X-FORCE MINUS 1: The Carnival of Coincidences!

[starwolf_oakley]

As I've mentioned elsewhere, in 1997 Marvel did FLASHBACK month, where almost all their issues were set a year (or more) before the rocket flight that created the Fantastic Four. In X-FORCE #-1, John and James Proudstar head to a local carnival. But they aren't the only familiar faces at said carnival.









Maynard Tibold would later be known as the Ringmaster. As he said in INCREDIBLE HULK #377, "If your name was Maynard Tibold, you'd rather be called Ringmaster too."

Chondu was briefly considered as Dr. Strange's replacement for Sorcerer Supreme. Briefly. Info on Chondu can be found here: http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/chonduthemystichm.htm

EDIT: Barbara and Jack are Barbara and Jack Norriss, who would later on join the Defenders and fight Chondu when he joined the Headmen. Thanks to zenbro for the information.



Madame Destiny? I wonder...



I find it odd that Irene Adler would work at a two-bit carnival. Of course, given that Mystique, Thunderbird, Warpath, Meltdown, the Ringmaster *and* Chondu the Mystic were all that this carnival at the same time, maybe it isn't so odd.

Also, how accurate Destiny's predictions were varied. Some things she knew so accurately, the X-Men searched the world for her diaries... which she knew would happen. And some things took her totally by surprise, like Rogue running away to ask Professor X for help controlling her powers.

Time for some cat fighting! No, not *that* kind of cat fighting. The grouchy tiger is loose, and John Proudstar grabs onto it so it can be hit with a tranq dart.

Comments

[lilacsigil]

I like that Destiny's just sitting in there in her t-shirt and Raybans and randomly tied a scarf on her head. Where's your sense of drama, Irene?

[halloweenjack]

I originally responded to this with "She's blind, what does she care?" but then I realized how stupid that sounded.

[eyz]

Such an awesome idea!
And I didn't even knew about that before this s-d post!

[starwolf_oakley]

"That" being the FLASHBACK issues? The FLASHBACK issues were pretty good all around. Many of them revealed a lot about the past of characters and showed surprising connections.

[eyz]

Yeah, I didn't hear about this FLASHBACK month before this post, how did I miss this? And I usually love these sort of retro-ysh ideas.
(this, the whole Wednesday Comics at DC, or the Silver Age "event" also at DC, etc..)

[indy2012]

O.O Last page, third panel. Equal opportunity.

Better than Springsteen's crotch shot at the Superbowl half show.

[auggie18]

As somebody I'm not going to look up once said, "The thing about prequels is that they shrink a universe. All they do is show you how everyone knew everyone else before the main story started." (I'm horribly misquoting that.)

That said, this is kinda neat. I like seeing Raven and Irene in semi-domestic settings.

[halloweenjack]

When I get to know someone, I like to play a game called "Ships in the Night" where you figure out where your paths might have crossed before, the earlier the better, and especially if it was at a time when you were going through an unfortunate fashion phase. And John Proudstar would have been better off if he'd joined the Circus of Crime, even if they get played for laughs sometimes.

[bewareofgeek]

I wonder who "Barb" and "jack" were.

[zenbro]

A bit of googling turned up Barbara and Jack Norriss. Apparently Barbara became Valkyrie and Jack was Nighthawk for a short time. Both had run-ins with Chondu while Valkyrie was a member of the Defenders.

[starwolf_oakley]

I should have realized that, given the Chondu "appendix" entry I linked.

Good grief, Valkyrie and Nighthawk were at the carnival as well? John Francis Moore must be an "old school" Steven Gerber-era Defenders fan.