SPOILER SPORT: ANNIHILATION CONQUEST: PROLOGUE

[MattBrady]

<img src="http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/Phalanx.jpg" alt="" name="" border="0" align="right"><i>by Troy Brownfield</i>

The outer reaches of the Marvel Universe fall under attack again in the pages of the Annihilation: Conquest Prologue. This time, it’s not the Annihilation Wave, but another familiar group. After a long absence, the Phalanx have returned, and they’re really not happy. If you’ve never heard of the Phalanx, don’t worry. Sit back, have a drink, and keep a close eye on your appliances; you’re about to get a lesson in assimilation (with a side-dish of “How can one minor character become so popular in the midst of a crossover?”).

Not Quite the Phalanx: In the beginning, there was Warlock. The alien member of the New Mutants first arrived on Earth in issue #21 of the original series (after briefly appearing for the first time in #18). He was a member of the Technarchy, a race that continued to exist by infection of living organisms with “the techno-organic transmode virus” and taking their “lifeglow” into their mechanical forms.

Warlock became best friends with Doug Ramsey, Cypher of the New Mutants. Doug helped the newcomer understand Earth culture and morality, and Warlock sometimes acted as a super-suit or vehicle for Doug with his shape-changing abilities. Unfortunately, Cypher died at the hands of the villain Ani-Mator. Warlock attempted to revive his dead friend, but eventually returned the body to its grave.

Shortly thereafter, Warlock and several other New Mutants were kidnapped to the island of Genosha by Cameron Hodge. Hodge, a mutant hater who had received immortality due to a deal with the demon N’astirh preceding the event known as “Inferno”, was now only existing as a severed head on a cybernetic body. He wanted to steal Warlock’s powers for his own use, and killed Warlock in the process of trying to remove those powers. Hodge’s head was buried under the rubble of a building destroyed by Havok and Cyclops, and ashes of Warlock were sprinkled on Cypher’s grave.

Ashes to Assimilation: Evil forces weren’t quite finished with Warlock’s ashes yet. A group of anti-mutant humans figured out how to mine the transmode virus from them, and voluntarily injected themselves. Their intention was to become “living Sentinels”; once in the grip of the virus, their plan became an attempt to actually assimilate mutant-kind into their collective by passing along the infection. The kidnapping of various X-Men and other young mutants fostered the event called “The Phalanx Covenant.” The event pre-saged the formation of Generation X and the birth of the entity Douglock, a fusion of Doug Ramsey and Warlock. Eventually, the combined X-teams overwhelmed the Phalanx factions.

Blink and You Missed Her: An interesting side-note to the proceedings is that this event introduced the first version of Blink to the Marvel Universe. Though she only made a couple of appearances before sacrificing herself to save the other young mutants, she proved so popular that she was eventually brought back in the Age of Apocalypse, and yet again as one of the leads of Exiles.

Not Doing Much: There haven’t been many significant appearances by the Phalanx in recent years. They did make an incursion into Sh’iar territory, but were ultimately destroyed by Warlock’s father, Magus, as the Technarchy actually view the Phalanx as an inferior bastardized race.

The Phalanx also appeared in an Exiles storyline wherein they had conquered an alternate Earth. Due to the quick thinking of Morph, the Asgardian pantheon of that reality was able to help save humanity.

<a href=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/lastpage.html target=new><img src=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/ANNCONPRO001043_col_t.jpg border=0 align=right></a>Cable also recently had to deal with the Phalanx when Deadpool facilitated the grafting of a “Phalanx fetus” onto Cable’s brain to repair damage caused in an encounter with the Silver Surfer. Cable had to fight for control of his own body, but eventually saved himself from assimilation.

Properties: Like other recent space-faring villains in the Marvel Universe, the Phalanx operate in an insectoid, hive-mind-like fashion. Members have old memories and abilities, but don’t act against the group. Most mutants apparently have some degree of immunity against the transmode virus, but this isn’t always the case (witness Blink, who was infected). Phalanx members can teleport, shape-shift, and change their size by absorbing matter. So yeah, fun at parties.

