Ben
11-06-2004, 10:37 PM
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http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_1.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Clayton Henry
Story: "DAYS OF FUTURE PRESENT, PAST PARTICIPLE" PART 1 OF 4)
OVERVIEW:
[img=left:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_2.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]The All New, All Different Alpha Flight is in an all out battle with one-time ally, Big Hero Six in a park in the Canadian wilderness. Sasquatch is seemingly pinned down by Baymax, the lizard-like robot. Behind the scenes of the battle, we are able to see the grey-streaked hair of Gardner Monroe, AKA Flashback. Nemesis takes out The Ebon Samurai through the the creative use of a melon and a kick to the head, proving she stands by her pledge to Sasquatch not to kill. While Yukon Jack is disabled by Hiro, Major Mapleleaf is pinned down, and has his costume ripped to pieces, by ferocious anime creatures pulled from Honey Lemon's purse. Leaping to her crush's defence, Puck takes Honey lemon down, while Centennial deals with Sunpyre as easily as he had Go Go Tomago earlier. Seemingly having been waiting for something, Sasquatch returns to his human form just as a steam geyser erupts directly into Baymax. This managed to disable a device planted inside Baymax that was being used to mentally control Big Hero Six. As battle ends, Gardner Monroe makes his way through the crowd of bystanders, saying he needs Alpha Flight's help.
Back in Alpha Flight's Plodex Ship headquarters, Major Mapleleaf is trying on a new costume given to him by Zuzha. Though he doesn't think his father would improve of the alterations, he does seem to quite like his new suite (with snazzy Mapleleaf on the back). The team assembles to discuss the plea for help from Flashback. Sasquatch explains the relationship Alpha Flight once had with Flashback as a member of Omega Flight, and also makes reference to them having been mostly mind controlled. Monroe picks up the story from when one of his "future selves" was killed by Madison Jeffries shortly after their battle in at the the West Edmonton Mall.[img=right:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_3.jpg[/img:2195e83a93] (see Alpha Flight vol.1 #28 (http://www.alphaflight.net/issue_summaries/summary_v1_28.php)]. It had occurred to Monroe after the battle that if he destroyed his costume, it there would be no way for his past to catch up with him, and kill him. He burned his suite, and swore off ever becoming Flashback again. He felt he was safe until the previous day in his bathroom, a negative version of his suite appeared. He found that no matter what he did, he kept winding back in the negative suite. Monroe begs Sasquatch to get "the real Alpha Flight" to go back in time to keep his then future self from dying, to prevent his past from catching up with him. Sasquatch states that this Alpha Flight IS the real Alpha Flight, and that he is hesitant to mess with the past due to the possible consequences; also pointing out that Alpha Flight simply doesn't have the resources for time travel. Nemesis steps in stating that she is able to use her sword "Skell" and the to arrange time travel. This gets Sasquatch to thinking that if they stop James MacDonald Hudson from ever going to the US, it will prevent the conflict, and prevent the "death" of Hudson. Shockingly Nemesis runs Monroe through with her sword, and explains as Sasquatch grabs her that she needed the blood of one who has been to the past to make the journey possible. As a consensus they decide that Major Mapleleaf is the best candidate to go into the past to speak with Hudson, as he is quite familiar with Parliament Building. Just as abruptly, Nemesis runs him through. She explains that should he succeed in stopping Flashback from dying, none of this will have ever happened, and no one will have died.
[img=left:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_4.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]In a place between life and death, Nemesis finds Mapleleaf confronting his father about his abusive childhood. Nemesis assures Saddler that no one will know of this, as once the problems are solved, it will have never happened, and no one will remember (other than her). Suddenly Saddler finds himself in front of the Parliament Building. He enters, speaks with Hudson, and explains the situation. Hudson agreed that there was something fishy about the whole job offer in New York, and agrees not to go.
Back at the headquarters, Langkowski is explaining the math behind time travel to Centennial, Puck is growling at Nemesis while the Plodex child watches from the rafters. Yukon Jack asks to speak with Zuzha, saying he has noticed her "finer qualities of womanhood". The next panel she is laughing in his face saying that he had her going for a minute. Just then there is the sound of a "bionantachial e.m. pulse" Outside the ship, the team sees a feet of Box robots coming toward them.
The teaser panel for next issue shows what appears to be Yukon Jack being blasted from behind with his bone ornamentation poppin off of his body. Either that, or it is some exhibition of his power.
REVIEW:
[img=right:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_5.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]Wow! This issue was awesome! I really love the fact that Scott Lobdell has taken this old plot from the past, suped it up, and made it happen! So many long time fans have been wanting to know how the Flashback situation turned out, and now's their chance! So much happened in this issue with the temporal issues, and questions they raise.
