Issue(s): Marvel Fanfare #28
Cover Date: Sep 86
Title: "Murder by numbers 1, 2, 3... it's as easy to learn... as your A-B-C!"
Credits:
Bill Mantlo - Writer
Ken Steacy - Penciler
Ken Steacy - Inker
Rosemary McCormick-Lowy - Assistant Editor
Al Milgrom - Editor

Review/plot:
Ken Steacy did art for Marvel Fanfare #22-23 in a rare instance where the Fanfare title actually lived up to its promise. He returns here with an Alpha Flight that isn't up to the same level. Part of the problem is it's written by Bill Mantlo, but the previous story, featuring Iron Man and Doctor Octopus and a number of cool cameos, and a moodier atmosphere, just provided a lot of opportunity for Steacy to show off his abilities. This story is more pedestrian, and that's reflected in the art, which i'm not even sure was created using the same technique. The Iron Man story looked painted but the art here is more traditional looking.

When i say "part of the problem is it's written by Bill Mantlo" i don't just meant that as a cheap crack. Mantlo's writing is so full of histrionic scenes it can't help influence the art.

Storywise this issue is about either redeeming or watering down Northstar, depending on how you look at it. It returns to the fact revealed in Alpha Flight #22 that Northstar had been a member of a group of Quebec separatists and was involved in terrorist activities. This issue revises that to say that Northstar only played the role of a courier and never got involved in any of the violent activities, and even wouldn't have participated if he had known what the group was really up to.

The vehicle for this story is a retired RCMP Commander named Giles McHeath that had men lost in the separatists' attack, and has concocted a plan where he tells Northstar and the rest of Alpha Flight that someone is now hunting down and killing the members of the group, that have gone into hiding. Northstar tries to warn the separatists on his own, but it's revealed that the communicators that James Hudson implanted in the heads of some members of Alpha's skulls (as shown in Alpha Flight #1) are also tracking devices, so Vindicator and the team are able to follow Northstar. But what they don't know is that McHeath is tracking Alpha...

...and he's really the killer, using a variation of Guardian's early prototype armor to kill the terrorists (and of course, no relation to any other Scourge).

So it's a pretty big blunder on Alpha Flight's part; Vindicator's insistence to be involved in what Northstar wanted to be a solo effort is actually what gets everyone, including Clementine D'Arbanville from Alpha #22, killed.

Snowbird uses her rarely seen postcognitive powers (first seen in Alpha Flight #3) during this issue.

Regarding the revision to Northstar's time as a separatist, i fall into the "watered down" camp. I wouldn't have a problem with Northstar now regretting the violence that he was a part of, but to say that he wasn't really a significant participant takes away an aspect of the complex character that John Byrne established.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - info about Northstar's time as a separatist

Chronological Placement Considerations: Normally Marvel Fanfare stories are pretty clearly inventory stories. That doesn't seem to be the case with this one. I think this is the closest i've ever placed a Fanfare issue to publication date. This issue was even referenced in Alpha Flight #39, and the team make up does not include Shaman, which means it was possibly meant to take place slightly earlier in Mantlo's run, but issues surrounding Snowbird's pregnancy make that difficult. Luckily Box is not shown phasing out of his armor, so this can take place after Alpha Flight #40, which is the first break after Snowbird's pregnancy is "resolved", and we just have to assume Shaman (and Madison Jeffries and the depowered Talisman) are not around at the moment. The reference in Alpha Flight #39 is just a reference to Northstar's terrorist past and therefore doesn't have to affect placement. Alpha Flight annual #1 takes place in this same gap between AF #40-41.

References:

• Northstar's terrorist past was established in Alpha Flight #22.
  
• A comment about Aurora no longer being as fast as Northstar since her genetic makeup and powers were altered is given an incorrect reference to Hulk #312. Even if they really meant Hulk #313, it's a weird issue to reference. Aurora's change happened in Alpha Flight #17. Most of Alpha barely appears in Hulk #313. It's likely Mantlo was thinking of Alpha Flight #29, the follow-up to that Hulk issue, which does bring up Aurora's changed powers.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

The title is based on the song "Murder by Numbers" by the Police off their Synchronicity album.