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#29
April 2008 |
MARVEL 2000 PRESENTS...
THE GALACTIC GAMBIT
Part Three: "Shadow
of Empire!"
Written by Jeff
Melton
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Thor |
WHAT HAS COME BEFORE:
Thor agreed to accompany Smasher
of the Imperial Guard back to the outskirts of the Shi’ar Empire,
to investigate an attack on their outlying areas. When they arrive, they
are confronted by Galaxy Master and two minions—Abomination and
Terrax! While Odin prepares to take part in the Council of the Gods, Loki
continues to scheme with Lorelei and the Executioner!
PROLOGUE
Mount Olympus, home of the legendary Greek gods, the subject of numerous fables for more than two thousand years. The names of these gods, and the mortal heroes, are often household names. They also represent some of the most powerful of the pantheons unique to Earth—and there have been many over the centuries…some of which long forgotten by the people of the Earth who once worshipped them.
Today, however, Mount Olympus serves as the home of the Council of the Gods. It is a rare occasion indeed when the gods of the various pantheons unique to Earth come together, although they have come together in the past, such as when the otherworldly Celestials threatened the very destruction of Earth.*
[*See Thor #300 for the details.]
Over the centuries, these gods have not always seen eye to eye on various matters, and some of the gods even have enmity between them. This further complicates the already arduous task of bringing together so many different gods from such diverse cultures—or even getting them to agree to a meeting place.
Odin, the lord of the Norse gods, walks along the golden stones that make up the walkway heading to the royal palace of Zeus, whose pantheon is hosting this council. He is wearing his Asgardian armor, with battle helmet. A blue cape drapes behind him, flowing slightly in the light wind. A sword is in its scabbard, but ever at the ready if the need arises…even here.
As Odin makes his way along the walkway, he passes other gods. He nods as Vishnu, who he instantly recognizes. However, they have never been close, and the tense relationship is obvious to anyone observing their brief interaction. Continuing to make his way forward, he encounters Ra, of the Egyptian gods. The Norse and Egyptian gods have had their differences over the many centuries, largely due to rogue elements within each pantheon, but Odin is pleased that Thor has allied himself with Ra on different occasions, and they have generally enjoyed a good relationship since that time.
“Greetings, Ra!” Odin offers, saluting the Egyptian sun god. “I am well pleased that thou hath also agreed to attend this council.”
“I am likewise pleased to see you here, Lord Odin,” Ra returns. “But, perhaps you can enlighten me on the purpose of the council?”
“I…” Odin starts to respond, but is interrupted by the sound of his name, and a slight gust of wind. Odin turns to find that Hermes, the messenger of the Greek gods, has arrived with his usual incredible speed.
“Lord Odin,” Hermes comments with respectful discipline in his voice. He has the duty of getting the various gods to where they need to be, and this has at times proven a less than enviable task, given the collusion of various cultures—and certainly personalities—in attendance. “Lord Zeus hath requested thy immediate attendance upon thy arrival at the council.”
Odin is intrigued by Hermes, and has always found him quite the contrast to his own messenger, Hermod. Still, his blue eyes pick up traces of…embarrassment (?) in Hermes’ words.
“I would have reached thee sooner,” Hermes offers in consolation, “but was…distracted by others.” He bows respectfully at Odin, and gestures for him to approach Zeus’ palace. “I hope that thou take no offense?”
“Not at all, good Hermes,” Odin returns. “Like doubtless many others, I am quite curious as to the details of this council.” He notes that Hermes has again straightened up on his feet, and he follows the swift-footed god towards the palace. “Lead on.”
End of Prologue
“This is a bad day for you,” Abomination remarks, his face contorting into something that must be a smile, even as he slams his fist into Smasher’s face with great force. The impact of the blow jerks Smasher’s face violently to the side. “Galaxy Master has promised me great power, and all I have to do is kill you.” He carries through with an elbow to the chin, driving Smasher back. “Easily, a good deal.”
“This creature has defeated the Hulk,”** Smasher remarks, covering his face with his forearm, narrowly deflecting the next intended blow. “He hits harder than anyone I’ve fought.”
[**As we remember from Tales to Astonish #90-91.]
While Smasher is fighting against the powerful Abomination, Terrax the Tamer levitates above Thor, his feet atop a small hill that he has controlled with his powers. He smiles with sinister glee, as he feels renewed power surge through his body. He looks over at his battleaxe, which glows bright with cosmic energy—more energy than he has ever felt before.
