#Jesus Christ Jim Starlin!

[wanderingmind867]

It's worse than I thought. Captain Mar-Vell and Jason Todd died six years apart, and their deaths were written by the same man. That's such a short span of time! Oh, and it gets worse and weirder.

According to Wikipedia, Jim Starlin described writing the death of Captain Marvel as "cheaper than going to a shrink". Jesus Christ, Jim Starlin! Look, I get it. Jim Starlin's dad died of cancer. My mom died of brain cancer a few years ago. But when my mom died, I went to therapy! I didn't write a story of a fictional character dying of cancer! Jesus Christ!

Also, Jason Todd 's was kind of thanks to Eddie Murphy. I'm not kidding. Denny O'Neill saw a 1982 SNL sketch in which Eddie Murphy encouraged viewers to call the show if they wanted him to boil a lobster on air. And that inspired him to do the 900 number poll gimmick.

Oh! And Kicker #3! DC wanted to have a character die of AIDS, and Jim Starlin filled the suggestion box with proposals to kill off Jason, but DC staff rejected the idea after realizing all the papers had Starlin's handwriting. Let me repeat that, louder. JIM STARLIN TRIED TO RIG A SUGGESTION BOX SO HE COULD KILL JASON TODD WITH AIDS! Jesus Christ! What's wrong with you, Jim Starlin!

You know what? Captain Mar-Vell and Jason Todd should be allowed one free suckerpunch to Jim Starlin when he finally dies. When a man kills a character off as a form of therapy and tries to give another character AIDS (and both within one six year time span), there's probably something wrong with him.

#Jesus Christ Jim Starlin! #that's the message here #just christ #wow #captain marvel #captain mar vell #mar vell #mar-vell #marvel comics #marvel #marvel universe #jason todd #red hood #dc #dc comics #dc universe #dcu #anti jim starlin #comic books #comic book #comics

[ewzzy]

After seeing Guardians of the Galaxy 3 I read Roy Thomas & Mike Friedrich's original run on Warlock. I knew that Adam Warlock was some sort of space Jesus metaphor, but I didn't know how literal that would be. Immediately he paraphrases Exodus 3:14 with "I am only-- what I am."

Him going to Counter-Earth is very much presented as god's only begotten son becoming human to save humanity.

Roy Thomas has said that the real inspiration for all of this was the then new Jesus Christ Superstar. Some inspirations are more obvious an others but Jason here as the Judas of Adam Warlock's followers is pretty direct. The allusions become more scattershot as Mike Friedrich and others take over the story, so his betrayal doesn't really come around. What does make him the Superstar Judas is questioning the focus on the spiritual when power can be used to help people in the physical world.

Again, after Roy Thomas had to step away from writing a lot of the direct religious allusions fell away, but when it time for the big finally it all comes back to Jesus. Crucifying Warlock felt inevitable, but it goes a step further with Adam paraphrasing Mark 15:34 with "High Evolutionary-- why have you abandoned me?"

Eventually the story was wrapped up in Hulk's series because Warlock's was cancelled and Warlock gets the full burial and Easter return. The image of Hulk as a mourner here is absolutely wild.

There are a hundred other allusion to the bible across the 13 issues of this tale. Even with it's reputation I didn't expect them to be so blatant. I'm used to people calling Superman a Jesus metaphor (he's not) so I was surprised to see what a Super Jesus actually reads like.

The next time we see Adam he's written by Jim Starlin who takes the series in a very different direction and Warlock has to dealt with a future version of himself that really does believe he's god.

#adam warlock #roy thomas #marvel comics #hulk #mike friedrich #high evolutionary

[kudosmyhero]

Detective Comics (vol. 1) #482: Night of the Body Snatcher (plus 4 other stories)

Read Date: December 10, 2022 Cover Date: March 1979 ● Writer: Jim Starlin ● Penciler: Jim Starlin ● Inker: P. Craig Russell ● Colorist: Tatjana Wood ● Letterer: Karen Kish ● Editor: Paul Levitz ◦ Julius Schwartz ◦ Al Milgrom ● [varying info for other stories]

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● judging by the cover, this one's gonna be wild ● "your began with a death" … huh? ● the detail of that splash is amazing ● why is that gorilla so white? just pure, sheet white ● (pg 4) at least its tongue has some color ● "…to Bruce Wayne!" / "Me?! er, um, Bruce Wayne? Why?" (i know it says he knows, but… at least try to deny it, maybe?) ● don't clench too hard, Batman. you might poop yourself ● (pg 9) Jesus H. Christ! ● oh look, a full moon in Gotham. ● that's a good way to break your wrist, Batman. don't land on it like that ● Alfred is gonna be so mad you tore your cape ● holy shit ● hahah! that security guard's face says it all. good job, dude ● i love that coat, Commissioner!

● [Batgirl story] Problematic depictions of Asian culture, but otherwise the art is ok. The coloring looks like ink wash, which is cool. This is my first read of Tony Gordon… but wth is he wearing?

● (argh, do I read the Demon and Bat-Mite stories for completion's sake? ok, I will)

● [Demon story] Ok, the art is gorgeous and the story is really good. I'm glad I read it.

● [Bat-Mite story] Honestly not as bad as I thought it'd be. My first Bat-Mite story.

● [Robin story] It was ok. The Raven is an interesting character and I'd like to know more about him.

Synopsis: Batman recovers his consciousness only to find out that he has been overpowered by the white ape-body of Xavier Simon, whose ultimate plan is to transfer his mind into Batman's body. Simon prepares his machines before the procedure, giving Batman enough time to break free from the operating table. The Dark Knight then attacks the ape-Simon, but the struggle causes the entire laboratory to catch on fire.

The human body of Xavier Simon is consumed by the flames and without his machines to revert the process, Simon is trapped in the ape's body. Batman jumps off the building on fire, but he is closely followed by the ape-Simon. Landing on a nearby rooftop, Batman and Simon fight on a very uneven match, where Batman tries his best to get the upper hand, but the ape is far too strong and resistant to be defeated.

With his energy completely depleted and his suit torn to pieces, Batman is picked up by the ape, who plans to drop Batman from the top of the building to the street below. At that moment, a security guard that was alerted by the fire on the next building, gets to the rooftop and shoots at the ape, seriously injuring him and allowing Batman to jump to safety. The white ape-Simon drops to his death and the case of the brutal murders is closed.

