These are 10 huge comic book moments from November that we all should be talking about.
Every month there are new comic book moments that affect the future. Last month, we found out that Bruce Wayne wouldn’t be allowed to use his fortune to fund his war on crime. On the Marvel comics side, Franklin Richards lost his powers.
That was then. A lot has already happened before the month of November ended. For example, this writer already wrote about a couple of things in X of Swords that will change the future of mutants. A major character died and Doug Ramsey got married. Now, however, we have 10 new topics that will change things for a lot of characters. Let’s get started.
10. Killer Croc the crime boss (seriously)
Comic Book: Red Hood no. 51
Red Hood is back in Gotham and he’s alone for the first time in a while. Unbeknownst to him, Killer Croc is looking to be more than just a goon. At the end of the issue, Killer Croc shows up in a suit with a new villain named Tommy Maxx. The two of them are going to cause a lot of damage in the near future.
Why is this important?
Killer Croc has always been dangerous. Him attempting to become a leader is an upgrade. Croc has never been a major player like Joker or Bane. Now, he has a number two and a crew behind him. Will this last long? Maybe not, but it’s worth paying attention to. As long as the character’s core remains the same, a new side is always an improvement.
9. Franklin Richards was never a mutant
Comic book: Fantastic Four No. 26
Ever since Dan Slott’s Fantastic Four run started, Franklin Richards’ powers have been depleting the more he used them. In Fantastic Four No. 25, his powers were completely drained. If that wasn’t bad enough, he couldn’t talk about it to his mutant friends. Without his powers, Franklin wasn’t able to get through the Krakoan gate. This left him saddened and feeling useless. Unfortunately, it gets worse. Professor Xavier talked to Franklin and informed him that he was never really a mutant to begin with. His cosmic powers just made it look like he had the mutant gene.
Why Is this important?
Franklin Richards has become a fun character during Dan Slott’s Fantastic Four run. Not because of his power either. He’s fun and continues to be unlike anyone on the team. Now we get to see where he goes from here. First, now that Reed knows his son isn’t a mutant, it may be easier for him to give Franklin his powers back (or at least something similar to them). Second, The next issue of Fantastic Four has someone in an Iron Man suit of armor. More than likely it’s Franklin using the armor Tony Stark made Reed in Empyre. Will this be a permanent or short term solution? We’ll have to wait and see.
8. Mephisto’s plan gets deeper
Comic book: Avengers No. 38
One of the most underrated comic book aspects of this year has been Mephisto. We find out more about him as Jason Aaron’s Avengers continues. He isn’t just manipulating Phil Coulson and his team. He also has his hands in Namor going full blown villain, the Dracula and the vampires, and the Russian super team becoming a threat. It doesn’t stop there. The newest issue of Avengers shows that he’s also the reason Hulk attacked the Avengers in the beginning, Apocalypse going after Thor and Dr. Doom’s plans in the distant future.
Why is this important?
The more of this run you read, the more complex and intriguing Mephisto’s plan becomes. He plays the long game. Something that he seems to have set in motion back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. No matter what happens, Mephisto seems to be in control. Eventually, we’re going to see what he’s really up to. The most important part is we don’t know what else he’s doing. We could learn that he planned for a specific Avenger to be on their team and they may not know it. There are so many layers to his plan and we’re getting closer to the end. In 2021, expect Mephisto to make his final move.
7. Donald Blake goes mad
Comic book: Thor No. 9
Thor hasn’t had his usual link with Mjolnir for a while. It’s now to the point where anyone can lift it. That’s not to say that anyone can use its power, just that the connection isn’t what it used to be. Thor listened to some of his peers (and a random mechanic) and decided to take some time off. The plan was to bring Donald Blake back while he rested in Blake’s realm. We found out, however, that Blake went crazy being in the world that was created for him. When him and Thor switched spots, Blake broke the cane used to bring Thor back. Now Thor is stranded in another realm.
Why is this important?
Thor is gone. We all know that he’ll be back, but this was a huge deal. Donald Blake has never been a violent person – let alone so savage that he could defeat Loki in a fight. Yet, here we are. It’s easy to see that Thor is going to come out of this better than he was. He’s going to learn more about himself and where Donald Blake was. His control of Mjolnir will likely be restored as well.
But when it’s over, what happens to Donald Blake? Will Thor forgive him since his madness wasn’t his fault? Will Thor be forced to kill or imprison him? Or does Donald Blake escape and become one of Thor’s newest villains? One thing is certain: Writer Donny Cates is going to amaze the readers.
6. Did Captain Marvel predict a future war?
Comic book: Captain Marvel No. 23
Time travel is a tool that comic books use fairly often. – possibly more than people want. Whether you like it or not, the one thing that’s certain is that it’s confusing. Heroes and villains can see the future and it can end up being an alternate timeline. The Old Man Logan story is an example of this. There are other times where the future the characters see end up forewarning them of events that will happen. Captain Marvel No. 23 showed something troubling that could happen in the 616 Universe’s timeline: A fight that causes the death of a lot of heroes, villains, and civilians.
Why is this important?
Captain Marvel was in the future with some of her older peers and the children of friends that have passed away. They explain to her that there was another world-ending battle where most of the Avengers died. We’ve seen this before. We can assume that this isn’t a future that will happen. Captain America and Thor being killed? No way. However, just because the end result likely won’t come to pass doesn’t mean the danger isn’t on it’s way.
Captain Marvel is going to take what she learns from the future and bring it to the present. She’ll be prepared for whatever the threat is. We should pay attention to this. It could happen in Captain Marvel, the Avengers run, or a major Marvel Comics crossover event.
