Saturday, August 15, 2009

Spaceknight Saturdays: What Now, Brown Cow?

Every year or so, around the time a major storyline wraps up, there's an issue like #66 that serves as a recap of all that's gone before and a launching pad (mark those words) for all that is to come. In a time before trade paperbacks, before Wikipedia, before what we think of as civilization, that was how you let readers know what the heck was happening. So if you pick up an issue of a contemporary title and get confused, it's because they expect you to do your own research.

But simpler times, simpler tools. And it's not like nothing happens in #66. It's a change of status quo. The Dire Wraiths have been defeated on Earth (and largely elsewhere thanks to the loss of the source of their magic), and Earth's heroes have corralled the few remaining. They know their time is up.
Captain America's a bit worried about the oncoming execution (Lefty!), but he shouldn't be. It's Limbo for them.
The Neutralizer set on wide dispersal, Rom makes quick work of these uglies. I think I'm gonna miss them. I mean, who ELSE is he gonna fight? New-villain-that-won't-catch-on of the Week? Probably. All the heroes that HAVE a proper rogue's gallery take off and leave him with his supporting cast.
Hm, I didn't figure Starfox for a runner.

Rom makes his big announcement: He's leaving Earth. Obviously this makes Brandy sad, but Rom tells her she's found a new family in cancer patient Rick Jones and traumatized girl Cindy.
Rick, dude, have a sense of occasion. This is no time to smile no matter what you're thinking of doing with your new wife. (Is Rom licensed to marry people? We're certainly far from the days of his bursting into churches to stop weddings. Specifically Brandy's weddings.) Before he goes, he takes in the sights, recording things for his personal collection. After all, he needs some angst fuel for the trip.
Don't worry, Rick gets some angst fuel on the very next page too. And the reader gets a bit of nightmare fuel in the process.
Villains defeated. Subplots resolved. What now, brown cow?
Like I said: Launching pad. It's a big, cluttered universe out there! Rom could wind up anywhere!
Really cluttered. Man, some cosmic entity really should tidy it up.

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