Xavier Simon is buried at the Gotham Cemetery and Batman requests for the ape's body to be buried next to Simon. Commissioner Gordon grants Batman his wish, but when he asks for an explanation, Batman refuses to give any, claiming that maybe someday Gordon will learn the truth, but Gordon replies that when that happens, he might not believe a word.

(https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Detective_Comics_Vol_1_482)

Fan Art: Batman by Mar11co

Accompanying Podcast: ● Overlooked Dark Knight - episode 08

#dc #dc comics #my dc read #podcast recommendation #comics #comic books #fan art #fanart #detective comics #podcast - overlooked dark knight #batman #security guard saves the day

[sfcrowsnest]

Jim Starlin's Warlock: a comic-book retrospective (video).

Jim Starlin’s Warlock: a comic-book retrospective (video).

Ed and Jim are here to dive into the classic comic-book that is Jim Starlin’s Warlock. In the 1970s, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Warlock was reimagined by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane as a Jesus Christ-like person on an other Earth, and Starlin then took up the title – bringing it to new heights. Starlin wrote and illustrated an intricate space opera with religious and psychological issues, seeing the…

View On WordPress

#Jim Starlin&039;s Warlock

[goodtobegeeking]

Jim Starlin's Warlock: a comic-book retrospective (video).

Jim Starlin’s Warlock: a comic-book retrospective (video).

Ed and Jim are here to dive into the classic comic-book that is Jim Starlin’s Warlock. In the 1970s, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Warlock was reimagined by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane as a Jesus Christ-like person on an other Earth, and Starlin then took up the title – bringing it to new heights. Starlin wrote and illustrated an intricate space opera with religious and psychological issues, seeing the…

View On WordPress

#Jim Starlin&039;s Warlock

[soundslikenerds-blog]

I Need to Talk About “Avengers: Endgame”

WARNING: THIS WILL BE VERY SPOILER-Y!

PLEASE, IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE, DO NOT READ THE SPOILERS!

IT’S SO HARD TO STAY AWAY WHEN YOU’RE CURIOUS AS HELL, BUT PLEASE DON’T LOOK AT THESE SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE MOVIE!

SPOILERS WILL BE BELOW THE CUT, SO IF YOU DON’T TURN AWAY NOW, I CAN’T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SPOILERS YOU WILL SEE!

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!

OK!

I have an actual metric fuckton of stuff to say about this movie-too much, really. I won’t be able to hold it together for even a part of it, since I cried like a baby throughout 90% of this movie. I have a lot of words and a lot of emotions. Walking into this movie, I had a lot of theories. Some of them were true, and others were not. Some of them, I wished I had been wrong about. I steered clear of all spoilers, dropping off the face of the world once I heard that a leak happened, and I’m somewhat relieved that I can be back. It’s not gonna be the same, though. Never.

I’ve only seen the movie three times so far (I had to edit this twice while writing this reaction, ngl), so I’m definitely still missing some shit. I just haven’t been able to keep myself collected for long enough to write it all. I’m definitely going to see it again tomorrow, which is like opening a gaping wound and pouring salt, vinegar, alcohol, and tears into it. Why do I do this?

So, here it goes. It won’t be in order, but I’m just writing it down as it comes back to me (while listening to the Avengers Theme because I need to cry for a bit longer, I guess).

I was a bit upset that the movie didn’t open with the original Marvel fanfare. I was angry until I cried for the first time in the movie, which happened a mere 3 minutes in.

Clint’s. Fucking. Family.

When he starts running around, yelling for them, I was absolutely gutted. It felt like someone drove a knife into my back.

The Russo Bros.

JESUS. CHRIST. GIVE. THIS. MAN. A. BREAK.

GIVE. ME. A. BREAK.

Tony’s physical state in space was absolutely mind-boggling. I was crushed just seeing him like that, like a little skeleton man. I’m realizing as I write this that I can’t even think about Tony right now. Nope.

No.

Anyway, now that I’m crying, I might as well keep crying.

Nebula lifting Tony up into the seat like he’s a small child. YES, GIVE THIS MAN ALL THE LOVE AND CARE IN THE WORLD! HE DESERVES EVERYTHING GOOD! DON’T TOUCH ME, I’M CRYING!

When that little light hit Tony’s face, I was like, “CAROL! IT’S MY GIRL! WHAT A GODDESS!” and the entire theater erupted with applause. I was so happy I wasn’t stuck with a theater full of people with sticks in places they shouldn’t be.

STEVE SPRINTING UP TO TONY WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL, TOUCHING, WONDERFUL MOMENT, BUT THEN, THESE TWO FUCKERS FIGHT AGAIN LIKE 2 SECONDS LATER! DON’T TAKE MY LITTLE SHREDS OF HAPPINESS AWAY FROM ME, MARVEL, FFS!

“I lost the kid” -Tony, making me want to vomit because of the sheer emotions.

Pepperony reunion was beautiful. I cried. Everyone cried. Not everyone. Me and a few other people.

Tony losing his shit on Steve left me gutted. I just wanted everything to be okay between them, especially since both of them came so close to dying.

“I needed you!” -Tony, 2k19

“I need you two to get along” -Me, 2k19

“Up until this moment, I thought you were a Build-a-Bear” -Tony to Rocket, and the theater erupted in laughter. The Russo’s were trying to butter us up with as much funny shit in the first half as they could because THEY KNEW WHAT WAS COMING, AND NO ONE ELSE DID!

When I saw Carol’s tears in her eyes upon seeing Nick Fury’s picture as one of the vanished, I...ugh. No. I’m feeling a lot again.

She was so ready to kick some purple ass, and I was like “YAAAASSSS, KWEEN! Kill the evil grape!”

The fact that we saw the jump in the reflection of Steve’s eyes, my heart fluttered. What a beautiful...whoa. I was...the EYELASHES?! HeLp!

WHEN THANOS GOT HIS NOGGIN CHOPPED CLEAN OFF, THE WHOLE AUDIENCE LOST IT, BUT WE KNEW IT WOULDN’T BE THE END OF THANOS. The cheers were full of joy and also a bit of fear for what would come.

“I went for the head” -Thor, 2k19

Even though, I was fully committed to this movie, when the “five years later” faded onto the screen, I couldn’t help but read it in a Spongebob Narrator voice. OOPS!

Steve trying to be a little optimist in the absolute worst circumstances...ugh!

