A Marvel crossover event launched in late 2000 unfortunately took over sixteen years to catch my eye--even though its story carried considerable implications for galactic peace and was written by Kurt Busiek, who at the time was injecting The Avengers with new life and vigor. The three-issue series, stuffed as it is with a truckload of diverse characters, groups, and aliens, as well as a number of subplots, would showcase Busiek's ability to manage so many variables while dealing in such a host of characters and striving to give each their due rather than simply including them as "window dressing."
But it's one character in particular who stands out in this series, someone whom Busiek gives preferential treatment to and raises his profile substantially--and it's probably the last character you were expecting to take center stage.
Yes, John Walker, the USAgent, a character originally thrust into the spotlight when he was selected as a replacement for Captain America when Cap resigned the role due to new government demands on his activities. Cap would eventually expose the duplicity of the government commission that handed him his walking papers, followed by Walker convincing him to reclaim his shield and uniform--and from there, Walker would eventually join the west coast franchise of the Avengers as well as segueing to its spinoff, Force Works. But aside from his fervent patriotism and his tendency to rub people the wrong way, the Agent didn't enjoy much visibility or attention as a character in his own right--a situation not helped by his adoption of the uniform of "the Captain," the costumed identity Cap operated under while Walker was acting as Captain America.
With the generous exposure in the series' introduction showing him in action, we're of course given ample opportunity to sample the "new" USAgent--but it remains to be seen if Busiek can make this man into a new character that will hold our attention, to say nothing of grooming him to anchor the entire series. In terms of the latter, his journey starts with a summons to Washington by Val Cooper, who chairs the Commission on Superhuman Activities and informs Walker of the Commission's plans for the facility formerly known as the Vault--the high-tech prison designed to incarcerate super-beings, recently destroyed (in a massive breakout facilitated by the U-Foes). Instead of rebuilding, installations of enhanced security wings in existing penitentiaries across the country are set up--followed by the establishment of an oversight team to oversee all aspects of super-powered crime and imprisonment. To lead that team, Cooper already knows a man who's well qualified for the job--but he has reservations.
Cooper has clearly sweetened this deal considerably, giving Walker enormous discretion and latitude in exercising his new authority. It's a position that will play a large part in the Agent's interactions with other high-profile characters in this series.
Which brings us back to the Agent's confrontation of Piledriver*, who isn't at all happy with his brush with the law, but who's headed to a prison cell nonetheless.
*Piledriver, along with the rest of the Wrecking Crew, had his power reclaimed by Loki, who doesn't seem like the type to relent. What gives?
But as we'll see, the Commission's new initiative on prison arrangements makes for a fitting introduction to this series--because the alien Kree have their own ideas about incarceration, plans which will put our entire world under lock and key.
As we join the Agent in his new state-of-the-art command center in Washington, we find him following up on discovering one of the alien Blood Brothers on the scene of Piledriver's capture, as his aide, Magruder, briefs him on an unusual spike in extraterrestrial conflicts nationwide (including a reported sighting which plays on the famous arrival of another extraterrestrial who crash-landed Earth and was taken in by a mid-west couple).
The job obviously suits the Agent, fitting him like a glove and giving him an air of comfort and confidence that has him interacting with his subordinates smoothly and efficiently, while the organization responds well to his style and leadership. Having a clear mandate that unties his hands and aligns so closely with his sense of right and wrong has worked wonders for the character.
In Virginia, the Agent's investigation reveals that the sudden and widespread influx of aliens on Earth marks the beginning of what could soon be a global crisis.
Given the nature of the escalating situation, Cooper feels it's wise to solicit the assistance of the Avengers, who have already been monitoring the situation and have also discovered strange energy readings on the edge of the solar system--as well as a large alien vessel in Earth orbit. In light of his history with the Avengers, the Agent has objections to coordinating with them in this operation, particularly since he'd informally taken the lead on it prior to meeting with Cooper; so it's not surprising to see him assert what he believes is his jurisdiction over their operation while rejecting the nuances of the Avengers' relationship with the government which allow them to function independently.
