His father was the greatest of Heroes, saving the entire universe from subjugation time and time
again! Now he must continue that tradition , his powers are the same, but his outlook is
different. He wields the mighty Nega bands and has the Celestial insight of Cosmic Awareness.
The universe is his inheritance, for he is its Protector as he struggles to find his place amidst the
Heavens, his buds call him Genis, but he's known and feared by his enemies as....
High above the earth, leaving the planets atmosphere far behind, five figures cut a desperate arc
across the stars. They are, Adam Warlock, Wendall Vaughn, the man known as Quasar. In a
quantum bubble, being towed by Quasar are the Earth woman Angie Bourdelex and in his
human form, the Silver Dragon known as Noctu. In the front of the group, his photon trail
lighting up the stars, flies an angry Genis-Vell, the man known as Captain Marvel!
"This gets worse and worse." Thinks Genis, "Now I know we're up against Thanos, but this plan
of his, it's insane. He means to pit the living against the dead in some kind of eternal war. And
this is after he's turned everyone into immortals. No wonder Death herself has entered the realm
of the living with an army of ghouls. Or whatever you wanna call them."
Warlock flies up next to Captain Marvel , and the begin to confer.
"Captain," Starts Adam, "What do you consider our next move? Where are we going?"
"Well Adam, I want to return to Titan. We need a ship for Angie and Noctu. Quasar can't tow
them all across the grand cosmos like that, no matter what he says. And I know just the ship to...
procure ."
"You seem like you have another reason to return to Titan my friend. Is there somthing you're
not sharing with us?"
"Just to try one last ditch effort to grab a few more allies, and break a couple of loved ones from
Thanos' thrall."
"Ah, that. Yes I suppose we could use all the help we can get. Who did you have in mind?"
Genis smiles as he looks at Warlock.
"For starters, Starfox and my mother, though I don't intend to drag her across space."
"Who else?"
"An old friend of yours, Drax, the Destroyer."
Warlock grins and nods , understanding at last.
"With Drax' power added to ours, the stakes draw more towards our favor."
"Don't fool yourself Adam . We'll still have all of allied creation against us, but every little bit
helps."
"Oh there is no need to concern yourself there Genis-Vell, Adam Warlock is ever the pragmatic.
I realize that chances are , we will all be destroyed on this adventure Captain. Our chances for
survival are almost nil at this juncture."
"Don't remind me golden boy. I wonder what that purple faced monster is up to right now? Does
he realize we're coming for him? Does he even care if he knows?"
Across the Universe , to its so-called center our eyes now travel. There, in a room overlooking
deep space stands the man who would be God. Thanos , of Titan. Hands clasped behind his
back, the purple faced giant stares as lights flash all around his view screen. His forces have
engaged the enemy, everywhere, and his is enjoying the moment.
"Yes." He drips the word from his throat as akin to venom, "The witch is tasting her first serving
of defeat. How does it taste my sweet? A bitter tinge is it not? Hahahahahahahaha!"
Across the room, and behind Thanos, another hangs from a strange device that painfully drains
the life-force from his withered form. Agonizingly, that massive figure raises its head and
through a throat ravaged by its dire predicament, it finally speaks.
"Why?" Comes the half gurgled question. Thanos turns immediately upon hearing the voice, in
mock surprise he slowly makes his way to the side of his living power source.
"You speak? I am surprised my friend. I did not think there was enough left of either mind , nor
body to complete even that task."
The ebon figure, its bald head and glowing eyes raise upwards, meeting Thanos' stare.
"I---ask ---again----why?"
"And I will answer you. Because I can. With your energies of creations fire coursing through my
veins, anything is possible. The witch scorned my love. Now I have the means to destroy her,
and I will."
"You--- are ---- insane.---Not--even--I ---would ---have---attempted---this. This----War---will
---be---eternal."
"Yes it will. Immortal warriors , no longer susceptible to Deaths caress, waging constant and
unending War against her forces. The battles will rage on for millennia upon millennia. Finally I
will crush her and she shall proclaim me her master."
"At the -----expense ----of--every---living---being---in ----the---cosmos."
Thanos smiles then, it is a sight to chill the marrow.
"Precisely my friend, or do you prefer that I call you-----"
"Black Sun?!?"Captain Marvel blurts out. "That's who's powering Thanos' mad scheme? You're
sure Noctu, though it would make sense you would be involved at your masters call."