Joe Russo’s cameo. I was like, “yaaaasss, represent the LGBTQ+ audience” but I was also like, “you’re gonna kill me in this movie, aren’t you?” AND THE SECOND TIME I WATCHED IT, WHEN PEOPLE CHEERED BECAUSE OF HIM IN THAT SCENE, I JUST SAT THERE WITH MY ARMS CROSSED LIKE AN ANGRY BABY! I KNEW WHAT WAS COMING! I KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO STAB ME STRAIGHT THROUGH MY FUCKING HEART IN A LITTLE WHILE! The second time around, I was more excited to see Jim Starlin in that scene.

CAROL’S HAIRCUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Seeing Natasha cry over Clint’s disappearance was...rough. 10/10 don’t like seeing my heroes cry because it turns me into an actual blubbering mess. Natasha was a strong, fierce, incredible warrior goddess, and to see her crumble over the stress was both so incredibly realistic but also heart-wrenching. She has done such a good job holding it together in the worst circumstances throughout these movies, but now we get to see her as just as vulnerable as anyone else. Natasha was a gem, and SHE DESERVED SO MUCH BETTER. I NEED TISSUES. I’M CRYING!

On a side note: I love that new hair she’s rocking, ngl.

“I tell people to move on; some do, but not us” *chills*

I’m upset that the peanut butter sandwich wasn’t credited and had no appearances in the trailer. It played such a pivotal role. First, it was Nat’s. Then, Nat tried to pass it off to Steve. Then, Scott practically fell in love with it.

Scott, looking at that peanut butter sandwich:

While we’re talking about Scott Lang, I have to say that a lot of us in the theater cried like little tiny babies, when Scott and Cassie finally saw each other again. Five hours passed for him, but his daughter aged five entire years. That was heart-wrenching and also such a happy scene.

TONY STARK FINALLY HAD SOME HAPPINESS! HE MARRIED PEPPER, AND THEY HAD A DAUGHTER, MORGAN! I CAN’T! DON’T TOUCH ME!

Professor Hulk was both really unsettling, really funny, and everything that I wanted. I didn’t really know whether to laugh or cringe a little bit. It was really well done, and it made for some laughs, but ngl, I was a bit...disturbed by it.

The picture scene. Scott is just...the most relatable.

“Take the goddamn phone” -Scott Lang, leaving myself and the rest of the theater in stitches.

“Shit” -Tony Stark, 2k19

“Shit” -Morgan Stark, 2k19

Tony = Parenting Goals, leave me alone.

“I love you 3000” -Morgan Stark being the sweetest little peanut in the history of all things. Someone protect her LIKE THEY SHOULD’VE PROTECTED TONY! HELP, I’M CRYING AGAIN!

“But would you be able to rest?” -PEPPER GODDAMN POTTS, KNOWING THAT WE’RE GONNA EXPERIENCE THE WORST PAIN IN MERE HOURS!

*ahem*

Scott’s transformation between adult, child, old, baby, and back to adult was funny af. Every person in the theater lost their shit during that scene.

“Someone peed my pants” -Scott Lang...legendary

Steven Grant Rogers in THOSE pants. We all know which ones I’m talking about. The ones he wears when he walks outside the facility and is greeted by Tony Stark. I needed an inhaler because it took my breath away. Wow.

TONY GIVING STEVE HIS SHIELD BACK REPAIRED MY SHATTERED HEART AND CLEARED UP MY SKIN.

Scott sitting outside with his little taco, only to have it blown away thanks to Rocket and Nebula, OH LORD HELP ME! I nearly pissed myself, I was laughing so hard. Then, when Professor Hulk walks by and hands him a taco with this big ass green hand, everyone went from “lol” to “awwwww” like he was some giant green puppy!

Nebula throwing serious shade at Scott! LIFE!

“What’s up, Regular-Sized Man?” -Rhodey, coming in for the kill.

Prof. Hulk riding in the back of the truck with his thicc ass, the theater erupted.

VALKYRIE! WHEN IT PANNED OVER TO HER, EVERY SINGLE TIME I’VE SEEN IT, THE THEATER WENT FUCKING BUCK WILD! PEOPLE LOVE HER! I LOVE HER! I WOULD MARRY THIS FUCKING GODDESS!

Thor.

Wow.

Whoa.

Huh.

Like, when it showed him, I laughed because...it’s still the God of a man, Chris Hemsworth. At the same time, though, it made me so goddamn sad. The audience didn’t always know whether it was right to laugh or get a bit emotional about it. He feels like he failed his people and the entire universe. That’s a lot of guilt on his shoulders, and we know where this guilt REALLY belongs.

Peter.

Quill.

STAR

DUDE

HE IS A LORD NO LONGER!

Like, I love you, but this is on you, homeboy.

MEEK AND KORG!

When Prof. Hulk mentions Thanos, and Thor gets really quiet and teary-eyed, I couldn’t help but getting emotional about it. He feels like such a failure, and that’s heartbreaking.

He...is using Stormbreaker...as a bottle opener...wtf, Thor?!

“There’s booze” -Rocket

And that was the line that convinced Thor Odinson, the God of Thunder, the King of Asgard to join up with his team again and kick some ass. Really. I’m not lying. This is the true motivation for my dude, Thor. Wow.

“Jane put her hand in a rock, and the stone put itself into her” -Thor, 2k19

*THE THEATER LOSES IT*

Rhodey motioning what he wanted to do to baby Thanos was one of the funniest bits in the movie. I almost puked, I laughed so hard, and then the reaction he got from the other characters. Oh shit!

“See you in a minute” -Natasha to Steve, and the second time I watched it, I lost my goddamn mind. The people next to me were probably like “wtf is gonna happen?” because they knew I had seen it the previous night during the premiere. So when Nat is doing her little “hahaha, I’ll see you in a second” I was just over there dying, trying to hold back my gross sobs. Like I’m doing right now.

I can’t see the keyboard.

Seeing a different view of the Battle of New York was fucking stellar. I was dead. I knew that this was the moment I would get to see Loki being Loki. Wow. Much anticipation.

Prof. Hulk having to pretend to Hulk out left me shook. I couldn’t hear the movie because of the audience laughter.

Bruce and the Ancient One was a great little duo, and I would honestly pay to see Tilda Swinton just interacting with my favorite heroes all day.

“That suit was doing nothing for your ass” -Tony

“As far as I’m concerned, that’s America’s Ass!” -Scott, speaking on behalf of everyone in the universe.