The battle with Big Hero Six was a really clever way to start the story. It shows that the team has been active outside of the pages we read, and are starting to get established as a real team. We got to see again the battle potential in this group, even though fighting isn't the big appeal of the book. I am starting to get the impression that Zuzha's powers are something like Speedball's from the New Warriors. She is able to manipulate the kinetic energy of her body possibly. The way she bounced from tree to tree would certainly seem well beyond human capabilities. The Anime creatures attacking Major Mapleleaf was cute, and poked good fun at a totally different genre of comics. I also LOVED the changes made to Mapleleaf's costume.
When Sasquatch was telling the story of Omega Flight, he mentioned the members having been Mind Controlled. I stopped for a second on that one and had to think back. My first reaction was "Waitaminute, they weren't mind controlled" until I popped Alpha Flight vol.1 #28 (http://www.alphaflight.net/issue_summaries/summary_v1_28.php) open. Jeffries had come to Edmonton as he believed that Diamond Lil and Wildchild were being mind-controlled. This really proved to me the attention to detail that Scott Lobdell can have.
[img=left:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_6.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]As Flashback told his story, and made mention of his negative costume, I realized that he was not wearing a negative costume! This is a pretty big editorial blunder to have let slip past. Speaking of such things, the editorial staff also dropped the ball on the first page, spelling Tomago as Tomayo. An other not so serious error was one in continuity, having James MacDonald Hudson working at the Parliament Building. At that time he was actually unemployed, which is what made him seriously consider the Roxxon job offer. Not a huge error, as it doesn't make any tidal waves in continuity, but probably should have been caught.
Nemesiss' rash behavior of running people through is great. It shows her total lack of social grace, and her act now, explain later attitude. I also love the "fuzzy Bunny" slips she makes when disoriented.
Really great scene with Major Mapleleaf confronting his father in the place before death. Having Nemesis know his secrets could make for some interesting interaction down the road.
The ramifications of how Alpha decided to alter the past should prove very interesting. The chain reaction of Mac not dying is bound HUGE. So much of the entire Marvel Universe as we know it would change. I can't wait to see how it plays out, it's obvious that Scott has put a lot of thought into this, and is this arc is going to be one talked about for a long time.
It was great having Clayton Henry back on pencils. Though I didn't mind Ross' art, Henry's just has us so spoiled.
A fantastic issue, makes me want to time travel just to read the next one!
[img]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/greyleaf.jpg
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R
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P
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C
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http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_1.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]
Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Clayton Henry
Story: "DAYS OF FUTURE PRESENT, PAST PARTICIPLE" PART 1 OF 4)
OVERVIEW:
[img=left:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_2.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]The All New, All Different Alpha Flight is in an all out battle with one-time ally, Big Hero Six in a park in the Canadian wilderness. Sasquatch is seemingly pinned down by Baymax, the lizard-like robot. Behind the scenes of the battle, we are able to see the grey-streaked hair of Gardner Monroe, AKA Flashback. Nemesis takes out The Ebon Samurai through the the creative use of a melon and a kick to the head, proving she stands by her pledge to Sasquatch not to kill. While Yukon Jack is disabled by Hiro, Major Mapleleaf is pinned down, and has his costume ripped to pieces, by ferocious anime creatures pulled from Honey Lemon's purse. Leaping to her crush's defence, Puck takes Honey lemon down, while Centennial deals with Sunpyre as easily as he had Go Go Tomago earlier. Seemingly having been waiting for something, Sasquatch returns to his human form just as a steam geyser erupts directly into Baymax. This managed to disable a device planted inside Baymax that was being used to mentally control Big Hero Six. As battle ends, Gardner Monroe makes his way through the crowd of bystanders, saying he needs Alpha Flight's help.
Back in Alpha Flight's Plodex Ship headquarters, Major Mapleleaf is trying on a new costume given to him by Zuzha. Though he doesn't think his father would improve of the alterations, he does seem to quite like his new suite (with snazzy Mapleleaf on the back). The team assembles to discuss the plea for help from Flashback. Sasquatch explains the relationship Alpha Flight once had with Flashback as a member of Omega Flight, and also makes reference to them having been mostly mind controlled. Monroe picks up the story from when one of his "future selves" was killed by Madison Jeffries shortly after their battle in at the the West Edmonton Mall.[img=right:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_3.jpg[/img:2195e83a93] (see Alpha Flight vol.1 #28 (http://www.alphaflight.net/issue_summaries/summary_v1_28.php)]. It had occurred to Monroe after the battle that if he destroyed his costume, it there would be no way for his past to catch up with him, and kill him. He burned his suite, and swore off ever becoming Flashback again. He felt he was safe until the previous day in his bathroom, a negative version of his suite appeared. He found that no matter what he did, he kept winding back in the negative suite. Monroe begs Sasquatch to get "the real Alpha Flight" to go back in time to keep his then future self from dying, to prevent his past from catching up with him. Sasquatch states that this Alpha Flight IS the real Alpha Flight, and that he is hesitant to mess with the past due to the possible consequences; also pointing out that Alpha Flight simply doesn't have the resources for time travel. Nemesis steps in stating that she is able to use her sword "Skell" and the to arrange time travel. This gets Sasquatch to thinking that if they stop James MacDonald Hudson from ever going to the US, it will prevent the conflict, and prevent the "death" of Hudson. Shockingly Nemesis runs Monroe through with her sword, and explains as Sasquatch grabs her that she needed the blood of one who has been to the past to make the journey possible. As a consensus they decide that Major Mapleleaf is the best candidate to go into the past to speak with Hudson, as he is quite familiar with Parliament Building. Just as abruptly, Nemesis runs him through. She explains that should he succeed in stopping Flashback from dying, none of this will have ever happened, and no one will have died.
