Review: Marvel Super-Heroes V1 #18

Marvel Super-Heroes V1 #18 Written By Arnold Drake Pencilled By Gene Colan Inked By Mickey Demeo Rating:

The Story 

Charlie-27 is the 5th generation of his family born on the planet Jupiter. His body adapted to withstand the planet's harsh conditions. In 3007 Charlie-27 came back from 6 months of military duties only to find the badoon had enslaved his race.

He escapes the planet to save his life by teleporting to Pluto. This planet also seems to be deserted until more badoons spot Charlie-27. The badoon send saturnian hound-hawks (creatures that seem to be hybrids of dogs and hawks) after him. Martinex (a plutonian) who was hiding nearby directs Charlie-27 underground away from the creatures. Interestingly when they first meet there is a ward of words between Charlie-27 and Martinex as their two respective races do not seem to get along. Charlie-27 and Martinex escape this time to earth.

On earth the badoon have captured Major Vance Astro (first earth man to the stars) and Yondu. Vance is well known across the galaxy and the badoon want to know his full story. Refusing to tell them the Badoon use memory probe technology to get the story out of him.

In 1988 mankind had a base on the moon and had already travelled to Mars. Vance Astro was enlisted for a 1,000 year journey to the stars. His body was preserved within the suit he wore within the ship that carried him. Vance awakens forever trapped within the suit that is preserving his life only to discover humans waiting for him. 200 years after Vance had left faster than light travel was discovered but the process that had been started could not be disrupted. The planet Vance had landed on is the home planet of Yondu.

Back in what is the present for the Guardians the badoon are asking Vance to align with them, feeling what he had gone through could teach them something. The first task he is given is to kill Yondu. The badoon hand Vance a gun but Vance prefers using Yondu's arrows. As the arrow heads towards him, Yondu whistles and the arrows change direction stunning the Badoons. Yaka arrows are made of sound sensitive minerals native of Yondu's planet. Yondu and Vance are both able to run away towards a teleport station.

Within this station Charlie-27 and Martinex arrive having just been teleported. They are able to defeat a couple of badoons and moments later Yondu and Vance appear. Thinking Charlie-27 and Martinex are badoon guards Yondu attacks them both with his arrows. Martinex sends a blast of cold air using his left hand towards Vance but Vance is able to use his psychic powers to fight back. More badoons appear and Charlie-27, Martinex, Major Vance Astro, and Yondu all realize they are on the same side. After defeating the badoons they all teleport back to earth to New York to look for the lost colony.

My Take

This story of course is the introduction of the Guardians of the Galaxy. For those confused as to why the Parasite seems to be in this issue that is not the Parasite but Major Vance Astro future leader of the Guardians who thankfully got a change of clothes after this issue. Reading the story it felt more like classic science fiction than a comic book about superheroes. The story had the same feel you get when you watch the original twilight zone. If you can afford a copy and don't have it yet I would highly recommend you get one sooner rather than later. Yondu has already been announced to be in the 2014 Guardians of the Galaxy movie and should any of the other guys also appear in the movie I would expect this issue to become more valuable. Since the movie was originally announced the price of owning one of these has already shot up. Whether you are a fan of the original guardians or the new team this is where it all started.