LOKI IMITATING STEVE WAS A BEAUTIFUL CALLBACK TO “THOR: THE DARK WORLD” AND I LOST IT. I LOST IT AND COULDN’T FIND IT FOR A HOT MINUTE! Then, Thor just slaps that Asgardian “shut the fuck up” mouthpiece on him, and I don’t get to hear Tom Hiddleston’s silken waterfall of a voice again throughout the movie. Who approved this? Like, I enjoy knowing that there was a reason behind said mouthpiece, and it was because Loki couldn’t stop running his mouth, but I just...I wanted more of Loki than I got.

Hulk getting mad about taking the stairs. That was a mood and a half.

When Steve got into the elevator, I was low-key hoping for another can of whoopass like in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” but what I got was even. fucking. Better.

Hearing Cap say “Hail Hydra” was just as bone-chilling as when I read it in the Captain America: Steve Rogers issue a while back. It was pretty intense hearing him say it, but I thought it was a cool hint to the comic. It gave me chills, but it was also…

Alexander Pierce, ugh! Listen, Robert Redford has always been-and will always be-a stone cold fox, but Secretary Pierce is the #worst. No one likes him. Seeing all these “long lost” characters was such a nice send-off for our heroes. This was the end of a decade-long saga, and this truly felt like a fan-service movie with a lot of heartbreaking moments that we didn’t want as well.

Seeing Tony have that cardiac dysrhythmia was not my favorite thing, but it was much easier than seeing...the INCIDENT AT THE END THAT SHATTERED MY UNIVERSE!

Loki’s eyes following the case when Ant-Man kicked it away left me cackling in my seat. Every time I’ve watched it, it was hilarious. Idgaf, every single time Tom Hiddleston is on that screen, he steals the show, even when he can’t speak.

God.

That man.

Help.

Hulk busting out of the stairwell and hitting Tony across the fucking room was hilarious.

Then, this little shit, Loki, picks up the tesseract and yeets himself right outta the movie like he was never there to begin with. We don’t see him another goddamn time. I was low-key hoping that Thor could’ve found a way to be in on the plan to get the tesseract so that he could’ve seen Loki one more time, but whatever. I’m not in charge of anything ever.

Like, we’ve gotten to see him as Loki for like a cumulative 4 minutes in two entire movies. How rude.

STEVE RUNNING INTO STEVE!

AND THAT FIGHT SCENE!

I was all kinds of whoa.

Me during that scene:

“That is America’s ass” -Steve Rogers, 2k19 or...2k12…? Help.

Steve and Tony going back in time to the 70’s was all kinds of tears. Like, Tony getting to see his dad got me all choked up. AND HOWARD’S LIKE “THERE’S NOTHING I WOULDN’T DO FOR HIM” AND I’M JUST CONFLICTED BECAUSE TONY SUFFERED BECAUSE OF HIS DAD, BUT I DON’T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ANYMORE!

And when I saw Steve grab four of those vials of Pym particles, I was like “HONEY, YOU KNOW GODDAMN WELL YOU DON’T NEED THAT MANY! PUT IT BACK! DON’T BE LIKE THIS!” I felt like a mother in the candy aisle with a free range toddler.

Listen.

Now, here’s a question.

HOW.

THE FUCK.

DID PEGGY CARTER.

NOT SEE.

HER MAIN MAN.

STEVE.

AMERICA.

ROGERS.

????????????????????????????

Steve’s there like:

And my girl, Peggy, is just:

Completely oblivious.

Whatever.

1970′S JARVIS! FUCK ME UP!

Tony giving this “stranger” a hug after having a quick chat with him on an elevator was hilarious because Howard had no idea what the shit was going on.

Honestly, Nebula’s trip to Morag with Rhodey was nice and all, but I wasn’t as invested in it because I knew that it would tie into Thanos, and it did. I was just sick of seeing this purple nutsack-having face. I was done with him. THEN I HAD TO SEE PETER QUILL AGAIN, AND I WAS READY TO PUNCH A HOLE IN THE SCREEN BECAUSE I’M STILL MAD ABOUT INFINITY WAR! I will blame him for this until I die.

And then we get Nebula 1.0 meeting Nebula 2.0, and I was 10/10 uncomfortable. Not a fan. Not a fan at all. Negative fan.

Thor talking to his mom made me cry. Frigga is the goddess Asgard needed but not the one it deserved. AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

When I realized that Steve, Tony, and Scott went to NYC, Nebula and Rhodey went to Morag, Thor and Rocket went to Asgard, I knew. I knew that shit was about to go down on Vormir. I already knew that someone was going to die in order to get the Soul Stone, but I didn’t want to think about who it was going to be. AND WHEN I SAW IT, I WANTED TO FUCK RIGHT OFF OUT OF THERE. NO THANK YOU!

I knew that Clint and Nat would want to sacrifice their own lives to keep the other from doing it, and they’re two of my favorite characters in the MCU, far above many of the newcomers. They’ve been around since the beginning, and I have an even deeper connection with Nat because I could identify with her as a woman. She didn’t have superpowers, but she wasn’t the damsel in distress, and I found a lot of power in that.

That entire scene had me on the very edge of my seat, and it left everyone else in the theater the same way. Even going back to watch it, I’m still on the edge of my seat, even though I know what happens. The first time around, I didn’t know who it was going to be, who was going to sacrifice themselves for the Soul Stone, and I gasping for air every time one of them made a break for the edge of the cliff thing.

Thinking about that scene still gives me chills. Thinking about how Clint was holding onto her arm as tightly as he could and nat was sitting there, not even trying to hold on. Ugh. It makes me so fucking emotional. I don’t give a fuck. Natasha went out a fucking hero. She sacrificed herself for the greater good, knowingly. I know a lot of people are like, “they did her dirty” but I prefer this death to one at the hands of Thanos. She sacrificed for something she loves: her team, her family. She sacrificed so that Clint wouldn’t have to, so that he could be with his family when they were brought back. The MCU did Natasha dirty by not giving her a movie earlier on, but this death was selfless and heroic, just like Natasha. She died a hero, and no one can change my mind on that.

I’m crying.

Wait.

Ok, so seeing Clint break down and cry was not my favorite thing.

AND THEN THEY GET BACK, AND EVERYONE IS SO FUCKING SAD ABOUT NATASHA’S DEATH! SAME! LET’S BE SAD TOGETHER!

Steve cries: mood.

Hulk throws shit: mood.

So, gauntlet 2.0 is built, and Prof. Hulk puts that shit on and ruins himself. Good job!