So Why Now?: That’s a good question. Perhaps, as Editor Bill Rosemann suggested, the Phalanx sense the weakness left in the galaxy in the wake of the Annihilation Wave. Perhaps there’s something else manipulating the agenda (Skrulls? Galactus? Bendis?). Whatever the case, the Phalanx represent a vast threat to the galaxy. Witness the speed at which they moved in the opening salvo of Conquest.

Perhaps a better question is this: how much room is there in the universe to run?

Troy Brownfield assimilated one too many beers in college.

<b>Look for more on <I>Annihilation: Conquest</i> in the coming days and weeks. Until then, Marvel has sent along a group of Tom Raney's sketches of the five Phalanx classes. Click on the sketches to open larger versons</b>:

Scientist = the planners
Soldier = the ground troops
Stomper = the tanks
Seeker = the hunters
Seer (Sentry) = the watchers</b>

<center><a href=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/p_1.html target=new><img src=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/Phalanx-Scientist-1_t.jpg border=0></a> <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/p_2.html target=new><img src=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/Phalanx-Soldier-final_t.jpg border=0></a> <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/p_3.html target=new><img src=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/Phalanx-Stomper.final_t.jpg border=0></a> <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/p_4.html target=new><img src=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/Phalanx-Seeker.final_t.jpg border=0></a> <a href=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/p_5.html target=new><img src=http://www.newsarama.com/marvelnew/annihilation/Conquest/Phalanx-Seer.final_t.jpg border=0></a></center>

[EvilEric]

I give up on all this Annihilation stuff....it's cool but I cant afford it.:(
First post! WhooP dee-DOOO!

[HulkSmashNow]

It reminds me of the Matrix robots mixed with Star Wars' Yuzhan Vong. Looks pretty cool.

[stentremix]

nothing compares to the way my jaw dropped when i hit that last page. Kudos

[Twigglet]

The Phalanx Convenant is a GREAT little event (the X-men and Uncanny issues anyway)

Looking forward to this :D

[Scavenger]

As always Troy, your articles are a treat. I never quite knew what the heck the Phalanx were other than something to do with the Technarchy

[Ironhorse]

OMFG!!! :eek: Never thought on them, looks coooool. Peace.

[Speedball93]

It reminds me of the Matrix robots mixed with Star Wars' Yuzhan Vong. Looks pretty cool.
That is what I was thinking too. Should I be worried about this series now?

[AdamYJ]

Of all the comics to skip this week, I had to pick the one that reintroduced the Phalanx. When I was about 12, I read the original Phalanx story that introduced Generation X and it rocked my socks back then! Such fond memories of my early comic book days.

[hendrijr]

kinda ironic that we have an article about the phalanx right beside an article about tony daniel. He provided pencils for the x-force chapter of the Phalanx Covnant

[0bsessions]

BLAH! I've never had any interest in the cosmic characters, but every freakin' time I hear something new about Annihilation, I want to check it out.

I give up, I'm gonna go take the money I'm saving on Flash comics and go buy some Annihilation trades. Rasum frasum Marvel.

[stasisbal]

That was definitely an awesome Prologue issue. They've set up a hell of a situation. Beyond being familiar with the name , I know nothing about the Phalanx. It's cool that there is a seeker on the cover of this issue. I didn't even consider what that thing could have been.

[Thad]

So, uh...is there a particular reason this article explaining what the Phalanx are does not contain the word "Borg" anywhere in it?

[mcereal]

Looks like something from Quake.

Waiting on the trades (well, hardcover) but this looks real cool. I dig Raney's designs.

[MattBrady]

So, uh...is there a particular reason this article explaining what the Phalanx are does not contain the word "Borg" anywhere in it? yeah - because it's the Phalanx.

MattB

[btjs]

The Phalanx: Another terrible 90s villain.

