Synopsis
Warlock and the Infinity Watch #2 synopsis by
Rob Johnson
Rating:
Last issue in the aftermath of the Infinity Gauntlet event Adam Warlock was put on trial by the Living Tribunal and other cosmic beings to see whether he was worthy to hold the Gauntlet. Eventually he agreed that he wasn't, but he was allowed to keep it as long as he distributed the 6 Infinity Gems between himself and 5 others of his choosing. Now we'll see who he chooses, or at least 4 of them.
Somewhere in space there's a ruined spaceship. Inside is Moondragon who is in this position apparently because she upset some Badoon. Now her air is almost gone. But at the last half minute Adam drops in to offer her a job. It entails shouldering great responsibility and earning his trust, things which Heather Douglas admits she's not good at. But in the circumstances she'll take it.
On Titan Drax The Destroyer is trying to watch the Alf TV Show but the reception isn't good. So he smashes Eros' TV. Then Adam arrives to offer him a purpose in life again, to replace wanting to kill Thanos. Drax isn't sure but Eros encourages him with a kick up the backside.
Warlock teleports himself and Drax to where Moondragon is waiting with Gamora and Pip The Troll. Heather immediately suspects a trap and brain-attacks Drax. Adam upbraids himself - no matter how many times he's foreseen this scene he never remembers to warn Moonie. He and Heather then run over the history of herself and Drax, ostensibly for the benefit of Gamora and Pip but really for us. Drax was previously Heather's father Art Douglas but he was killed (by Thanos) and was resurrected (by Thanos' grandfather Kronos) as the Destroyer (with a compulsion to kill Thanos). Later Moondragon conquered the Ba-Bani planet (for their own good). Drax and some Avengers tried to stop her and she killed him (she claims it was an accident). Drax was later recreated (to oppose the reborn Thanos) but is brain-damaged (due to the way he died) and doesn't remember Moondragon, so she needn't have worried.
Adam now announces that he's giving up the godly status the Infinity Gems gave him but he's going to share the power with them. Cue 4 astonished looks, and Gamora telling him he's lost his mind - not because of choosing her but the other 3. Adam assures her that while he's still got his omnipotence his decisions are obviously infallible. Moondragon offers to take all 6 Gems off him but it's not going to work that way.
He sticks the Space Gem to the brow of Pip who immediately test-drives it by teleporting into Gamora's arms - until she throws him away. Moondragon applauds the choice because Pip hasn't the intelligence to do much damage with the Gem, but he's wily enough to stop anyone taking it off him.
Warlock then puts the Mind Gem on Heather's brow to enhance her mental powers. She tests it by telekinetically raising a large chunk of ground, which Pip *happens* to be standing on. To reassure Gamora and warn Moondragon Adam says he's built safeguards into the Gem to ensure she only uses it for good. (But we have to remember that she believed she was doing the right thing when she mentally took over the Ba-Banis (to stop a civil war).) Heather admits that was a sensible move too.
Drax's brow gets the Power Gem because he is already incredibly powerful. Moondragon again thinks this is OK because he's too dumb to do more than subconsciously tap its power. Drax objects to everybody calling him dumb, but he also begins to remember Moonie so she hurriedly walks away. Then Drax finds the Gem on his head and swallows it thinking it's a jelly bean. Adam is OK with that because both the gem and Drax are indestructible so it will be safe there.
Gamora notices that Pip's Gem is no longer on his forehead. Warlock suggests she doesn't really want to know where he's hidden it (he only wears a loincloth). He gives the Time Gem to her. She protests that she doesn't know how to use it and doesn't want it. He replies that the Most Dangerous Woman In The Universe will keep it safe even if she never uses it.
Warlock puts the Soul Gem back on his own head where it has long resided. The Infinity Gauntlet falls limp to the floor and everyone now notices that the Reality Gem isn't there. Adam says he's entrusted it to someone who will remain anonymous, someone who will make sure no-one gathers all the Gems together again. Pip figures it's Dr Strange but Adam doesn't comment. Instead he expresses confidence that they will all do what it takes to keep the cosmos safe. And he names them the Infinity Watch.
Then Warlock takes leave of them saying he needs solitude to recover from losing his godhood. The others fall to arguing who should be boss. Drax says he won't take orders from a woman or a midget and flies away too. Pip teleports off to have fun. Moondragon says she's gong to use her upgraded mental powers to build a new spaceship, and offers to give Gamora a lift somewhere.
CharactersGood (or All)Plus: Eros, Infinity Watch.