In the wake of Anti-Man’s devastating attack on New York City, the Mighty Avengers are neutralized, and Iron Man’s on a quest for answers! Who was the Blue Marvel? Why did he disappear over 40 years ago? And…what alarming secrets will Iron Man discover about the U.S. government and his own agency of S.H.I.E.L.D.?
Summary
In the present, Tony Stark confers with Reed Richards and Hank Pym about Anti-Man and also about the identity of the hero Anti-Man mentioned named the Blue Marvel. Tony Stark then uses his position as Director of Shield to unearth the vilest conspiracy ever perpetrated in the Marvel Universe, Who was the Blue Marvel? Why has his name been stricken from the minds and hearts of the citizens of the Marvel Universe, and what measures are the government willing to go for it to remain that way??
The Good
Story– Tony Stark is on a mission. He is focused and intent on finding information on the Blue Marvel, and is searching every avenue available. He stumbles across references of the Blue Marvel from KGB files which are linked to NSA files, and from there finds a confidential file which was sealed under an executive order. Unlocking the files exposes Tony to the “Blue Marvel Protocols” and the most shocking and disturbing secret in the Marvel Universe.
Art- The artist features plenty of facial expressions in this issue which luckily are mostly spot on. The colors are also noteworthy with their dynamism and vibrancy.
Cover-This issue has a neat cover, Blue Marvel takes up most of the cover with Iron man, Mr. Fantastic and the SHIELD staff in the upper background. The lower background is the wartime past. Nice past meets present dichotomy they have going on here.
Socialization– This issue presents racism in two ways; the most poignant is through the lens of socialization. This is shown through Tony’s interactions with the older gentleman from a different ‘generation’. While the lived reality of Adam is still existent today the fact of the matter is that tolerance and interrelations of all kinds between black and whites are a part of our everyday lives. Racism exists surely, I can still attest to that one but we often forget that back in the day it was par for the course. Should we hold someone’s upbringing against them just because they have different beliefs than we do? Food for thought.
The Bad
Characterization– The Blue Marvel is portrayed as one of the most powerful characters of his time. It is almost unbelievable that he would submit to the edict given to him by the government. As if that was not bad enough, when the planet is threatened by a perceived hostile interstellar scout, the government turns to the person that they rejected.
White girl– I also expect some fans to lambast the fact that Adam got married to a white woman…like Luke Cage despite the circumstance being radically different..
The Ugly
The treatment of the Blue Marvel is highlighted in this issue, and the conspiracy to keep him secret as well as the lengths the government was willing to go is exposed. 4/5
Is it too much to ask for just ONE successful black superhero power couple in all of comicdom or is the fictional world just as RACIEST as the real one? You tell me.
I think that in some instances we should hold someone’s past against them, like Malcolm X said “if my father got bit by a snake and then I get bitten by a snake it’s only right to teach my child to watch out for snakes. Besides Blue Marvels story which I believe starts in the outwardly (stay in your place boy) 60s and for someone who is as powerful as superman (who wasn’t having none of it from the military in the latest movie) seems like he suffered from what we all suffer from in our thought process which is what Dr. Umar Johnson calls post traumatic slave syndrome. We’ve been taught what to think for so long that we have forgotten how to think. Sadly we can’t separate sense from non-sense even when it comes to our superheros. Blue Marvel could’ve done what Superman did which was basically say “I’m an American but I won’t be used and I make my own rules.