The only thing good they gave us was Douglock, and Marvel overzealously retconned and re-retconned to make sure he was not considered Doug or Warlock.

[jaredgood1]

Nice. I'm not as excited as I was about Annihilus, but a nice surprise none the less. So happy the Marvel U's cosmic chars are getting some more books.

[dalunt]

Last time we saw them was right before the Trial of Gambit...

But when did they become silver and blue instead of yellow???

[RedRonin]

Love Raney's designs. Just got through the prologue and I looked it. This should be as fun as the first Annihilation, but it doesn't feel like they are just rehashing the first one.

[0bsessions]

So, uh...is there a particular reason this article explaining what the Phalanx are does not contain the word "Borg" anywhere in it?

Because the premise of the Phalanx originated from the Technarchy (Warlock and Magus) which predated the Borg by at least a few years.

[Thad]

yeah - because it's the Phalanx.

Well yes, but explaining the premise of the Phalanx without mentioning the Borg strikes me as similar to explaining the Squadron Supreme without mentioning the Justice League.

Because the premise of the Phalanx originated from the Technarchy (Warlock and Magus) which predated the Borg by at least a few years.

Yes, but the "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated." stuff in the Phalanx Covenant in 1994 seemed like a pretty clear reference to me.

[comicfoil]

So the Technarchy is the actual alien race of transmode infecting lifestealers right? And the Phalanx are a group of mutant hating Earthlings who infected themselves right? So why are the Phalanx such a huge cosmic threat? I would think their presence on Earth may have been formidable but in outer space they'd be miniscule in number, especially if Magus kicked their butts since.

Sad fact of the matter is that I read all of these stories back when they came out and I remember being confused then too. Phalanx Covenant had some great art but I was really really confused from issue to issue about what was supposed to be happening. It was not my favorite crossover.

[PhoenixFacto]

Loved the Prologue. This is gonna be good. Wish Perkins was doing the art for the whole thing it was stunning.

[Speedball93]

Loved the Prologue. This is gonna be good. Wish Perkins was doing the art for the whole thing it was stunning.
No way dude. Raney's sketches are amazing. He is gonna knock this one out. I may have to break down and buy some of his work after this is done.

[Kolimar]

Very nice article, Troy. Always a pleasure to remember, always left wanting more. :D

[Somebody]

It clicked that it was the Phalanx when I saw the Sentries forming themselves into a Babel Spire, about halfway through the issue. The fact that they kept the yellow border/dotted line speech balloons sealed it. :)

Properties: Like other recent space-faring villains in the Marvel Universe, the Phalanx operate in an insectoid, hive-mind-like fashion. Members have old memories and abilities, but don’t act against the group. Most mutants apparently have some degree of immunity against the transmode virus, but this isn’t always the case (witness Blink, who was infected). Phalanx members can teleport, shape-shift, and change their size by absorbing matter. So yeah, fun at parties.
Blink was never infected - it was HUSK who was infected (Sabretooth saved her by slashing off her infected outer skin before it took her over completely).

Wolfsbane, Cannonball and Forge were also infected voluntarily by Douglock (Warlock), but that's been ignored ever since.

[NielsVanEekelen]

yeah - because it's the Phalanx.

MattB

And for the record:

Warlock = 1984
Borg = 1989

;)

[Bluewave]

I cant get used to the phalanx new look. I mean, where the hell is the transmode virus? That's what made them so freaky and cool.

[The Fool]

Blink was never infected - it was HUSK who was infected (Sabretooth saved her by slashing off her infected outer skin before it took her over completely).

Wolfsbane, Cannonball and Forge were also infected voluntarily by Douglock (Warlock), but that's been ignored ever since.

Blink was actually infected in an issue of Exiles. But the "Phalanx" in that arc were actually called Vi-Locks. They were pretty much exactly the same as regular Phalanx except for the fact that mutants seemed to have no immunity to them.