Noctu looks at Genis from within his quantum bubble and speaks.
"Black Sun did not contact me Captain. I was there when Thanos and he emerged from the
ascension chamber*. I tried to help my beaten master, but I was too injured from my battles with
you , as well as the leviathan Namor the Sub-Mariner had turned against me. I could do nothing
to aid Black Sun. That is to my eternal shame."
*See our classic ish #77 for all the details.
Quasar stares at Genis a moment before speaking, "Who's this "Black Sun"? "
Genis answers, his fatigue beginning to catch up with him, "Sigh" "Black Sun is the living
embodiment of a collapsed star, a Black Hole. It seems on another plane of existence, the stars
are sentient beings. They're life givers. The galaxies they create and nurture with their own
essences are like children to them.. Black Sun was basically cast out of the realm of the stars
many millions of years ago. Since then he lived as a man . He created a criminal empire the likes
of which has never been seen anywhere in the universe. But even that wasn't enough for Black
Sun. He wanted it all. Her wanted revenge against his fellow stars, his brothers and sisters. And
he wanted to be God. So he figured out a way to siphon energy from the stars themselves
through a pawn who had no idea that every time he drew in solar energy, he was powering Black
Sun as well. "
Quasar nods grimly as the race along through space. "Who was the pawn Captain?"
Genis pauses before answering. Then in almost an inaudible whisper--"I was."
Warlock stares , showing no emotion before answering. "I had surmised as much my friend.
How did you finally defeat him?"
"In a battle that included the Avengers, Powerman and Iron Fist as well as Drax the Destroyer
and the former herald of Galactus, Firelord . We all fought against him tooth and nail. It finally
came down to myself, Thor, Namor and Iron Man. One by one Black Sun fought his way through
us. His power was unbelievable. The Avengers said he was the most powerful foe they ever
encountered, including Onslaught. In the end, I finally realized he was receiving his power from
the ascension chamber he spent so much time in. He was killing stars and taking control of their
domains, stretching his influence to their corporeal forms, the stars themselves. And he was
doing it by drawing energy, at least at first , through my Nega-Bands. But when he had his
ascension chamber up and running he no longer needed me. "
"Man, I should've stayed in contact with the team a little more I guess."
"That's okay Quasar, in the end I had to enter the ascension chamber and use his own power
against him to defeat him. That's when I was blind sided. I guess I know by who now."
"Yes Captain, it was Thanos." Speaks Noctu from inside the Quantum sphere he shares with
Angie.
Genis turns towards Noctu and looks him in the eye as they speed along through space. "How'd
you find me Noctu? Why'd you come looking for me? You think I'm just going to free Black Sun
from Thanos and forget everything he's done before? It doesn't work that way guy."
Noctu meets Captain Marvels stare a moment before answering. "They were looking for you
everywhere on Earth, once you defeated the Avengers in NY* . Reports of your appearances
were everywhere, from those claiming they saw you, to those who truly did. When you freed the
girl " He points at Angie. "And disappeared with her, I assumed you had to be nearby yet, to
make sure she was uninjured. It was only a matter of myself flying high enough to scan the entire
area in my Dragon form. When you flew up to battle Quasar , I couldn't follow you into space,
all I could do was sit and wait for your return."
See issue *84
Warlock looks ahead and turns back to the conversation. "Genis , I believe we're approaching
Titan. We should enact our plan now Captain."
"Agreed Warlock The south pole conduit is yours."
"Good luck my friends." with that Warlock is gone, racing almost immediately out of sight ,
towards Titans south pole entrance.
"Okay Quaze, your turn Avenger."
Quasar nods , and is gone, creating a quantum jump , leaving Genis and the Quantum Bubble
floating in space.
"Ang " He begins, "I'll be back for you. Quasar says this bubble will protect you indefinitely.
Don't worry babe, I'll see you soon."
"Y'know Captain Marvel," She begins, " I'm getting tired of us saying goodbye all the time like
this."
They both smile , as they touch the bubble together, his hand from the outside, hers from within,
one trying to touch the other, separated by a glowing radiance. And then, with a wistful smile,
Captain Marvel is gone! His Photon trail disappearing into space as he heads towards a sentry
satellite .
"Time to get busy ." He thinks to himself, as he rockets towards the nearest sentry satellite.
"Hey boys!" he yells to the satellite through his Nega-Bands, come out and party, Genis 's come
to town!" To punctuate his last words, he incinerates the satellite with a blast of Photon energy.