“I will kill you, Thor,” Terrax exclaims, as energy from him hammer shoots downward towards Thor, who moves a moment before it strikes, the energy creating a gaping hole where a rocky land mass existed immediately prior to the energy discharge. “And I will personally deliver your corpse to your father.”
“More powerful foes than thee hath made that threat,” Thor returns, holding his hammer in front of his face, as the next energy discharge strikes the hammer, but is absorbed by Mjolnir! “And yet, still am I here!”
Terrax’s eyes burn with rage, as he flies down, still perched atop his small land mass, as he draws back his battleaxe, which trails with cosmic energy at every move. “It will be a great pleasure to me to beat your confidence from your lifeless body!” Terrax warns, as he flies towards Thor.
For his part, Thor stands his ground, preparing for the attack. Just as Terrax reaches Thor, Thor ducks down, bringing his hammer down on the land mass, shattering it with his powerful blow! As a result, Terrax—totally unprepared for this tactic—is sent flying from his perch atop the hill, crashing onto the rocky surface of this alien world!
“Thy petty threats are meaningless to me!” Thor returns, smiling, as he returns to his feet. “I well remember thy encounter with the Surfer, who nearly killed thee.”***
[***A reference to Fantastic Four #258-260.]
“That was when I had been stripped of the power cosmic,” Terrax responds, getting to his feet, and picking up his battleaxe, as he charges at Thor, “and was a mere mortal again. I have since been restored to what I was. Now, the Galaxy Master—a peer of Galactus himself—has greatly increased my power…far beyond yours!”
“So thou sayest!” Thor responds, lifting his hammer to meet Terrax’s challenge. “Have at thee then!” Their weapons meet, creating a blinding flash of energy, as the two powerhouses clash on the field of battle! Sparks of cosmic energy shoot like balls of fire from the point of impact, lighting up the early evening sky!
“When I have killed you,” Terrax threatens, his eyes burning with cosmic energy, “I will seek out the Surfer and kill him for his numerous affronts against me! Not just for what he did when I was fighting the Fantastic Four****, but also for stranding me on that planet!***** I just wish I could do the same to Galactus!” Terrax slams his hammer down towards Thor’s head. Thor instinctively lifts his hammer, holding it with both hands, as the battleaxe strikes the hammer’s handle, surges of energy cascading from the point of impact.
[****In the aforementioned Fantastic Four #258-260.]
[*****In New Warriors #16-17.]
“Thou art a braggart!” Thor returns, sending a blast of energy through his hammer, sending waves of energy through Terrax, who staggers back involuntarily, stunned by the charge. “Thy empty threats concern me not! Far greater threats than a former herald of the world-devourer hath fallen before Mjolnir!”
“I was a fool to work for Galactus!” Terrax exclaims, energy shooting out of his eyes, blasting Thor in the chest, and sending him back. “He promised me power…the only thing that concerns me!****** But, all the fool wanted was someone to lead him to his next fix! I only regret that your father killed him before I had the opportunity! I can feel the power surging through me…power greater than I have ever experienced! It is a minor request, killing you, and one that I will gladly grant Galaxy Master!”
[******See Fantastic Four #211-213 for the details.]
“Power in the hands of a mad tyrant,” Thor returns, blocking the next energy blast with his hammer, “is reason enough to stop thee here and now!”
Meanwhile, across the very fabric of space, the golden city of Asgard rests at the end of a rainbow named Bifrost. It floats in space, resting upon solid rock, an island in the darkness, illuminated by the light of Bifrost and its own golden gates. At the gates, standing a lonely vigil, is Asgard’s bravest, most dedicated warrior—Heimdall. He stands at the edge of Bifrost, his large arms crossed against his broad chest, as a sword hangs down in his scabbard.
However, we now turn out attention beyond those gates (thankful that we need not battle Heimdall to reach beyond those gates), to a palace that can only be said to have been created for individual pleasures. This palace, owned by Amora’s younger sister, Lorelei, has recently had an upswing in activity within its walls, as the lovely red-haired goddess has returned from Hel itself to once again reside there.
The palace is a picture of beauty. The hallways are carpeted with red velvet, leading to various rooms. The bedrooms, where sleeping rarely occurs, feature large canopies, with satin sheets. However, these rooms have been silent these years that Lorelei has been confined to the dark realm.
