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Warlock: Rebirth #1

Apr 2023
Ron Marz, Ron Lim

Warlock: Rebirth #1 cover

Story Name:

Better half


Synopsis

Warlock: Rebirth #1 synopsis by Rob Johnson
Rating: 4 stars
1 day in the past Legacy (Genis-Vell son of the original Captain Marvel) came to Earth from space and flew down to Monster Isle. He's greeted by a smallish lizard. And then its huge fire-breathing and very protective parent. Luckily it walked away after 1 blast. And then he's picked up by a humanoid (and pants-wearing) monster who announces himself as Goom. Genis tries to warn it off by asking if it's looking for a fight. Goom say "Yes" and punches him through some trees and then stomps on him before also walking away.

He's found by Gamora and Pip the Troll of the Infinity Watch. They all introduce themselves and Genis tells them he's looking for Adam Warlock to learn about his father. (Although they only really met in Avengers Annual #7 to fight Thanos, and a little bit in Marvel Two-In-One An#2 where Thanos and Warlock both died.) He says that Silver Surfer advised him to come to Earth (but not actually to Monster Isle) where Mar-Vell made his home. They confirm that Adam's here although Drax and Moondragon are off somewhere and Gamora has only just got back from a space adventure.

Genis also thought a hero like Warlock could give him some advice on living up to his father's legacy. For some reason this prompts Gamora to relate a potted history of the guy. He's an artificial being created by some mad scientists to be the perfect human (in Fantastic Four #67 and we see Alicia Masters approaching the cocoon that birthed him). He escaped known only as Him and met High Evolutionary (Marvel Premiere #1) who gave him a costume and his Soul Gem and his current name. He was nearly a Messiah (to HE's Counter-Earth in Warlock's own series where we see him 'crucified'). He died at the hands of Thanos (in Av An#7, but technically was taken by his earlier self to Soul World inside the Soul Gem) but popped back (in part 2 of the story in MTIO An#2) to kill the Mad Titan. He was also once omnipotent, wielding the Infinity Gauntlet (at the end of the IG limited series), but he gave that up. And now his Infinity Watch guard the Infinity Gems.

They approach a massive door in a cliff leading to a huge cavern which Gamora says Adam uses to meditate in. But they meet him staggering towards them saying something is wrong. He leads them back to a room where there is a cocoon like the 1 he was born in (and like he sometimes creates to be reborn in). But this 1 isn't his, but he can feel it draining his power into itself. Then it emits energy and cracks open and out steps a female equivalent of his Him phase.

She names herself Eve Warlock and claims to be his replacement because he failed in his appointed task. She ignores all Adam's questions and touches his chest, and an explosion sends him flying. While Pip tends to the fallen hero Gamora and Legacy attack Eve but she easily fends off most of their blows and blasts and dismisses them both. Adam has recovered and attacks with the Soul Gem but she fights back and causes a feedback that fells him. Then she takes the Gem and teleports away leaving the others thinking Warlock's dead.


 

Review / Commentaries


Warlock: Rebirth #1 Review by (December 30, 2023)
This is the 2nd of 3 retro mini-series written by Ron Marz harking back to the time when he was writing Silver Surfer and following the life of his creation Legacy. With Jim Starlin's blessing he was also frequently using JS's creation Thanos, and the 1st RMS, Silver Surfer: Rebirth, featured all 3. At the time Jim himself was busy with Adam Warlock, and in this RMS Legacy and Warlock meet.
Legacy comes here straight from the SSR series.

This issue says that Drax The Destroyer and Moondragon of the Infinity Watch aren't around at the time, but no mention is made of their guest Maxam. I believe the IW are here just after the Blood & Thunder crossover event ending in Warlock & Infinity Watch #25 and Thor #471.

Goom was 1 of the pre-Marvel monsters (from 1 of the many planets called Planet X) who appeared in Tales Of Suspense #15. (And his son Googam showed up in TOS#17 to face the same chars as his dad did.) Chronologically between then and this issue he went dating in a Venus tale in the Marvel Valentine Special. He'll next be seen as a member of Nick Fury's Howling Commandos.

2 other monsters also have cameos in this issue:-
The Two-Headed Thing came from the centre of the Earth in Strange Tales #95. He'll chronologically next appear in Fantastic Four Unlimited #7.
Moomba debuted as an alien invader in Tales To Astonish #23. His next app will be as part of a monster horde in Thunderbolts Annual (2013).

There has already been another female equivalent of Him. His creators the Enclave repeated their task and produced the male Paragon (in Hulk Annual #6). But he re-entered his cocoon and soon (Marvel Two-In-One #61) re-emerged as female Her. But she has later gone by other names J'Ridia Starduster and Kismet, and chronologically after this series she will die as Ayesha (FF vol 3 #12).


> Warlock: Rebirth comic book info and issue index

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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Ron Lim
Don Ho
Romulo Fajardo
Ron Lim (Cover Penciler)
Don Ho (Cover Inker)
Romulo Fajardo (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Joe Sabino.
Editor: Darren Shan. Editor-in-chief: C. B. Cebulski.

Characters

All stories. Listed in alphabetical order.

Plus: Eve Warlock.

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