After tempers have cooled, the decision is made by the Avengers to investigate the alien ship--only there's an additional passenger who's insistent on coming along. It's doubtless an uncomfortable flight, since it's clear the misgivings the Agent has about the Avengers' involvement are mutual.
It's interesting that Busiek has so far provided little to no dialog for Captain America, the one man who might see eye to eye with the Agent and who seems best suited to reach him; instead, he's used both the Wasp, as Chairwoman, and Iron Man, who knew the Agent in the WCA, to shoulder that burden. Either of those choices is acceptable (and, in the Wasp's case, appropriate), but Cap not stepping in to help settle the dispute while a crisis looms is rather conspicuous.
Cap at least has a little more to say when they discover the vessel they board is Kree and under the command of Ronan, f/k/a the Accuser. At this point in time, the Kree are subjects of their conquerors, the Shi'ar--and Ronan explains why the human race has not only been placed under virtual quarantine, but also why the Earth is being inundated by alien undesirables and criminals day after day after day.
Heedless of any pleas on the Avengers' part, Ronan "dismisses" the entire group, returning them to Earth in a flash. Knowing now the scope of the problem, the Avengers begin to mobilize; but the Agent hasn't put aside his argument that the Avengers are now under his jurisdiction. On the contrary, he's adamant that the Avengers fall in line and follow his lead in this operation.
It's an interesting situation from a reader's standpoint. The solution to the impasse might be to include the Agent's perspective in the decisions and course of action that the Avengers engage in--after all, he might have valuable input to offer, and there's really no good reason to keep him out of the loop on any plans that are made. But it's clear the Agent isn't interested in any such compromise--probably because he has little stomach for the Avengers' usual methods.
Magruder's interruption alerts the Agent to the follow-up his team made with the Nebraska couple and their *ahem* strange visitor from another planet. But with its abnormal growth, it becomes clear to the Avengers that their new problem is another planet--specifically, Ego, the Living Planet.
Goliath is wrong in one important respect, though that would become more clear as the many plots in this series become revealed.
Maximum Security would continue into early 2001, while crossing over with five other titles: Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Amazing Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Iron Man. Like Ego itself, the story expands at a phenomenal rate, as does its cast of characters, while Busiek offers enough twists and turns to the plot that finally have all roads leading back to the Kree, who have set in motion plans to throw off their yoke of servitude to the Shi'ar and begin their ascendancy once again as a major power in the galaxy.
By the time when everything comes to a head, Busiek, as have many writers before him, will have assembled a conglomeration of characters to meet the threat head-on. But just look who's leading the charge:
The man to watch in this series continues to be Walker, who has tunnel vision when it comes to the American men, women, and children who in his eyes must feel helpless in the face of such threats. Busiek keeps intact a good deal of the John Walker who grated on other people and trusted his gut in fighting the good fight--but the USAgent truly seems to have settled on a direction for his life and his career. And he makes sure the Avengers understand what his priorities are, and what they always will be.
Despite the fact that it was the Avengers who got to the bottom of this matter and persevered to the end, Walker still reads them the riot act and makes sure that they don't walk away from this with the feeling of a job well done. And as strange as this might sound if said out loud, it feels absolutely in character for Busiek having him do so, even if we as readers are likely as surprised and shaken at Walker's words as the Avengers are.
Yet, when one of the Agent's crew voices his agreement with the Agent's sentiments and offers a few choice observations of his own, Busiek is quick to point out that there's more to Walker's opinions and loyalties than you and I, or the Avengers, can discern. And that seems to be the one constant we can apply to the USAgent.
 | Maximum Security #1 Script: Kurt Busiek Pencils: Jerry Ordway Inks: Al Vey, Will Blyberg, Paul Ryan, and Chris Ivy Letterers: Richard Starkings, Albert Deschesne, and Jason Levine |
No comments:
Post a Comment