Through the large double doors leading into the palace however, a large pool sits, taking up fully half of the front section of the palace. The other section features a large kitchen and dining area. Once the location of great feasts for the resident and guests, usually as part of week-long celebratory activities, it has also been silent for some time.
Since her return to the land of the living, Lorelei has kept quiet. She has not celebrated her return, nor called for visitors, as she would have done in the past. This is largely due to Loki’s insistence that she should remain underground. Although she has never trusted Loki, she has to admit that he alone is responsible for her return, and her departure from Hel. For that, anyway, she is grateful. She has spent some time pondering why Loki would do this, realizing fully well that he never does anything out of a spirit of generosity.
Today, however, she has called for chefs to prepare a meal for her and her lone guest—also at Loki’s insistence. The palace is filled with the pleasant odors of a finely-prepared meal, made to not only satiate her own desire to taste food again, but also to satisfy the appetite of the Executioner.
As she walks from the kitchen, holding a small snack, she looks across the hallway, where she sees Skurge relaxing in the pool. He is leaning back against the stone wall of the pool, resting, as the waterfall that fills the pool constantly pours and renews the flow of water into the light blue-colored pool.
Lorelei is wearing a bathing suit that showcases her shapely body. It is low-cut (down nearly to her naval), and has cross-ties that hold the two opposing parts of the “v-cut” together. She starts to walk over to a lounge chair near the pool, but suddenly jerks. She looks surprised by her own actions at first, but then turns towards the pool. She steps into the pool, her shapely legs leading her into the same section where Skurge has been resting.
At Lorelei’s approach, Skurge watches her closely. He cannot deny her beauty, but has kept his distance, due to his previous—and disastrous—relationship with her sister. He is surprised by her approach, and watches as she sits down beside him at the pool. Skurge leans his head back, smelling the overpowering scent of her perfume. He closes his eyes, taking in the scent. He feels a hand on his chest. Surprised, he opens his eyes, finding Lorelei’s lips nearing his own. Pulling her to him, he embraces her, kissing her passionately.
Loki smiles, watching this scene play out in his own pool, deep within his own castle. He sneers, his face twisting into a sinister smile. In his hand, he holds a small electronic device, which resembles a small radio. At its top, however, is something that resembles a “u-shaped” magnet.
“Very good,” Loki remarks, obviously pleased with himself. “It is a simple matter to push each of those two in their own natural inclinations. A small test prior to taking a much larger test. And the time is nigh…while Odin is away at the Council of the Gods. Now, ‘tis to test it on a much larger audience…and with much greater results! For soon, Loki shall claim Asgard as my own!”
End of Interlude
The Abomination leaps across the landscape, as Smasher ducks under his intended attack. Smasher rushes over to a giant crane, easily lifting over his head. When the Abomination turns again towards him, Smasher lurches forward, slamming the crane down on the Abomination, who staggers back under the weight of the huge crane, weighing well over one hundred tons!
Smasher stands on the drifting sand, looking across the field, where the large crane lies sideways on the ground, still covering the Abomination. He takes a step towards the crane, as he prepares to remove the unconscious, or perhaps dead, form of the Abomination from the scene of the downed crane. However, as he gets closer to the crane, a rumbling is heard underneath the crane, as it shoots upward. Smasher’s eyes widen with surprise, as he sees the large crane flying straight up through the air! As the dust settles, he sees the form of the Abomination walking through the wreckage, his eyes burning with anger.
“Nice try,” the Abomination remarks, a sneer crossing his hideous face, as he moves towards Smasher. “But, not good enough.”
“How is this, then?”
The Abomination is suddenly lit up with energy, which cascades all around him, surging and crackling like lightning. He is fully grounded, and is struck full-force with the electrical discharge, even as Electron continues to attack the villain with his powers.
“Do you think a little lightning storm is going to stop me?” Abomination mocks, as he grabs a steel girder from the nearby building and throws it at Electron. “I’ve withstood much more than that!”
“It’s okay, Electron,” Titan comments, slamming his fist into the Abomination’s face, driving him back slightly. “I owe him one!”
“Titan!” Smasher calls out. “I’m glad to see that you made it out.”
“He sure did,” Gladiator remarks, as he flies onto the scene, striking the Abomination and sending him flying back. “And we’re here to finish this conflict before it gets out of hand!”