5. Long live the Revolutionaries
Comic book: Suicide Squad No. 11
The Suicide Squad had a different kind of series. First, Amanda Waller was relieved of her duties and replaced by someone named Lok. Then their first mission involved multiple members of Task Force X being killed and a team called the Revolutionaries joining them. Later, Lok was killed, and we found out that Black Mask is behind it all, and Deadshot was subsequently killed while being a hero. At the end of issue 11, Osita declared that the Suicide Squad was dead and that it was time for a revolution.
Why is this important?
With Deadshot dead, Harley Quinn on her own, and Captain Boomerang doing whatever it is he does, the Revolutionaries may be the ones to do the dirty work in the world. Before the book ended, the people who had a hand in Task Force X were put on notice. The Revolutionaries let them know that if anything happens to their teammates, they’ll be exposed. It’s doubtful that these men will listen to reason. At some point they’ll get arrogant and hire someone to kill them. Probably someone like Deathstroke. When that happens, we’ll see the Revolutionaries again.
Will this be an ongoing comic book series? Nope. Writer Tom Taylor said this is just the beginning for the Revolutionaries. Maybe Amanda Waller comes back and makes them her new squad. It’d be a mistake to underestimate them. This team may not be well-known, but they’re incredibly dangerous and talented. This writer is looking forward to seeing more of them.
4. Mr. Sinister continues to be sketchy
Comic book: Hellions No. 6
When Mr. Sinister joined the mutant nation of Krakoa, people were shocked. Of all the mutants, he’s the last person who should be trusted. He doesn’t care about anything except his work and looking good (Sassy Mr. Sinister has been a treasure). In October we found out that he was cloning himself – something he wasn’t supposed to be doing. Hellions No. 6 highlighted that he’s still a shady mad scientist. He stole the genetic codes of other beings while he was supposed to be stopping the battle during X of Swords. Just as he and the rest of the Hellions got back to Krakoa, he killed them and made it look like it was someone else.
Why is this important?
It’s bad enough that mutants have to deal with dozens of other things outside of Krakoa. They also have to deal with Sinister being a creep. What is Sinister up to? Is he looking to create a super mutant to destroy the world or is he just curious and weird? The funny thing is those last two are actual options. Sinister could just want them for the joy of science. When the rest of the Quiet Council finds out (and they will) Sinister is going to have some explaining to do.
3. Dr. Samson Sasquatch
Comic book: Immortal Hulk No. 40
Al Ewing has done a masterful job with Immortal Hulk – especially when it comes to the secrets of death with gamma-powered people. The green door, Hell, and everything about the gamma-powered beings’ afterlife remain a mystery. But another surprise was dropped into our laps lately. In Immortal Hulk No. 5, Walter Langkowski lost his ability to become Sasquatch when the Hulk drained his gamma radiation. That meant when he died (Immortal Hulk No. 21) he couldn’t come back. Immortal Hulk No. 40 saw the return of Sasquatch, but not Walter Langkowski. The previously dead (and in Hell) Dr. Leonard Samson was now occupying his body.
Why is this important?
What does this mean for Walter Langowski? Is he gone for good? He’s a character that won’t really be missed. But does he come back now that his body has gamma or is Leonard Samson stuck in it for good? Does this mean that a dead gamma-powered person can jump into another gamma-powered body? The Leader has been doing it. Why not someone else?
Everything about the green door and Hell is confusing. This didn’t make things any easier to understand. Dr. Samson jumping into Sasquatch’s body raises more questions. When we finally find out about that, we’ll end up getting another mystery to solve.
2. Bruce Wayne and Booster Gold create Batman Beyond
Comic book: Batman Beyond No. 49
Last month, we discussed Batman Beyond’s Terry McGinnis making his way to the past (Batman Beyond No. 48). An issue everyone thought would lead to Terry meeting his mentor in his prime. It’s unfortunate that they never met. Booster may have warned him not to, but we know how time travel rules can be bent, broken, and flat out changed. While they didn’t meet, something secretive came out of this. Booster Gold and older Bruce Wayne set this up. Bruce didn’t go crazy or have a message in his head from the past. All of it was a set up to make this future happen.
Why is this important?
Secrets like this always get revealed. At some point, Terry is going to find out what happened and confront Bruce. Knowing Bruce, he isn’t going to lie. He’ll explain why it needed to happen and hope that the end justifies the means. Terry will understand until he finds out it also resulted in his father’s death. It’s one thing for Batman to cause the dominos to start falling, it’s another to put his son in the way. Terry is now directly responsible for his father dying. Granted, there was reasoning behind the way it worked out, but it will understandably take a while for Terry to see it that way.
1. Daredevil pleads guilty to manslaughter
Comic book: Daredevil No. 24
In issue No. 1 of Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil, the Man Without Fear crossed a line he never wanted to: He killed someone. In his haste to get back into things after his retirement, he accidentally killed a man. Since then, Matt has been wondering what to do. He felt guilty about what he did and wanted to make it right. Issues later and Daredevil was on trial. Instead of using his celebrity to get himself acquitted, Daredevil cut a deal and pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter.
Why is this important?
This set a new precedent for heroes. If Daredevil can admit his guilt and be ready to face the consequences, then why shouldn’t every hero? Every superhero will admit that they’ve made mistakes. Even Spider-Man has killed someone.
Wilson Fisk is undoubtedly going to use this to help his political campaign against vigilantes in New York. He’ll call them irresponsible and say that their antics have no place in New York. Will it stick? Probably not. Who’s going to tell Spider-Man and Luke Cage that they can’t protect innocent people? If the police are in a shootout, they’ll definitely accept their assistance. This may start with Daredevil going to jail, but this will likely end with Wilson Fisk no longer being the Mayor of New York.
What do you think? Were there any other important comic book moments that were missed? Let us know in the comments below.