Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
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- Oct 11, 2001
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The one dilemma with the Fraternity Of Raptors stuff was that it essentially made Darkhawk/Chris Powell insane for a large chunk of his 90's ongoing series, claiming he outright hallucinated Evilhawk (and thus likely Overhawk) and some of the stuff there. Admittedly it was a very clunky origin involving alien gangsters and lab technicians from other dimensions, but still. On the other hand, I did like the connection to pre-historic Shi'ar stuff, which is easier to get a handle on. I think Talon is still running around the space books as one more unresolved plot point.
My prediction: Darkhawk's one of the first to die in Avengers Arena.
That would suck, but I could see it happening. He's the oldest character there.
Technically, as some posters have told me, most of the founding/long term cast of NEW WARRIORS still exist. Justice, Speedball, and Firestar are still alive. NOVA brought back a time-paradox version of Namorita, and Rage is even still around with his adopted uncle, Donyell Taylor/Night-Thrasher II. Ultra-Girl has been running with the NW's and Firestar has equally rebounded with Gravity (although in fairness, their relationship seems more deep, while Vance/Ultra-Girl are usually seen making out or in mid-intercourse more than they actually talk, implying it may be more of a physical relationship). Toss in Slapstick as the unstable maniac and Silhouette and you could attempt to relaunch it. Marvel WILL have to inevitably publish the book again at some point to retain their trademark of it. That's why you see totally random relaunches like YOUNG ALLIES or MORBIUS at odd junctures. All of reality would collapse upon itself if Marvel lost a trademark, much like they did with CHAMPIONS after the 70's.
The problem with the NW would remain the same, though. In a Marvel Universe in which the same figures from the 60's never grow old, never die, never retire, and are always of vital importance for anything relevant, the New Warriors remain yet another "young hero team" of heroes who can never attain anything noteworthy or grow up. A "Neverland" universe without aging or replaced characters leaves the youngsters in a ditch after a few years. It's happened with the NEW MUTANTS (although I'd argue they've fared the best of them), it happened with the POWER PACK or NEW WARRIORS, and it's happening recently with RUNAWAYS, AVENGERS ACADEMY, YOUNG AVENGERS. etc. That's why they're lumped in death traps like ARENA for shock slaughter.
Hopeless promised deaths in interviews for the book. Whenever a writer promises someone will die, it usually is true. Of course, permanence is another story. Winter Soldier did technically die in FEAR ITSELF, for a whole 7 months. The dilemma is nobody cares about some of these characters enough to revive them if they go. I mean, Stature's not coming back. Microbe's not coming back. Hornet's not coming back. Dwayne Taylor's not coming back. Nobody Yost & Kyle butchered in NEW X-MEN is coming back. And in the end that's the only role these young characters can serve in a "Neverland" universe - canon fodder who just enough people care about that their deaths bring some shock, since it isn't like they're movie stars like Thor or Professor X and everyone KNOWS they will be back.
Without drastic motions that Marvel (nor DC) are unwilling or able to do, sadly a rut seems to be the natural place for new characters before long, at least within a shared, ageless universe.
DC has the same problem, although until NEW 52 their legacies at least muddled it. Still, you never had the Teen Titans achieve anything of line-wide relevance that the JLA or JSA couldn't. Besides a crossover with the X-Men once.
He was technically an Avenger, and any past Avengers are free to show up in group shots at random. Normally I'd disagree, but we're now in an era where Shang Chi and Sunspot are Avengers. Since 2004 so many characters have become Avengers that it's becoming harder to think of any notable character who isn't or never was an active or reserve Avenger. Without drawing from X-Men (since only Beast, Wolverine, and Storm have become Avengers), the only three really notable characters I can think of are Silver Surfer, Deadpool, and Johnny Storm. Even Punisher was a part of the "Secret Avengers" during CIVIL WAR, which was an actual plot point. The Avengers are quickly becoming what the Defenders were with such an open roster.
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