New Avengers #31: "Rabum Alal"

[superboyprime]

"Some people don't believe in magic, but if you have children then you know it's real." - Jonathan Hickman

Comments

[kd_the_movie]

Maybe because Ive only been reading the Hickman Saga here on S_D, but I realllyyyyy didnt like that Doom was Rabum Alal.

Wouldve preferred it had been Tony, or Tchalla, or even something random like Kristoff Vernard or Baron Mordo.

But not Doom. I feel that ramping him up to this is universe breaking. No way the FF should ever beat him now.

[doctor_spanky]

Pretty sure the implication is that he's not really responsible for destroying anything but is taking credit

[yvonmukluk]

Didn't he blow up a universe back in Hickman's FF run?

[locuatico]

Didn't Reed and the rest of the illuminati do that, too?

[deh_tommy]

No, they blew up Earths to prevent the rest of the universe from being destroyed.

From what I understand, the Incursions occur when two parallel universes in the multiverse collide, with Earth acting as either the focus or epicentre and spread out to the rest of the other worlds and galaxies. These two universes seem to coexist for a few hours, where people from one universe appear in another until both are abruptly obliterated and erased from existence. The Illuminati theorise that by destroying the alternate Earths, they prevent Incursions from affecting those universes. Of course, the Beyonders and (apparently) Rabum Alal are going around destroying universes as well, so the attempt to stop the said Incursions are moot.

[tugrul]

Which is a question that's been on my mind. So after this the multiverse doesn't stop existing? Just the earth to those universes?

Doom was researching the incursions so this must be what he has stumbled on. When did Doom kill a universe in this storyline though? I think none. This is all just part of him hunting the villains, which I guess are the Beyonders.

[leoboiko]

Well, isn't Evil Godlike Ultimate Reed Richards supposed to be the big villain in the superevent du jour? That should be a match for him.

[cainofdreaming]

If the Beyonders will be revealed as just really, really, really advanced Children of Tomorrow then... well, I doubt my desk will survive.

[tugrul]

I don't know why but I was set on Ultimate Reed to be revealed as the main villain as well. Now I don't remember what gave me that idea.

[nyadnar17]

The ONLY reason I don't like it is because I thought Hickman said Rabum Alal was a new character. If he never actually said anything like that then its on me.

[doctor_spanky]

If you believe that Doom is just lying to gain influence (given his conversation with Molecule Man a few issues ago about how lies, stories and the truth are indistinguishable), then we still don't know who the real Rhubarb Alfalfa or instigating bad guy is

[kd_the_movie]

Oh and Hickmans designs for aliens have been very disappointing. The builders and beyonders are the most generic looking major level baddies Ive ever seen.

[magus_69]

I'd be rolling my eyes out of their sockets if it was any other established character, but Doom? This is exactly the sort of thing he'd pull if only he could control his ego long enough to throw it anybody else's face, and the threat of multiversal annihilation is one of the few things that could trump the demands of said ego.

Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[captainbellman]

Doom's oversized medallions.

I'm reminded of that one Red Nose Day Doctor Who parody where Jonathan Pryce's Master is brought back by the Daleks and has to constantly correct everyone that the bumps on his chest are Dalek bumps, not boobs.

Apart from that...this is some tedious, formulaic BS right here.

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[grumman]

Apart from that...this is some tedious, formulaic BS right here.

Maybe, but at least it's the right formula this time. Doom concocting a plan where step one is "Become a god" is what Doom should be like, unlike the treatment of the heroes who Hickman has instead used to kill billions and fight amongst themselves.

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[drtechnobabel]

That is true: it may be something we've seen a dozen times already, but at least this time it's something that's actually in-character.

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[captainbellman]

Though it's odd that he would choose an obscure alias when he knows people are going to come after him regardless, especially since he's such an egotist. And why is it such an Arabic-sounding name, also?

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[drtechnobabel]

Well, he also ensures that all of the people who serve him directly are blind, so clearly he's trying to hide his involvement until needed. Plus, if this involves time travel (which, if Doom's involved, it very well could), it might be a measure to prevent the Illuminati from trying to kill his past self or something.

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[doctor_spanky]

"Rabum Alal" is comic-book Sumerian (read: inaccurate) for "Great Destroyer" (like how "Ra's al Ghul" means "Death's Head" in DC but in real life is gibberish). I think Hickman is going for an "older-than-time" effect by using a Mesopotamian language, but it isn't explained real good

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[captainbellman]

I know one thing: I'm never going to be intimidated by a guy with the word "bum" in his name, and that's...the bottom line.

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[doctor_spanky]

D'oh! That pun was really below the belt

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[jlbarnett]

Doom's become a god several times. He doesn't like the results of it

Re: Clearly the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of this is:

[tugrul]

I almost thought they were boobs before I got a better look.

[jaxjyls]

It's Hickman, of course it's Doom

[filthysize]

Can't say he didn't warn people.

"ALL HOPE LIES IN DOOM"

[thanekos]

" No, Mister Connery, that's Rabum ALAL. "

[gnarll]

Bit conflicted about this reveal.

On the one hand, I've not been very fond of the pet characters in the series. Black Swan, Proxima Midnight, etc.

On the other hand...millions of worlds slipping into ruin, and the only players that matter are from the 616 (and ultimate Reed). Of all the people Black Swans spoke of, only the Ivory Kings were from outside the 616.

It much like the success of the Cabal in slaughtering worlds. Yes, Thanos and Terrax can plow through your average world, but are they all going to be less powerful than the 616? At some point they should have run into Odin on the Avengers, Franklin Richards as Phoenix, or Proteus parallel running all the skyfathers.

Then again, I thought the Builders were sadly underpowered as a marvel menace. A species of pre-retcon beyonders kind of racks the threat level up to.... beyond.

And to Doom, what a species of Beyonders mean is...an all-you-can eat buffet. He knows very well how to steal from them.