"The Spider And The Sorcerer(s)!"

 

Given the circumstances in which we left the former sorcerer known as Xandu the Unspeakable, it appeared that he was never going to trouble the world again in his mad quest to achieve the ultimate power to be gained by possession of the mystic Wand of Watoomb, his efforts foiled by both Spider-Man and the Master of the Mystic Arts, Dr. Strange. In that encounter's denouement, Strange not only drained the wand's power, but also removed Xandu's memories of it as well as absolved his evil nature, essentially giving him a second chance at life.

Yet, almost nine years later, it appears that Xandu's "reset" didn't take--appearing none the worse for wear when he sets his sights again on the wand, as well as the two who came between him and his goal. What that goal was and is will be revealed in short order; for now, however, we join him just after he's ambushed Spider-Man at the scene where the wall-crawler had just saved a lone figure from a mugging, only to find himself to be the victim.

As for the wand, what's the point of Xandu seeking it out again? With its power vanished, isn't it just an ornate paperweight at present? We'll have to wait a bit to find that out, as well, since the story's symbolic splash page is also posing questions to be answered--and from the look of things, Xandu intends to be holding all the cards as well as the wand.

(It seems Xandu's assertion that Strange is Spider-Man's enemy is true--he's made sure his cover "spotlight" figure is large enough to shove even the book's masthead aside!)

Well, it's clear Xandu indeed isn't "Master of the cosmos!" yet, otherwise he wouldn't need Spider-Man to pull this heist for him instead of doing it himself. It could also explain why writer Len Wein thinks it's okay this one time for Strange's sanctum to be bereft of any defense against an intruder breach, if we make the assumption that those defenses would regard Spider-Man as a benign presence. (I'm just thinking from the hip here--you're welcome, Mr. Wein.) Regardless, Xandu's spell still has a few bugs to iron out--mainly, clumsiness.

As we learned in the previous story, Spider-Man's style of fighting can get the best of even a skilled sorcerer--in this case, however, one who is taking care not to harm him, even if Spider-Man fervently believes to the contrary. And in the end, it's Xandu's will that prevails.

But what's the story behind Xandu's rebirth? It's bad enough that he's regained the wand, but how is it that he's become a menace again? It turns out that Strange's previous efforts to remove his threat were flawed in several respects: failing to alter Xandu's memory as well as his evil leanings, and his prior probe of Xandu's mind failing to reveal the sorcerer's true goal in seeking out the wand, knowledge which might have mitigated Strange's actions that day.

Once again, Xandu has made an error in judgment in regard to believing himself safe from Strange's retribution--but given the power he now holds again, the point is soon rendered moot, thanks not only to the wand but to Xandu's remarkable ability to think on his feet and put his foes once again on the defensive.

In their last encounter it was the element of surprise which turned things in our heroes' favor; this time, it's much the same, as a spell of transference manages to throw Xandu off-balance just enough to bring an end to hostilities, if not yet the core reason behind Xandu's actions.

With this marking the second time that Strange has acted without forethought in regard to the Wand of Watoomb, it's fair to make a guess that we haven't seen the last of it.

But as for Xandu, there's still the matter of his motivation for this entire affair to be settled--something Strange's previous mental probe of his origin and history missed altogether, but now serves to bring the story of Xandu to a tragic and almost regrettable end.

Gee--show of hands on who thinks Strange could have gotten it wrong again?
COMING UP:
Xandu, Spider-Man, and the Wand of Watoomb! (Didn't we just leave this party?)