Nebula 1.0, who is pretending to be Nebula 2.0, brings Thanos to the future, which is not the best. I was just in shock by the amount of fuckery going on. Like, I didn’t understand any of the time stuff, and if anyone claims they did, they’re lying. Or they’re smart.

Prof. Hulk reverse snaps his fingers, and everything is good again! Birds are chirping, Laura’s calling for Clint, the sun is shining, Thanos’ ship is shooting at the Avengers facility, and he’s being a little prick. Everything’s back to normal.

I was low-key nervous that Hulk, Rocket, and Rhodey were gonna drown under the rubble of the facility, and I was not impressed. But when Scott was like, “yo, I’m on my way,” I was ready for snack-sized Ant-Man to go full on King-Sized Ant-Man again. I was ready.

Thanos sitting outside on a rock, looking like he was ready to kick puppies or some shit. He just wants to be the worst version of himself, I swear to butt!

Thor, Tony, and Steve fighting Thanos was what I signed up for. Like, Clint’s doing the hundred meter dash beneath the facility, and he’s being chased by weight lizard/gorilla/alien hybrids. Then, we have the holy trinity putting Thanos in his place.

Wild.

STEVE.

ROGERS.

CAPTAIN.

AMERICA.

WIELDING.

MJOLNIR.

WAS.

EVERYTHING.

CHANGE.

MY.

MIND.

As soon as that hammer lifted up off the ground, gasps could be heard all throughout the theater. I heard people gasping halfway around the world. People woke up from REM sleep just to gasp. They didn’t know what they were gasping about, but they felt the power of what was happening. I died but was resurrected just to continue gasping.

When Mjolnir was thrown and bounced back only to show that it was thrown by Steve, THE THEATER SCREAMED SO GODDAMN LOUD THAT WE WERE ABOUT TO BLOW THE ROOF OFF THE PLACE. IT WAS LIKE CHRIS EVANS HIMSELF HAD WALTZED IN, PLEDGED TO MARRY EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE ROOM, AND ALSO GAVE THEM $38 TRILLION A PIECE. IT WAS MONUMENTAL. THE GROUND SHOOK. WE CAUSED THE WHOLE PLANET OF JUPITER TO QUAKE. SOMEONE SHOULD CHECK TO SEE IF IT STILL EXISTS BECAUSE THE CHEERS AND THE SCREAMS WERE ENOUGH TO BLOW UP THE ENTIRE PLANET. IT WAS THE WILDEST MOMENT. THE BEST MOMENT. THE MOMENT WE HAD ALL BEEN WAITING FOR SINCE CAP NUDGED THAT FUCKING HAMMER IN AGE OF ULTRON. THIS WAS THE MOMENT!

Then, we get one of the most epic scenes in cinema history.

Steve using Mjolnir and his shield at the same time, summoning lightning and kicking Thanos straight in the dick (figuratively). It was the wildest ride. I swear, people started punting each other across the room because they were so excited. I wanted someone to punch me in the face because I was so hyped. There was just a lot going on.

Then, Steve starts to lose to Thanos, and I was not ready. I was like, “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NOPE! I DO NOT LIKE THIS! I WANT TO LEAVE! STOP IT!”

“On your left” - Sam Wilson, 2k14

“On your left” -Sam Wilson, 2k19 or like 2k24 because it’s 5 years in the future. Or is it 2k23 because the 5 year skip came almost right after the events of Infinity War? I don’t know what year it is. Help.

Anyway. Beautiful.

THEN THOSE PORTALS START POPPING UP, AND I WAS LIKE:

I had goosebumps seeing ALL of these characters on screen. It was bittersweet not having Natasha there, but it was such a beautiful moment. That moment wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for her. I will give her credit always!

“AVENGERS...Assemble” -Steve “The Guy With America’s Ass” Rogers with the line we’ve all been waiting for since the beginning. It’s been a long time coming, but we got it...finally. Once again, the theater screamed, jupiter exploded, the farthest star swallowed itself, it was a lot.

Tony and Pepper fighting back to back in their suits.

Give my heart a break.

The all lady team up. I get that it was a bit on the nose. I feel like it would’ve been cooler if no words were spoken but all the female cast members just started to line up behind Captain Marvel. I was more than okay with this, though. That scene was cool as shit to see all my ladies lining up to kick some the purple nutsacks ass.

“I am inevitable” -Thanos, that little punk bitch.

“I am Iron Man” -Iron Man, 2008

“I am Iron Man” -Endgame, 2019

Everyone in the theater opening night was like “WWWWHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! YEAAAAAHHHHH!” including me when Tony snapped those little fingers. It was the best line that could’ve been delivered before that snap, but no one saw what was coming. People continued to lose their shit as Thanos’ army was dusted. It was poetic justice. And when Thanos got dusted, everyone continued to “WWWWWHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! YAAAAAAASSSSSS!” including myself. This changed the second night. As the theater erupted, my ass was sitting there like “NO, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN! STOP CHEERING!” as I’m holding back adult sobs!

Then.

The camera found Tony.

The cheering died instantly.

The theater got so fucking quiet.

I could feel my heartbeat in my throat.

I could hear the collective heartbreak around the theater.

We had won.

However, we also lost.

I can’t talk about it. I can’t write about it. I just cannot. Of all the people I thought would go, he was low on the list. I was almost certain that Steve would be ripped away from me, but I never thought that this would happen. I’m not okay. I’m really sad. I’m not smad anymore. I’m just sad as shit. Rhodey, Peter, and Pepper getting their moments with him only hurt my heart even more, and I can’t. I’M CRYING AGAIN! I’M NEVER GONNA STOP!

“You can rest now” -PEPPER POTTS

TONY STARK DESERVED BETTER! HE WENT OUT A HERO, BUT I CANNOT! I WILL NEVER BE OKAY ABOUT THIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!

“I love you 3000” -TONY FUCKING STARK’S MESSAGE TO HIS LITTLE DAUGHTER. I’M GONNA PUKE! SOMEONE THROW ME AWAY! I’M DEFECTIVE! HELP!

“Your dad liked cheeseburgers. I’m gonna buy you all the cheeseburgers you want” -Happy to Morgan, fucking my entire world up.

“Proof Tony Stark Has a Heart”

It was so touching to see that every hero was gathered there to pay homage to a hero. It was such a beautiful scene. Seeing everyone there just felt like the twist of the knife in my cold, dying heart. It was great. I loved it.