Now, uncannymen.net has the best information on the Phalanx, the Technarchy and the Phalanx Covenant.

For Phalanx Covenant info check out this link: http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/crossover/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=227

For info on Phalanx in general look here (http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/race/showquestion.asp?faq=5&fldAuto=38)

[Uncle Jawa]

I enjoyed the first ANNIHILATION event, but this one I gonna pass on until they do hardcovers or trades. Without a spotlight on the Silver Surfer, I'm just not as interested.

[LikeaPhoenix]

This is cool stuff. The Phalanx kicks ass! Again Marvel is borrowing, ripping, stealing from the X-Men to invigorate their other franchises, first the Avengers and now this!!! ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL MUCH???

[Somebody]

Blink was actually infected in an issue of Exiles. But the "Phalanx" in that arc were actually called Vi-Locks. They were pretty much exactly the same as regular Phalanx except for the fact that mutants seemed to have no immunity to them.
I've read that arc - indeed, it was the reason I dropped Exiles...

That wasn't even straight Transmode [T-O] Virus - that was a Legacy-Transmode hybrid, which the article scoots over. The "Legacy Virus" part was the reason.they infected mutants.

Husk [and Cannonball/Wolfsbane/Forge] was infected just with the straight Transmode Virus, unlike the other mutants.

[The Fool]

You didn't like that arc? I thought it was great. Each unto their their own I guess

[Troy Brownfield]

And for the record:

Warlock = 1984
Borg = 1989

;)


Also, check out the alien named "Shell" from Disney's "Earth Star Voyager", which came out in 1988: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Star_Voyager

:D

[The_Adventurer]

You didn't like that arc? I thought it was great. Each unto their their own I guess

I loved that arc too.

Very very interesting choice of a bad guy this go around. The fact that is suprised me is a plus however, it caught me just as off guard as Annihilus being the big-bad of the first event.


Personally, I got more "Battlestar Galactica" vibes from the issue then Borg/Trek vibes. What with the way the Phalanx got their foot in the door.

[Spartan]

Was planning on skipping 'Conquest' until I heard about this!

Loved the Phalanx arc in the X-titles back in the day, fond memories. Looking forward to see what the Annhilation guys do with them now.

[WildcardZ]

I have been picking up the Annihilation Hardcovers, so I haven't finished the first story yet, but I am very tempted to pick this up because of the Phalanx. The other reason is the Nova series, which is one of the best new series of the year.

[Somebody]

Also, check out the alien named "Shell" from Disney's "Earth Star Voyager", which came out in 1988: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Star_Voyager

:D
Looks more like Peter Quill to me :)

[KirkWarren]

Nova has been good, but it also hasnt even had a chance to grow. It basically had the first issue then it went into Civil War aftermath (which I enjoyed none the less) and now its going to be tied up in the Conquest crossover. It basically hasnt even had a chance to establish itself a supporting cast or make an identity for itself. Its very much like Heroes for Hire which has just gone from one mega crossover to another. It makes it hard to tell if the series has any use outside of crossovers. Now, I do love the series, but I still have doubts about its longevity. I was actually hoping it would keep Starlord, Drax (who may or may not destroy), Quasar, Gamora and the rest of the cosmic cast as supporting characters in his series, but it doesnt seem to be the case. Still an awesome book though.


As for Conquest, I loved the first issue. It honestly wasnt anything like I was expecting, yet was still incredibly awesome. At first I thought the bands might be calling out to Captain Marvel from his return in Civil War, but i guess thats shot. Anyone have any idea who the big splash page was alluding to? It wasnt the Wraith character was it?

My only compliant is that they followed up on the original so quickly and didnt let Nova explore the new status quo they had set up. I was expecting Ravenous to mkae power plays in Skrull space and the Kree to try to establish dominance as well with Nova caught up in the middle. Another 6-12 months and this series would have been perfect I think. Still awesome regardless, just gets a small chastizing for not capitilizing on what they did the first time.

