Guardians of the Galaxy #5 (2020) - "I'm in your head."

[laughing_tree]

Basically, the Moondragon we're following in Guardians is a Moondragon from a different dimension to the main Marvel Universe -- a better dimension. It's a reality where everybody is better, more perfect, more heroic. Moondragon 616, for want of a better designation, is our own badly flawed Moondragon -- the one who was possessed multiple times by the Dragon of the Moon -- and you have to assume that when she sees a perfect version of herself, married to a perfect version of her dead love, she's going to have certain issues. We're going to explore that and see where it leads. -- Al Ewing

Comments

[mastermahan]

Okay, making the moon-themed cosmic entity that possesses people look like Eclipso is a good gag.

[tcampbell1000]

We'll see how wise this decision of Premium-Content Moondragon's ends up being, but I love the idea of an alt-universe that's straight-up better than ours by most conceivable metrics. So many AUs are "heroes turned to villains" worlds that provide villains for our heroes to fight, and series like What If often seem to argue that if everything in "our" comics continuity didn't unfold just the way it has, there would be untold death and suffering as a result.

But the relatable characters are the ones who make the wrong choices sometimes. Really wrong, not just "hey, the universe works in mysterious ways so if you think about it, those choices were actually right" wrong. And sometimes imagining a better today helps one take steps to a better tomorrow.

[didiji]

Really liked to read your comment, I very much agree with it.
Also, I was having some anxiety issues related with my work and reading the last sentence of yours soothed all the restless thoughts inside my head. Thanks for making my weekend better. :)

[tcampbell1000]

:-)

[cainofdreaming]

This seems nice and upbeat... so I'm expecting the reveal that Alt-Moony and Phyla are actually from the Cancerverse to be dropping soonish.

[scorntx]

Nope, we've seen what universe they're from.
It got et by a generic tentacle monster.

(One of those weird universes - Loki wields Mjolnir, Thor is the conniving yet inexplicably sexy one, Inhumans are important and likable. That sort of thing.)

[bruinsfan]

Nope, we've seen what universe they're from.
It got et by a generic tentacle monster.

Not really helping differentiate it from the Cancerverse, there.

[scorntx]

Just A tentacle monster, not many.

And not even a very big tentacle monster, at that.

[scorntx]

Heather's story kind of shows that, for all their talk of being family, the Guardians suck at being friends.
So her girlfriend was horribly murdered, and they just... forgot all about her. Never even bothered to check in on her.
So she once again falls prey to the horrific monstrosity which has possessed her at least twice.
Good going, team.
Okay, okay, the Guardians did immediately split up right after The Thanos Imperative, and Drax was dead and none of the others knew Heather well enough to call her friends, but still... the point very broadly stands that even after Quill came back, they just forgot about her.

If Alt Heather hadn't come along, what would've happened? Heather taking over another planet or something? Going on a grief fueled rampage while the Guardians were busy having barbecues on Halfworld?

(And the idea that Alt Heather and Phyla's universe was intrinsically better... is a little suspect given it got eaten by the astoundingly generic Devondra.)

It's an interesting solution. Evidently not a perfect one (is the Dragon of the Moon still an issue? Are they gonna have to go beat it up?). Better than the usual "there can only be one. ONLY ONE!" though.
(... still can't help but wonder why no-one just bothers trying to resurrect poor Phyla.)


Oh, hey, Bug. Goodness. Long time no see.
Now get back into limbo, ya filthy non-movie character! G'wan, git!

[zachbeacon]

"Heather's story kind of shows that, for all their talk of being family, the Guardians suck at being friends."

I mean this version of the GoG started out as a cosmic Suicide Squad so - putting aside preexisting relationships like Moondragon's with Phyla and Drax - they're mostly just people who survived a bunch of traumatic experiences together. I've seen the Speed movies; I know those relationships aren't supposed to last.

It probably doesn't help that early on Starlord and various looming threats where the thing keeping them together. Eventually the threats were taken care of and Peter was gone. When Peter came back he acted more and more like movie Starlord and movie Starlord sucks.

Benefit of the doubt though, are ANY superhero teams any good about looking after their own? I could rant forever about times the Avengers dropped the ball.

