Issue(s): Alpha Flight #92
Cover Date: Jan 91
Title: "Compromising positions"
Credits:
Fabian Nicieza - Writer
Dan Reed & Michael Bair - Penciler
Richard Bennett - Inker
Danny Fingeroth - Editor

Review/plot:
Our regular horrible art by Michael Bair is replaced by moderately less horrible guest art by Dan Reed this issue.

This opening sequence is a training exercise between Guardian and Vindicator. But there's been some unresolved tension between the two since Vindicator was resurrected a few issues back, so the fight gets pretty real. Also, we know that General Clarke secretly wants to replace Heather with Mac as leader. When Clarke approaches Mac about that, we go into a flashback, showing the early days of the Alpha program.

And during that flashback, we learn "Alpha's most terrible secret" (per the cover). We've known since issue #1 that Alpha Flight have communication chips implanted in their skulls. The revelation is that the team initially protested the installation of the chips, which came from Roxxon and which everyone feared might lead to something unsavory.

And indeed, Mac learned that they intended to use the chips for mind control. This was in collusion between Roxxon and Major Chasen (who was i think the guy whose tie got chopped by Wolverine in Giant-Size X-Men #1). Mac's superiors send him to Roxxon to destroy the chip. But Chasen provided details on Mac's Vindicator suit to Roxxon, so they're able to partially counteract it and the mission, while successful, is clumsily executed. Chasen is subsequently relieved of his duty as liaison to Alpha Flight. Mac is allowed to create a communication-only chip of his own design, and that's what the original Alpha Flight members received. But it turns out to have been a ruse - Chasen wasn't really fired - to get Alpha to accept a chip of any kind, since even Mac's chip can be used for location purposes.

Because of all this, when General Clarke approaches Mac in the present, he immediately goes and warns Heather. Who of course was just coming out of the shower in a towel.

In an epilogue, Mr. Fantastic detects the menace of Headlok!

As Vin notes in the comments, the epilogue scene seems to be penciled by Michael Bair, the regular artist for this series. But he's not credited.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References:

• During the flashback, there's a mention of Vindicator's first mission in the US, which was depicted in Uncanny X-Men #109.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A