[BanMan]

My only compliant is that they followed up on the original so quickly and didnt let Nova explore the new status quo they had set up. I was expecting Ravenous to mkae power plays in Skrull space and the Kree to try to establish dominance as well with Nova caught up in the middle. Another 6-12 months and this series would have been perfect I think. Still awesome regardless, just gets a small chastizing for not capitilizing on what they did the first time.

But that's the thing. For the length of time in comics Annihilation has been going on (a few months) it would have been perfect to make for a power play by ANYONE in the period immediately following the death of Annihilus. That's why it's happening so closely. That and it builds off of the momentum of the first Annihilation, though it becomes an issue when there are other events occuring at the same time.

[Livewire2nd]

Yea the Prolog was sweet I'm totally going to get this Event in HC to go with the first series for a complete set.

[Prometheus3]

Good article Troy but talk about a remote threat. Even I hadn't heard of these guys before. I was hoping for some past villains (like the Badoon or Kang) who I had heard of but these guys look interesting. They're not as cool as Annihilus of course but who is?

[Tinmansstory]

"The Phalanx: Another terrible 90s villain.

The only thing good they gave us was Douglock, and Marvel overzealously retconned and re-retconned to make sure he was not considered Doug or Warlock."

I don't agree with that statement at all. The phalanx were ruthless, and as a young comics reader at the time (probably 9 or 10) it really levelled me. Not to mention the art throughout the x-books was fantastics. Plus they had these inserts throughout the books showing all the alternate x-men futures marvel had created: Bishops's, Cables, DoFP, showing all the events that led to those futures and incorporated (or suggested) that that event would have a hand in everthing.

Exciting for a kid.

I'm looking forward to this.

[The_Adventurer]

Yeah, the Phalanx Covenant was one of the first crossover events I ever followed, and it was mostly because of how ruthlessly even the Phalanx came across. Yeah, as an adult I can see the holes in that series. But the Phalanx was still pretty cool as a threat. Seeing them expanded to a universal sized threat is actually pretty cool, because they do have the potential to be very very dangerous with the right reasources, as the take over of Hala showed.

[eh_ver]

great great great villain! this was as big of a shocker as annihilus for was for the first one! the hints were definitely there as the issue went on, but, hot damn! i was thrilled when this series was announced and i'm so glad too see that my anticipation was worthwhile! i also really love how the supporting characters from annihilation kind of dove-tailed into their own in this event. good move rosemann!

[Doombug]

It clicked that it was the Phalanx when I saw the Sentries forming themselves into a Babel Spire, about halfway through the issue. The fact that they kept the yellow border/dotted line speech balloons sealed it. :)


Blink was never infected - it was HUSK who was infected (Sabretooth saved her by slashing off her infected outer skin before it took her over completely).

Wolfsbane, Cannonball and Forge were also infected voluntarily by Douglock (Warlock), but that's been ignored ever since.
He's talking Exiles blink. For she was infected.

[von Doom, M.D.]

So, uh...is there a particular reason this article explaining what the Phalanx are does not contain the word "Borg" anywhere in it?

Cybermen would have been a more apt reference.

As for the Phalanx being the villains, I'm willing to give it a shot because Annihilation was the best thing Marvel's done in years. However, they're X-villains. That will be in the back of my mind the entire length of this "event" and it will undoubtedly taint my enjoyment of this series. I hate the X-Men, and all villains and ancilliary characters, with a passion. I'm also troubled by how soon this event is coming out. I'd rather see the universe rebuild before getting ripped down again. Even Europe got 20 years between World Wars.

[kymeric]

For the record Borg assimilating wasnt part of startrek until the movie first contact in 1996, some ways after the phalanx story. Everyone always forgets that that nanites were a retcon, as well as the borg having a queen.

[Troy Brownfield]

For the record Borg assimilating wasnt part of startrek until the movie first contact in 1996, some ways after the phalanx story. Everyone always forgets that that nanites were a retcon, as well as the borg having a queen.

