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….