Synopsis
Warlock (2004 series) #2 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Janie Chin was hired by the Enclave in their Beehive in the jungles of Costa Perdita to design the look for a superhero Adam Warlock for what she believed to be a movie. But then she discovered that the Enclave scientists (Morlak, Shinski & Zota) were actually creating the real being. And Adam was born from a cocoon, but he has an adult body, can already talk and knows his name.
Zota explains that they built some info into his brain while he incubated, and Janie indicates the high-tech 'cocoon' he emerged from. He asks her what her function is and she says she designed his body and his armour, which Zota now hands to him. But he asks her what *his* function is and she replies that in the movie he was supposed to save humanity from self-destruction and establish a utopian dictatorship, but she comments to the scientists that they surely can't mean to do that for real.
Shinski ignores her and tells Warlock Delta to initiate Protocol 001. A light appears connected to the jewel on his brow and Zota says they're uploading info about the dire state of the world. Shinski says they didn't do this for the previous versions (presumably 3 - Alpha, Beta and Gamma) and Zota adds that they all left instead of doing what was required. Morlak remembers that the 1st 1 said "Does the tiger concern himself with the flea?" before destroying their base like the others. When the upload finishes Adam is crying.
The 4th member of the Enclave, Mr Smith, asks Adam if he's ready. Warlock replies "Yes" but Smith punches his jaw and says he's not ready yet, and leaves telling him to follow with his armour. Janie asks Adam to stop but the fail-safe gem flares and he obeys Smith's order. We see an armoured Mr Smith teaching him martial arts. The scientists know that Warlock's phenomenal powers means he doesn't need these skills, but it is teaching him discipline and control which he'll need when using his own powers. And eventually the pupil learns to beat his teacher.
Janie still can't really believe the Enclave mean for Adam to 'benevolently' take over the world. They remind her of all the problems in the world and she she says surely it's a job for governments or the Fantastic Four. They counter by saying Warlock's god-like power will enable him to do whatever he wants. Shinski likens it to a black hole - cram enough information into the small space of a brain and the normal laws of physics won't apply - he can concentrate and transmute matter. They elaborate on their plan. The things going on in the world are all condemned as sins in every religion. So what people need now is a god to walk among them and punish the wicked. Janie finally realises they're mad.
Then an explosion heralds an attack on the Beehive. The 3 scientists get into mobile weapons platforms and go out shooting. Adam comes to see Janie and tells her that the place is under attack by guerillas. Janie asks how he knows that. He replies that they're using old Russian weapons whereas government troops would have modern US stuff. She challenges his certainty because he's only going on info the Enclave put in his head and they could be lying to manipulate him. He then lists a lot of things he can detect, all of which tally with the data in his brain. He admits that they want him to kill people, but she asks what gives him the right to judge who deserves to die. He gives her a sample list of specific crimes against humanity that he knows about. And he knows his purpose is to stop them. But she's made him doubt, until the fail-safe jewel restores his certainty.
Warlock then goes out to join the battle, and Janie follows him. As he attacks the guerillas he identifies 17 of them with specific 'war crimes' he knows about. But he doesn't let the others escape his wrath either. By the end he's standing on a pile of 100 bodies. Mr Smith asks him how he feels about that. When he replies "Good" Smith triggers another upload which shows him the good side of many of the men he killed, to show that nothing is black & white. As Adam cries again Smith comments to Janie that the vengeful god will have the heart of a man. And she cries for Adam.
We see Adam sitting brooding as Janie's words clash with his ordained function, and the clash always being resolved by the fail-safe in favour of his function. Then Janie visits him again and takes him outside into the night to escape the Enclave. As she hacks her way through the jungle with a machete and a torch she hopes to find a town with a phone or an Internet cafe so she can contact Danny for help. But these are ideas which trigger the fail-safe. And he eventually admits that he hasn't come with her to escape but to find more people to judge. And they come across government 2-legged fighting machines.