[img=left:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_4.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]In a place between life and death, Nemesis finds Mapleleaf confronting his father about his abusive childhood. Nemesis assures Saddler that no one will know of this, as once the problems are solved, it will have never happened, and no one will remember (other than her). Suddenly Saddler finds himself in front of the Parliament Building. He enters, speaks with Hudson, and explains the situation. Hudson agreed that there was something fishy about the whole job offer in New York, and agrees not to go.
Back at the headquarters, Langkowski is explaining the math behind time travel to Centennial, Puck is growling at Nemesis while the Plodex child watches from the rafters. Yukon Jack asks to speak with Zuzha, saying he has noticed her "finer qualities of womanhood". The next panel she is laughing in his face saying that he had her going for a minute. Just then there is the sound of a "bionantachial e.m. pulse" Outside the ship, the team sees a feet of Box robots coming toward them.
The teaser panel for next issue shows what appears to be Yukon Jack being blasted from behind with his bone ornamentation poppin off of his body. Either that, or it is some exhibition of his power.
REVIEW:
[img=right:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_5.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]Wow! This issue was awesome! I really love the fact that Scott Lobdell has taken this old plot from the past, suped it up, and made it happen! So many long time fans have been wanting to know how the Flashback situation turned out, and now's their chance! So much happened in this issue with the temporal issues, and questions they raise.
The battle with Big Hero Six was a really clever way to start the story. It shows that the team has been active outside of the pages we read, and are starting to get established as a real team. We got to see again the battle potential in this group, even though fighting isn't the big appeal of the book. I am starting to get the impression that Zuzha's powers are something like Speedball's from the New Warriors. She is able to manipulate the kinetic energy of her body possibly. The way she bounced from tree to tree would certainly seem well beyond human capabilities. The Anime creatures attacking Major Mapleleaf was cute, and poked good fun at a totally different genre of comics. I also LOVED the changes made to Mapleleaf's costume.
When Sasquatch was telling the story of Omega Flight, he mentioned the members having been Mind Controlled. I stopped for a second on that one and had to think back. My first reaction was "Waitaminute, they weren't mind controlled" until I popped Alpha Flight vol.1 #28 (http://www.alphaflight.net/issue_summaries/summary_v1_28.php) open. Jeffries had come to Edmonton as he believed that Diamond Lil and Wildchild were being mind-controlled. This really proved to me the attention to detail that Scott Lobdell can have.
[img=left:2195e83a93]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/af3_9_review_6.jpg[/img:2195e83a93]As Flashback told his story, and made mention of his negative costume, I realized that he was not wearing a negative costume! This is a pretty big editorial blunder to have let slip past. Speaking of such things, the editorial staff also dropped the ball on the first page, spelling Tomago as Tomayo. An other not so serious error was one in continuity, having James MacDonald Hudson working at the Parliament Building. At that time he was actually unemployed, which is what made him seriously consider the Roxxon job offer. Not a huge error, as it doesn't make any tidal waves in continuity, but probably should have been caught.
Nemesiss' rash behavior of running people through is great. It shows her total lack of social grace, and her act now, explain later attitude. I also love the "fuzzy Bunny" slips she makes when disoriented.
Really great scene with Major Mapleleaf confronting his father in the place before death. Having Nemesis know his secrets could make for some interesting interaction down the road.
The ramifications of how Alpha decided to alter the past should prove very interesting. The chain reaction of Mac not dying is bound HUGE. So much of the entire Marvel Universe as we know it would change. I can't wait to see how it plays out, it's obvious that Scott has put a lot of thought into this, and is this arc is going to be one talked about for a long time.
It was great having Clayton Henry back on pencils. Though I didn't mind Ross' art, Henry's just has us so spoiled.
A fantastic issue, makes me want to time travel just to read the next one!
[img]http://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/redleaf.jpghttp://www.alphaflight.net/reviews/greyleaf.jpg