After re-watching Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange's irresponsible behavior in altering reality just to make Peter Parker's life easier stood out even more. He really should have worked out the spell beforehand if he really felt it was necessary. Better yet, do what How It Should Have Ended suggested and have him simply just wipe away the memory of Mysterio's accusations. As Sorcerer Supreme, Wong wasn't much better - "Just leave me out of it!" What? Anyway, I have a new theory - one or both of these guys is actually a Skrull! There have to be some big reveals or Secret Invasion, and Wong and Strange acting out of character makes them top suspects in my book.
There could be some Skrulls who weren't as forgiving as Nick Fury's impersonator in CAPT. MARVEL. In fact, some of them could have been irreparably radicalized a la Killmonger's father--T'Challa's brother-- in THE BLACK PANTHER!
ReplyDeleteAs for these calcified sons of liches?* I'd say they were more likely reanimated by Houngan of the Brotherhood of Evil...using telepathically-controlled nanites.
*Excuse my D&D language.
Do the skrulls know magic? Looking like is one thing, being able to do Ian' t the same.
ReplyDeleteDr. Stephen Strange isn't exactly known for his humility. You're right in that he should've worked out the details with Peter first instead of just starting the spell and then announcing its effects, of course, and it's unfortunate that nobody pointed that out to him (not do I expect Wong, Mordo, or anyone else to do so in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though it's quite possible). But this arrogance is perfectly in character for him.
ReplyDeleteAs for Wong, I don't think that where he was going with those suitcases and why was ever revealed; I don't think he was off to do those fight-cage battles with Emil, though. If he was headed to do something critical and time-sensitive, he might have just resigned himself to the knowledge that Stephen was going to do what he was going to do, simply because of his arrogance.
On this cover, I'm most interested to see the Crimson Avenger, particularly in his pre-spandex costume, which I hope we eventually get to see on Stargirl. In fact, I'd love to see him like this teamed up with the Green Hornet!
PS @ Ross: I've been re-watching the TV show Dark Matter lately, and it's made me want all over again to see that show's Five teamed up with Five from Umbrella Academy. However, I'm not sure how well the pairing would work with comics images given the remarkably different styles (as well as some of the differences in the former character between the comic and TV show), so it might only be serviceable with a Jodelle Ferland/Aiden Gallagher photo cover, and that might be more work that it's worth.
ReplyDelete@Bob Greenwade: More likely, he was off to do some astral-projected research into Shang-Chi's rings.
ReplyDelete@Det. Tobor: when Marvel had the publishing rights to Rom, the Dire Wraiths were eventually revealed as demon-worshipping Skrull Deviants. Followers of the N'garai, perhaps, a la that Puffball Collective (from the Crossroads of Eternity). But, with Rom now published by the Hasbro people, Marvel would probably have to come up with another explanation. At least, for the Cinematic Universe!
I'd opt for Jack Kirby's "Carbon Copy Men," the Xantareans. The script writers for Marvel Films could probably ret-con them as a Skrull minority seeking vengeance for always being discriminated against for their orange skin!
@Anon@10:19: Good theory re: Wong. I'll go with that until something better comes along.
ReplyDeletePS@Anon: Your idea about the Xantareans would be just about right. When sci-fi does social commentary, it generally does it best through allegory rather than by head-on confrontation -- compare the observations in the current Star Trek: Picard with the Original Series episode Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.* If the "orange Skrulls" have experiences that echo but don't quite match those of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, Pakistanis, Indians, Koreans, and others, it can make for a good general commentary on racism.
ReplyDelete*That said, I thought the Black Panther did an outstanding job addressing real-world race issues; that was probably a big factor in its Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
I have not seen this version of the Crimson Avenger. I first saw him in the back up story "What Happened to the Crimson Avenger". and I like his suit. When the Secret Origins story and later the mini-series came out I saw his first uniform and I never liked it to much. This outfit on the cover does make him look like the Green Hornet but I like it better.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great cover. Such an unlikely pairing. It's always great to see the Crimson Avenger here.
ReplyDeleteI love that art choice. Beautiful work as always.
ReplyDeleteAt least one thing from No Way Home should be this: Loki just somehow knows he owes Peter Parker a solid because, well...
ReplyDelete"I've been falling for thirty minutes!"
"I've been hanging over the Grand Canyon for twelve HOURS!"
Loki smirking. "Ooooh! Didn't like that, did you?"
I thought Spidey's webbing only lasts an hour though?
ReplyDeleteInterdimensional time differences have been a plot element of fantasy stories since the Middle Ages.
ReplyDelete@Scott: Originally, the Crimson Avenger was basically a knockoff of The Shadow, with just changes to the hat and cloak colors and some changes in abilities and background. This trenchcoat version is a retro modification to make him seem less derivative, and like you I rather prefer it.
ReplyDeleteHas there ever been a team up between characters that look alike as such?
ReplyDeleteOr could there be?
The Crimson Avenger, The Phantom Stranger, The Gray Ghost, The Spirit, The Shadow, Dr Occult, The Question, The Spider and so on.
Ross could/should call them "The Felt Hatters!"
ReplyDelete"Fedora Force" has a better ring to it.
ReplyDeleteor "The Hat Squad" which was already a one season tv show with a mythic police group of fedora wearing cops could be included or represented....
ReplyDeleteand don't forget the grandaddy of all hat wearing crime-fighters....
Dick Tracy.....
If it's to be called The Hat Squad, one could also include Darkwing Duck.
ReplyDelete