Exiles (1st series) #10

Issue Date: 
April 2002
Story Title: 
A World Apart - part 3
Staff: 

Judd Winick (writer), Mike McKone (penciler), Holdredge, McKenna and Wong (inkers), Transparency Digital (colors), Sharpefont’s Paul Tutrone (letters), Mike Raicht (assistant editor), Mike Marts (editor), Joe Quesada (editor in chief), Bill Jemas (president)

Brief Description: 

Galactus has come to devour earth. The Exiles and earth’s heroes explore the Skrull headquarters for helpful technology and come up with a few useful options. They will try out each and everything and either will defeat the World Devourer or die trying. Thunderbird wishes that Nocturne stays behind since she is pregnant with his child ! The team is startled about this revelation, but even if she remained behind, she would be killed like the rest of earth when Galactus drains the planet, and she is needed as she is the best pilot around. The fight starts, missiles and energy beams do not even penetrate the forcedome around Galactus and his machinery, but finally a subterran bomb explosion caused by the Mole-Man catches Galactus unprepared. While he is distracted and the forcefield down, earth’s heroes attack. The Banner-Beast tries to use an anti-matter bomb on the foe, but he gets knocked out. A strong person is needed to do the job, and Thunderbird is the only one in the area; he takes the bomb, jumps on Galactus’ back, punches a hole into his armor and places the bomb inside. The anti-matter causes a chain reaction and places Galactus in incredible agony, so that he decides to leave and consume another planet. Thunderbird is heavily burned and brought to the infirmary of the command central. His physical injuries already start healing but he is braindead or in a very deep coma. Blink receives a message from the Tallus and a new team member materializes : a white furred Sasquatch. Nocturne wants to stay at Thunderbird’s side, but is teleported away along the rest of the Exiles. Thunderbird remains behind in this reality with Reed Richards and others watching over him.

Full Summary: 

