Issue(s): Mys-Tech Wars #2
Cover Date: Apr 93
Title: "Ignorant armies"
Credits:
Dan Abnett - Writer
Bryan Hitch - Penciler
Jeff Anderson & Steve Whitaker - Inker
John Freeman - Editor

Review/plot:
Mys-Tech detect an anomaly on Un-Earth, which could not just screw up their plans but cause the demons they've summoned to go out of control and "rip this planet [i.e. the real Earth] into its component molecules". The anomaly is Death's Head II, who accidentally wound up on Un-Earth at the end of last issue. Death's Head II is attacked by demons as well as an anti-body created by Un-Earth which is a replica of Death's Head II, and we'll see more of both in Death Head's tie-in issue. But Mys-Tech also send the Warheads to Un-Earth to take care of the anomaly.

I commented on Hercules and Thor's beards last issue. Apparently Colonel Liger wanted to get in on all the beard action.

Meanwhile, a big effort is made by the X-Men and Dark Angel to fight the demon that was sent to the X-Mansion. The demon is defeated thanks to Dark Angel, who sucks the creature into her costume-portal.

This also destroys the X-Mansion, but as we know, that thing can self-repair itself on a moment's notice, so no big loss.

After the big effort that that the X-Men go through, i thought it was funny to see Thor knocking out the demon sent to Avengers Mansion in a single blow.

I was like, "Yeah! Of course Thor can easily defeat what it takes an entire team of X-Men plus some shenanigans from Dark Angel to stop!". But it turns out this demon was weakened thanks to the loss of its twin. Tsk.

But these two big demons are only the first of many. Poor Spider-Man is killed by some.

That's when i realized that this story had to end in a reset, which was disappointing. Then i turned the page and saw Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze together and was very happy that the story will end with a reset, since for placement reasons they shouldn't be together during the period where i wanted to put this.

We also see Excalibur fighting demons, and also not having any luck, although they aren't shown to be killed. Motormouth and Killpower, on a tropical island, are also attacked by a demon, but Killpower is able to kill it.

You may notice that the art has basically collapsed since issue #1. There are two inkers on this issue, so i assume the deadline was part of the problem.

The heroes from the X- and Avengers Mansions get together and go after Mys-Tech at the base hidden in the Museum of Pagan Antiquities in London. They have to face Mys-Tech's Psycho-Warriors.

Wolverine convinces Captain America to split off from the group to rescue Nick Fury, since they both got a message from him. But he's dead.

On their way back, they run into Motormouth and Killpower and mistake them for Mys-Tech agents.

Once Spider-Man died this kind of moved into the What If category for me. It makes placement easier, but the potential impact of the story goes way down. Some characters will remember what happens in this crossover, so it's not totally a waste, but it does put me in a different frame of mind. I'd say that at least we get to see the first meetings and interactions between various characters, even if it winds up being forgotten, but the writing is mostly focused on the plot mechanics and the coordinating of the vast number of characters, so there's little room for characterization.

Quality Rating: C

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: See above regarding Ghost Rider and Blaze. Spirits of Vengeance #4 should be the first meeting between Ghost Rider and Blaze after the situation with Dan Ketch being dead is resolved, and that takes place after Infinity War. There might have been ways to resolve that problem anyway, but since Ghost Rider and Blaze won't remember this encounter, it doesn't matter. Death's Head II #5 and Warheads #11 both continue the meeting on Un-Earth, and should go before Mys-Tech Wars #3.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A