Issue(s): Marvel Comics Presents #40 (Overmind story only)
Cover Date: Jan 90
Title: " ...Anything"
Credits:
Scott Lobdell - Writer
Don Heck - Penciler
Jeffrey Albrecht - Inker
Kelly Corvese - Assistant Editor
Terry Kavanagh - Editor

Review/plot:
Now here is an example of Marvel Comics Presents showcasing an obscure character. Overmind!

There's been a toxic waste leak, and an entire town should have been wiped out. The Overmind is around, but he's invisible to the people doing the clean-up.

The clean-up agents are not sure why the wildlife in the town is still alive. But that turns out to be a trick of the Overmind's, too.

He makes the agents think that everyone in the town is still alive.

They are directed to talk to the Overmind.

Note the description of the Overmind, which seems to merge the fact that he's the collective remains of his alien race with the fact that he's more recently been controlled by telepaths. In his next appearance he'll fully be controlled by his original mind again, triggered by the arrival of Squadron Supreme on Earth, but i wonder if the telepaths were already losing control at this point.

The Overmind's illusion of health has apparently been keeping the townspeople alive thanks to the power of positive thought, but he refuses to maintain that illusion while the clean-up workers do their job.

He eventually lets go of the illusion and lets the aid workers do their work.

Weird story.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place before the Overmind's original mind takes control back in Quasar #13.

References:

• We learned the Overmind's origin in Fantastic Four #113-116.
  
• The Overmind's body was taken over by the telepaths in Defenders #114.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A