Synopsis
Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection #2 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Last issue Adam Warlock offered to help Silver Surfer 'resurrect' his lover Shalla Bal who had been killed in the recent SS: Homecoming graphic novel. He claimed that she hadn't so much died as been dimensionally scattered. The rest of the Infinity Watch were involved too. Pip teleported them all to a deserted planet that Warlock figured was the best place for the task. Drax and Gamora were there as bodyguards. Surfer, Warlock and Moondragon combined their powers to open a dimensional portal. But something went wrong and a horde of vicious demons poured through it to attack them.
Pip isn't much use but Drax and Gamora (with a big axe) do their thing. Moondragon explains that while attempting to reach the metaphysical plane where Shalla languishes they accidentally broke into the 'rogue level' containing these creatures. And if the hole isn't plugged they'll be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Warlock suggests Surfer do something about that, so Norrin Radd uses his Power Cosmic to erect a wall of flame that engulfs any more demons who try to pass.
Then while Drax and Gamora mop up the rest of the foe already here Moondragon, Surfer and Adam repeat the process they used last issue:- SS beams his power into AW's Soul Gem and AW modifies that power before transferring it to Moondragon's mind, which she uses to control the portal. She closes the entrance to the demon realm and (easily this time) continues to their intended destination and retrieves the glowing essence of Shalla Bal ...
... which then transforms itself into her naked body, which Moonie quickly cloaks in her cloak. Norrin is elated until he discovers that the body is dumb, and Adam has to admit they've got the body but not the soul. Drax has to restrain the angry Surfer until Warlock suggests they could go in search of that soul which he guesses is in the hands of Death.
Pip does *not* want to take them Death's realm because they only just managed to escape last time (in Infinity War #2 when they took Thanos there to consult the Infinity Well). We don't know how Adam persuades him to change his mind but he does. Norrin still doesn't trust Warlock's motives in all this (last issue Adam offered to do it so that Surfer would owe him a debt to be repaid later) but he's not turning back now. Pip tries to gather everyone into touching distance so he can teleport them all, but only he, Adam and SS disappear ...
... pulled into Death's palace and surrounded by her armoured and weaponed Legion Of The Dead. Pip finds he can't port out again so Surfer and Warlock have to fight the Legion. As they are drowned in flailing bodies and all hope is lost Death snaps her fingers and the Legion vanish. And Death's spokesman congratulates the heroes for surviving.
Adam Warlock complains about the treatment given to 1 who saved her from being the slave of Thanos (during Infinity Gauntlet). The reply is that they were being punished for bringing Thanos there (to the Infinity Well as mentioned above). Adam says sorry and Surfer tells Death they've come looking for a soul. However it seems Death doesn't *have* Shalla Bal. And we see her soul elsewhere trapped in a crystal by someone with an evil grin.
Adam tries to charm info out of Death who responds by changing her head from a skull to a pretty woman. But her spokesman says that ancient pacts forbid her from revealing who has the soul in question. However she is at liberty to expel unwelcome guests from her realm and there is no rule which governs *where* she might send them to. Norrin quickly assents and Death ignores Adam's warning protest. ...
... and the 3 find themselves in Hades faced by Mephisto holding Shalla's soul in his hand.