Actually, Picard being assimilated by the Borg was the 3rd season cliffhanger in 1990. Granted, the nanoprobe method was added later, but they always called it "assimilation".

Yeah, that's right . . . all my fanboy cards are on the table. The Force? Hammer or Universal horror Films? Farscape? Buffy? Comics? Gothic and Independent American rock of the 1980s? Bring it. :D

[OptimusPrime]

If anyone wants more info on the Phalanx check this link

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/race/showquestion.asp?faq=5&fldAuto=38

The yellow tech like Phalanx are earth based who started out as mutant haters but there were others out in space who fit very close to the new designs. They might have been first seen and dealt with by the X-men but they are not just their villains. Think like the Skrulls they were first faced by the Fantastic Four but are now MU villains not just FF villains; like the Brood and others. Hope this helps everyone. Looking forward to the event.

[The_Adventurer]

Well, that's good. At least people can shut up about the significant appearance change of the Phalanx, and the fact they are in space and a significant threat.

[beta-ray]

Cybermen would have been a more apt reference.

As for the Phalanx being the villains, I'm willing to give it a shot because Annihilation was the best thing Marvel's done in years. However, they're X-villains. That will be in the back of my mind the entire length of this "event" and it will undoubtedly taint my enjoyment of this series. I hate the X-Men, and all villains and ancilliary characters, with a passion.

*shrug*

Annihilus was an FF villian initially but I loved Annihilation (though I don't hate the FF).

Haven't read this yet (bought it) but I have great faith it will be good.

I was thinking it would be cool if it were the Dire Wraith but the Phallanx will do fine (as long as it is written well)...

[psymount]

So the Technarchy is the actual alien race of transmode infecting lifestealers right? And the Phalanx are a group of mutant hating Earthlings who infected themselves right? So why are the Phalanx such a huge cosmic threat? I would think their presence on Earth may have been formidable but in outer space they'd be miniscule in number, especially if Magus kicked their butts since.
.

Here's a link to some more concise information about the Phalanx and their origins on UncannyXmen.net

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/race/showquestion.asp?faq=5&fldAuto=38

"If not stopped, the Phalanx continue to grow and add organic life-forms into their collective until they reach “critical mass.” At that point, a base-program buried deep within their cells is activated and takes over the collective. Unable to resist their new directive, the Phalanx twine themselves into the “Babel Spire,” a huge transmission tower that sends a beacon call deep into space, to the Technarchy. When the call is received, they follow the transmission to its source and drain the entire planet of its energies, for they consider the Phalanx to be abominations that can’t be allowed to continue to exist"

I'm assuming the ones in "Conquest" have either overcome/take advantage of that programing or else found a way to erect and impenitrable barrier that the Technarchy can't get threw
As for why they're not yellow and don't look like the one's in the "Phalanx Covenant".

"Assimilating the knowledge and technology of numerous alien races into their collective, the Phalanx in space had perfected their forms. Their bodies now entirely pitch black, except for a few red and blue glowing sensor slits, they only displayed the basic Phalanx and Technarchy features while shapeshifting or when they were damaged. Additionally, they considered themselves the “pure“ Phalanx, compared to such sects like the one on Earth that had only the experiences of one planet at their disposal".

[hondo]

I'm cold turkey on new comics right now as I'm selling most of my collections to wipe out bills, but I'm still following stuff on the boards.

Annihilation looked great but this might get skipped. The characters were confusing and part of that whole horrible early to mid 90's era. X-Men was especially bad then.

I guess I understand the mutant haters injecting themselves with the techno, but I don't get why they're trying to absorb the mutants later. Is that part of the whole organic Sentinel thing ?

[The_Adventurer]

I'm cold turkey on new comics right now as I'm selling most of my collections to wipe out bills, but I'm still following stuff on the boards.

Annihilation looked great but this might get skipped. The characters were confusing and part of that whole horrible early to mid 90's era. X-Men was especially bad then.