He turns towards the planetoids surface, as his face turns the color of the cosmos itself. He's
waiting for a response, and he doesn't have to wait long.
Two spots of light break away from Titans surface and streak towards him.
"Here they come." He thinks, "Right on schedule."
The two points of light approach and almost instantly they are there! Floating above him, on
either side , are Firelord and Drax, the destroyer!
"Hi boys, time to rock!"
Smiling like a cobra, Genis attacks, flying instantly between the two , firing photon blasts at both
their faces. Circling around he dives toward Drax first. As the Destroyer lets loose an energy
beam that Genis dives underneath. Coming up beneath Drax' line of attack, he elbows the
Destroyer in the jaw with a force capable of shattering a skyscraper! Then grasping Drax' still
firing arm he aims it at the approaching Firelord!
Sha-KOW!
"ARRHH!" Growls Firelord as he's hit again hard, this time by Drax! Righting himself Firelord
fires cosmic flame from his staff, at both Captain Marvel and the Destroyer! With a deft flip ,
Captain Marvel tosses Drax into the path of the flame!
Fwooosh!
Inside Titan......
Adam Warlock exits the passage in the south pole entry way, deftly leaping up into shadow , as a
half dozen Titanian guards leap into the opening he was about to exit from. They jam into the
crowded turbo lift, as Warlock flits out faster then their eyes can follow! Sticking to shadow,
Warlock flies through the dark portions of Titan, his destination imbedded in his mind, the home
of Elysius and Eros, otherwise known as Starfox!
Armed patrols scour the outer boundaries of the living areas searching for the intruder they know
is within their midst, but to no avail! All the while the golden mystic wends his way through the
small planetoid until the area he seeks becomes known to him.
"There." He thinks to himself, "My destination. I hope they don't mind company at this hour."
Landing lightly in the backyard of the idyllic Earth 1950's era home, Warlock snaps the lock off
the sliding glass door with an effortless tug. He slides into the kitchen of the home, when a voice
booms out "Hold it thief! "
Warlock whirls , as simultaneously a shotgun blast goes off, smashing a hole in the wall where
he stood a nano-second earlier! Spinning , Warlock uses his soul gem to illuminate his attacker,
before blurting out "You! Starfox!"
Above one of the planets many landing fields, Quasar exits his jump gate, instantly he locates
the steel blue ship he was sent for, the "Rapier Wit". Diving towards it, he sees several guards
heading his way almost immediately . "One thing I have to say for them," He thinks, "They're
efficient."
Instantly the guards begin firing at Quasar, hi powered energy beams burn the atmosphere
around him, as he deftly avoids their attacks. Finally , having had enough, he counters.
He creates a massive hammer of quantum energy, and shatters the ground under the guards feet
with thunderous effect!
Ba-BOOM!
"Now to get the heck out of here."
Entering the "Wit" , Quasar enters the code Captain Marvel had given him into the main
computer, and the engines fire immediately , in a blast of flame he's gone soaring towards the
suddenly closing aperture into space.
"Oboy" He speaks aloud, "This is gonna be close."
Sliding the sleek ship sideways, he squeezes it past the closing iris , as the metallic teeth of the
iris slide against the ships hull with a slight "Squeel"
"Whoo" He slips back into the command chair and heads the ship out to the rendevous point.
Back inside Titan....
BRAAAM!
Warlock and Starfox smash through a wall of Eros' suburban home, shattering it like tissue paper
as they tumble onto the lawn.
"No body invades my home Mr, and thinks they're going to get away with it, no siree Bob!"
Warlock shakes his head sadly, "You are sorely deluded Starfox."
Warlock punctuates that with a powerful left to Eros' face, knocking the Titanian Eternal back.
Adam leaps atop Eros, as Starfox kicks him overhead, in a stomach throw that send Adam
skidding across the dew covered lawn.
"Enough!" Adam shouts out angrily, "This game ends here!"
Warlock envelops Starfox with his Soul Gems beam ,like a Deer frozen in headlights, Eros stops
dead! And then begins to scream!
"AAAAAAAAAaaaahhhhhhhhhhh........."
Like a puppet with its string cut, Starfox drops to the grass, as Warlock rushes to his side.
Slowly, painfully , Eros forces himself to his knees. He drags his head up to meet Warlocks gaze.