Galactus has arrived. On a viewscreen earth’s superbeings watch in awe as he starts to assemble his machinery that he will use to consume their planet. Although they have honed their abilities for years while fighting each other in the Skrulls’ arena, they are much more inclined to follow orders than lead; the Exiles will have to take the initiative.
Morph and some of earth’s greatest minds explore the abandoned Skrull headquarter. Whenever they reach an area sealed off with encryption codes, Quicksilver uses his speed to try out every possible combination. Yet one door still doesn’t open, so the Banner-Beast breaks the door, despite the danger of it being booby-trapped. The room is the weapons arsenal. While the weapons are distributed, Morph, Sunfire and Mimic discuss. They know that the Skrull weapons won’t be enough to stop the World Devourer, or actually the Skrulls wouldn’t have run away. Mimic is happy that they have a Reed Richards among the heroes; even though he is not as advanced as in most other realities, he is already exploring the weapons and their possibilities and making fast progress. The Banner-Beast comes over with a device held in a forcefield cube, asking if this is what Morph was looking for. Morph confirms it and is relieved, this device might be capable of bringing Galactus down.
Blink tells the Exiles about the plan. They have multiple options, and they will try out each of them. If all fails Galactus wins. Reed will stay behind in the command central while the Exiles join earth’s heroes on the field. Thunderbird interrupts, he thinks that Nocturne should stay behind as well. Talia tells him to be quiet, she is fine, and actually the best pilot of the team, so she is needed. Blink wants to know what the matter is and Thunderbird reveals that Nocturne is pregnant, with him being the father. At first Talia was not sure, but during the month the Exiles were held captive in the arena, it became obvious. The team is startled, but Nocturne says that she is up to fighting, and as the pilot she won’t get into direct battle anyway. Thunderbird is still against it, but Mimic points out that if Galactus suceeds the entire planet will die. Nocturne and Thunderbird hug each other. Mariko says that it’s all unfair, such a moment should be a happy one.
Somewhat later the attacks start. At first a series of missiles are fired, but they can’t penetrate the force field around Galactus and his machinery. Nocturne’s ship leaves airspace, and special Skrull technology shifts into place. From command cental Morph makes the floating technology fire a tight beam of energy, but again Glactus and his machine are untouched. Blink and Mimic are observing him from the hills. Suddenly they get aware of the Captain and a group of heroes. They found a hole below the forcefield and snuck in, attempting to battle Galactus, yet they are no match. Annoyed by them trying to damage his machine, Galactus kills the entire group with one look, much to the horror of the observers in the command central. Next up is a attack of Harvey (Mole-Man) and his subterran creatures. It took them long hours, but they brought a giant bomb underneath Galactus’ spot. As Harvey causes it to explode, the ground beneath Galactus and his machine gives in and fall into a crater. With the forcefield down, and Galactus climbing out of the crater, Blink gives the order to attack. Led by the Exiles, earth’s hero close in.
The Thing, Colossus and the Banner-Beast combine their strength, while Sunfire, Johnny Storm and Ororo Munroe attack from the air. Usually Galactus ‘ herald would deal with such attacks, but the master prooves that he can deal with it too, and the heroes are sent flying. Havok, Cyclops and Mimic use their longe-range energy blasts to fire Galactus in the back, and the Skrull technolgy fires another beam, making Galactus tumble and fall. Now it’s time to use the device from the Skrulls’ weapon arsenal – it’s an anti-matter bomb. The Banner-Beast wants to explode it next to Galactus, but before he can even get near him, he is knocked out, by a wave of Galactus' hand.
Thunderbird witnesses and instantly knows that it’s up to him, as other strong heroes like the Thing, Colossus or the Abomination are too far away, and the chance to injure Galactrus while he is weak would be gone. He grabs the bomb and transforms into full battle mood. As he jumps onto the World Devourer’s back he thinks of his father, his brother and his entire race. Thunderbird punches a hole into the mighty foe’s armour and places the bomb inside. His last thought is of Talia as the device goes off. The anti-matter triggers a chain reaction and energy within Galactus gets consumed. He feels a new level of agony he never endured before and realizes that there are other worlds in the universe that he could consume with less trouble. Galactus teleports away. Earth’s heroes aprroach the battle site and find the burned form of Thunderbird.
A little bit later, he has been brought to the infirmary of the command central, where Reed, Morph and Mariko among others try to understand the medical readings. Sunfire tells the others that the problems are not the burn injuries. John has recuperative abilities and they can already see signs of healing, but the problem is his mind. They can’t pick up any brain waves – Thunderbird is either brain dead or in a deep coma, probably to never wake up. Nocturne is shocked, she refuses to accept this. Sitting by John’s bedside, she says that John will get through this, and as long as it takes they will be stuck in this reality, since they can’t move on without him. Blink apologizes, but the Tallus tells her otherwise. Right then a hole in reality opens and a white furred Sasqutch appears. Sasquatch was sent by the Timebroker and is the Exiles’ new member, and the next mission awaits them. While Talia shouts John’s name, the Exiles teleport and fade out. Thunderbird is left in the care of Reed Richards and the heroes of this earth.

Characters Involved: 

Blink, Mimic, Morph, Nocturne, Sasquatch,Sunfire, Thunderbird (all Exiles)
Alternate reality the Exiles visit in #8-10 :

Abomination, Banner Beast / Hulk, Captain / Captain America, Colossus, Crystal, Cyclops, Dragon-Man, Harvey / Mole-Man, Havok, Man-Thing, Mr. Fantastic, Morbius, Peter Parker / Spiderman, Puck, Quicksilver, Skin, Storm-Torch / Human Torch, Thing, Weather-Witch / Storm, Sam Wilson

Galactus

Story Notes: 

The X-Men of Morph’s reality commandeered a Skrull vessel when they fought the Brood.
Ororo was portrayed with long hair last issue, but now she is seen with a mowhawk hairstyle.
1st Appearance of new Exile member, Sasquatch


Instead of receiving an annual, Exiles has two issues in April 2002.

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