Marvel Comics went big with this year’s Free Comic Book Day promotion. The publisher released several new books that give fans a taste of what the future holds for franchises like X-Men, Spider-Man and Venom. They even released a comic that bridges the gap between Insomniac’s Spider-Man games.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out these free comics for yourself, fear not. We’re here to break down the big plot twists and how these stories set up some major developments in the Marvel Universe over the next several months. Beware of full spoilers ahead!
And if you’re interested in belatedly taking part in FCBD 2023, use this handy resource to find your nearest local comic shop.
Meet the New Captain Krakoa
Writer Gerry Duggan’s X-Men series has introduced Captain Krakoa, a superhero identity used by Cyclops to disguise the fact that mutants have achieved the power of resurrection. But now that that cat is out of the bag, the Captain Krakoa costume has suddenly become a liability for the mutant nation.
The lead story in FCBD 2023: Avengers/X-Men #1 shows a mysterious soldier infiltrating Krakoa on the night of the Hellfire Gala and stealing the Captain Krakoa costume. This character’s identity is never revealed, but they seem to have some sort of prior history with the X-Men. Whomever they are, the mutant precog Destiny senses their plan and is so disturbed that she and Mystique immediately flee the Gala.
Cyclops arrives to stop the intruder, but he underestimates his foe and winds up being thrown to his death. Now this soldier has the Captain Krakoa costume, allowing him to impersonate the public face of the X-Men. And readers don’t have to wait long to find out what happens next.
Deadpool’s Daughter Returns
That Captain Krakoa story immediately transitions into a second tale that directly sets the stage for Marvel’s Uncanny Avengers relaunch. The impostor Captain Krakoa launches a terrorist attack against a group of politicians debating the mutant problem, thereby creating the illusion that Krakoa is openly hostile towards the US.
Captain America (one of the few heroes to sit out the latest Hellfire Gala) is called into action when he learns of the terrorist incident, only to be attacked by a group of Orchis assassins. He’s narrowly rescued from drowning by Rogue. This impromptu alliance paves the way for Cap and Rogue to become the first two members of the newest Avengers Unity Squad.
This story also provides a hint as to how Deadpool will factor into the new series. His estranged daughter Ellie (now living with her adoptive mother, SHIELD agent Emily Preston) finds herself targeted by a group of Stark Tech Sentinels. In the aftermath of Captain Krakoa’s false flag attack, it seems the Sentinels have been given free reign to begin rounding up rogue mutants.
Miles Morales Is Going Home
FCBD 2023: Spider-Man/Venom #1 includes a brief story setting up Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch’s Ultimate Invasion, a limited series that promises to revive the Ultimate Universe. This story makes it clear that Ultimate Invasion revolves around two characters in particular – Miles Morales and The Maker. That makes sense, considering these two are among the only survivors of the Ultimate Universe’s destruction in 2015’s Secret Wars.
This evil version of Reed Richards approaches Miles in the middle of the night, revealing that he’s regained his lost memories of their home universe and has every intention of returning. What’s more, he wants Miles to join him. Miles doesn’t know what to make of this offer, and the two are quickly interrupted by the arrival of the Illuminati.
This story raises even more questions about the events of Ultimate Invasion. Is the Ultimate Universe still in existence? Is it the same one fans know, or has it evolved since the events of Secret Wars? And perhaps most importantly, will Miles agree to make the trip home? Will Marvel return the character to his original status quo, where he and Peter Parker are the Spider-Men of different universes?
Spider-Man’s Greatest Foe Resurfaces
FCBD 2023: Spider-Man/Venom #1 also features a story that ties into writer Zeb Wells’ Amazing Spider-Man series. This tale shows off Spidey’s high-tech, Norman Osborn-designed costume as the wallcrawler battles an escaped gorilla in the streets of New York. Naturally, the locals aren’t too psyched about seeing a superhero beating up an animal, dangerous or not.
It eventually becomes apparent that Kraven the Hunter is the one responsible for setting the gorilla loose. His goal is to steal a sample of Spidey’s Spider-Bombs, which he brings to his mysterious benefactor,. That benefactor is none other than Doctor Octopus, now back in his old body following the events of The Superior Spider-Man.
It’s not entirely clear why Doc Ock wants a sample of Spidey’s tech, but presumably he hopes to hack it or use it to frame Spider-Man for some nefarious act. Whatever the case, it’s clear Peter and Norman are about to face a major headache from one of Spider-Man’s oldest and most dangerous foes.
Marvel’s Oldest Symbiote Revealed
The Venom portion of FCBD 2023: Spider-Man/Venom #1 takes an unusual turn, as it focuses on an obscure Golden Age character called Flexo. Originally, Flexo was depicted as a remote-controlled robot constructed from “live rubber.” But as this story reveals, Flexo’s inventors actually built him from an alien symbiote they found attached to a fallen meteorite.
This twist makes Flexo Marvel’s oldest symbiote character, much like how Namor retroactively became Marvel’s first mutant character. The final page also teases that Flexo will become the newest member of Venom’s rogues gallery. Who knew this forgotten hero had such a dark side?
For more on the current state of the Marvel
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessory action within 24 hours.
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.