[dcbanacek]

Benefit of the doubt though, are ANY superhero teams any good about looking after their own? I could rant forever about times the Avengers dropped the ball.

Power Pack?

[zachbeacon]

Point. I wasn't really considering "teams" that are literal families but you're right.

(Though even the F4 have some not-great stuff. Maybe don't let your daughter hang out with a mass murderer. Also early issues of F4 mention Alicia is supposed to look exactly like Sue with different hair that has some disturbing implications especially when you remember Lyja)

Its weird I keep seeing variations on the dark gritty versions of a children's property that imagines them as traumatized teens or adults (most recently the PPG rumor going around) but the Powers are pretty well adjusted in spite of all the horrific stuff they saw as kids.

[bruinsfan]

Also early issues of F4 mention Alicia is supposed to look exactly like Sue with different hair that has some disturbing implications especially when you remember Lyja

That's a little nugget of FF history I was unaware of. It makes Johnny hooking up with fake Alicia exceedingly creepy, and Millar having him and Sue make out for their disguise/cover as a couple even creepier than it already was.

[zachbeacon]

Yeah, the first Puppet Master story had him putting a blond wig and F4 uniform on Alicia so she can pose as Sue and lure Johnny and Reed into a trap (he'd already captured Sue and was controlling Ben). It was enough to fool Johnny so either Reed has some REALLY bad security cameras, Johnny doesn't recognize his own sister*, or he married someone who looks exactly like his sister.

*Does the Human Torch have that thing where he can't recognize faces? I guess if he assumes everyone else does too it would explain those Strange Tales stories where he thought he had a secret identity.

Assuming Johnny DOES know what his sister looks like, Ben - who seemed to be interested in Sue early on - ALSO married someone who looks exactly like Sue (poor Alicia) but at least that doesn't have to be justified as technically not incest.

[insert CW Flash joke here]

Suddenly the Reed/Sue age gap is one of the less problematic things about the F4.

[deh_tommy]

The Runaways (maybe)?

[bruinsfan]

Benefit of the doubt though, are ANY superhero teams any good about looking after their own? I could rant forever about times the Avengers dropped the ball.

At least the original Defenders don't pretend that they like each other that much. They're more like "Aw shit, I guess I have to team up again with you until the world is saved. Again."

Well, except for Norrin Radd, who isn't pretending to like anyone.

[zachbeacon]

Yeah, I know their tagline was that they were a "non-team" but they were absolutely a team. They just didn't LIKE each other.

I mean you mentioned the Silver Surfer and he's barely on the team. He bailed the second he had a chance.

It's fun listening to episodes of Titan Up the Defense and realizing that the Hulk and Val were the only longtime members who weren't horrible.

It's a wonder that Namor and Strange can be in the same room without killing each other

[scorntx]

Sometimes it's a wonder Namor and Strange can be in a room with anyone at all.

[shakalooloo]

Moondragon was only fogotten about because she wasn't in the movie. Bendis took over the comic and made the characters more like the movie; those that weren't there were passed over. It's not an in-universe matter.

Ewing is slowly 'making up' for this oversight, from dealing with Moondragon's rejection here to having Rocket move past his silly "Blam, I killed you" schtick in the 'Rocket' miniseries.

[scorntx]

Kind of impressive that Bendis managed to make them like a movie that hadn't come out when he first took over the title.

Bendis started on Guardians in 2012, when the movie was still being made, and didn't come out 'till 2014.
... though he was on the Marvel 'Creative' Committee, which did 'oversee' the MCU during that time, so... hmm...

(Not disagreeing with the notion Heather was dumped for not being a movie character, though. Same as Bug and Mantis and Cosmo and Jack Flag and Major Victory.)

And since the character's motivation is she's pissed at her treatment, it kind of is an in-universe matter.

[shakalooloo]

Corporate synergy! Sometimes Marvel pre-empts movie changes correctly, other times they retcon Captain Marvel's origin because they thought that Hollywood would never accept 'a machine exploded in her face'. :P

[didiji]

"What can I do but share?".

Let me say, such a powerful sentence. As they explore this new situation, I'm hoping it's remembered it all started with a moment of healing and forgiveness, and not thrown away as purely corruption.