Operation: Galactic Storm Part 7 - The War and the Warrior!

This story continues from Iron Man #278…

Thor, aka Eric Masterson, has joined a group of Avengers consisting of the Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, the Vision, Starfox, Captain Marvel, and the Living Lightening. They are heading into the Shi’ar galaxy in a modified Quinjet to petition the empire to stop using a stargate near Earth for their ongoing war with the Kree. This is because the gate is destabilizing the sun, threatening to wipe out all wife on Earth.[1] The trip is a rough one, and Thor isn’t making many friends among the Avengers along the way.

At the edge of the Shi’ar empire, a Kree fleet is attacking a nearby outpost. As the Avengers head there to help, the soldiers stationed there sends a hypersonic signal into space. This is heard by Gladiator, the most powerful of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, who then races to the scene to lend a hand.[2] Meanwhile, Captain Marvel and Living Lightning are dispatched to search the wrecked Kree ships for survivors. By this time, Gladiator arrives and assumes the Avengers Quinjet is another Kree attacker. Starfox suggests that someone go out and try to reason with the super-strong warrior. When it’s suggested that Thor do the job he is reluctant to go outside. This prompts Wonder Man to take the initiative and confront Gladiator instead.

Wonder Man heads out with his old jetpack to meet with Gladiator. However, his request to talk is ignored.[3] The Imperial Guardsman then uses his eyebeams to melt Simon William’s jetpack sending him falling to the ground. There, Wonder Man tries to hold his own against Gladiator, but he proves to be much stronger than the ionically powered hero. As the Vision tries to come up with a new strategy to deal with their foe. However, Thor decides to finally step up. He ambushes Gladiator from above and soon an all out brawl on the planet surface. While Thor and Gladiator are equally matched in the strength department, the Shi’ar has the advantage with his super-human speed.

Meanwhile, Captain Marvel and Living Laser search the downed Kree ship for survivors. Inside, they are shocked to find Skrulls on board the craft instead. They find a lone survivor, but before they can get any answers out of him, the Skrull activates the self destruct system.[4] The two Avengers survive the blast in their energy forms and decide to head to the Shi’ar base to try and get answers.

Back at the scene of the battle, Thor manages to even the odds by summoning a powerful bolt of lightning that stuns Gladiator long enough the thunder god to get up close and personal. Masterson pummels Gladiator into a coma and has to be pulled away by Vision and Wonder Man who have to remind him that Avengers don’t kill. Eric disagrees, pointing out that death might be the only way to such a relentless foe.[5] With Gladiator about to wake back up, Thor does the next best thing. Carrying the Shi’ar into space, Thor tosses him through the stargate and then uses the magic of Mjolnir to permanently seal it. While this prevents Gladiator from bothering them anymore, Masterson has also sealed the only way the Avengers know how to get back home. When he reports back to his fellow Avengers back aboard the Quinjet they are furious with him.

Thor tries to explain to them that he only did what was necessary to take powerful enemy out of their way. Captain Marvel breaks up the fight and suggests that they focus on the task at hand and worry about getting back home after they’ve completed their mission. However, their voyage to the Shi’ar throne world doesn’t go undetected and they soon find themselves surrounded by an entire fleet of Shi’ar warships.

… This story continues in Captain America #399.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Thor, Captain Marvel, Living Lightning, Scarlet Witch, Starfox, Vision, Wonder Man), Gladiator

Continuity Notes

1. The war between the Kree and Shi’ar started in Captain America #398. The risk to Earth’s sun was revealed in Quasar #32. The Avengers decided to split up into three teams: One to petition the Kree, the other the Shi’ar, and the last to defend the Earth from further attack, as seen in Avengers #345.

2. The signal is such that it can only be heard by Gladiator. It makes a buzzing noise that is reminiscent of the sound made by Jimmy Olsen’s signal watch when he summons Superman. This is a nod to the fact that the Shi’ar Imperial Guard are pastiches based on DC Comics Legion of Super-Heroes, with Gladiator being based specifically on Superboy/Superman.

3. Wonder Man complains about having to use his older jetpack after losing his usual jet belt. Simon’s jet belt was destroyed in a fight with Gamma-Burn in Wonder Man (vol. 2) #3. The jetpack he is wearing here was the one he used from West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #12 through 24.

4. The Skrull have been in an eons long war against the Kree, as explained in Avengers #133. Their most recent conflict with the Kree was chronicled in Avengers #89-97 and more recently in Silver Surfer (vol. 3) #1-31. The Skrulls have been intentionally stoking hostilities between the Kree and Shi’ar, little knowing that they have been manipulated by the Supreme Intelligence in a complex scheme to jumpstart the Kree’s stalled evolution. See Wonder Man (vol. 2) #9 and Avengers #347.

5. This is one of the first inklings of a schism forming in the ranks of the Avengers between members who are willing to kill and those who won’t. See Avengers #347 to see how that all plays out.

Topical References

• At one point, while mocking Gladiator’s appearance, Thor refers to him as “Gorgeous George”. This is a reference to a professional wrestler of that name, the name was ironic because he wasn’t attractive by the standards of the time. Born George Wagner, he’s not that bad looking, a strong 6, weak 7… anyway… he wrestled from 1932 until 1962 and died a year later due to cirrhosis of the liver from drinking so much. This should be a topical reference because I had to explain who Gorgeous George was to you.

• Thor shouts “hasta la vista, baby!” when throwing Gladiator through the stargate. This is yet another reference to Terminator II, which had just come out around the time this story was published. The phrase was uttered in the film by the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) after being taught 90’s slang by John Connor (Edward Furlong) the young man he went back in time to protect. Everyone said this in the 90s. This is a dated reference and its use should is incredibly dated. Don’t you start saying it. It’s lame and doesn’t deserve to come back.

Operation: Galactic Storm Reading Order

Captain America #398, Avengers West Coast #80, Quasar #32, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #7, Avengers #345, Iron Man #278, Thor #445, Captain America #399, Avengers West Coast #81, Quasar #33, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #8, Avengers #346, Iron Man #279, Thor #446, Captain America #400, Avengers West Coast #82, Quasar #34, Wonder Man (vol. 2) #9, Avengers #347, Captain America #401, Quasar #35