I guess I understand the mutant haters injecting themselves with the techno, but I don't get why they're trying to absorb the mutants later. Is that part of the whole organic Sentinel thing ?

None of that really matters to read Annihilation Conquest. As these are not the Earth based Phalanx from X-Men

[psymount]

But that's the thing. For the length of time in comics Annihilation has been going on (a few months) it would have been perfect to make for a power play by ANYONE in the period immediately following the death of Annihilus. That's why it's happening so closely. That and it builds off of the momentum of the first Annihilation, though it becomes an issue when there are other events occuring at the same time.

Exactly. The Annihilation Wave left plenty of opportunities in it's wake for parasitic races like the Phalanx, Brood, Plodex, ect to take advantage of. Altho I thought Dire Wraiths were extinct or trapped in another deminsion? With the conflict with Vulcan over the Shi'ar throne, the only major alien race who hasn't fallen on hard times is the Badoon.

[nakatago]

Perhaps there’s something else manipulating the agenda (Skrulls? Galactus? Bendis?).

I think it's Bendis (and Bendis is really a skrull).
:D

[JTempos500]

The Phalanx: Another terrible 90s villain.

The only thing good they gave us was Douglock, and Marvel overzealously retconned and re-retconned to make sure he was not considered Doug or Warlock.

Actually, unless he's appeared since his M-Tech series, Douglock turned out to be a reborn Warlock. Not sure if he ended up having the memories of Doug and Zero, it's been a while since I read his series.

[Somebody]

He's talking Exiles blink. For she was infected.

Quoting myself:
Blink was actually infected in an issue of Exiles. But the "Phalanx" in that arc were actually called Vi-Locks. They were pretty much exactly the same as regular Phalanx except for the fact that mutants seemed to have no immunity to them.
I've read that arc - indeed, it was the reason I dropped Exiles...

That wasn't even straight Transmode [T-O] Virus - that was a Legacy-Transmode hybrid, which the article scoots over. The "Legacy Virus" part was the reason.they infected mutants.

Husk [and Cannonball/Wolfsbane/Forge] was infected just with the straight Transmode Virus, unlike the other mutants.
Not the same thing.

[mrhelm]

The Phalanx: Another terrible 90s villain.

The only thing good they gave us was Douglock, and Marvel overzealously retconned and re-retconned to make sure he was not considered Doug or Warlock.

Actually, unless something has happened since the really good M-Tech Warlock series of the last 90's, Douglock was ALWAYS Warlock, his mind just assimilated some of Doug's memories when the Phalanx rebuilt him.

[HG_studios]

"The Phalanx: Another terrible 90s villain.

The only thing good they gave us was Douglock, and Marvel overzealously retconned and re-retconned to make sure he was not considered Doug or Warlock."

I don't agree with that statement at all. The phalanx were ruthless, and as a young comics reader at the time (probably 9 or 10) it really levelled me. Not to mention the art throughout the x-books was fantastics. Plus they had these inserts throughout the books showing all the alternate x-men futures marvel had created: Bishops's, Cables, DoFP, showing all the events that led to those futures and incorporated (or suggested) that that event would have a hand in everthing.

Exciting for a kid.

I'm looking forward to this.

That's because you had the likes of Joe Madureira and Andy Kubert on art chores (at least on the main X-men books). Some of the best art to come out of the nineties in my opinion. I also have fond memories of the phalanx covenant though I do recognize that it is inferior when stacked up against other crossovers and general threats to the X-universe...but that art...it was worth poring over the pages just for that...

[I.M.C.]

Looking foreward to seeing these guys used again ,and get thier moment in the sun.. Especially after the number the "pure" Phalanx did to the Shi'ar back in Uncanny 342-344. But one signifigant Phalanx appearance that I haven't seen mentioned yet was thier appearance at the tailend of the Marvel 2099 line up of books. I had long since dropped the line before they showed up. Can anyone tell me what happened ?

[von Doom, M.D.]

