Operation: Galactic Storm Part 14 - Now Strikes Starforce!

This story continues from Iron Man #279…

A delegation of Avengers consisting ofThor, the Scarlet Witch, Wonder Man, Living Lightning, Captain Marvel, and Starfox have been sent to the Shi’ar galaxy to convince them to stop using the stargate between Earth and the Kree galaxy in their war as it is destabilizing the sun.[1] Upon their arrival in the Shi’ar galaxy they ended up in a battle with Gladiator, the leader of the Imperial Guard. Following his defeat, the team was then captured by the Shi’ar and brought the throne world of Chandrilar to speak with Empress Lilandra. They are escorted to the throne room by the rest of the Imperial Guard, who are none to happy with the Earthlings who have come. Smasher in particular seems intent on pushing Thor around. While Starfox tries his luck trying to seduce the female Guardsman known as Astra, to no avail.

Empress Lilandra is also not very happy to see the Avengers and demands to know why they seek to interfere with her war with the Kree.[2] Captain Marvel speaks on behalf of the Avengers and explains how the use of the warp gate near the Earth’s sun could potentially cause it to go nova and kill all life in the solar system. Lilandra’s aid, Araki explains that they are engaged in a galactic war and that sacrifices must be made.[2] Araki also accuses the Avengers of assisting the Kree in attacking one of their settlements as well as trying to prevent the launch of their Nega-Bomb.[3] Smasher also cuts in, recounting how Thor banished Gladiator through the warp gate and then closed it, stranding the Imperial Guard’s leader on the other side. This rankles Eric Masterson who tries to pick a fight with Smasher, but his fellow Avengers hold him back, telling him that he is not helping the tense situation. Lilandra has had enough and orders her chambers cleared, saying she will reconvene with the Avengers later.

As the Avengers are being escorted away, none are aware that the Kree Star Force — Korath the Pursuer, Supremor, Ronan the Accuser, Ultimus, and Shatterax — have teleported onto Chandralar on a mission to assassinate the Empress. They are quickly caught by a team of guards, by Ronan uses his Universal Weapon to seal them in a dome of metal made out of the floor so they can continue their mission uninterrupted.

At that same moment, the Avengers are being sequestered in quarters until Lilandra is ready to meet with them again. When they are finally alone, Captain Marvel takes the opportunity to chastise Thor for his bad behavior, telling him that he could have botched their entire mission with his infantile behavior.

Elsewhere on the ship, Empress Lilandra is holding private council with her aid, Araki. She is having doubts about using the Nega-Bomb since it will kill billions of innocent Kree who have nothing to do with the conflict. Araki insists that this is the cost of victory in a war such as this and encourages her to have strength. While Lilandra’s back is turned, Araki begins pulling a knife out of his robe intending to stab her in the back. However, they are interrupted by the Guardsman known as Earthquake, who has come to take over as Lilandra’s security detail. Araki is able to slip his knife away before anyone can see it.

Moments later, the Avengers are trying to pass the time when suddenly the entire room shakes. This is because Star Force has been discovered by Titan of the Imperial Guard and a fight has broken out. The Avengers wonder if they should get involved, but it is a moot point due to the fact that they are locked in — that is until Thor uses Mjolnir to smash a hole through the reinforced door.

Meanwhile, in deep space, Wonder Man and Vision are still aboard the Shi’ar Nega-Bomber that is making its way to the Kree Empire. They are disorientated by some brief turbulence prompting the Vision to use his phasing powers to pass through the walls of the ship and find out its source. When he reaches the bomber’s command bridge, he is surprised to see that it is staffed entirely by Skrulls.[4]

Back on Chandrilar, the Avengers join the battle between the Imperial Guard and Star Force. In the ensuing battle, the Living Lightning’s powers are negated by Ronan’s Universal Weapon. However, Thor is able to jumpstart his powers again using the magic of Mjolnir. While the others are occupied, Ultimus makes his way to the security center to try and eliminate Lilandra. Luckily, Starfox sees him and comes to her rescue. Unfortunately, Starfox’s powers don’t work on Ultimus as he, like Starfox, is an Eternal. However, the team work between the Avengers and Imperial Guard begins paying off and members of Star Force begin going down. Smasher even puts aside his animosity toward Thor and the pair work together to take out Ronan. The only Kree left standing is Ultimus who is about to defeat Starfox when he’s knocked out by a Shi’ar cannon.

The Avengers willingness to put their lives on the line to protect Lilandra causes her to have a change of heart, decreeing that the nega-bomb must be recalled. However, as she is giving this order the bomber arrives in Kree space and the crew are preparing to detonate the devastating weapon.

… This story continues in Captain America #399.

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Thor, Starfox, Living Lightning, Captain Marvel, Wonder Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision), Starforce (Ronan the Accuser, Supremor, Ultimus, Shatterax, Korath the Pursuer), Empress Lilandra, Imperial Guard (Titan, Hussar, Hardball, Smasher, Earthquake, Astra)

Continuity Notes

1. The war between the Kree and Shi’ar was started back in Captain America #398. The discovery that the stargate was affecting Earth’s sun was made in Quasar #32. This led to the Avengers splitting into three teams: One to go to the Kree galaxy, one to the Shi’ar, and the last left behind to defend the Earth, as seen in Avengers #346. Thor and Co. first arrived in the Shi’ar galaxy last issue.

2. Throughout this issue, Araki appears more bloodthirsty and staunchly supports the war, which is uncharacteristic of the character compared to previous appearances. This is because this is actually a Skrull spy that has replaced Araki in order to goad the Shi’ar into a war with the Kree. He is exposed in Avengers West Coast #82. We won’t see the real Araki (or a clone thereof) until New X-Men #124.

3. “Araki” mentions the attack on the Shi’ar settlement that happened last issue. Attempts to sabotage their Nega-Bomb (incorrectly referred to as a Nega-Portal here) was in Wonder Man (vol. 2) #8.

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.

Topical References

• When seeing the Shi’ar throne room, Thor thinks of a line about not being in Kansas. He is referring to the 1939 film adaptation of the Wizard of Oz, in which Dorothy Gale (Judy Garlan) says the line “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore!” upon arriving in the land of Oz. This was a line specifically from the movie and not in the original 1900 story by L. Frank Baum. While a movie reference would usually be considered a topical reference, the Wizard of Oz is no regarded as a cinematic classic and that line has become commonly used short-hand to describe being in a place that is extremely out of the ordinary. Unlike the references to Terminator II that have been made in prior issues of this run of Thor, this usage would not be considered topical since it still remains widely used over 80s years after the release of film.

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