I’m convinced that the only people who didn’t cry in these scenes were stone cold killers, and I will refuse to believe otherwise until I’m dead and gone. Like, my father cried during these scenes (Nat’s death, Tony’s death, and Tony’s funeral), and it takes...a lot to get tears out of him. I cried the entire ending. Like, the scene with Wanda and Clint. Ugh. I can’t take this anymore. I didn’t stop crying, even as Thor was giving the throne over to Valkyrie (she deserves it, yaaaaaasssss kween), or as he had his moment with the Guardian’s of the Galaxy. I continued to cry when Steve and Bucky had their moment that parallelled “Captain America, The First Avenger”

“Don’t do anything stupid until I get back” - Bucky, CATFA

“How can I? You’re taking all the stupid with you” -Steve, CATFA

“Don’t do anything stupid until I get back” -Steve, AE

“How can I? You’re taking all the stupid with you” -Bucky, AE

I UGLY CRIED AGAIN BECAUSE I JUST FUCKING KNEW WHAT STEVE WAS GONNA DO. HE WAS GONNA USE THE FOURTH VIAL OF PYM PARTICLES TO DO WHAT HE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO. HE WAS GONNA GET THAT FUCKING DANCE! AND BUCKY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON!

That’s why this little shit wasn’t surprised to see that Steve hadn’t come back on time.

I was high-key hoping that Bucky would receive the title of Captain America. He’s held the shield in virtually every movie he had the chance to. Both him and Sam Wilson hold the title in the comics, and I felt like this could be a new arc for Bucky. Like, he needed this redemption. It was still gonna be bittersweet no matter what because Steve Rogers has always been the version of Captain America I love the most. When Bucky urged Sam to go see Steve, he knew that Sam was the man for the job.

Old man Steve is a silver fox. Change my mind.

I think it’s partially the voice, ngl.

So, I really don’t understand the time stuff, especially with an old man Steve in the future, so I don’t really get how it didn’t change everything with him being old af during the events of the Avengers, AOU, CATWS, CACW, IW, literally all of it. I just...don’t understand? But I don’t care because at least he got his happily ever after. Steve was a man out of time, and he did his time as a hero. He deserved happiness, and he found that with Peggy. I saw that some people were like “BUT HE ABANDONED HIS FRIENDS!” Steve did his time, and he deserved to have his happily ever after, just like Tony got to do for a while with Pepper and Morgan.

And he finally got his dance.

And the credits.

The fucking credits.

All of the original cast members signed their names.

And of course, RDJ was last.

Everyone cheered, yelled, screamed, and cried. It was another earthquake, Jupitergate, Supernova kind of moment.

And that little sound at the end. Tony making his first Iron Man suit. I have a glimmer of hope that it’s Harley building his own suit to become Iron Lad because why would they put him in this movie if they aren’t going to do anything with him in the future? Each of these movies has had a post-credit scene with a hint as to what will happen in the future of Marvel, and a piece of me is so content if this truly just ended with a callback to the past, to the man who started it all.

I didn’t stop crying until I got in the car with my friends, scream-sobbed, and then had to pull it together in order to drive and not die in a fiery car wreck even though that would’ve been better than going back to the theater again and again to have my heart shattered even more.

I’m never gonna be okay again, but this is it. This marks the end of my childhood, even though I’m in my 20’s now. The comics, the movies, the merch, it all symbolized my childlike wonder. I know that Marvel will continue making movies, but these were the heroes I fell in love with. Before the release of the first Iron Man, I had fallen in love with the comic book personas of these characters. Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow, FUCKING MOON KNIGHT (I need a Moon Knight movie, ngl) were all characters I fell in love with (there’s a lot more, but I’m too emotional to sit here and list every single one of them). Then, actors who felt like they were made for these roles brought my favorite characters to life. With this being the end of the superheroes I loved growing up, it’s essentially marking the end of my childhood. I grew up reading these comics, and I watched the movies as they came out in theaters with my dad. Now, I go with my dad, with friends, with my uncle, my brother. Sometimes I see them alone if it’s the fifth or sixth time seeing it. Still, this marks the end of an era, and I have so much appreciation in my heart for these actors who brought to life my heroes. I have so much love in my heart for Stan Lee, who made my life one filled with superheroes and childlike wonder. This journey has meant the world to me, but every journey has an end. I will continue to watch the movies that have come out and will watch the new movies as they are released, but there will always be a little something missing. Either way, I will continue to support this franchise for all the happiness it has given to me over the years and all the happiness it will continue to give.

RDJ, we love you 3000.

Excelsior!

#avengers endgame #avengers #endgame #endgame spoilers #marvel endgame #endgame reaction #endgame review #review #movie review #movie reaction #marvel #iron man #captain america #black widow #hawkeye #spoilers #hulk #thor #loki #tony stark #steve rogers #bucky barnes #natasha romanoff #clint barton #mcu #ae #marvel reactions #robert downey jr. #chris evans #scarlett johansson

[classicmarvelera]

Infinity War - Comics vs Movie

In Marvel Universe, the Infinity saga is the quintessential Space Opera from the 90s. Written by Jim Starlin (creator or co-creator of Thanos, Drax, Gamora and Shang-Chi) and drawn by Ron Lim

Starlin is recognized for revamping Marvel’s space characters namely Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) and Adam Warlock. He is part of the Marvel’s writers’ club from the 70s who came up with characters that defied the norms established in the Golden Age of comics, yet his most notable achievement happens to be the Infinity Saga miniseries from the 90s. Amassing a bigger line-up of heroes than Secret Wars, the Infinity saga takes a lot of inferences from philosophical, historical, metaphysical and theological aspects such as Alpharabius/Al Farabi’s philosopher king (when Adam Warlock releases Good and Evil from his soul in order to rule with Infinity Gauntlet through rationalism), Jesus Christ and his challenge to the temple establishment (positioned as a messianic figure of Marvel’s cosmos & mostly in dispute with the Church of Truth), the philosophy of moral dualism (Goddess and Magus) and Thanos’ fascination with nihilism and death 

The saga is quite deep and might not be appreciated by those who find such concepts difficult to comprehend. Nevertheless, to the credit of Jim Starlin, his take on Marvel’s cosmos is one of the main reasons why it enjoys a cult following and it is one of his mini-series which is known as Infinity War with Adam Warlock as its central character 