The Abomination gets to his feet quickly, and starts to make his way for Gladiator, who is even now hovering slightly above the ground, getting ready to light his feet on the ground.
“None of you are going to make it out of here alive!” Abomination exclaims. “So, I’m just pleased to have you all here at the same time, and the same place. That way, I can crush you all!”
Abomination stuggles, finding it difficult to move, his own limbs feeling heavier than they have ever felt before. Hovering overhead, Neutron continues to increase gravity on Abomination, who makes small craters in the ground with each thunderous footstep. “That may be,” Quantum offers, “but you’ll have to go through the entire Imperial Guard first!”
Fang leaps at Abomination, raking his claws at the increasingly stationary target, striking him across the face, and moving his head to the side slightly, but otherwise leaving no sign of damage. Abomination moves his hand upward, backhanding Fang back towards the framework of the abandoned construction sight, where he slams through several girders before disappearing into the distance!
Lighting down with their leader are Oracle, Starbolt, Impulse, and Mentor. They prepare to join their powers into the fray, even as Abomination continues to move forward, each footstep creating a loud, booming noise, as he continues to defy gravity itself, his own powers enhanced by the enigmatic Galaxy Master.
While the battle rages with Abomination, Thor sends out a discharge of energy at Terrax, striking him in the mid-section and driving him back. Terrax is visibly disgusted, as he tries to get to his feet.
“There is no way that you can hold me off!” Terrax utters, in frustration and confusion. “My powers have been increased geometrically!”
“Aye,” Thor responds, holding his hammer in his hand. “And that is why thou doth still stand!”
So intent is Thor on the defeat of his foe, however, that he does not see Zzzaxx approach him from behind. The large energy being slams both of his energy-charged fists into the back of Thor’s neck, stunning him with the unexpected attack!
“Let’s see how long you continue to be confident when the odds change!” Zzzaxx comments, an eerie sound in his voice, as it literally crackles through his energy. He grabs Thor’s large arms, holding them behind his back, as Bulldozer lumbers forward, slamming his large fists into Thor’s mid-section, doubling him over!
Terrax smiles, seeing an opening, as Thor is held fast by Zzzaxx, and distracted by the towering Bulldozer. He lunges forward, his cosmic axe crackling with immense energy, as he lets out a guttural roar, fully preparing to cut Thor’s head from his shoulders.
“Now, Thor…you die!” Terrax exclaims.
TO BE CONTINUED...
NEXT ISSUE: Thor and the Imperial Guard battle Galaxy Master, Abomination, Terrax, Bulldozer, and Zzzaxx for the fate of the Shi’ar Empire! All this, and much more, in THOR #30!
THE HAMMER STRIKES!
This issue brings in a group of characters that I’ve always wanted to write, but have never really taken the time to do so—until now. The Imperial Guard are one of those groups of counterpart characters that I always thought had great potential, but have been largely ignored by Marvel—or have been grossly miswritten by hack writers. Designed by one of the best visual designers in comics, Dave Cockrum, this group screamed out the need for more stories.
As a long-time fan of the Legion of Super-Heroes (from the old days of the 70s and early 80s), I certainly see the Imperial Guard as a group that could easily sustain its own title if written properly. Unfortunately, I’ve seen little example of that since the group’s creation about thirty years ago.
One prime example is Smasher. He is a counterpart to DC’s Ultra Boy, and yet he has largely been ignored, or used as a punching bag for other characters. Needless to say, as the Ultra Boy counterpart, I do not see this character as someone who should be taken out by a physical battle with someone like Psylocke (rolling eyes). Ultra Boy was my favorite of the Legionnaires, and a great character in my opinion.
Given that the Imperial Guard is a group of counterparts to the Legion, they will be written that way here. Although most have had little or no exposure, where their powers can really be put on display, the counterparts are precisely that…counterparts. Their powers and abilities, in my opinion, should be directly analogous to their respective Legion member. And that’s how they’ll be written here.
I hope everyone enjoys my take on the Imperial Guard. They won’t all get the exposure they deserve in this limited storyline, but I intend to write them in such a way that who and what they are should be clear to future readers. Hopefully, I will succeed at that.
As always, feel free to send me your comments, suggestions, or questions to earth2jsa@yahoo.com. They are always welcome.
~Jeff Melton
