The first big comic book event of 2015 is almost here…with cosmic level consequences or two big franchises.
Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha arrives this week.
The first chapter is a huge bookend issue by Sam Humphries (Legendary Star-Lord) and Ed McGuinness. The crossover will lead into Guardians of the Galaxy, All-New X-Men, Cyclops, Captain Marvel and Nova.
Humphries explains how the hunt for a mysterious power source draws in heroes and villains from across the Marvel Universe.
“The Black Vortex is an ancient artifact with the power to unlock the cosmic potential within yourself. Imagine the metamorphosis that turned Norrin Radd into the Silver Surfer, or Jean Grey into Dark Phoenix, available to anyone in the Marvel Universe,” Humphries told Marvel.com.
“What happens when one person submits to the Black Vortex and becomes a titan of the cosmos? What happens when a whole team does it? Or a whole planet? We open the story ten billion years ago, at the birth of the Marvel Universe, and see what a Pandora’s Box the Black Vortex can be.
But against that epic scale, we’re grounding the story in the deeply personal conflict each character will go through just by encountering the Black Vortex.”
Marvel’s big event starts with a pair of star-crossed lovers. Peter Quill and Kitty Pryde first met in The Trial of Jean Grey. Humphries explains they are the heart that brings two groups together.
“Star-Lord and Kitty Pryde, they bring the two teams together, so they sit directly in the center of the event. Their blooming relationship will face serious tests in the shadow of the Black Vortex. But also look out for major moments for Captain Marvel, Nova, Storm, Beast, Magik, the original five X-Men—plus characters who must remain secrets for now,”Humphries told Marvel.com.
In Legendary Star-Lord Peter’s clash with his father led Kitty to space to help Peter and that’s where The Black Vortex picks up.
“Somethings happen in this story that will really challenge Peter and Kitty’s relationship, and take people aback if they think they know where that story is going.”
During the crossover some heroes will have their power expanded – can they handle the cosmic enhancement caused by the Black Vortex?
“The Beast is a character that’s struggling with being the smartest man in the room but being surrounded by all these physics-breaking characters. Hank is given a level of cosmic knowledge that he’d give up his whole life for, an understanding of how the universe works and what his role in it is. He’ll be greatly altered as a result of this story.”
Here’s a gallery of the “Cosmically Enhanced” character designs by Ed McGuinness:
Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men: The Black Vortex Alpha arrives Wednesday.
By Editor