Art Page Additions

Guardian did not have much of a presence in the most recent issue of Amazing X-Men, #11, the fourth part of World War Endigo.  He was around, but didn't get in on the action so much, and only had a few lines of dialogue (though one was pretty comical, to the effect that he's never doing Dept. H any favours.  Sure you're not).

So while we're waiting for that story to finally come to an end in October, I've added some eye candy to the Art page.  Specifically, the works by Brett booth, Mike McKone and "Spiderguile"/Pascal Verhoef are new. To the page, that is.  The first couple have been floating for a while, but have very few views on the comic art forums that I visit which makes me think that perhaps they're not as frequently seen as I might have thought.

Also pretty great is the warm up sketch below by Geraldo Borges. I'd be ecstatic if I could make that my final product, never mind a "warm up".  Splendid.

Guardian as Inspiration

While sorting through Marvel Comics solicitations for November recently, I came across a mention of a Deadpool variant cover for one of the books to be released that month (or perhaps Deadpool variants are a cover theme in November, I don't recall).

It reminded me of a cameo appearance by Guardian from 1998 in an annual called "Deadpool and Death". Much of the book's content is flashback of a terminally ill Wade Wilson visiting a Weapon-X facility.  During his visit he is given an unusual pep talk by a military figure, with the cherry on the sundae being a convenient Guardian (then Vindicator) fly-by.

Wilson agrees to join, taking one of the first steps to becoming Deadpool.

Nice to see a character referred to as Canada's version of Captain America serving as inspiration.  In typical Weapon-X fashion, it's with a dark edge, but it's inspiration nonetheless.

I Guess He's OK!

When last we saw Guardian in X-Men #8, he had been taken by surprise by a Wendigo in Forrest, Ontario, and not heard from by friends, family or employers since.  Or at least, that was Wolverine's interpretation based on how the town of Forrest...smells.

It was easy to assume that he had been bit and became a Wendigo himself, but that's not the case.  He was apparently busy doing what Heather was unable to do, and Puck was too stupid to do despite a direct instruction to do so; he gathered Alpha Flight.

He's been in a fight, that much his clear.  I guess we're to assume that he took two days to recover, based on the amount of time that Heather said he'd been gone.  But he did take the time to change his suit before joining the X-Men later in this issue (got one with a bigger leaf).  A leader's got to look good in front of his troops!

On a side note, Aurora at some point tells Northstar "They told me you were married...".  Did they?  Did they tell you that YOU WERE AT THE WEDDING?

While they were chatting, Guardian decided to put on his red pants.

Anyway, for the most part, this book blows.  It's nice to see the characters but there's very little consideration for their recent history.  Heather and Mac being together goes against the former's last on-page appearance, when she drove off with their daughter to parts unknown.  Aurora "forgetting" that she attended Northstar's wedding, mentioned above, is further evidence of shoddy research.

At least Guardian wasn't killed again (yet).  Apparently writers Craig Kyle and Chris Yost have a history of killing off characters but so far so good for our flag-bearer.

The premise is pretty cool, though like the rest of the non-X-Men portions of the book, I'm not sure that it's supported by past events.  I don't believe that "accidental" cannibalism qualifies one for the Wendigo curse.  For that matter, I'm not sure that the Wendigo curse is transferable through biting or scratching. Bah, why be burdened with continuity when you think you have a neat idea?

Oh, and that kid the X-Men saved in the previous issue?  I predict she'll be revealed to be vegetarian.  I haven't somehow read ahead, it's just as predictable as the rising sun.  Otherwise, her parents are starving her, because she hasn't eaten in almost two days.  But these writers don't seem too concerned with details, so who knows?

Guardian Propaganda Poster

While we wait to see how Guardian made out against the Wendigo in Amazing X-Men #8, let's take a look at a little piece of art I acquired recently.

I was drawn to this print right away, if only for its war poster style.

I only know the artist as "Jason T" on Twitter (I've been on his Facebook page as well, but for the life of me I can't remember his full name).  He has several other prints of Guardian, at least one of which involves Heather as well.  Get a hold of him if you're interested in getting a little decoration for your comics area. The man is quite accommodating.

And speaking of guest-appearances earlier, it doesn't seem as though Guardian will appear in a coming issue of Deadpool after all.  The Alpha Flight team that will be featured will be the early 90's one from prior to one of Mac's many resurrections, so no go.

Hopefully he plays a significant part in the X-Men books then, but I could see it being similar to "Mayan Prophecy" Hulk story from a couple of years ago.  Guardian was most prominent in the first part, but far less so in later issues.  We'll have to see.

Double Dose of Guardian in September

Marvel revealed their September 2014 solicitations this morning.

To begin, World War Wendigo continues in Amazing X-Men #11 (part four of five) and finally the members of Alpha Flight that are involved get a little cover love, Guardian included.

Mild love, mind you, but love nonetheless.

Something that was a bit more surprising was a mention of Alpha Flight in the solicitation for Deadpool #34.

DEADPOOL #34
BRIAN POSEHN & GERRY DUGGAN (W) • SCOTT KOBLISH (A)
Cover by MARK BROOKS
SPECIAL 3D Motion VARIANT COVER BY MARK BROOKS
• Flashback to the 90’s as we learn the darkest secret of Deadpool’s past!
• See the events Deadpool’s friends learned about it Original Sin FIRST HAND!
• Guest-Starring 90’s Sabretooth, 90’s Alpha Flight, and 90’s artwork!
40 PGS./Parental Advisory …$4.99

Argh...I hate Deadpool...

This does beg the question though...Which Alpha Flight's appearance and if so, which Guardian will we see?

We should get some Guardian content.  Despite his many absences from the Marvel Universe over the years, odds are pretty good if it's 90's Alpha Flight.

Guardian wasn't around much early in that decade.  The android version of the character died (or something) in 1991 but he returned ('cause that's what he does) in the series' final story arc, entitled "No Future" in the summer of 1994.

Team members popped up in other books from time to time until a second volume of Alpha Flight hit shelves in the summer of 1997.  And that one looked designed to fit in with what was considered hot at the time.

Gadzooks...You younger readers may not believe this, but at one time, that was actually considered pretty cool...

Now that's the cloned, or de-aged, version of Guardian.  "Mac Classic" didn't return until the following year.

But the story of Guardian being cloned, de-aged and shot into space to be later miraculously, randomly found by Sasquatch in the North Pole is so ludicrous that I can't imagine a comedic book like Deadpool avoiding it.  And because Alpha Flight resembled the typical 90's book most in that series, I'm guessing that that's the version we'll get.

I may not care for Deadpool, but the book will have my curiosity come September.