MCU’s Infinity War

However, D23 Expo (2017) has revealed that Thanos & his Black Order/Cull Obsidian will be the main antagonists of the movie which makes it certain that the movie Infinity War will be loosely based on Jonathan Hickman, Jim Cheung, Jerome Opeña, and Dustin Weaver’s Infinity (2013) cross-over

Thankfully, the cast of characters is nearly the same (if only Inhumans are part of this movie) as the comic book story line involves Avengers, Inhumans, Illuminati (whose 3 members Iron Man, Dr. Strange and Black Panther are part of MCU) and Guardians of the Galaxy.  Making a movie with such a huge cast of characters is a huge challenge in itself and the way comic book readers have been disappointed by adaptations of successful story lines such as Civil War (Captain America), Age of Ultron (Avengers), Extremis (Iron Man 3) etc., it has only alienated die-hard fans of Marvel comics who appreciate a real mature, relatable portrayal of their favorite super-heroes and villains, too. For example, FOX’s blunder with Apocalypse remains a painful memory

Because a movie is only as good as its' 'villains', it remains to be seen if Thanos & his Black Order will establish themselves much like Darth Vader & his Grand Army of the Republic. Quite a high level of expectation but nevertheless, the opportunity is there for MCU to capitalize 

Reading Advice

Infinity (2013) is not as landmark of an even as Jim Starlin’s Infinity Saga from the early 90s. The story quality is incomparable between the two cross-overs and ever since Axel Alonso has been at the helm, there is a repetition strategy being employed i.e. Secret Wars (1984) and then there’s Secret Wars (2015), Civil War and now we have Civil War II. Similar to these two examples, Infinity (2013) was also a repetition of sorts of Starlin’s Infinity saga. The stories differ in terms of characters involved and their costumes and the art work but the fundamental premise of a successful story is used in a gimmicky fashion for the sake of short-term sales 

Read Infinity (2013) for the sake of the movie BUT for your reading pleasure, you’re better off with Starlin & Lim’s Infinity Trilogy, namely Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity War and Infinity Crusade 

Buy Infinity Saga from here:

Rebirth of Thanos

Infinity Gauntlet

Infinity War

Infinity Crusade

Infinity War: The Aftermath  

Infinity by Jonathan Hickman 

#infinity war #infinity 2013 #infinity saga #jim starlin #jonathan hickman #infinity gauntlet #infinity crusade #classic marvel era #marvel now #marvel comics history #comics reading order #classic marvel comics #classic marvel reading guide #classic marvel reading essentials #marvel reading #reading list #reading order #reading guide #fiction #superheroes #superheroes and reality #avengersinfinitywar #avengers infinity war

[altroquandoicon]

L'idea di supereroe inteso come versione laica e commerciale della concezione di messia, è antica quanto il fumetto supereroistico stesso. Superman per primo è la rappresentazione più classica di una creatura superiore venuta dal cielo e cresciuta da una famiglia umile per “salvare” l'umanità. Gli autori Jerry Siegel e Joe Shuster, entrambi ebrei, scelsero per il loro personaggio kryptoniano il nome di Kal-El, che in ebraico sarebbe traducibile come “Voce di Dio” (insomma, il riferimento al Verbo è praticamente dichiarato). Un messia più vicino alle aspettative del popolo ebreo del tempo di Cristo, che attendeva un condottiero che li guidasse a un riscatto terreno più che un maestro morale. La storia del fumetto supereroistico è zeppa di letture mistiche simili, tralasciando le versioni più satiriche, come il “Son of God” di Neil Adams, che riprendeva proprio la figura di Gesù ammantandola di rimandi al Capitan Marvel-Shazam della Fawcett (e in seguito della DC Comics). Tuttavia, negli anni settanta  la Marvel sbaragliò tutti con il personaggio di Adam Warlock. Mentre attendiamo di scoprire quale trasfigurazione ci verrà mostrata dal Marvel Cinematic Universe (abbiamo visto il suo bozzolo in una delle scene post credits del secondo film dedicato ai Guardiani della Galassia), ripercorriamone brevemente gli esordi cartacei. Warlock (all'epoca chiamato genericamente “Lui”) nasce sulle pagine dei Fantastici Quattro a opera di Stan Lee e Jack Kirby, ed è un essere creato artificialmente da un'enclave di scienziati che mirano a produrre una versione perfezionata della vita senziente. La situazione, però, sfugge loro di mano, e il risultato è per l'appunto... Lui. Definito misteriosamente per un po' “La creatura della chiusa 41”. Un giovanotto biondo dalla pelle dorata e dai poteri enormi quanto indecifrabili. Compare per la prima volta in forma prenatale, chiuso in un bozzolo che in seguito diventerà il suo caratteristico rifugio ogni qual volta ha bisogno di rigenerarsi. Poi in forma umanoide per poche vignette alla fine del racconto, quando neutralizza (in modo veterotestamentario e anche un po' sprezzante) gli scienziati che hanno avuto l'arroganza di crearlo per scopi non all'altezza del suo potenziale, e abbandona il pianeta giudicandolo troppo immaturo per ospitare un essere evoluto come... Lui.

Ma siccome nelle storie Marvel niente è mai come sembra (gli scienziati dell'enclave, per esempio, non sono davvero morti e continueranno a fare pasticci), Lui ricompare in un episodio di Thor. La terra non era pronta a riceverlo, ma si sa che cos'è che tira più di una fune di bastimento. E in questo caso si identifica con la dea Sif, della quale Lui si invaghisce, rapendola alla maniera di King Kong (anche lo scimmione gigante era venerato come un dio) per farne la sua compagna (in modo innocente, ma anche un po' troglodita). Thor, che in quel periodo era affetto da una sindrome asgardiana che lo mandava in berserk oltre misura, gliele suona di santa ragione (rivelando che gli immensi poteri della creatura sono estremamente variabili, e si riducono o si espandono a seconda delle esigenze della trama), inducendolo a rinchiudersi nel suo bozzolo protettivo e a fuggire di nuovo nello spazio. Qui inizia il casino mistico vero e proprio.

Pare, si dice, si mormora, che lo sceneggiatore Roy Thomas fosse rimasto affascinato da “Jesus Christ Superstar”, il musical di Andrew Lloyd Webber reso celebre in tutto il mondo dal film di Norman Jewison del 1973. L'opera rock di Webber era però popolarissima negli Stati Uniti già nel 1972, e Thomas si mise in testa di portare sulle pagine dei fumetti il supereroe messianico definitivo. La scelta cadde su Lui, personaggio già esistente, ma ancora bisognoso di una vera caratterizzazione (fino a quel momento era stato poco più di un espediente narrativo per innescare le avventure di altri eroi) che fu recuperato e trasformato in... Warlock.

