War Machine #19: Review

Oct 1995

Dan Abnett, Fred Haynes

Story Name:

Here be dragons

Review & Comments

Rating:

War Machine #19 Review by Rob Johnson (April 5, 2012)

Hulk is seen at Planet Hero going for a meal with Betty under the name Danner. This is in the later part of Peter David's era with the intelligent Hulk married to Betty Ross. Rae Lacoste last saw Jim in #11, though we saw her meet his parents in #12, and crying in #13. The reason is hinted at here but not explained until #24. Jim Rhodes having armour that lives in his body is in the decade before Iron Man manages a similar trick. Sheva's temporary time-jump is the first sign of a problem caused by her time-travel adventure with War Machine in #15-17. Skye's mention that the alien suit belongs to the Eidolon will be expanded on in #23. Here it suggests that the Eidolon are the 'they' who are testing Rhodes. But this may be Skye sticking to a cover story, because it contradicts her semi-conscious claim last issue that a mysterious 'he' sent the dragon. In #23 she will reveal that the Eidolon are long-gone, and she is working for an opponent of Kang.

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Synopsis / Summary / Plot

War Machine #19 Synopsis by Rob Johnson

This prelude to the Crossing continues from #18.

Jim Rhodes faces an alien monster in the alien suit of armour he found last issue. At his merest thought the suit launches 4 attack drones. He also automatically knows how to fly, and activate the armour's senses.

After a pause to make sure the unconscious woman Skye is safe, Rhodey leaps into an extended battle with the dragon.

Menawhile in LA Jim's compatriot's at Worldwatch are holding a birthday party for Sheva Joseph at the Planet Hero restaurant. There she runs into Jim's girlfriend Rae LaCoste, who hasn't heard from him in a while.

Back at Matlin Lake Rhodes thinks he's killed the monster. He wills the armour to disappear inside him. And finds his body marked with tattoos.

Skye has awakened, and now reveals herself not to be the government agent she claimed to be, but actually from outer space. She tells Jim that she had led him to the armour, and now the tattoos nark him as a warrior of the Eidolon. The dragon, called a Lictor, was sent to test him. (Skye says she never dreamt her masters would use something as deadly as that.)

At this point Hawkeye, also previously unconscious, joins them. Skye refuses to say any more while Clint is around. But the tense situation is interrupted by the recovered dragon erupting from the lake. However Rhodes calls up the armour again, and really kills it this time.

Hawkeye leaves, heading for the Avengers reunion he's heard about (in Avengers: The Crossing). Jim and Skye start to drive to LA, and Skye promises to explain everything.

Back in LA Sheva leaves her party and briefly finds herself back in 1970.

This strand of the Crossing preludes leads to the first official crossover issue AVENGERS: THE CROSSING.