everyone on Earth into Kree. This was part of the Live Kree or Die! storyline which took place in Iron Man (vol. 3) #7, Captain America (vol. 3) #8, Quicksilver #10, and Avengers (vol. 3) #7.

  2. Crystal was believed to have died in Onslaught: Marvel Universe #1. She wasn’t, was found alive in Heroes Reborn: The Return #1-4. Reunited with her husband in Quicksilver #3. Pietro has been making diary entries addressed to her since issue #1. He kept recording them in secret after her return and even after she left him in Quicksilver #7.

  3. The High Evolutionary was forced to flee the Citadel of Science in Quicksilver #1 when it was invaded by Exodus and his Acolytes. Retreating to the Savage Land he attempted ot use Isotope E to repair his damaged evolution, see Ka-Zar (vol. 3) #12-14 and Quicksilver #8-9.

  4. This all happened in Heroes for Hire #15. Here, Quicksilver refers to the Black Knight as his rival for Crystal’s affections. I’m not getting into the very complicated romantic dynamics again so if you really want to know check out the continuity notes in Quicksilver #7.

  5. Although it’s not outright stated here, Exodus senses the power of the demon Chthon. Chthon has been trapped within Wundagore Mountain for centuries as explained in Avengers #187 and told in greater detail in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #22.

  6. At the time of this story, everyone believes that Quicksilver is the son of Magneto and is a mutant. This has been the case since Vision and the Scarlet Witch #4. Years later, both of these facts are proven wrong. First, in Uncanny Avengers (vol. 2) #4-5, it is revealed that Pietro was experimented on as a child by the High Evolutionary. His work was then covered up by making Pietro register as a mutant. He was later revealed to actually be the son of Natalya Maximoff in Scarlet Witch (vol. 2) #3. His biological father, as of this writing in December, 2022, has yet to be revealed.

  7. Jim Hammond stated as being “once known as the android Human Torch.” Indeed he was, per Marvel Comics #1. He lost his powers after giving a blood transfusion to Jaqueline Falsworth in Namor the Sub-Mariner #12. He’ll recover his lost powers in New Invaders #9.

  8. Exodus previously attacked the Citadel of Science in Avengers #380-382.

  9. The Man-Beast was first created in Thor #134-135. The creature was pure evil and the reason why the Evolutionary refused to create another New Man from a wolf following that point.

  10. Here the Man-Beast states that he previously called himself Karnivore. He took that name on in Thor #473.

Topical References

  • Sir Ram states that the wolf New Man must have been murdered about a year ago. Comparing this to the Sliding Timescale, this measurement of time is factual.

The Siege of Wundagore Mountain Reading Order