Lo scenario scelto fu la Contro-Terra, un mondo parallelo creato dall'Alto Evoluzionario (detto anche “Grande Evoluzionista” viste le traduzioni ballerine dell'Editoriale Corno). Personaggio già canonizzato nell'universo Marvel, apparso su più testate (Thor, Hulk) e presentato come genetista supremo, dedito alla sperimentazione e creazione di varie forme di vita. La Contro-Terra era sostanzialmente un mondo parallelo identico alla terra se non per alcune differenze storiche (pieno quindi di doppelganger di personaggi iconici, ciascuno con una sua variante). Qualcosa che oggi, per comodità espositiva, potremmo paragonare all'universo gemello della serie televisiva “Fringe”. Prima ancora, nell'episodio di Thor intitolato “I generatori di vita”, avevamo incontrato un'altra creazione dell'Alto Evoluzionario. Una genia di animali antropomorfi (esattamente come ne “L'isola del dottor Moreau” di Wells, ma più evoluti) e il loro crudele leader, un lupo (e sì!) chiamato genericamente Uomo Bestia (Uomo Lupo era già preso).

La sintesi evangelica ideata da Roy Thomas e realizzata graficamente dal grande Gil Kane fu praticamente questa. L'Alto Evoluzionario ha creato sia gli animaluomini (New-Men) che la Contro-Terra. L'intento dell'Alto Evoluzionario era risparmiare al pianeta fotocopia le tribolazioni della terra originale, ma tutto è mandato in vacca (praticamente per dispetto) dall'Uomo Bestia e dalla sua stirpe di animali antromorfi, che subito dopo si rifugiano sulla Contro-Terra per  impadronirsene secondo i canoni più consueti della narrazione supereroistica. Davanti a questa deriva, il genetista vorrebbe disfare il proprio lavoro, ma qui subentra Lui, che in seguito assumerà il nome di Adam Warlock. Warlock (che nel frattempo ha rubato la divisa di Capitan Marvel-Shazam, tagliando via maniche e gambali per stare più fresco) ferma la mano del Creatore e si offre come protettore del pianeta (comodamente separato dalla vera terra e quindi dalla continuity ufficiale di casa Marvel), per salvare capra e cavoli dalle mire del lupacchiotto. L'Alto Evoluzionario-Dio padre (putativo, in questo caso, quanto San Giuseppe) accetta di partecipare a questa performance in cosplay basata sul Vangelo, e invia Warlock sul pianeta, donandogli il nome con cui sarà conosciuto e una delle gemme dell'infinito (incastonata sulla fronte di Lui come su quelle del dio Vishnu nell'iconografia induista) che in futuro si rivelerà molto importante (soprattutto quando il personaggio sarà preso in mano da Jim Starlin).

Inizia così l'avventura messianica di Adam Warlock, con un ciclo di storie supereroistiche ambientate fuori dal cosmo Marvel canonico, in lotta con la Bestia che si annida tra gli uomini. Una lieta novella fatta di super-risse che poco hanno a che vedere con gli insegnamenti etici cristiani, mostrando la corda di un parallelismo religioso eccessivamente dichiarato. Ma la serie intitolata “The Power of Warlock” ha vita breve e chiude per la scarsità delle vendite.

La saga della Contro-Terra terminerà sulle pagine dell'Incredibile Hulk (in trasferta per l'occasione sul mondo parallelo), e lo farà nel modo più stucchevole possibile. Sempre Roy Thomas, in questo caso in collaborazione con Gerry Conway, conclude la saga metafisica di Adam Warlock con una narrazione ai limiti del parodistico, ripercorrendo quasi pedissequamente le ultime pagine dei Vangeli. In un certo senso, Hulk rivestirà un ruolo simile a quello di Giuda, sia pure sotto il controllo del malvagio diavolo-Uomo Bestia. Partecipiamo a una rappresentazione supereroistica dell'ultima cena, ascoltiamo l'invito a ripetere il rituale in memoria del supermessia, e assistiamo soprattutto alla cattura e all'esecuzione di Warlock su un macchinario simile a una croce egizia. Nemmeno l'urlo «Alto Evoluzionario, perché mi hai abbandonato?!» ci viene risparmiato. E Warlock, come ogni Gesù Cristo che si rispetti, muore, ma solo per tre giorni. Risorge infatti dal suo bozzolo più potente che mai e dotato di una nuova forma di consapevolezza astrale. Fa involvere l'Uomo Bestia riportandolo alla sua natura lupesca, ne debella definitivamente la minaccia e vola via nello spazio (come aveva già fatto anni prima sulle pagine dei Fantastici Quattro) verso un nuovo, enigmatico destino.

Qualche tempo dopo, Jim Starlin avrebbe recuperato il personaggio di Warlock mettendo “tra parentesi” la sua parabola messianica sulla Crontro-Terra, facendo evolvere le sue avventure in una direzione cosmica e trasformandolo in un personaggio schizofrenico, in lotta con la sua futura evoluzione malvagia: il Magus, fondatore di un culto spaziale totalitario. Una metaformosi concettuale che conserva le implicazioni mistiche, ma spostandole su un piano più filosofico, e mettendo in scena un conflitto allegorico sulla destinazione finale cui un grande potere può condurre. Il bene e il male rappresentati come il conflitto interiore (e non solo) di un unico personaggio, impegnato a salvare l'universo non da un demone giunto dall'esterno, ma da se stesso.

La precedente visione messianica di Roy Thomas aveva finito con l'impantanarsi in una serie di parallelismi biblici fin troppo evidenti per essere realmente intriganti, sconfinando alla fine nella citazione più banale. Paradossalmente, toccando forse il punto più basso nell'interpretazione metafisica dell'icona supereroistica. A quel punto Warlock doveva veramente morire e risorgere a nuova vita. Editorialmente parlando. Il personaggio ha conservato da allora il suo ruolo misticheggiante, ma secondo una sensibilità più sfumata, potremmo dire più “new age”, più fantasy e di conseguenza funzionale. Uno dei casi supereroistici più bizzarri e mutevoli che l'evoluzione marvelliana ci ha donato nel corso della sua lunga storia editoriale.