Maybe with the history between the Phalanx and the Shi'ar, they'll finally get involved in intergalactic affairs. I mean, their two main rivals for Universal control are now teetering on the verge of extinction (the Skrulls), and running at maybe half-strength (the Kree).

[chard5000]

:D ROCKET RACOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!

[Cray_ws]

great great great villain! this was as big of a shocker as annihilus for was for the first one! the hints were definitely there as the issue went on....!I guess you didn't read the cover title:Annihilation. :rolleyes:

[The_Adventurer]

I guess you didn't read the cover title:Annihilation. :rolleyes:

Don't be a jerk. (Most) Everyone missed the obvious on that. that's why it was a great reveal.

[comicfoil]

If anyone wants more info on the Phalanx check this link

http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/race/showquestion.asp?faq=5&fldAuto=38

Ah thanks. That link cleared up quite a bit. I thought the Phalanx were strictly an Earth-based group of mutant haters who concocted their own trandmode virus and self-medicated. I didn't realize anything infected with the TMV by the Technarchy became Phalanx. At least until the Technarchy kill them by draining their energy.

Now that I think about it I'd like to see more of the Technarchy than the Phalanx honestly.

[comicfoil]

Yeah, that's right . . . all my fanboy cards are on the table. The Force? Hammer or Universal horror Films? Farscape? Buffy? Comics? Gothic and Independent American rock of the 1980s? Bring it. :D

I'll call you on that Farscape card Troy...
In "Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars" Sikozu was revealed to be a traitor working for the Scarrans. Why? She was a member of the Kalish Resistance and a bioloid who was adapted to be able to kill Scarrans as revealed in "We're So Screwed Part 3: La Bomba", the very same episode where she helped Crichton and crew destroy the single most important thing to the entire Scarran race, the crystherium. She then takes Scorpius' side and is expelled from Moya returning with Scopius to the Peacekeepers. Cut to the miniseries and suddenly she's a spy FOR the Scarrans. Buh-What???

Little help? (Feel free to take your response to email to save the extremists from filling up 10x as many posts in mock outrage that I have diverted from the current topic)

[Sesshomaru]

I guess you didn't read the cover title:Annihilation. :rolleyes:


Dont make us laugh , no one except a few saw it coming and expected a not so popular (yet powerful) FF villain , to boot , usually confined in his own "universe" , for such a devastating attack ...

A bit too easy to be smug after the facts are revealed

[Cray_ws]

I haven't read the series and I KNEW it featured Annihilus. Marvel would be stupid not to do that with title like that. Its like having Marvel book called Arachnida and not feature Spider-man.

Sorry to say but superhero comics have long standing habit of being obtuse and are comfortable hitting the reader over the head with the blatantly obvious.

[KirkWarren]

Keep telling yourself that Cray_ws. They even have Nova make a joke reference about how many people didnt catch on when he does a recap along the lines "Annihilus is the big bad - Annihilation Wave - Annihilus - go figure". Annihilus was never consider a major cosmic player, despite his strength, due to his being an FF exclusive villain for so long and being confined to the negative zone.

I bet you saw the Phalanx coming as well since it was so obvious. /sarcasm

[Cray_ws]

I bet you saw the Phalanx coming as well since it was so obvious. /sarcasmYou're right I never saw the Phalanx coming at all. Infact I figured Marvel would have enough sense to stop after it ran its course with Annihilus. Now it looks like they are milking it for all its worth with extended titles like Annihilation Conquest:Prologue...its only a matter of time before we see Annihilation Conquest: Frontline or Initiative. :rolleyes:

However one thing I should point out is that I'm quite impressed the potential of the new books like Quasar, StarLord, Nova and Wraith.

[Predabot1]

Hmm, that really was quite clever on the cover, having Quasar standing on top of a pile of ( apparently) Phalanx. :)

[B|ackPanther]

Annihilation Conquest looks like a good cosmic event, can't wait for Novas tie-in.