"That HURT! What'd you do that for Warlock? What's going on here I--" He stares around him at
the street, the houses, the neighbors standing about on their lawns who were awakened by the
sounds of battle. "What in Chronos' name is going on here? Where am I? "
"You are still inside Titan, Starfox. This is just part of the latest mad scheme of your brother
Thanos. A scheme that has succeeded. "
Starfox stands now, facing Warlock eye to eye. "What are you talking about? What has
happened?"
Warlock shakes his head "No" before continuing. "All will be explained when we are away from
here. Now hurry, we have to leave here now. Already security forces are approaching, and
they're seeking to apprehend me."
"Okay, I'll take your word for it. Where are we going? "
"To meet Captain Marvel , as well as Quasar."
"Genis is alive? " *
*Remember, Eros last saw Genis before his brain was scrambled during issue #77
"Yes Eros, but we must hurry."
Without another word, the two heroes streak skyward, disappearing as several security teams
narrowly miss their escape.
Out in space, beyond Titans gravity field a battle of epic proportions continues.....
Captain Marvel fires off a lightning quick left cross to Firelords face, snapping his enemies head
backwards.
POW!
Firelord spins his flaming staff in an arc making contact with Genis before he can get away.
Sharak!
Drax barrels in howling like a madman towards Captain Marvel, when just then, Genis dives low
avoiding the powerful lunge, as both Firelord and Destroyer collide!
Ba-KOOM!
"Man, fighting you guys is like being involved in one of the old Keystone cops movies. You're
both so damn inept. Especially since I used the exact same move against you two the last time I
kicked your butts"
Drax glares, his visage burning holes in Genis' heart. "Beware boy, taking you in is one thing, but
to belittle the outer guard is tantamount to treason!"
"Yeah right puke face, like you even know what "Tantamount" means."
"Grrrr!"
Drax dives towards Captain Marvel, firing energy blasts from both hands. His patience is at an
end. And he will have his retribution! Behind him, Firelord shakes the cobwebs free from his
brain as he flies after Drax. Captain Marvel deftly avoids Drax' blasts, but just barely this time,
as the two continue to dog his tail following his every move, as he flits behind asteroids and
other cosmic debris. They are always just out of reach, always behind him, until suddenly they
come upon the wreckage of a satellite that Captain Marvel dives behind. Stopping , both Firelord
and the Destroyer atomize the wreckage with their individual power, to reveal.....
"Quasar, Warlock AND Captain Marvel?!?" Stutters Firelord.
Behind a Quantum shield Genis smiles, "That's right firetop, you're not the only one with
friends."
Without another word Quasar wraps both Drax and Firelord in quantum bands, holding their
arms tight, as Warlock bathes them both in his Soul Gems light!
"Raaarrrghhh! " They both scream angrily as their souls are cleansed by the burning of the soul
gems light, then, they both slump over, exhausted.
"Good. Another few minutes and they would've broken free."
"I figured Quaze, but you gave us enough time ."
"Yes, Captain, my soul Gem did the rest after that. Now our own army is complete ."
Slowly , painfully the two cosmic heroes revive.
Within moments both are brought up to speed on the current situation. Plans are made as they all
board the "Wit'.
"Okay gentlemen, next stop," Begins Captain Marvel " Thanos-prime! Or whatever the heck he
calls it!"
And Drax the powerful Destroyer growls in agreement. "Yes, and then there will come a
reckoning."
Next: Captain Marvel Vs. Thanos , to the Death!
Kree-Lore C/O [email protected]
sound of brain sputtering out after reading Captain Marvel issue> OK,
I think I'm OK now. That was the best cosmic epic I have ever read to
this date! Thanos finally launched a plan that worked! Warlock, Quasar,
and Genis alone against him and a world of Avengers. There is no way
that anything could be cooler than this! Period. I am truly in awe of
your imagination Ralph! I would never in a million years have guessed
Thanos was behind this. Maybe Judge Kray-Tor or one of the souls in
Warlock's gem, or the Magus, but never Thanos. Yet it makes perfect
sense, and the big guy seems almost benevolent to be a life destroying
monstrosity. Titan as paradise was a perfect idea now that we know who
was behind it all. I really can't wait to read the next issue buddy!
Keep up the great work and know I'm on the edge of my seat! Why Marvel
hasn't hired you yet is beyond me!
Wow TJ, man you humble me with praise like this, I really and truly appreciate it! Thanks
buddy! I hope you liked this issue too.
Ralph
