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Warlock and the Infinity Watch #34: Review

Nov 1994
John Arcudi, Patrick Olliffe

Story Name:

Power's pain


Synopsis

Warlock and the Infinity Watch #34 Synopsis by Rob Johnson
Drax The Destroyer is looking for someone to hang out with. Maxam's busy repairing damage done by Abyss' demons (#16 and #30), although he doesn't know how he knows how to do it, and finds Drax' help dangerous. He tries Moondragon next but she flies off saying she wants to be alone. Adam Warlock is in his chamber brooding about Maya, the love he gave up last issue, and using the Orb Of Eternity to watch her get married to Darklore. Knowing his love is caused by an incurable love potion doesn't help. Pip The Troll finds equally lovesick Gamora moping outside Adam's room, and offers himself as a substitute lover. Drax comes across her turning down the offer with a fist, but Pip teleports out of the way and Drax gets the blow. She apologises but he too flies away thinking none of the Infinity Watch like him. Maxam offers to fly after him but Gamora won't accept help from *him*.

Drax takes his frustration out on the landscape. He tries to convince himself that he doesn't need friends but breaks down and cries. And he's observed by 1 of Monster Island's monsters who weeps in sympathy.

Moondragon is flying the other 3 in her aircraft in search of their colleague. Gamora is protesting that she didn't mean to tick Drax off. 'Helpful' Pip reminds MD how she too disturbed him when she probed his mind (#12) to see if he had any memory of his human life (as Arthur Douglas). And Gamora reminds Heather Douglas (and us) how she's his daughter and yet she's responsible for his 2nd death (Avengers #220), none of which he remembers (yet). Maxam reminds them that he too has amnesia, which suspicious Gamora still thinks he's faking. Moonie gets in on the reminding by mentioning that her probe of *his* mind revealed artificial barriers grafted on. Maxam  and Gamora are about to come to blows when Pip alerts them that he's spotted their friend.

Drax is now surrounded by 4 monsters. The team land to help him but he tells them that this is his new team of friends and they've made him their leader. And he leads them off into the ocean.

The gang return to the castle where Mole Man is complaining to Warlock about Drax 'kidnapping' some of his monsters, which is news to Adam. Moondragon explains what happened and that she detected a strong empathic link between Drax and the creatures, brought on by his intense feelings of loneliness and rejection. Drax normally has a brief attention span but emotions enable him to focus. Harvey Elder continues to complain but thoughts of Maya help Adam tune him out. But then an indistinct apparition briefly pops up asking him directly for help. None of the others see it and they begin to question his sanity.

Out at sea American fighter jets are using an old Navy destroyer for target practice. They fire missiles at it but Drax takes the explosive blows instead. They fire more missiles at him and 1 of his monsters. But the missiles get sent back to them and the pilots have to eject from their destroyed planes. Their boss on an aircraft carrier is concerned because they're late, and surprised when Drax drops the 2 pilots on the deck. Our hero explains that he and his friends stopped these bad guys from blowing up the destroyer. And an aquatic monster is seen towing the ship towards them by its anchor chain while the big flying monster carries the other 2 on its back. An aide whispers to the Captain that Drax has the strength of the Hulk, so he gulps and 'thanks' him. Drax and his fellow 'heroes' fly off with the satisfaction of a job well done.

The rest of the Watch mollify Mole Man and he stomps off with some of his Subterranean Moloids. He's continuing to regret the deal he made with the group to let them use his surface castle, even though Warlock lived up the the promise of seeking UN recognition for MM's underground kingdom. And his day is made worse when he's hit on the back of the head by his rival Tyrannus with some of *his* Subterranean Tyrannoids.


 

Review / Commentaries

Rating:
4 stars

Warlock and the Infinity Watch #34 Review by (May 25, 2024)
This issue and next Tyrannus calls Mole Man Rupert, Harvey Elder's middle name, possibly to annoy him.

The apparition at the end will turn out to be Firelord. Since the Infinity Crusade event the Xandarian has been in New Warriors #40-42 where Nova helped restore Xandar and its people after they were destroyed by Nebula in Avengers #260. He then joined other ex-Heralds Of Galactus to oppose the current 1 Morg in Silver Surfer Annual #7.

Some of the Infinity Watch have made other apps since last issue, especially Drax.

He and Adam Warlock attended the wedding of Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler in Hulk #418. He and Moondragon cameoed at the end of Silver Surfer #93, and he played a slightly bigger role with Warlock and Gamora in SS#94. Then he alone moved on to SS#98 and joined Dr Druid's Secret Defenders in their #22-25.

Mole Man and Tyrannus have a long history of rivalry, whether it be over the rule of Subterranea, the possession of the Fountain Of Youth or the love of Kala, Queen of another underground Empire.

Lately Mole Man's been mostly seen in this series. But he's had a gap since #22. In the meantime he featured in Fantastic Four Unlimited #4 where he instigated a Hulk/Thing fight in order to get power to rejuvenate Kala. And in SS#94 he complained about some of his hated enemies the FF coming to visit Warlock.

Tyrannus hasn't been seen since he contended with Mole Man, Kala. Lava Men and Deviants in the Subterranean Wars which ran across the 1991 Annuals, ending in Hulk An#18.




Patrick Olliffe
Bob Almond
Ian Laughlin
Patrick Olliffe (Cover Penciler)
Patrick Olliffe (Cover Inker)
? (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Jack Morelli.
Editor: Craig Anderson. Editor-in-chief: Tom DeFalco.

Characters

Listed in Alphabetical Order.

Drax
Drax

(Drax the Destroyer)

Plus: Infinity Watch, Maxam.