Heroes Reborn #2: Review

May 2021

Jason Aaron, Dale Keown

::: click cover to ENLARGE it :::

Story Name:

Invaders from the Negative Zone

Review & Comments

Rating:

Heroes Reborn #2 Review by Peter Silvestro (May 12, 2021)

Review: Another solid issue, where we see the cockeyed non-Avengers world through the eyes of Marvel’s Superman analog, Hyperion. We also get a gallery of Marvelized Superman villains and more proof that the world is messed up, with the first hint that there is some sort of mind control at work. And Captain America is back and ready for action but there are still five issues to go, so things will get worse before they get better. See ya next week!

Comments: Mark (Hyperion) Milton teaches at Buscema High School, a nod to the famed Marvel artist(s). Revelation: Tony Stark owns a gun bar named House of Bullets. Carlos Magno contributed to the art on the first story.

Comments on tie-ins by RobFJ:-

The tie-ins for this event released this week are both backstory for things mentioned in this issue. It would be neat if this trend continued (even if next week's intended Magneto & Mutant Force has been delayed by 1 week).

Hyperion & The Imperial Guard:-

This tells us of the time young Hyperion spent with the Shi'ar Imperial Guard (read Superboy & The Legion Of Super-Heroes). And especially their last mission where the Guard were infected by the Brood, and Hype had to leave them (including his love Oracle) stranded in the Negative Zone. (And in this issue they are part of the general breakout from the Neg Zone which has been used as a general dumping ground for the most dangerous supervillains.)

There is also a Starjammers (including Groot and Rocket) backup where Johnny Storm of the Nova Corps brings Lilandra Neramani to them to lead a revolt against Shi'ar Emperor D'Ken (by intending to recruit the Phoenix Force).

Peter Parker, The Amazing Shutterbug:-

This tells us how young Peter Parker narrowly avoided being bitten by a genetically modified spider. Aunt May rather than Uncle Ben was killed - collateral damage in 1 of Hyperion's battles. But science-whiz Peter's camera-drone shots of the fight got him his photographer job at the Daily Bugle (becoming the Jimmy Olsen to Hyperion's Superman). It brings the story right up-to-date as Parker documents Hype's fight against General Annihilus' alien insect army, escaped from the miniaturised Hive Of Annihilation, and the size-changing Ultron. Our issue left 1 of the alien 'spiders' free behind Peter. And now this issue finishes with him saving the Bugle staff from the spider but getting bitten before he kills it (reminiscent of the unavoidable destiny aspects of many What If stories). It transforms him into 1 of the Hive complete with 4 extra spider-arms (now where have we seen *that* before!). But Peter heroically saves the world by throwing himself (presumably to his death) out of the skyscraper building.

This of course indicates that this mini-series is going to have to end with all its events wiped out because there's no way Marvel is going to really kill off Spider-Man, especially outside of his own comics.

From Our Blog:

Gwen Stacy, beauty queen of Standard High School, was Peter Parker's (alias Spider-Man) first great love.

Gwen Stacy: Classic Beauty

Synopsis / Summary / Plot

Heroes Reborn #2 Synopsis by Peter Silvestro

Years ago, Galactus and the Silver Surfer appeared on Earth to drain it of all energy and life. But Galactus is the one who destroyed Hyperion’s homeworld so the mighty superhero shoots through Galactus’ skull like a bullet, killing him instantly….

Now, Mark Milton is teaching his high school class when he receives a call for help from Reed Richards of S.H.I.E.L.D. Labs. On arrival, Hyperion learns that all of his enemies except for Dr. Doom (reincarcerated last issue) have escaped from the Negative Zone so he has a big job ahead of him. First, he battles his old friends the Imperial Guard who have become infected by the Brood. Then it’s Mr. Beyonder, the magical imp (standing in for Superman’s Mr. Mxyzptlk) and the Hive of Annihilation (a combination of Annihulus and the bottle city of Kandor), saving his friend Peter Parker’s life (Pete is a substitute for Jimmy Olsen). Then he destroys Ultron, a gigantic robot that absorbed his creator Henry Pym (the Brainiac analog). Off panel, he’s captured Winter Soldier and the Widow Guard, Namor, and Mutant Force and only the toughest one is left: Hulk (who emulates Supes’ Bizarro). But Hulk is confused, he remembers the world being different, including the Avengers. Hyperion decides he has coddled Hulk far too long and reluctantly kills his enemy, drilling the monster with his heat vision multiple times. Hulk’s last word is “Steve,” confusing the hero….

The next day, Hyperion goes out to search for the missing Captain America. He can’t find him in the Arctic but discovers traces of something man-sized being removed. He then clears his head, reminding himself that Cap is long dead and the world he lives in is the Truth, that he would fight to protect even if it weren’t….

“Welcome Home, Soldier”
Writer: Jason Aaron. Pencils: Ed McGuiness. Inks: Mark Morales. Colors: Matthew Wilson. Letters: Cory Petit.
Synopsis: While teaching his history class, Mark Milton detects a strange presence nearby. Changing into Hyperion, he heads outside to find a hooded man sitting on the ground. The hero suggests he go away but the man, calling himself a homeless veteran, gets up to depart, shaking Hyperion’s hand. At this, the superhero feels weakened and wonders who the old guy is. The vet vanishes in a flash, carried off by Blade, and we discover he is the long lost Captain America and he wants Blade to show him just how his world has gone wrong….