Yesterday, Marvel Comics introduced us to characters from its "All-New All-Different Marvel" universe that's going to be born after Secret Wars ends. It was full of surprises — and surprise omissions.
Today, Marvel has released a second image with more characters from ANAD Marvel, and it's a lot juicier than the first one. Like yesterday's image, it features Iron Man front and center, which suggests he's at the heart of the new Marvel U, or maybe he's just the new symbol of Marvel since he's the company's most prominent movie character. Hm.
Let's take a look at the characters featured on the image — almost all of which are "new and different" than we remember them. Click on the image for a higher-res version. From left to right:
On the top left is Doctor Spectrum, whose origin is a bit convoluted. Stay with me here... A while back, Marvel created a universe populated by correlations to DC Comics' Justice League, called the Squadron Supreme. One of those heroes was called Doctor Spectrum, a male hero who was an analogue to Green Lantern. This female version comes from the "Great Society," a superhero team much like the Squadron Supreme (and by extension, the Justice League) that was encountered by the Illuminati during the Incursion events leading up to Secret Wars. There's just one problem: Black Bolt killed Doctor Spectrum in that same issue. So this could be the same character resurrected, or yet another version from another universe.
Below her is the star-spangled Citizen V, an alias once used by villain Baron Zemo. We don't yet know if this is Zemo or another character donning the same costume. Baron Zemo, it's worth noting, is believed to be the main villain in next year's Captain America: Civil War.
Next is the familiar mug of the Thing, aka Ben Grimm, who's wearing new duds. As predicted, the former members of the Fantastic Four are sticking around, just joining other teams. Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, is signing up with the Inhumans. Susan Storm, the Invisible Woman, is working for S.H.I.E.L.D. And now we have Ben Grimm joining the Guardians of the Galaxy. His addition to that team should make for a fun dynamic with the likes of Rocket Raccoon and Drax. So where do you suppose Reed Richards will end up? Speaking of the Guardians, above the Thing is Rocket Raccoon, carrying an enormous gun and flashing a decidedly unheroic hand gesture.
The gentleman in green on the bottom row next to Thing is Karnak of the Inhumans. Karnak is a highly skilled martial artist with the ability to perceive the weakest spot in any person or thing. His former costume shares nothing in common with this one, so something's up there.
Floating above Karnak is Hyperion. He's best known as the Superman analogue and leader of the Squadron Supreme, but this version of Hyperion comes from a different universe than the original. This Hyperion lost his home Earth when his universe was destroyed during the Incursions, and recently joined the Avengers.
The guy on fire is Inferno, a new member of the Inhumans. On the other side of Iron Man is Medusa, queen of the Inhumans. She has magic hair. Or something. So as expected, the Inhumans are getting a huge push to the forefront in the new Marvel universe, while the X-Men are being sidelined.
Leaping through the air above Medusa is Daredevil, wearing a new black uniform with red highlights. Note the wrapped hands and cowl that covers his nose. The whole package looks like an amalgamation of the character's Shadowland costume and the one seen on the Netflix series.
Yesterday, Marvel Editor-In-Chief Axel Alonso promised that there would be a brand new Wolverine in All-New All-Different Marvel, and here she is. Right next to Medusa is the new Wolverine, a two-clawed female who could only be the mutant formerly known as X-23, Logan's genetic clone. It makes sense. Who better to take over Wolverine's legacy (and uniform) than his clone?
Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord from the Guardians of the Galaxy, is in the mix, looking very Chris Pratt-ish. Beside him is Old Man Logan, aka the older Wolverine originally created by Mark Millar and currently starring in a Secret Wars tie-in series. This welcome addition is much older than the Wolverine who died recently, coming from a post-apocalyptic Earth where the superheroes are all dead and the wastelands of the former America are ruled by villains. He has an even stricter code of honor, he doesn't suffer fools, and he won't hesitate to kill when someone gets in his way.
Lastly, hovering over Logan is Doctor Strange, who's sure to have an interesting path after his direct involvement in Secret Wars. Two things jump out at us about this Doctor Strange. First, the streaks of white hair on the sides of his head are gone. Marvel wouldn't be rewinding his age a bit to bring him closer in line with the origin story certain to play out in the big-screen Doctor Strange movie, would they? Second is that big honkin' axe. We have no idea what that's about, but many Marvel characters have carried axes over the years, including Thor, Hercules, Ares, Volstagg and others. Maybe it came from one of them, or maybe it's a parting gift from his partner-in-Secret Wars-crime Doctor Doom?
So to sum up... We're continuing to see more of Marvel Comics' characters become more and more like their movie counterparts — or at least, fall in line with where their movie counterparts are headed, as in the case of the Inhumans. Meanwhile, the X-Men are still being diminished. We finally have a couple of mutants on the roster now (the two Wolverines), but they both transcend the X-Men as characters.
We're stubbornly clinging to our belief that the X-Men teams will drop the X-moniker. That is, if they still exist at all after Secret Wars.
Okay, let's hear it, True Believers. Sound off with your thoughts.
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